Diy glowing orbs

I have some glass globes in my garage that have come off of old lamps or I've picked up at flea markets for nearly nothing. I was going to pour cement in them, but I know I'll never get around to it. For this project all you need to do is jam some christmas lights inside them and tada! You now have some really cool outdoor lighting.

Find this diy over at www.theartofdoingstuff.com

Images I found on the web for inspiration


source

Solair chair making a return

If you're lucky enough to have saved one from the garbage or snagged one from a yard sale your in luck if you want more. The original Canadian company www.iel-lachance.com is making them in new colors. You can find them for sale in shops located in Canada. There is even a facebook page that has a few posts from some shops that claim to ship worldwide.

Cutting, pulling & raking

While my husband has been finishing the electrical in my office I've been outside cutting down small trees, pulling out seedlings and raking leaves. I'm kicking myself for not taking a before picture, I really didn't think things would look so different. Once everything was cleared I discovered this beautiful rock wall. Yes I knew it was there, but clearing out all that junk really makes it look so beautiful, like finding treasure!



Also there was a decorative whisky barrel in the back yard that rotted away. I threw the wood away but saved the rusty metal rings. I tied them together with wire and made a little lawn ornament and and stuck it over the purple and white vinca.

Office progress

Friday morning 4/29

It took all day last Friday and Monday to get it done, but they're finally up! I'm gonna need a ladder to get at those items I'll store up top, this thing is soo tall.

The week has flown by and I've been working so hard to get rid of all the stuff I have no use for anymore. I took 5 trips to the dump to recycle loads of cardboard boxes that I had been hoarding, I threw away left over wood we removed from the walls and I have 3 boxes that are going to goodwill today. It feels so good to get rid of it all! Well it's hard for me to let go but once it's gone you never miss it.


My husband Al installed some LED lights that will illuminate the counter space, it's amazing how much brighter it looks in there now.


I'm still going though stuff I have no idea what to do with. I'll keep you all updated!

Fiberglass planters

Last week I picked up two large 20" white planters at Target. They have a nice clean modern look and are light weight. Don't want white? They also come in black and zinc, And the best part is that they're on sale this week for $33.99.

The Peacock spider

This is the cutest spider ever. I recommend sticking with this till the 3:00 mark, that's when the magic happens!

Getting another planter

The 20" steal planters with rusty patina in the photo above were made by artist Joe Papendick. I asked him to make me some after I was poking around some of his photos and saw that he had made these cute planters pictured below.

Recently I decided to order an even bigger one for the back patio area. I've bought metal planters in the past and they feel so thin, they were never big enough and don't weather well. The planter below is from CB2 and this was the biggest size they made... not big enough. The new one will be big, 42" x 32" x 12".



I'll post a bunch of pictures when it arrives!

Dreaming of a double lounger

OO this would be so nice... I had a hard time finding a large outdoor lounger that I liked. I'm thinking I may buy the cushion and have my husband build around that (He made my amazing bed). West Elm doesn't have white or cream cushions left so it will have to be PB. I better start working on a design.

Pottery Barn Riviera Double Chaise & Cushion
West Elm Wood-slat double lounger

Spring is in the air

I have made an appearance outside everyday this past week mostly racking, and leaf blowing. My house has no back yard, just boulders and trees. It's impossible to keep up with all these leaves. The picture below is of the back patio outside the bedroom door.
I need a team of gardeners stat! lol

West Elm outdoors

Seeing this outdoor furniture cheers me up after hearing about the snow i'll be getting tomorrow... Yuck!

Click here to check out West Elms new outdoor items.

Hostas. Why I love them and why you should too.

Photographer Janet Loughrey
via

My mom has been growing hostas since I was little. She got a few plants from a neighbor and then she just kept dividing them, over, and over. She has given me about 20 and I bought a bunch of other varieties from Lowes on discount last fall. When I was younger I never really understood the fascination, but now with all the varieties out there who wouldn't want some in their yard!

These plants make great borders in semi shady areas and grow in zones 3-9. Hostas like rich and moist organic soils, and they like morning sun and afternoon shade. Hostas are heavy feeders and fertilizer should be applied in early spring and again in mid-summer.

Negatives: Watch out for deer. I have lots of deer wandering around my home and I have yet to have an incident, but I've alway read deer love eating hostas.

Fish

I was in a pet store recently and I saw this really cool fish tank by Fluval. The Fluval Edge pictured above is only 6 gallons, but it may do the trick for small fish. Even if you don't want fish this would be a great water terrarium.

I miss you

I was looking through some old pictures from last summer and I came across these... weeps.

Kettal

I was in Miami last month visiting my husband's family. One night running through sidewalks looking for a restaurant I saw this beautiful patio furniture in a modern store. I rushed so fast I didn't get a chance to really find out the name of the store until now. Kettal, it's the only store in the U.S.

Gorgeous stuff and probably very expensive. I can't find prices for anything - always a bad sign...

Metal sculpture

There is snow on the ground, lots of it and I find myself searching for garden items. I have a fascination with outdoor metal sculpture, can't get enough. Found these amazing steel sculptures below on Etsy from artist Wyatt Ellison. Then I found his website and I was blown away! Enjoy!

The Architectural Pottery Collection

San Diego native Michael Stephenson has a passion for modern industrial design, from Bauhaus architecture to 20th century classics. He founded Vessel USA Inc. in 1998 and he makes modern planters & containers, ceramic sculpture and garden accessories. Check out more on Etsy.

New window

Clumsy me let a ladder slam against the kitchen window back in the summer, cracking one of the panels. I felt bad, but in the long run I think it was a good thing. Many of the windows in my home are old and drafty, this will hopefully be the first of many more replacements.

So the new window was on our summer to do list, but time flew by as it always does. When the cold weather hit a few weeks ago we ordered it immediately and now it's finally here. My husband and my dad will hopefully put it in this weekend. Yay for handy men!

Planting bulbs

Tulipa saxatilis 'Lilac Wonder'

Allium neapolitanum

Allium sphaerocephalon

It's that time of year again: sweater weather means it's bulb planting time! The images above are some of the bulbs I bought recently. I've planted some, but plan on planting the rest this weekend. This is the first time I have bought these kinds of flowering bulbs. I hope to see some amazing things happen in the spring. I planted 120 crocus bulbs (my favorite) and got a lot of different types of alliums and some tulips.

Check out this helpful how-to video from Lowe's:

Birthday kisses

Whenever we go to the high-end garden center near our home, I always mention to my husband how I would love to have this cement planter. I make it a point to search for it every time I go, and feel a sigh of relief when I see it's still there. I never bought it because (A) I didn't NEED it; and (B) it was expensive...

Then this morning my husband Al said he needed to get something from the car and when he came back there it was in his arms. My mouth just dropped open! Best surprise ever!

Almost finished

When we first moved in we had to cut down lots of old growth shrubs. That project seemed like it would never be completed! So after dealing with that craziness I decided that I wouldn't plant any more bushes in the front. A simple border of stones was all I wanted, clean and simple. Oh and the toads love it too!