Fairy Garden Centerpiece

Adding a little spring to my home after winter is so important to me. I long for the flowers and colors after the cold snow and bare trees. One of the special parts of spring to me is looking out my window in my sun room and watching the baby rabbits play. I watch them throughout the summer as they grow. 

I usually start decorating as soon as Valentine's Day is over. I start introducing spring and rabbits to my decor. I keep rabbits out all year but gather them for a collected look for Easter.

Creating a new centerpiece every year that is different from the last is always a challenge. This year I decided to bring the outdoors in with a Fairy Garden Spring Centerpiece. I haven't really created a fairy garden. I did however showcase my friend's fairy garden. I loved it. So with a little twist to the norm I created this one.

Fairy garden accessories in baskets for a centerpiece is a little twist.

Filling the top of the basket with styrofoam will allow for the grass patch and fairy garden picks to be added. It also fills the area to raise everything to the top.

There are many miniature pieces to choose from. I have a love for miniatures and have used them for many years in different ways. Doll houses and design and now fairy gardens.

I mimicked my backyard with the frolicking bunnies as my design.

I gathered some beautiful silk flower stems and tossed on the table to look like fresh cutting from the garden. I have to tell you the look so real. I love the colors too. The best part of my backyard is gathering the fresh flowers as they bloom. My spring flowers are the prettiest and are more abundant.

They look real right?

I had to attach an arched door to the side of the basket. It was so Fairy-like. It was the finishing touch.

It is whimsical and sweet.

This fairy garden spring centerpiece will last a long time on my table. This decor is timeless.

Spring beauty to enjoy everyday.

This idea can be used outside too. Fairy gardens are flexible. Try this in a flower pot on your porch.

The sunshine peered through the window and the colors seemed to intensify. Looking at this makes me happy and brings back sweet memories of spring days in my garden and also of my youth. I am ready for the colors to start rushing back and the wind to sing the song of spring.

How to make a Picnic Wine Table {out of a Paper towel holder}

Now that the seasons are changing we will start looking forward to outdoor activities and entertaining. I enjoy having people over and usually entertain in our back yard. The flowers and trees are blooming and it is always so pretty.

Entertaining doesn't have to be stressful. I just had the sweetest picnic in the wildflowers. I went to Old Time Pottery in search of potted plants. They have so much in their greenhouse. They were just starting to fill it up. I got these beautiful geraniums.  As I walked the isles looking for some outdoor goodies I came up with an idea using a paper towel holder!

I absolutely hate putting my glass on the ground. So I came up with this idea and it was so easy to make. I really love it. I will be using this Picnic Wine Table at the beach too!

I am sharing the directions at the Old Time Pottery Blog.

I hope you click over and see the way it all looked.

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Easter Pallet

My new thing is storing pallets that are put together so I can decorate with them. I used them for my paper flower and for mounting various merchandise that I get in the store. 

It has been fun getting in all the spring items that past couple of weeks. It is hard not to go home with everything I love.

I found the cutest bunny and I knew I was going to have fun decorating with him. I wanted him to be the centerpiece for the spring season

A pallet bunny was what I decided. Bunnies are one of the things I think of when I hear spring. 

Every spring growing up meant getting the bicycle out and enjoying the fresh air and beautiful blooms that surrounded our home.  I had some glorious days on my bicycle. I would ride everywhere. We didn't worry about all the things we worry about today.

This project brought back those memories.

Outside Decor and Garden Art

 The past couple of days have been beautiful and the sunshine has felt so good. That is my cue to work outside. Last month I started on my front porch adding some color. Now I want to add a little garden decor. Problem is that it is still a little early to get the flowers I want.

 I was thinking of using succulents for this project but they weren't available yet. I did, however, find some beautiful cactus. So, I decided on a cactus garden with a whimsical watering can for the garden art. I will have to bring these in when cold or at least till more flowers come in season.

To see how to make this head over to Old Time Pottery Blog!

Porch Redo

Spring cleaning doesn't just start inside the home. Concentrating on the outside of your home is important too. It is time to get the winter grime and holiday leftovers cleaned up. 

I put all the holiday things away but there are always remnants that linger. I even found some glitter lying around on the porch. It looked like a thief came in the night and stripped the porch of all its pretty.

I have to say when it is cold I really don't even want to go outside never mind clean! It was starting to look really bad around here. The doldrums was taking over and the grey of the winter days was seeping in.

So how do you freshen up for spring when winter is still around?

You add color!

