Archives for June 2013

Three Tiered Succulants

June 26, 2013 by Patti 47 Comments

My Goodwill has a large section of decorative wire containers in their home decor department. I found this little 3-tiered guy while taking my weekly power walk through the store and I knew exactly what his new purpose for existence would be! Please excuse the poor quality picture. Does anyone know how to enlarge iPhone pics without distorting them?

This one would not be relegated to kitchen duty. Instead, he was going to become a majestic 3-tiered succulent “fountain”.

Lined with a little Spanish moss (also found at the thrift store) and some potting soil he was all ready for some succulents poked in at random. Planting succulents really is that easy. They don’t have a large root system, can be poked in just about anywhere and survive with very little water.

I just love the mix of color and texture in these fun-to-grow plants.

This is the day of planting.

And here he is today. Succulents grow quite fast, it’s only been a month. I can’t wait to see what he’ll look like by the end of the summer.

Both Costco and our local Fred Meyer carry large flats of assorted succulents so I not only had enough for this planter but had enough leftover to poke them into several pots around my yard.

If you haven’t tried succulents I encourage you to do so. They are inexpensive bought buy the flat, easy to grow and add great color to the garden.

Blessings,

*** As you all know, Google Friends Connect has gone away. I would love for you to join me over at my new favorite reader BlogLovin’, so that you can keep up with all the happenings here at OldThingsNew ***

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper, IHeartNapTime, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SuburbsMama

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, ModVintageLife, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, TheGraphicsFairy, TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, DIYHomeSweetHome, HuckleberryLove, RainOnATinRoof, AlderberryHill, TwelveOEight,
CarrieThisHome

Tuesday:

HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, PJHDesigns, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillRanch, BloomingHomestead, FlusterBuster , KatheWithAnE, NotJustAHousewife,
VMG206, Hickory Trail, BeBetsy, TuesdaysAtOurHome

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, SouthernLovely, VintageOnADime, IvyAndElephants, DIYByDesign, ViewFromRiverMountain, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, Timewashed, SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, FishtailCottage

Thursday:

NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, TheSabbyCreekCottage, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, StoneGable, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife

Friday:

MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, TatertotsAndJello, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays, CraftJunkieToo, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, 504Main
CraftsALaMode

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,
OneSharendipityPlace

Your Blog

And The Winner Is . . .

June 25, 2013 by Patti 3 Comments

A big Thank You to everyone who came over to celebrate my One Year Blog-o-versary and entered to win a handmade burlap table runner. I put all your names in my hat and prayed that I would draw out the right one . . .

and . . . the lucky winner is:

Grammy Goodwill

I wanted everyone to win of course, because my followers are what have caused me keep on going, even when the technical side of blogging has made me want to quit!

Blessings to you all this week,

Your Blog

Whimsical Birdy Condos

June 22, 2013 by Patti 28 Comments

Most of our Spring flowers have faded, which makes me sad, but I’ve found another way to add a little color to our side yard:
Bird Condos!

A few months ago, while out shopping, I saw a large bin of (cheap) unfinished birdhouses! They made me think some adorable painted birdhouses I’d seen in one of my free design magazines (okay, they aren’t really magazines, they’re catalogs, but I use them all the time to steal design ideas).

Now, while I love to paint furniture, walls, drop cloths, and my dog’s toenails, I’m not really good at painting details. Portraits, landscapes, animals . . . my attempts would give you a good laugh!

So let’s just call my birdhouses “primitive” art. That way I can still pretend to be an “real” artist.

I decided to hang my birdhouses on each of the fence support posts going down my side yard. I began with some scrap wood, cut it to the length I wanted, made decorative cuts on the top of each board (this is as decorative as I get with a power saw), painted the boards with a grey wash . . .

and drilled holes in the top of each board for attaching to the fence (I also drilled holes through the back of each birdhouse to attach them to the boards).

Now for some close-ups of my “fantastic” artwork!

A wee bit whimsical, right? Do you think the birds will actually try to use these as houses or do you think they’ll be scared away?

Since these birdhouses were clearly labeled “Not for outdoor use”, I gave them several coats of a protective finish after painting them with outdoor acrylic paint.

Below is the bird condo I hung last year. This one was made of reclaimed fence wood. Thus the nice aged (but colorless) appearance.

These two condos are for birds visiting from Texas . . .

