Spring Decorating

This is is a repost from 366 days ago. The ideas are still worthwhile and I'm still too lazy {or too smart--you can look at it either way} to write something new.

You probably know by now that I'm not going to be buying anything new to decorate for spring. Even though I've seen no less than 53 ceramic bunnies that I want to bring home and love on. But, I do want my house to feel fresh, light and spacious to usher in the season. Here in North Carolina, the bulbs are bursting and the trees have flowering buds! It's time for spring! And time to shop the house for free stuff that I already have.


Here's what I found:

*pretty glass apothecary jars and a cloche
*nests and pretend eggs
*shells, starfish, rocks and other nature finds that my boys bring me
*assorted white dishes
*wire basket


I love my cloche. That's fancy talk for a glass cover that you put over things. It has actually lasted over two years in my house--with three boys--and a husband who all think it's normal to play football INSIDE. It is a rare miracle and I'm sure its lifespan is almost over but, I am enjoying it until it is shattered into a million little shards.

But, I really wanted a stand for it like real designers have. What's a pretend designer to do but get out one of her Kmart Martha plates and hot glue a chipped candle holder thing to the bottom of it? It works perfect and looks well...good enough!


Then, I popped a candlestick holder on top of the plate {look it's got green candle potty in it} smacked one of the too many birds nests that I have on it and ta-da, I have a pretty little display that was free for me because I already owned all the parts! That gets me so excited!

Next, I put all the extra shells and eggs in that wire basket that I had been using in our bathroom to hold magazines. Who needs their magazines in a holder when it could be used for such a higher calling!


I filled the glass jars with all the white shells and sticks and stones and feathers I could find and I am now feeling quite spring-like! What do you already have that you can use to add some spring to your nest?


Don't forget to visit The Inspired Room for lots more ideas about using what you have in her weekly Beautiful Life Linky party!




Join in at the Decorating Voice for the Spring Fling where you can enter your spring decorating idea--using what you have and win an iPod!

Decorating Spring Fling

87 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cute, where did you find your pretty colored eggs? Pretty colors....

Darla said...

Nester I just love you! You have such a way of pulling it all together that makes me smile every time I see your "work".

Valarie Lea said...

Oh wow! I am gonna have to go look through my stuff up stairs.

Anonymous said...

Egg-celent! I love to shop around my house too.

Blanca

Anonymous said...

So cute! I just love your decorating style and I'm loving your site!

The Cottage Nester said...

Oh I forgot to say that I also love your mistreatment of curtains! LOL!

Crystal said...

Oh Nester....SO lovely. I heart all of the nesting goods and shells! You already saw my spring decorations and sadly I bought them all but next year won't have to buy a thing! Lovely and effortless as usual...here's to another year for your jar!! :)

Anonymous said...

I have been saying for a week that I want to get over to the beach (5 minutes away) to pick up sea shells with the kids and decorate with them. Even if it makes me look like a copycat, I'm motivated to get my butt over there now.

Everything looks lovely!

Tracey said...

You are not a pretend designer, you are the real deal sissy!

Nothing comes to mind in my house for spring...I am going to shop the house now and will get back to you. But I did just copy you copying me and scrapbook papered my pantry.

Hee hee hee, candle potty! Thanks for the smile.

Tamara said...

So pretty and refreshing looking! Good idea for the cloche stand!

Nora Lee said...

You have the prettiest spring things! Good luck on the cloche I am on the look out for one, but they are so expensive. You are inspiring me to get with it on my spring decorating!

Shannon said...

So cute!! I have a ton of those cloches sitting around with nests but I need to put them up on a candle stick!! So clever! I just started a blog today :) and referenced you....I don't know how to link since I barely figured out how to post so I just put your blog address...hope that was ok!!

Shannon said...

Yea! Thank you for my first (and probably only) comment! I posted a spring idea for you on my blog. :)

Stephanie said...

Beautiful!

