Winner & Cottage Patio Table

Winner of the $50 Gift Certificate to French Country 1908 / Teacup Designs is Jo.  I have emailed you at the email address you left in your comment.
I will have another giveaway to announce tomorrow or Wednesday!  You'll love this shop I'm going to introduce so be sure to check in for that.

Now, I should have gotten around to sprucing up the porch much sooner but...well, no excuses, I just didn't do it!   Until now.
I cleared everything off to wash it down.  I think I'm going to do a concrete stain here...not sure yet but in the meantime I wanted it to look nice.

  I've got an old iron table that I've had out there for so long.  I decide to something a little different and give it a bit of a Cottage look.  I think the morning light is beautifully cast over the table.

Since this area is covered I decided to cover the table with a lace topper I no longer use inside as it's stained on one side...but I just couldn't trash it.   I put the stain at the back so it doesn't even show.  I brought out a chippy, pale yellow bird cage and added some greenery and three plump little resting birds from Decorators Friend, an online store with loads of garden accessories, greenery,  floral items and cute home decor.  The prices are very reasonable.  I just love this set of three birdies.  

I have a few transferware planters so I put some ivy and silk roses in one, and on the opposite side of the birdcage I placed these two adorable chippy painted ceramic vases and matching, handled pails which also came from Decorators Friend.  The vases come in a set of three, the pails also in a set of three.  Each one has crackle glaze finish and a different, Shabby Chic-ish Victorian rose.  Aren't these pretty?  I love, love, love the vintage look and feel.  They go perfectly with my bird cage!

I have a metal English , crested initial sign from Horchow that I stood at the back of birdcage.  From the tip I hung this adorable birch bark cone and filled it with some fresh cut sprigs from the yard and pink roses.  It adds extra dimension and texture with a weathered outdoor feel.   These come in pairs at Decorators Friend...so many cute and inexpensive choices here.

I'll show the wreath I put on the door in another post.

Tune in tomorrow for another GIVEAWAY!

I've linked up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday and Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday.  Thank you ladies for hosting these fun memes each week.

Make Something Monday, hosted by Go Graham Go! and Jolly Mom

Making a Happy Home Monday, hosted by As For Me and My House

Making Your Home Sing Monday, hosted by Mom’s the Word
Gathering at the Well, hosted by At the Well

Happy Homemaker Monday, hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Homemaking Mondays, hosted by 11th Heaven’s Homemaking Haven
Just a Motivating Monday, hosted by Garibay Soup

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
Aristotle