Welcoming Spring With an Antique Crockery Pitcher

Hi Friends, I'm excited today to be joining in with a group that will be starting a new bimonthly Themed Hop. Thank you Cindy from County Road 407, for creating this fun gathering for all of us that are lovers of farmhouse and vintage decor. If you came from visiting CoCo at The Crowned Goat, welcome, I'm so glad that you came by. This month we're sharing our ideas for using crockery in our decor and vignettes.

Lilac Basket Centerpiece with French Faience

I like to keep floral arrangements seasonal and updated, especially on the farmtable out in the Garden Room. Most often I use faux and silk flowers in a vintage basket or in my vintage ice cream bucket. Sometimes I create a tabletop tableau with other vintage pieces if it's a holiday or special occasion. With the change of the calendar to May and we're into late spring, lilacs have been grabbing my attention. It was time to change up the forsythia branches of last month for a late springtime mix of variegated purple lilacs and a lovely stem of yellow iris blooms. 

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

Hop Into Easter

Hello Everyone! I have to tell you that this is a special day for me being able to join in on this fun Spring Blog Hop. This last year has been a difficult time due to health issues and a major move. So being able to participate makes me feel like life may be getting back to normal. I'm so glad you're here to help me celebrate! Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home is our talented hostess for this Easter Hop. Thankyou Amber for inviting me along.

Garden Room Sitting Area and Easter on a Tray

Hello Friends and Welcome to the Easter On A Tray Blog Tour, hosted by our sweet friend, Katherine, from Katherine's Corner. Are you ready for some fun and inspiration on how to do a quick nod to any holiday or season? You'll see some wonderful ideas on how to decorate a small space or add a beautiful compact decor vignette with just a few items. 

Garden Flower Pot Wreath for Spring

I made this fun Springtime wreath a few years ago after I'd found these old French seed packet labels on Etsy. I added them to some tags and then tied whitewashed flowerpots on the grapevine wreath. Last year I didn't get to use it because it was hidden among a ton of other tubs and boxes in the garage, but this year it's hanging on the mirror on the old door in the Kitchen Sitting Area.

A little touch of Spring...

Nothing like a day or two in the 50's to get me started thinking about Spring. And since Easter is a little early this year, I thought I'd try to get a few things changed up. My hallway sideboard is where most of the Valentine goodies had been displayed so naturally, it had to be first. I like to start with clean slate, so I just take everything off of it and hopefully, I come up with something different.

The outside of this wreath was the one I had up during the Holidays, just a basic organic, mossy wreath, but for Spring it needed some color, and before I knew it a moss covered bunny had nestled itself inside. A small forsythia wreath and a petite bundle of blooms filled it out. If you remember, this big gold frame held the faux chalkboard, that now I just popped out to be open against the old window.

The galvanized chalkboard drawer also stayed, and now it's holding my sweet Easter Greeting and an ironstone pitcher filled with faux mini tulips.

This is a moss covered rabbit I found at Michael's a few years ago, who fits perfectly inside the old wicker basket.

Not a good photo, 

but my rabbit casserole on an old ironstone platter.

This is as far as I've gotten with the Spring decorating, as yesterday I got knocked down with the flu. I thought that maybe I was going to escape it...but no... At least I've had my Downton Abbey Season 2 to keep me company. Between a fever and all those episodes, I've found myself  "thinking" in Mrs. Hughs voice. sad...so very sad. And I won't even start on Matthew's tragic demise.

OK, happier thoughts!!!

Have you entered the Give Away for the Gift Certificate?

It ends tonight!

just click here

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

Timewashed for Blissful Whites

No Minimalist Here for Open House Party
Stone Gable for TTT
Share Your Cup at Mrs. Olson's
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt
The Charm of Home 
Jennifer Rizzo
French Country Cottage

xoxo,

LED Woodsy Tree and Transitioning from Fall to Christmas

So yesterday, the first thing I saw on my bloglist was a sponsored group of bloggers with Christmas Trees. Please don't get me wrong, I understand all about advertising and sponsored posts, and being out front for the seasonal rush for products, sharing ideas and offers. And it's nothing personal, these are a great group of bloggers.  But golly, I'm not ready to have anything Christmas shoved at me just yet. I like to eeeaaaase in to Christmas. I don't like to go "Cold Turkey" and leave out Thanksgiving.

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,

A Simple Centerpiece for the Garden Room

It's been fun seeing the shrubs, plants and flowers that have emerged here at the new place this Spring and Summer. Mid Spring, I was so excited to see a row of Forsythia at the back of the property line, and even though they were pruned to within an inch of their lives they are now becoming full and giving us a little more privacy.

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,