Saturday, May 30, 2015

Saturday Sparks Link Party 117

Welcome to Saturday Sparks 117!

A gathering of like minded souls, contributing and finding inspiration. 
 
"Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old shares a little of what he is good at doing."
~ Quincy Jones
 
 Now, lets get this weeks party started.

First up, the Fabulous Features from Saturday Sparks 116.


Birds, Bees, Lilacs and Peonies at Poppy View. Poppy is enjoying her trip to Ontario and shares some of the sights and sounds of the season.


DIY Wood Doormat for the One Tool Challenge at H2O Bungalow. Wendi is participating in a 'One Tool Challenge' and is sharing a tutorial on how to make this fun and happy 'Wood Doormat'.


Barn Door Reveal at Lou Lou Girls. Amber and her family have moved into their new home and have started making it their own with two different sliding doors. They add so much character and beauty set against the white walls.


Straw Hat Gallery Wall at Seeking Lavender Lane. Deb's original plans for a gallery wall changed after she found a great buy on some straw hats, and it worked out beautifully!


Haggled Chandelier for the Win at Little Bits of Home. Samantha had her eye on a new light fixture, but the price was not in her budget. Time passed and she was able to purchase the new chandelier at a great price with a bit of haggling.


Reclaimed Wood and Headboard Outdoor Benches for the Deck at Scrapality. Andrea took some old bunk beds and repurposed them into these fabulous benches for her deck. This girl is so smart!


Two Ingredient Creamy Fruit Dip at Yesterfood. Joy is sharing a simple and delicious 'Fruit Dip' recipe just in time for the fresh summer crops.


A Moroccan inspired feast for friends.... at Lemon and Lime Thyme. Elisa is sharing recipes for a Moroccan meal bursting with the flavors of North Africa.


Lime Coconut Cupcakes at Study at Home Mama. Jennifer is sharing a tempting recipe for 'Lime Coconut Cupcakes' that she describes as tasting like summer!


How to Make Fresh Strawberries Last Longer at To Simply Inspire. Strawberries are so delicious, but they don't have much staying power. In this post, Sherri shares a simple tip she learned that makes them last longer.


Chai Raisin Donuts with Chai Glaze at Upstate Ramblings. Anne baked a batch of 'Chai Raisin Donuts with Chai Glaze' to celebrate national raisin week.


Blueberry Compote Vanilla Cupcakes - Three Ways at Janus Lane. Stephanie is sharing a Blueberry Compote Vanilla Cupcake recipe topped 3 different ways.


And finally, a recap of my share from the party - DIY High Wheel aka Penny Farthing. In keeping with our 'Reflections of a time gone by...' sentiment,  my oh-so-clever husband has built yet another blast from the past to add to his collection. 

Pieced Pastimes

 Thanks to everyone for linking up to last weeks party.
If you were featured, please grab the featured button to add to your blog.

Now, onto the party!

Link up your latest inspiring posts such as:

Crafts
DIY
Gardening
Home Decor
Photography
Ponderings
Recipes
Repurposing
Sewing

Links are open through Friday morning.

Features will be posted at next weeks party at Pieced Pastimes, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

I can't wait to see what you have been working on!

Pieced Pastimes

 Party Guidelines:
- Post the party button (above) or a text link back to the party on your post.
- Share your own ideas - not a roundup of other peoples ideas.
- Follow Pieced Pastimes via one of the social media links located on the upper right sidebar. 
- No advertising, Etsy shops or giveaways.
- Pin feature photos to Pinterest from the original source and not from this blog.
- Visit other links and leave a kind comment.

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Thursday, May 28, 2015

A Moment of Kindness

The news of late seems to be filled with an unbearable amount of inhumanity. It is during these times that I turn to my faith. I find great peace in knowing that for every evil act, there are immeasurable moments of kindness and compassion in the world. 

Such was the case here in New Hampshire as seen in the news clip below:



This happened in a little town called 'Bethlehem'.  How fitting, don't you think?



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Sunday, May 24, 2015

DIY High Wheel aka Penny Farthing

A deep appreciation for the past and and the skill of an iron workers hands have come together in this, my husbands latest build.


You may recall his Board Track Racer and Rat Rod. He has now added to the menagerie with this replica DIY High Wheel.


