Spring Garland & Bunny Hutch

My favorite little hutch has just gone through it's spring transformation.  If you follow my blog you have seen this hutch decorated for Christmas, fall and spring.  

Originally this garland/swag was to go on my front porch over the dining room window but a sweet little bird decided to build her nest in my spring wreath right by the front door. 

 I decided that trying to hang this swag would only traumatize my little resident mom so I thought I would just place it on the top of my hutch and enjoy it indoors.

  

I saw a beautiful "inspiration" swag while out shopping and decided to make one.  Michaels had all their spring flowers on sale for 40% off and I already had the twig vine.  I added a silk forsythia vine, 

purple hydrangeas and some greenery. 

 I did have a few dried hydrangeas left over from my garden and also placed them in the arrangement.  The carrots were a fun addition and echo the carrot handle on my favorite teapot.  

I also used burlap ribbon to add a

 textured and natural feel.

The hutch is filled with things I love and have collected over the years.  Bunnies, birds and even a frog find their way on a shelf.  Each spring I bring out my collection and tweak it here and there with something new and some years I just rearrange things. 

This is my Easter teapot...Fitz and Floyd and so beautiful!  It once belonged to a friend's mother and she gave it to me knowing I would cherish it.

These two mischievous bunnies are trying to hide from Mr. McGregor I'm sure.  They look guilty don't they...trying to steal a meal of carrots and cabbage! 

A few of my honeypots, one vintage the
 other a thrift store find.

The bunny topiary I have had for years and always finds a spot in the hutch.

This egg filled "cloche" below started out being part of an something else ...I'm not even sure what.   I purchased it at a thrift store for 25 cents along with the clear candleholder base.  I just turned it upside down and found a base to fit and made my own custom cloche.  Cost less than a $1!

The frog was given to me by my sons when they were small because they know I'm terrified of frogs and toads and they thought 

 that was funny.  She is kind of cute! 

I would love to have more of this

 majolica pattern.  This  little "cloche"
 is a little wire pot 
turned upside down
 protecting a little nest.

My cabbage Pinheiro dishes are used throughout the season for many table settings.  I definitely would love to have 
more coordinating pieces. 

My Spring hutch is completed and now I can turn my attention to some gardening chores. Spring is here in a big way in Oklahoma.  I am grateful for all the rain we received 
last week! 

I'm joining Kathleen's Let Dish 
Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday
Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday
The Bunny Blog Hop at
Ann's On Sutton Place
Judy's DYI by Design
and 
Marty's Tabletop Tuesday
Hope to see you at all the Spring parties!

Spring Birds and Berry Tea

Spring is here and the 
birds are singing and
 starting to build 
their sweet little nests.

I love this time of year and using natural elements in my home. 
 Nests, eggs, birds and berries welcome the season at my table.   

I found these plates on sale at my favorite antique mall for $4 and knew they would be a great start and inspiration to a spring table.  They are Italian Brunelli and have a beautiful berry pattern along with a delicate yellow flower.  The trellis cutout border caught my eye right away.   

I started my birds and berry table with a trellis Waverly tablecloth- it's  a soft yellow with a berry and fruit border.  I added two cabbage leaf placemats as a base to place the centerpiece on.

Twig chargers along with a floral bird's nest  I've had for years compliment the plates.

   I decorated my cloche with a nest and some spring forsythia.  I love the sweet little bird perched on top.

I added a live potted primrose to the table along with the bird place card holders I purchased in Carmel.  Instead of name cards I substituted leaves and flowers from the garden. 

 This little bird is standing on a strawberry.

The little herb egg cups are used as candleholders.   I purchased these on clearance several 
years ago at  Stein-Mart. 

I used my mother's crystal glasses and the embroidered glass coasters she purchased while living in Japan.  Aren't they adorable?  My mother has given me so many lovely things as she has downsized to smaller place.  I don't think these little coasters have seen the light of day in over 20 years.  The little green ivy looks great with the plates. 

I filled the glasses with fresh blackberries and decorated with a few  violas and yellow flowers from
 my garden.  

The napkin rings were also from my Mom and I used soft lime green napkins to accent the

 purple flower rings.

The silverware was my mother-in-law's Westmoreland pattern.  We love having things from our families to use and to share at our
 family meals together.  

"Mrs. Potts" my favorite tea pot had to welcome in spring too...the fluted edge with cutouts reminded me of the 
plates borders.  

The little teaspoon was purchased in a darling shop in Solvang.

This was such a fun table to put together since garden tables are my very favorites!

This is my first attempt to capture a few pictures at the blue hour...





hope you have enjoyed your visit.
Happy Spring!

I'll be joining Kathleen's new meme~
Let's Dish Wednesdays at 7 pm 
and Centerpiece Wednesdays at the Style Sisters,  
Tablescape Thursdays
Cindy's Show and Tell Friday
Beverly's  Pink Saturday
Seasonal Sundays
Marty's Tabletop Tuesdays
and 
Barb's Wild About Mother Nature
everybody go by and visit or better yet participate! 

French Wire Flower Baskets

Spring is popping at all over in Oklahoma.  We've had warmer temperatures a little sooner this year 
(well we are the Sooner State) and the

 trees are already blooming

 and leafing out.

Redbuds are in bloom everywhere and I enjoy walking through the garden to see what is emerging from a winter's sleep.  I still have leaves to remove from my flowers beds.  I'll add some  amendments and  then I'll finish with a nice layer of  mulch in preparation of spring plantings.  ( I find it easier to mulch large areas first and then plant)

  

My flowering kale has grown tall and is almost in flower.  I love the color!! We've had a mild winter and some my annuals are coming back too, a nice bonus for a gardener!

The pansies and violas I planted in my french wire baskets survived beautifully but I needed to add a few more plants to replace some of the annuals.   I can view these from my kitchen window so I love keeping them full of color!

My neighbor and  I went to a seminar at one of our favorite garden centers yesterday and of course I couldn't leave without purchasing a few plants.  The magenta geranium gave the basket just the pop of color it needed.

The baskets last spring...

last fall...

and finally this weekend

I love changing them out for the seasons!

At the seminar we attended they suggested mixing osmocote into

 the soil when planting containers in spring.  Another tip was using soil moisture additives to help keep  containers from drying out too fast.  I did try them last year and they were

 a great help during

 our record heat wave.

I've also been landscaping around my new patio and I'm almost finished.  Still more leaves to remove ( we have  eight mature oak trees) 

 and then a nice layer of mulch. 

 I'll save the patio pictures for another post when things are looking a bit more settled. 

I was sore today from all the bending and stooping yesterday, but I love every minute I spend digging

 in my garden..well except maybe the moment I dug up a frog!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

I'm linking with:

 Show off your Cottage Monday
Metamorphosis Monday 

and 
Tootsie's Flaunt Your Flowers