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Creating a Spring Topiary

April 11, 2014 by Patti 15 Comments

Do you see it?  It’s the sun streaming in through my windows and bringing it’s warm touch into my home!

It isn’t full-on sunshine, but the muted early morning glow of a sun that hasn’t fully burned off the fog.  But it’s enough!  Enough to make me know that Spring is finally here.  Time for something new.  New life . . . green and growing things . . . bunnies in the yard . . . rhodie blooms opening wide . . .  fresh new decor around the house . . .  and time to wash the windows!

Topiary 013We took a trip to Hobby Lobby on Monday (LOVE) where I picked up some supplies to put together a Spring Topiary.  Here is what I used:

Moss Cross 008A pre-made topiary form and a willow ball.

Moss Cross 010Some greenery (though I love the dark green color of boxwood I chose a lighter shade for Spring as I can always change it out with the seasons).

Moss Cross 011And this is how I put it all together:

I began by stretching the willow ball to create a hole large enough to put the topiary ball through.  Don’t worry, you’ll be able to pull it back together easily when you’re finished.  After that I simply began tucking sprigs of greenery into the willow ball, weaving them over and under the willow branches to secure them in place.

Topiary 001I chose not to completely cover the ball as I like the willow branches showing through a bit (just my preference).

Topiary 003To keep the ball from being wobbly I tucked some moss up and around the styrofoam ball inside.  I also like the way the moss looks peeking through the branches and the greenery.

Topiary beforeThis is what I started with, the dusty Old Thing that I no longer had use for.  I liked the pot though and I kept wondering what I could do with it to make it New.  I thought of making one of those metal orbs, or using a BIG ball of boxwood to place on top, but I finally decided on a Spring Topiary.

Topiary 004I’m not sure that I’ll leave the pot as it is.  It might look nice painted up with a bit of chalk paint.  Old White or Graphite?  What are your thoughts?

Topiary 008Perhaps I could even add a little fleur de lis?

Topiary 010I added some moss around the base of the topiary and a flowering branch “wreath” . . .

Topiary 011 . . . just for the Spring.

Topiary 014It adds a cheery touch to this sitting area off my kitchen . . .

Topiary 016. . . collecting rays of light and making this corner such a happy place to be.

Topiary 017Awww . . . the colors of Spring.

I am so glad you stopped by to see me today and I hope you are feeling the joy of Spring wherever you happen to live.

Blessings,

My Signature-001BOTN I'm joining the party button 125 x 125

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
 UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper,LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SuburbsMama,
ThreeMangoSeeds,  NiftyThriftyThings
Monday:
 IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor,  ModVintageLife, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, TheGraphicsFairy, TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, HuckleberryLove, GiveMeTheGoodsMonday,  TwelveOEight, FrugalCraftyHome, Dwellings, AnExtraordinaryDay
Tuesday:
HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse,  NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse,  BloomingHomestead,KatheWithAnE,NotJustAHousewife, 
VMG206, BeBetsy,TuesdaysAtOurHome,
TwirlAndTakeABow, TheWinthropChronicles, WeCallItJunkin’
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, IvyAndElephants,  DIYByDesign, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, Timewashed,
SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, Fishtail Cottage,  TheCityFarmhouse
Thursday:
NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife, AKAWeekendRetreat
Friday:
MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, TickledPinkTimesTwo, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,
IHeartNapTime, DIYVintageChic, FindingFabulous
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,
OneMoreTimeEvents

 

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Filed Under: Flowers, Home decorating, Moss, Re-purposing, Spring Decorating, Tutorial Tagged With: Flowers, Home Decorating, Moss, Repurposing, Spring Decorating

Happiness in a Vintage Strawberry Crate

March 19, 2014 by Patti 35 Comments

1-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece 001Do rainy days make you happy?  Sometimes I like the rain, but not when it continues day-after-day, week-after-week, without a single peek at the sun.  One Saturday morning just a few weeks ago, our day began with a shroud of clouds and drizzling rain that seemed to mirror the gray feelings inside me.   Enough with the rain already!

2-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece 002On this drizzly day Mr. OTN and I decided to “escape” from home.  We escaped our lists, our piles, our things-to-do . . . and spent the day just JUNKING.

5-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece 016

As we walked down Main Street of a quaint old town Mr. OTN caught sight of this wonderful vintage strawberry crate all alone on the sidewalk.  It caught his eye, not because it was something he’d like for himself, but because he knows me . . . and he knew it was something that would delight me.

