• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

April 28, 2011

Inspiration Friday No. 13!

 
Welcome, welcome everyone! We were going to show you a picture this week of Vanessa pulling her Recycling Can to the curb but we thought that might just be a little bit too much after the whole tree-hugging thing.
If you have no idea what we are talking about…well…you might just be better off!
 What we are going to share with you this week is a sneak peek at the progress Heather is making on her Kitchen Remodel on a Budget!

“Hey my favorite girlies and guys?! in blogland!  After a month..yes a month..of this kitchen remodel I am finally putting cabinet doors back up!  And just in time for 40 kids to show up Friday night for the boy’s 17th birthday party..17…sigh..but that’s for another post.  Anyhoo, I thought you all might like to see a quick sneak peek of one of two open cabinets I will have in the kitchen now.  I have been inspired by so many wonderful bloggers out there that I will give credit to in the final reveal but I have to give major props to my friend Courtney at French Country Cottage for inspiring me to create arches in the open cabinets!  I am in L.O.V.E. with how they turned out…Now it was a horribly cloudy day yesterday so I apologize for the lighting…any one else having raining days lately…heh. Pretty much the whole country right?  So ya ready…

Wood beadboard on sides of cabinets

 

Beadboard wallpaper added to backs, tops and sides

My beautiful curved arches thanks to Courtney’s inspiration and Bama Boy’s jigsaw cutting skills
“I’ll share all the details in future posts!  Needless to say this is a time consuming but totally rewarding project! Cant’t wait to show you everything…but you’ll have to wait just a lil while longer. 😉


And now, let’s get to our Features from last week’s party!
 
First up this week is an absolutely GORGEOUS vintage themed picnic, created by Lisa at Simply…This That & The Other for her college-bound daughter.

 
This, as you can see, was no ordinary picnic. Not only did she haul a dresser (you read that right!) to a local park in order to create this stunning setting, she also used this opportunity to speak into the life of her daughter and to reflect on their relationship with each other.
 
 There is also a wonderful video at the end of the post which truly captures how special this moment was and how close these 2 women are. Get your tissues ready and pay a visit to Lisa at Simply…This That & The Other.
 
 
Next up we have another Lisa. This one from Before Meets After, who shared this gorgeous dining room table transformation. It was actually completed, with Lisa’s help, by her friend Christine and we think it looks like the perfect addition to Christine’s already stunning dining room! Isn’t the fabric choice on the seats just perfect with the wall color?


Lisa has so many other fabulous projects happening at her lovely blog and we hope you will pop over and pay her a visit at Before Meets After.
 
 Now, would you believe that you could take these….
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
And use them to make this?

 
Well, whether you believe it or not, you need to head over and visit Jess from
Hill Country Homebody and check out this incredible artwork she created!

 
Elizabeth from Just Following Jesus shared not only her talent as an artist with us, but also the lovely story behind this gorgeous Bluebell Painting.
Did you know that Bluebells are actually considered a weed?
 002

When Elizabeth painted this she had someone particular in mind.
Someone who was feeling a lot like a “weed“.
We’ve all been there haven’t we?
Well, you must go and visit Just Following Jesus to find out more about this story and how this painting of Bluebells helped someone realize the “flower” that they actually are!

 
Now, don’t forget to grab your Featured At Button if you were featured at today’s party or during the week as a Facebook Feature! We have started featuring several links during the week on our Facebook page, so make sure you join us over there to see if you are featured! (did we say the word feature enough?? grin.)
 
Thank you so much for joining us for Inspiration Friday at the Fence,
 

 
When you are done linking up head over and party with the other “Friday Party Friends

The lovely Courtney at French Country Cottage
Our beautiful friend Alison from Stuff and Nonsense
Stuff and Nonsense

And the gracious Debra from Common Ground

vif187

 
Now all ya PARTY PEOPLE it’s time to link on up…here’s the rules!


  •  Friend At The Picket Fence in some capacity
  • Link Up any post you’ve written that has Inspired You and will Inspire Others-it can be a home improvement project, craft, recipe, story, devotional…if it inspires link it up!

  • Be sure to link back to your original post and not just your url (main blog address)

  • Please post our button (code in the sidebar) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun! (MANDATORY)
  • Visit another guest Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you!  We are trying so hard between writing posts, homeschooling, and taking care of our families..grin..to visit everyone’s posts. Sometimes we miss one and for that we apologize.  It makes us feed good knowing others are visiting people as well!  Thank you..it truly means a lot to us! 
This week’s Inspiration Friday party brought to you by our
Featured Etsy Shop of the month!

26 Comments Filed Under: Inspiration Friday

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Blogging 101: Photo Editing
Next Post: Blog of the Week and a Winner! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michell @ Girl In Air says

    April 28, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    LOVE that table….I just re-did my very similar…

    I’m new to her fab blog!

    Thanks ladies for hosting!!

    Reply
  2. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    April 28, 2011 at 10:18 PM

    That table is fabulous! Thanks for hosting the party!

    Reply
  3. Pam says

    April 28, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    I love the new cabinets! And the metal basket among the wicker looks so cute! Great job!

    Thanks so much for having the party. It’s so fun to see the amazing projects that people post.

