July 2020 – Loving My New Simple Life

24
Jul
2020

My Pottery Barn Frames

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

Hello everyone!

On today’s post I want to share my version of Pottery Barn’s Weston frames.

I have loved these frames for years, but not for $39.50 or $49.50 each.

They have large rings and decorative wall hooks that hold the frames.

A unique look for wall photos.

So you all probably guessed, I made my own.

Actually they were quite simple to make.

I purchased 2 frames at the thrift store, they were $2 each, also some small hooks and metal rings, ordered from Amazon, and 2 Command wall hooks.

The frames had a scratch or two on them, so I sanded and spray painted them black, as well as all the other pieces.

Attached the small hooks to the back of the frames.

Assembled the frames with my photos.

Attached the Command hooks to the wall as directed.

That was it!

I selected one of our wedding photos, and our 50th wedding anniversary photo for my frames.

I really love the way they turned out.

Hung them in our bedroom on a wall that needed something special.

Not exactly as Pottery Barn’s, but darn close.

Just trying to stay busy during these “stay at home’ times, hope you are too!

Have a wonderful Friday, and a wonderful weekend.

Be safe everyone.

Love to all.

22
Jul
2020

It’s Not Jayne’s Garden

categories: Home Projects, Summer

In all of my __ years, I have never planted vegetables.

So this year, I thought I would give it a try!

No, this is not my vegetable garden.

This is my friend Jayne’s garden, a photo taken a couple of years ago, showing only one part of her garden.

I am sure this year’s is bigger and better.

The fact is, my garden consists of 2 tomato plants, and one sweet pepper plant.

Hey it’s a start!

But oh how much fun, and joy, these 3 plants have given me.

A new hobby, therapeutic during these “stay at home” times.

Just look at my first tomato, it’s beautiful, perfectly shaped!

My son and husband have even taken an interest, checking on our garden, as I do every morning.

It has brought back memories for my husband of helping his Grandmother with her garden as a child.

Sweet memories for him, his Grandmother raised him, and he was very close to her, all of her life.

I have always planted flowers, Shasta daisies, daylilies, cornflowers, and have enjoyed watching them come back every year.

I placed a birdbath, made from a deep plastic bowl and a decorative dowel from Home Depot, next to the cornflowers.

The birds in my area love it!

In my back yard, in a little hidden nook, I have a potting bench.

Planting flowers in pots, for my front and back porches, has always calmed me, especially on a stressful day.

I am reading all about growing vegetables, so maybe next year, just maybe, my little garden will grow and look more like Jayne’s.

Next year, I want sunflowers, and pumpkins growing by my little barn, in my back yard.

How lovely and colorful it will be.

Thank you Jayne, for your inspiration.

Folks, it is so true that the simple things in life, are the most rewarding.

Love to all on this hot summer day.

Can’t wait to slice my perfectly shaped tomato!

16
Jul
2020

Fun With Tote Bags

categories: Crafts, DIY

We all have things, lots of things.

Things we need and must carry with us.

I carry a small purse, so I usually take a tote bag along with me in the car.

My tote is filled with extra glasses, pens, notebooks, pills, and now hand sanitizer and face masks.

Just things I may need when I am out and about.

I bought some canvas bags at Michaels with a 50% off coupon, and started thinking of ways to decorate.

I love Rae Dunn products, she is an American artist using a simple farmhouse lettering.

I have always loved her products, although they can be a bit pricey, so when I saw Rae Dunn look alike stencils on Amazon, of course, I had to have them.

So very happy with the outcome of these bags I completed using my new stencils.

A simple saying, so cute!

Again I used my Rae Dunn stencils on this black and white canvas bag.

Couldn’t resist this little pouch too!

So cute and whimsy!

I love them.

On this next one, I tried for a little Bo Ho style using a tricolor pack of pom pom balls, again from Michaels for $1.99.

Using my glue gun, I glued the balls in a row on both sides of the bag.

What a cute stocking stuffer idea, totes for many folks on your Christmas list.

Roll the bags up and tie a red ribbon around them, don’t forget to add a cute tag, homemade of course!

Yes, Christmas is only 5 months away.

Time to get started.

This last bag is the one I am currently using.

Stenciled with lemons! I love all things lemon.

It just says “summer”.

Totes are great to take along to a farmer’s market or craft event to carry all the goodies you buy.

Before I end this post I want to say something about stenciling.

The most important thing is to use an almost dry brush, you can always repeat if needed.

Too much paint will cause bleeding outside the stencil.

If you want to shade an area on your stencil, go back, after the first coat has dried, with a darker shade.

Just use your craft paints, they work fine.

I have a dear friend, Denise, who is a wonderful sewer.

If I could sew like Denise, I would make tote bags, in beautiful, colorful fabrics, using the simple pattern on the video below.

Get busy Denise, I expect one in my stocking.

Since my sewing machine hates me, I will have to settle for stenciled bags to fill the stockings of all my loved ones.

Hope you all are being creative, staying busy and staying safe.

Hugs.

07
Jul
2020

DIY Drawer to Table

categories: Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

Well, I was not really sure what this was, when I bought it for $2.25 at the thrift store.

Is it a drawer?

A large rectangular wood piece with some sort of veneer finish.

So, after cleaning and sanding, I knew paint was the next step.

White or gray?

You all know me, white, as usual.

After a couple coats of white chalk paint to this “drawer”, inside and out, I added a simple gold handle to the front.

I ordered legs from Amazon, and painted them gold.

The piece turned out to be a small table, I placed at the foot of the bed, in my spare bedroom.

A piece for books, a throw, or maybe some pillows.

My kitty, “Puss Face”, seemed to like it!

Maybe she will make it her comfy bed.

So pleased with the outcome of this project.

Who would have thought that the odd piece I started with, is now a table.

I love it next to my chenille bedspread.

The spread is not old, but I love it so.

I guess loving it comes from the memories of grandma’s house, and the bedspread on our bed as children.

In this old photo of me with my sister you can see a chenille spread on the bed. We have no memories of that little boy!

I remember naps, laying across a chenille spread.

This has turned out to be one of my favorite “flip” projects.

Hope you all agree.

Have a beautiful day, filled with all things that make you smile, like sweet childhood memories.

04
Jul
2020

Simple Patriotic Pride

categories: 4th of July

Happy 4th, the birthday of our great country.

It’s our patriotic pride of this country, along with the cookouts, and fireworks, that make it a wonderful holiday.

Things are a bit different this year, but I hope you all have added a few simple touches of the red, white, and blue to your homes, even during these troubled times.