Container Planting and Painting Styofoam Pots

Like most of you, I've been excited to finally get some outside work accomplished. Earlier this Spring we had our deck rebuilt. It was torn down to the studs and given a complete overhaul. This is the point that I can get really negative on the previous owners for neglecting an amazing 10 year old deck and landscape, but I won't do that. So instead I'll tell you how nice it is to have it mostly finished except for some painting we need to do under the floorboards, and how it's quickly becoming a comfortable place to relax and enjoy our beautiful back yard.

Bunny Silhouette Pillow and Forsythia

I've always planted a forsythia bush or two at each home we've lived in. The last home; the one we are moving from, already had been honored. Several years to be sure, as it is massive and strong. The woody limbs eventually forced over our wooden fence, so we trim the back a little more. But then more trimming means more growth.

When I see buds appear I know Spring will be here soon. I almost missed it this year. I saw buds one weekend, and by the next, they were blooming. So last week I cut a few branches to bring home and enjoy. 

My older daughter bought me my first galvanized watering can quite a few years ago. Restoration Hardware, one of her favorite places, had a line of vintage inspired sprinklers and garden goods. I was thrilled, and that started me on my quest for old ones.

So now I have to share my bunny silhouette pillow that I nabbed at Leola's Home and Garden Open House a few weeks ago. Pam had several, all uniquely different. I loved the brown vintage look floral, so I grabbed it first thing!

Looks like he's ready for a tasty nibble.

so cute!

At least with this "new" watering can I don't have to worry about leaks.

Everything is greening up, but lot's of pollen.

  I have a Bradford Pear in the back yard here.

Can't wait for it to be in full bloom.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. 

Joining in on these parties:

Sundays at Home with Thoughts from Alice

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Inspire Me at A Stroll Thru Life

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

It's a Party at DIY by Design

xoxo,

Bel Monili

Upcycled Vintage Jewelry and Accessories

Easy as 1-2-3 Custom Look Wreath

It's September, and you know what I'm doing...

This last week I started decorating for Fall, and one thing I wanted to do was put together a new wreath for the Dining Room mirror. I love a lush twiggy grapevine wreath with lot's of naturals and florals, but I don't want to pay a "custom" price for it. So, no matter what the season, I have an easy method to get a custom look.

Here it is out on the Sunporch. I'll be showing you the Dining Room a little later, but for now it's on one of my old "Fall" quilts on a wicker chair.

As you can see it's pretty wild, and pretty big;

Fall berries, leaves and Hydrangeas.

I've been making my own wreaths for years, and I almost always use this quick method.  One of the best things about it, besides that it's quick, is that this method is easy to take apart, redo, refresh, or reuse at another time.

 Start with your basic grapevine twig wreath. 

The more crazy twigs the better...

I like a wild, natural, just picked look.

Since I'm a bad DIY blogger, I didn't even think to get pics until I had that wreath hanging up on the mirror, and at that point I wasn't going to take it apart again to show the steps.

sooo...

I just used a few other elements to show how easy it is..

please don't get confused because there are two different wreaths.

I know...I know....

bad blogger.

End of Season sales are a great time to pick up those basic garlands and candle rings. I think this one was a large candle ring that came from Michaels a few years ago. The basic garland ring is of just little Lady Apples. I added the sunflowers a while back so I could use it on my front door, which requires a "skinny" wreath.

Then start layering. I left the Sunflowers and Black-Eyed Susans on the basic apple wreath then added in some Hydrangeas. You can add any blossom mix you like for your season. A Spring wreath might have Tulips and Lilacs on a Forsythia garland. This one I used faux Hydrangea stems, but on my Dining Room wreath I used real dried Hydrangeas. With faux Hydrangeas I sometimes trim the large blooms down.

Now you can see we're adding layers and depth and a lot of interest

 with the Apples, Sunflowers and Hydrangeas.

This grapvine twig wreath is actually a little small for this garland, but I wanted to show you how it all goes together. Just use some gardener's twine or floral wire to secure the garland wreath to the twig wreath. 

Here's the finished product. I just randomly put this together because

I'll be taking it apart again, but you get the idea.

1. A grapevine wreath for the base.
2. A garland or large candle ring on top, just tied on with gardener's twine.
3. Florals to tuck in for added interst and depth. Sometimes I hot glue them on, other times I just tuck them inside and through the vines.

