How to Make A Mirrored Plate & Displaying Silverware

I started out trying to come up with some ideas for displaying my monogrammed silverware and came up with this idea for mirrored plates too! Mainly I needed three new things to hang in my dining room to replace the three old things I was taking down. Plus I didn't want to make new holes in the wall so whatever I made had to fit where the old nails were! How's that for a challenge!

Isn't that cool!! I found this thin round mirror in the candle making section at Michael's. I think they're made to put your candles on. 99 cents for a small one people!! $1.99 for a larger one that would fit a dinner plate!

All I did was put a dab of hot glue on the back of the mirror and positioned it in the center of the plate. They had various sizes and shapes of these mirrors. Any plate that would have a nice border on the outside once you put the mirror in the middle would work!

One of the things I came up with to display my monogrammed silverware is this:

I very rarely find any monogrammed silverware and the only reason that I have such a nice collection is because of my dear friend Linda of Blue Gate Blog (the one that makes those pretty fork chandeliers). She is so good to me! Whenever she gets a batch of silverware to make her chandies she always looks for an "M" or "W" and sends those to me (usually wrapped up in some toile)! So if it wasn't for her I'd have about 4 pieces! *Edited: Sorry her link doesn't work anymore. She closed her blog but I thought she was leaving it up, looks like she deleted it.

Everybody does this with silverware - frame it or put it in a shadow box and that looks cute too!

I made all three of these things. The top picture is a piece of framed toile wallpaper.

I'm not sure I'm keeping all three here or even in this order. I think the plate with the fork needs a bow on top or something? What do you think? Anyway, I just wanted to get them up on the wall so I could show you guys cause I was so excited!

I didn't get around to photographing my other idea for displaying my silverware so I'll do that sometime next week.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment - I read everyone! Have a wonderful weekend!

A Fence Board Sign

I've wanted some really big letters that spelled "Porch" for my screened porch but couldn't find any that were really big at a reasonable price (I love/want the Pottery Barn ones). So I've been thinking of how to get what I want at a reasonable price. I actually did find one huge letter at Goodwill but it was an "L" and it was the only really big letter I've seen there in years!

Do you all have a place like this in your yards! A place where you store bits and pieces of things you don't know where else to put? This is behind our barn so it's hidden and even our neighbors don't see it as it's at the back of all our properties and they have lots of trees!

I'm keeping old windows and doors to make a greenhouse one day! But I spied two old fence boards and though they looked interesting. Then I decided to use one to make a sign for my porch.

So originally I was going to do "The Porch" but we decided on "Paradise Found" because sitting in our porch early in the morning or late at night is paradise!

How to make a sign.

1. Decide how large you want your letters. These are at 400 and I used Microsoft Works Word Processor. To change the size you have to type in the size you want in the font size box and then hit enter. The font I used was Times New Roman but sometimes I choose a more cursive font.

2. I sanded my fence board because it was rough and dirty and then I dry brushed some white on. Usually I use a flat or matte paint underneath the wording.

3. To transfer your word(s) onto your sign use either graphite paper which is what I did here or cover the back of your words with artists charcoal or crayon. I've used all these methods and the graphite paper ($2 at Michaels) has been the easiest to work with.

4. Use a dull pencil or something that's not too pointy and trace over your printed out letters. You should have your board, graphite paper and printed out words in that order.

Now your letters should be transferred and all you have to do is fill them in! You can use a paint pen if you think your hand isn't steady enough for a paint brush. I've used them both and for me one isn't easier than the other. I've used house paint (great way to use up those little bits left in a can) and craft paint. Both work fine. I've never used a high gloss paint (don't every paint with it) so I don't know if that will work as well.

It's really pretty easy and I'm getting better at it the more signs I make!

It's just sitting on top of the door frame at the moment because I might make the color a bit darker before hanging it.

This didn't cost me a dime and I reused materials that I already had that many people would just have thrown away AND I think it looks great! You can click to enlarge the picture.

You can find some scrap lumber in lots of places - just keep an eye out for it and an open mind! Even if you had to buy a piece of lumber you could easily get at least three signs from it. I hope you try it! I think this would make a wonderful and inexpensive Christmas present that's easy to personalize! Think of the possibilities! It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas especially if you want to give handmade things!

Today's Thrifty Treasures

It's time to show your thriftstore/yardsale treasures. Be sure to visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for more Today's Thrifty Treasures participants. It's always so much fun to see what everyone finds!

I had a very eclectic week at Goodwill! I found him....

And added him to them!

I found these monogrammed spoons and forks. None of us have names that start with a "B" but I collect monogrammed silverware and I was just so excited to see some at Goodwill that I bought them for $2.72!

