NEW! Sweet Sweater Pops!

so a funny thing happened while i was creating my last blog post...

i was typing in additional ideas for accessories that one might use

on one's own versions of my Sweet Sweater Sandbabies.

things like ball caps popped into my mind. and THAT led me down a rabbit hole...

it went something like this:

"yeah! ball caps! ball caps?! baseball! hot dogs! beer! popcorn! 

POPCORN??!! waaaaaiiiiiiiit a minute... i have...."

at which point i ran out of my studio to the garage, to the party supply bins,

where i found the paper and plastic popcorn containers i knew were in there.

i returned to my studio and dragged out the box with sweater remnants,

and there was a bag filled with wonky fuzzy yarn that is the color of UNbuttered popcorn.

my crazy brain puts two and two together and the result is those guys up above:
Sweet Sweater Pops!

Red, White, and Blue PATRIOTIC Pops.

and then the ideas REALLY started poppin'... continue reading to see!

summer kickoff: red, white & blue

 over the years i've shared so many 'fast, cheap & easy'TM tips for decorating...

and my faves are always the party themes!

the 'official' start of summer is on the horizon! 

don't you agree that summer parties should be EASY to pull together? 

uncomplicated? fun? whimsical? and inexpensive? i thought you would! 

so let's use stuff we already have - nothing precious or expensive, just simple.

continue reading for one of my easiest centerpieces EVER - plus a few helpful tips...

Red, White and Blue - Water?!

 my 'famous' strawberry & blueberry flavored water

was featured in a past post about front porch decor here on the blog.
it really is pretty, isn't it?!
I made and served this beverage at the vintage shows that I hosted on my farm in Washington,
and it was included in one of the articles i wrote for a magazine.

It's a simple 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' idea (my trademark!) for summer entertaining:

Just put layers of frozen blueberries, ice cubes, and fresh strawberries

in an old glass jar, then fill the jar with water.

They flavor the water ever so subtly - SO refreshing on a hot day - 
and it looks absolutely perfect for a patriotic party!

I can't believe how many times that image has been shared and pinned since then! 
It's my most popular pin EVER, so I want to thank you for the love!

i've always thought that photo was too dark, 
but i can't remove it because of all of the pins & shares - 
so i've added a better, edited image up above in this post and re-pinned it!

You can see another version of my flavored water here

and here

shared online:

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

the How To Home | Project Inspire{d} #274

creatively beth | team creative crafts linky party #147 (2023)

thank you for featuring my project, Miss Beth!

memorial day, labor day, fourth of july, patriotic party decor, red white and blue decor,
red white and blue berry water, entertaining, patriotic party drinks, diy, homeward found decor

diy fourth of july

Fourth of July weekend is coming up in just DAYS,
and no matter where or how you are celebrating
during this crazy quarantine you probably need some easy 'use what you have' ideas!

so i've pulled together all of the previous red, white & blue projects, ideas, & decor
that i've shared here at homewardFOUND since 2012

to inspire your patriotic celebrations!

continue reading to see them all...

easy summer decor: all bottled up!

Memorial Day Weekend is here (in the States, anyway)

and that means it's time for the big 'summer kickoff'...

the project i'm sharing today is a re-do and throw-back

to some of my patriotic red, white and blue summer decor from the past

(i've linked that below this post)

but the new version fits my current 'green era' obsession.

 it's another 'throw it together in a minute' decor trick

that can be replicated in SO many ways on a table, mantel, bookshelf, and more. 

'summerizing' your living spaces is an easy way to embrace the season...
quick additions of simple elements will change the feel of your home!

continue reading to see a few of the ways i've used glass bottles...

a found & foraged flag

You know, I enjoy sometimes decorating with red white and blue
just as much as the next patriotic American... but... 

what if I don't want to use red and blue in my home, 

and want to stick with white + warm neutrals?

Well... I found a way to do exactly that,
and still have a focus on the flag for the Fourth of July!

I found some items in my garage, left from my closed homewardFOUND shop.

When I looked at the weathered white fence pickets,
and the blue-ish zinc metal scraps, I saw a flag.

My whole 'schtick' here on the blog is re-using, re-cycling, re-imagining
stuff that I already have to create new stuff... 
It's born out of my 45-year long career in retail visual merchandising/display,
where nothing is created to last a long time 
and change is the only constant!

  I quickly got busy assembling things on the workbench...
and that metal in the top photo isn't what you think it is!