3-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece and St Patti's Day Decor 007I have childhood memories of a strawberry crate much like this one.  One week in summer.  One long, hot week picking strawberries.  In between the strawberry fights and sweet berry juice running down my chin, it was the hardest work I’d ever experienced.  In fact, it was probably the only REAL work this city child experienced.  But I was motivated to do the work in order to earn spending money for our family trip to California.

2-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece and St Patti's Day Decor 003And what did I do with my hard earned $14.00?  I bought a souvenir gift for each of my friends.  I was quite proud of myself . . .  but not proud enough to go back to the strawberry fields again the next year.  Like I said, it was HARD work!

8-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece 042While Mr. OTN was making the purchase I was already making plans in my head for what I would do with this weathered and rusty old crate.

7-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece 040Once back home I began by laying down tablecloth and table runners, then lined my crate with vintage lace.

6-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece 028I filled it with everything needed for a dinner with the one who knew that this strawberry crate would bring sunshine to my day and warm me from the inside out.

3-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece 009I tucked in a few floral branches to remind me that Spring is right around the corner . . .

4-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece 0119-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece 048

. . . and as I prepared to take some pictures, the sun broke through the clouds . . .

4-Vintage Strawberry Box Centerpiece and St Patti's Day Decor 011. . . turning one gloomy, drizzly day into a day filled with bright happiness! 

Blessings,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
 UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper,LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SuburbsMama,
ThreeMangoSeeds
NiftyThriftyThings
Monday:
 IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor,  ModVintageLife, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, TheGraphicsFairy, TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, HuckleberryLove, GiveMeTheGoodsMonday,  TwelveOEight,
FrugalCraftyHome, Dwellings
Tuesday:
HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse,  NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse,  BloomingHomestead,KatheWithAnE,NotJustAHousewife, 
VMG206, BeBetsy,TuesdaysAtOurHome,
TwirlAndTakeABow,
TheWinthropChronicles
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, IvyAndElephants,  DIYByDesign, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, Timewashed,
SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, Fishtail Cottage,  TheCityFarmhouse
Thursday:
NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife 
Friday:
MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, TickledPinkTimesTwo, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,
IHeartNapTime, WeCallItJunkin’,
DIYVintageChic,
FindingFabulous
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,
OneMoreTimeEvents
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Filed Under: Antiques and Collectibles, farmhouse glam, Home decorating, Junking, Spring Decorating, Table Runners, table settings, Thrifting Tagged With: Antiques and Collectibles, Centerpieces, Farmhouse Glam, Home Decor, Junking, Repurposing, Spring, Table Settings, thrift store repurposing

Top Ten Posts for 2013 From Old Things New Blog

December 31, 2013 by Patti 20 Comments

So, these aren’t necessarily my “most visited” posts.  I’ve looked through and chosen the posts that received the most comments and also, in the tradition of Old Things New, the posts where I actually re-purposed or restored something old into something new. 

So here are my Top Ten Posts for 2013:

#10 Braided Cuff Tutorial

#9 Vintage Jewelry Bookmarks

#8 Three Tiered Succulents

5-Slipcover redo for little bench 017#7 A Dropcloth Slipcover for an Old Bench

#6 Guest Cottage Before and After

#5 A Frenchy Bed Makeover

#4 DIY Junky Chicken Wire Cloche

#3 Turquoise Bedside Table

#2 Rosette Wreath Tutorial

And finally, my most popular post of 2013 . . .

#1 Vintage Dresser and Mirror Update

If you’d like to see more pictures or tutorials of any of these posts you can click on the title for the link to the post.  It has been a busy and wonderful year of blogging in 2013 and I’m looking forward to new things ahead for 2014. 

    Blessings to you all in the year to come,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
 UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper,LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SuburbsMama,
ThreeMangoSeeds
NiftyThriftyThings
Monday:
 IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor,  ModVintageLife, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, TheGraphicsFairy, TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, HuckleberryLove, GiveMeTheGoodsMonday,  TwelveOEight,
FrugalCraftyHome, Dwellings
Tuesday:
HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse,  NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse,  BloomingHomestead,KatheWithAnE,NotJustAHousewife, 
VMG206, BeBetsy,TuesdaysAtOurHome,
TwirlAndTakeABow,
TheWinthropChronicles
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, IvyAndElephants,  DIYByDesign, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, Timewashed,
SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, Fishtail Cottage,  TheCityFarmhouse
Thursday:
NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife 
Friday:
MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, TickledPinkTimesTwo, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,
IHeartNapTime, WeCallItJunkin’,
DIYVintageChic,
FindingFabulous
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands
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Filed Under: 2013, Blogging, Chalk painted furniture, DIY, Drop Cloth Projects, furniture restoration, Gardening, graphics, Home decorating, Junking, ModPodge, Old Junk Transformations, painted dresser, Re-purposing, Rosette Wreath, striped dresser, Succulents, Thrift Store Re-purposing, Tutorial, Velvet Bookmarks Tagged With: 2013, Blogging, Chalk Painted Furniture, DIY, Drop cloth projects, Graphics, Home Decor, Junking, Mod Podge, old junk transformations, Repurposing, Rosette Wreath, Succulents, Vintage Jewelry

