Showing posts with label Screend porch. Show all posts

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Spring Decorations

Well, it’s still March, and here in central Ohio the sun in shining brighter and is teasing us into thinking that it’s spring, but walk outside and you’ll be quickly reminded that, nope, not yet. This morning it was 29° when I got up! That’s below

f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g!! BRRRRRR

But Easter will be here in two weeks, so it’s time to put our Easter bonnets on and at least decorate as though it’s spring!

First, I’ll share what I’ve done inside, then we’ll move to the outside.

Recently it occurred to me that my MIL’s writing desk was too hidden where we had it, and so with a little help from Mr. CHN we switched it with the buffet, and I like it! We’ve never had the writing desk in this spot, and it seems to open up the room so much! Perfect for spring!

So here’s the spring vignette for the writing desk~

This sweet teacup, with violets and yellow “violets” said spring to me as I searched through my collection, so she was chose to join the spring vignette.

Spring Decor, Chickadee Home Nest The right side of the writing desk holds a vintage crystal bowl filled with marble eggs, and can you see the teeny, tiny lights on the twigs to the right? Here they are, lit!

I just love these little lights in the evening! We bought them years ago in a boutique, and I’ll tell you, I’ve gotten our money’s worth out of them! I added more twigs to make them more natural, and we keep them in the blue-and-white umbrella stand year-round. They’re great for seasonal decorating. I’ve decorated them with felt hearts for Valentine’s Day and several other holidays.

And as you walk in, this is what you would see ~

(Here’s a silly little secret: Unless we’re having extreme heat or cold, we keep our front door open, since we have the storm door. Which means everyone and anyone who walks by can peek in as they walk by, and our neighborhood is a walking neighborhood—lots of folks are out all the time. So after I’ve done something that would be visible from outside, I take my own stroll out there (sometimes I drag Mr. CHN with me), and I peek in (yes, into our own home!), because you know…you have to see what your neighbors are seeing as they walk by!) LOL Now I’m SURE no blogger EVER looks in houses as they walk or drive by, right?

Another touch of spring and Easter is my Southern Living Ballard Designs tiered basket. Boy does this basket get a workout! It’s so versatile, and we have the perfect spot for it on our tall counter/bar, which is what I need there—something tall that makes a statement! This basket is one big,tall basket! I love the handle on it—like a shovel handle!

The feather wreath (top shelf of basket) and the glass eggs on the bottom shelf were great garage sale finds a couple of years ago, and the papier-mâché eggs are from Tuesday Morning a few years ago. They’re made in Germany, and the designs are just precious.Now that we’re expecting another chickadee, I hope I can find one more! <3

While in the mood, I also did a little something on the dining room table and the screened porch :)

These are candles that I actually have on eBay to sell, but as I took pictures of them on our table I decided they added a nice touch of spring color to the table, so I’ll enjoy them until they go to another happy home!

Because we have such a direct view of our screened porch and beyond, it’s important that we have nice seasonal touches out there. Forsythia and GIANT eggs (another garage sale find), as well as a few more marble ones were a quick addition that says “SPRING.” (I’m always in search of my first glimpse of {real} forsythia. It’s a sure sign that spring is coming!)

Spring Decor, Chickadee Home Nest

And finally, the front door and porch ~

Welcome! A simple forsythia bouquet, tied with glittery green and white tulle, provides a simple-yet-colorful touch. Since we have a storm door, the arrangements on the door must be “crushable,” and this one is!

And, when you come over for a visit, this is what you’ll see on the front porch! (It’ll be lovely out here when it’s warmer, so maybe you should wait a month or so, but please do stop by!)

Spring Decor, Chickadee Home Nest

I’ll leave you with shadow play, which as you know, I love.

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Thanks so much for stopping by. Tell me, what have you done in terms of spring decor? Are you in the mood yet? What early spring flower tells you it’s spring? (BTW, I also watch for crocuses. They’re so brave to sometimes bloom right through the snow!)

I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I’m thrilled to know you stopped by, and I’ll always visit back and comment too. If you like what you see, I invite you to follow me (I promise to follow back), and please—Pin away and follow me on Pinterest too! Thank you!!

NOTE: Some of the items I use in my posts are in my Etsy shop, but many are not, simply because I haven’t updated my shop. If you see something you like and wonder if it’s available for sale, email me at coral5252@gmail.com and let’s talk!

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Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

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Thursday Your Turn to Shine at http://blesserhouse.blogspot.com/

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Fridays Creative Collection at http://thecardswedrew.com/

Fridays at Feathered Nest: http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Fridays at http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/

Fridays at Home Sweet Home: http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Fresh-Cut Fridays at http://rosevignettes.blogspot.com

Fridays at The Thrifty Groove at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/

Friday Tatertots and Jello at http://tatertotsandjello.com

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From my nest to yours~

Zuni

Monday, June 23, 2014

Fourth of July Table

Are you ready for the Fourth? Doesn’t it seem like we’re still in early June? It does to me! And yet, the Fourth is only a little over a week away! I just hope we’re not careening into the holidays! (LOL).