My happiest find all month has been these two items which I found yesterday!

A footed silverplate coffee/tea pot and creamer by Rogers & Bros. Last year I received coffee pot as a Mother's Day Gift and later I bought one myself and sugar bowl. I thought I might start a collection of silverplate coffee pots if I could find ones that I really liked the shape of.

They cleaned up so beautifully!

This one was my Mother's Day present.

This one I bought for myself!

I think they all look pretty together but I don't think I have enough room on that tray to get one more! I think I need a bigger tray! (something else to look for at Goodwill)!

I made two of these pictures a while ago for my dining room and now I want to change things a bit in that room for summer. So I was looking for two identical frames with mats that I could use.

Found them! AND they were 50% off - which is only the second time in my life that I've actually purchased something at Goodwill that was on sale!

I knew I wanted to either use black toile fabric or wallpaper in the the frames and luckily I had a roll of wallpaper that had several nice scenes on it. I chose ones with dogs since we're big dog lovers!

I'm really happy with the way they turned out! They each cost me under $2 and I think they look like wonderful AND I'll have frames to use when I want to change them to something else. There are several online discounters if you don't have a wallpaper store in your town. You can also get wallpaper at great prices on ebay. Of course, you can use whatever you want, but I'm partial to toile!

I have a pretty an easy plate project that I'll be showing this week that will replace the rooster plates in my dining room.

That's it for me! I had a good week at Goodwill!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great week everyone!

Slumps and Grunts!

Don't you love all that fresh fruit available now that summer is in full swing! Our berry bushes are just going crazy! So everyday I've been berry pickin in my own backyard. What could be more fun!

I love baking and I really enjoy baking with fresh fruit. At least I feel somewhat healthy eating a dessert who's main ingredient is fruit! Then it counts towards you daily food pyramid guidelines right? Aren't we supposed to eat something like 9 servings of fruit now?

So what do slumps and grunts have to do with fruit? They're funny names for a type of fruit dessert! A slump or grunt cooks on top of the stove (although slumps can also be made in the oven) and has a dumpling like topping. Love that! This way I don't have to heat up my kitchen making a yummy dessert!

I found this wonderful book "Rustic Fruit Desserts" by Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson. It has the recipes organized by season so you can always bake with what's available fresh (or you can do frozen or canned). That's where I found a recipe for slump. I never knew what a slump was before! According to her a slump can be made with "whatever fruit you have on hand". So I made a blueberry/blackberry slump!

This is the recipe that appears in the book and was the recipe of the week from Crown Publishing Stone Fruit Slump.

I wound up not using that recipe because it calls for cake flour and I didn't have any cake flour and I didn't want to run to the store to buy any cake flour! But it got me searching on the internet and this is the recipe I used. Gingered Berry Grunt

Oh My Gosh It was sooooo good! You've got to try it! I'm sure using cake/pastry flour for the dumpling would have made it a lighter less dense dumpling but I liked it anyway!

The ginger in the dumpling topping is such a wonderful flavor! I made half the recipe to try it out so you could even just make it for one or two people!

Speaking of ginger....I'm growing my own! I bought a ginger plant a few weeks ago from a vendor at our town's Farmer's Market. It's going to stay in the pot until fall so I have time to think of where it's permanent spot will be.

Now for a bit of trivia for us Little Women/Louisa May Alcott fans:

"It is known that Apple Slump was a popular dessert in her day, and a favorite of the Alcott family. And because of the lovable -- but homely -- character of both the dessert and the house, Louisa nicknamed Orchard House "Apple Slump", so the dish does have a special connection to her."

"Little Women" is my all time favorite book and I keep this postcard of Orchard House on my bulletin board above my desk.

Possibly Louisa May Alcott's Apple Slump
Serving Size: 8

Filling:
6 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

Topping:
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp double-acting baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Toss together the apples, sugar and spices and place in a buttered baking dish. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
While this is baking, prepare the topping, starting by sifting together the dry ingredients. In separate bowl, mix the egg, milk and butter and add this mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring till just combined. Spread the topping over apples and bake at 350F for an additional 25 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Sept.2000 The Concord Magazine

Somehow we've gone from berry pickin to slumps and grunts, to growing ginger, a book review and some Alcott thrown in! I think I'll stop now LOL!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great weekend everyone!

Do It Yourself Day-Deck Projects

Kimba at A Soft Place to Land is having a DIY linky party so be sure to check out her blog for more projects!

So last week I painted a checkerboard pattern on my deck and this week I'm finishing up some projects that go on the deck. If you'd like to see the Before & After of My Deck Floor go here.