An Old Door Made New Through Decoupage

July 31, 2012 by Patti 8 Comments

A little over a year ago, while browsing through an antique store with a friend, we came across a really fun decorative piece. It was a very old door, hand painted in a whimsical floral motif and heavily distressed for an aged look. We talked about where it could be used at home. Turned on it’s side, it would make a beautiful headboard . . . it would also be a great way to change out a plain old pantry door . . . or, in the right space, (like the narrow wall in my dining room) it would look great just hung on the wall. But the price . . . not in my budget! I returned to the store again later when I saw a 30% OFF SALE sign outside but this particular piece was not discounted. I went back once again, this time taking my husband along (have I told you he likes to shop? What a lucky girl I am!) I wanted him along for moral support as I tried to make a deal with the shop owner (something I really do not like to do). I also secretly hoped that if she said, “No”, hubby would say something like, “Oh dear, sweet wife of mine, I know how much you have your heart set on that door. Let me buy it as a gift for you”. Alas, it didn’t play out that way.

That very night my brain starting churning out a plan to have a door just like the one I’d grown to love. I don’t know about you, but my best ideas come to me in bed. Early in the morning I was on the computer, searching for old doors. When my husband arose, we were off to a salvage store in Seattle to pick up the door I found online (the one shown above). But . . . how was I going to make my door look like the one in the antique store? I paint furniture, I paint walls, but I don’t paint “things” like flowers, or kitties, or people! The other part of my bedtime musings had given me the answer. DECOUPAGE of course!

I had fabric on hand (a runner from World Market would now be repurposed!) so the only other stop we had to make was at the craft store to buy some Mod Podge.

After painting my door with several layers of different colored paint, I used my sanding sponge to distress it just like the one in the antique store. I was then ready to apply my flowers. This part is so simple that I feel silly writing about it but, for anyone who doesn’t know how to use Mod Podge, this is what I did: I carefully cut out the flowers I wanted to use and laid them out on the door in the pattern I liked. Then I removed them, painted a coat of Mod Podge where each flower would go (just like glue) and laid the flowers back down. I then proceeded to paint several coats of Mod Podge over the top of the fabric, allowing it to dry about an hour between each coat. Afterwards, I applied a dark wax (Annie Sloan) over the top of the entire door and buffed it when it was dry.

And this is the end result. You can see the different colors of paint showing through where it has been distressed and the bright colors have been toned down by the dark wax. Personally, I like it just as much as the door in the antique store which, by the way, is still there. I stopped in two days ago, drawn in by a 30-50% OFF SALE sign on the roadway. The door in the antique store is still beyond my budget and still not discounted!

Don’t you love the old door hardware with the fleur de lis?

The salvaged door cost $20, the old hardware another $20, the paint and fabric, I had on hand, and the Mod Podge Satin, less than $5.00.

I’m pretty happy with my door art and I now have a few more ideas for doors running through my head. So many ideas . . . so little time!

 

Blessings,

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,  NaptimeCreations, CedarHillRanch,  BloomingHomestead,KatheWithAnE,NotJustAHousewife, 
VMG206, Hickory Trail, BeBetsy,TuesdaysAtOurHome, ADiamondInTheStuff
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, SouthernLovely, VintageOnADime, IvyAndElephants,  DIYByDesign, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, Timewashed, SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, Fishtail Cottage
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, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,  
OneSharendipityPlace

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Filed Under: Decoupage, Home decorating, Junking, ModPodge, Old Junk Transformations Tagged With: Home Decor, Old Door Projects, Old Junk Transformation, Repurposing

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OldThingsNew

I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti, daughter of the King, wife to the amazing Mr. OTN, mom to two grown daughters, a great son-in-law, and companion to two spoiled dogs. At Old Things New I share DIY’s, budget friendly home transformations, as well as posts about how God transforms our souls. I myself have been made new and I love to share what I’ve learned through WRITING and SPEAKING. To view a short Vimeo of “Our Story” (Mr. OTN and I) please follow the link at the top of the page.

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