Inexpensive Wall Art!

 I noticed last week that the picture hanging in the entry hallway was in need of replacement.

Somehow...over time...the print had started to wrinkle....and it looked kinda sad!

It was time for a change!

And of course....I didn't want that change to cost an arm and a leg!

Besides....the frame was good and just the right size for that spot on the wall!

Here is my thrifty solution!

Do you remember the post about Waterlogue?  (the link is here)

This is the fun APP for my iPad that turns photos into watercolors!

This is a photo of the Gulf Shore (Alabama) beach that I took when we were there in October.

 

Here is the "Waterlogued" version!

I had the print enlarged to a 16 x 20 poster for $17.00

 

I used white and blue matting and cut a double mat!

Seriously....I just can't say enough about how nice it is to be able to cut my own mats!

(check out this post about custom matting at home)

The old frame has a bronze finish that compliments the print!

Not bad for under $25....and I "Used What I Had" besides!!!

Have a Great Day!

Link Parties
It's Overflowing  Boogieboard Cottage    
Three Mango Seeds  Nifty Thrifty Tuesday    
Hope Studios  New Nostalgia   Funky Polka Dot Giraffe  

Practically Functional

Planting Pots of Pansies!

The thermometer hit 70 yesterday.....

It is about time!

It is still too early to plant, but we have some seeds ready to go!

I always seem to buy seeds....then lose the packets...or forget to plant them!

This year I decided to use them as decor on the chalkboard.....they are a reminder that Summer will really come soon!

Now on to Planting Pots of Pansies!

Mr. S got these pansies on a trip to Home Depot the other day.

I left them on the counter for a while....

until Mr. S. dropped suggested that it was probably time to get them planted!

He was right!  

Those 12 little plants made 3 nice plantings!

They look okay don't they!?

But here is a little trick that can make your planters look like the ones in the fancy floral shops!

Do you notice the plastic planter and the dirt showing around the edges of the planter?

GASP!!!

There is a simple and cheap solution for this first world problem!

Just a bit of Spanish Moss tucked in and around the plants hides the plastic and the dirt.

In fact....I use Spanish Moss a lot both indoors and out!

 It is cheap....and it fills in around plants when they haven't grown big enough.

Just this little addition makes a big difference...don't ya think?

Perfect Pots of Pansies....Sweetwater Style!

Have a Great Day!

Goodwill Goodness!

YIKES! 

I just realized that I haven't devoted a post to Goodwill for a while! 

 Did you think (GASP) that I started shopping RETAIL!?

Not to worry!

This post will catch you up on all my deals and steals the last few months!

Here is a peek at my Spring and Summer Wardrobe!

"Wardrobe" sounds fancy....

actually this is "the stuff in my closet" that I got at GW!

I think I have a thing for Navy Blue this Spring!

This St. John Sport Jacket...

This great little Ann Taylor shell...

a grey and navy Izod T...

and a pair of navy leggings...and a slim legged pant I bought awhile ago...

almost a whole weekend worth of clothes for less than $25

I usually look through the shoes at GW.....but hardly ever buy....

somehow shoes need to be in the "new" or "almost new" before I buy them!

Even then...I wipe them down with a disinfectant wipe....a COUPLE of times!

These sandals fit the NEW category! Absolutely no sign of wear!

This is a case of "risk taking" at GW....they are cute but kind of trendy....but for $9.99 worth a go!

I have been wearing this fun necklace a lot...

The color goes with a lot of my clothes....

Another case of taking a $4 risk...even at Target this would have been over $10!  

The silver backing is nice and heavy and it is interesting!

The perfect Summer skirt is long and flowing....

this one is my favorite shade of brown...the picture doesn't really do it justice....

add a camisole and a jean jacket and it is a never fail look!

hmmm...I bet those sandals will look nice with this!

Now...you know I almost never pay more than $10 for anything at GW...

but this Eileen Fisher jacket was too good a bargain to pass up....even though it cost $14.99!

The picture makes it look sort of green.....

but it is really a great brown and black tweed color that will be a great neutral!

 

Most of these GW scores seem to be clothes....

now that I have my "wardrobe"....

Maybe I can score some new "decor" for the house on my next GW trips....

I guess that is a good reason to go again soon!

Have a Great Day!

Link Parties
A Vision to Remember   Life on Lakeshore Drive 

Minimalist Easter Decorating!

