Thursday, April 4, 2013

Gems From the Yard


 I have been steadily working in the swirls of yellow pollen to get the yard ready for spring planting.  I have made some drastic decisions this past week and have rid my yard of more "treasures" used in the past.  I am not sure what look I am going for, but there will be a whole lot less rusty, crusty things and windows and screens and buckets and . .  .  

Well, I'm taking most of it to the booth so if it doesn't sell or I change my mind, it will be welcomed back.

I had used these screens and several more at one end of the patio.  Wreaths primitively made from vines from the yard hung in abundance on them.  These four were salvageable and went to the store.  The two huge ones had decayed along one side so I took what I could to remember them by and tossed the rest.

Don't worry it was just  two boards I tossed!

Actually just a third of each board was tossed. 

I have a saw and am not afraid to use it.




I had a feed bucket of old rusty stall gate latches that I just liked to look at.

I had to soak them in white vinegar and scrub them.  Off they went to the booth.  The horse shoes I have saved for a future project.  I also have a box of hinges, bolts, and other great hardware from the stalls to use for something -maybe a future project.  I just don't know what yet.









Once upon a time way back in yesteryear someone gave me four dining chairs with plastic back inserts.

What to do, what to do?

I used the seats as tops for stools, made coat racks from the arms, and painted the legs and sold them all.

 

EXCEPT for those ugly backs.







They leaned against the side of the house behind the boxwood hedge and stayed hidden out of sight.  I never thought of them until last week.  There they were patiently waiting for their turn to be prettified.

Over the years (yes, years!) the brown plastic had faded to tan, but they were still very sturdy.  (Will these be the archeological finds of next century?)

I brought out my turquoise go-to paint.





 I did not even take the time to make it chalk paint.  Just slapped some on willy-nilly.  

I sealed them with clear poly varnish.

I think they are beautiful.  I can see them hanging on a fence covered in morning glories - pink ones!

They are now residing in the booth.








The large screens which were in too bad of a condition to keep whole?  They had a beautiful blue-green patina and I have loved them for years.  So the screening was removed and rolled for a future project and the boards with hardware were cleaned and varnished.

I took them to the store.  I am letting my customers use their imaginations of what these lovelies can be.

Plus I saved several boards for future projects.




I am now realizing that this particular post should have been titled "Future Projects"!  Hey, I am supposed to be reducing my workload, not laying aside supplies for FUTURE PROJECTS (say this in a voice of doom!)

I will be waiting for that one last frosty night I feel is coming before putting in begonias and marigolds.  I see some of you out there trudging through the snow.  So sorry for that - excuse me while I go unpack the rest of my shorts!

See y'all!









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13 comments:

  1. Oh I wish I had shopped your yard before you started hauling it all away to your booth! Love those plastic chair backs and can think of a few uses for the right off the bat! Hope your pollen settles and your begonias get planted soon!

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  2. Donna, you give me so much inspiration! My parents grew up in a country where they didn't have much. They were raised to use every bit of everything they had. Although I grew up in Canada, I was raised with this ideal. I've been a bit lax over the years, but now am pulling out my old arsenal of reusing tricks. You however, my friend, are amazing! I must tackle power tools! You've totally inspired me!

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  3. What lovely items in your yard. I can't seem to get enough yard items. The more you have the better the yard looks. Those plastic backs are awesome. I know those chairs and now wish I had some. :)
    I am your newest GFC.
    Have a great week,
    Bev
    @ Eclectic Red Barn

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  4. Fabulous stuff!! I love those screens - oh how I wish I had those, I know exactly what to use them for!!

    Cheers!

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  5. My goodness you have been busy and have made me tired. You really do not throw stuff out. You transformed the chair backs and truly I would have trashed them. Thanks for your comment today-I was a tad anxious. xo, olive

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  6. You know I'm just dying over those screens and those boards you took to the booth. What great colors and I am a sucker for wood with those little latches on it. You turned that ugly plastic junk into goodness. They WOULD be cute on a fence with morning glories. Do it!
    Liz

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  7. Wow! You had some cool old stuff lying around! I love the blue chair backs....those turned out great! Such a gorgeous shade of blue too...:) The screens are great too! Thanks for sharing!

    Vicky
    Life On Willie Mae Lane

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  8. Very resourceful--which also means highly creative! :) Love the repurposing of items no longer in use!

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  9. You always show such cool stuff Donna. I love those turquoise chair backs! It's amazing what a little paint will do. I see chairs with those plastic back sometimes (and for dirt cheap) and never thought of what to do with them. Next time I see some I'll bring them home to beautify my garden. Thanks for the inspiration!!

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  10. Hey Donna; How I wish that I could come and shop at your Booth!!! I bet that you will end up selling all of your Treasures from your yard.{ I would buy them up, if only I were shopping there!!!}
    You are so very Creative and you make my mind churn with ideas for items which are not being used, and I am currently on the lookout for things, that I can reuse, and make over. Heaven knowes that I am busy enough with projects already, but there is always time for more!!! :-)

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  11. I'd love to come by your booth too Donna - what an imagination you have for repurposing - WOW - I'm so impressed with those plastic inserts - and what you described using them for - I think they'd be gorgeous!!!!
    Have a wonderful weekend,
    Hugs,
    Suzan

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  12. I love that you saved these pieces until you figured out what to do with them. Girl after my own heart! Glad you stopped by Fairhope Supply Co.

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  13. How long have you had your booth? I was just curious if blogging came first or the booth? Love the rusty hardware and things best;) Thank you for sharing at Rustic Restorations Weekend!

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I enjoy reading all of your comments and will always answer with email. I will try to track you down if you show up as a "no reply" commenter to let you know. Friends are like that!