Cleaning the cobwebs and sweeping the dead leaves were the priority on the porch. There was even tape leftover in the walls from Christmas decorations. I cleared all of the garbage and fixed the furniture in a better position.

I can't believe it looked this bad! I was still finding leftover decorations. I moved the porch furniture in a better position and cleaned the door window .  I added my umbrella wreath I made last year and the color was already making me happy.

Pillows and cushions change things up. The color on this porch is a cream and with the white chairs it was just getting lost. I found the prettiest black and white cushions for the bottom of the rockers. I added some bright pink pillows for some color. I can change the color anytime throughout the year by switching out the pillows. Right now I was looking for something vibrant.

I also found some lawn art to put near the bushes. It is too cold to plant colorful flowers for color so I just inserted a few of these metal pinwheels.

I love the movement of the flowers.

I added some silk hydrangeas to the planter urns till I can plant some beautiful flowers.

Just a few key moves and freshening up with color and this front porch came alive even on this grey day.

I added a few accessories to the vintage trunk. A preserved boxwood wreath on an old window gave me some more green. I found some iron work and mounted it on the top of an old door to give it an architectural detail. Moved the theater seats to the entrance and it was a good start of a complete change. I would like to add an outdoor carpet under the rockers soon.

The front door got a fresh doormat. Now it is ready for guests!

The front porch came alive and it is so inviting now. 

Just a little time spent cleaning and adding some color will make the last few days of winter more bearable. This spring I can continue to add other features to enhance the look like carpet, wall hangings and fresh flowers.

I hope this redesign inspired you!

Umbrella Spring Wreath (Old Time Pottery)

 Thanks so much for stopping in to read my post today! I am over at OLD TIME POTTERY sharing how to get ready for spring by brightening up your front door with an Umbrella Spring Wreath. Head on over to learn how to do this in 30 minutes!!

See you over there! 

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How to Silk Tie Dye Easter Eggs

It is officially spring! And this is a great project to bring in the season!

This has to be one of my favorite projects. I always wanted to do something with neckties from Goodwill because they are so cheap but silk tie dyed Easter eggs never crossed my mind. The patterns are beautiful! This project really surprised me. Never thought I could achieve this look with a tie.
As promised I have broken the project down in steps for you to achieve the look.

You will need:
eggs

100% silk Ties (Thrift stores sell them for .99) (make sure they are 100%silk!)
find various patterns and colors for Easter

Rubber bands or twist ties

White vinegar

Water

Pot

Go shopping at thrift stores and find 100% silk ties in various colors and patterns. Make sure you read the tag and it confirms 100%silk. That how this works!

Cut apart stitching on tie so you have a flat piece of silk. Make sure you cut a square piece that will fit around the egg.

After you wrap your egg tightly use a rubber band or twisty tie to secure the fabric.
NOTE: After doing these I learned the fabric has to touch the egg to transfer dye. So if there is a crease white will show through. This can be a cool effect if you want!

Now cover those eggs with a white sheet over the silk and tie off again. I used the white lining of the ties....no waste here!

Boil water with a 1/4 cup of vinegar and place covered eggs in pot (don't stack) for 20 min.

Remove and cool.

Then take off fabric to reveal beautifully dyed eggs!

To see all of mine click HERE!

What do you think? Will you try these this Easter?

Spring Mantel Idea

Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 60's, so that sings spring to me!

We have a visitor coming here from Canada, so I want her to feel spring when she enters my home.

What does spring mean to you?

For me it is fresh beautiful flowers getting ready to bloom with the smell radiating in the air...

I started to create my spring mantel with the ideas of what spring means to me! Something I can share with with everyone...



Fresh green....that baby green color of the first little leaves...of moss growing in the cracks of the pavement

birds chirping in the trees announcing the coming of their new little chick

guarding their nests like protective moms

eggs representing new life.........rebirth....

These are all ideas I want to incorporate in my mantel.......

.......and what is spring without little bunnies?

bunnies hopping in the yard

being mischievous in the garden......

pulling out all the carrots.....

beautiful blooming gardens....that what will be on my mantel this year....

and if you visit you will get a glimpse of all the blessings that is ....spring

and as I rearrange and primp my makeshift garden mantel....


I will thank God for all the beauty of this glorious season

and I will hope I captured something that can be shared for our guests and for my family
The dog seems to love it! I added my window fireplace screen from last year too!

It is always hard to capture anything in my living room because I have no light but I hope you feel sun when you look at the pictures

Time to enjoy the season........and now I have to get to the airport! Hope you enjoyed it!