Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Garage Sales & Summer Blooms

Two of my favorite parts of summer!

Hope you all have been enjoying your weekend and keeping cool!  We are having one hot & muggy summer here!  I think garage & yards sales, and flowers are two of my very favorite things about this time of year!  Already I am wondering what I will do for fun once summer is over with!  Well, I am sure that I'll find lots of things to keep me busy, especially since I have been trying to stockpile junk treasures that I find at sales! I am always on the prowl for things that I can makeover, and I have quite the stash going! This weekend was like the previous two, not very many good sales.  Phooey!  But I still have hope for future treasure hunts!  Already I am looking forward to August when we have what is billed as "The longest Garage Sale in Michigan" right here in our area!
So I thought I would show you what few goodies I did manage to find, as well as some shots of what I have blooming around the yard.


These vintage wooden clothespins are my very favorite find of the week!  I was so excited when I found them, and I quickly snatched up all three bundles at only 50 cents per bunch!  I don't know what it is about vintage utilitarian stuff that is so appealing to me. I guess I really like how something so simple can be so attractive and charming, too!
I am a sucker for wooden organizers.  At $2.00, I couldn't pass this one up!  Guess the dust was free (yes, that's dust on top, lots of dust!).  I am going to transform this puppy with some paint, a wooden applique, and a new nob.

I found this really neat iron trivet for only 10 cents!  And I didn't realize that my toes were in the photo!  Ooops :)  While nice as is, you know me.  I just have to paint it!  And glaze it, too!  I'm thinking either Heirloom White, or else aqua, not sure yet.

At the same sale, I found this cute garden marker for just a quarter.
I also found this tin planter (for lack of something better to call it) at the same place for only 50 cents.
She's going to get painted & decoupaged, probably with a great image from the Graphics Fairy!

Now for a few of my blooms!

I love daylilies.  They are so easy and low maintenance!
Close up of balloon flower.  They really are this blue!

I love sweet peas!  They make me think of orchids, and look so pretty in little bouquets.

Ok, I am always saying "this is my favorite flower", about nearly all flowers, but purple coneflower really is one of my favorites!  Looks like this honey bee loves it, too!
Bee balm.  the hummingbirds really love it!
And yet another one of my favorites, black eyed Susan!
 Hopefully we will get some much needed rain, soon, as I have been busy hauling the sprinkler around the yard to all of my thirsty plants!

8 comments:

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Donna,
You found some great stuff. I didn't do too well this weekend...oh well, there's always next time!

Love you flowers especially the cone flower with the bee!

hugs
Sissie

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

Your flowers are so pretty! I am going to be a better gardener next year! Great stuff. Love the tin planter!

mizdarlin said...

Never saw a balloon flower before-gorgeous-and that bee balm looks absolutely elecric..you
take some great li'l snaps, Donna!
Let's see..white..aqua..white..aqua..love that wooden organizer!

Wendy said...

Wow! I am loving that organizer for $2.00! That was a great find! Beautiful flowers :)

Karen said...

Great finds and low prices! Your flowers are so, so pretty and the colors so vivid, especially the balloon flower which looks like a blue star. You must water a lot as it has been so dry lately and no rain. Maybe tomorrow?!!

kimmykats said...

You have a beautiful yard and should be so proud of all your hard work. Hope we can send some rain your way we have had enough here in Iowa!

KimMalk said...

What fun finds and beautiful flowers. That dusty organizer could really use some TLC :).

DEBBIE said...

Lovely finds!
Specially the organizer...
And lovely flowers, too!

DEBBIE MOSS