DIY aged wooden trough Fall table decoration with paitned gourds.

I have been so inspired by all the beautiful table decoration done on a long board, shutter, dough bowl, trough, runner or whatever that I just had to try it too. 

 

So, one day, these two long, beautifully weathered, eight-inch wide boards that I had been saving for signs ... became a trough. 
(sorry, no before pictures) 

 

I cut them about 44" long and the end pieces about 8" wide at the bottom and about 11" inches at the top. The cuts are at a 15° angle to make them wider at the top.  The boards were cleaned, but left natural. I stained the fresh cuts on the side boards with the vinegar and steel wool solution. 

A little too dark, but better than fresh cut wood showing.

I lined the trough with burlap and filled it with gourds, leaves, faux berries, flowers, dried and faux artichoke and anything Fall. 

Vintage wooden spools were used for risers.

Nothing was purchased new this year to make this arrangement ... well maybe this little piece of fruit on the table for $1.00.

 Painted gourds are my favorite. 

Just look at all the beautiful knotholes all around the trough.

I love the age spots and the cute stem on this little gourd. 

The leaves that are scattered around the trough are natural leaves picked up out of the yard and bleached. Love how each one turns out different. Just toss them in a bowl of bleach water and leave them for a day or two ... 
but check them and pull out the ones that are bleached to suit you.

Store them in a plastic bag or box and save them for next year ... 
I have some that I have used for two years. 

The gourd dipper is the perfect vessel to hold my antique miniature stone fruit. They are about the size of a quarter or half-dollar.

My palm leaf pumpkin that I made last year looks right at home in this arrangement. Can be seen here.

Karah at The Space Between did a beautiful job of making one and I was so impressed and inspired ..

I made two!

I hope you are enjoying Fall weather at your house. 

We got an nice soaking rain ... much cooler weather with less humidity. 

Loving it. 

Thanks for visiting ... hope you enjoyed my Fall arrangement. 

I love it, but a little too big for my table, so will soon be replaced.

Have you ever built something too big for the intended spot and have to remove it even-though you really loved it?

Love hearing from you.
Blessings ...

Audrey Z. 

Linking to:  
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sundays # 175
From my Front Porch to Yours
Treasure Hunt Thursday #130

Life on Lakeshore Drive
The bouquet of talent link party.

The Tablescaper
Seasonal Sundays # 174

Twigg Studios
Sunday Show-Off Linky Party
  
Embracing Change



Knick of Time


Lavender Gardens Cottage



Fluster Buster
 

Ivy & Elephants 
 

SavvySouthern Style 

 

Estate Find ... beautiful BLUE and it folds flat.

Folded flat and almost hidden on the top self of the closet at this Estate Sale where the Estate Sales people had not even seen it or priced it; was this cute little vintage metal ironing board for shirts or small items with the attached sleeve board.

Once I stripped the old worn cover and padding, 

I saw this beautiful blue metal ... just full of tiny air holes.

 

Thinking this would be the perfect 'riser' for a table decoration ... I sat a papier mâché pumpkin I had just bought at Finds Thrift Store for 25¢ ... some $1-Store berries ... a couple of faux pears and a huge sunflower and YES ... it would work.  There is room for more decorations toward the front of the small piece. Maybe some raffia and small fruit or pumpkins.

I was not trying to make a decoration, just picking up some stuff nearby to see how it would look. 

The large piece is only about 32" long ...

Just perfect for a small table ...

AND ... it folds flat for storage ... 

AND ... of course you can pad it and use it to iron you hubby's shirts.

How good it that ?

Did I mention that it is BLUE ... ???

Did I mention that I paid $4.50 for it ??? 

Happy Fall decorating with unusual items.

What is the most unusual thing you have ever used to decorate your table ?

    
 This Blog was featured by Lavender Garden Cottage

Blessings ........
Ivy and Elephants  What's it Wednesday

Linking to:
Creative Inspirations
I Gotta Create
 Fluster Buster

Lavender Garden Cottage

 Homemaker on a Dime

 The Dedicated House ...

Funky Junk Interiors
Knick of Time

Two-story Galvanized metal Bird Feeder. Squirrel proof, yet to see.

Most every Wednesday, I shop the 25¢ Sale at Finds Thrift Store. 

From the warehouse and the parking area, for just two hours, they sell donated items that they cannot put in the store, many of which are just 25¢. 

When I saw this galvanized chimney cover ... I thought 'galvanized', every one loves galvanized !!! Special tagged $4.00.

But, what can I do with it ... so I just walked past it ... and  immediately saw what it could become and turned back to get it. 

Sigh ... another lady had stopped and put her hand on it. I knew she was trying to figure a use for it. I stood behind her and was just hoping she would take her hand off it and walk on. It seemed like minutes, but she finally walked away and I grabbed it. 

 I also bought this nice vintage white door that it is sitting on.

This will likely became a hall tree with a bench. 

$15.00 and loaded with nice hardware and a glass window.

Okay ... back to the galvanized chimney cap ... 

do you see what I am making? 

You guessed it ... a "squirrel proof" -  two story wild bird feeder.

I have built "squirrel-proof" feeders before, but squirrels are pretty smart ... so we will see.  

 Mr. Z. and I added a wooden platform to the end of the legs, putting a frame of thin boards to keep the seed from falling out.

Also floored the first open section about one inch below the opening. The lower section is pretty narrow, but birds do not have trouble getting in there. I primed and painted both boards to protect them from the weather.

 The first bird to visit was a little house wren. The roof has a nice over-hang to keep the birds and seed dry. I painted the roof  barn-red and distressed it just a little on the corners.   We laced rope in the chains and hung it in a tree with our other feeders. We had to move the yellow one to another location. Both the white and the yellow feeders are made with lamp parts and were to be squirrel proof, but the smart little squirrels figured ways to get in them.

 This one was moved to a tree next to our workshop.  The birds love these two feeders. 

  

 

 Doves love the white one. 
There is at least twelve, maybe thirteen,
Texas Whitewing Doves on this feeder. 

 I have not seen a Dove try to get in this one as yet.

  

The top section is large enough for a dove, but they are a little clumsy in flight and may not be able to land in there.

 I also feed the birds in the large rusty wire bird cage on the far left. 
The door is wired open and they go right in. They make a mess on the patio ... but we enjoy them so. 

These pictures were taken through our kitchen windows.

Beautiful Cardinals ... there is also a concrete feeder in the background to the right. 

We have lots of birds.

Thanks for the visit.

Do you think this feeder is worth the $4.00 I spent? 

Do you enjoy watching the wild birds?

We have had a lot of different birds pass through here. 

Hope to post on them soon. 

Blessings,

Audrey Z. 

Linking to:

Serendipity and Spice

The Dedicated House

Kathie with an E

The Chicken Chic.Clever Chic Blog Hop

One More Time Events

Funky Junk Interiors:

Homework Wednesday

 Worthing Court, Marty’s Musings, The Everyday Home and Atta Girl Says.

Ivy & Elephants

What's It Wednesday #91

Savvy Southern Style

Knick of Time Tuesday