FOF - Ruffled Burlap Runner

After much fighting,

frustration,

a little praying...

I've come to the bitter conclusion that,

My sewing machine hates me. It really does.

I'll spare you the gory details of the struggle, and just say that I did come out victorious.

My project turned out better than I had hoped in spite of it all, and I'm willing to make peace with the little beast. At least till the next time.

I think my burlap runner turned out looking pretty sweet, if I do say so myself :)

But I have another problem. (This is where you come in.)

I can't decide which accessories look best.

Here is vignette A:

And then here is Vignette B:

Let me bring it in a little closer for ya...

What's your pick? Or do they both look dorky? Perhaps you have other suggestions?

I'm trying to get more of a summer feel with the sand and seashells, and neutral colors. The burlap was just the touch I was looking for, I love the texture of it.

I'm linking up with Chari's Finished Object Friday Party. Don't miss it.

Happy weekend!!

I know SUMMER TIME'S a comin' when...

1. I find myself spending more time OUTside than INside.

2. I can wear those white summer skirts again.

Love 'em, Love 'em.

3. Two sweet little boys bring me 17 weed bouquets per day.

Love those, too.

4. The azaleas totally come alive.

5. I can find cute shoes at the kiddie shoe store.

(Is it just me, or are summer shoes just WAY cuter than winter shoes?!)

6. Kindergarten is OVER!

And a very happy little guy has mailed off his LAST package of school work.

Did I say VERY HAPPY little guy...

7. The Ice cream truck starts making himself a regular visitor.

8. I have to put up with blue mouths. (Thanks to the afore mentioned ice cream truck...)

9. Crocs and sandals have completely taken over our entry way. (Yes, mine and Jackson's are the same size. Yes, I know he is only 6 years old. And yes, it makes me wanna cry. But NO, we do not share. He has stinky feet.)

And finally, my favorite...

10. Spike's back.

Hello, Sweet Summer Time! I've missed you so...

Bamboo Blinds ~ On a Budget.

I've had my heart totally set on bamboo shades for the den. The budget, on the other hand, has been totally against it. Have you priced those things?! Sorry, Home Depot, but I am SO not paying 100 buckaroos for 3 shades. Not happening.

So just imagine my delight when I found these at Big Lots. For $7 each!

Looks WAY better than those ordinary old white mini blinds. I love the extra texture they add to the room - definitely a beachy feel!

I got all 3 for less than 25 bucks!

(Ooohh...notice my impressive math skills...)

Just to prove how cheap I am, I'll let you in on a dirty little secret...

I get Coastal Living magazines from the THRIFT STORE, people! Ye-ahh...I am THAT cheap. Hey, they may not be the most up to date edition, but they're only 3o cents apiece! I could find that much in the dryer...

Introducing...The QUEEN of patina

Come on, meet my newest treasure.

(At this point, she kinda looks like Fred from the Cars movie... me thinks she could use a little "rust-eeze")

I've been wanting one of these old metal gliders FOR. EVAH. My great Aunt Effie was about to send this one off to the scrap metal place, and I was only TOO happy to take her off their hands!

I sanded, and sanded, and sanded some more....till I was sore all over. I'm pretty sure I burned several thousand calories.

(I figure I earned that big fat gooey brownie.)

After sanding like a mad woman, I primed it with Rustoleum primer, then gave her a good coat of "Celery" by Krylon. Then, naturally, I sanded some of it back off in spots to show some of that rusty goodness. Can't have it looking too new and shiny - that would ruin it's character.

Then we proudly set her right smack dab on the front porch.

Ain't she purty?

A twin size ruffled sheet over a piece of foam made a dandy cushion...without me having to sew a single stitch.

I totally LOVE this thing! And it makes the most delicious creaky sound when it rocks :)

(By the way, dontcha just LOVE the house across the street?)

Aunt Effie was also sending a neat old wringer washing machine to the dump.

Well, what's a girl to do?

I told her I'd take it!!

(this is the part where my sweet hubby was banging his head against the wall...)

Now, I need some ideas...what should I do with it?

Oh, and if you need me....I'll be out on the porch.

I'm linking up with Chari's Finished Object Friday!

Y'all are my heros.

Let me just say how awesome you all are! I LOVED your suggestions for lightening up my living room mantel. Talk about immediate inspiration! I couldn't wait to try some of your ideas...

I'll refresh you with the very February before :

And the much lighter "after" :

I loved the hydrangea idea, I'm always ready to use more hydrangeas! LOVE 'em. I also added a burlap ribbon to the brass urn, changed the fall photo to a more springy photo, removed the black welcome sign and faux ivy, and I just couldn't stop without adding my little birdie friends.

I found these springy thingies at Wal Mart, then added a sage green ribbons to dress them up.

It feels much more light and fresh now.

So what do you think? Is it getting there?

Ya know, I might should ask you guys what to do with the REST of the room...

Going to the Mantel Party...

The Nester is having a mantel party, so I thought I'd join in just for kicks.

I can't tell you how much I'm loving having a mantel in our bedroom. I big fat pouffy heart this old fireplace...

You know I love me some birds :)

The nest of eggs in the little wire basket adds a touch of spring.

I'm at peace with this mantel...

BUT the living room mantel needs some major lightening up.

Any Ideas?

It needs some springtime in a bad way. But the room is mostly warm dark colors, and I'm not moving the big picture. It's huge. It's heavy. And I like it. But I'm at a loss for ideas on accessories for the mantel that would make it more springy. Oh, and whatever I do has to fit in the budget. A very low budget. Actually free would be good. Hmmm...guess I'll be shopping the house...

Easter

Just a few photos from Easter Sunday...

Jackson's looking so grown up!

We waited till after church to take the pics, hence the messy hair, shirts coming untucked, crooked belts and ties, and the absence of a decent family pic

(because they were HUNGRYYYY).

Really,they looked pretty spiffy for about 5 minutes :) Gotta love boys...

Hope you all had a very Blessed Easter!

Beachy Wall Display

This may or may not seem like much of a finished object to you, but if you had been staring at this huge blank wall forever, you would think it was stellar.

I knew I wanted to use shelves like these, it just took me a while to FIND them...well, Ok, so it took me a while to find some CHEAP enough. Yep - the Thrift store finally had what I needed. I've gotten so spoiled now, that I can't bring myself to buy anything new!

ANYWAY...I give you *ahem* my Finally Finished Wall.

I've never shown this side of the den, because, well......it's ugly. Treadmills can totally ruin some good decor, ya know? You can see it rearing it's ugly head in the photo... Really though, I enjoy walking on it, so I won't let it bother me. I'll just decorate all around it!

I was really planning to use larger shelves, and fit a few more frames on there, but, well, beggars just can't be too choosy. I still like how it all came together.

I took the photo of the seagull on our girl's getaway beach trip last summer, and my friend, Melissa, suggested I frame it....so I did! I got the frame at Goodwill, and I thought it would be just right for it with it's straw mat. I didn't even paint it. (I'll pretend I didn't hear that chorus of Gasps out there...)

I found the tall straw looking thingies at Cato's, believe it or not, for a dollar each! They're the perfect accent. I'm enjoying having this room FINISHED! It's the next best thing to a real live trip to the beach :)

Hop on over to the Chari Tree to see other Finished Object Friday posts! And don't be surprised if you see a totally adorable accent table redo :)