 

Little Bunny Foo Foo hopping through the forest
Scooping up the field mice and bopping 'em on the head
Down came the good fairy and she said:
"Little Bunny Foo Foo, I don’t want to see you
Scooping up the field mice and bopping 'em on the head.

 The bunnies are out and about at Sweetwater!

 Marvin spends a lot of time watching at the window!

I hope they spend their time on field mice and 

NOT on the tulips!

Speaking of bunnies....here is a peek at the very minimal Easter decor around here!

We aren't entertaining this year...so it really is minimal!

I just decided to "use what I have"!

The table in the living room has this vignette.....two paper mache bunnies overlooking a flower pot of wheat grass and a bowl of bird's eggs.  The pot looks a lot like Fitz and Floyd....but it has no marks (other than the Goodwill sticker).  I keep thinking I will do something fun with the bunnies....but hey I am going minimalist this year.  The bowl of eggs are the leftovers from when I took apart a Goodwill wreath.

 On the chair next to the table there are some stuffed bunnies from when the Sweetwater children were little!

These two bunnies started out on the family room hearth.....

But....I moved them up to the mantel....and think that is where they will stay!

The Baker's Rack really needs some more work....but I have the Fitz and Floyd Easter stuff and the Bunny print out.....so it will do for now!

 What is Easter without an Easter Bonnet?  So this little straw hat with a black gross grain ribbon makes a cute addition to the entryway table.

 

This basket of pansies can't go outdoors quite yet...so with a few wooden eggs and a couple of bunnies.....they make a bright bit of Easter on the table in the kitchen!

Not sure what I will do with these pansies....but right now.....they are a bit of Spring on the center island in the kitchen!

Minimal time....

Minimal expense....

Minimalist Decor!

Have a Great Day!

Wicked Awesome Wednesday  
Girlish Whims
Ginger Snap Crafts It Happens in a Blink
I am not a Trophy Wife   Common Ground 

Easy Thrifty Easter Centerpiece!

Easter is sure late this year.....hard to believe it is April 9th and Easter is still more than a week away!

And still....he daffodils in the yard haven't peeked up through the leftover snow piles quite yet....but they are available in abundance at the grocery store for very little money.....

They are a little luxury that I treat myself to!










And if you have vistited Sweetwater Style before....you know that I plant an awful lot of wheat grass.....it just makes me feel good to see a little green around here!

I also had this Easter Egg wreath that came from Goodwill long ago....in fact so long ago that it was getting pretty shabby looking!

I took it apart and tucked the little eggs away....knowing that they would find a use one day!

I decided to use all these elements to create a simple and thrifty Easter Centerpiece this year!

All you need is $2 bunch of grocery store Daffodils....

a block of floral foam....and a big bowl of wheat grass!

I cut small blocks of floral foam that I presoaked in water....

I tucked them throughout the wheat grass....and pushed the grass back up around them!

Then it was a simple matter of cutting the Daffodils and pushing the stems into the floral foam!

Then I added the little eggs I had saved from the wreath along the outside of the bowl....

I did add a bit of Spanish moss too!

I tucked a few more eggs around the Daffodils to further disguise the floral foam!

I am really pleased with the finished product.....and Marvin is TOO!

I have some more wheat grass sprouting because I know this won't last until Easter....!

Maybe by the time I am ready to redo this....t

here will be Daffodils growing in the Sweetwater Garden!

Have A Great Day!

Link Parties
Our Holiday Journeyhttp://ourholidayjourney.blogspot.mx/2017/03/fabulous-spring-and-easter-party-link-up.html

I'm Back...from vacation that is!

It has been over a week since I have written a new post....and with good reason!

We just returned from an 8 day trip to Marvelous Manzanillo, Mexico!

I never like to announce to the blog-o-sphere that Sweetwater is sitting empty....thus the lack of posts!

Manzanillo is a great spot in between Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa!  

It is quiet and rustic...making it the perfect atmosphere!

We are fortunate to use the "Colima Cabin" owned by the Sweetwater Brother and his wife....

Now...that is the kind of brother to have!

The condo is right between two fancy "all inclusive" resorts....but ours is pretty darn "all inclusive" itself!  

We shared the week with a couple of fabulous friends who were perfect travel companions!

Imagine.....cabin living....with the beach!

Sleep....eat....walk....sit....read....drink....eat....play.....REPEAT!

Now.....back to normal living!

Spring is really on it's way now....so I can hardly wati to get started with warm weather projects!

Look for another post soon....once I recover from vacation! 

 

Have A Great Day....Think Spring!