The need for stripes!

I think I must have spring fever. I've been woefully neglecting the blog world in favor of the gardens. Gosh it feels so good to be outside in the sunshine again! ... But here's a quick little post on a few recent projects. And as you see, I was totally feeling the need for stripes!

 

 

Both of these pieces had been hiding out in my garage for a while, just waiting for a some nice painting weather.

 

 I started with the desk and it just looked like it belonged in a little boy's room. I actually mixed a few blues together to achieve the color. This is a great way to finish up almost empty cans of paint. But I try to only mix the same kinds of paint together. This time it was a mix of Sherwin Williams Pro Classic paint, all in a satin finish.

 

 

I was happy with the blue, but the desk just seemed to need a little something extra. I decided a few stripes on the top would do the trick. I just taped it off and added two coats of white. 

 

 

Then the whole piece got a light distressing.

 

 

And I finished up with two coats of wipe on poly.

 

I really liked the style of the original pulls. They were pretty tarnished, so I freshened them up with a few coats of vintage copper.

 

 

Since one of the pulls was broken, I just replaced it with a cute brown knob.

 

A perfect spot for homework, don't you think?

 I tend to work on two or three pieces at a time. It just seems to be more efficient for me. Once I'm in the garage painting, I just keep going! ... So this cute little mid-century modern piece was going at the same time as the desk. And once I started with the stripes, I had to do it again!

 

 

The color is Chelsea Gray in Behr's Paint and Primer in One. And this time I ran the stripes straight down the sides.

Again, I did just the slightest bit of distressing along the edges and finished up with two coats of wipe on poly.

 

I love the drawer and the cute little legs. Is it just me, or does it look like a little face?

Seriously, don't you see a little face looking back at you!

 

That's it, I'm heading back out to the garage. Maybe I'll get really wild and crazy and paint some polka dots today! ... Or even more likely, I'll be lured back into the gardens!

 

Hope you all have a great day and an awesome weekend! I'm heading to the Lucketts Spring Market on Sunday. If you are going to be there too, let me know, I'd love to meet up and say hello!

 

 

 

Be Inspired Features and Link Party #69

Happy Tuesday! Welcome back for features and party day!
 

So let's get right to it and check out some of the awesome projects linked up last week ...
 

You will just love this beachy bathroom transformation from Debbie at Me and My DIY. That wall is gorgeous!

 

I always love seeing shots of Denise's beautiful home over at Pink Postcard. Denise describes her style as casual vintage romantic.

Decorated for spring with big beautiful snowballs from her garden, I'd describe her style as dreamy!

 

Korrie from Red Hen Home has been on a roll making the most amazing furniture, but I think she outdid herself with the woven-back bench!

 

  

 This has to be the best looking tool chest ever! Stop by The Golden Sycamore and Allison will share all the details.

 

How pretty is this DIY Roman Shade from {Furniture-Ology}!

  

This red and white dining set from White Cottage Boutique is so fresh and pretty!

Have you ever pulled over on the side of the road, grabbed the tools from your glove box and rescued hardware?  Liz over at Quirky Vistas can tell you all about it. And just look what she did with that hardware!

Love the fabric on this pretty settee makeover from Vera & Evelyn!

And here's a great tutorial from 2 Crafty for My Skirt for how to tape off a chevron pattern!

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up and linked back!
We so appreciate having you here. If you've been featured, feel free to grab a cute little button from the sidebar!

Now on to this week's party...

* Link up your furniture makeovers, DIY projects, home decor, crafts, recipes, thrifty finds, etc... We want to see whatever is inspiring you at the moment!

* Grab a party button or link back in some way. You must have a visible link back to be considered for a feature!

* And we'd love to have you follow along with us!
 

We'll be back next Tuesday with features and a brand new party. Now let's be inspired together!

 

 

  

Spring is Blooming!

My passion for gardening started long before I ever painted a piece of furniture. I just love playing in the dirt! And there is nothing like watching the gardens come to life each spring. Want to see what's blooming?

Daffodils are an all-time favorite and a sure sign that spring has arrived! What's not to love about a tiny little bulb that you plant in the ground in the fall and totally ignore all winter long.

 

Then when you think it will never get warm again, you are rewarded with masses of bright, sunny flowers that just get bigger and better with each passing year! 

 

Daffodils are quite possibly the easiest perennial to grow. They thrive in almost any location, need no special care and are resistant to pests and diseases, even deer!

 

And seriously, did you know there were so many different varieties?

Daffodils are perfect for cutting too. 

 

This variety has three blooms on one stem - so pretty!

  

But daffodils aren't the only thing blooming this spring.

 

 

Pink Dogwood

 

 

Crabapple

 

 

Azalea

 

 

Lilac

 

Cherry Laurel

 

Virginia Bluebells

 

 

Purple Leaf Plum

 

Windflower

 

Grape Hyacinth

 

 

Fothergilla

 

 

White Dogwood

 

 

 

Pulmonaria

 Iris

 

 

 Fragrant Viburnum

 

 

Pieris Japonica

 

Lenten Rose

 

 

Allium

 

 

Flowering Cherry

 

 

So there you have it, my spring garden tour. I missed a few, but you get the idea. I love flowers. Every day there is something new to see, smell and enjoy!

 

And I have a little low-maintenance, easy-care gardening philosophy that really works for me. I try to have a wide variety of flowering trees and perennials throughout the yard. They really do require only a minimum of care and just keep getting better with age. Plant them once and watch them flourish. Then I save the annuals for pots on the porch and patio. These require watering several times a week throughout the summer, but that's pretty manageable. A combination of perennials and annuals is the best of all worlds. I find gardening catalogs to be a wealth of information and inspiration. If you are looking for a place to start, I suggest White Flower Farm. .....  So what's growing in your garden this spring?

 

I'm sharing with .....

A Delightsome Life

Brambleberry Cottage

Serenity Now

Hometalk

Our Fifth House

Someday Crafts