How I Found My Tobacco Basket

I've been keeping my eye out for a tobacco

 basket for years. I was hoping to find one

 on my travels for a good deal.

It needed to be authentic.

I was very lucky to find this one leaning
against the side of a dilapidated garage in
 a big overgrown yard in North Carolina.

We were storing our trailer there until
we drove up again to pick it up. 

The owner of the property didn't own the
basket.  He would try to contact the lady
that did. I was not leaving without a good
effort. We went to lunch in town and
I checked back with him later. 

Still no contact with the lady.

He promised to try again. 

We ran some errands...translation: I was
stalling to hit the road until all efforts
 have been exhausted.

Stenciled edges

On my next call he said that she was not
interested in selling. She knew what she had.
Now a normal person would give up at this
point. That's why they don't have elusive
treasures. I asked if she would be
interested in a trade. 

He'll get back to me.

Morristown, NC

We drove back to the lot and met with the
 lady. We chatted a bit and I offered her
the pick of any item that was in my trailer.

It was basically stuff I had accumulated
from garage sales and bulk trash days.
 Things I didn't want.
She liked a tile top table.

 DEAL! 

The table had a rustic North Carolina style
that wasn't going to work in Florida anyway
...PLUS I had picked it up for FREE on one
of my bulk trash day rounds.
So the tobacco basket cost me nothing.

Everybody was happy, as all deals should go.

Here's the best part. She had 2 baskets! 

TWO!

I basically got 2 huge antique tobacco
baskets for FREE.
But wait there's MORE!

 I sold one when we got home for $165.

Next, finding just the right spot for 

this 4' x 4' beauty. 

I first cleaned it up and oiled it up to

 protect the wood and bring out it's color.

  We first tried it in the family room 

on top of the wall unit. It looked
terrible there!

We strung little lights around and through.

After testing the lights first, they didn't

work in spots after we strung them...

as all Christmas lights do!

We finally found the perfect spot in 

the dining room above the large

antique cupboard. It was meant to

be there! The lighted pinecone basket

was already there. We took down the

antique beveled glass widow and

will use that in a better spot with

natural light. 

I just love, love it!

Cheers!

Links: Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram,
Between Naps On The Porch

Make A Scrap Wood Cross

I wanted a rustic, shabby, simple,  wood

cross for my Easter season decor. 

I've seen these around the  blogs and 

thought "I could make one of these!"

This project couldn't be easier.

 I just grabbed leftover pieces of wood from

 my garage. I found mall pieces of molding 

and a piece of picket fence. 

I did nothing to the wood. No cutting, and 

no painting. Just used a nail

and attached the pieces together. 

 I attaches a salvaged pull ring to the back

 in case I ever wanted to hang them. 

 I found 6 pieces of wood so I was able 

to make 3 crosses in 5 minutes. 

 This one is on the patio. 

You could decorate it more. There are lots of 

good, simple ideas on Pinterest. This is just

to get you started. Make one part 

of a front door wreath. Take one to your 

Easter Day hostess. See what a nail and 2

pieces of wood can do! 

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps on The Porch

Vintage Wire Market Cart

I'm going to start using this more.
It's a wonderful old wire market grocery cart
 that's  perfect to bring on a weekend
flea market or picnic. I can tote all my
goodies to the park in vintage style.
I love its shabby blue handle. It's collapsible
and measures 11'x 15" x 37" when open.

Lucy agrees.

It's a shame to keep it in the garage 

where it's shabbiness isn't appreciated. 

First she needed to check it out.

I can fill it with afghans, or pillows,

or later, Christmas tree branches with

 a tied on big red bow. I really

 need to start using this more

My Mom had one of these and used it

when we lived only a block away from a

neighborhood grocery store. 

Here I am the day I bought it to help haul all

 my finds from the Canton, TX  Market Days.

 I must have been too hot and tired to miss

that cute pink bike in the booth on the right.

Cheers!

