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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
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  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

August 6, 2011

Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 26!

Inspiration Friday Graphic
Before we kick off this week’s Inspiration Friday, we wanted to remind you of the $100!! Joss & Main giveaway we have going on here at the picket fence until this coming Monday! It couldn’t be easier to register for this giveaway and seriously…
who couldn’t use an extra $100 to buy something cool for their house?!
Now it’s time for another “copycat challenge” where we attempt to recreate one of the amazing projects shared with us at a previous Inspiration Friday party!
When Vanessa saw this darling tiered stand made out of burner covers and candlesticks, which was shared with us a couple of weeks ago by Libby from A Perfectly Crazy Life, she just knew she had to recreate it for her daughter’s upcoming Birthday Party.

All it took was one packet of Dollar Store burner covers in a lovely apple motif and 2 brass candlesticks pulled out of the closet where brass candlesticks go to die.

Some soft pink spray paint and Gorilla glue was all that was needed to finish off this easy peasy project!

This is just barely a sneak peek of what Vanessa will be sharing with you in the coming weeks from Lauren’s Tea Party Birthday. So stay tuned!!

picketfence_20010

Now we know the stores (and some of you!!) already have Fall on the brain, but Summer is still in full swing around here and these next 2 features prove it!

First up we have Michelle from Michelle Paige who created this incredible Restoration Hardware Driftwood Mirror knock-off. We think this is absolutely gorgeous in all of it’s rusticness and Michelle even got her kids involved in this one!

Ok…so even though we are still in Summer mode, we couldn’t resist this next feature from the Beachcomber. Check out this absolutely darling Driftwood Christmas tree!

She also created an incredible driftwood jewelry holder that you must see!

Michelle from My Life as a Mrs. was determined to give her basic IKEA bookcase a little extra panache and we think she definitely succeeded with this makeover!

The gallery wall up above completes this fantastic transformation!

Patricia Ann shared with us how she transformed a table and chair set they have had for many years and gave it a whole new lease on life. Check out those gorgeous Frenchy slipcovers on the chairs!

And last but not least, Marianne from Country Glamour Home created this stunning tablescape on the porch of her beautiful home. The combination of green/black/white creates such a crisp and cool affect and we are pretty sure our invitation to sit down at this table must have gotten lost in the mail somehow…Right Marianne? 😉

If you were featured today (or have been featured in the past) please grab the featured at button located in our sidebar!

Are you following At The Picket Fence on Facebook?  Don’t forget we feature many of your links during the week on our Facebook Page! If you’ve been featured there, grab a button as well! Thank you to everyone who shared so many fabulous posts with us last week!  We appreciate you!
Now it’s time to share with us what has inspired you this week!
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
Be sure to head on over and visit Debra for the inaugural Design Challenge project featured during Vintage Inspiration Friday this week!


Not only are we sponsors of the Design Challenge but Heather’s dining room is the first project! Visit Common Ground and help Heather with her dining room re-do!

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 try to visit as many posts as we can but as Inspiration Friday grows and especially during the busy summer months, sometimes we miss some 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!
We would love to recommend this fabulous post over at Crafter Minds for a quick tutorial on partying at a linky party! We couldn’t say it better ourselves! “Linky Party Like a Dinner Party?”
This week’s Inspiration Friday is sponsored by

 Specializing in vintage and antique items and creates one of a kind pieces from the “unexpected”! We invite you to pay a visit to our fabulous sponsor…Unexpected Elegance!

43 Comments Filed Under: Design Challenge, Inspiration Friday

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Previous Post: « $100 giveaway from Joss and Main and At The Picket Fence!!
Next Post: “Imparting Grace” for Simply Sundays »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    August 4, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    All wonderful projects! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  2. Debbie--https://refreshrestyle.com/ says

    August 4, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    I love your picks this week. I just need some drift wood! Love the burner cover tiers! I think I know where some brass candle sticks are hiding!
    Thanks for hosting,
    Debbie

    Reply
  3. Michele Smith says

    August 4, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    I love all the features fixing to check them out! Looking forward to seeing the tea party.
    Thank you for hosting.
    Michele

    Reply
  4. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    August 4, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    I love the tiered tray! Great job! Love the features and thanks for hosting the party!
    xoxo

    Reply
  5. Liz says

    August 4, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    Beautiful feautures and thanks for hosting! XO ~Liz

    Reply
  6. Catie says

    August 4, 2011 at 6:28 PM

    Hello Ladies! You’ve had a great week of posts and you picked some great features. I HAVE to make that tiered stand. Guess I’m heading out to the dollar store this evening. Oh I just thought, I’m going to put polka dots on mine!! I will definitely be sharing. : ) Have a great weekend. ~ Catie

    Reply
  7. Catie says

    August 4, 2011 at 6:29 PM

    PS. Thanks for hosting!! : )

    Reply
  8. Brandi says

    August 4, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    I love the tiered tray too! thanks for hosting ladies!

