Hi All,

Hope you are having a great weekend!!!   I picked up this great lantern (aka greenhouse or whatever you would like to call it) while we were in Hilton Head, SC.  Here it is after I decorated it with a beach theme. 

I knew I had to have it when I saw it and my husband liked it too (bonus)!!!  This thing is huge - it is a glass paneled hexagon, standing over 28 inches tall and 12 inches wide.  And I am not kidding when I say it is very camera shy - with all the glass panels, this was a true challenge to photograph.  It wants to reflect everything - it looks great in person but trying to capture the details in the camera lens without getting reflections...oh my!!!  This was definitely one of those posts that taking a ton of pictures took longer than it did to decorate it. 

I knew how I would decorate the lantern for summer as soon as I saw it.  This time of year, I love beach accents and this was no exception.  Using items that I had, I wrapped three pillar candles in twine, then placed them at different heights (using scrap pieces of wood - to raise the candles), filled the bottom with sand, scattered small shells on top of the sand and added a large starfish. 

This has a lot of potential it can be used indoors or outdoors.  The structure is great because the wind often blows out open candles on our patio.

The entire top flips open for easy access to the inside.  You could also add plants and use it as a mini greenhouse.

I think this oversized lantern will be fun to decorate winter, spring summer and fall  as well as for the holidays - unlimited possibilities...you will likely see this again. 

Here is one last look.

This is definitely a new favorite for me - how about you? Do you have something that you like to decorate for each of the seasons and holidays.  If so, I'd love to hear about it. 

I am linking up with these very talented ladies at their great parties - see you there!!!  That may look like a lot of parties but it's been a while since I have gotten out!!!

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Have a great week!!!

Enjoy!!!

Hi All!

Congratulations to the  Graduates - Class of 2012!!!

Here it is June already, May certainly flew by - like a blink of the eye.  Today I have some birdhouses to share.  We wanted some table decorations for Jess and J's (aka "the twins") Graduation Party.  Um wait - - -ummmmm... did I just say Jess and J's graduation party???  OMG!!!  Where did those 18 years go!!!  Time, just slow down some would you - here I am thinking a month flew by when in reality - I am not sure where the last 18 years went...that's scary!!! 

Reality is - I could spend the rest of this post gushing over how great these two graduates are  - - but if I do - I may not be very popular with them for a while so - - suffice it to say we are soooooooooooo proud of both of them!!!  Congratulations!!!

Since we are honoring two graduates, I decided on two birds on each  birdhouse.  Each bird is perched - ready for a little test flight (just to the beach for Senior Week though - - as long as it is okay with Mom).    

I picked up the birds, unfinished birdhouses and twig branches at Michael's. 

I thought the birdhouses looked pretty good - so I dug right in and started to spray on a coat of primer.  OOooops!  Reality is - once I had a coat of primer on the first one - - I realized they were going to need additional prep work to cover  the nail holes and some other rough spots that had magically appeared.  So I spread a little Bondo on, let it dry and sanded.  Sure it required more effort but it greatly improved the finished look (and let me tell you - these two are worth it). 

After sanding - make sure you remove all of the dust prior to applying the primer and then painting.  I keep an old hairdryer with my other tools, it works great for getting into some of the nooks and crannies that you otherwise just can't reach.  Once the paint dried, the birds were hot glued to the house and small river rocks were scattered in the bottom. 

If you decide to add a tea light (or candle) - do not  burn candles unattended and I also recommend you glue the bottom of the tealight  or votive to the bottom of the bird cage to ensure it does not become a fire hazard.  Sound like the voice of experience???  Yep...you bet - apparently one of the tea lights shifted during transportation and was toooooooo close to the side of the cage.  Fortunately our lovely daughter-in-law was standing nearby and quickly extinguished the growing flame. 

We had eight  tables so we made two birdhouses in each of the four colors.  Two green... 

I wasn't pleased with the way the twigs were fastened in that picture above - so I made a slight modification to hot glue the branches to the roof and then added a bow to look like this. 

(That's better).  Then I proceeded to make two in blue...

Two in red...

And...two in brown...

To break up the white birdhouses on the white tablecloth - we used a varigated green placemat under each of the birdhouses. 

The variations in green in the placemat tied in with the varigated greens in the candles used in the hurricanes.  I picked up the candles on clearance at Michael's for less than $2 a piece.  I already had the hurricanes and the twigs were left over from the birdhouses. 

The bottom of the hurricanes were filled with river rocks to match the flooring in the birdhouse and twisted twigs were added to further tie them into the birdhouses.   On the tables, we alternated the birdhouses and hurricanes.

We liked the way that all the materials used for the hurricanes and birdhouses tied in with the outdoor setting for the graduation party. 

While I was making these, I got to thinking you could use these little birdhouses for various events such as baby and bridal showers, weddings, birthdays, Easter or Spring... 

A word to the Graduates:  Your dedication, energy, time and other sacrifices have certainly paid off.   As you reach this milestone - you  can be very proud of your accomplishments.  As you celebrate, pause to recognize the strength within you to be everything you dream to be through self-determination.   We wish you continued success and fulfillment in all of your future endeavors.  We love you!!!Congratulations!!!

So I am curious, anybody else decorating for a graduation party?  If so, I'd love to hear your ideas. 

Enjoy!!!

Happy Easter to all!  I hope you all are enjoying Easter Sunday.

We started the morning with an Easter Brunch with omelets a potato, egg and cheese casserole and Strawberry/Banana Smoothies.  Yummy!

The table setting started with  a centerpiece I made from white berry branches with a layer of river rocks in the bottom.  The cute little bunnies with magenta wrapped chocolate eggs marked each place setting. 

I love the chocolate brown of the placemats and napkins with the hot pink accents. 

Yesterday, we finally got the mirror hung.  I found it a few years ago on a treasure hunt.  Until recently, we had been using it in one of the guest rooms.  I lugged it downstairs a week or so ago and propped it up on top of the buffet...and there it sat.  Until  yesterday, I enlisted the help of my husband to help me get it hung.  It looks so much better now that it's up. 

The china was also a find on another treasure hunt.

The pattern has little, light brown outlined flowers with a brown, beige and  olive vine; all is set on a creamy background.  The china and the placemats kind of meld together like a blend of white and milk chocolate.

Below is an updated photo of the buffet - after the bunny stopped by with some goodies.  Candlestick holders - you guessed it - found them on a treasure hunt.  Some other items in this room to be covered in upcoming  posts - the chandelier and the creamy bowls on the buffet.   

I picked up the fresh flowers on the buffet at Costco; they were actually the inspiration for the bright pink accents.  I love fresh flowers - you can normally find at least one vase full at my house at any given time.

It's been a really nice day the whole way around, time spent with some family (always a plus), beautiful weather for such a beautiful day and my husband made reservations for later in the day to go out to eat (again - I was still stuffed from our brunch).  We went to Harper's Tavern.

Going to Harper's is such a treat to me because a few years ago I was working on some genealogy and discovered that in 1763 my ancestors (I don't have my reference handy but that's something like my g-g-g-g-g+ grandfather) owned the property and built the original tavern on that site.  The original tavern burned down; however, in 1804, his son rebuilt the building that stands today.  It is interesting to think of my grandparents and their 10 children living on that property.  Today I couldn't help but wonder how they spent their Easter Sundays. 

Anyway, it's been a great day!  How did you spend Easter Sunday?

Enjoy!
Decor Niche