    Have a great day.
    Pam

    Reply
  4. bj says

    April 28, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    I have really loved seeing all the talent displayed here.
    Thanks so much for hosting such a pretty and all-around meme. And, thanks so much for putting the link up early. That is SO helpful.
    xo bj

    Reply
  5. Andrea at Opulent Cottage says

    April 28, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    LOVE that beadboard! Such a great project, the arches are so fab. Hope you girls are finally getting some sun! Thanks for hosting, and have a great weekend :))
    xoxo, Andrea

    Reply
  6. AshTreeCottage says

    April 28, 2011 at 11:12 PM

    Lots of talented women! Thanks for some great inspiration and for a great party.

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

    Reply
  7. A Vintage Vine says

    April 28, 2011 at 11:24 PM

    Thanks for hosting…I am loving the kitchen so far!!!

    Reply
  8. elizabeth says

    April 28, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    I love your new cabinets and am a wee bit jealous!
    Thank you beyond words for featuring my bluebell painting! I feel so blessed!

    Reply
  9. Judy says

    April 29, 2011 at 12:18 AM

    Great features. Thank you as always for hosting. I look forward to your party.

    Reply
  10. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    April 29, 2011 at 12:50 AM

    Thanks for hosting girls! Heather your kitchen cabinets look amazing can’t wait for the big reveal!! Martina

    Reply
  11. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    April 29, 2011 at 1:00 AM

    Thanks for hosting girls. I love that white kitchen table, all your features are lovely!

    Reply
  12. Magpies and Magnolias says

    April 29, 2011 at 4:02 AM

    the beaded board wallpaper is amazing! I need to remember that …

    Thanks so much for hosting!

    Reply
  13. Eleni says

    April 29, 2011 at 6:18 AM

    Thank you so much for hosting this great party:) So much inspiration!!! I love it!!!

    Reply
  14. Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents says

    April 29, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    Anything beadboard is really REALLY doing it for me these days! Beautiful post! Thanks so much for hostessing this fun event!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

    Reply
  15. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    April 29, 2011 at 1:56 AM

    Oh your open cupboards are just FAB-U LOUS Heather! They look amazing- and thanks so much for the sweet shout out! Can’t wait to see the final kitchen reveal- thanks for hosting! 🙂

    Reply
  16. Cozy Home Scenes says

    April 29, 2011 at 2:07 AM

    40 17 year olds? You’re either a saint or crazy! Happy birthday to your son.

    About your pictures…. If you have a despeckle option on whatever photo enhancement program you are using, that will erase some of the grainy issues. That’s what I have to do on rainy days. Yesterday was one of those days. Today was sunny, so I was retaking pictures like mad to get my post.

    Thanks for the party and have a great weekend!

    Reply
  17. Christie says

    April 29, 2011 at 4:10 AM

    The cabinets look awesome!! I can’t wait to see it all! And that feature of the mother/daugther picnic? Well, I am crying just from these images! I will check it out! So sweet and that time will be here before we know it…guess Heather you are feeling that, too with a 17 yo birthday! Have fun and enjoy soaking in every minute! Much love! Christie

    Reply
  18. Curtains In My Tree says

    April 29, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    Thanks for hosting today.

    I love seeing all the ideas others have

    I have so many projects to get done

    Reply
  19. Lindsay says

    April 29, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    Thanks for hosting!! Love all the inspiring projects.

    Reply
  20. stefanie says

    April 29, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    how fun, glad I joined this party, off to visit, thanks!

    Reply
  21. alison says

    April 29, 2011 at 7:45 PM

    perhaps we’re no longer on the same wavelength? too sad…:( did you love the wedding as much as i did…and i did a whole lot…my daughter and i were up at 4 to sip tea and munch scones while enjoying the show…in the words of mary poppins, ‘it was practically perfect in every way.’ have a great weekend girls!

    alison

    Reply
  22. Green Door Girl says

    April 29, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    love the art work! I am glad to be linking up again, my three/four week hiatus had me missing all the wonderful projects! 🙂

    Reply
  23. CAS says

    April 30, 2011 at 3:12 AM

    Heather, love the open shelves with the arch. Saweet! Can’t wait to see the whole finished kitchen. By-the-way, my link to the party is about the give-away I won on your blog from Larkspur Interiors. I tried to give everyone lots of credit. Ya’ll rock!!!
    CAS

    Reply
  24. Debra@Common Ground says

    April 30, 2011 at 4:38 AM

    Hi Gals, so glad you joined in today, the more the merrier. Such fun “spreading the bloggy love”!!
    xoxo, Debra

    Reply
  25. andiejaye says

    April 30, 2011 at 6:39 AM

    thanks so much for hosting! i just painted and distressed the base of my white table and am getting ready to do the chairs! great minds think alike!

    Reply
  26. jessica @www.hillcountryhomebody.blogspot.com says

    May 15, 2011 at 4:21 AM

    Oh myI don’t know how I missed this! Maybe it is because I have been a wee bit absent from blogging for a couple of weeks! Anywho..Thank you, Thank you for featuring our wall art!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the gr It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the greatest joys of this stage in my parenting journey is getting to see the results of the years spent pouring into my children. The worry, the sleepless nights, praying, questioning our decisions and learning to trust in the Lord Who loves them even more than we do. We definitely didn’t do everything right, but what an an amazing experience it is to watch them become these incredible teens/young adults. My tip this week might seem simple, but I believe it can make a major difference in the lives of our children, in our homes and maybe, just maybe, in the culture too. 🌸
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence