Thanks to blogging ...

One of the things that I love about blogging is that it keeps me motivated - I have to be creative so I'll have something to write about.

I mentioned in my last post that I couldn't seem to push myself, but putting a goal in writing and out there in blogland set me in motion.

I said that I wanted new chaise covers 

and when you see the new ones, you'll wonder what the difference is.

On Tuesday, after I hit post on the blog, I actually got busy - what you see isn't yards of purchased fabric, but an old floral duvet and a matching pillow with the striped back of the pillow showing.

Lulu was kind enough to model the two fabrics - both covers were made from old duvets, but the old covers on the left have worn thin and faded.

The first part of the project was simple - I added a pillow form to the large sham and plopped it on the garden bench.

Next I essentially made ruffle edged throws for the chaises and added the very faded matching pillows.

For more color, I tossed the pillow on the second chaise backwards.

Lulu gave her seal of approval to the new covers by taking over my seat today when I popped into the house for a minute.

I had hoped to just laze in the garden the rest of the week, but that hasn't happened.

When I should have been gardening, we've been enjoying the outdoors - the hillside and wildflowers were calling.

The little strip of beach you see below is the area of town where we live.

And now, because writing down that I wanted to make new chaise covers got me motivated, I'll show you my next goal.

If all goes as planned, I'll be showing you plate racks on our dining room walls soon.

We're not tackling the racks -  a neighbor said he was up to the challenge so I'll be lying right here while Joe builds the racks.

Happy April!

Fun With Flowers

This morning I read a post by Stacey of Poofing the Pillows titled "When It Feels Like Your Creativity and Motivation Are Just Gone!" - Stacey has a good excuse because they are in the process of building a house.

I on the other hand have projects waiting like painting the back porch and sewing new covers for the chaises in the garden, but I can't seem to push myself.

So, rather than tackle one of the big ticket items on my list, I headed to Trader Joe's.

These days my creativity seems to be limited to photography 

and I decided to buy flowers and have fun simply styling them and taking pictures.

 5 different bouquets of flowers became the props for playing with my camera.

I keep seeing pics on Instagram with a bag of flowers hanging on a hook - this is my version.

Another pic I see is flowers (in some sort of container) on a chair - I like my massive lavender plant peeking out in the background.

This spring, bicycle baskets filled with flowers catch my eye on IG - I staged mine in front of a favorite house in my neighborhood knowing that the out of town owners wouldn't be around.

After snapping the photos, I had to find homes for the flowers - I think my new pig on wheels makes a nice accompaniment to the daisies.

The vignette I set up last week before we headed to Sacramento to visit our daughter was looking really sad,

so I spiffed it up with the purple freesia - at least I think that's what the flowers are!

I have loads of asparagus fern in the garden, 

but it's a pain to sweep up and the carnations seem to last forever.

I added left over greenery to this bowl on the dining room - Lulu was a bad girl when we were in Sacramento and ate my new air plants that were sitting in the bowl.

It was fun to play with flowers and my camera and now I'm motivated to play with flowers and stripes - new chaise covers and pillows coming soon!

Hello Spring

 

I'm joining a wonderful group of bloggers for a Hello Spring Blog Tour.

You'll find the links to the other blogs at the end of this post and if you're visiting from one of the other blogs, thanks for stopping by.

We actually had a winter this year so like most of you, I am thrilled that spring weather is finally here.

The harsh winds and heavy rain have abated and I am busy getting our house ready for outdoor living.

Spring is happening in the house, 

but the majority of my time is spent in taming the jungle that popped up in our garden due to rain, rain, rain and more rain.

The first section I tackled was the side of the house and there is still much to do, but at least we can walk down the sidewalk.

Steve is happy that the weather once again allows him to sit on the bench in the sun each afternoon.

This little spot under the living room window was a disaster, but it's coming along nicely -

 an old red chair (found on the side of a street) adds colorful height to the space.

Far and away my favorite spring change is my little garden house.

I wanted to use it as more than a shed for holding tchotchkes so I created a fun little library for myself using whatever I could find around the house.

The denim chair cover had been hiding in the attic and it is simply thrown over a plastic garden chair.

The house is tiny, but there is just enough room for a little table.

I would love to say that I have been spending my days sitting in the little garden house, but the jungle is calling.

Fortunately, I love working in the garden

and then stepping back to see what I have accomplished.

And now let's see what everyone else is up to this spring.

Monday 

   Let's Add Sprinkles ...  Common Ground  ...  The Essence of Home ...  Bluesky Kitchen

Tuesday 

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes ... Art and Sand ... Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Wednesday

Botanic Bleu ... My Heart Lives Here ... Cottage At The Crossroads ... Fern Creek Cottage  ...
Decor To Adore

Thursday 

The Dedicated House ...  Ash Tree Cottage ... Hyacinths For The Soul ... Let's Add Sprinkles