...continue reading to see how I made my own faux zinc!

fourth of july decor roundup!

 i'm being lazy right now and NOT creating any new summer decor content
for the Fourth of July.

but that doesn't mean i don't have loads of previous projects

to inspire your celebrations!

click HERE to see ALL of my past fourth of july blog posts & projects
(the first four are yellow - but they'd be perfect in red, white and blue!)

see more inspo on my July Pinterest board

continue viewing post...

FREE Weekend Makeover: Part 4

Welcome to the final post in my
week-long four-part series:

How to refresh, restyle, and redecorate without spending a CENT -
  by using what you already have!

Today's final reveal is the Master Bedroom and the upstairs Hallway,
two areas where it didn't take too much work to bring color and life to the rooms.
Remember, everything you see in the photos was already here - 
I just needed to help it come out of hiding!

 The Master Bedroom

Before:
The walls are soft mocha, the bed is a sculptural black iron, and the other furnishings are black wood.
A perfect neutral palette to start with.

The deep red pillows and tablecloth just made this room feel dark when combined with the black -
not to mention that this is the hottest room in the house
and red is not a color that cools you off in the summertime!

Note that the bamboo window blind stops mid-wall... it covers a small square window,
but every time I looked at it, it felt like an old air conditioner was hidden behind it!

After:
The fabric hanging on the bed is a printed cotton tablecloth,
which I found brand new in its bag in the living room buffet drawer.
[I should have ironed it]
Along with adding color and pattern to the room, 
this softens the look of the bed - which is all angles.

continue reading for more of the tour...

Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue!

 Memorial Day Weekend is the official kick-off to Summer
[and oh, are we glad it's here!]

For our first Summertime post, I offer you some Patriotic Inspiration

for Red White & Blue table decor...

and a fun way to add something special to your place settings:

use old game boards as placemats!

It's pretty easy to find Scrabble boards (nice because they are red, white, blue, and tan)

and other old game boards at thrift stores - 

usually, the pieces are missing from games but the boards are still in the box.

If you DO find one with pieces, you can spell out your guests' names!

Don't forget about my tutorial for making Giant Letter Tiles as coasters, too!

shared online:

A Little Claireification | Best of the Weekend

Funky Junk Interiors | Party Junk

'paint chip' inspired painted dresser

i always say that paint is a magical ingredient in decorating....

it can change things faster and easier than any other element!

i recently envisioned a new paint treatment for an item i've had for years

(actually, it's been in my family for THREE generations!)

and am so happy with the results.

continue reading for the reveal!

FREE Weekend Makeover: Part 3

Welcome to Part 3 of my FREE Weekend Makeover!

How to refresh, restyle, and redecorate without spending a CENT -
by using what you already have!

We're at the halfway point!
You've seen the deck and patio, and the living room in previous posts,
and now it's time for
The Dining Room!

Before:
The dining room is located to the right as you view the house from the front entry,
but it's actually part of the main living space.
That large modular sofa was blocking it off from being used to all of its potential, though.
[You saw in this post how I rearranged the sofa sections to open up the living area...
and you were probably wondering 'Where's the other sofa section?']

After:

Here's the other sofa section!
The armless unit [from the center of the old 'U'-shaped sofa] has been moved to the dining area.
Why? Because it helped open up the living room to get it out of there.
And because this wall was screaming for something on it.

And because this piece of furniture here gives the dining room more uses:
*You can still see the television from here, so it's a great lounge space.
[Ask my brother. He loves it!]
*You can participate in conversations in the living room.
*You can move the table over and this section creates two extra seats -
so the table seats six instead of just four -
which also works well for working on home work or a laptop.

And  because by putting it here, I've created another area
where one of two preteen girls can sit with a book, a Kindle, or an iPad
and not be sitting right on top of her sister all summer long
[one on the chaise in the living room, one here -
WAY better than fighting over corners of the old 'U'-shaped sofa!]

That's a LOT of value added 
by simply scooting one four-foot sofa section across a room!
Remember, you have to SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY!

continue reading to see MORE of the dining room - and kitchen!

Nauti, Nauti....

In a recent post, I shared the flag that I found this week at the Disney cast member outlet store.
I found something else there that day:
Nautical signal flags, all in red, white, and blue!

Measuring @ 12 by 16 inches and made of nylon,
these babies are nearly brand new (I have no idea where they were used at the resort)

and they only set me back a dollar each!

