How to Make a Funky, Colorful, Summer Centerpiece from Thrift Store Finds

Today is not Thursday, but ho hum, I am still sharing my Thrifty Thursday project. I decided it was time for a new centerpiece. I wanted something sunny, bright, and funky for summer. Yes, I know we still have a full two months of spring, but the sun is shining and I am ready for bright colors.

Temporary Seasonal Vignette Activity Baskets

Since moving and becoming an empty nester, I have approached some of my home decorating choices as if we have constant company. We don't, mostly because of Covid, but our door is always open and we hope to have more visitors this summer. 

Maybe it is the former teacher in me or maybe it is the traveler in me that loves a good VRBO, but I like to have interesting, unique things for guests to look at or play with. I want stuff that has personality and a little soul. Putting together basket vignettes with fun things is the perfect way to do this. A basket vignette is easy to change, add to and take away from and gives a table some visual interest.

Thrifty Thursday Sneak Peek Back Porch Decor

It's getting warmer, okay not today, but most days lately are warm enough to have a little outdoor sitting time. When we moved this last year and bought a new house, the back porch was definitely a plus. It is covered, off the kitchen, and has a great view. I am starting to decorate it for summer use and I am using mostly thrift store finds to put it together. I hope to show you all of it next week, but today I am sharing a sneak peek item, a wood whirligig, thingamajig from the thrift store.

This was a $2 thrift store item that I think was homemade. 

Stencil A Herb Starter Garden Box

Do you ever spy something in someone else's cart at the thrift and think, "Darn, I would have grabbed that if I had seen it first,"? That is what I thought when I saw this green, wood box, basket, handled crate. 

When I saw the lady who had it put it back on the shelf, I snatched it up. With the plastic liner in it, I knew it would make a great seed planting starter box. 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday and Happy Easter! I have reached that stage and age of life when I consider all of the other professions that I might have also enjoyed had I just realized it in my early twenties what I loved. One of those careers I now know I would have enjoyed was that of a botanist or arborist. I love trees and have been learning more about them. Did you know that trees help each other out, move, feed, and shelter each other? On one of our favorite walks there are numerous examples of a cedar and a white pine growing together. Two completely different species of trees happily sharing the same space, supporting and helping each other thrive, not competing. Jesus came to teach us about love and how to love each other above everything else. Jesus ALWAYS chose love and people before doctrine, before law, above differences and above sin. If we do not learn to love like God does, loving and helping people before worrying about differences and doctrine, we will not grow and thrive. Love first, love wholly, love without reserve and rules.

Using Eclectic Vintage Finds and Styling Open Shelving

I love the open shelving in my kitchen that sits on either side of our fridge. In the fall I showed you the side that is more visible (HERE), but I never shared the other side that is less visible and a bit less styled.

This side of the open shelving is where the coffee gets made and the microwave sits so it actually gets used every day. I have had fun collecting different vintage, eclectic, colorful items that I actually use.

Stencil a Simple Organic Coffee Sign

I couldn't wait to try and share Funk Junk's Old Sign Stencils newest design. So, even though today is Thursday, which means I usually share a thrift store project, I am sharing this easy stenciled ORGANIC COFFEE sign instead, It does have a thrift store frame that got for $2 specifically for this project, so it could still qualify as Thrifty Thursday project. 

An Old Bowl & How to Make Conversation Starters

To buy or not to buy, that is often the question when thrifting. Since I no longer have an antique booth, the answer has been no more often lately. I want to know how I am going to use something and I don't want a lot of seasonal decor that needs stored after the season is over. 

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Where are my dishwasher reloaders? I have been trying for years to train my husband how to load the dishwasher the right way--my way. It is one of those things that after almost 33 years of marriage, I have accepted is not going to change--he has his way and I have mine and that is okay. A few weeks ago I told you that I have been looking at verses on love. I think for years I have read this very first part of the Corinthians love verses as "love is patient WHILE I wait for you to change". The definition of patience is accepting problems and suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious, it doesn't mention altering behavior. Love is patient doesn't mean loving someone while we wait for them to change, but rather loving them as they are. God loves us just as we are. He is not sitting around waiting to love us more when we change. He cannot love us more than he already does. Let's practice patiently loving one another as we are, not holding back love until someone modifies their behavior into what we think it should be.

Martini Stand Made From Thrift Store Finds

You know how there are some things you never knew you "needed" until you see it? That's how it was for me when a friend recently posted a martini stand. 

Wait, what? A small stand that takes up very little space as it sits next to a chair or sofa holding drinks? Genius, and something I had never seen. Martini stands are on offshoot of cigarette stands that in the quite distant past where a staple in many homes, but are thankfully, rarely used any more.