I am on a cloche countdown too. I found mine at Ross about 3 months ago for $7.99 and am surprised I still have it. I broke the first apothecary jar I bought before I even left the store. That's right, I bumped it into the door frame walking my way out of the store!
Love the blue and green barn stars, too! Did you paint them?

ENAACT Yearbook Class said...

Hey I have those dishes. i feel like I'm in high school again and the popular girl is wearing the same outfit as me. Hehe! I really like all that you've done but, I usually do :)

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Oh, how cute! Love it all. I'm doing a spring display on my foyer table using a lot of the same elements you've got & I'm doing the same thing...going around my house pulling things from all over. Did that last year too & it was so much fun!

I love how yours turned out.

Rhoda

Melissa Stover said...

you have such cute stuff. i'm going to go shopping in my house one day and do a post on it just for you.

Anonymous said...

Oh, how fun! Shopping at home through my own closets and cabinets is STILL shopping, right?? heehee

Thanks for the inspiration. My son has oodles of shells and other such wonders of nature and I have all of my mother-in-love's white milk glass....I'm thinking of working up a new look for the chest in my entry way.

Sissy said...

I had no idea it was called a "cloche." Who knew? Well, you did! Sometimes I use my cake plate with glass cover like that. I decorate on it, since I don't often make cakes. Is that a cloche, too?

Happy Spring!

Jennifer P. said...

So pretty! We've only been snow free for about 10 days here--so give me one more week then I'm putting my spring stuff out. Love that you just look to what you have on hand. That's always the best way to do things! Love that your eggs aren't neon pink and plastic too :)!

The cloche stand was a GREAT idea. You're making me fall in love with my glue gun all over again!

Anonymous said...

THAT is why eveyone loves you. NO BUNNY RABBITS! Bunnys are darn cute buuuut you look thru your stuff and walla... beauty! I do have to say my supplies ARE NOT your supplies..lol...however you dont have to spend a fortune. I just yesterday went to a thrift store and bought a WONDERFUL, big birdcage for 2.00!!! I have been wanting one FOREVER but cant bring myself to spend alot so there it was YELLING My name. I LOVE the wire basket with "extras". I also ADORE the glass containers with shells and things in them...have always loved that look. I've been in bed all day with a migraine lying there just dying to get in here and check out your blog..lol.

Rosie's Whimsy said...

What a clever gal you are! I love your REAL designer cloche stand. :-) Rosie

Tangee said...

I love all you do...too sweet...thank you for sharing yet again some awesome ways to decorate. I did put together a shell display for the kids bathroom/guest bedroom. I have some apothecary jars that have been needing some vavoom, thanks!

John Deere Mom said...

Perfect, as usual!

Anonymous said...

I need advice. I just bought an old, sorta rusty big curvy fun birdcage. When I saw it I actually started running toward it I was soooo excited....anyhow, I was wondering in your opinion should I paint it or should I leave it more rustic? My decor is very shabby chic/cottage. I have lots of silver accents, white chippy paint, olive green walls, deep red and of coure the olive green with some yellow accents thrown in there. Im not opposed to leaving it but if it were in your house what would you do as far as paint and even on the inside? I would have sent you a picture but my digital camera was being grumpy.
heres my email just incase you dont have it anymore. hey_traci@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I just found you through Sparrow's Nest and have spent the better part of the day reading all of your archives. :::sigh::: The creativity! The resourcefulness! The beauty! You inspire me... I think I'm going shopping tomorrow for some fabric to mistreat my windows with. We'll see. I too live in a rental home, and don't want to spend a lot of money. Can't wait to get started! Thanks for sharing all of your great ideas!

Wendy said...

Wow!! Awesome ideas. I wish I lived near a beach...and had breakables that aren't broken. Hmmm....

Your "about me" is so cute, too. I'm also a total girl-y girl, although I'm gettin' into frogs and snails now, with three little boys (and one daughter, thank goodness she's girly, too.) I still love my heels!!

Mindy said...

