Images of an Iowa farm

My sister & I took a quick spring trip to see my mom in Iowa last week.  It was overdue, since I hadn't been down there for over a year!  I know, BAD daughter!  The weather was crap, but I did manage to sneak outside in between rain showers for some KICK BUTT images of rustic barns & other fabulous farm-ness!

Sometimes I have to stop myself & remember : things are also meant to be seen, not just had.  I get kind of "old stuff greedy".  So this post is to remind us all: SAVOR VISUAL BLESSINGS!

When one barn door closes, may another open.   And may there be multitudes of neat old finds visual treasures inside!  Happy junking everyone!

*This post is on Trash To Treasure's Friend Friday. http://www.trashtotreasuredecorating.com/

BOY ROOM DECOR

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GRUNGE UP MY TODDLERS ROOM. IT'S HARD TO WORK WITH A SHINY BRIGHT BLUE RACE CAR BED.  I KEEP TELLING MYSELF HE WON'T BE IN IT FOREVER.

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW HAD AN OLD TENNIS RACKET AND BAT IN HER FREE BOX FOR A GARAGE SALE.  THAT IS WHAT STARTED MY BOY SPORTS THEME.

I USED MY DAD'S OLD BASEBALL GLOVE, FOUND A TRAIN PIGGY BANK, AND MADE A BANNER.  IT'S BURLAP AND CHECKER FABRIC SEWED ON CARDSTOCK PAPER.  IT ALL HANGS ON A SEAM BINDING.

I ALSO BORROWED THE IDEA OF MAKING A STAR OUT OF A FOLDING TAPE MEASURE.  THE LARGE CREAM COLOR DRESSER NEEDED SOME FLAIR, SINCE IT LACKED KNOBS OR PULLLS.  I CUT VINYL SHAPES ON MY CRICUT EXPRESSION USING THE HERITAGE CARTRIDGE.  WE DID HAVE AN INCIDENT, WHERE MY SON COLORED EACH IMAGE (AND SURROUNDING AREA!) WITH YELLOW CRAYON.  BUT SOFT SCRUB CLEANED IT OFF NICELY. 

I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THE TOUR.  IT'S A SHORT ONE, BECAUSE HIS ROOM IS SMALL.

*THIS POST IS LISTED ON SHOW & TELL AT:

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Spring willows

I try & get out for a journey each spring with my boys to find a handful of pussy willows.  Some years, it's snowy still.  This state is so horribly unpredictable!!!  This year was pleasant, yet cool.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE using wood and other elements from nature in decorating.  I collect it here and there.  Why not enjoy the outdoors, indoors too???

The old flat wooden box, was my father's.  I got it, and about 50 lbs. of junk screws & bolts from his pole shed.  The red tin was his also.  The finish on it is so nice & rustic.  The clay vase, which fails to hold water, can only hold dry sprigs.  Pussy willows continue to open and mature when in water.  So a person is best off NOT to keep them in a watery vase.  They make a messy pollen that drops everywhere after a few weeks.

Easter bunny

My favorite Easter decoration is the metal Peter Rabbit bank I bought.  It was $12, but I'm so glad I didn't pass him up.  He's very heavy, and not very old.  Both my boys had Peter Rabbit nurseries when babies, so I'm nostalgic about it.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!  GOD BLESS YOU & YOUR FAMILY!

*This post is listed on My Romantic Home's show & tell! http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

PANSY BOOTS

MY SISTER GAVE ME THIS IDEA FOR WORE OUT OR OUTGROWN CHILDREN'S RUBBER BOOTS.  SHE HAD FAKE FLOWERS IN HERS, SO YOU COULD SAY I TOOK MINE A STEP FURTHER. (HA HA) 

I FOUND THE RIGHT SIZED ITEM TO FIT IN THE BOOTS TO HOLD UP A SMALL POTTED PANSY.  A SMALL JUICE CUP WORKED FOR ME.

