Thursday, May 16, 2013

Whimsical Gypsy Swing


I do a lot of thinking when I'm on my sweet Husqvarna riding lawnmower.
A lot.
I love my lawnmower.
I love mowing.
Four hours of sunshine on my shoulders;
the earthy fragrance of freshly cut grass;
and seeing our property from different angles and views.
It's alllll good.

And while I'm cutting those neat, green stripes in the grass,
my brain is going a million miles a minute ~
re-landscaping this,
relocating that,
adding something here,
and moving something over there.
It gives me the perfect chance to do some serious brainstorming and planning.

So when I rode by the front porch
and glanced at my favorite porch swing,
she looked pretty

but...

unadorned.

She needed something.

I love the new RASC body pillow slip a friend made for me.
I love the ruffled cushion beneath it.
But something was missing...




Hmmmmmm.......

The creative gears in my brain began to whirl and grind.
Every time I rode past the porch, I looked at her.
Contemplating....
thinking.

By the time the mowing was completed,
I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

My swing was singing for some
gypsy goodness.

Gathering up a pile of streamers I use when creating my dream catchers,
I headed out to the porch...




...and started wrapping.
Criss-crossing back and forth over the chains,
tying them in a knot,
leaving the ends to flutter in the wind.




I used different streamers in a variety of pastel colors and shabby chic prints.






They added such a sweet, fun, whimsical look to the swing.




So much better than those plain, old chains.

I also changed out the chandelier on the porch, too.
The previous one was very plain.
This one, however,
(picked up last summer at an antique shop)
adds a touch of vintage, romantic bling.




A large, new outdoor Turkish-inspired rug will soon grace the cement floor
replacing the worn coir one.




Hmmmm...
but there was still something missing....








The answer was to hang long, romantic sheer outdoor curtain panels ~
giving the porch an even more cozy, romantic bohemian feel.








Oh yes.




I ripped some white streamers to use as tie-backs on breezy days.







Now, the porch feels a bit more like an outdoor room.




A place to escape the hot afternoon sun.
A place to swing and snooze the day away...




on a whimsical, gypsy swing.





Be sure to stop by and take a leisurely walk through Kerryanne's beautiful new e-zine
"Simply Shabbilicious" at her Shabby Art Boutique blog.
You might see someone you know.
*wink*
The new issue is scheduled to be out on Monday, May 20!


~  Gypsy Blessings  ~





Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar!

69 comments:

  1. Oooh Laurie... I am in love... sigh... just beautiful!... xoxo Julie Marie

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  2. Beautiful Laurie!!! Love the curtains blowing in the wind...so pretty
    Your porch is lovely
    Enjoy!!!
    Suzann ~xoxo~

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  3. Your porch is just gorgeous! I have been thinking about adding some curtains to our porch...seeing yours has made my mind up...YES! Hugs, Penny

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  4. I got lost in the dreaminess of the entire post! Your dream catchers are enchanting and I love the sheer curtains...so romantic! What sort of flowers are growing right in front of your porch? I just love looking at all of your fresh mowed grass!

    XO,
    Jane

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  5. Oh Laurie,
    I love all of it. I can feel the breeze and wish I could swing on that porch. Beautiful like a dream. You are so talented! I may just have to copy you!
    xoxo Dolly

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  6. I love what you did--your porch looks so light and airy now--I love it!

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  7. So pretty Laurie~ glad that you found the sheers you were looking for after all- they are perfect! :)

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  8. Your idea for the flimsy gauzy gypsy curtains was inspired and it creates a room like romantic feel.

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  9. Love the look of torn cotton ribbons dancing in the breeze. The porch is very lovely!

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  10. Love what you did here with the curtains, the swing, and covering the chains...I know what I'll be doing once my swing is made and up for use...adding strips of fabric to my chains!

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  11. Oh ya! I must say it sure is a precious place to relax, daydream and enjoy.I sure like the fabric on the chain made a huge difference.

    Where did you find your outdoor curtains? Very pretty!

    Headed over to check out your friends blog :) Thanks!

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  12. Lovely. I used to have a porch like this. I really miss it. J

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  13. Inspired swing streamers and porch sheers! Can't wait to see what inspirations come the next time you mow... May I borrow your mower for a little inspiration time?

    Judith

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  14. You always have great ideas that add more beauty to your home!

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  15. You know i wasn't too crazy about the strips tied to the chains but then you added the curtains and OH MY YES that was it! Its beautiful! Hugs! deb

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  16. Ohhh Laurie,
    that´s amazing. Great place for rest with book !!! Love your space too much :)
    Have a nice day Vlaďka

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  17. Well isn't that pretty! Love the ingenuity in here. Got my eye on your next posts.

