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My friend Deloris picked me up early this morning and we hit the yard sales. It was a beautiful morning to be outside. For a grand total of $12.50, here's what I found...
Cameo earrings....will they turn into something else?
A pair of silver candlesticks, an old oil lamp, a plant mister, a small terrarium jar that matches the two I purchased last month, a giant heavy hurricane (complete with pillar candle and 'vase fillers', a muffin tin, a very tarnished silver casserole, small pink candles, and an American flag to replace the one stolen from my front porch last year. Not too bad--especially since I have a use for all of it. 
This is my new favorite book...Shed Chic by Sally Coulthard. The most adorable sheds...outdoor rooms, dream cottages, are featured. My favorite is the Gypsy Wagon "shed"...an actual Gypsy-styled wagon. Here are a few featured "sheds":
I've been working on my sunporch this morning, cleaning off little mud wasp habitats (their sheds?), and thinking about exactly what I want in this small space. First of all, I have to tote several boxes of books out of here...to where, I don't know. Oh, and the boxes of Santas and snowmen (no wonder I couldn't find the snowmen this past season...I forgot where I put them). Pictures will be posted by weekend's end...
I don't go in to work today until 1:00, so I've pulled a few things out to work on; the black and ecru patterned fabric is an 'outdoor' fabric--won't mildew--from the Tommy Bahama line at the fabric store. I only bought one yard--it's for a square tabletopper for the small outdoor round table. I'll have enough to do two smallish pillow fronts. Burlap...for pillows and to affix as skirting around the table and under the topper. The big star in shades of red/blue/and an antiqued beige (a mistake on my part) is going to be sprayed black (layers 1 & 3) and white (layer 2). It will hang on the front door in place of the tired wreath I currently have.
Finally...my chairs are painted and put together. It took way longer than I anticipated...it seemed like any time that I had time to paint, it would rain. After many coats of paint, here they are...pretty comfortable. I'd forgotten just how comfortable they were. Now if I can get those burlap pillows sewn!
Red geraniums this year, courtesy of Megan. I added some sweet potato vine and asparagus fern. 
I need to fill in this pot with some soil, but it looks much better than the "transport" pot it came in. This huge rosemary plant came from Lowe's...and it wasn't expensive. I've seen some this size at a few herb vendors, and they are prices at $40.00 (yes, $40.00). Mine was $9.98. It will give me many fragrant moments!
This past weekend, my parents were here for a short visit. Dad pulled the rusted bolts from my tulip chairs so I could sand and paint them. Here they are with two base coats of flat black spray paint. I can't decided if I want to keep them flat or go glossy. After work last night I used a wire brush on the chairs to remove paint flakes and some rust and this morning I hit them up with paint. The bases are going to be white, and I want to make some burlap pillows with black stencils to put on them. I can't wait to get the front porch finished!
Once again, I'm amazed at what one can learn from blogs and the internet. Endlessly fascinating and intriguing...I can't imagine being 'unplugged.'
I love this kind of chair...the old metal "tulip" chairs that have made a comeback in the past few years. I have two that belonged to my grandparents. They were the original pale green color when I first obtained them. I've sprayed the chairs a variety of colors...blue, hot pink, and yellow. I've not used them for a few years and they've been exiled to the basement. The old bolts are rusted tight and I'd really like to take them apart so I can replace them...sanding and painting would be easier too. Their next incarnation will be black with white arms (and legs). They'll reside on the front porch with a small wrought iron table in between. Perhaps a burlap pillow on each with a stencilled something-or-other on them.
Next on my list of favorites...Birkenstock Arizona sandals. Year 'round footwear--just add socks. After wearing these, it's hard to wear regular shoes.
Summer drink of choice...Coke Zero (along with iced tea and coffee). Love the taste of Zero, hate the taste of Diet Coke. Go figure.
I picked up the latest Artful Blogging issue this afternoon. There's some pretty spectacular photography in this issue. It's fun to see blogs I read faithfully featured in this beautiful publication. 
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