Switching to Sunflowers!

Some people never hang anything on their front door ( with maybe the exception of a wreath at Christmas).  Some people will hang something according to the season with about 4 or 5 changes per year.  And then there's the rest of us!  I change my front door decor at least 7 or 8 times a year.  Often times I will hang the same thing but change it up just a bit.  What's that saying about a woman's perogative?  Something about the right to change our minds?  That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it! 

A few weeks back I changed my front decor to a beachy look (see HERE).   Here's a quick look if you want the condensed version.

Before...

That look was soooo last month!

I went back to my trusty baskets and raided my decorating closet for things to fill them.  I gathered my materials on the kitchen counter and went to work.  That's HGTV's Design Star on the television in the background.  I love that show and it's a must see for design inspiration.

I keep my fake sunflowers in a sunflower tin (that makes sense, right?).  The tin container is from Ross.

Here is one of the baskets.  You can read more about them HERE.

This is my first try.  I always hang them up and look them over to see if I should add more (and I always wind up adding more of something)

I decided they needed some orange colored flowers with the yellow.  I have bought fake sunflowers at several different stores and the ones from the clearance bin at Walmart look about the same as the more expensive ones at Michael's.  I'm going to pass on a tip from a very talented blogger,  Alycia Nichols from  Tablescapes at Table Twenty One, who told me she will observe the real flower, then try to make her fake flowers look as close as she can to the real thing, including how they grow in nature.  Try to avoid artificial looking colors and experiment with adding fake or silk in with the real thing. 

I hung them up outside to see how they look.

I think using the two shades of yellow makes for a more interesting arrangement.  In my previous post about these baskets, one of the tips I passed along was to place a fabric softener sheet inside the bottom to help keep the bugs (especially bees) away.  Trust me, it works and they smell pretty good too!

I found these garden tools at Goodwill months ago for less than $1 each. 

Aren't they cute?

I decided to add the sunflower tin to the potted plants I already had out on my front porch (a good example of mixing real with fake).

This little garden marker is from Dollar Tree.

I added a metal pick (Ross) to the top of my lantern (Old Time Pottery).  If you buy a plain lantern, you can change it up to match your decor.  You can add things to it inside, outside or even both.  Battery operated candles now come with timers and are perfect for these lanterns (best prices I've seen are on Amazon).

Add a few mini flags and you're ready for the Fourth of July.

So, go ahead and change it up for summer or the 4th of July.  Exercise your rights!  After all, it's your perogative!

My sunflowers will be blooming at the following parties...

Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Spotlight Saturday at Classy Clutter

Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal

Saturday 7 at Positively Splendid

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Nifty Thrift Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes

You're Gonna Love it Tuesday at Kathe with an E

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Creative Blogger's Party at Homemaker on a Dime

Tutes and Tips not to be Missed at Home Stories A to Z

DIY Project Parade at DIY Showoff

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Show 'n Share at Southern Lovely

Rustic Restorations Party at Homespun Happenings

Pinspired Rewired at Southern Lovely

Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable

Grace At Home at Imparting Grace

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Liberty and Lobster for All!

"Where Liberty is, there is my country"-Benjamin Franklin

I should have named this post "Don't rain on my parade"!  We are feeling the effects of Debby right now and it has been raining non-stop for over 24 hours.  I wanted to do this table outside but there has been no window of opportunity at all. The weather isn't looking much better for tomorrow either.  Having no other choice, I set up my table in my great room eating area. 

I am a big fan of Fourth of July and always have been.  I have so many wonderful memories of this holiday from when I was a child to when my children were small.  No presents to buy, no cards to send out, a day off work and FIREWORKS!  My kind of holiday!  I have always loved fireworks.  Everything from waving sparklers around to viewing the spectacle at Disney World! 

My perfect meal for this holiday would have to be lobster.  If for some reason I had to pick a final meal (not planning on committing a crime!) it would definitely be lobster.  So let's try not to let the rain ruin our plans here and enjoy the Fourth (and hope it's way out of here before next week)

This is quite the thrifty table too.  Lots of items from Dollar Tree, thrift stores and clearance sales.

My place setting started with straw placemats (again!)  After Christmas I bought some bright green chargers on clearance at Walmart and so far all I've done to them was spray paint them with white primer.  Another project in progress!

For this table I criss crossed some burlap ribbon to give them a new look.  Have you ever worked with burlap ribbon?  It's fun and there's so much you can do with it.

Next I placed dinner plates I found yesterday at Kmart.  They are from the Country Living collection and were on clearance for $7 (for 4!).  The salad plates are sparkly red and were found on clearance at Ross.  Next up is a bowl from my Federalist Ironstone dishes and a glass dish with cute mints from Dollar Tree. 

I used my Cambridge flatware.

I found these napkin rings at Old Time Pottery.  The red, white and blue napkins are really cotton dishtowels from Dollar Tree.  I layered them with red napkins.

Glasses are from Dollar Tree also, as well as the mini flags.

I grounded my centerpiece on a white wooden tray.  Instead of cut flowers, I used a live plant  I picked up at Kmart yesterday.  Take a closer look here...

This good sized ceramic planter is from Dollar Tree.  I was surprised how nice it was.  Even the cashier couldn't believe I found it in her store!  In case you don't have Dollar Tree, they are a true dollar store (everything is $1)

I added a navy napkin to hide the plant container.  I like the way a flag looks next to yellow flowers.

The America sign is from a thrift store and the Lobster plate is from the Christmas Tree Shop.

My mouth is watering just thinking about eating lobster!  Dipped in melted butter! 

The trick to setting a Patriotic table isn't just using red, white and blue.  Try to vary your textures as I've done here.  There's no reason to spend a lot of money either as I have proved here also.   

