To market, to market....

So, summer has been chock full of activity. Relatives from Florida visiting, rose gardens being overhauled, new paths added and, best of all, fun with flea market finds! I thought I would share some of the cool items that just had to come home with me so far this summer...

Can you believe I found this beautiful vintage sewing machine for the absolute STEAL of $20?! Neither did I. I even double checked that the tag wasn't missing a zero. Lucky me!

Or how about an old-fashioned ice cream parlor stool for the drool-worthy bargain of $22? It still spins like a dream and is the perfect side table to the newly painted garden bench (or as the occasional photo prop).

This petite darling is headed back to Florida with my mother - just the right size for watering her blue daze vine in its birdcage planter...

A vintage scale and iron bee napkin rings were impossible to resist...

I'll be sharing more soon on my largest summer project. In the meantime, here is a sneak peak..

More to come soon...

From shabby to chic...

Have a garden bench that needs some TLC? Join the masses...

When the hubs and I wanted to fill an empty front porch space, we trooped off to one of the home improvement stores and brought back a standard park bench. We added a few hanging plants and, presto, instant atmosphere. Fast forward five years, a different porch (one that was open rather than covered), and lots of abusive weather later and you have a poor bench that needs some love.

I stumbled upon a darling picture on Shabby Soul's  fabulous blog and an idea was born. Rather than an all over lilac as featured in Sylvia's blog, I opted for a sage and lilac combination (mostly because I feared my husband would refuse to sit on something so entirely pastel).

After moving the bench into the garage for disassembly, I sanded down the wood slats with my trusty orbital sander. (I have to say, there is something infinitely satisfying in watching old paint or stain give way to the brute force of spinning grit.) Previous homeowners had left behind a tiny quart of the most serendipitous can of paint that I have ever come across. I have used it on the secret garden door featured in this post, on this sadly neglected bench and on the newly renovated arbor (more on that project in a future post).

Before

Before

After spray painting the metal side frames with some Rust-Oleum in French Lilac, I let everything dry overnight. The wood slats got a quick coat of polyurethane and all was reassembled.

TA DAAAA...

Amazing, is it not, what a little TLC can accomplish? Now we can sit on our ever-so-chic new bench and I can show off my equally chic new summer sandals...

Fahrenheit Iplay Espadrille

Sharing with:

Common Ground

Redoux
Etsy Cottage Style
FUnkY JuNk IntERiorS

Have fun with YOUR garden bench...

A Patio Complete...

Obsessed much? Nah, not me..

So the focus of my last several weekends has been the completion of our Parisian patio. Once I have an idea in my head, it's hard for me (read: impossible) to move past it. I can be obsessed with a project until it is what I deem complete, perfect, and fabulous. (The hubs would dearly love to medicate this quirk of mine, I'm sure).

When I finally completed the patio last weekend and told him it was finished, his immediate response was, "I doubt it." Smart man. As it turns out, the window frame that I repainted yellow and mentioned in this post is now lavender. The petite hanging urn (featured in that same post) has also found a new home.

Despite grumblings from the peanut gallery, I am quite pleased with the end result of my much maligned focus. We are now able to enjoy a delightful and intimate corner of our yard that was once a leaf-strewn, rock-embedded eyesore. Pieces from antique shops, market fairs, and Etsy have added to the bohemian flair that I had envisioned for the space.

The BIG picture :)

Before

The "secret" door that leads to an open field space behind the fence

Shutters and a trellis from The Barn create the illusion of another garden gate at the end of the path...

Old iron scrolls were found on this Etsy shop

 The small hanging urn finds a new home on the secret door

The formerly yellow (formerly black) window frame aquires a much more French je ne sais quoi in pale lavender. Copper flower boxes with cascading blooms remind me of those divine Euro gardens...

The chairs that inspired it all...

Sharing with Funky Junk Interiors

For my next project: rose garden revision!

Now for some wine....

Flower to the power...

When the hubs and I were first getting to know each other, I sent him a list entitled "5 Things You Should Know About Me." I figured, if things worked out, he'd be exposed to these oddities of mine anyway - why not see if they made him bolt for the hills right from the start?

I was frank about my affinity for shoe shopping, up front about my need to (loudly and at decibels that threaten glass) comment on others' driving skills, and was quite forthright (if not a little boastful) with regard to my ability after consuming cranberry juice to outbelch any sailor foolish enough to challenge me. What I neglected to disclose to the dearest, future hubs was my excessive addiction to flowers. All of them.

We are now in Year 2 of the grand, three year gardening plan. Each year produces a healthy list of new bloomers that "must, must, must" be added to our wasteland of a backyard. A certain nursery sends emails that I am their #1 <insert your city here> customer (hey, I'll take blantent, non-sincere flattery anytime).