This style of bike was called a 'High Wheel', a 'High Wheeler' and an 'Ordinary' but, was most often referred to as a 'Penny Farthing'. The name came from the British 'penny' and 'farthing' coins - one was much larger than the other, just as the wheels of this bike.


They were first introduced around 1870 and were popular among the elite class. The larger wheel provided a smoother ride over the bumpy cobblestone roads of the day and offered faster speeds.


While the larger wheel had its benefits, it also had a downside. It made the bike difficult to mount and there was a learning curve for the riders. A more serious problem occured when the rider hit rocks or ruts with a high potential of being thrown off the bike, head first.  Far too often, this resulted in serious injuries or death. 


The high risk nature of the 'High Wheel' and the invention of the pneumatic tire and chain drives caused the final demise of the "Penny Farthing'. Production of the once popular bicycle ended in 1893.


Time and patience served my husband well in the resurrection of this long forgotten piece of history and our yard is now reaping the benefits of this blast from the past.



Linking up to the following lovely blogs:

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Saturday, May 23, 2015

Saturday Sparks Link Party 116

Welcome to Saturday Sparks 116!

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer season here in New Hampshire and the tourists come in droves to visit our beautiful state. We are well versed in the beauty that surrounds us, but witnessing the deluge of so many converging upon us serves as a reminder as to how truly blessed we are. 
 
"Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life."
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
   
 Now, lets get this weeks party started.

First up, the Fabulous Features from Saturday Sparks 115.


Hexagon Wall Planter at Love Create Celebrate. Linda participated in a 'Home Depot Gift Challenge' and is sharing a tutorial on how to recreate this fabulous 'Hexagon Wall Planter'.


DIY Art {& Ikea} at Simply Vintageous...by Suzan. Suzan found the cutest set of black iron planters and added her own spin to them, by placing them inside a frame backed with fence boards. Such a fun idea!


Branch Gallery at Nur noch. Ronja had some wall space to play with and came up with a cool idea for a 'Branch Gallery'. The simple, clean look is calling out to me.


Foyer Refresh at CD's Country Living. CD shows us her newly transformed Foyer with its gorgeous updated staircase and rustic gallery wall.


Brimfield Antique Show {aka Eye Candy} at While I Linger. The Brimfield Antique Show is a very popular yearly event in Massachusetts.  Jolena was able to spend a day there and shows us some of the vintage treasures she found on display. 


Cute DIY Polka Dot Pillows at Little Brags. Christine gives us the 411 on how she made these oh-so-cute 'Polka Dot Pillows'.


Recipe - Salted Margarita Truffles at Lamberts Lately. Leslie shares a recipe for 'Salted Margarita Truffles' with a perfect combination of sweet and salty tastes. You have the option of adding alcohol or not.


Soft Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Cookies at Swanky Recipes. Jessica is sharing an irresistable cookie recipe that she describes as the "ultimate Soft-batch bakery style chocolate chip cookie".


Strawberry Wonton Cups at Best of Long Island and Central Florida. Linda shares a tasty appetizer  recipe combining fresh strawberries and basil - you know it's going to be good!


Jalapeno Cheddar Sour Cream Biscuits at Jenn's Random Scraps. Jenn took her best biscuit recipe and kicked it up a notch by adding in a couple of flavor boosting ingredients.


Egg and Black Bean Skillet Breakfast at Peaches + Salt. Madeline shares a breakfast skillet recipe using healthy, delicious ingredients that is sure to jump start your morning.


Blueberry Biscuits at olives-n-okra. Sherry is taking full advantage of blueberry season in Florida with this delicious recipe for 'Blueberry Biscuits' with a warm vanilla glaze. 

Pieced Pastimes

 Thanks to everyone for linking up to last weeks party.
If you were featured, please grab the featured button to add to your blog.

Now, onto the party!

Link up your latest inspiring posts such as:

Crafts
DIY
Gardening
Home Decor
Photography
Ponderings
Recipes
Repurposing
Sewing

Links are open through Friday morning.

Features will be posted at next weeks party at Pieced Pastimes, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

I can't wait to see what you have been working on!

