DIY Easy Sharpie Tile Coasters

It's so easy to personalize coasters using 

a few pieces of leftover tile. 

I made these years ago when we still had
 our place in North Carolina.

We had a black bear theme in the guest 

bedroom and bathroom. 

See those rooms HERE and HERE.

Living room HERE.

I made a template of the bear using a 

piece of cardboard and traced it onto a tile

with a pencil. Then I just filled it in with

a black Sharpie. You have endless 

possibilities; monograms, words, names, 

and holiday images like, ghosts, 

Christmas ornaments, snowflakes,

Glue on a piece of cork for the back to

  protect furniture and prevent sweating. 

You can spray coat to protect the front 

or just fill it in if it gets worn. So easy!

Cheers!

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Between Naps On The Porch

How I Found My Tobacco Basket

I've been keeping my eye out for a tobacco

 basket for years. I was hoping to find one

 on my travels for a good deal.

It needed to be authentic.

I was very lucky to find this one leaning
against the side of a dilapidated garage in
 a big overgrown yard in North Carolina.

We were storing our trailer there until
we drove up again to pick it up. 

The owner of the property didn't own the
basket.  He would try to contact the lady
that did. I was not leaving without a good
effort. We went to lunch in town and
I checked back with him later. 

Still no contact with the lady.

He promised to try again. 

We ran some errands...translation: I was
stalling to hit the road until all efforts
 have been exhausted.

Stenciled edges

On my next call he said that she was not
interested in selling. She knew what she had.
Now a normal person would give up at this
point. That's why they don't have elusive
treasures. I asked if she would be
interested in a trade. 

He'll get back to me.

Morristown, NC

We drove back to the lot and met with the
 lady. We chatted a bit and I offered her
the pick of any item that was in my trailer.

It was basically stuff I had accumulated
from garage sales and bulk trash days.
 Things I didn't want.
She liked a tile top table.

 DEAL! 

The table had a rustic North Carolina style
that wasn't going to work in Florida anyway
...PLUS I had picked it up for FREE on one
of my bulk trash day rounds.
So the tobacco basket cost me nothing.

Everybody was happy, as all deals should go.

Here's the best part. She had 2 baskets! 

TWO!

I basically got 2 huge antique tobacco
baskets for FREE.
But wait there's MORE!

 I sold one when we got home for $165.

Next, finding just the right spot for 

this 4' x 4' beauty. 

I first cleaned it up and oiled it up to

 protect the wood and bring out it's color.

  We first tried it in the family room 

on top of the wall unit. It looked
terrible there!

We strung little lights around and through.

After testing the lights first, they didn't

work in spots after we strung them...

as all Christmas lights do!

We finally found the perfect spot in 

the dining room above the large

antique cupboard. It was meant to

be there! The lighted pinecone basket

was already there. We took down the

antique beveled glass widow and

will use that in a better spot with

natural light. 

I just love, love it!

Cheers!

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Between Naps On The Porch

Rustic Wood Pallet Frame

This large sunflower painting was a birthday
 gift from my  mother. We were having my
birthday dinner in a favorite restaurant
and I was admiring it. I thought it would
 look perfect above the fireplace in
our condo in North Carolina. The colors

were just right. The owner noticed and 

said that he would sell it for $50. 

Didn't have time to think twice when
my mother said she'll take it. Birthday gift
shopping right there!  

It had an ugly chrome frame, but I knew we
could fix that. We removed the frame and
took just the painting with us on our next trip.

 I wanted a rustic frame. Free pallet wood 

found by the dumpster and leftover wall paint

 were all we needed. Miter cut the corners

 and attach, paint and done.
Free and easy! 

I filled an antique butter churn with
sunflowers to compliment the painting.
 A gift I'll always love and enjoy looking
at and remembering the story. It's a nice
 welcome and sweet memory when we are

   visiting the 'Cabbage'. It's what we call
our place in NC. Half Cabin - Half Cottage.

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch, Share Your Style ,
It hangs above the fireplace in our Smoky Mountain Cabbage HERE.

Come Hike With Me...

Weather-wise it's such a lovely day...
(~music~)

We're visiting our condo in North Carolina 

enjoying the daily deeper change of the 

leaves. We try to take a hike most days 

while we are here.This is near Bryson City,

The Road To Nowhere.

A lovely drive into the Smoky Mountain National Park.

Tunnel ahead.

 The light at the end of the tunnel.

 Always good to see.

On to Noland Creek hiking trail.

Trying a new trail today.

Which way? 

They are all beautiful.

Really liking hiking!

Cheers!

Links: Facebook, Savvy Southern Style,

Small Painted Trays and Fall Leaves

I found these painted tin trays

 at the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store 

in Bryson City, North Carolina. I visit it
every year we're in the Smokies.

I thought they were just the right size to use

as snack plates for card games or

 bread and butter plates at the table.

I'll add them to the leaf-strewn table.

I couldn't resist picking up more fall leaves

 and just strewing them on the ivory 

matelasse table runner.

Cheers!

Here's another table where I used the trays.
Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Facebook, The Charm Of Home,
French Country Cottage,
My Romantic Home

Autumn Leaves Tablescape

 Today I'm revisiting a fall tablescape. 

I was looking through the archives for inspiration.

This is from the NC condo....

I pulled a few items together that I had, 

most of them for years, and a few local finds 

to create an Autumn leaves tablescape.

I'm using the rattan chargers again. 

The black fabric placemats reverse to red 

for another look. Two for one placemats.

 The leaf print plates are used for salad.

 They were a thrifty find at a local craft fair. 

Someone had decoupaged fabric on the back

of glass plates. I got 4 for $1.25.

 All the leaf pottery is from Walmart. 

I bought it on sale last year.

A wreath of fabric Autumn leaves encircles

 a glass hurricane pillar candle.

 Clay pot saucers are used as wine coasters. 

The classic amber stemmed wine glasses

 were bought in Germany many years ago.

 Grapevine napkin rings.

 I used a long hand knitted scarf as a table 

runner. These scarves are great to find at

 all of our local towns' art and craft fairs.

An Autumnized table! 

Ready for an autumn dinner... start with my

 Baked French Onion Soup.

Stay cozy...

Links: Facebook,
Between Naps On The Porch,
A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style,
The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Charm Of Home
(October 22, 2012)

NC Kitchen ~ Before & After

The kitchen began nice and new. 

We did make a few changes. 

It gives it more of a "cabbage" look.

(cabin/cottage)

 We exchanged the cabinet hardware to a 

metal twig design. We exchanged the black

appliances to stainless steel. 

Changed the lighting and ceiling fan 

to something a bit more rustic. 

Antler motif to coordinate with the

 dining and living rooms.

The floors are slate.

We painted walls, hung pictures, added a 

valance, baskets, pottery and a 

few of our favorite things.

The new lighting and fan.

Swapped to a gas stove and we added the

 new, more rustic stone back splash.

We painted the kitchen and adjoining 

laundry room a rich gold color, 

High Plateau by Behr.

The top of the fridge. My apple cobbler pan 

hangs on the wall. I found it at a craft fair. 

I always make my apple cobbler in it

when we are here.

Granite counters

Pottery from local crafts fairs and 

of course, Longaberger baskets.

Colors pick up the gold tones.

coffee station

and tea

Kitchen sink window. Good morning bear.

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
French Country Cottage, My Repurposed Life,