31 Days of Fall - Day 6 Hurricane Vases

Taking my inspiration from My Heart's Desire and several Pottery Barn catalogues, I made these fall hurricanes to decorate my dining room table for fall.  My dining room is small and the dining table is the focal point.  I like to keep my decorations in this room simple and these hurricane vases were just perfect.

I used green split peas, red kidney beans and yellow popcorn this year.  I also found my vases and candles at Walmart.  

Click here to see all 31 Days of Fall posts.
Part of 31 Days of Blogging at Nesting Place. 

Easter Decorations

Traditionally I don't do a lot of decorating for Easter, but since I am hosting Easter Dinner this year, I thought it would be a good idea to decorate a bit.  I made the Hydrangea Covered Eggs last year, so this year used them as my table center piece.  I also made some new napkins to complement the quilted table runner my mom made for me years ago. 

To bring a bit of spring color to the rest of the house, I made 3 paper pennant bannesr in about 30 minutes.  I  pulled spring scrapbook paper from my paper stash,cutting them in 4 x 5.5 x 5.5  inch triangles.  Using a hole punch I threaded them on jute and hung them with clear push pins. Quick, easy and they really make a statement. 

Linking up to
Tatertots and Jello
Sundae Scoop
Somewhat Simple

Pennant Bunting

I have  been in the process of redecorating Boo Boo's room for several months.  We have done it in stages, as money and time have allowed.  This has actually been beneficial as we did not have everything planned out and going slowly has allowed us to pick and choose items we wanted to add to the decor and figure out what will work in her room.

Several months ago we painted it her walls a lovely shade of lime green and purchased a comforter set in lime, blue and purple.  One of the decor items we decided upon was a pennant banner, similar to the one we made for the 4th of July.   We selected several fabrics in her decor colors and got to work.  Once again, I followed the wonderful tutorial I found at My Homebased Mom. 

I cut all the pieces

Stitched them together

Sewed them to the bias tape

And hung them in her room.  It added just the right pop of color and interest to her new decor.

Linking up to - 

Sundae Scoop

Made By You Monday

It's A Blog Party

Make It Yourself Monday

Cozy Home Scene

Somewhat Simple

Delightful Order

Link It Up Wednesday

Fireflies and Jelly Beans

Tatertots and Jello

I'm Lovin' It

Weekend Wanderer



Porch Make Over Reveal

I posted a couple of weeks ago that my porch was in need of a little make over. I am happy to show off my once again lovely back porch  - where I sit right now with a cup of coffee and Rhett (my adorable French Bulldog) enjoying the peacefulness of this summer morning. 

Here's the before -

 Old, faded cushions, not many pillows, in serious need of pressure washing, not as inviting as I would like.

And the after -

 Everything has been cleaned and washed.  All new cushions and lots of pillows!  I bought the base cushions at Wal-Mart on clearance, but made all the pillows (thanks to a Joann's 50% off sale on all decorator fabrics).  The burlap pillows I stenciled and just stitched together, stuffing with polyfil.  The other pillows are outdoor decorator fabrics and are actually pillow covers, so I can take them off and wash then as needed.  I followed a great tutorial from A Pretty Cool Life. 

 So much brighter and more welcoming.  i love the lanterns of the coffee table.  Found them at IKEA for $4 each.  They hold a small votive candle and look great when lit at night.  I still need a new rug.  I bought one, but decided there was too much white in the pattern and it would be dirty by the end of the first party.  I'm thinking about painting a piece of vinyl linoleum....

The swing area may be my biggest improvement, considering there was a punching bag sitting here just a couple of days ago.  I added several flowers, a lemon and key lime tree and a cute little tile table I picked up at Target on clearance.

I am thrilled with my little porch make over, especially the price.  I did it all for under $300, including $90 for the two citrus trees.
 

Rhett Butler certainly approves!

 Linked to - Made By You Monday
Show Me How
Tackle It Tuesday
What I Made Wednesday
Delightful Order
I Heart Naptime
Metamorphasis Monday
Wow Me Wednesday
Strut Your Stuff
Weekend Wrap Up

Back Porch Update Plans

I think I've said it before, but it bears repeating again, I LOVE my back porch.  It is my favorite "room" in my house.  Five years ago we covered our 14 x 36 concrete slab porch and created a space we use from March until December. 

 

 

 As much as we love it, the porch is in need of a little update.  Here's what's in store for the porch over the next couple of weeks -

 

• New Porch Cushions (already got these on sale!)
• Spray Paint and Decorate Baker's Rack I inherited from a moving neighbor

• Paint concrete floor (not sure this will happen this summer, but hoping....)
• Make and hang drop cloth curtains on one section (stealing this idea)
• Make new pillows to match new cushions (using this fabric)
• Stain and seal bar stools and porch swing
• Remove punching bag and extra wood from another project

• Clean out bar area
• Re-do 2 flower beds surrounding east side of porch (one will be an herb garden/cutting flower area)

 

If I work really hard, I might have most of it done by the July 4th!