When I took down my “everyday” decorations last fall to decorate for autumn, I finally took apart an old arrangement on my windowsill that had dried flowers and a bird and nest and had just gotten dusty and unkempt. After putting autumn and Christmas decorations away and getting back to everyday, I pondered what to put in that empty spot. I hadn’t seen or come up with anything until the spring issue of Kelli’s beautiful Seasonal Delights magazine came out and I saw the Hidden Nest Centerpiece. A smaller version of that would be just perfect!
So I assembled the materials this week, with a 5″ pot instead of the 8″. I originally wanted to paint the flower pot a cream color and the eggs blue, but the windowsill this would be on is white, so I thought a bit of color would be better with a blue flower pot. These kinds of decisions can stall a project for me for days, but I decided since all of these materials were reusable I could disassemble it and change it if I wanted, so I went ahead with painting the flower pot blue and using cream and brown eggs I found at Michael’s.
I had a bit of a problem, though, with the garland: mine was so bushy that it lost its “arch” shape almost completely (probably because the pot was smaller, so the arch was smaller — I am sure it would have done fine with the bigger pot size Kelli’s centerpiece had called for), and then I had trouble getting the wire to stick to the flower pot with hot glue. I remembered some variegated green picks I had and got a few of them and stuck them directly in the moss, then tucked the nest under the leaves. This is finally what I came up with:
I love it. When I am working at the sink I can see the little nest and eggs peeking out through the leaves. We often have little birds build nests in our hanging plants outside that I can see from my kitchen window, so this reminds me of that and fits right in with the scene.
I do still want to try Kelli’s idea with the garland shaped as an arch some time!
On the other side of my windowsill is this:
It’s just a couple of spring floral picks I got years ago at a Home Interiors party, stuffed into a small creamer pitcher, but it has been a long-time favorite window sill brightener. It’s getting old, too, but I keep dusting it off.
This is the whole windowsill, cheery even on a gloomy day outside:
I also wanted to share a couple of things I was delighted to find while out shopping this week.
It’s very hard to find kitchen towels and such with pink — apparently that’s not “in” as a decorator color just now. But I was delighted to find these at Kohl’s — I was shopping in the men’s department for my husband’s birthday and investigated the housewares and decorating section while I was there. I was glad I did!
They’re almost too pretty to use — almost. But I will use them!
I was also thrilled to find these chair pads on clearance. I had been needing new ones and wanted to find the kind with the non-skid surface on the bottom rather than ties (which always seem to pull out after much use at my house). I had seen some blue ones at another store that I thought were too expensive. But these were not only less, they had little pink and cream flecks in them that matched mt kitchen/dining area:
And I love the non-skid underside!! It works much better than the ties at the back.
Isn’t it funny how little things can brighten an area?
Kelli at There’s No Place Like Home hosts “Show and Tell Friday” asking “Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there’s a story behind your special something, that’s even better! If you would like to join in, all you have to do is post your “Show and Tell” on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky. Guidelines are here
Stray Thoughts 
Beautiful things, Barbara. I do especially love the towels. You’re right about the pinks being scarce for kitchens. Somehow we got the idea that kitchens were to be dressed in primary colors. ??
Nancy
I like your arrangements on the window sill. You’re right about them cheering up the place even when the weather is dreary outside!
Connie
What a cheerful display. And I love the towels. Have a great day.
Hi Barbara! That little bird nest tucked into the plant is very cute. Reminds me of when I had a hanging fuschia with a tiny nest in it and didn’t know it. Everytime I would water it mama bird would dive bomb me… finally I looked inside and realized what I was watering, I mean bathing… Great show and tell, thanks!
-Karoline
Amazing how a window sill can brighten even gloomy days! I put an obnoxious yellow vase in mine, to brighten things up. Yours is definitely more tasteful.
Beautiful…love the little eggs hidden in the potted plant too!!
Have a great weekend, hope you can drop by my show n tell if you haven’t already.
Your flowers are so lovely. What a gentle reminder that Spring will soon be here.
I love those towels! I shall have to look at my Kohls! Thank you for sharing all your treasures!
Gina
Love the windowill vignette. Very cheerful and pretty!
Isn’t Kelli’s magazine beautiful?!
Such good ideas! Your version of her arrangement is great.
Beautiful! What a cheerful view you’ve given yourself, and your kitchen is just lovely. The pink towels are perfect! ;o)
The window sill looks great. I love the pink towels and the chair cushions.
Susan
It all looks wonderful and ready for spring.
Pretty towels…
Louise
Cute springy window.
I would love it if birds would nest on my hanging planters!
Thanks for your share today.
you did some lovely happy cheerful touches around your home. I love the nest in your plant.. and so thrilled for you about the pink towels…. I am more of a bold color kind of gal… but love pink too !!! Maybe cause my little girl does.. they are very Springy and happy indeed !!! Mica
What beautiful things! I especially like the eggs peeking out! Reminds me of one of my favorite children’s songs (and a sweet spring song) about the egg on the branch on the tree and the green grass that grows all around!
Hello! Thank you for stopping by to say hi and commenting on my blog! Your photos are just beautiful! I know what you mean about how fun it is to make a room cheerful – and how just a few touches can make it so delightful! Have a beautiful day!
how neat! i’ll have to be on the look out for non-skid pads! i’m serious…never have seen these before.
your window sill looks great…i like the view outside as well!
thanks for poppin’ over by the way. :o)
Oh that bouquet!! I just love it. I just cheers up the place. And those sweet towels. I love them. Thanks for sharing.
Kathi
Oh sweet…I think everyone is about due for some “spring” in the room…
great idea :o)
~simply~
Love the nest and flowers at the windowsill.
The dish towels are gorgeous.
The tieless chair pad sounds good, my
ties always fall apart or are played by my cats!
Oh, you did such a great job! I really like your springy windowsill! I will have to go to Kelli’s and see her version of the hidden nest. I just love yours! Very cute!
:0) Sharon
What wonderful cheery ideas to brighten your kitchen window. I love the kitchen towels, I bought the same ones a couple of weeks ago at Kohls too! Thanks for stopping by my show and tell.
Sandra
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What a cheerful windowsill. I think I’ll give some thought to mine!! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful arrangement!
The tea towels are lovely, they do look to pretty to use.
Great job on your *hidden nest* project!! I love the tea towels, too. Tea towels are a weakness of mine:)
Also, your post on Obama was very informative and good. I believe he has an evil hidden agenda in becoming president–I pray that doesn’t happen.
How pretty. I really love the Laura Ashley towels.
Cookie
I like things around me that bring good feelings–I think that is what you are doing. I think it is so wonderful that we have such a creative God who has made so many kinds of colors, creatures, etc–our homes should reflect that 😉
I especially love the pink towels. Funny how when you are looking for something specific, it can be hard to find. Thanks for visiting my blog!
Your spring windowsill is beautiful and I *love* your hidden nest in the ivy….you did a wonderful job! I also really like those towels, I may have to visit Kohls soon. :0)
Hugs,
Kelli
Those towels are too cute! I didn’t do a Show and Tell this past Friday because things were crazy busy with the Blog party and I didn’t think I could keep up with all of it. haha!
But I’m hoping to jump back into the Show and Tell this week.
I have to agree, those tea towels are almost too pretty to use!!!