5 Spring Must Have's

Who doesn’t enjoy adding a few new things to their home and their wardrobe as the seasons are changing? Here are a few ideas for how to bring some fresh fashions into your life this Spring without breaking your budget: 

1)     A pretty sun hat – perfect for gardening or an afternoon tea party. Wearing a unique style accent like one of these cute hats will make your friends and neighbors want to know where you have been shopping. 

2)     Vases for fresh cut flowers – think outside of the box – use vintage pitchers, antique apothecary bottles, mason jars – anything that holds water as a statement piece flower vase.

3)     An artistic piece for the garden – iron, tin, wood – anything with an appealing architectural shape. Get out the spray paint if you want to change the color of your new garden piece.

4)     The perfect front porch chair – something comfortable for relaxing at the end of a long day. Add a colorful pillow in an outdoor fabric that ties in with your home’s exterior color scheme.

5)     Cheerful drink glasses - for entertaining friends or for enjoying a quiet moment to yourself. Lemonade and iced tea will be even more refreshing when served in a fun, vintage glass.

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Author - Dianne Ripper is owner of D-R Designs Jewelry and Eclectibles Antiques. 

Almost Anything Can Be a Planter

Summer time and cleaning out the garage can bring many creative items to your flower beds. It’s so easy to make an old bucket, galvanized tub, wheelbarrel or about anything else into a cut garden planter.

Just drill a hole in the base for drainage, put rocks in the bottom of the bucket so your plants don't get over watered, then you’re ready to plant. I love using old buckets for herbs as well.  Bonus - many of these old pails are easy to move around if the handle is still attached!