Not sure how I happened upon your delightful blog, but wanted to stop in to say hello, a delight for the senses!!
Blessings to you and yours,
Mindy

Mama Lisa said...

you are so creative. i posted spring decor on my blog a few days ago. we must all have spring fever. :)

ByHISgoodGrace said...

This is the most adorable stuff ever. You are so cute! I love it--I wanna glue some plates to some candle potty things now...! Too inspiring for me!

the tattered nest said...

you can never have to many nests!

Deb said...

Again, nothing short of WOW!!! I want to shop like that. Great stuff, and no money. My husband would love that too.

Magistra Mommy said...

Okay, let me just say how EXCITED this makes me to see your ideas! Love the cloche and the stand (gonna try that) and just everything- can't wait to see what else you've got up your sleeve! :o)

PS- Chickies, don't you DARE pay a ton for a cloche. If you have a Michaels' nearby, they are now carrying them for $29.99 (and apothecary jars, too). With a 40% off coupon, that makes them quite affordable. Just to keep ya in the know... :o)

BlondeMomBlog (Jamie) said...

You are SO talented! I would have never thought to combine the starfish/shells with eggs. Really neat. :)

Kelly said...

Seriously? Do I have to decorate for the season? I was just getting all excited at the thought of Cleaning. Spring Cleaning, you know.One thing at a time....

paperjunk-lc said...

I love my cloche too. I'm amazed at the varying prices on those things. I got mine at Canton for about 20$ and it's a good size one. I wish I had bought a smaller one while I was there.

I'm almost finished putting out spring stuff. I have tried to just go shopping in my home like you. I just need to change out some taper candles from red to something springy.

Susan of Pink Portuguese Roses said...

Ok...how did your wonderful blog get so popular??? LOL! 96,000 views!

Wow! You go girl.

Susan

Jaelou said...

Oh... I thought a cloche was a hat and those things were called Bell Jars.

*Going to Google*

Ok... cloche is evidently French for bell... so we're both right! I learned something new.

Thanks to Mrs. Wilt re: the Michael's tip. The cheapest place I could find apothecary jars was Walmart & they didn't look really nice.

I also learned that I don't know how to spell or say "apothecary" correctly. I thought it was apocrathy. Oh well!

Wendy said...

"Oops" has some beautiful (and inexpensive)cloche jars and matching platters.

Wendy said...

Also, I'm curious...did you make your own fabric shower curtains for your house? After seeing your bedroom curtains, I think I might attempt it.

Chris Kauffman said...

You're a girl after my own heart.

Polly said...

You are a veritable genius. Love everything! I have GOT to buy a hot glue gun. Seems so useful....

Cindy said...

I love the shells and the eggs together! I would have never thought of that and it looks so beautiful!

Marie said...

I can't tell you how excited I get when I read about things you do that I do too! lmao I have "made" many a cake plate by using a dish and candle holder. Your spring decorations are beeeutiful!

Wendyjanelle asked a question I was going to ask as well... I need to know what you do about shower curtains. :o) I don't care much for anything in a package at the store... do you do something special we all need to know about?

Anonymous said...

You have a wonderful eye!

Sister Sassy said...

the pictures look cute but to tell you the truth I got to bulbs are bursting and I got so crabby because I'm buried in snow that I scrolled all the way down so I could whine to you about HOW I'M SO SICK OF SNOW!! ACK!!
Can I come over???

John Deere Mom said...

You have nested in Columbus, Indiana? That is where I grew up and lived for 23 years!!!

Kelly @ The Barefoot Mama said...

Pretty, pretty, pretty! Spring sprung here yesterday, though tomorrow it's back to the winder doldrums, argh!

I love your clever little tricks, Nester! One of my favorite cake stands or centerpiece nests is to put a serving platter an on upside-down teacup. :o)

Aubrey said...

