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.

Pretty As A Picture

That's what Cathy's house is! 

Her charming house needed to be 'Waterlogued'.

Fellow blogger Cathy of My 1929 Charmer 

wasn't able to do this on her Android.  

So, I had her send me a picture of her
home and I sent her the watercolor. 

It turned out so pretty that I had to share.

Charming is the right word!

Cheers!

Cathy created this very clever picture on her blog. Love it!

Links: Common Ground

The Bear Bedroom

Here's our guest bedroom in North Carolina

It's quite a change from our decorating in South Florida.

A cabin look here with black bears,
pine trees, quilts, and lots of red.

Here's how the room started.

The sliders to the large deck.

We got to use some of the art that we've
collected over the years and have used in
previous northern homes. 

 Winter watercolors are by artist Jack Schmitt

Most have a fall or winter theme and are 

better suited for our place in NC.

A wood carving from Germany of the Lorsch

Rathaus, my father's family birthplace.

Larry's old Cornell Lacrosse sticks are used
for the drapery panels. The are the old ones
made of wood and leather.

Before we added the headboard, watercolors
and wood trim to the room.

We added architectural interest with wood 

trim molding stained to match the floors.

Into guest bath. It also has a bear theme.

The deck in the summer with access from

the guest room sliders.

A nice spot to sit.

A custom made king headboard.

With a hidden switch for a night light.

I used a template from a metal kleenex box

I have in the guest bathroom.
I'll post that room next.

I've had this old red trunk for years.

It sits at the foot of the bed and stores

 seasonal clothes. 

Bear Clock

Now we are ready for our guests! 

Just kidding, we always make them breakfast!

note: The bedding is from Target years ago. 

Bear quilt and pillow shams, and flannel bear sheet set

Cheers!

Links: Facebook,
Between Naps On The Porch

Thrift Store Oil Painting

Every once in a while I get lucky and find

an oil painting at a thrift store.

This one was a large 30"x30" canvas.

I love the bold colors and brush strokes.

Reminds me of a North Carolina summer.

I found a place for it above the chest of

drawers in the NC bedroom

A close-up.

An original oil painting for $4!

All the money in this thrift shop

benefits a local charity.

'The Blessing Closet'  for Life Challenge

Sylva, NC.

Cheers!

Links: No Minimalist Here,
My Romantic Home,
French Country Crafts

Tea and Chien In Paris

My new painting is an original from 

Fifi Flowers.

I have loved her whimsical painting style.

   This one, with tea and a cute little puppy

 (chien) by a window with an Eiffel Tower

 view, was meant to be mine. 

I ordered it from her Etsy shop.

 It was on sale too.

Loved it right down to the blue and white

 tea cup. The sweet puppy reminded me of 

my little Lucy.

 I have it on an easel on the family room

 sofa table. On top of the picket fence runner.

 I've added: a blue/white tea cup as in the

 painting, a mosaic pot with an orchid under a

 cloche, a pothos in a blue/white pot, and two

white-painted candlesticks with blue candles.

 The vintage Chinese tea basket was

 described in my previous post HERE. 

Cheers!

Links: No Minimalist Here,
The Shabby Creek Cottage,
Stone Gable, Common Ground,
Between Naps On The Porch

The Girl Creative, French Country Cottage,
The Charm of Home, My Romantic Home

Bunny Art Project

This is another one of my hare-brained 
projects using leftovers: 
leftover scrap plywood and house paint.

Here's where I started.....

I sanded the rough edges from a 22"X30" 

piece of plywood.

I still had a container of yellow kitchen paint. 

I gave it two coats.

I downloaded the bunny template from my
inspiration blog Serendipity Refined.
I increased the size to 300 on my copier.

I printed in four pages.
I cut it out and taped it together.

I traced it onto the board and painted it in 

with white paint I had on hand.

The bunny got two coats too.

I did this all outside by the pool

because the weather is heavenly.

I also printed the butterfly onto card stock,

 cut it out and gave it a crease.

I attached it to the tip of the bunny's nose

 with a dab of hot glue. I also painted in a
little grass...freehand and added the
teensiest bit of gray accent. 

Larry cut a piece of scrap plywood on the
diagonal to use for the hanging bracket.
 One piece is screwed into the wall and
one piece onto the back of the bunny. 

They lock into place when hung. 

We hung it outside on the wall next to our 

double entry doors.

I was going to add lettering down the left side.

S-P-R-I-N-G

But I'm leaving it as is...for now.

I'm thinking of doing this for each

season. So easy and the wall

bracket is up and ready for more.

Happy Spring!

Links: Under The Table And Dreaming,
Between Naps On The Porch,
Coastal Charm, A Stroll Thru Life,

The Shabby Creek Cottage,
Savvy Southern Style,
No Minimalist Here, 36th Avenue,
Domestically Speaking, Stone Gable