Color-Dusted Wheat

This is very simple.  I bundled & wrapped mine tightly with thin twine.  Then lightly misted the top with spray paint until I achieved this airy look.  I used this spray paint {found at Micheal's}, but any spray paint should work.

A Bookcase for Cowgirl June

 

Ryan built this fabulous bookcase for our little June Taylor.  What would I do without this man & his talent/skill?

 

A horseshoe for our little "Rodeo Queen"

 

The backing is tin from an old barn {painted a pretty turquoise}.

  

I glazed the bright pink sides {& the horseshoe detail} with a shimmery-champagne craft paint.

 

{& her sparkly little name that hangs above her crib.} 

Ryan is taking custom bookcase orders here on Etsy :)

A Spring Centerpiece

Here is the centerpiece I put together just on time for Easter, but neutral enough to keep on the table for the remainder of spring.  I used various mason jars {clearly a decorative staple in my home}, a mason jar vase, and inexpensive fillers such as; moss, feathers, burlap, real egg shells {without the egg yolks/whites...poke a hole on the top of the egg & a larger hole on the bottom, blow the contents of the egg out of the larger hole, ...it's frustrating, so if you don't have the time or patience, I'd just buy faux-eggs if you can still find them.}

I found the feathers at Micheal's: white craft feathers & guinea hen feathers.

Happy Spring :)

 

Vintage Glass Garden Ornaments

These glass garden ornaments are so simple & fun to make!  If you look closely, they consist of a vase (upside-down), then other various glass dishes strategically stacked on top, such as; little ice-cream glasses, candle sticks, small plates, & saucers.

I collect the glass from thrift stores, estate sales, garage sales, & sometimes find newer pieces that will work.  I clean all of the glass, let it completely dry, & begin my design...

Starting with the top piece (which is almost always a decorative candle holder) placed upside down on a sturdy, flat surface, carefully place the next piece with clear silicone, then the next...& the next, ending with the vase (which at this point is right-side-up until it dries.)   

I let the silicone set for 24 hours before it's ready for the garden!

For the base-pole, I go to the hardware store & buy small copper piping.  Sometimes they will cut it for you right in the store, otherwise, a small pipe cutter does the job.  Make sure your pole is deep enough into the soil for strength!

Here are a few examples of the colored-glass ornaments I've made:

A milk-glass ornament:

& one with a silver bowl:

This is such an inexpensive & unique way to add character to your gardens & landscaping.

Try to have fun with this, it's simple creativity!

Scratched Wood: A Simple Solution

This little stick is a miracle for scratches in wood flooring or wood furniture!  We have newly re-finished wood floors in our house ...along with a big dumb dog & a steady stream of die-cast tractor traffic {thanks to Jack}.  I don't know what I would do without the Tibet Almond Stick.  It's saturated in an oil that easily blends the scratch right into the rest of the finish.  I've used it on our natural wood floors & our dark stained "farmhouse" end tables... works every time!  

Meet Jack & Preston

Jackson James.

Jack & our bird-dog, Preston.

They are best friends.

& they're so naughty together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boots & Bows

Here's a little project for all of you barn-goin' mud-lovers {& for your little pony-lovin' puddle-jumpers.}

   

I've been obsessing over the bow-tied wellies that have become so popular {but they can be pretty $$$ & hard to find...}  When I tried to place my order for Christmas, the quantities were so limited, I wasn't crazy about the colors & couldn't seem to find a toddler size.  So here's a simple way to make them yourself, customize your colors, & save a little money! This can be done with Uggs & other winter boots too. 

You'll need: 

A pair of boots

A little ribbon

An Extra Large Eyelet Kit from your local craft store (found in the sewing hardware section)

Scissors (& maybe a leather punch to puncture the boots) 

& a hammer

The simple steps:

Follow the steps on the eyelet kit (using your scissors to create holes & a hammer to compress the eyelets)

Choose your ribbon, thread it through the carefully placed eyelets, & tie a bow.

{The bows can be placed on the back of the boots as pictured, on the front, or on the sides; be creative, there are so many possibilities!}