I bought this little set from a neighbor about 10 years ago and I've used it inside and out. Right now it sits on my deck and that's where my husband hangs out while he grills. I thought that the white was a bit boring since I painted my deck floor black and white. So out came the spray paint (first I cleaned it and primed the areas that the paint had flaked off from).*all the pictures will enlarge when you click on them.

Now when you're in the kitchen your eye is really drawn outside to the deck!

We don't really use our deck except to grill, so I'm treating it as you would a little guest bathroom and making it a cute & fanciful space!

I got this bench at Goodwill a few months ago and obviously it's not meant to be kept outside (which is where it's been) as it's falling apart. I peeled the top layer off and this is what I found.

I thought I had some tile left from tiling the foyer to put on top, but nope. I looked all over for something to put on top of the bench because I sit planters on it and it's going to get wet from me watering the planters. I couldn't find anything except....rocks!

I stole a few from my husband's pond that he tore apart and is rebuilding. I think walking up the deck stairs carrying rocks qualifies as working out, don't you!

I used a bit of black spray paint left in the can from another project on the legs of the bench. At first I wasn't sure about the rocks but now I like them! I didn't want to buy anything and I used what I had which was rocks!

I always plant lettuce in the long concrete planter and I'll add a few more flowers to the bench.

I have just a few more things planned and then the deck is done!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great weekend everyone!

Ferns & Urns

If you look around my house you'll notice that I obviously love toile but that I also like urns. Never met an urn I didn't like! As a matter of fact as you approach my house you'll be welcomed by two black (spray painted by the way) urns. I always plant a fern in them in the summer.

In the house I recently planted some urns with smaller ferns. Did you guys get your Home Depot Garden Club coupons (from the HD GC giveaway I had)? There was one for buy one house plant get one free so I bought two ferns. I already had an asparagus fern.

I had one white urn but the others were all different colors so I spray painted them all different shades of white. All these ferns are in my living room usually. I had to take them outside to take a picture because it's pouring rain and I just couldn't get a good picture of them inside.

I really love the simple unfussiness of ferns when planted in a pretty urn. Oh and I repaint my urns all the time!

I think ferns inside the home and out are just the perfect summer time plant!

LOL! O.K. the sun came out for a hot minute so I whisked them back inside where they usually are!

To answer some questions people have asked recently:

The Plates in my 4th of July post with the gingham, flowers and flags say modahome.com on the back. Although I got mine at a local shop. They seem to have lots of cute, cute plates!

I used deck paint in white from Lowe's for the black and white checkerboard pattern. They couldn't mix black deck paint for me so I used exterior black paint. I didn't go to HD or anywhere else to see if they had black deck paint.

The mirrored pediment on top of my china cabinet came from Michael's years ago.

The teapot in the teapcup birdfeeder post is just hanging from an old Shepard's hook.

The colored chalk that I use on my chalkboard I got from ebay - it's called Chalk Ink - Amazon usually carries it too

Metamorphis Monday - Checkerboard Deck

Today I'm participating in Metamorphis Monday, our gracious hostess is Susan of Between Naps On The Porch. Be sure to check out her blog to see lots of other before and afters!

This is the before.



This was the inspiration.



This is the after.

I've been wanting to paint a checkerboard pattern on my deck for about two years now but the timing was never right. I'm so glad everything (mostly the weather) came together and I was able to finally complete this project! I love it!

I'm not entirely done. I still have to paint and plant a few things to put on the deck. This little bistro table and chairs need some TLC!

I always wanted to be able to look out this window and see the continuation of the checkerboard in my kitchen. We don't really use this little deck. We have a screened porch and a patio downstairs. The grill is out there and my husband sits down when he's grilling, the dog walks through on his way down the stairs and that's pretty much all the use this space sees! Mostly I just see it from the kitchen so I wanted to have something pretty to look at.

It wasn't hard to do at all! At first I wasn't sure how to do it but I figured it out. Because the checkerboard is painted on decking, I didn't have to be so precise about the squares being all the same as I would have in an interior room. First I cleaned the deck with deck cleaner and let that dry, then I painted the deck with white deck paint and let that dry for a few days.

Then I figured out how big a square I wanted. I did this through trial and error and finally settled on a size that was a bit bigger than the tiles in my kitchen. I used some cardboard to make a template. I positioned my template and traced around it. Then I filled it in with black paint. The painting took about a week to do and I just did a little at a time. A couple of squares in the morning and a few after dinner. It was too hot to be out there during the day! For the price of two cans of paint I got a very cute deck that nobody else has.

Don't be afraid of big projects! Just break them up. Even when I paint a room I move everything from one wall, paint and move everything back. Then when I have time I move on to another wall and another! Before long the whole room is completed without too much disruption!

Check back at the end of the week for the complete makeover.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week everyone!