From Metal Shelf to a Kitchen Tray

Back before we moved out to The Sticks, I bought a cute metal shelf for my kitchen.  Then Himself surprised me with another piece from the set with hooks... not even knowing I had the first piece.  How cool is that?!

However, once we moved out here I found I have much less wall space in the kitchen (even tho the kitchen is bigger...go figure!).  So my much loved shelves were put away until I could think of a way to use them.  

Then I forgot where I put them.  (Story of my life...)  But what was lost, now is found and I have figured out what to do with them.  

The first one (without the hooks) has become a tray.

I cleaned it up and gave it a couple coats of spray poly.

This week at Hobby Lobby knobs are 50% off.  I found some that are simple black iron.  I have some 'high octane' hot glue (I don't remember where I bought it but it holds better than regular hot glue sticks).  In short order my shelf now had four 'knobby' feet.

Humph... just noticed that outlet...  going to have to get a cutting board in front of that!

Stay tuned to see what I've done with the shelf with the hooks!

http://knickoftime.net/

What a Crock!

Himself's grandfather was one of the original North Dakota homesteader in 1901.  The farm was passed down to his father (The Yankee) in 1946, and he lived there until he passed in 1994.  The farm is still in the family, with #2 brother living there now.  

When the brothers divided up things after Yankee passed, we got several old crocks.  These were used by Himself's family to make sauerkraut and pickles.  I use them in all sorts of other ways.

One of them is in our living room holding blankets and throws for chilly winter days.

This particular crock has some damage but that doesn't make a difference for what we use it for.  I love the "Red Wing" markings and that beautifully done '15'.

I'm not sure how old it is but I'd put it at no earlier than the 40s.  (I can't see my father-in-law buying one).

The best thing about this crock is the link it has to Himself's family history.  You can't buy that...

http://knickoftime.net/2015/07/ironstone-crocks-and-pottery.html

Chalk Board Flock

A few years ago Sis gave me this darling bread/cutting board.  I love it... so much so that I won't use it as a cutting board.  You see, I am brutal to cutting boards as I slice - dice - hack away at the various things I prep for cooking.  And those slim little rooster legs wouldn't last long at all.

Then it occurred to me that it would make an absolutely darling chalk board!

LOVE it!

Then another cutting board caught my eye...  Every rooster needs a hen, right?

She looks good in black.

Now I just have to decide how to hang them...

Do I add super strong magnets to the back and put them on the fridge - black on black?

Perhaps I should mount them on the pantry door?

Or do you have an idea?

http://knickoftime.net/  

Salvaged Slab Wood Garden Accent

One of our friends from church (and neighbor up the road) owns a portable saw mill.  And he has most generously offered to let us have whatever salvage wood we'd would like to have.

Free wood planks... well yes!

I have projects lined up in my mind!

The first one is this accent piece for our 'court yard'.

The space under the small kitchen sink window was just so empty.  I wanted something sizable to fill the area.

We took 2 planks and attached them across the back.  I love the rough look of the bark so we kept it on.  It leans against the house; we're not worried about it getting blown over.  That baby is heavy!

A bit of decorating with things I already had and it was done.  And for FREE!

Gotta love that!

http://knickoftime.net/2015/07/salvaged-wood-projects.html  

A Bit of Family Heritage... Homestead Grain Sack Pillows

This is a project a long time in the making... like 20 years!

When my late father-in-law's estate was divided, there was a small pile of old feed sacks in box of rags.  I pulled them out and asked if anyone wanted any.  Nobody wanted the 'rags'.

Good!

I have no idea how old they are but they were in with cloth items (unfinished needlework of Himself's grandmother) dating back to the early 1950s and earlier.

Although vintage, they are not rare... in fact, they are pretty common.  

But they are a bit of Himself's family heritage.  His grandfather homesteaded in North Dakota in 1901 and the farm is still in the family.

A snip here... a tuck there... and I have a great set of throw pillows for our guest bedroom!

http://knickoftime.net/2015/07/farmhouse-friday-13-grain-sacks-feed-bags-and-burlap-bags.html  

Hurray for the Red, White, and Blue!

Time to change out the front door decor!  Summer is the patriotic season around here.  I usually have things changed out by Memorial Day but this year I made it in time for Flag Day.  I love the flowers I found this year.  Besides my white apple blossoms, there are blue Forget-Me-Nots and red Poppies.

Quite appropriate, wouldn't you agree?

Flying Up The Ladder

Since we've gotten the front porch and courtyard done, I'm now working on the other side of the sidewalk... the 'bird garden'.  It's a big area that is basically the backfill from the building of the house.  Just a bunch of clay and rock that weeds barely grow in.

So we've mulched it over and are slowly putting in planting beds and different focal points.

My birdhouse ladder is one of those focal points.

I have all sorts of eye candy on it.

This is the ONLY kind of rooster I want around here!

You have to have a bit of bling to catch the sun.

This house has an occupant!

My favorite bird houses are the ones that look like a church.

So this is my first finished Bird Garden project for this year.  I have several more lined up to get done before the summer heat sets in.

http://knickoftime.net/ 

An Enamelware "Nest"

A while back I came into owning a stash of enamelware; about 18 pieces for around $10.  It was a really good yard sale...

I haven't done anything with them since stacking them up on my shelf.  But an enamelware challenge and a bunch of Hen and Chicks that needed planting came together at just the right time.

This will be a fun addition to my kitchen.

http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/

http://knickoftime.net/2015/04/farmhouse-friday-4-vintage-enamelware.html

Ode to a Jar

Oh canning jar!  How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways...

I love the way you can become a lavender candle, making my desk smell so wonderful.

I love how you become an instant vase... just add flowers.

I love how you keep my roses from my sweetheart.

And how you hold memories close.

And how you are so helpful in the kitchen.

I love that you keep my beads so neat and organized.

And how my embroidery thread is so easy to see.

You keep everything just so I can find it.

I never have to worry about my touch-up paint, you have that under control too.

But maybe the most important job of all... you are so good at keeping my marbles from getting lost!

http://knickoftime.net/   

Springtime in the Country... On My Table

After a crazy winter, it is more than time to bring some Spring into our home.  A new table vignette was an easy way to start.

I love my big ol' table, it's a little bit farmhouse and a little bit contemporary.  There are three slabs of slate down the middle like a rock runner.  Perfect for setting hot bowls on.

When we found it, Himself had taken off in one direction in the store and I in another.  When we met back up to leave, he said there was something he wanted to show me.  And I told him there was something I wanted to show him.  

We took each other over to this very table!

I found this great pot that Sis gave to me down in my studio.  To fill it, I raided the pansies I had bought for the front porch (I can get more next week) and some leftover moss from making my moss garden.  These two books in my reading que match the colors in the pot perfectly.

Mom gave me this sweet sign a few years ago for my birthday.  The basket peeking out from behind it is one that I made.

I found this darling English ring dish in an antique shop in Minnesota.  Does anyone know anything about it?

The doilies were gifts.  And the lazy susan belonged to my grandmother.

It was so much fun to put this together!  It's given me the itch to bring even more Spring inside.

I wonder what I'll work on next...

http://knickoftime.net/2015/04/farmhouse-tables-and-chairs.html