a Bicycle . . . a Box . . . a Bedspread

With lots of time on my hands, I'm working on projects - the challenge is working with what I have on hand.

This past week I tackled my To Do List with gusto.

From the title of my post, you can guess that the projects involved, among other things, a bicycle, a box and a bedspread.

Someone left an old black bicycle in our driveway years ago and I have wanted to paint it forever.

I have no idea what took me so long - it was easy, but I will use spray paint next time.

The box was easy with a quick coat of paint.

There are many fond memories of family gatherings attached to my mother's tattered and torn table cloths.

I have wanted to make them into pillows for a long time.

Last fall I made a patchwork bedspread out of my childhood chenille spread and plain white fabric.

Steve said it was just too heavy with the long ruffled sides so we replaced it with a duvet cover and bedskirt.

Last week, Lulu came in from the beach with tar on her paws and proceeded to walk on the crisp white covers of both our chaises - there was so much tar that I had to throw the covers away.

The bedspread was cut in half as was the ruffle and with some quick sewing, we have new chaise covers.

There were quite a few items on the list dealing with a back corner of the garden - all were complete, but I wish I could have found flowers like those in this old pic.

Sadly, the pickings at the nursery were limited - I know that eventually the ladder will have lots of fun flowers on each rung.

I will be adding plants beneath the studio window to my list and I can see that I need to redo the Welcome Friends sign.

The garden is looking good with new chaise covers, new pillows, and the yuccas thinned out (by our tree guy) and decorated with buoys.

I just have a few things left on the list, but I am taking the week off.

Except I see that the Mandevilla plant is creeping across one chaise so I will be working in the garden.

Bucket Brigade

It has been over a month since I posted so I am happy to be joining a fun group of bloggers for the April Pinterest Challenge.

Thanks Cindy of County Road 407 for hosting the Pinterest Challenge.

The inspiration photo is from Cottage at the Crossroads.

I've got a bench and lots of buckets and I knew this would be a really fun challenge.

As I gathered buckets, I was a bit surprised to see how many I have - this isn't all of them.

I cleaned off the garden bench we paid $1 for years ago - definitely not for sitting.

I usually go for reds and yellows, but this visit to the nursery was "take what you can get".

I made the mistake of taking a break and reading on the chaise - nothing else got done that day.

The next morning I began hanging buckets on the bench, but I wanted the foxglove to be the tallest plant.

I scattered buckets around the bench and filled them with plants.

My focus is more on buckets than topsy turvy, but this definition is fitting.

 I was given the idea for doing something and created something my own.

I kept the bucket theme going on the porch.

I have a lovely view from the window seat, 

but this view of my garden from the living room windows is my favorite.

You've seen my take on the pic from Cottages at the Crossroads - I hope you check out all the other posts.

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Spring on the Porch

Spring is here and participating in a Spring Home Tour was the perfect motivation to get me decorating - I chose the Entryway and Porches category.

I have 3 doors and thus 3 porches to decorate, but the main challenge was that it began raining the minute I brought home plants to decorate the porches.

I started with the back porch because I could work in the rain.

Trader Joe's had jasmine which is perfect hanging above the table made from my grandmother's sewing machine base.

I tied little bottles onto an old metal screen and snipped flowers from the garden.

I love using words in decor so wooden letters with magnets on the back are perfect on the screen.

Mini rose bushes fill a favorite metal basket.

Even in the rain we keep the door open and I love this happy view.

I am focused on using what I have this year so when I started spiffing up the garden shed, I simply borrowed this little ladder from another part of the garden.

It started raining while I was was decorating the the front of the shed so I organized inside while I waited out the rain.

I moved the old milk can outside during Christmas and decided it looks cute next to the shed door and it will look even better when the plant starts blooming.

 I had to wait a couple of days between decorating the back and the front because of rain.

While I waited I created a new arrangement for the front door.

I love how the basket looks on the door, but the clouds are the winners in this shot.

Our old Adirondack chair is falling apart and I almost tossed it, but I decided a basket of flowers would keep anyone from sitting on the chair.

The buoys are beach finds - 

Steve paints them pretty colors to liven up the porch.

Now that my porches are decorated for spring, 

I'm going to check out all the inspiration on the Spring Home Tour.

I'm thrilled to be joining in today as 28 talented bloggers bring you the best of spring for all throughout the home! Please continue along this inspiring tour, and visit the other participants in each of the following categories.

French Creek Farmhouse || Little Farmstead || Frances Lauren Interiors || Art and Sand

Valley + Birch || Rebecca Anne Home || Anderson + Grant || Fiddle Leaf Interiors

Rain & Pine || Harper Home Designs || Land of Laurel || Deb Vuagniaux Designs & Home || The Crowned Goat

Living With Amanda || My Sweet Savannah || Midcounty Journal || My Homier Home || Noting Grace

Just Another Farmhouse || Old Barn Company || Shiplap and Shells || Project 636 || Whitewood Home

Our Clover House || Craftionary || Small Farm Big Life || Handmade Weekly || My Wee Abode