The Farmhouse Porch

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Come on vacation with me...

I'm on vacation...

and to me, vacation means doing what you like doing most.

So today, with my 4 year old sweetie pie in tow, I hit up a few thrift shops. I even splurged ($15) on this gorgeous old tray at my sweet friend Ellen's antique shop.

These pale blush pink embroidered napkins whisper spring, don't they? The old wire colander is great for industrial display. Can't pass up a wire basket. No sir!

This kitsch little vintage bunny whispered to me also, with her "come hither" bedroom eyes.

These Independence ironstone plates were pennies. One of them is pretty beat up. Call me crazy, but I love the cracks, crazing and tea stains.

Old metal embroidery hoops combine the softness of sewing with the industrial-ness of timeworn metal. I love the combined textures.

Oh hello there! Did the bunny whisper to you too Haddy Liz?

Also for pennies was this pressed glass (butter dish?) and some old crafting stamen. It's even prettier in person!

A coiled metal letter holder is always fun to play with.

And there you have it! Our loot for the day. And what a beautiful, sunny spring-like day it was. ☼

Happy hunting-

Linsey

Monday, March 4, 2013

Welcome the week 56 of "The Scoop" Link Party!!!

Big, big announcement today!! Amanda has retired from blogging (insert sad face here.) But we have completely revamped this rockin' party (insert happy face here). We decided to roll out a free new look for Cowgirl Up, and in the end decided to change the name of the party. I want to introduce you to our new, revamped party

T H E S C O O P !

What do you think? It's more modern, clean and fresh. Here's our new banner. It's the same party, but with a new look and a new host.

As you can see we have added a new face, well technically 2 to our team. We are...

Anita Cedar Hill Ranch

Samantha Crafty Texas Girls

Linsey Farmhouse Porch

Kelli and Kristi LollyJane

Kristi and Kelli are twin sisters who live in Arizona. Kristi is the older of the twins by 5 minutes. She recently moved to Northern AZ, 3 hours away from Kelli in Gilbert. Kristi pays attention to detail and can accessorize a room with few things on hand.

Kelli is a stay-at-home mom to her 4 kids. Her favorite tools are the miter saw, brad nailer, drill and level. She loves to build furniture and paint! Her number one advice to DIY’ers is that paint is the easiest and most affordable change you can make to a room. Kelli can paint an entire room in less than a day, if armed with Diet Coke and Pandora. She is a painting rockstar! Kell’s motto: If you hate it, repaint it!

I hope you get a chance to check out their blog LollyJane. Now, it's time to meet our guest host, then I'll be back to bring you the features. Now I'm turning the party over to our guest host this week, Laura from Top This, Top That!!! ===============================================

I am so excited to be guest hosting with the girls today, but honestly it got me thinking

Hmmmm.... What's the real reason I am here?

I wonder if the girls heard that I lived in Texas for several years and that's why they wanted me to be a guest host?

Or could it be that I loved going to the Houston Livestock Rodeo and couldn't wait to put my boots and hat on for the greatest show around?

Or maybe its my love of all things George Strait since I was born ?

But I am thinking the real reason might be that I live in the middle of the country (just not in Texas), on a dirt road surrounded by ponies, donkeys, cows, dogs, cats, fish and enough wildlife that they start to become friendly and read your blog everyday! In fact the coyotes are probably reading about my breakfast room right now here

And the white tail deer are reading about my home office here

But whatever the reason, I am thrilled to be with you today and hope you will visit me at Top This Top That where I can show you around- Georgia Peach style! Many thanks to Amanda, Anita, Linsey and Samantha for letting me hangout today.

=============================================== It's Anita from Cedar Hill Ranch, I'm back now. Thanks so much Laura for guest hosting for us this week!!! I'm also so excited about the addition of Kristi and Kelli to our party.

Here are the features from last week's party MarketNine Home - Keep your Home New and Fresh by Rotating Accessories with the changing seasons

Denise on a Whim - Card Catalog Entry Table

Linda Bergman - TROMPE L'OEIL Garage Doors

Creative Passage - Drop Cloth Lamp Shade

House of Fab for Less - Grain Sack Pillows

White Weather Hutch - Easter Bags

Now about this week's party... You link up on my blog and your link shows up on 5 blogs.

More exposure, less time.

(Please read the guidelines before participating)

* Please follow (GFC) and/or subscribe to your host blog.

* You may link up any type post. (We reserve the right to remove any links we find offensive or spammy.)

* You may link as many links as you want.

* Be sure to include THE SCOOP Button or text link to in your linked post, Mandatory to be featured!!

* By linking up you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, that we may use those photos to feature your project in a blog post, on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog of course.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

The Joy of Collecting! Vol.I

I feel as though I obsess over collecting a new item everyday. Do you ever feel this way? Sometimes I act on it, but usually I don't. Good heavens I'd be broke if I did! I go through Cath Kidston phases where I want to do an entire room like THIS...

I sometimes get the jadeite bug and add a new piece to my little collection. Here are a few I used for a photo shoot last year

Of course there's the "Ironstone Platter" days where I feel as though I should be buried knee deep in them for some reason!

"Ironstone Platter Wall Reveal" here

There's also my ongoing affair with anything industrial, like wire baskets. Judging by the photo above, I'd say all baskets are fair game.

My Wire Basket Affair!

And all of this is just leading up to me telling you that I have a new love!

Old wooden crates and boxes.

I recently bought 3 from an etsy shop...for $15 total! Which I thought was a steal. I can't usually find ONE for $15, much less 3. They are small, medium and large like the 3 bears. Why did it take opening my own etsy shop to discover etsy? ! Such a treasure trove of great deals and unique things. A collectors paradise!!

Anyways,the big box is a perfect holder for my hydrangeas. I previously had them in a round egg basket, but on this long shallow table I needed something long and shallow, since it is a busy walkway area. If you haven't yet you should try an arrangement in a long thin box like this. It's so stylish! I love the look.

The other 2, and an old cheese box I had, I put on the hutch to add some contrast to all of the white going on. It's so much fun to arrange and fill them.