    Reply
  9. Michelle @ My Life as a Mrs. says

    August 4, 2011 at 6:49 PM

    Oh my goodness, thank you so much for the feature!! And thanks for hosting such a great party…can’t wait to check out what everyone brings this week!

    mylifeasamrsh.blogspot.com

    Reply
  10. Charlotte says

    August 4, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    I love the tiered trays! I will be making this:) Thanks for the inspiration! So many great ideas…so little time:( But, it is better to have more inspiration that we can handle, than not enough!

    Charlotte

    Reply
  11. Katie says

    August 4, 2011 at 6:57 PM

    Thanks for hosting!!!

    Reply
  12. Honey at 2805 says

    August 4, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    Great features! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  13. Ann Marie of At Home With Ann Marie says

    August 4, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    I did it! Thanks for hosting! So excited to be a part of what you’re doing!

    Reply
  14. Marianne says

    August 4, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    I just love the tiered cupcake tray….I can even do that one! And thanks so much for featuring me! You are both such sweethearts!
    Marianne 🙂

    Reply
  15. Michelle Paige says

    August 4, 2011 at 7:37 PM

    Wow! Thanks so much for featuring my driftwood mirror! I so ned to make a tier and I think I need to try the driftwood Christmas tree! Thanks for all the inspiration!

    Reply
  16. Maggie @ Midwestern {Sewing} Girl says

    August 4, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    Yay! Thanks so much for hosting, girls! That driftwood mirror and the IKEA bookshelf are out of this world!!! Hope you both have a wonderful weekend…;)

    Reply
  17. Sue says

    August 4, 2011 at 8:15 PM

    It’s always fun to see what everyone is up to over here! You girls rock when it comes to hosting a par-tay. xo Sue

    Reply
  18. NanaDiana says

    August 4, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    Nice picks to highlight girls! Ya know, you just MISSED the opportunity to post that driftwood Xmas tree in July..then we would have really had a Christmas in July post~ I know most of these gals and am headed over to visit a couple more! xo Diana

    Reply
  19. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    August 4, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Thanks for hosting girls, have a great weekend! Martina

    Reply
  20. Stuff and Nonsense says

    August 4, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    i almost featured those burlap chair slipcovers this week!

    alison

    Reply
  21. SavannahGranny says

    August 4, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    Thanks for hosting. As always, I enjoyed your copy cat cupcake sign.
    Lot of great stuff today. Have a great weekend. Blessings, Ginger

    Reply
  22. Amber @ Quilted Euphoria says

    August 5, 2011 at 12:21 AM

    Thanks for hosting this wonderful party! I liked up two projects (# 3 &4) and then finished a project today and decided to come link it up too. I hope that’s okay. If not, feel free to delete #4! 🙂

    I love your blog and your parties, thanks for hosting!

    quiltedeuphoria.blogspot.com

    Reply
  23. Ivy and Elephants says

    August 5, 2011 at 12:27 AM

    What a great project. I know I have some candle sticks around here some where. I can’t wait to hit the dollar store this weekend. That is a wonderful idea. Thanks for sharing and thanks for hosting this wonderful party.

    Paula

    Reply
  24. Pamela says

    August 5, 2011 at 1:05 AM

    Vanessa I love so far what I am seeing from the bday party! You are so creative girl!

    Reply
  25. bj says

    August 5, 2011 at 1:17 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting this fun party..:)

    Reply
  26. AshTreeCottage says

    August 5, 2011 at 1:42 AM

    Hi Girls ~ Thanks for hosting!

    Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

    Reply
  27. Laura Beth says

    August 5, 2011 at 1:57 AM

    Thanks for hosting & giving us a plae to share our projects/gain inspiration!

