French Garden Inspired Frame

I've mentioned before that vintage garden goods have always been my favorite kind of "vintage". I love it all, but I have a real soft spot for old garden tools, wagons, ephemera,...anything "seed" related, etc. I've had to pack up most of my garden goodies for now, during our move, but I've kept a few little things to play with and decorate my baker's rack in the sitting room.

When we cleaned out my in-laws garden shed a few years ago I confiscated several old garden tools, and I've had my radar up for a few different ones recently. (more on that next week) These little ones below are of the "mini" variety that I use with my tabletop wheelbarrow. I've been collecting garden inspiration on Pinterest using the old tools, and thought I might try a little summery wall vignette with an old empty chippy frame from my stash.

Inspiration for a French Garden Frame from the Graphics Fairy

I have this hanging in the sitting area in the kitchen.

I'll share the rest of the summer garden baker's rack next week.

I included a mini bee skep among the flowers in the old watering can. I recently bought a little bigger one, (that I haven't shown you yet). I've had this little one for ages, complete with "bees".

My Black Eye'd Susans are really blooming crazy this year,

 so I thought I'd do a little nod to them on this.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

We have a contract on the house, YAY!!!

joining in at these parties:

Sundays at Home with Thoughts From Alice 

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Show and Share at Coastal Charm

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

xoxo,

Pear Branches and Some New Old Pillows

Our little city has been full of these wonderful blooms these last few weeks; tufts of small individual blossoms cover the trees, and give a haze of billowy whiteness. I hadn't been up close and personal with the blooms of the Bradford Pear Tree, but I was eager to clip a few branches that are in our new back yard to bring inside...

until I actually took a deep breath to inhale the delicate white blooms, that look a lot like Spirea, or Bridal Veil, and then I got a huge surprise... they're the stinkiest plant I've ever smelled!

Stink, Stank, Stunk!

So the kitty girls were curious too, 

let's just say one whiff and they were not interested any longer.

But I still brought them in because they're so dang pretty.

and besides, I wanted a new coffee table vignette.

This is one of the lanterns from Pottery Barn that I ordered last Christmas.

I wanted to keep things white,

so it's an iron rabbit, on a vintage flowerpot.

we see you...

on a frenchy farmhouse tray with a chicken wire bottom.

While I was taking pictures, I decided to add in this old paper mache tray for some more coordinating color.

It's been well used over the years, but the cottage is so charming, 

I looked past the damage.

Sorting out things for a garage sale, I realized that there were two pillows that might work on my new sofas. When I brought them over, I saw that the caramel really highlighted the colors of the vintage print. So I think they'll stay.

This is a tapestry upholstery fabric I used a couple of years ago;

an old bed pillow is inside.

I know it's kind of a stretch to use with a leopard print,

but it works for me, since there's not much pattern in here.

Here's the loveseat, and another pillow I had used in the living room on my Bergere chairs once they were "slipped".

I think the tans, browns, and creams pull it all together.

Hope you're having a beautiful Easter Week. 

(just stay away from stinky trees...)

joining in on these great parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Swing into Spring at DIY by Design
Blissful Whites at Timewashed
Share Your Cup at Mrs. Olson's
Treasure Hunt From My Front Porch to Yours
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Shabbilicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique
Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo
Simple and Sweet Friday at Rooted in Thyme

xoxo,

Today's Sponsor

Elliott-Heath Designs

Carrier filled for Spring

I mentioned last week, that each time I'm at the other house packing the endless number of "things", that a few of them inevitably end up in my tote bag to come over here and join the other decor tidbits. I'm careful not to be too blatant, otherwise hubbs will look at me like, "we're supposed to be packing this stuff, not playing with it." sorry, I have to play...

The pink vintage bunny planter, majolica rabbit plate, and Fitz and Floyd Berry Platter were my spoils from last weekend.

This platter has some cracks and chips,

 but I fell in love with the raised basket weave design.

so Springy.

This little guy has no markings, but I did a Google search and it appears that he's Shawnee Pottery from the 50's...old bunny, real old bunny. He's all cotton candyish sweet pink with lots of little crazing.

Last year none of my daffodils bloomed. I don't know why, but there weren't even any bloom pods, just greens... what a disappointment. And this year only a few, so I wanted to enjoy them while I could. Last year I planted a few hyacinth bulbs in the same area, that did come up. When I went to cut them, some bees were eagerly working on them, so I left a few behind for them. They make a petite bouquet in one of my small Staffordshire white Ironstone pitchers.

I've always loved the unique shape of this hexagonal soup tureen. I can't decide if it's ironstone or ceramic, but it's different. And it's small enough to decorate with. I've changed out this carrier several times since I've been at this house. I only  have a few places to "decorate", so this is doing double duty to help with my decorating addiction.

And if course, I've never met a white carrier that I didn't love.

This is a strawberry carrier, with slats in the bottom,

sitting on the small bench in front of the wicker settee. 

I didn't have enough room for my coffee table here,

 but this old tool caddy bench fit perfectly.

The weather is confused here; it thinks we're still in March. It's been so windy today and chilly. Hopefully it will be in the 70's again by the weekend; the Iris are starting to come up. Hope you're having a wonderful week!

joining in on these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
It's a Party at DIY by Design
Blissful Whites at Timewashed

Treasure Hunt at From My Front Porch to Yours
Creative Friday at Jen Rizzo
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Shabbilicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique
Simple and Sweet Friday at Rooted in Thyme

xoxo,

Today's Sponsor

French Bleu Vintage

Be sure and check out the 50% off sale going on now!

Spring Sentiments

A few weeks ago I was feeling sort of "homesick". I guess it's more of a feeling of uncertainty in not knowing when we'll be in a permanent home, and some missing my ability to play with my decor. Living in a small house without all my "stuff" at my fingertips has me a little hampered in changing things up, and I'm certainly a person who likes to keep my surroundings changed up and "fresh".

So what do I do when I'm feeling a little lacking in inspiration and creativity? Besides checking all of you out, I like to look back through my photo gallery and blog posts to see what was going on last year or the year before. You guessed it, I was decorating for Easter and dreaming of Spring out on the sunporch.

My favorite place to "change things up" was the sunporch.

First time forcing hyacinths.

Just bought this wonderful print.

Decorating the Holiday Cupboard

Freshening up the Entry

 Attending Leola's Vintage Home and Garden,

Spring Open House

And having a visit at Robin's Vintage Suitcase.

vintage twin sofas

bunnies and tulips...looks like Spring!

oh, I just LOVE this wonderful old ladder.

shhhh...I found an old ladder in the basement clean up.

I see it painted white in the future.

(don't tell my hubby)

Thanks for letting me reminisce a little. I've been packing all my treasures, and it's a little hard knowing that they are going in a box and I don't know when I'll see them again. Some of the furniture has been sold, and knowing that Spring is around the corner I'm just wondering where I'll be come Summer, then Fall. I'm trying not to come off whiney. Just enjoying looking back and drinking up the sweet pics of preparing for Spring.

 Have a wonderful Sunday...

be blessed sweet friends.