• 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

July 16, 2014

A Recycled Bird Feeder …from a fondue pot!

 

My daughter said, “You should become a blogger, Mama.”It went in my right ear and out the left faster than someone’s name when I first meet them. Later that year, my path took a turn, and I am forever grateful for pursuing this passion we all call “BLOGGING”.

It feels like yesterday when I sat at my kitchen table confused as all heck developing redheadcandecorate.com. It was then, that I came across At the Picket Fence. Vanessa and Heather have inspired me from the very beginning. In turn, I hope some of my decorating ideas will inspire you.


Enough of the cheesy stuff.
Lets talk bird talk.

Cheesy-Bird-Feeder-by-redheadcandecorate.com_

My husband, Rick, our 2 girls, and I drove around one Saturday afternoon searching for garage sales. I spotted this gorgeous shiny green fondue pot that day. Since that day, we’ve used it once.

Here’s proof:

julie can cook

I used the beautiful shiny green fondue pot for a photo I needed for my blog. Believe it or not…there was cheese fondue in that pot. I think it was the Fourth of July and I made fondue for my parents.

That was 2 years ago.

The beautiful shiny green fondue pot found it’s way into the back of my cabinet, until last week. I pulled it out and at first thought it would make a cute planter.

Fondue Pot Bird Feeder

The planter idea didn’t survive because I wanted to use ALL of the fabulous vintage parts. Then I started playing with the colorful long forks, and I pictured a wind chime. No…still didn’t feel right. That’s when the “Fondue Pot turned Recycled Bird Feeder” flew into my brain. I quickly got to work.

First, I glued the black burner part to the wood tray. I thought it looked like a bird house so, I used a paint pen to write on it.

Mean while, my husband drilled holes in the handle and in the bottom tray to thread some leather cord through. After a few knots and adjusting, I got it to hang straight.

The hard part was getting the long forks to stay in the pot so the birds could use them as a perch. I ended up using a bag of quick concrete my hubby had in the garage. I mixed a little in a big zippy bag and smooshed it around. Then I cut a small hole in the corner of the bag and squeezed it into the pot.

I stuck the forks in and let it dry a couple of days.

Fondue Pot Bird Feeder Tutorial

After we found a nice spot for it out back, we added bird seed. The birds still haven’t found it, but it won’t be long.

Hopefully Frank the squirrel will mind his own business.

Love,

Julie Signature

Easy Fondue Pot Bird Feeder

Subscribe to RCD


P.S.
We also want to remind you of our “Christmas in July” Balsam Hill charity event! We are raising funds to help Hope Unlimited for Children.  Won’t you consider making a small donation to help these children in Brazil get off of the streets and into a loving environment! Thank you! 

26 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, Gardening, Summer Tagged With: Contributors, crafts, crafts with birds, recycled

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Will You Help?
Next Post: We Need to Have a Heart to Heart »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline says

    July 16, 2014 at 7:10 AM

    This is such a great idea! I never would have thought of this. Pinning!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 8:58 AM

      Thank you, Mary Beth!

      Reply
  2. Cynthia says

    July 16, 2014 at 7:34 AM

    Red… you made my day! What a fun way to re-purpose something taking up room in a cupboard and never used. Now it is hotel Shangri-La for the birds… perfect! BTW… now I want cheese! 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 8:59 AM

      lol…I need to be charging rent, Cynthia!

      Reply
  3. kristin says

    July 16, 2014 at 8:38 AM

    This is so creative Julie! The birds are going to be in heaven when they find it!!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 9:00 AM

      They found it, Kristin…now they want more!

      Reply
  4. debbiedoos says

    July 16, 2014 at 9:19 AM

    You girl are way too clever! This is so stinkin cute. Congrats on your gig here:) XO

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 3:49 PM

      Thank you, my dear friend!

      Reply
  5. Valerie | From Valerie's Kitchen says

    July 16, 2014 at 9:31 AM

    Leave it to Julie to come up with a clever use for a neglected fondue pot! I’m so glad to see you’re contributing here. Love this site!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 3:48 PM

      Me too, Val!

      Reply
  6. Mimi says

    July 16, 2014 at 9:44 AM

    I love the way you took something and figured out a way to re-purpose it without taking away its inherent charm. Cool idea

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 3:47 PM

      Thank you, Mimi! Don’t you just love that green?

      Reply
  7. Meegan says

    July 16, 2014 at 10:27 AM

    Great post Julie. You are one creative woman that’s for sure! Your birdies are going to be so happy. Thanks for your inspiration and creativity!
    Pinned 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 3:46 PM

      They owe me, Meegan!!

      Reply
  8. Karen @ Dogs Don't Eat Pizza says

    July 16, 2014 at 11:51 AM

    You know I love me a good upcycling project! What a great idea! So creative. The birds will find it soon, I’m sure!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 3:46 PM

      Already did, girl! How will I ever keep up?

      Reply
  9. nibbles by nic says

    July 16, 2014 at 1:14 PM

    Wow!!! This is fantastically cool!! Love to learn what to do with old kitchen ware!!! Thanks for the great idea!!! – Warmest, Nic

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 3:45 PM

      awww…Thanks, Nicole!

      Reply
  10. Jane@Bluebird1959 says

    July 16, 2014 at 2:38 PM

    Oh my gosh! That is hilarious, yet soooo cool – how clever. Jane

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 16, 2014 at 3:45 PM

      When we were trying to figure out a name for it, my hubby was on the floor when I said cheesy bird house. It really is cheesy! 😉

      Reply
  11. Rosie's heavenly harvest says

    July 17, 2014 at 1:49 AM

    Adorable. Love your re-purposing ideas!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 17, 2014 at 11:18 AM

      Thanks, Rose, love ya dear friend!

      Reply
  12. Heather says

    July 18, 2014 at 6:53 AM

    Heehee – this is soooo much fun!! You’re such a clever girl Jules! What a great way to add a pop of color into the back yard!

    Reply
  13. Julie says

    July 19, 2014 at 10:22 AM

    Thanks, Heather!! XO

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 4 Creative Upcycling Projects for Summer - Total Home Supply says:
    July 23, 2014 at 10:53 AM

    […] one of the most creative upcycling projects we have ever seen – see Julie’s full post here for detailed instructions on how to make your […]

    Reply
  2. Repurposed Old Carriage Light | Redhead Can DecorateRedhead Can Decorate says:
    August 24, 2014 at 6:37 PM

    […] “At the Picket Fence“. […]

    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

  • Decorating a Sofa Table May 31, 2023
  • 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

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards of your labor! The whole family pitched in to get our bark spread around the yard (I’m the master at raking it until it’s nice and even) and by the end of the day we were all done. Now we can head into summer with our big yard projects completed! 🙌🏻 Do you put in fresh bark every year?
Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’ Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’s your favorite thing about this month? Mind can be summed up in this quote…

“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.” John Steinbeck
“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?
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence