SUMMER: thrifted game as tiki wall art

Summer is finally here, and it's time to get into an island groove!
But Deb, you don't LIVE on an island!, you might say. True.
But we LIVE like we do!

Back in 2020, our home decor theme shifted. Massively. 
We had created a sort of farmhouse/wine country hybrid with small seasonal accents, made by me. But when the Pandemic lockdown was put into place and we had to cancel our summer trip to Hawaii, we pivoted. "If we can't go to Hawaii, let's bring Hawaii to us!" was our mantra... and the shift to tropical decor with a tiki subtheme hasn't stopped! We enjoy it 365 days a year. (Yes, I still add in a few seasonal items - but now, they're ALL tropical!)

Thing is, I know this kind of themed home decor doesn't appeal to the majority of people. It is a bit like living in a Disneyland attraction (that's by design - my grandfather helped build Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room!) and that's not for everyone, so I chose to continue creating & sharing 'regular' seasonal decor projects that would appeal to most of my blog readers.

But life is crazy right now in these United States, and I need FUN! I need HAPPY!
I thought that perhaps you, dear readers, might need more of that as well.

So this summer, I'm sharing a slew of tropical / tiki / Hawaiian style projects that I've already completed here at home. This is your 'peek behind the curtain'!

...continue reading to see how a thrifted 'cornhole' bean bag game became wall art!

SUMMER: one-step bamboo refresh!

 
This is a tip I learned years ago from my sweet Dad...

I've shared it before in my 2013 makeover of their backyard, but since my ENTIRE summer series this year is about creating your own tropical decor, I thought this project would be a perfect way to kick off the season. It's an easy first step to refreshing your yard!

Continue reading for details...

SPRING: Mother's Day Party Decor - 4 Themes

Mother's Day is coming up this weekend... are you ready?!
If you're in need of some last-minute table decor ideas, I've got them for you...

Today's post features a lovely garden-inspired table + accessories in multiple shades of green with natural elements incorporated. (If you're new here, you know that Deb is in her 'green era' - but if you've been around since I started this blog in 2012, you might recall me sharing this info in a previous post. Proving that my preferred color palette has ALWAYS included greens!)

Continue reading for some easy last-minute ideas to make Mom's Day special, including links to more Mother's Day decorating inspiration...

SPRING: Cinco De Mayo Party Decor - 4 Fun Color Palettes!

With Cinco De Mayo just days away, I thought I'd share some older content that might just inspire a different way to approach this spring holiday... an option for those who aren't into a riot of color. (That's later in the post!)

The contemporary, nature-based approach here brings to mind Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, and Terrain style. It would be easy to pull together with boho, rustic, industrial, farmhouse, and modern interior decor elements, and will work indoors and outdoors to make Your Cinco De Mayo celebrations really easy - just add tequila!

continue reading for all the details...

SPRING: repurpose a lampshade frame as a cloche

My sweet aunt Diane gifted me a terra cotta bunny figure in March for my birthday, along with a lovely lunch at one of our local wineries. After the celebrating was over, I came home and created a sweet little springtime vignette starring that bunny... and I thought I'd share this idea with you, since it is SO simple to replicate!

Continue reading to see how it all came together, plus some additional ideas...

SPRING: re-purpose light cages as flower frogs

Daffodils are my FAVORITE flower. Have been since I was a Little Debby and loved watching 'Daffy O'Dill' dance in Disney's 'Alice in Wonderland'.

Every spring, I grab bunches of them and fill up the house with sunny flowers... and while I miss being able to drive to the Skagit Valley in Washington state and get my fill of multiple varieties grown and sold in roadside 'honor stands', now I just drive to Trader Joe's Market and grab some bunches! (TJ's imports daffodils from both Skagit Valley, Washington and Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada).

The one thing I don't like about them is how the stems can end up bending and cutting off the water supply to the blooms. But now I've come up with a fun way to turn something else into a solution! 

Continue reading to see this EASY repurposed flower frog idea!

SPRING: flower-filled purse door hanger

March is here and spring is coming!
I'm always so glad to see the earth awaken after her winter nap, and love to use flowers and other garden references in my spring decor...

This project builds on one I've created before (linked below this post) and is an easy way to add some springtime charm to your front door or indoor walls!

Continue reading for tutorial...

WINTER: make a faux vintage felt pennant

 

This is another 'just for fun' project to add to your winter decor - and also one of those projects that changed course a few times!

My original inspiration for this were two photos on Instagram, shared by Jens Fresh Vintage. Jen shared shots of her antique booth winter setup, showing winter paint-by-numbers and thermoses and ski's - and vintage souvenir pennants from ski resorts:


Recalling the fun days that I had spent skiing the slopes at Northstar and Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, I decided to make myself a felt pennant that looked old.

As you can see in the photo up above, I did not make pennants that say 'Lake Tahoe' or anything like that... I went bigger! 

Continue reading to see a step-by-step tutorial to make your own pennants - AND what I ultimately ended up doing with them in my studio!

WINTER . make a simple rosemary wreath

the Christmas decor is all packed away! whew.
now i'm enjoying a slow, calm 'ease into the new year' approach: simple changes, adjustments, and routines that give my creative mind space to wander (and wonder!) without stressing out as i keep up with my responsibilities. 

the simple rosemary wreath project that i am sharing today is something that can made in just minutes and with very little effort. (i don't know about you, but i LOVE easy DIY projects!) let me show you how easy and simply charming this project is - and how you can make it even if you don't have an herb garden.

continue reading for tutorial...

