Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Summering up the Deck 2013

So last year I posted about summering up my deck...this year is no different.  I started many of the plants myself from seeds and used things I had and repainted or recycled or reused things. 

IMG_8309

I love to make an outdoor room outside with comfortable seating and pretty things to look at and touch.  A place comforting and welcoming to make you want to stay a while.  An escape area…

IMG_8294

Love me some beautiful begonias! I love angel wing begonias the most…and they are so easy to grow!

IMG_8311

I spray painted this old wooden bench to perk it up a bit.  I had previously lacquered it with a clear finish, but that was peeling off.  So out came the power washer and the lacquer peeled right away. It looks a bit like old barn wood now, I didn’t completely cover the wood so it shows through.

IMG_8068

The sounds of water running into the fish pond are very relaxing and the pond makes a great place for the pets to drink from all summer.

IMG_8120

The weather is so unpredictable as spring weather is…these two pictures were taken within 15 minutes of each other!

IMG_8122

100_7769

I love these blue chairs from Target.  I just had never wanted to pay for $20 each (on sale) for them.  So, I was at an auction last week and purchased these for $2.50 each!!  They were dirty so I power washed them and they look brand new!

100_7770

The metal glider is still in decent shape so I didn’t even have to repaint it this year…

100_7757

This white bench (I paid $32 for it) from the same auction…it was one of the reasons I went to the auction.  I love the style and thought it would look great on my deck!  The cement garden balls look great there.

100_7749

My house from the hammock…

100_7746

The hammock is a great place to relax after a stressful day.

100_7744

The hydrangea came back this year. I was very happy to see that!

100_7743

This has been so far one of my favorite planters this year.  It is a giant flat pot that was given to me…actually I received two of them.

100_7742

I set the pot on a stump in the yard close to the hammock.

100_7739

I added some petunias, geraniums, creeping jenny, and tall foxtail grass.

100_7741

And the great news is the curly willow survived the winter. 

100_7735

I try to add pops of color to every container I plant.

100_7732

My cats or dog are always photo bombing my shots!

100_7730

The blue bench looks great too! 

100_7726

I planted this old wooden tool box with dianthus and some ground cover…

100_7724

The umbrella that I made last year was torn up in the hail storm last September; it had multiple holes and tears in it from the giant hail. So I repaired it and sewed some grossgrain ribbon around it to hold it together…funny, but I love the way it looks and I can get another years worth of shade. 

100_7722

The umbrella adds a lot of shade…

100_7776

It still looks pretty good.

100_7777

I bought another $3 umbrella at the auction but don’t have a stand yet, so it’s not up yet.

100_7719

I love seashells….

100_7718

The garden frog keeps watch…

100_7779

Another bargain from the same auction…a Weber grill in great shape for $12.50!  Looks like it was used very little…we have used it every weekend so since I bought it!

100_7773

Everyone in the family seems to be enjoying getting outside more and hanging out on the deck!

100_7775

I might be linking to these great parties!

signature21

Saturday, May 18, 2013

New Nests in the Shop…

100_7600

I finally got around to photographing my new nests for the shop

100_7606

They are now listed…

100_7612

You can go to my shop WoolenWondersByEllen to see them!

100_7617

Hope you are having a great weekend!

signature21

Friday, May 17, 2013

Another Bandanna Quilt

100_7683

Love the colors in this bandanna quilt. I have made several of these before, the first one was 25+ years ago and we carried it everywhere, to the state fair, to picnics, fireworks.

100_7687

This is a gift for someone special.

100_7685

Milo has to get in on all the action too!  I spread the quilt out nicely and here he came.

100_7690

The bright blue and the chocolate brown look great together. 

100_7691

I backed it with a bright blue gingham (from Goodwill $1) and a row of left over bandanas.

100_7693

Aunt Marge quilted it for me and did a great job…

100_7686

I bound it with a chocolate polka dot fabric which looks so cute!

100_7698

Love the quilting design too!!

100_7697

I might be linking up to some of these great parties!

signature21

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Baby’s First Birthday Banner

100_7585

Baby Brady turns one this month…

IMG_8157

One of my gifts to him is a banner to use at his birthday party and then his room!  So fun!

IMG_8158

I found a font on the computer that was “chunky” and therefore easier to cut and sew.  I enlarged the letters until they were about 5 inches tall.

IMG_3610

Is he not the cutest baby ever??

IMG_8160

It turned out so cool. I backed the fabric with iron on interfacing and so there are two layers of fabric and of interfacing thick.

100_7580

I have just sewed around the edges, trying to keep the seams straight.

100_7582

I used bias tape to make the “ribbon” to hold it together.

100_7584

Each end has half ovals…it was so much fun choosing fabrics to go together.

100_7586

I’m loving how it turned out!

100_7588

Dogs, bikes and robots, together with a lot of polka dots and chevron, I found great patterns.

100_7589

Looks super cute hanging on the wall!

100_7591

Happy birthday big boy Brady!

100_7592

I might be linking to some of these great parties!

signature21