Tips: Facebook,
 Under The Table and Dreaming,
The Tablescaper, Coastal Charm,
Between Naps on the Porch,
Confessions of a Plate Addict,
A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style

Painted Cottage Stairs

The cheapest makeover for ugly, dated, 

carpeted stairs is to just paint them.

After painting.

We're fixing up another rental house

on a tight budget.

Before painting.

Larry ripped out the carpet and pad 

and pried off the strips. The wood was in 

bad shape and needed sanding, caulking, 

and lots of wood putty. Definitely not 

good enough for staining. I wanted the look

of wood stairs and didn't want the expense

of re-carpeting, so why not try to 

just paint them and see how it looks.

I love them!

After

Not perfect, but a big improvement in my

opinion. And the price was right!

Before

After

The risers are painted semi gloss white

and the treads are painted in semi gloss

dark brown. Believe it or not, I found a

 quart of the brown paint in my garage.

Paint I had bought years ago for

another project that never got off the 

ground. So good thing I remembered.

Didn't even need to buy the paint!

Before

I hate to keep making you look at the 

ugly mauve carpet on the stairs.

After

But that's the only way you'll appreciate

this budget transformation.

Yup! Just paint. 

Letting it cure before the second coat.

But I couldn't wait to show you!

Cheers!

Links: Under The Table and Dreaming,
The Tablescaper, Common Ground,
Between Naps on the Porch,
Confessions Of A Plate Addict,
A Stroll Thru Life, Finding Fabulous,
My Romantic Home, Miss Mustard Seed,
French Country Cottage,
The Charm Of Home, Stone Gable,
The Shabby Creek Cottage,
The Girl Creative, No Minimalist Here,
Domestically Speaking, Savvy Southern Style

Paint: Behr Premium Plus
Semi Gloss Enamel
Brown Eyes (S-G-740)~ Deep Base ((3300)

White Horseshoe Box

After I made my first horseshoe tray HERE, 

I wanted another one I could paint white for

 a beachy summer look.

I used 6" boards for the sides.

More of a box than a tray.

 Painted it white all over and sanded it

 a little for the shabby look.

 I love the rustic shabby style because 

it doesn't have to be perfect. Too much

pressure with perfect, so I avoid it.

I found a few things to fill it: a plant, a few

decorating  books and two ball jars.

 I am thinking of stenciling the sides. 

Haven't decided.

Painted right over the horseshoes.

 This is on the cabinet behind my sofa in the family room. 

 Bright afternoon sun coming in through the
large sliders looking out onto the lake.

Have a great week!

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Thrifty Decor Chic, Coastal Charm,
Creative Cain Cabin, A Stroll Thru Life,
A Peek Into My Paradise, OhMy Creative,
Domestically Speaking, Savvy Southern Style,
Fine Crafts Guild, Stone Gable

Shutter Runner

As you may know, I like to change the 

look on our breakfast area table....a lot.

It's like changing outfits. Can't wear the same 

thing everyday...right?

 I also love using unique elements.

I was in the garage looking for something...

I forget right now what that was when I 

 spotted a pair of shutters that have been 

there forever and said to myself (again) 

'I need to find a use for those.'

Table runner? Table runner!

Gave it a scrubbing and viola!

Plopped three small pots from HD

into a basket. They'll need to be

planted outside next week.

Set the table with Longaberger

Classic Blue pottery.

 No placemats. That was too crowded.

 Longaberger napkins coordinate with the

 pottery and match the basket's liner.

 Tea set, salt & pepper,

and breakfast!

Apple Rings with cinnamon sugar

Just dip apple slices in pancake batter and

cook on a  buttered griddle.

(true confessions: It's a faux wood shutter,

 but don't tell anybody.)

I shutter to think!

Cheers!

Links: The Shabby Creek Cottage,
Savvy Southern Style, Common Ground,
Between Naps On The Porch, Funky Junk,
Cuisine Kathleen, My Romantic Home,
Southern Hospitality