... on the last day of March?

































Celebrate, of course!  Winter may finally be on it's way out ... gently ... like a lovely little lamb!

These cute 'melt your heart' lambs are from Catskill Merino Sheep Farm.

... with a bit of paint?
















First you take a look around and see what 'old' thing could use a sprucing up. What about this red bench?
















A little pretty blue paint and some lively coloured cushions and oh my gosh ... isn't this like a breath of fresh air? 
Suzanne of S.HOP Talk gave this bench new life with just a bit of paint and as you can see below, she roughed it up a bit to let the old red show through. I found this delightful DYI project at Knack Studios where Suzanne has been guest blogging. 

Isn't it amazing what paint can do?  From where I am standing in my shop, I can see a few fine pieces of furnishings that would look wonderful with a coat of colour ...




... with cast away spindles & feed sacks?
















... a handy flower trug!  Isn't this brilliant? Only Ki at Junk Camp could come up with such a great idea ... and she gives you all the step by step directions at her blog as well.  A little project to whip up while we wait for the winter to pass. 




















A nice way to give new purpose to cast away chair spindles.




















Ki has used an old feed sack and attached the tabs, but I was thinking you could use burlap sacking or heavy linen tea towels. It won't matter if your flower cuttings are dripping with dew, you can simply hang your trug up to dry ... and this method will be a gentle way to transport the most delicate of posies. 

Excuse me while I scratch ~ I've got a terrible itch for spring!!


... with old wooden shoe forms?















I'm not sure! How about you? They are just so neat and I am sure they could be repurposed into something unique. Notice the little wooden heart shapes at the heels of the pair on the right? Let me know if you have an idea!

... with little metal wagon wheels?




















How about this? Make them into a 'wheely' cool lamp! I found this Art and Light Gallery creation via the lovely Blue Moss Girls





















To add character to this newer lamp, old bead and coins were added as a fun fringe. A little something that my sister and I did! 

If you have any light to shed on recreating lamps, please leave a comment!

... with an old kitchen strainer?


























































Make it into a planter of course! 
Ki's idea from Junk Camp has us all itching for spring and a chance to get digging in the dirt. 
I have strainers of all varieties in my shop ... and many well-loved red handle kitchen utensils begging to be made useful again ... maybe in the garden?

... with a day of green?




















Celebrate it by decorating in green of course! 
Hope your St. Patrick's Day was happy and lucky ~

... with vintage suitcases?




















Let's start with this lovely floral painted case that sits pretty adding to this bedside display in my shop. The case would be ideal for keeping delicate lace doilies, runners and maybe Grandma's precious hankies.





















Here's an old cosmetic case that has been painted. This one I use in my shop to handily display these candles. I like the large mirror in the lid to reflect whatever the case may display. This particular case would work very well to hold a potted plant with white faced posies bobbing and spilling over the edges ~ a sunroom addition!






















This classic little hard sided cosmetic case works perfectly to display these beautiful, collectable blue willow dishes. I love using chalkboards in my shop for messages! 





















My friend at Prairie Girl Studio has stacked these three beauties on the base of an old baby buggy and uses them for storage ... ribbons, buttons, beads and other treasures. (Her site is still under repair, so check back another day when I post something else from her studio.)





















And isn't this possibly the most purrfect solution for an old suitcase? The designs could be endless! The folks at Vintage Renaissance are having too much fun 'making vintage fun again'! You will notice that Vintage Renaissance is part of Etsy where you will find a myriad of people showing and selling everything handmade ~ caution: you may get lost in there!


... with anything that can be reused?




















Although this is a new print from Bodie and Fou ... it delivers an old message that is true of our times today.  Thanks to Di at Designers Block for sharing!

... with old picture frames?




















First, we start with tubs of old picture frames ~ just a few kicking around in the back room of my shop!
















Choose one that will suit your space. Follow what Rachel at Heart-Of-Light has done to achieve the beautiful yummy yellow message board below! Cheery as a spring daffodil ...



















Rachel's idea was found via Grace Bonney's Design*Sponge where you will find many delightful 'before' and 'after' ideas! 

... with wildly colourful scraps of old fabric?
























































To say these old lamp shades and chair and sofa have been given 'new life' would be an understatement!  

Just a little something to cheer you up and chase away any winter doldrums that are still hanging on.

There's a couple of old chairs in my back room in the shop  ~ perfect for this project ~ perfect for someone's summer cottage at the lake! 

Fun stuff at Squint Limited via Blue Moss Girls blog.






... with a grouping of glass vessels?




















Let's see! The collection above are a few of the many lovely glass pieces in my shop ...





















... and here is a lovely way to utilize them! 

This soothing and fresh 'breath of spring to come' is Skonahem via the ever wonderful Di Overton. Isn't it amazing how we can be inspired from all over the world with just a wee click of the mouse ...

... with beautiful buttons?
















Isn't this just as sweet as can be? My sister worked her magic by creating a collage of beautiful buttons in two small antique oval frames. She created lovely landscapes in the other two frames. Notice the old key added for interest and intrigue.  The frames and buttons have been given new life as art, beautifully grouped and arrange on the wall in my home. Thanks Sherry for all your creativity and inspiration!