Heather Bullard

This and That

Recently I found some great garden pots that were covered with cement spackle. Even though they're new they have a patina that makes them appear years old. I like how the terra cotta color is subdued with the gray concrete. Might be fun to try this on my other pots. A good Saturday project perhaps. Another great thing about them is their unique shapes. It was so hard to choose so I bought several for variety. Can't wait to get these planted.

I also picked up a couple pieces from my upholsterer. I've had this small child size wingback chair since Sweet Girl was a baby. I can't tell you how many times I've had it reupholstered.

Originally it was a Father's Day window display prop for Godiva Chocolates. For some reason I thought to ask them if they would sell it to me when the holiday was over and they said yes! When Sweet Girl was little she used to watch Barney while sitting in it. Sometimes we'd pull up a tiny table and she would use it as her dining chair. And on very, very rare occasions it was the official Time Out chair. When I found an antique grain sack with our common initials I knew it would be perfect for it's next makeover. 

And the old crown chair has been updated with a fresh, clean look. I kept it very simple and had it upholstered in a natural antique linen.

I had them get rid of the upholstery tacks and add a double welt cord for detail. It's such a simple addition but really gives it a finished look.

And lastly, I leave you with this image.....

Bella loves sniffing chicken butts. This is how her guilty little face greeted me at the back door this morning. I think she was perplexed as to why I laughing hysterically and taking her picture instead of trying to help her remove the feather. Nobody likes to be made fun of. She's probably still mad at me. Poor girl, I'm sorry. Please forgive me.

Easy Frittata Recipe

 

What's for dinner Heather? Well since you asked I'll share with you a recipe for the most delicious and easy frittata you'll ever make. I found the recipe right here and happened to have all the ingredients on hand. Minus one egg but even with only 5 eggs it came out perfect.

It's very good served warm with a crisp salad but could easily be served at room temperature as an appetizer. And I think it looked just as good coming out of the oven in it's cozy cast iron pan.

Suppose there's no reason to ask what's for breakfast tomorrow. Hope you try it for yourselves, it's so yummy and couldn't be any easier!

On Being Creative

 

Hello Everyone! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Seems lately I've been in the business of being busy. Lots of projects and deadlines keeping the creative juices in overdrive. Sometimes I wonder how I get it all done but then my family reminds me that I work constantly. Oh yeah, that's how. As for now I'm in need of a little break. I have to finish up a few things and give my mind some time to rest. I need to recharge my creativity before the well dries up completely. I'm guessing some of you feel this way from time to time as well. ;-)

Will be back soon with updates of what's been going on behind the scenes at HB Headquarters. In the meantime I'll be over here tweeting the Cliff Notes version of my daily hum drum happenings if you care to follow along. Cheers! H 

Upholstering with Antique Linens

For the past few months I've been purchasing as many pieces of antique linen bed sheets, grain sacks, runners and tablecloths as I could find. I have a number of upholstery projects in the works and for that you need quite a bit of yardage.

Finding a few large rolls helps tremendously since it saves me from having to piece together sets. Although in some cases I do like having that patchwork look to a chair or ottoman. It gives it such unique character.

My favorite finds are the ones with a soft nubby texture. When you're using neutrals, texture adds depth and dimension without the addition of color.

Here's a few of my tips when using antique linens for your upholstery projects:

• Measure your pieces beforehand and keep a notebook of your measurements. This will be handy when shopping.
• Here's a link on How to Calculate Yardage.
• Wash your pieces before you take them to the upholsterer. This will pre-shrink them if necessary.
• I wash mine in the machine with detergent and Oxi Clean. I tumble dry on low for only a few minutes, not completely. Then I pull them out to finish line drying.
• Look for linens without worn spots. This is where the fibers are breaking down and wearing thin. Hold them up to the light to check before you buy. These worn spots will not withstand furniture.
• Small holes or tears can be cut away or repaired. Check with your upholsterer to see if an item can still be used.
• If you don't have enough fabric, consider using several pieces. Say, one piece for the front of a chair and another piece for the back. Or you can skirt the bottom of a sofa or chair in a coordinating piece. Remember, it's in the mix not the match that makes it unique!

The Creative Connection Event

 

Have you heard of The Creative Connection happening September 16-18th in Minneapolis? It promises to be a weekend of  inspiration and creativity from the best of the best women entrepreneurs from around the country. The keynote speakers are Amy Butler and Mary Jane Butters and just take a look a the panelist lineup! The event was co-founded by Nancy Soriano and Jo Packham and together they have put together one incredible weekend.

There will be endless activities throughout the event such as creative classes, panel lectures, keynote speakers, book signings, a handmade market and much, much more. I'm honored I was asked to be a part of their event and will be speaking on two panels, The Future Face of Retail and Blogging: How to Make it Matter More. I'm looking forward to learning from the group of talented women who will be there to share and inspire us all. And one more reason to not miss this event...

My dear friend and colleague Ki will be having her famous Junk Bonanza during the same weekend! What a fantastic girls getaway this would be. If you would like to make travel plans to attend, both websites offer information on hotel accomodations, etc. I sure hope you can make it. I know it will be a weekend for the record books!