Ugh. I hate you. Now I want summer to come so I can pretend I'm going to the beach. We so need to move. The only beaches here belong to lakes and the big salty lake only has stinky brine shrimp and they do NOT leave cool shells. Your decor looks so good--like you didn't already know. Duh me.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hey, Nester! You inspired me with your scrapbook paper, so go check out my blog today! You got a mention.

Rhoda

Renee said...

Looks like summer already hit your home! Love the ideas posted here. Thanks for the eye candy today.

Little Lovables said...

I love this. I have been looking for one of those glass lids everywhere, but still can't find one :(

I will just be using my Target glass cake stand and lid (until my son break it of course).

Joannes has pretty speckled eggs 40% off!

Kathy said...

I'm a beach/shell freak, so naturally I loved viewing your shells. I'm new to blogging and anxious to meet others (mimisgarden.blogspot.com). A friend sent this to me so I'm passing it along. Love your page!


I was tagged by CeeKay/Thinkin' of Home for a meme. Here are the rules: share 8 facts about yourself that your readers don’t know about you. Then you tag 8 other bloggers to keep it going. Here goes:


1. I've known CeeKay for 28 years.


2. I was crowned Miss Hiawatha at Hiawatha Church Camp in 1967 - unfortunately, my only claim to fame!


3. I met President George Bush Sr. in 1989 at the White House - went in the Oval Office. Junior was on the grounds as well with his family - it was Easter.


4. I met my husband when I was 15, got engaged when I was 16, and got married when I was 17 - between my junior and senior year of thigh school! We will be married 38 years in June. And no, in spite of our success I did not allow my own daughter to do the same!

5. My husband and I led a group of students on a tour of the Soviet Union in 1972, the first year these kinds of visits were allowed - fabulous.


6. I am a beach freak - love anything to do with beach, collect shells.


7. We have vacationed each year at the same place in Florida, the same weeks of the summer, for the last 30 years.


8. Pink is my signature color!


Tagging...
A Romantic Porch
Lavender Hill Studio
Nesting Place

Neutral Dwelling said...

I love your selections - especially the bird nest and eggs!

Kathy said...

Shells are one of my favorite things in the world so you know I love your Spring Decorating blog today! All beautiful...Kathy@ Mimi's Garden

Free Art Printables said...

Cute, what a great idea!

Teresa said...

Okay, I knew someday someone would show me just what to do with my apothecary and cloche jar- way to be! Love it- and the cake stand idea genius! I'm always in need of more cake stands!
Happy Day

Still Learning said...

Being born a Miami girl and living there most of my life I was at the beach every single weekend. Even though I live in North Georgia now I have starfish and sea shells in the bathrooms and my bedroom to remind me of the beach. It just seems to lighten and brighten the room. I love to fill the apothacary jars with shells and sand too. I love your cloche too! I've have drooled over it many times!! And your toile couch. Oh, and everything else you have.

French Cupboard said...

I love your cloche stand. I used to make cake stands for parties the same way with pretty old china plates.

Happy weekend! Blessings... Polly

Jodi said...

I am so in love with your cloche - have got to look around and find one! Thanks to all who shared places to get them for a good deal in the comments! Love your posts (as always!)

Julie said...

haha. I think the last time I read your blog was one of these spring posts 366 days ago. I missed your ideas. I had a baby, hence, the low blogging. Now I have 3 babies you can enjoy pics about...

Jeanne Oliver said...

What an awesome idea! I have an old trunk full of odds and ins...I need to go though it and see if I can come up with anything new in that pile.

Sandy said...

Delightful ideas! I just bought my first real cloche at Hobby Lobby for 80% off and I'm loving the versatility and creativity of changes the little scenes inside.

Unknown said...

Wow, great minds think alike? Naw, I can't go there, not with the fab Nester.
But, I did post on the same topic today, just with different ideas!
Love yours, as usual! :)

queenbee said...