Warm weather and more-rain-than-is-typical has had us in the garden every weekend (hence, the dearth of blog posts). Delightfully, we are now seeing some Year 1 results and are deep into random Year 2 projects:

This weathered window frame is a sister accent to the blue window box featured in the last post. Scouting around at an antique shop yielded the frame and the darling petite hanging urn. I promptly spray painted it with flat white paint and now it acts a perfect foil to the bright yellow (formerly black) window frame.

A cascading Vinca vine fits perfectly in the shallow urn.

The flowers planted two weeks ago in the blue window box (featured in a previous post) are thriving more than ever! See the complete post here.

 A resounding success from Year 1: Snow in Summer borders the paver steps.

These pops of color petunias are some of my favorites. An iron plant pot ring lets you hang them directly from a fence, post or wall.

Arizona Sun Gaillardia is living up to its name even only having been planted about a month ago.

So what could be better than flowers? Shoes with flowers, of course. I had to have these pretties as soon as I saw them. Now, I'll just take a bit of the garden with me. ;)

Seychelles Joan Espadrille

Off to play in more dirt!

For dear Mamá...

Mother's Day is just around the corner and I wanted to share a project that is perfect for mothers of all ages.

I had the delight of combining two of my favorite hobbies this weekend - antiquing and gardening. It is a lovely thing when I can indulge in both at the same time. In this post I mentioned the local "Paris Street Market" held throughout the summer here in Denver. I cajoled the hubs into accompanying me (hey, someone has to carry the heavy stuff) and off we went to experience the mayhem for the first time. What a blast! With so many wonderful treasures to be had it was hard to narrow my focus. But focus I did and scored a fantastic 'window box.'

A quick trip to the garden center and I was armed with lobelia, pansies, alyssum, and gerber daises aplenty to complete my project. I added some D-ring hangers to the back of the window frame to affix the box to a blank fence section that borders the flagstone patio.

You could hunt down something similar at your local antique/craft/garden market or create it on your own. This one was built from an old window frame (glass removed) and attached to a simple rectangular wood box. These window frames are a very common find at shabby chic antique stores but you could also look for them at garage sales or donation centers. When making your own, paint it your favorite color but I loved the French blue on this one and snapped it up before the hubs could hide the wallet.

Adding a broken ewer spout to the flower bed creates a unique focal point and breaks up the long horizontal line. Find your own unique garden accent at this great Etsy shop that specializes in miscellaneous metal pieces.

I just love the way the purple of the lobelia and the French blue compliment each other.

Although the trip to the street market lasted a bit more than my patient husband would have preferred, planting the box took less than an hour. A project such as this is a great way to make a personal gift for any mom. My window box hangs outside but you can find or create one in a smaller scale and line it with potted plants for a charming and easy-care indoor vignette.

 

For these lengthly, warm weather excursions, I reach for my tried-and-true sandals. I maintain that "flip flops" can be stylish. I can walk for hours in these without my feet getting tired and who can resist lovely, white flowers, I ask?

FitFlop Fleur

Happy gardening!

 

Dick Tracy, meet Audrey Hepburn...

Who can resist the lull and lure of things Français? Not I, not I...

I try in vain to identify my personal "style." I am drawn to old tools, adore vintage typewriters, seem to be addicted to iron garden finials and lust after shoes that could possibly create lifetime ligament damage. If I needed to categorize the design aesthetic of my home, I would have to say it as an unlikely pairing of 1940s private eye and French cottage chic. Leather club chairs cozy up to white gauze drapes, the iron and wood bookcase is home to the adorably petite bunny statuette and a pharmacy desk lamp illuminates the zebra-striped princess chair. (I do have to give the hubs points for picking out such a great took-you-ten-years-but-you-finally-finished graduation gift.)

Due to this dichotomy in my nature, I didn't insist on matching bedside tables when giving the master bedroom an overhaul. (Frankly, I figured I had already pushed my luck by refusing to compromise on the orange poppy emblazoned comforter.)

Within minutes of hitting a local antique district, I found the perfect table with delicate cabriole legs and a cottage white finish. "What do you mean you found something already? I just went to park the car!" was my astounded husband's response. Hey, I'm talented, what can I say?

 

Found @ Vandel Antiques

 

The back corner of our yard was not immune to my Francophone attention. We assume the previous homeowners had made some ill attempt at a flower bed that merely left a mass of river stone pebbles and weeds. (More about those river stones in a future post - I just love recycling yard materials for bigger and better uses.) My "Honey, I have an idea" light had gone off and I thought it to be the ideal spot to create a lovely enclosed patio with a bistro flair.

Hubs making his cameo

Many tool rentals, a pallet of flagstones, and copious amounts of Advil later, we had the beginnings of our intimate Parisian patio. My long-homeless bee stepping stone finally found a permanent place as the focal point amongst the flagstones. We planted creeping thyme between the pavers to add interest and contrasting color. The bistro-styled chairs were a divine find at World Market.



 

This post is linked to

 See my post as well as many more lovely patio and porch projects at Funky Junk Interiors.

Also, you can check my Etsy store out for some garden bistro accents.