Last week I shared my outside patriotic decorations with you (here). I hope my Fourth of July table will get your creativity flowing, so you can start planning for your own celebration.

Our screened porch is a favorite spot during the summer months, so of course it’s fun to change the decor often.

Let’s take a closer look:

I bought this geranium at a fund raiser the local firefighters hold every Mother’s Day. It is a perfect complement to a Fourth of July table. Although the plant had no marker, I named it “Brushstrokes” because of the gorgeous coloring.

The Mexican blue-rimmed glasses are from Pottery Barn (several years ago), and the blue goblets were an awesome auction find!

The twig chargers are from Grandin Road a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, I apparently got the last four, because they were unable to fill my order for eight. I keep checking back to see if they have them in stock again, but no luck so far. Attention, Grandin Road: You could sell a boatload of these chargers if you’d carry them again!

The wrought iron shelving is also decked out in red, white, and blue.

Another area of the screened porch has a collection of wood red, white, and blue lighthouses and other items,

and a touch of whimsy with a patriotic banner on a twig wreath.

This geranium is “Calliope”—it’s a gorgeous, velvety, deep red, also perfect for Fourth of July decorating.

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There you have it! I hope you have a chance to set a lovely, fun, red, white, and blue table for you and yours. Do you find that as you look through blogs you not only get ideas, but are reminded of things you have and could use for a tablescape or a vignette? That sure happens to me!

Happy Fourth of July to All!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I’m thrilled to know you stopped by, and I’ll always visit back and comment too. If you like what you see, I invite you to follow me (I promise to follow back), and please—Pin away and follow me on Pinterest too! Thank you!!

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Vintage Inspiration Friday at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Saturdays at http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/

Spotlight Saturdays at http://www.classyclutter.net/

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Sunday Showcase at http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

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Mop it Up Monday at http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com

Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Masterpiece Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Tuesdays at Our Home at http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/

Tuesdays at The Scoop at http://www.stonegableblog.com

Tuesday’s Treasures http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

Inspire Me Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

From my nest to yours~

Zuni

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

At the Beach ~ in Cannes

When my husband and I spent three weeks in France and Spain several years ago, we were in Cannes a good part of the time. We were traveling solo—no tour guide—and we literally stumbled into Le Suquet, the old part of Cannes. What a loss it would’ve been if we’d missed it! The streets there were laid out 400 years ago! The main streets are now pedestrianed, and feature lovely, tiny restaurants and shop after shop after shop of beautiful, colorful French linens and dishes. I was in heaven! Because the streets climb up to the clock tower (where the view of the Bay of Cannes is incredible), the restaurants build tiny platforms, where they manage to squeeze in as many tables as possible~it’s so charming!

Unfortunately, theft is a “bit” of a problem in Cannes, and our cameras were stolen while we were there, so we have no pictures of that leg of the trip. :( Local Nomad Blog has this picture of Le Suquet’s restaurants and the ingenious “wedge” platforms~

Le Croisette is the famous beach in Cannes, seen in its full glory in many, many movies. So recently I did a tablescape using the tablecloth we bought at one of the sweet little shops in Le Suquet, and let it be my inspiration. What a wonderful souvenir it has been!

I decided to keep the additions to the table at a minimum, so as to not detract from the design.

The early-morning sun casts lovely shadows on our screened porch. The yellow and blue dishes are Big Lots finds—and a perfect match for the tablecloth! The fish dishes are by mudpie.

And the lavender—after all, this is a table of the south of France—is from our garden.

The wine/lemonade goblets and the Mexican on-the-rocks are from Pottery Barn.

I’ve had the gold tablecloth and napkins for years—a happy match to the Le Suquet tablecloth!

A simple jar with lavender and Stella d’Oros, also from our garden, for the centerpiece.

The service table, with the candles at the ready for evening dining.

The beach motif continues…

Sunflowers add to the French beach decor. Oh, the fields and fields and fields of sunflowers we saw, all with their big and little faces turned to the sun, and the pictures we took of them…

Did you know, that in French and Spanish sunflowers are called “tournesol” and “girasol” respectively, which literally translate to “turn to the sun”? What a perfect name for them!

As dusk arrives, time to light the candles and enjoy the shadow play. The Chocolat window piece is quite befitting the event, yes? It was a Mother’s Day gift from my husband, because the movie
Chocolat, and the music from it, are favorites of mine. He somehow snuck it out of the French Hen Barn Sale without my seeing it! Love it!

Please come right in…

…and enjoy a glass of icy-cold lemonade with me.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I read every single one of them! And if you like what you see a lot, maybe you’d like to +1 this post or pin it on Pinterest too! Thank you!

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