A Busy Day

Today was a busy day - 5 projects finished up.

No, I did not do all of these projects today - some just needed the finishing touches.

I am really happy about how each of these projects turned out.

They were inspired by a book Nicole of My Garden Diaries mentioned here.

The title of the book by Amanda Thomsen is Kiss My Aster: A Graphic Guide to Creating a Fantastic Yard Totally Tailored to You.

I loved the thought "tailored to you" and so, although I am "copying" ideas from Pinterest, they are tailored to me.

I started the globe project several days ago in an attempt to alter a globe like this one I pinned from My Blessings Unlimited.

I bought a cheap, damaged globe and tried to mimic the altered globe.

I had it mostly finished when I thought back to those words, "tailored to me" and I immediately took everything off to start fresh.

I cut out words from a magazine to create a "found poem" - my students loved making found poems.

Embellishments were added in the form of a travel quote and a metal tag from Tim Holtz.

My globe . . . my way.

I love the dresser I pinned several years ago from Tiny White Daisies. 

Yesterday I was working in the garden and I saw that Steve had put an old easel on the wood pile to be chopped up and burned in the fire pit.

And, it hit me - I didn't need to find a dresser - I needed to create a piece that was "tailored" to my garden.

Once I got the idea, I gathered things from the garden and garage to create my display -

the old easel has a new life

a wire basket stolen from the patio got some new flowers this morning

a red heart was borrowed from another display and now holds a yellow sap bucket

3 blue boxes I found in the the garage were screwed onto the easel and planted with flowers

an old wooden goose sits on the bottom of the easel.

And, the best part - one more old easel waiting for a new life.

I thought I might paint my bench to look like this gorgeous bench, but my bench is old and broken down.

Instead, I moved it under the bird of paradise tree, put rocks beneath it and created a bit of a trail to the bench.

I planted Birch's Bellflower between the stones because the sign read "great ground cover for pavers and crevices" - can't wait to see how it fills in.

The photo with the mason jar full of tea and a book is totally staged - if I had taken the time to sit and read, I would not have finished the last two projects of the day.

I love the blue door I pinned from Tiny White Daisies and the white door that Kris, of Junk Chic Cottage, has in her entry.

The only problem is, I live in a working art gallery and there is absolutely no space for me to put a door.

Instead of buying a door, I bought a window at American Home & Garden and created a vignette in our "garden room". 

I love that I finally have a window to decorate and since we use our outdoor room about 10 months of the year, it will be fun to decorate for different seasons.

I had given up finding the floral dishes on my list because they are discontinued - a good reason to buy things when you see them and not wait.

But, serendipity led me to my new plates.

Another antique shop recently opened right next door to American Home & Garden.

I was in the car ready to drive away when I saw it was open and I decided there was no time like the present to check it out.

There were my plates . . . a simple floral design . . . vintage English china . . . much BETTER than the melamine floral plates I had pinned.

I was feeling pretty pleased with myself - 5 projects off my list.

The zipper for my window seat cushion and materials for the baby quilt were just waiting for me when I heard Steve yell for me.

My window had fallen in the wind, the glass table top had broken and pieces were all over the place.

I realized that the tall window was not going to work on the table unless I wired it some how so the window was moved to the ground.

Without the window on the table, the height of the vignette seemed off.

Fortunately, when I was at American Home & Garden, I had also purchased an old screen.

The screen and a bucket of flowers add some height and the table top was turned so the broken corner doesn't show.

I need to find a weathered piece of wood for a new top now that the sewing machine base is on the patio.

All's well that ends well.

 Enough projects for the day - the window seat cushion can wait.

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I am partying at 

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

No Minimalist Here - Open House Party

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party