Given our talk of things red, '40s and fabulous (ok, the fabulous part was implied, but still...) these gorgeous, retro heels are pair of my favorites. Matched with a pencil skirt and a cardie, just call me Audrey!

Seychelles Asterisk

Au revoir!

Don't mind if I do!

Somewhere along the path to figuring out "who I was," I figured out who I was not. I wasn't someone that would blindly follow the crowd, a trend, or a norm. (Unless, of course, Norm has a cute tush - then I'm all about the following.) I came to acknowledge the independent spirit that resided within me and be glad for the ability to resist the lure of the majority, to swim against the tide, to take the road less traveled. My hubris was grand, thinking myself immune to the sway of persuasion. Then arrived the Pottery Barn catalog.

TA DAHHH, mass marketing works! Who knew?

I salivate every time a new catalog arrives. What bevy of trouble awaits within its trendy contents? What crowd will I have to elbow through to score the most adorable (ever!) salt and pepper shakers? What new project will it inspire? Welllll...ones like this, for starters. I loved the look of these grouped mirrors but didn't want to forgo the fun of making my own statement (see the whole 'hubris' thing, above). Besides - it was an excuse to go antiquing! "Oh honeyyy... I have an idea!"

Three shops later (one at The Barn, mentioned in a previous post) and after at least an hour-and-a-half of playing "memory" with the mirror arrangements on the floor, I proudly revealed a display of five unique mirrors to fill what had been an abysmally blank space on our bedroom wall.

No time to go antiquing? You can start your mirror hunt on this Etsy treasury.

 

Speaking of paths, (we weren't, really, but I needed to segue somehow) our YEAR 1 "grand garden plan" called for a path to connect the newly created flagstone patio to the newly cut passthrough in the (not new) patio wall.

Alas, my poor, project-phobia'd husband had the enviable task of leveling the dirt. We then used the leftover patio flagstones to create a woodland type path that bordered the (also new) raised flower beds. Adding dark brown mulch created a striking contrast to the Colorado Red pavers.

To continue this whole 'path' theme, (damn those composition professors - "carry your theme through...blah,blah,blah...") heels just wouldn't be quite the appropriate choice for strolling along them. What does that mean, you ask? Ballerina flats, of course!

Gianni Bini Matey Flats

Until next time, whatever path you find yourself upon, enjoy the journey!

Tired of the path analogy yet? Geesh, I know I am...   ;)  

From drab to fab!

Some purists will tell you to never paint good wood. Turns out, I'm not a purist ;)

The hubs and I have been together for six years and counting. It is a second marriage for both of us and, as a result, we each had some residual "baggage" that we had to fit into the same house. As any woman will agree, her baggage is cute and his just needs to go. Out went a dilapidated couch, in came a pair of leather club chairs. Given away was the mundane kitchen settee to be replaced by the fabu trestle table.  Donated was the outdated oak dresser and...hmmmm, hold on just a sec...

The dresser was solid and well made - nothing to sneer at these days. After years of use it was, however, scratched up and well..just plain ugly. With five kids between us, we had a lot of bedrooms to fill and two daughters that just love purple (something to do with both being born in February, I'm sure). At some point, I had come across an online article about "found on Craigslist" items that were transformed beyond recognition with a little imagination and some good paint. Eyeballing the drab duckling of a dresser, I called out to the hubs, "Honeyyy, I have an idea!"

With the help of an orbital sander (a Mother's Day gift - hey, don't judge me), black and lavender paint, and a mini foam roller the unfortunately ugly dresser went from drab to fab in just a weekend. New draw pulls engraved with the numbers 1, 2 and 3 were discovered at The Barn (a must see if you are ever in the Denver area) and were the perfect finishing touch for the project. It now resides in my daughter's Old Hollywood styled bedroom.

Detail of draw pull

Linked to REDOUX  - check out this post as well as many other fabulous rejuvenations:

Now that April is here and with nicer weather my project focus drifts toward the garden. About the same time last year, we decided that we would put in some raised gardening beds and try our hand at homegrown veggies.

The project was simple enough - create a square box of boards while keeping the marriage intact. It was a close call, especially after I had the hubs move a post for the fifth time to be sure it was plumb and square. (He now admits that my crazy attention to detail paid off even though he was thinking seriously at the time of braining me with the tape measure.)

It wasn't long after the beds were complete that even the tomato plants were partying in their new digs. (We still aren't sure how they managed to have wine delivered. Those young plants - they grow so fast.)

As we know, April showers bring May flowers.  Here in Colorado that means being prepared for showers, sprinkles, slush, cats-and-dogs deluges, and the oh-so-not-a-surprise blizzard. With this type of weather in mind, I decided that I needed a pair of rain boots. Not just any rain boots, mind you, but CUTE rain boots. Imagine my sheer delight at finding these darling gems:

1.4.3 Girl Polka Dot Rain Boots

Thanks for checking in! Until the next blog...