    Reply
  28. Libby says

    August 5, 2011 at 2:51 AM

    YOUR tiered tray looks awesome! I had to make mine so tall so I could fit all the fun cupcake toppers on the cupcakes 🙂 thanks for including it in the copycat challenge!

    Reply
  29. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜@ Debbiedoos blogging and blabbing says

    August 5, 2011 at 3:12 AM

    Thanks for hosting. Love Marions porch, great pillow too.

    Reply
  30. A Cozy Cottage in the City says

    August 5, 2011 at 3:19 AM

    This is my first link to your party! 😉 Thanks for hosting!!!

    Best,
    Jess

    Reply
  31. Ann says

    August 5, 2011 at 4:19 AM

    I love your blog and am a follower. As a new blogger myself, I’m linking up for the first time and look forward to many more. Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  32. Sue says

    August 5, 2011 at 7:57 AM

    Love the pale pink tiered dessert stand~so pretty!

    Reply
  33. Amber @ Quilted Euphoria says

    August 5, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    I would love for you to come link up at my weekend party! Have a great weekend!

    https://quiltedeuphoria.blogspot.com/2011/08/weekend-wow-me-party-1.html

    Reply
  34. Api says

    August 5, 2011 at 11:40 AM

    Lovely blog… great projects! 🙂

    Reply
  35. michelle says

    August 5, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    I love the tier cupcake holder! So cute and what a great idea, I can’t believe that you painted it though!.
    LOL!!
    Just kidding! I love the soft pink and the cupcakes look so good!!!!
    Enjoy your weekend girls!!
    xoxoxo

    Reply
  36. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home says

    August 5, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    The driftwood mirror is so pretty!

    Reply
  37. Lynn at Cottage and Creek says

    August 5, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    I just love the tiered cupcake holder – what a clever idea! Such inspiration! Thanks for hosting this fun party.
    ~Lynn

    Reply
  38. Karen says

    August 5, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    Thanks for hosting and sharing these great ideas. Love the cupcake stand & the tablesetting is beautiful. I’m going to check out how the driftwood mirror was made. Joining the party this week.

    Reply
  39. Hollie - TheSevenYearCottage.com says

    August 6, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    Thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  40. Kristy Life-n-Reflection says

    August 6, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    Love the beach driftwood and those chairs!

    Reply
  41. Ali says

    August 6, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    Thank you so much for hosting 🙂

    Reply
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Front door wreath….✔️ The very last Christmas dec Front door wreath….✔️

The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
The first day of December and the first Sunday of The first day of December and the first Sunday of advent. As we enter into a month that can be filled with stress, anxiety, worry and even sadness, let us turn our hearts towards the ONE who came as the ultimate, undeserved gift. Because it’s all about Him. 

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Its that time of year again. I share this recipe e Its that time of year again. I share this recipe every November because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be ma It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be made on repeat for the next month and I’ve figured out the secret to getting the BEST flavor.

Want to know what it is? It’s all about being EXTRA! 

Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. 😉🎄

#chexmix #chexmixupgrade
Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the w Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the week and I’m feeling especially grateful for the twinkling lights around my home which give me so much joy.

The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! 🦃🎄
IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures “ IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures

“My children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.”

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to “comment” to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

But I live for an audience of ONE.
The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was in 1998. I was a new bride and eager to impress them. It did not go well. Let’s just say there was a bit of a garbage disposal mishap. 

It’s been over 25 years since then and I’ve learned so much about what really matters when it comes to hosting and caring for my family well during the holiday season. 

The peace we long for in our home begins with our hearts. If you want your home to feel more peaceful during the upcoming holiday season, I have five things to consider that will make that not only possible but predictable.

✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

#club31women #wearethehomemakers
Here, in my little corner of social media, you won Here, in my little corner of social media, you won’t find a lot of unboxing of brand new items for Christmas. 

What I’m unboxing are the decorations in the attic that  I’ve had for years and figuring out how to give them a fresh look. I added new lights to an old pre-lit tree that no longer worked because I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I’m putting out a different set of mugs at the hot cocoa station and the advent candles are arranged with greenery from outside.

As our feeds are filled with so.much.stuff, I want to offer you a reprieve. A place where you will find less emphasis on what’s happening in our homes and more on what’s happening in our hearts.

More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

So, while you may not see me unpacking a massive, new tree or telling you to “comment for the link”, what you will see is encouragement to turn our hearts to what matters the most and let that reflect in every corner of our homes this season and all year long. 🌲

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
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