The Chicken Chronicles { Vol. 1 }

As you can see The Girls have been growing like weeds and spend much of their time making themselves comfortable. They prefer my outdoor furniture to have big fluffy pillows and several times a day they can be seen napping in this very spot.  

We have established the so called "Ring Leader" of the flock. Our sweet Lola knows the sound of a dinner bell before it's even been rung. She can be seen running across the yard to make sure she's the first in the chow line. Have you ever seen a chicken run? It's hysterical. I'll have to make a video for you.

They're favorite treat right now is Organic Baby Spinach from Costco. I buy it in big tubs, bulk style. Trying to keep them organic and all especially since we're going to be eating the eggs. They shred through it like mini lawn mowers.

The last one to the party is always our little Butter. It's almost like everyone takes off and she's standing around wondering where they went. She gets the leftovers. I've been saving extra for her since she's the runt and because her fragile little self pulls at my heart strings.

And here we have our friendliest, most loveable gal....Ruby our Rhode Island Red. She actually likes to be picked up and held. You can feel her relax when you pet her and she has a very mellow disposition. She might be second in command but I'll need more time to observe before my final verdict.

So far our adventure into urban farming has been very enjoyable. The hens have taken to their new digs and every evening at dusk they can be seen wandering home to their coop. After spending 12 hours a day free ranging in the gardens they put themselves to bed all tuckered out and stuffed.

I'll have to write about our Twins, Marshmallow and Souffle in my next post. They are both Easter Eggers but look nothing alike except for their green legs.

Have any of you decided to get chickens? Oh, please do. You won't regret it. I really love being a Chicken Mama and I'm sure you would too. Hope you enjoyed the first installment of The Chicken Chronicles. Until next time...Smiles, H

Diamond in the Rough

 

Well, since you were so encouraging on my previous purchase of a rickety work bench I thought you might like to see my other so called "junky" find. I have before you a tattered, worn down, marble topped cabinet which is going to be transformed into a nightstand.

It has the coolest drawer pulls. I believe they are carved acorns but if someone else knows for sure, don't hesitate to educate me. The cabinet doors below need a new pair of knobs. I'm thinking glass or crystal. 

The reason this piece had me at hello was the wonderful marble top with it's beautiful aged patina. It's the perfect shade of white with subtle gray veining.

Of course, you have to look past the tacky inside with it's outdated contact paper. Yuck. That will be ripped out by the time this post hits the internet.

No complaints from The Man on this purchase. Mainly because it cost a mere $52.50. Yes, you read that right. What a great price, yes? I suppose the fact that I can't buy a marble slab for $52.50 sealed the deal for him. Then there's also my big win on the work bench debate, thanks to you!

As for the roses...they're from my garden. They are Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora and the blooms are about 6"-7" across. So intoxicating and gorgeous and one blossom can scent an entire room.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I have to say one of the best things about blogging is that it always seems as though you're preaching to the choir. You know? People that get you, understand your vision, support your crazy ideas and encourage you along the way. You my friends are the absolute best!

Outdoor Entertaining Ideas

My Mom has a group of life long friends who meet for lunch on Fridays. I affectionately call them "The Lunch Ladies". Ever since our chicks came to live at Chez Poulet she's been wanting to bring her friends by to see the coop & chicks so I offered to host a luncheon for them.  I thought it might be nice to share a few of my favorite simple outdoor entertaining ideas with you.

1. Centerpieces are best kept casual. Getting too extravagant can be stressful and expensive. I used what I had on hand, silver vases with a mixture of fresh cut garden blooms. With the "chicken" theme a few vintage garden chicks were added to the tables for fun.

2. In lieu of a formal menu, I opted for a small pennant flag encouraging them to enjoy their meal. It's such a quick and easy way to add a festive touch.

3. A small drink station or bar set up is always a welcome site. It gives guests a chance to mingle and prepare their tea just the way they like it. Instead of an ice bucket, each glass was filled with ice just as guests arrived.

4. If fresh flowers aren't in the budget, a trip to your local garden center can provide an inexpensive alternative and you will also get the benefit of planting them later. Any kind of greenery will add so much life and vibrancy to a buffet. 

5. I like to use an assortment of serving pieces. Good choices to try might be vintage platters of any kind, french baskets, ironstone bowls, glass punch bowls for salads or tin tart pans. The variety will give you different height options and create a nice layering effect as well as provide interest and depth to your tablescape.

6. Keep your menu simple. Mixing in a few store bought items such as cookies or croissants from a bakery will save you time and still taste delicious. Make a few of your favorite salads and perhaps one splurge such as Brie en Croute or another specialty in your recipe arsenal. If you're not busy cooking at the last minute you're more likely to enjoy the party as much as your guests.

Hope some of these tips and tricks will be helpful to you as spring and summer entertaining season is about to open. Outdoor dining has got to be on the top ten list of happy things for me. I'm so glad I live in an area that provides me with many beautiful days to do just that.

I'll leave you with one overall shot of the buffet table. Please forgive all the shadows from the beams on the patio cover. I don't have a reflector large enough to hide them for the photo but still thought it would be nice to give you a sense the full picture.

And btw, don't you love my new 8 ft. work bench buffet? I think it's completely perfect for the space. The Man on the other hand not so much. He thought it was too expensive, rickety and beat up. What about you guys? I could sure use your vote of confidence in this area. I would really like to win this debate!