Painting in my Flower Beds.

 

 The old smokehouse was covered with ivy when we bought the farm

eight years ago.

My husband put on a new roof

and I painted the trim green.

It is a central building, so works well for storing some of the useful tools

like shovels, rakes, and trimmers.

I found this old spigot when I was cleaning out the ground around the smoke house

in preparation of putting this flower bed in.

It was broken,

but I thought it would be worth keeping for decoration.

Being entirely covered by rust,

I recently decided to add some color by using a coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

in Provence.

  I did not wax it.
(It has been through several rain storms since,
and looks as great as the day I painted it.)

The peonies are about to bloom.

Beyond them, hanging from a tree is another project using Annie's Chalk Paint.

It started as a broken trivet.

I had some silverware I'd found at the second hand store.

Using plumbing putty,

(and I did use gloves while working with this putty)

I wrapped a piece around each handle...

leaving two openings on either side for the wire to string through.

 (I've heard of drilling through the silverware to make a hole,

 but my husband didn't have a bit for that,

and I didn't want to bother him about it.)

For the center piece,

I thought about using a prism or some other decorative piece,

 but I ended up going with a metal decorative piece

(like a metal Christmas ornament).

I strung some beads to hang the silverware with

and used an extra strand for added fun to the trivet.

The trivet and silverware tops were painted in Annie's Pure White.

 

 The "chimes" are more durable than store-bought sets that I have seen,

which seem to use vulnerable fishing wire.

I doubled the thin wire that went to attach all the pieces.

I did notice that the rust on this piece came through.

I have to wonder if it is because I waxed this piece after I painted it.

The rust is not a problem, as I have several other rusty pieces in the gardens.

 It has a nice sound when the wind blows.

I have another project I've been working on with some more silverware,

but I will save that one for another day.

Have you added any new details to your gardens this year?

Linking up to:

Nominimalisthere.blogspot.com
Stuff-and-nonsense.net 
Wearethatfamily.com 
Theprairiehomestead: Homestead-barn-hop 
Theshabbycreekcottage.com

Gnowfglins.com
The36thavenue.com
 Homespunhappenings: Rustic-restorations

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia - Tuesday's Treasures
Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty
Creating a House of Grace - Twice Owned Tuesday
Not Just a Housewife - Show Me What Ya Got
Blue Cricket Designs
Sugar Bee Crafts
Tip Junkie
Today's Creative Blog
A Bowl Full of Lemons
Home Stories a to z 
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Chef in Training
 Far Above Rubies: Domestically Divine 
{Dot} {Dot} {Dot}: Try it Tuesday 
Hip Homeschool Moms: Hip Homeschool Hop 
The*The CSI Project