Sunday Bits #19 (she shed, potatoes, planting calculators, pantries)

The craft room has been cleaned and organised while I wait for spring to arrive, now just needs a crafting table and a shelf of some sort to hold paints and stuff. My parent's old kitchen table is in storage at my brother's house, so hubby will pick it up for me next weekend. Can't wait, it is nothing special, in fact I think it is from Ikea, but will think of my mom and dad whenever I work on it. Memories come about from the simplest of things.

Next on the agenda of small fun updates, is a mural in the grandkid's room. I will help with it but is my daughter who is the artist and will actually be doing it. I can just help fill in with a bit of colour here and there, that is the extent of my artistic talents. My inspiration for the room is a woodland theme but with a vintage vibe.

My wee seedlings are coming along nicely, have been planting a bit these past two weeks. Not a lot yet as spring comes late to the prairies, hah, but peppers and some flowers are on the go. If you want to read about what I started and how I keep them from getting lanky, see that post here.

These 10 cool season crops that grow quickly. Can be direct sown in April or May, depending on the weather here (zone3) or March/April on the island. Can handle light frosts just fine, in fact they prefer that to the heat.

Oh, and a tip, you want to plant long season crops (brussels, cabbage) and cool season crops (in the article) before the weather gets too warm. If you try to plant them too late, when temps are high, they will immediately bolt instead of giving you food. If you plant them small, when temps are cool and wet, they will have time to root and settle in before the heat arrives.

You have to check out this post with pictures of super cute she-sheds from the outside and inside. Love these ideas for the interiors! I will make sure to put up a whole bunch of plant hangers to hang up all sorts of things from, and a ladder from the ceiling would be such a great way to hang baskets from while they are in the 'cottage-greenhouse'.

How to grow epic potatoes! How to Grow Epic Potatoes | Jim Gerritsen's Tips | joegardener®

Check out this super pretty garden/potager! .. with tips on how to have a successful garden with no experience.

Okay, these sayings about when to plant what are really helpful... if you can remember them all. Definitely helpful if your spring bulbs and trees are starting to bloom now!

Pottery Barn Inspired DIY

Garden Diy Bits

Make your own really cool looking summer pots. This blogger makes Pottery Barn Dupe vases but I saw this same technique on Cityline last year, but with outdoor pots instead. They turned out absolutely stupendous looking. This craft is on my agenda to make as soon as spring hits. Pin this to do later, if you are like me and want to do the messing about outside. Turn your plastic pots, or inexpensive clay pots, into rock stars! These vases turned out pretty darned great, too, I must say!

Cutest spring or Easter pot! Easy craft to make with little ones helping, too.

Decor

The best whites for your home. I, as you know, am a huge fan of white. I slap white paint on almost anything that stands still long enough. This list of beautiful whites for your home is bang on, whites that never go out of style. Two of the whites on the list are my favourites, as well. Most of my house, like 80% of the walls, are painted in Simply White. A nice, fresh, clean white that pairs well with anything. Chantilly Lace is my other favourite, so soft and pretty, with just a hint of sunshine.

How to spray paint curtain rods, and anything else, too. Save money and keep what you have, just give it a new look. I love paint! I am considering painting my chunky rods gold (see the picture above) when the renovation is done (to go with the new blue curtains that will be going up). Will see when I start putting it all back together again, after the reno. Currently this room is being used as my temporary kitchen ; )

This cute apartment is Scandinavian style with it's minimalism but also shabby chic with all the chippy and lots of white. Really unique and pretty. The small hits of blush pink make it work. I would love to do this at a summer cottage, or something, but with hits of green or blue instead of pink. Maybe when I win the millions ; )

This home is full of very bright colours, not at all my thing, but I love the rag rugs, the kid's room, the rustic touches. Hit the translate button to put it into English, the translations are always a bit weird but you will get the gist of it. The house was very run down when she bought it, a bit slouchy, but she fixed it up on a tight budget and made a lovely home.

Pantry from The Crowned Goat

Lifestyle

These 5 tips will change your morning, make you feel better, less stressed, and possibly(?) be more productive.

Do you buy fast fashion? Do you feel at cross roads about it? You are not alone. The high cost of living is making shopping ethically nigh on impossible for many, and even thrift shopping has changed since the pandemic. Read this short article, it is interesting. Is a bit like the plastic bag issue. The consumers get blamed for using plastic grocery bags and straws but the big corporations keep using it, make no changes, and keep on making millions. What is the answer? That I do not know, all I know is that the only control I have is what I myself do in my own backyard (a phrase that encompasses my home, my life).

I found these two great tips for keeping us organised. One for the pantry and one for the whole home. I hate clutter, am not a fan of tchotchkes, but I have stuff and things nevertheless! I'm always trying to figure out how to corral things so they look nice but are still very accessible. At this new house, we have a small kitchen with just a wee, itty bitty pantry. Smallest pantry I think we have ever had so will be crucial to keep it tidy.

This video is about how to make your inexpensive store bought print look like a handmade piece of art. Is so simple, too! I just watched this episode of Cityline and now am thinking I need to head to Homesense asap and make me some artwork!

That is it for this week's Bits. Fun bits of this and that.

Hope you all are having a terrific weekend, wishing you all health and happiness for the upcoming week.

Happy nesting while you wait for spring ~ Tanja