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  18. How wise you are to remind us that a porch IS a room, to be decorated and enjoyed like anywhere else in the house. (Mine is a mess and I'm not going to show it to you.)

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  19. Awww-laurie-this is....I have no words.......LOVE,yeas-LOVE!!!!It's perfect beauty♥♥♥ Love your idea's and creativity!!!!!!
    Have a nice weekend!!!
    xoxo

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  20. Enchanting and dreamy. This is perfect! You are so taletned!!!

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  21. Your porch looks so pretty and romantic, Laurie! I could just see lazily gliding in that swing. Love the fabric streamers you added and the sheers. I always think sheers look great floating on the breeze. Good idea to tie them back when it's a bit too breezy.

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  22. Laurie, Thank you for so generously sharing your beautiful ideas. Please tell me you will actually put your feet up on that dreamy porch! It is pretty as a picture <3

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  24. I can only say this"Oh my gosh" my mouth fell open a little wider with each photo I have never seen a more lovely spot to sit on a summer afternoon...you have done an amazing job and I must say you are so lucky to have that to enjoy!!! WOW WOW WOW...

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  25. Your swing looks amazing. I was out cleaning up my front porch yesterday, changing things up a bit for summer, and I was thinking the exact same thing about the boring chains on my swing. Your fluttery curtains add just the right finishing touch. Thank you so much for sharing! Blessings, Patti

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  26. Ha!!!! I lOVE it! You are so clever and creative, i was smiling all the way through this post. I can totally imagine riding on the mower and getting all creative and inspired. It's so fun to come up with new ideas like that, that are so pretty, and for nothing but a little time and moving things around. It's so romantic now. I love the idea of the soft sheer curtains and fairy like lace and streamers ... fabulous!

    Cindy

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  27. This porch is so wonderful and charming! Made so special by the beautiful swing AND the chandelier!

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  28. Oh, Laurie, I love your porch swing! I have one that I'm taking to Farm Chicks, but i really want to keep it, especially now after seeing yours:-) Our porch is a little narrow for it and I'd have to eliminate my bench filled with all my crusty metal,urns and statuary which I also love. Oh, what to do....

    Beautiful porch! Hope you don't mind that I shared your photo off Pinterest on my FB page today:-)

    xoxo
    Kathleen

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  29. Laurie, it's beautiful :) So beautiful corner is your veranda, with curtains is even more beautiful!
      On the swing, I can imagine myself as resting and lying back! Perhaps I would not have anything, just dreaming and staring into the distance!
    Have a nice day ... Romana

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  30. Ok dear..... Just when I think I've arrived in dreamland and your dreamland doesn't get any better.... You once AGAIN whisk me off my little feet and I've once again landed on thee most billowy romantic prairie " CLOUD" Ive ever walked on, or rather, "FLOATED" on......
    Oh how I wish I could say like Dorothy, " there's no place like home" and be instantly zapped to your piece of "HEAVEN" !!!!!!!

    LOVE you to bits !!!!!!
    Have a great weekend and I'm mailing off your pretty little painting in the morning!

    XOXO ~ Steph

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  31. Beautiful....how do you keep it from being ruined from he eements? Dust, dirt, rain...etc. pollen right now! I have trouble with just a glass table getting filthy! Would love to know!

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  32. Wow, Laurie. That is gorgeous. Your house is so beautiful outside too.

    Have a great weekend

    Hugs

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  33. OMG Laurie...pinning pinning pinning!!!

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  34. so pretty laurie! Love it! what a gorgeous place to sit and relax on warm summer days! looking forward to checking out the e zine!!!
    have a fabulous weekend!!!

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  35. I couldn't agree with you more! I love mowing the yard and haven't done it in years.. not since we've moved to Chicago. We've used a lawn service and have enjoyed the luxury. However, now that we are moving onto a smaller property, we have bought a new mower and I relish the thought of mowing again. Now, the redesign on your porch is darling! You captured the bohemian look perfectly. And all it took was a few touches, using things you already had on hand and voila!.. a dreamy way to spend a summer afternoon!

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  36. I am going to have to wrestle the lawn tractor from my hubby! I love the new look of your porch-it is very romantic.

    Carolyn

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  37. Love this post and all of it beauty, what you did with the porch swing is great. I love what you did with the chain. Your entire porch is so inviting, I want to come and hang out with you and have a glass of wine or iced tea!

