Shabby Chic Rose Pots

Hello, Sweet Friends, I hope that you have been 

enjoying this beautiful month of May, 

and that those of you who celebrated Mother's Day

had a wonderful day. 

We had a large gathering of blended families 

at my son, Gabe and wife Erica's home, with several 

Mom's and Grandmother's, including 

my daughter, Heather, who celebrated her 

very first Mother's Day. 

Of course I had to create something

sweet and special for all the beautiful Moms

and thought I would share the easy tutorial 

with you in case you would like to make 

one or two, or even half a dozen for 

someone special, or just to call your own! 

I started with 6 inch Jiffy peat pots. 

I gave them a rough coat of Ivory craft paint, 

inside and out, leaving bare spots here and there 

for that 'vintage, shabby' look. 

You can find Jiffy Peat Pots in several sizes Here.

Once they were dry, I lined them with two 

old book pages, letting the corners peek out, 

then some ivory netting. You could also use 

lace or even cheesecloth, but I had a big roll 

of netting from a long ago bridal shower.......

To add the roses, I covered a jelly canning jar, 

filled with water, with cling-wrap and a rubber band 

to hold it all nice and tight, 

then poked holes for the rose stems with 

the tip of a sharp knife. 

This will keep the water from leaking into the peat pot. 

Water is not kind to peat pots!

I would even recommend that you 

line the inside of the peat pot with plastic wrap

before adding the jar. I didn't and one leaked...... 

Insert the rose stems into the holes and add a few 

leaf stems if you like. I used 5 roses, but it depends

on the size of the roses, so do a 'dry run' before 

poking your holes so you know how many to make. 

The roses will flop all over, until you lower them 

into the lined peat pot. 

I cut the roses so just the blooms peeked out. 

To finish off your creation, add a little bit of 

decoration around the pot. 

This is easiest done before adding the roses.....

I used ecru crochet lace, a bit of netting cut into a strip, 

and a vintage button. 

I made a rosette of the strip of netting by sewing 

stitches around one edge and pulling tight, then 

sewed it all in place on the ribbon with the button

in the center. 

Slip it over the pot from the bottom and tack in place 

with a dot of glue or two-way tape. 

You could also just wrap a bit of wider lace 

around the pot and tie it in place with twine! 

I had so much fun making my Shabby Chic Rose Pots

and I think you will, too! 

My new needlepoint rose pillow follows the theme. 

I found it at a flea market over the weekend, 

with my daughter, Heather. 

We had such a good time,

 going out to lunch and searching for treasures

together. I found quite a few that I will 

share with you as I find places for them! 

Thank you for your sweet visits, dear friends! 

I have been extremely busy, but I will try and 

catch up with all of you this week.

xoxo

Today I am linking with:



Floral Bliss

&



Cooking and Crafting with J&J

Won't you join the fun?

xoxo

In My Backyard

The other day I was sitting at my desk by 

the sliding glass door and a fluttering of wings

caught my eye. 

A little flock of birds was flitting about 

in the branches of the Big-Leaf Maple tree. 

Bright splashes of yellow on their throats, on their rumps, 

under their wings, and on the crowns of their heads

had me curious......

They seemed intent on their search for tasty 

insect morsels on the green flower panicles, 

moving quickly while chirping and twittering

to each other. 

I was completely intrigued, as I had never 

seen these little birds in all the years I have lived here. 

I couldn't find them in my Western Washington field guide, 

so I turned to Google. 

I found out that they are Yellow-rumped Warblers, 

and that they are fairly common here! 

They are insect and berry eaters and prefer nesting

high up in conifer groves. I think they might have 

been migrating through, because I haven't seen them since. 

They were so lively and noisy that they attracted 

the curiosity of the resident birds who flew 

in to investigate. 

The Steller's Jays wondered what the fuss was 

about and even tried to figure out what was so 

tasty, but apparently, it was not to their liking, 

so they sat and watched for a while. 

Soon, they were sounding the alarm

as a large raptor came into view. 

As it came closer, it flew lower and lower, 

casing the area for prey. 

I had recently noticed this large bird

flying over about once a day,  

with a nearly 6 ft. wingspan.....

I believe it is a Golden Eagle. 

I could be wrong......

  it might be an immature Bald Eagle, 

but if it is, it is on the large size.....

The Steller's Jays were giving the warning cry....

Creeeeeee, Creeeeee, in perfect imitation of 

a raptor's call. 

Watchdogs of the bird world, they warn of danger. 

The forest went silent as all went into hiding. 

This wild Hare froze in place and stayed that way 

for nearly 5 minutes. 

I'm glad I don't have a vegetable garden.....

and this is one reason why! 

After a beautiful, sunny day, sudden storm clouds 

moved in with thunder and lightning! 

Hail, too! 

A lightning bolt hit very close by with an 

extremely loud crack. 

It scared me right off my chair! 

Whitey Bear started howling.....

Kai grabbed his favorite toy, looking 

absolutely terrified and jumped right into

my arms, 

and even Weenie Baby, who doesn't flinch 

at anything, jumped up from her bed 

and followed me onto the sofa.

The four of us huddled together as the storm 

raged around us, and I thought of the 

poor little wild things and where did they hide? 

Just as quickly as the storm came, so it did leave, 

giving us a glimpse of Mt. Rainier in the evening skies. 

Thanks for visiting my back yard, dear friends! 

I hope you'll stop by again soon! 

xoxo

Today I am linking with:

Saturday's Critters

Won't you join the fun?

xoxo

Happy May Day!

Paint Monthly

Hello, Dear Friends, and Happy May Day! 

I've wandered out to the gardens to pick 

some sweet May Day baskets 

just for you! 

Painting by J. O. Banks

The white viburnum fills the whole 

room with its wonderful scent. 

The first bloom of the white camellia fills 

one whole basket! 

With forget-me-not......

And the lovely scented candy-tuft. 

A tiny basket holds periwinkle. 

When I was a little girl, I would walk two miles 

with my younger sister to a little gift shop

 to buy presents for our Mother. 

The gift shop was run by a sweet, elderly lady, 

in the front, sun-room of her little cottage.

It was filled with figurines, tiny vases, and flowery teacups - 

just the sort of shop a young girl would love. 

The long driveway was bordered by large mulberry

trees. Under the trees was a carpet of periwinkle. 

Painting by Charles Gregory

In springtime this was magical, with rose-colored 

mulberry blooms over a sea of blue periwinkle.

Painting by Henry J. Johnstone

To this day, I can remember how enchanted

I was, and vowed to always have periwinkle 

in my garden. 

I was grown, with children of my own, 

with my dear Mother on 

a shopping trip to a favorite antique shop,

when I found the tiny ceramic basket 

filled with periwinkle, now. 

Over the weekend, I was with my own dear Daughter, 

Heather, searching for new vintage treasures, 

and making new memories to carry on. 

I found this lovely tablecloth, which 

will always remind me of our special time together. 

Sweet, sentimental things :) 

I also filled my tiny green basket with yellow violas. 

In the language of flowers, they stand for 'thoughts'. 

Thoughts of dear memories, thoughts of loved ones, 

now gone, and thoughts of sweet friends. 

Periwinkle stands for 'early friendships'. 

xoxo

"Another May new buds and flowers shall bring:

Ah! Why has happiness no second spring?"

- Charlotte Smith -

Painting by Arthur John Elsley

Wishing you sweet thoughts, lovely memories, and beautiful dreams 

in the magical month of May, Dear Friends! 

xoxo

Unknown artist

xoxo

Today I am linking with:

Paint Monthly

Won't you join the fun?

xoxo