THEN I MOLDED A DOUBLE LAYER FOIL INTO THE BOOT TOP OPENINGS WITH MY HAND.  I TRIMMED THE EDGES TO THE BOOT TOP RIM FOR A CUSTOM FIT.  ONE PANSY WAS PLANTED IN EACH OF THE FOIL "POTS".   A SMALL PENCIL HOLE WORKED FOR DRAINAGE IN THE FOIL.

THE RESULT IS STINKIN' CUTE.  I LOVE SPRING, WHY NOT DOLL UP YOUR ENTRY WITH A PAIR OF PANSY BOOTS?!

Quick & Easy Easter banner

This was a last minute idea, with Easter only days away!  I'd found a quaint little box with old "Uncle Wiggily" game cards at the thrift store for $1.  So in the theme of cute little bunnies that hop, I created a quick banner.  Hemp twine, tiny clothes pins and two thumb tacks made for an ultra easy project.

There were red card faded to a nice pink, but I used only the rustic white playing cards.

These could be strung across a mirror, large picture, doorways, headboard, cabinet, or in my example...a window.

Here is a close up for a little better look.

* Please visit the blog below for other Easter links!

http://www.trashtotreasuredecorating.com/2011/04/friend-friday-happy-easter.html



BATHROOM JUNK

I HAVE A FEW WATERING CANS THAT NO LONGER HOLD WATER.  WE SILICONED THE HOLES IN THE BOTTOM A FEW TIMES, BUT HAVE GIVEN UP THE REPAIRS.  THEY FOUND A PLACE ON MY TATTERED OLD BUFFET IN THE BATHROOM.  THEY PAIR UP NICE NEXT MY GIGANTIC $30 PICTURE (I ADORE THIS PRINT).

THE APPLE BASKET IS AN IDEAL HOLDER FOR A CLAY POT.  THE HEDERA IVY IS SO EASY TO MAKE A TOPIARY OUT OF, I'D HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

WHAT'S A GOOD MAGAZINE RACK LADDER, WITH OUT A FANCY OLD HAT ON IT?  I GOT THAT CUTIE AT THE "CRAZY LADIES" STORE FOR $5.  THE LADDER WAS OFF A DILAPIDATED OLD DEER STAND.  I RESCUED IT FROM THE FOREST.  MY SISTER TEASES ME EXCLAIMING "YOU HAVE A LADDER IN YOUR BATHROOM"!  NOT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS MY STYLE. BUT IT DOES SERVE A PURPOSE!

MY OCEAN PICTURE FROM THE THRIFT STORE WAS $10, BUT I KNEW I'D MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE WHEN MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS JEALOUS.

I CUT THE VINYL ON MY CRICUT EXPRESSION, USING THE HERITAGE CARTRIDGE.  IT ADDED A FANCY TOUCH TO A SIMPLE AREA.

BOX IT UP

I WANTED TO SHARE MY UNUSUAL USE FOR AN OLD CORNED BEEF BOX I GOT AT A GARAGE SALE FOR $3.  IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO DISCOVER THAT IS WAS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR..... TOILET PAPER!  YES, TOILET PAPER.  TAKE A LOOK!

HAND PAINTED SIGN

I JUST COULDN'T RESIST THIS ELEGANTLY HAND PAINTED BUSINESS SIGN.  THE COLORS ARE STILL SO GOOD & IT SHOWS SOME ATTRACTIVE WEAR.  ACTUALLY, IN MY BOOK: ANY WEAR IS ATTRACTIVE!  IT'S WHAT MAKES OLD STUFF LOOK COOL!

WHAT BUSINESS DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL 5:00 PM???? I'D LIKE TO BELIEVE IT WAS FROM A MOVIE THEATER, NOT A BAR (OR WORSE!).  DO YOU EVER WONDER WHAT HISTORY AN ITEM HAS WHEN YOU HOLD IT OR LOOK AT IT?

EASTER DECORATION

I TOTALLY STOLE THIS IDEA OUT OF A MAGAZINE.  I HAVE A BINDER FULL OF PAGES OF RIPPED OUT MAGAZINE IDEAS!  YES, IT'S LIKE A BOOK OF CHEAT CODES!