    Cynthia

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  38. Love, love, love I have just finished painting my swing and was trying to decide what to do about the chains..
    You know they say coping is the highest form of flattery right .. Hope you don't mind but I have to copy.. or I could just come hang out on yours... hugs and happy weekend, Cherry

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  39. Oh Laurie what a story unfolding....it just keeps getting more beautiful every photo!
    Love what you've done! Its perfectly romantic and shabby!
    Love and hugs to you on this gorgeous weekend ;)

    All my heart,
    Deborah xoxo

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  40. That curtain completed it! So lovely! Thank you for sharing at Rustic Restorations Weekend!

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  41. Your porch is absolutely fabulous! the swing is beyond beautiful. I am so swooning here.... Ahhhh I could so sit there and never leave. Provided of course I had a nice cup of tea.... Lovely.....

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  42. What a beautiful and inspiring blog! Your porch looks lovely, and so inviting. Thank you for the inspiration!
    Yaya

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  43. Hay Laurie,

    I found your blog..on the blog
    from Kerryanne...
    And I saw you on the E-magazine from
    Kerryanne..
    I have an article on this magazine to...

    I love your blog...and I will follow your blog..
    Please take a look into my world...

    Love from Holland
    Marijke

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  44. Wow, what an absolutely beautiful setting. I wish I could come over and sit for awhile. The streamers really made a difference on the swing. I love your porch. Very beautiful. I am your newest GFC.
    Have a wonderful week,
    Bev
    @ Eclectic Red Barn

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  45. STOP! It's not fair to the rest of us! you create the most beautiful spaces, girl, so beautiful!! After I rest in my room at your place, I think I will sip tea on this swing, okay?

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  46. STOP! It's not fair to the rest of us! you create the most beautiful spaces, girl, so beautiful!! After I rest in my room at your place, I think I will sip tea on this swing, okay?

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  47. Love the material added to the chain and the gauzy sheers were really the "something" that was needed to make this space so dreamy. I want to sit on the swing and enjoy the outdoors. Really beautiful.

    ~Shanon

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  48. I could pretty much live in your porch and not have a thing to complaint.
    Great job on this one Laurie! LOVE.

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  49. Oh YES! You certainly gave it the wonderful gypsy touch Laure. Love it! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  50. Love, love your outdoor space! The swing looks so pretty! I have a new weekly link party which is live now and I would love if you stop by and link up this wonderful post! Hope to see you there! http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/ Hugs, Maria

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  51. So beautiful! I am in the process of redoing my porch also, thanks for inspiring me!

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  52. I. AM. KNEE-DEEP. IN. LUV.

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  53. Oh my goodness. Keep riding that lawn mower. Ideas come and then you actually get down and do it! Lovely porch. Very friendly. Very shabby chic. Most of all, it is authentically YOU. Who else would spend time putting streamers on that porch swing chain. You are an amazing decorator. Be safe.
    JM Illinois

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  54. Be still my heart...it is calling to me! Just lovely, Laurie!

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  55. O.K. I am still getting over imagining you enjoying mowing. Dearest cannot read this! He has a zero turn mower that I am sure he won't let me near - but he'd been trying to get me to try his older mower. Back to the important, gorgeous transformation of your swing - very gypsy and very beautiful. This would be a delicious retreat after garden work. I appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  56. sweet porch, laurie--love the wispy curtains:) LOVED your article in kerryanne's newest magazine!

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  57. Just lovely, so whimsical! I would love to say that I will be doing this, but don't think I could get it by the big guy! ;) He's super tolerant with a houseful of women and frills, but not sure I could pull this one off...have to be content just drooling over yours!

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  58. oh to spend an afternoon on that swing...just dreamy!!

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  59. Oh, I love this. Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home.
    Sherry

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  60. Its so nice..............
    http://rvlktpgroupt.blogspot.in/

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  61. It's funny how creative we can be when we're doing mundane tasks. You did a great job dressing it up. Thank you for sharing at Fluster's Creative Muster.

    Robin
    Fluster Buster

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  62. Oh it looks so inviting & cozy! Thanks for linking up -- I shared it on G+. :)

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  63. SOOOO relaxing! Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week- I'll be featuring your post tomorrow night!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  64. Laurie I'm so jealous! I so want a porch and one that looks a lot like yours. So pretty. I love all the special touches. Especially the chandelier and the material tied to the chains. I'm so glad you joined us this week at Transformed Tuesday.

    Hugs,
    Peggy~PJH Designs

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  65. Just beautiful...and ROMANTIC! What a great spot to relax and enjoy a beautiful day!

    and gotta love that yellow hen purse!

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  66. Oh.... my. It makes me wish I had a porch area large enough for a swing.

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