They present creative opportunities for summertime decorating.
My first idea was to turn them into a decorative banner for the backyard:

I simply threaded the grommets on each flag onto a length of seam binding ribbon,

tied & swagged it from the strands of patio lights already installed overhead,

then used miniature white clothespins to keep the flags from sliding on the line.
[ note that the flag fabric is no where near the light bulbs. ]
Fluttering in the breeze, they bring bright patriotic color to the space.

So then I thought... what ELSE can I do with these out here?
What about a tablescape?

These flags lend themselves perfectly for use as placemats (easily washable nylon)

and they also bring color to the centerpiece-

simply a blue metal water cup filled with red geraniums from the yard.

They create a Nautical theme without too much fuss, 

and make simple details shine:

Easy little touches like folding a napkin into a sailboat shape make all the difference -

and yet take just seconds.
The white plastic food basket is available at Dollar Tree stores!

Picnic or poolside place setting tip:
Place plastic / paper cup over a (full) soda can or bottle to keep the cup from blowing away.

I know most DIY / Decor Bloggers will shudder that I actually put this super-simple table in a post,
but Red Solo Cups have their place (and it's not always at a kegger). 
Sometimes you just want easy. 

Forget the foofing and fussing and planning, and just sit back and enjoy - 

then dump the disposable plastic dishes in the trash.
I'm not advocating doing this ALL the time, mind you, 

but some days just call for EASY.
It's SUMMER, for goodness sakes!
[ More on THAT subject in Monday's post......]
.

... and you know what the perfect front door 'welcome' would be for this look, right?

uh huh.
seen sixty gazillion times on Pinterest, this utterly brilliant design and photo is by
Tell It to Your Neighbor

(so, see, you don't have to throw out the cups after all. CRAFT with 'em!).

shared online:

Practically Functional | Creativity Unleashed


Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

Creative Country Mom | Home Sweet Garden Party
.

Now That's Spring Water!

Here's a simple and pretty idea for your Spring Celebrations,

inspired by something I've done before...

At the 'Summer Retreat' vintage show I hosted on my farm on an island in Washington state,

I created a container of flavored water for guests to enjoy.
Frozen blueberries sank to the bottom of the container, and red strawberries floated on the water -

creating a perfect 'Red, White, & Blue' striped effect.
And I snapped a photo of it because I thought it was pretty:

Then last summer, I shared it here on the blog.
Apparently, y'all liked it -

because this last-minute image is my MOST POPULAR PIN ever!

I thought it was time for an update on that idea for Spring, 

so I created flavored water using citrus and flower petals!

It's a bright, pretty Spring look for your beverage station at a brunch or luncheon.

[ Now let's see how THOSE pics do on Pinterest ;) ]

Here's how to get the separated floating layers:

 * Fill container 3/4 full of cold water. 

* Add citrus slices. 

* Add ice cubes carefully so that they float on top of the citrus.
* Then add in the flower petals, which will float on top of the ice cubes.

I used pretty pink geranium petals and bright yellow lemons...
but there are SO many color and flavor combinations you could try!

... and you know, you COULD put some plastic Easter eggs in the container, too ;)
___________________________________________________________
 * * * IMPORTANT NOTE: * * *

 Some flowers can be toxic to humans. 

Make sure you research before adding them to water for drinking. 
Photos shown are for visual inspiration only - this is NOT A RECIPE.
____________________________________________________

shared online:

One Project Closer | Creativity Unleashed

Common Ground | Be Inspired

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

Denise Designed | Sunday Features #174

The Colors of Summer

This photo (that I snapped on Wisconsin's lovely Lake Geneva last spring) 

contains the bright, clear colors that make me think of summer decorating and entertaining....
Red * White * Blue

and a little bit of green, yellow, and tan.

 You know, for years, I've lived with a neutral palette... tan, white, cream, and silver...
in my home and also in the products I created and sold at vintage shows.
I loved the calm, peaceful mood they evoke,
 and the way that even the smallest details stand out in a pale palette.

Every once in awhile, though, the desire to create something colorful would come over me,

and the result would be a product line that looked like this:

Furnishings and decor created from salvaged materials in the summer color palette of 

 Red * White * Blue

.
I'd create the booth design and displays with color in mind,
and the result would look a bit like this at a show or in a store:

at our Retreat space in Poppyseeds, Stanwood, WA

 

At the BarnHouse Marketplace in Battle Ground, WA

sometimes one piece of painted furniture can be the showstopping accent
that will lift your home decor out of the blahs and into the spotlight!

Original products shown here were created in 2008 - 11 by myself and my late husband 
for our former vintage business in the Pacific Northwest, 'Retreat'.