Pieced Pastimes

 Party Guidelines:
- Post the party button (above) or a text link back to the party on your post.
- Share your own ideas - not a roundup of other peoples ideas.
- Follow Pieced Pastimes via one of the social media links located on the upper right sidebar. 
- No advertising, Etsy shops or giveaways.
- Pin feature photos to Pinterest from the original source and not from this blog.
- Visit other links and leave a kind comment.

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Tuesday, May 19, 2015

14 Crazy Creative Ways to Update Your Staircase {Curated for Hometalk}

I recently received a nice email from the folks over at Hometalk, complimenting me on my DIY Painted Stair Runner. In that same note, they asked me to curate a board of 'Stair Makeovers' for them and I was more than happy to oblige.  


While perusing page after page of gorgeous stair makeovers, it became clear to me that stairs reflect the personality of a home as much as any other decor choice. I also discovered that simple changes can make a huge impact.

Have you visited the Hometalk site? It is an unending source of inspiration for home and garden enthusiasts. You can follow me on Hometalk HERE to see some of my projects and the works of so many others.

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Saturday, May 16, 2015

Saturday Sparks Link Party 115

Welcome to Saturday Sparks 115!

I am happy to announce that it is time for this weeks party. Link up your latest post, visit some of the other links and feed your creative soul.
 
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
~ Pablo Picasso
   
 Now, lets get this weeks party started.

First up, the Fabulous Features from Saturday Sparks 114.


Ikea Billy Bookcase Hack at Stylish Revamp. Kathy was inspired by a gorgeous bookcase hack shown on The Makerista and had her husband recreate the shelving for her fabulous new office.


ORC {The Big Reveal}: Rustic Boy's Bedroom at Making it in the Mountains. Kristi participated in a 6 week room makeover challenge and shows us her sons completed bedroom and all its wonderful rustic cabin details.


Gift Wrapping with Tissue Paper Flowers at One Little Project. Receiving a gift is nice, but receiving one with beautiful wrapping is so much more special. In this post, Debbie shares how she wrapped these packages with pretty Tissue Paper Flowers, ribbon and brown paper.


Chairished Decor at Ivy and Elephants. A mothers request sent Paula on a mission to find the perfect chair which then turned into a much appreciated Mothers Day gift.


We have BABIES!!! at Debbie-Dabble. Much to her delight, two mourning doves have taken up residency just outside Debbie's den window and have now welcomed two amazing chicks into their nest.


Blueberry Almond Pancakes at Honey and Birch. Jenny takes my favorite berry and kicks it up a notch (or perhaps 10 notches) with this recipe for 'Blueberry Almond Pancakes'.


Mahogany Chicken with Broccoli, Mushrooms and Green Onions at Simply Fresh Dinners. Fresh spring onions inspired Robyn to create this tasty chicken dish that can be made in the oven or on the grill.


Creamy, golden Butternut Squash Risotto at Lemon & Lime Thyme. Elisa shares a favorite recipe for  'Creamy, golden Butternut Squash Risotto' combining fresh vegetables, risotto and flavor filled cheese.


Oreo Butter Cake at Treat and Trick. Nora loves the simplicity of butter cake with no additional frosting, but on occasion likes to add a little something extra. In this recipe, Oreo cookies are the secret ingredient.


Homemade Twix Bars at Something Sweet. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and such is the case with Winnie's 'Homemade Twix Bars'.

Pieced Pastimes

 Thanks to everyone for linking up to last weeks party.
If you were featured, please grab the featured button to add to your blog.

Now, onto the party!

Link up your latest inspiring posts such as:

Crafts
DIY
Gardening
Home Decor
Photography
Ponderings
Recipes
Repurposing
Sewing

Links are open through Friday morning.

Features will be posted at next weeks party at Pieced Pastimes, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

I can't wait to see what you have been working on!

Pieced Pastimes

 Party Guidelines:
- Post the party button (above) or a text link back to the party on your post.
- Share your own ideas - not a roundup of other peoples ideas.
- Follow Pieced Pastimes via one of the social media links located on the upper right sidebar. 
- No advertising, Etsy shops or giveaways.
- Pin feature photos to Pinterest from the original source and not from this blog.
- Visit other links and leave a kind comment.

Print Friendly and PDF
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