I HIT THE DOLLAR STORE & SNATCHED UP A FEW GLASS JARS FOR A TOTAL OF $7.  MY FEEBLE ATTEMPT AT EASTER SPLENDOR EVOLVED!  I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TO USE CANDY AS DECORATIONS, IT'S GENIUS!

THE REAL QUESTION IS:  HOW LONG WILL THOSE CHOCOLATE BUNNIES LAST IN MY HOUSE?!

UPCYCLE PILLOW

I HAD AN OLD NIGHT SHIRT THAT WAS WORE OUT, BUT I JUST LOVED THE FRONT PLEATS. I ADMIT, IT LOOKS LIKE A LAURA INGLES PEASANT SLEEP SHIRT. HOWEVER, THE MATERIAL IS SOFT FLANNEL & IT WAS FROM LLBEAN. 

I DID MY BEST AT CUTTING TWO RECTANGLES.  I THEN HAD TO HAND SEW THE BUTTON AREA CLOSED.  YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTO BELOW THAT BEYOND WHERE I HAD SEWED WAS PULLING & UGLY.  THIS JUST STRAIGHTENED THINGS OUT GOOD FOR ME.

I'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF BLUE STRIPED MATERIAL ON PILLOWS LATELY ONLINE IN SHABBY HOMES, SO I DECIDED TO JUMP ON BOARD WITH THAT FAD.  THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WAS AN UPCYCLED, SOFT, NARROW THROW PILLOW!

*This post is listed on "show & tell" at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/ *

 

REDWOOD FALLS, MN

I RECENTLY TOOK A WEEKEND TRIP TO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.  REDWOOD FALLS WAS A QUAINT TOWN OF ABOUT 5000.  I WAS TAKEN BY ALL THE DATED BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN. 

THERE WERE SEVERAL BUILDINGS THAT JUST DESERVED TO GET THEIR PICTURE TAKEN!



THE PHOTO BELOW WAS A MUSEUM.  UNFORTUNATELY IT WON'T OPEN UNTIL MAY, SO MISSED OUT ON THAT. 

I NOTICED ON THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, THE CRAZIEST THING.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.  A BURGLAR ALARM, LABELED PLAIN AS DAY.  BUT NOT ONE. . . I FOUND TWO!  DID THIS TOWN HAVE A PROBLEM?

THE REDWOOD RIVER WAS HIGH WITH SNOW MELT & SPRING RAIN, SO WE WITNESSED SOME AWESOME FALLS.

THERE WAS THE MOST PECULIAR OUTLOOK PAVILION ON OUR TRAVELS THROUGH THE CITIES WALKING TRAILS.

SNAIL SHAPED?  OR TURTLE SHELL?

IT WAS COOL, VERY COOL.  I CAN IMAGINE A WEDDING TAKING PLACE HERE. 

ONE LAST THING TO MENTION, A STORE.  THE MOST LOVELY HOME DECOR I'VE SEEN IN YEARS!  BIRD CAGES, BOTTLES, BIRDS. . . .

*LIGHTS OF HOME*

IT LOOKS SMALL, BUT EXTENDS A LONG WAYS IN! 



MACHINE STAND

THE RUSTY METAL STAND ALWAYS SAT BEHIND MY DAD'S POLE SHED GROWING UP.  WHEN MOM SOLD OUR CHILDHOOD HOME, I KNEW THIS STAND BELONGED IN MY YARD.  I ENLISTED THE HELP OF SEVERAL BURLY MEN TO MOVE IT!  THEN BEGGED MY HUSBAND TO GET CRAFTY & MAKE IT A PLANTER FOR ME.  HE FINALLY GAVE IN.  THE BASE IS TREATED PLYWOOD WITH DRAIN HOLES DRILLED IN IT.  THE EDGES ARE CEDAR WHICH HAVE TURNED A NICE SILVER COLOR. 

I THINK OF MY CHILDHOOD NOW, EVERY TIME I WATER THE FLOWERS!  MY YOUNGEST THINKS THAT HIDING UNDER THE STAND IS WONDERFULLY ENTERTAINING.  SO MAYBE SOMEDAY HE'LL APPRECIATE THE UNIQUE OLD THING.