Be sure to stop by my sister's blog, Creating Wonderful Spaces!

I am waving my flag at the following parties...

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll thru Life

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Thursday's Favorite Things at Katherine's Corner

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Vintage Inspiration Patriotic Party at Common Ground

Inspiration Friday-July 4th Edition at The Picket Fence

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Sunday Blog Love Linky Party at Cherished Treasures

Craigslist Headboards Solution

I gave you the solution, now let's take a look at the problem...

This is the guest room I've been working on the last few months.  You can read about it HERE.  It's pretty obvious what's missing.

Last night I came across this ad on Craigslist

Twin Pamero shop Head Boards - $40

2 Twin headboards. Excellent condition. Bargain price $40.00 for the pair. Originally over $100 each!!

I have been checking CL for headboards on and off for a few months now.  Since this is my beachy room, I was looking for wicker or white wood.  I even considered using wooden shutters (they have gotten too expensive!) This was the first ad I was interested in enough to email.  I was very happy to wake up to a response this morning saying they were still available.  I made sure to ask if this was a non-smoking household.  You can read HERE how I learned that lesson the hard way!  She assured me it was and this afternoon my husband borrowed our friend's truck and we picked them up.

Pretty nice! 

I had my husband hang the art work high enough for a future headboard even though I had no idea what we would wind up with.

I'm happy with the color of the wicker too.  Now I don't need to paint the little chest I'm using as a nightstand.  I like the contrast with the wall color ( I call it buttercream although it doesn't look it in these pictures-rainy day here!)

Am I done with this room now?

Not yet, but I'm getting close! 

You didn't think I was going to end this post without spewing out some advice did you?  Not a chance! 

First off, I think we all watch too much HGTV and think that our rooms/houses/yards have to be completely finished in a weekend.  That's just not being realistic.  I am a firm believer in living with a space first and seeing how you use it.  You may prefer the look of a sofa and a few chairs but in reality a sectional just works better for your family.  That delicate Victorian outdoor wicker furniture with the pale pink cushions  looks so pretty in the magazines but do you want your son and his friends eating popsicles on it  or your daughter out there with her colored markers? Or even worse, your 6 foot something husband sitting on it,  drinking a beer, all sweaty after he's mowed the lawn?  The best rooms are a combination of beauty and function  or in this case, two outdoor areas!  One for you with your pretty wicker and one for the rest of the family!.

Second point I want to make is not to rush out and buy every piece of furniture you need like you're a contestant on Design Star!  Most people have a budget and would be wise to wait for a good sale or even better yet, wait for the right thing to come up on Craigslist (see above!).  Slow down people, your house isn't going anywhere!  I have no choice but to follow this advice since my husband usually reels me in with that whole budget thing!  Don't you just hate that?

My last point has to do with Craigslist etiquette (if there isn't a book about this, there should be).  When someone has priced something reasonably (as these headboards certainly were) I just pay the full amount automatically.  If I think something is priced high or I've had to rent a truck to pick something up, I have no problem negotiating for a better price.  I like it when Craigslist transactions benefit both the buyer and seller.  Let's have everyone walk away happy!

I will be joining the fun at the following parties...

Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Spotlight Saturday at Classy Clutter

Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal

Saturday 7 at Positively Splendid

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Nifty Thrift Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes

You're Gonna Love it Tuesday at Kathe with an E

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Creative Blogger's Party at Homemaker on a Dime

Newbie Party at DebbieDoos

Tutes and Tips not to be Missed at Home Stories A to Z

DIY Project Parade at DIY Showoff

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Show 'n Share at Southern Lovely

Rustic Restorations Party at Homespun Happenings

Pinspired Rewired at Southern Lovely

Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable

Grace At Home at Imparting Grace

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed

50 Shells of Gray

Don't worry, this tablescape isn't based on "that" book.  Just the title!  I couldn't find any handcuffs small enough to use as napkin rings (some of you probably have no idea what I'm talking about!).   The theme for this week's Let's Dish Party is "beach".  Perfect for a Florida girl who lives 20 minutes from the beach, right?  So fitting, that I have gone with the coastal feel several times in the past few months, see HERE and HERE.  I still have lots of dishes and accessories I could use and I'm sure I will tackle another one before this summer is gone but I just wanted to take a different path today.  I was shopping at the Villeroy and Boch Outlet this week (they are having a scratch and save sale!) and found a gray runner on clearance.  An idea was born!

Instead of being my usual chatty self, I think I will let the pictures tell the story and give my resources at the end.  This is very unlike me and I may never do this again (even if you would like me to!)  I hope you enjoy my 50 shells of gray and  unusual take on a "beach" theme.  I didn't bother to count but 50 sounds about right!

I like to think of this table representing a late afternoon thunder storm at the beach. I love a good thunderstorm, don't you?

And by candlelight (oops, I wasn't supposed to talk!)

Now for the credits...

Table runner.....Villeroy and Boch Outlet

Flower Vase.....Ross

Flowers...Publix and my yard

Candleholders.....Ross, Marshall's and thrift store

Candles.....Ross and Marshall's

Chargers.....Target

Dinner Plate.....Old Time Pottery

Salad Plate.....Beall's Outlet

Shell Plate.....Goodwill

Sand...grits topped with a little crystal sugar

Flatware.....Ross

Glasses.....Ross and a wedding gift

Shells around tapers.....Pottery Barn (napkin rings)

Napkins.....Target

Be sure to see what my landlocked sister has done for a beach table at Creating Wonderful Spaces.

This tablescape is blowing over to the following parties...

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage

Thursday Favorite Things at Katherine's Corner

Thrfty Things Friday at Thrifty Groove

Inspiration Friday at The Picket Fence

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home