Thanks Nester for stopping by my blog with the paint color. I cant wait to paint our bedroom with it. Since we have high ceilings in the Master bedroom and bathroom we will either have to rent a taller ladder for the day or buy one. Hubby works at Lowes as manager over the paint department, I asked him "cant you just borrow one of those tall ladders at work and take it back" :) I will be doing some yard sale shopping this weekend hopefully and plan to find lots of "springy" things. Come back to visit anytime.

Lazy Mom Leslie said...

You know I'm all over the too Lazy part of this post! I loved this post 366 days ago and I love it again today. Thanks for re-posting still all great ideas and inspiration!

Kristi~The Slipcover Girl said...

Loved this post last year and love it this year...Today is a fantastic day to usher in spring...huh? It's beautiful here in NC today!

Pretty Organizer said...

I think I'm doing nests and eggs this year. I love the natural look. This year I think I'm going shrink down a craft paper pattern of damask and mod-podge it to an egg. Something fun about decorator eggs. If I ever get the steam built up in this engine of mine... I forward the pics.

I envy your star fish girl.

Sandy said...

I love spring decorating - and I love you - 366 posts later! :) (or was it days?) happy weekend nester!

The Pampered World said...

Love your blog! By the way, I tagged you! :-)

Lucila said...

Well, this means that I have been reading your blog for at least 366 days. I clearly remember that post and I just can't believe that it's been a year since you wrote it. Thanks for the tips! Such a fresh springy reminder!

Anonymous said...

Fresh and lovely--even if is a post from last year!! Love your great ideas for spring.

Best,
Debbykay
Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm

Tami said...

oh my word, I almost have that same kind of thingy with starfish in it. where I live, those kinds of things seem to be all season. One kind of season....hot and sorta hot :)

Anonymous said...

Timeless Beauty....I loved this post. You are so right. There is a lot to be said for making what is old....new.

Karen Eileen

Unknown said...

Being a teeny bit lazy makes you REALLY smart. It is great for new people to see for the first time and others to be reminded at the right time of year to look around our homes for spring/Easter decor. Love how you 'made' the pedestal plate. I had to buy new eggs this year, the parents of my great-nieces allowed their 3 little ones to squish a dozen of mine last year. Talk about waste. Not much to do with flattened speckled eggs.

Kasey said...

all i have to say, is who cares how old your post is, people still love it!
{i think i'm going to do a post on you. is that o.k.? can i use your name?}
xxooooooo

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

What a dandy creation. I am all about re-making things, so this one is right up my alley. I've done lots of similar types of things too........LOVE the colors, just lovely.

Warmly,
Spencer

Scooper said...

I'm also lovin' the eggs. Where do you get them?

Also, where is the cheapest place to get starfish? (Besides a real ocean.)

They're $2 each at Wal-Mart. Is that good price?

Montee said...

I have plenty of blue eggs and nests. My favorite shop closed at the end of last year and I think I bought up all the blue eggs that she had. I also use spring-looking plates to hang or place in frame holders. We are having weather in the 80's so I do have the Spring (or maybe more like summer) Fever.

Mary Ruth said...

Great post... GREAT BLOG! I just love the ideas you come up with! I found a whole bunch of dishes and candle holders last year, the whole lot for under $30! That is enough 'stock' to keep me with interchangable stuff for years to come. I used silicone for the pieces I wanted to stay together longer (when making an elevated plate) or glue gun for temporary settings. Mixing silver plated candle holders with pottery is wonderful mix too.

I will be back to see what you come up with!

The Style Sisters said...

I love it all as usual!! :)

Unknown said...

I'm a fan of the colored eggs too.

Anonymous said...

I love what you did to make your own designer pedestal cloche plate- The vignette looks lovely!

blessings
mary

...and she lived... said...

I love these ideas! Especially the plate for your cloche. I have one in need of a pretty stand as well and have been wondering what to do.

Xazmin said...

Wow...so creative! It looks wonderful. I'm so into the repurposing thing right now!

paige said...

i just love your style!!
i love the large glass containers or cloches set atop seashells & egg filled nests...my fave!

Courtney said...

where do you find such pretty pretend eggs?