. . .and, as you can see, they’ve taken up temporary residence, where they’re enjoying the mild temps of our Pacific NW summer.

Thank you so much for stopping by my yard today.

Blessings to you,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper, IHeartNapTime, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SuburbsMama

Monday:

Tuesday:

HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, PJHDesigns, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillRanch, BloomingHomestead, FlusterBuster, KatheWithAnE, NotJustAHousewife,
VMG206, Hickory Trail, BeBetsy, TuesdaysAtOurHome

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,
OneSharendipityPlace

Your Blog

Dear Google Friends Connect Followers –

June 21, 2013 by Patti Leave a Comment

As you probably know by now, Google Reader will be going away as of July 1st. Google recommends signing up with Google+ as an alternative. I have tried Google+ but I’m not as happy with the set up as I have been with the regular Google Reader. It doesn’t allow me to have my profile as OldThingsNew, the name of my blog, and no matter how I change the settings it makes me a “no reply” blogger. I even got some help with this issue but nothing seems to work.

In recent months I’ve added Bloglovin’ as a way to follow my blog (in addition to email, Pinterest and Facebook). I’ve been participating in the Bloglovin’ Bloghop (see left sidebar) and have gained many new followers through this awesome reader. It seems to be the “go to” reader for nearly all of the blogs I follow and it is free, easy to set up and a breeze to transfer your Google reading list to. I receive a daily email from Bloglovin’ where I can quickly catch up on new posts from all the blogs I follow. For a simple tutorial by Kimmie at The Kimmie Chronicles on how to set up Bloglovin’ as your new reader you can link up HERE.

So . . . here is my request to you. When Google Reader goes away I really, really, REALLY don’t want to lose you! Did I say REALLY? If you enjoy my posts please consider adding Bloglovin’ as your reader and transferring your reading list so that you can continue to get updates on ALL of the great blogs you follow, or consider following my blog via email, Pinterest or Facebook. I would sure be sad to lose even one of you, my awesome readers.

Blessings,

Your Blog

A Beachy Side Table

June 19, 2013 by Patti 41 Comments

What is it about vintage drop leaf tables that I find so irresistible? They are just so darn cute! This is another one of those projects that I began painting before taking pictures but the picture below is pretty close to what my table looked like when I found her at a garage sale for $5.00 She is a small one and will make a good side table or even a children’s table.

I debated for awhile about color (I was leaning toward red) but then I started layering on different colors of leftover homemade chalk paint (recipe HERE) that I had on hand, sanding back, layering some more, changing the color a couple of times until I finally settled on what you see here. She looks to me like she belongs in a little lakeside cottage, or in the home of someone who wants to feel like they live in a lakeside cottage!

I thought briefly of making her into a tea cart, even bought some vintage wheels and made a tray for her top from an old picture frame, cabinet pulls and a graphic print fabric. Alas, I couldn’t figure out how to attach the wheels so back she is to being just a table (maybe Mr. OTN will have time to help me with that before I take her off to market).

My little table is heavily distressed and finished with Annie Sloan dark wax, followed by clear wax to pull off some of the dark color.

Here is a bit of staging to help get this little lady sold.

Maybe you can tell from my pictures that the colors on this little table are the colors I’m drawn to and have in my home. Too bad there isn’t any room for another piece of furniture!

Little by little I’m whittling down my pile of furniture, moving things from the “to do” pile to the “to sell” pile. I’ve pretty much banned myself from Craigslist and garage sales until I get that “to do” pile considerably smaller.

Sigh . . . I must work faster so I can return to the thrill of the hunt!

Blessings,

Just a reminder that Google Reader will end this week. I would love for you to follow me with Bloglovin’ or one of the other options on my sidebar. Thanks!

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper, IHeartNapTime, My1929Charmer, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NavyWifePetersUSSCrafty, SuburbsMama

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, SouthernLovely, VintageOnADime, IvyAndElephants, DIYByDesign, DesignedDecor, ViewFromRiverMountain, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, SewCraftyAngel, Timewashed, SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond

Thursday:

NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, DesignedDecor, TheVintageFarmhouse, TheSabbyCreekCottage, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, StoneGable, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife

Friday:

MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, TatertotsAndJello, MissMustardSeed, ThriftyHandmadeDays, CraftJunkieToo, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, 504Main
CraftsALaMode

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,
OneSharendipityPlace

Your Blog