Back Porch Time

Greetings from the back porch!  I've been busy sprucing up the back porch.  It seems to be a work in progress.  I want to get some more plants or maybe some flowers.  Like the granny square afghan?  Snatched it up at a thrift store.  I was going to take it apart, but now I am happy that I left it as is, because it fits perfectly.

It feels a little bit like I am in a treehouse.  Our porch is up on the second level and we are surrounded by all the trees in the back.  And it is so private.  I have been busy with my red spray paint, as you can tell.  

And Girlie keeps me company while I am out here.  Just look at those eyes!  She is such a good little doggy.  

I found this cool shelf at the thrift store.  $10!!!  Holy cow!  You can hardly buy lunch for ten bucks.  This is just what I have been looking for.  So I cleaned it up and sprayed it down

Isn't it awesome!!   I was so excited when I started painting it.  I new instantly that I would like it.  I have been keeping my eyes out for something like this and the price was right!

So now it is Sunday evening, and I realise that Monday morning is not far away.  I do have a crochet project to share, but I am blocking it right now. 

Funny, when I finish up a project I feel kind of lost. This afternoon I have been rummaging through my yarn trying to figure out what I want to do next.  

I am sure I will find something!

Pin-spiration!!

 

God bless you pinterest!!  You have provided me with so much creative inspiration!  I saw a a very patriotic wreath, which I pinned to my Red, White, and Blue board that I really wanted to totally copy.  Unfortunately I could not find all the "exact" ingredients, but I am happy with my version.  I tea dyed the flags to give them that vintage-y look.  Hobby Lobby had the burlap in all kinds of colors, but the natural burlap looked best.

I am also continuing my love affair with spray paint.  These little framed crewel embroideries have been on my to do list for quite some time.  Given to me by Brad's mom, they were actually two little needleworks done by his Grandmother, probably from the 70s.  I loved them immediately, but they needed a serious makeover.   So I took them apart.  Tossed the glass in the frames.  Gave them a good cleaning and sprayed the frames this mossy green.  She also had the frames portrait style instead of landscaped (I am not sure how else to describe it), and they fit so much better.  Then added a little quilt batting to puff them up and there you have it.  I have been walking around the house holding them up in various places trying to decide where to thang them. 

I also wanted to share this little idea I had about painted frames and crochet.  Yes, I said it...both!  And it has made my little granny square love'n spray painting heart skip a couple of beats!!  I love the idea of the two together.  I am still experimenting with this, but so far this is what I have done.  The oval frames are really appealing to me.  I have been keeping my eyes peeled for them in the thrift stores.  I also think these would be pretty with a layer of quilt batting under the crochet.  There will definitely be more of these coming!

I hope to be back this weekend with another Blankies for Boston afghan, and who knows what else.  I have many little projects around the house that I just cannot seem to get to, so maybe I can attack one or two of those!

Have a great rest of the week!

Dollar Tree + Spray Paint + Hot Glue =

Pure Halloween crafting fun!

My pinterest addiction has paid off.  I saw this cute "Spooky Village" while looking around on pinterest.  I thought it was pure genius!!!!  

Yes, they are little Christmas village pieces you can by at the Dollar Tree for $1!!  Needless to say...I hit it and brought three little houses home to experiment with.

Aren't they adorable!  And yes, they even light up!  It was so easy.  I spray painted the little houses black, then dry brushed some acrylic gray over them.  Can it get any simpler??

Only thing, I don't have room to display an entire village, so I had to get creative.  So I found that the Dollar Tree also sells this moss too.  

Then I searched the house looking for something to "plant" them in.

A little orange spray paint on this vase I had under the kitchen sink was perfect.  I added some sticks from the front yard and some little berries off of a silk leave bush. 

I had this little moss planter out on the back porch...perfect!!!  Just another reason to never throw anything out, LOL!

I am keeping my eyes peeled for some little orange berries.  I was wanting them to look like pumpkins.  In the meantime, I am happy with them.

I really like this one.  I spray painted the moss black, just to see if I liked it.  I do!  Now I am looking for some kind of container to put it in.

Over the last ten years I have used this poor pumpkin out on the porch.  Once again, NEVER throw anything out.  I really didn't like it...until....

I gave him a little make over.  Black paint around his eyes, nose and mouth got it all started.  Then I stained the entire pumpkin with some black wash.  
I bought a package of birthday hats at the Dollar Tree for $1 and spray painted one of them.  (I have some left for later!).  Added a little ribbon I had on hand and some tissue paper, then I put him on a black pillar candlestick.  

And now...I love him!  

I thought I would share this with everyone since I am still working on my granny square blanket and don't have any new pictures of it.  I am making progress and I guess in another week it should be done!

I'm off of here for now, I think I need to go spray paint something!

Bye!

I'm having a love affair with spray paint!

Due to some distraction from the spray paint aisle at Lowes and the Thrift Store, progress on my granny squares has slowed down just a bit! 

I have been wanting to make some of these little desert stands for some time.  After finding some really cheap candlesticks at the Goodwill I couldn't stand it.  The vintage plates are some that were given to me.

Aren't they adorable!!  Needless to say I've got more to do.  Just waiting on the weather to cooperate.

I found this wooden compote at our local thrift shop for $7 bucks, it was screaming for me to carry it home and spray it down!  LOL!  Does it not perfectly compliment my squares?  I am thinking that I will crochet a six sided granny to go in the compote.

I am thinking maybe a couple more rounds and I will stop.  I plan on using this mat in the middle of my kitchen table. 

Let me share just one more thrift store find before I go!

SCORE!  Y'all know how much I love owls.  I had to have him.  He's totally vintage and looks perfect in my kitchen!

He even inspired me to make oatmeal cookies to go into his little belly.  LOL!!

That's it for now!