Patriotic Porch

Having a little fun this week decorating my porch space for the holiday weekend. This the first time I decorated for the 4th of July, usually I just use one them and leave it up all summer, but I decided changing things up a little would be fun.

 I grabbed this old king size quilt from my linen closet, perfect fit for the teak bench I must say! I had this wonderful vintage tablecloth pillow sham that had all the right colors.

I gathered up a few coordinating treasures. I forgot I had these colorful Burpee seed mugs tucked in the back of a cupboard. I need to use these this summer, they are perfect for the season. Picked a handful of bachelor buttons (or cornflowers as the farmers here call them)

One of my favorite display pieces is this old wood flat. Fun to just tuck in what I can find. Goes well with the wispy pink baby's breath, alyssum and brachycome daisies.

I went to the back shed and found this old window that I have used in a number of places mainly the back patio or on my back fence, and thought-why not? So here it is above the bench. I had some vintage looking flag fabric in my stash and simply gathered it up to dress the window a bit.

just throwing in a close up on my up-cycled chair I did a couple years ago. The brachycome flowers are planted in a hard hat that I punched holes into for drainage.

all set to kick off my shoes and watch the fireworks from the porch!

Happy 4th of July to all my bloggie friends!

2013 re-purpose upcyle projects in review

As 2013 comes to a close and I have neglected my blog during the busy holiday season, I am playing a bit of catch up on some of the projects I worked on this last year that I never posted about.  I love the thrill of the hunt finding treasures that can have a new life. Some of these I sold on my website, but most I kept for myself!

Starting with the pic below, this is a big haul that I made at a farm sale last August. Most of these pieces came out of an old barn and were literally rusty, dusty, dirty but truly vintage treasures! That little yellow watering can my granddaughters loved to use it as it was just their size!

Starting with the spools, I cleaned them up, painted, added some vintage sheet music, some cup hooks, lace and a soft pink rose~viola, a jewelry tower below.

The banana rack below was a simple project with painting, water slide decal
and a bit of distressing for  great retro cottage charm

You may have seen these other pieces incorporated into my fall and summer porch decor, the rusty scale (I love this, it fits so well as a decorating element))

 

The plant rack I painted yellow

worked great for both summer and fall decor

I think my best and simplest find was the wood carrier as I did nothing to it except fill it with seasonal charm! Below are the fall and Christmas displays I used it for.

at Christmas another purpose

Then the vases...those were for the glass bird feeders. these were so fun and they sold well both locally and off my website.I collect the pieces for them all year. Tutorial coming in the spring on these too.

 

A picket wood piece I picked up at yet another farm sale

 

A simple fix of "flipping" it upside down, painting, lettering and distressing gave it a nice "frenchy" appeal 

 I never did get to the ladder in the top pic, it is intended to use as a garden junk element. So when the weather gets nice, I will put my thinking cap on. I also have this chair back I am excited to work on.

I would love to hear your suggestions on this piece!

Whew! Now it starts all over again...the thrill of the hunt, and the vision of something wonderful for 2014!

Happy New Year to all my Junkin friends!