Welcome to the 851st Tablescape Thursday! Since I will be on the road driving all day either tomorrow or on Friday (depends on the weather/road conditions) I’m posting this week’s Tablescape Thursday a day early. Several of these projects are table, summer dining, or entertaining related, so now would be a great time to start planning if any of these projects sounds interesting to you.
Have you ever come across something that you loved, either on a blog, in a store, or maybe via social media, but then discovered the item was out of stock or just way more than you wanted to spend? It’s so disappointing when that happens, I know! If the problem is that it’s out of stock, bookmark it and check back several times per day. I’ve had that happen when shopping for clothing, especially at Naadam. Often, I’ll bookmark the item, usually a sweater, and check the site a few times throughout the day for my size. Almost always one will reappear (maybe a return?) and as soon as I buy it, it will immediately show that it’s out of stock again. So the trick is to check often and don’t hesitate if it reappears.
Occasionally, I’ve come across an item I’ve wanted on one of the popular resale sites (cough…eBay…cough) but the cost will sometimes be way more than I wish to spend. A few nights ago I was checking out some of my previous DIY projects inspired by situations like that—where something I wanted was sold out with no hope of coming back in stock but was available via a reseller who had tripled (or worse) the cost. When that happens, I usually move on, albeit a little disappointed, but there have been a few times when that special item haunted me to the point I knew I’d have to try making it myself. Today, I’m sharing six times when I could not let go and ended up DIYing the item myself. As we make our way through the coldest months of winter, maybe this would be a great time to take on a fun project to pass the time. I woke up to 7-degree weather today (windchill -10!) so it’s a good day for staying indoors! lol
I fell hard for this Hot Cocoa Bar Jennifer created for her porch one winter. I loved everything about it, especially that awesome Hot Cocoa sign! (See Jennifer’s Hot Cocoa Bar here: Celebrating Everyday Life.) It’s been a while and my memory isn’t the best, but I think she found her sign in Marshall’s, or maybe it was HomeGoods. I stalked my local Marshalls, HomeGoods, and TJ Max for weeks with no success. Once I realized my local stores were never going to get it in stock, I started plotting how to make one for my porch.
You’ll find my detailed tutorial for my version of the sign here: Make a Hot Cocoa Sign for a Hot Chocolate Bar.
There have been a number of wonderful, unique pieces that I’ve fallen for from Pottery Barn over the years. This adorable cubby organizer was one of them. Back in the day when I was furnishing my office/study, I kept seeing this cubby organizer and thought how handy it would be for that space. The cost was a bit more than I wished to spend, so one day I got a wild hair and decided to see if I could make one. I think it was available in white, too—and that was the color I wanted for my office.
I had just completed building a potting table and was feeling a bit more comfortable with using power tools, so off I went! You’ll find a detailed description/tutorial for making this organizer here: Cubby Organizer, Great for Storage.
One of my first, Oh-my-gosh-I need-that, projects was inspired by this eBay auction for six Pottery Barn Shell Chargers. I loved the idea of shell chargers and envisioned using them in many summer tables on the porch. Unfortunately, the auction price escalated quickly beyond what I wanted to spend. They ultimately sold for $233.49, including shipping. Argh! Remembering I had a lot of beautiful shells from a vacation to Captiva and Sanible Islands in the 1980s, I decided to try and craft my own shell chargers.
They took quite a bit of time to make and I had some sore fingertips for a few days from gluing shells in place, but I loved how they turned out! My cost in the end for 6 shell chargers was $27. You’ll find the tutorial for how I made these here: DIY Shell Chargers, Pottery Barn Inspired.
A year or two later, I decided to make six more, this time adding in bits of “sea glass” (purchased in Marshalls) for some added color. These chargers have held up really well. I would not hesitate to make them again or another variation. Making them requires a little patience and a lot of stick-to-itiveness. lol
Probably the biggest project that I’ve taken on was inspired by this potting/party table from Pottery Barn. I loved its old-world design but the cost was outside my budget. As I recall, it was over $1,000.
I especially liked how it would work for entertaining, too. What a great piece for an outdoor party during the summer!
