Ode to the Striped Umbrella

The calendar tells me the first day of Spring is this week. The weatherman tells me otherwise. Nevermind another snowstorm, I'm forging ahead with plans of spring. There is something I've wanted to treat myself to for ages - a graphic striped garden umbrella for the backyard - but it feels so wasteful. I have a perfectly functional garden umbrella that despite my best efforts of leaving it out for the past few winters is still looking just dandy. This is the very definition of a first world problem. Anyone with me?


This example from Decor Aid is summer perfection.

And of course now that I'm trying to not be such a consumerist schlub, I see them everywhere I go. Dare I say I'm smitten with striped umbrellas? Ok yes, I'm smitten.

Of course some of my favorite bloggers have a black striped umbrella already in their backyards so I probably was not so subtly influenced by their styles.  Case in point, Chris Loves Julia's deck is just amazing like everything else they do (that outdoor fireplace is giving me serious backyard envy).  And the graphic punch looks just as lovely in more humble settings like this little corner shady spot from Blissful Bee (check out the entire backyard and you'll see the rest of it is not so humble!) and this great dining space by Rambling Renovators.

Or maybe we need some international influence?  From Australia, Porchlight Interiors knocked it out of the park on the left with Ballard Designs recreating an english garden on the right.

Need I say more?

I don't know if I can go another summer without one!  I have my eye on this one which is reasonably priced but lacks any reviews.  Anyone have this model and want to vouch for it's sturdyness?

Outdoor Movie Night at the Country Cottage

Remember the fab DIY circular patio and firepit I shared last year? Well, it got a serious upgrade in the form of an outdoor movie theater set up this season.



You will have to excuse the less than stellar image. The truth is, we were having too much fun out here and I just never got around to taking a great photograph.  But I think you can get the idea.

It's not something they keep up permanently but rather bring it out when the situation calls for it.  I think Aggie's first viewing of the Wizard of Oz was certainly occasion enough.

For those that are curious about the details, the projector is a refurbished home theater projector.  I was really shocked how clean and crisp the picture was even with the ambient light around the patio in the form of the outdoor string lights.  The only downside to this projector is that the built in speaker isn't great so my brother uses a separate speaker instead which worked perfectly.

As for the screen I had just assumed they would hang a white sheet up between the trees.  Little did I know that a sheet just won't work very well b/c the light goes right through it so they were going to need something a bit more heavy duty. They used this portable projector screen, added heavy duty grommets to the edges and built a frame out of pvc pipe that was easy to put up and break down as needed.

With the fire roaring and everyone kicking back in the adirondack chairs, it's a pretty amazing set up.

Instant Indoor Hanging Garden Hack

I'm all for an elaborate DIY that takes all  day but sometimes you just want the easy way out. Well here it is people.  An indoor garden that does the trick and can easily be completed in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee.  For real!



My supermarket had these little herb plants on sale for $2 each and I happened to have both the pots and the tension rod hanging around so I put this up and I was done.  (If you want to make your own version, you will need a tension rod and these Ikea utensil holders.)  I just need to pick up one more pot to hang my rosemary and I'll feel like Ina Garten!

When these herbs die (which they surely will as I kill most plants), I'll head out to my slightly more elaborate DIY outdoor hanging planter  and bring in a few succulents.  For Christmas I might replace them with those tiny little evergreens that look adorable with tiny lights.  The options are endless!




Should you be in the mood for something more elaborate, I DIY'd this gift wrap organizer with lots of Ikea doodads a while back.

Potting Bench Buy Over Build

If you remember this post, I was debating the whole buy vs. build decision for a potting bench/outdoor buffet.  A build would have been really ideal because of the awkward space and the way I wanted to incorporate a hidden cooler but the reality of life stepped in and convinced me to go with a more affordable and much less time consuming buy option.



I feel like I compared every ready made potting bench on the market and narrowed it down to these three: modern style teak with a steel top,  a cheaper version with cabinet + drawer or this simple mid priced all cedar unit. Ultimately I went with option 3 thinking it would last the longest outside and be most versatile.



Now I have it, I don't know how I did without it. It's a great little workspace and makes that spot under the stairs so much more functional than the pile o' junk storage I was using it for before this arrived.  Of course I can't just leave well enough alone so I whipped up a quick farmer's market inspired sign with some scrap wood I had laying around to fill some of the dead space to make it a little more personal.  Right now it's doing its intended duty as potting bench but I can't wait to have our next outdoor BBQ so we can use it as a bar/buffet.

I thought about painting it or cutting a hole out to make room for a large bucket to serve as a drink cooler as well as a few other upgrades but I think I'm going to leave it just as it is right now. Maybe its the heat of summer or the general malaise of the 9th month of pregnancy but I'm feel the need to simplify lately and not put quite so much pressure on myself for everything to be just so. It's definitely a struggle for this control freak but I'm trying. Anyone with me?