2024 WRAPPED!

as the holiday season comes to a close

and we are poised on the brink of a new year,

i'm taking stock of 2024 with a quick look back

at stats for the blog and my social media accounts.

as part of that, i want to share my favorite projects from the past year...

let's call it 'homeward found WRAPPED' (like Spotify ;) 

continue reading to see my favorites from 2024...

holiday 2024: a modern nativity

i have vivid childhood memories of helping my Mom decorate for the holidays,

including hanging ropes of tinsel garland in the front windows

then adding single glass ornaments that caused the garland

to dip into points like a jester's festooned collar.

simple, easy, inexpensive elements transformed our little home

into a winter wonderland.

and at the center of it all was the creche, or nativity scene...

yes, this one. like so many other families,

THIS was the nativity scene i grew up with.

it always sat on top of the 'hi fi' stereo console,

with an arrangement of greens and candles

with a few tree ornaments added to make it 'sparkle'.

after i married and had my own home, 

my Mom gave me the nativity set.

my four children grew up with it in our home,

and then our first grandson played with it in our home:

he's two here, and i will never forget hearing his sweet little voice

whispering 'sheepses' and 'baby cheesus' as he played with it.

(he just turned eighteen and he graduates next May...

how quickly the time has flown)

each year, i create a 'new' nativity scene for my decor theme.

i've linked a few of those below this post, 

including the way i used my OLD nativity figures in 2020.

this year, i recreated the simple modern figures

that i first used in 2022...

and to make them fit my theme this year,

i just added in some green props.

continue reading for two different looks...

holiday 2024: a tablescape trick

gathering at the table is a big part of holiday celebrations.

whether you are planning family sit-down dinners

or friends-filled buffets this holiday season,

being with people you love is a great time to set a pretty table.

and while i set up a tablescape for these photos,

including using all of my trees for a mini tree farm centerpiece,

this post is really about a fun, easy idea for your silverware!

continue reading for the details...

holiday 2024: mini Christmas tree farm!

a contributing factor to this year's theme,

O CHRISTMAS TREE 

was finding three gorgeous flocked trees at Target.

then i found two white ceramic trees for a buck each at a thrift shop.

all i had to do was add in a few trees i already had -

and give a few of them a makeover -

as well as make a few new trees,

and my mantel turned into a mini Christmas tree farm! 

continue reading for a few really fast tree tutorials...

holiday 2024: funky fabric Christmas tree!

while most of my holiday decorating this year
involves re-using a lot of elements i already have
along with a few new things i am making,
there ARE new store-bought things in the mix...

and one of them inspired a whimsical tree:

i picked up a few small flocked trees at Target for $3 each.
as they sat in my studio waiting for me to use them, 
i looked at that bright chartreuse green tree - and had a brainstorm.

i have a fuzzy chartreuse green microfiber blanket.
i have a few wire tomato cages. i put those two together.
and the result is a very... SEUSSICAL... tree.
which perfectly fits my 2024 theme,
O Christmas Tree 

continue reading and see what craziness i pulled off!

holiday 2024: diy upcycled painted ornaments

wreath number two for this year is a fun one...
i rounded up some old ornaments that i don't ever use, 
and gave them a whole new look with paint.

the pattern that i painted on these ornaments
was inspired by the posterboard i've been using as a 'drop cloth':
it's just splotches and swaths of paint left from many painting sessions -
which looks a lot like a current 'graffiti' paint trend
that is an easy pattern to replicate.

since my theme this holiday season is
O Christmas Tree
using ornaments in varied ways works perfectly!

follow along and let me show you how easy this is...

holiday 2024: repurposed Christmas card wreath

it's TIME! welcome to homeward found holiday 2024:
O CHRISTMAS TREE

this year, i'm using 'artful' elements from my studio and my stash
to bring this holiday decor theme to life in my studio...
yes, green fits my current 'green era' color obsession,
AND it allows for a re-visit / re-style of some of the
elements that i have used for holiday decor in the past.

follow along for the next few weeks as i share
easy tutorials using stuff you already have on hand
to create a whimsical, magical holiday mood in your home...
and you can choose any color YOU love!

first up, an easy-peasy paper project that even the kids can get in on!

continue reading for tutorial and links to other similar projects...

going green (in every way) with my fall decor

fall is coming....

yes, that sounds ominous to me! maybe to you, too.
as hot as it has been in So Cal this summer,
i'm enjoying long days of being off the grid.
i'm not remotely ready for it to end.

but that encroaching seasonal change is motivating me!
so i've been giving some thought to this year's autumn theme
for my projects and content,
and i've come up with a plan that i can live with...

<<< continue reading

Published! Farmhouse Style Magazine Fall Issue

after a prolonged summer break, i'm back to share some happy news:

a new version of my original 'glass globe pumpkins' has been published!

you'll find the new versions above in the Fall 2024 Issue

of Country Sampler's Farmhouse Style Magazine

continue reading for a peek at the magazine
and an easy tutorial for making your own versions...

easy upcycle: spice bottle bud vase

one last post before i take a break for the month of june...

 this 'discovery' came one DAY after my last blog post,
which was all about using bottles as flower vases. 
(i'm consistently a day late to the party)

this project will be a perfect way to enjoy our roses all summer long!

continue reading for an easy-peasy upcycle diy...

vintage bowl mushrooms!

this project may not 'bowl you over' (geeze, i'm old)

but i hope it will inspire you to use things differently in your home decor.

in this case, i've gathered up some kitchen items

to create spring decor elements that work in many other places.

continue reading for the easy tutorial...