I had never built anything before, so I needed to buy quite a few power tools, including a jigsaw. Since I had never built anything like this before, working a few hours each day, it took me several weeks to make it. Though I did cover it with a protective finish once it was complete, I could never bring myself to place it on my upstairs deck where I had originally planned to use it. But I have enjoyed using it to pot up flowers under my screened porch where it has stayed protected from bad weather. If you would like to make this potting table that will also work great for outdoor parties, you’ll find a tutorial for making it here: Pottery Barn Party/Gardening Table. A detailed cut list with dimensions is available here: Dimensions and Cut List for Pottery Barn Inspired Potting Table.
Oh, how I wanted a flag for my screened porch after spying this fabulous one on the Pottery Barn website!
I still need to rough up/antique the one I made. I always have trouble forcing myself to scuff up/age something I’ve just painstakingly made. Ha! If you would like to make a flag for your home/porch in time for the 4th of July this year or to enjoy every day, you’ll find a tutorial for making one here: Make a Pottery Barn-Inspired American Flag.
Another project inspired by something I saw online at Pottery Barn was this patriotic banner.
I made mine from old denim jeans I was no longer wearing. You’ll find an easy tutorial for making this banner, here: Make a 4th of July Pottery Barn Inspired Banner.
Look at all that greenery in the background! Just a few more months and it will look this way again! See you back in Georgia real soon!
Looking forward to the beautiful table settings linked below for this week’s Tablescape Thursday!
If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on your post name, then copy and paste the address showing in the address bar, into the “url” box when you link up. You’ll need to include a link in your post back to the party to link up and participate. That’s so visitors to your blog will be able to find the party and the other Tablescape Thursday participants. Requiring a link back also prevents businesses and scammers from linking up to sell their products. Please, don’t add your post name/blog name ALL IN CAPS…it tends to create big spaces between the rows of links. Please do not link up table settings that were just recently shared in the last few weeks for Tablescape Thursday.
Be safe driving back to GA. You are amazing with your DIY’s. You have saved a ton of money sans tools. Maybe you should do a post on our best bargains.
Side note: there is a pop up ad on your site today with the prettiest hoodie LOL
Thanks, Myrna! Ohh, I have become such a hoodie girl for winter…love ’em!
I remember all/most of those projects. Safe travels–not the best time of year for it. Looking forward to your project list 2025 for the Atlanta house .
Thanks, Mia! The snow my weather app on my phone was showing, never arrived. I could have driven home today if I had know. I will def be going for it tomorrow. Not looking forward to it, but at least I have some new books to listen to en route.
I must admit that I like your shell charger plates, hot cocoa sign, potting table, flag and flag banner much better than the originals. I think the original version of the charger plate is hideous. Your mind is definitely a mine-field of creativity. Be safe out there, God bless and TFS.
Thanks, Juanita! I like the way mine turned out better, too…so I guess it’s a good thing that the bids on the PB ones went so high. Awww, thanks! I will, will be taking that long drive tomorrow.
And…YOU DiD IT!!! STILL look amazing, too!! franki
Thanks so much, Franki!
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Susan you know a thing or two!!! All your projects turned out great. I was first introduced to you when I asked about that cute little hutch on your porch that you painted.
So glad you’re here, Kathleen! Appreciate you and your kind comments so much!
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I remember them all and and think yours are the nicest. The chargers are simply stunning! Safe journey back to GA. Hugs!
Thanks so much, Bobbi! ♥
I hope you have safe travels. The weather is not supposed to be really, really cold again until next week. I’m impressed with your wood-working schools. I’m blessed in that my husband is skilled in woodworking. What you made is so pretty, especially the cocoa bar sign.
Next week looks downright scary! Thanks so much, Nan! I had no idea what I was doing, just tried to figure it out as I went. I wish I’d had someone to teach me woodworking/building when I was growing up.
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So many fun projects you have shared over the years. Those shell chargers were one of my favorites and I made my own version!!
You sure are talented Susan! And brave – I’ve only made a couple things with power tools, and it was always quite challenging! Your projects look great. Thanks for the tutorials, and for hosting the party! Hope you have a safe and uneventful trip!