Must Make: Narrow Vertical Garden Planter

It will come as no surprise to you that I'm a sucker for a vertical planter: see my DIY vertical herb garden, the lazy man's pallet vertical garden, and my recycled can chain link fence garden for further proof.  So when I stumbled upon this twist on the concept that is especially perfect for those short on floor space, I had to save it to the must make file. Pop over The Craft Patch for the entire how-to.

So many projects, so little time!

Must Make: Painted Brick Books

This idea is so simple and fun but I somehow never discovered it before.  Painted bricks all lined up to look like a book collection.  Love it!

You can buy them ready made ...

via light reading london

...or DIY your own collection.  Get some tips from the video tutorial from how to eugene  or a pictorial one from KU Alum.

Wouldn't these make a fun outdoor accessory?

The Lazy Man's Vertical Pallet Garden

Gasp!  I'm in violation of the code.  The code that states that every home blogger must have at least one pallet project in the archive.  Evidently after 8 years, I had to be stopped or suffer the consequences. I argued with the authorities that I really had tried.  [See exhibit A: The Problem with Pallets]  After that experience I learned I don't much like pulling apart pallets (and they don't seem to like it much either).  I argued "free" wood isn't really free if you have to spend the better part of the day and risk life and limb for it.  But alas, they won out and I've been sentenced.



Ok, I'm kidding but it's time I joined the pro-pallet side for just a minute. Why? Because I stumbled upon the fastest, easiest, no tools required way to turn a discarded pallet into a vertical garden.



Seriously, I really don't like working with pallets but when I ran across this curbside a few months back, it called out to me.  My husband dutifully carried it back for me (Isn't he handsome?).  How could I use it without having to wrestle it apart?  Ding ding ding!

I bought these uber cheap hanging pots and hooked them right onto the boards.  No tools.  No mess. No time at all.  And it holds a heck of a lot of plants.  More than I imagined.

The plants will need a little time to fill out and I will eventually paint the wood so it looks like one cohesive piece but I just had to share.  I know I'm going to love having this wall garden in our backyard. So anyone who has an extra pallet laying around or just wants to make the most of their limited outdoor space - this project is for you! 

How to Make a Vertical Herb Garden | Flashback Friday

Another pull from the archives just in time for a warm weekend project.  Make your own small scale vertical garden using a pre-made planter box and a few extra pieces of wood. This project is quick and easy, can be customized to any size and can double as a privacy wall. Or if you already have an existing solid fence, just use the technique to hang terra-cotta pots all along it! Learn how to make your own here.

DIY Hanging Succulent Planters

With some beautiful weather this weekend, I got to spend a few hours adding some succulents in this scrap wood hanging planter.


While the doodles on the board are totally not necessary to make your own, I promise you anyone can do this.  Provided you don't mind imperfection, succulents are super easy to draw. I sketched with a pencil first and then outlined with a black marker pen. I added color using a green colored pencil and a chalk ink marker (since I had those handy but you can improvise). Finally a few cup hooks (see, I told you they were handy!) and we are done.






This design would work equally well for an herb garden or just about any small plant. You could even make a smaller version and hang indoors from a window casing.  Or make a much larger version and use it as a space divider / added privacy.



Now the real question is: can I keep these alive?

How to Make Decorative Letters from Wood Scraps in 4 Easy Steps

As requested, a little more detail on how to make your own wood shim decorative letters for almost nothing in very little time.  Next time I make these, I'll use scrap wood to make them a little more sturdy and saving me the time of drilling pilot holes.



It really is 4 simple steps:
1. Lay out your letters cutting as needed.
2. Drill an overlapping hole at each joint. Thin pieces of wood will need pilot holes.
3. Thread a nut and bolt at each hole
4. Tighten as needed to hold its shape

Obviously I used these in my garden but I think these would be especially great for party decor since they are cheap and impactful.

Chic on the Cheap: Chain Link Fence Basil Garden

This might be one of my favorite projects. It costs almost nothing, took only one afternoon to put together and made more space in our little backyard for running around.



I'm a sucker for vertical gardens-see my vertical herb garden and farmer's market inspired stand projects as proof - but this was way easier and has a little quirk to it too.



If recall my Italian themed Christmas party a few years ago, you know I'm a fan of the beautiful design on the Scalino tomato cans. I just hate throwing them away so giving them new life as planters was a win.  What goes better with tomatos than basil?




The "GROW" sign was an incantation for my garden to keep thriving despite a black thumb as well as a fun way to hide the ugly chain link. Made with cedar shims and bolts, I think I could use a few more planters to fill out the look but its a start.




So what do you think?  Anything I could add or should I just let nature take over?

Do you have your own vertical gardening tricks to share?