This one is a little wonky since I didn't secure all the layers... just wanted to show you how easy it is to put a wreath together. I didn't need any special tools, and it doesn't make a big mess.
So here's my original again. It's a little more "Fall", whereas the "step by step" version is a little more "Summer".

You can put together a wreath like this in about 15 minutes.

Super quick and versatile.

If you want to change up your basic wreath each season it's easily done.

Just 1-2-3!

Now, have some fun making your own!

I'll be joining in on these great weekly parties:

Whipperberry
A Stroll Thru Life
Tuesday Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

WOW Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspiration Exchange at Ella Claire
DIY by Design
Homework at The Everyday Home
Stone Gable Blog
From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Cup Thursday
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Shabby Art Boutique
Jennifer Rizzo
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

xoxo,

Snow and lilacs...

...those two things don't go well together.

I guess I could say we were lucky as compared to others of you out there.

Lot's of precipitation, but no accumulation.

Where we are in SW Missouri, it snowed and sleeted all day yesterday but didn't stick much. At one point yesterday evening the flakes were HUGE. It was really beautiful... just not for May. So I decided since I wasn't getting out, that I'd redo the faux florals in my urn here in the entry. I'd had daffodils and forsythia in this for early Spring and Easter.

Easter

I have a teensy pet peeve...

I like to keep my faux flowers seasonal.

I can't have geraniums at Christmas

or tulips in the Fall.

They have to stay seasonal and current.

I'm sure these will be changed out again by the end of the month...

maybe daisies by then.

(I'm hoping I'll have daisies by the end of the month...)

Here's a snow pic from the deck and my kitchen window.

Can you see the lilac bush on the other side of the fence?

(bad photo, I know. I don't have a zoom lens for distance.)

yes...it's not mine, 

and it's in my neighbor's yard.

a bachelor...

and it drives me crazy. 

But my arms aren't long enough to grab a branch

and harvest a bouquet.

I have to admit I've had fleeting thoughts of sneaking over the fence by cover of darkness. We watched Zero Dark Thirty last night and I think that those high tech night vision goggles and other gear might work for this kind of mission. (just kidding...I wouldn't do that...just a little temptation of the blooming kind). What can I say...I was spoiled when I was young. We had two massive bushes of lilacs and we had fresh bouquets all over the house, this time of year.

So I just have to look at it and imagine a wonderful fragrant lilac bouquet

filling an ironstone pitcher or a large crystal vase.

I've thought of planting my own bush, 

but I haven't found a good spot for one.

excuses...excuses.

so I'll try to enjoy some silk ones and maybe find a room spray 

or candle that will make me think they're real.

and while we're here,

you can see that some of my birdies are back here in the Entry.

This is what you do if it's too cold for the sunporch...

...and you're really lazy.

good thing there are two sofas...

one for each lazy kit kat.

joining in with these parties this week:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Hope you're having a great weekend,

I'll try to behave...

xoxo,

The "Other" Mantel

Yes, the other fireplace mantel that's in the lower level family area...

I don't post about it often because it's hard to photograph, and really pretty rustic.

We've always wanted a weekend cabin at the lake. 

(We live just 30 minutes from the beautiful hills of Branson, and Table Rock Lake)

Woodsy, rustic, lodge-y, comfort.

But, I don't have one, so this area gets to be the stand-in. 

Things don't change around too much down here. But I do try to keep the fireplace mantel seasonally decorated and the faux flowers in my wicker basket changed out.

It's where we hang out to watch tv and spend our evenings. 

It's functional, cozy, and not "white".

It's also where the kids and grandpuppy lounge.

and did I mention that it's not white?

It's about the same as our fireplace in the living room, which is directly above it, except this room has built in bookshelves on each side instead of windows...and a massive tv and wall cabinet....also wood, which makes it darker. But so much better to curl up with a fire and a good movie. So I enjoy the rustic, lodge-y feel with Pendleton Blankets, a few leather pieces, and a deer mount or two. 

...but I did want to share my Spring-ified attempt 

down here with my Majolica pitchers and teapots.

...and my florist buckets filled with faux forsythia.

which brighten things up a little bit.

I found this old 40's framed print at the flea, and it's here most of the year. The subtle shades of muted earthy tones, and shabby gold frame blend in with the vintage feel.

those are a few cows in the distance.

...love me some cows and sheep in a landscape.

Are you feeling lazy?

Come on over,

and don't forget to bring your blankie.

Joining in for these parties:

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Knick of Time 

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy little House

Inspire Me at A Stroll Thru Life

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,