Fresh Bread Delivery

Did you know bread stays fresher in a breadbox than it does in the refrigerator? Wikipedia says so

This mailbox was rescued from the side of a formerly rural road where a huge condo development was getting started.

As explained in a previous post, under the previous government Canada Post was replacing individual mailboxes in rural areas with group boxes that area residents have to walk or drive to in order to get their mail.

I had been thinking for a while about using old mailboxes for kitchen storage, and in particular that they would make adorable bread boxes, but the ones I found were usually in such a state that there would be health concerns using them for food.

But this one was nice and clean inside – just needed a good wash and dry. (I would still only used for wrapped baked goods, but that is true of kitchen cupboards, as well).

I scrubbed it down, sanded off as much of the rust as I could, then mixed up a batch of  homemade chalk paint.

I wanted this project to be a gift of appreciation to a local organic bakery I have a lot of respect for (and several waistline inches!). I picked this blue paint that is very close to one of A Bread Affair’s corporate colours.

In between coats of paint (I rarely need more than 2, but this took 3), I played with signage.

As much as possible I like to create a unique look, so I blended lettering styles including the very traditional 2″ stationery store stencils and an oversized stylized “B” to give it a one-of-a-kind look.

For whatever reason, my traditional technique of using artist tracing paper to transfer the outline to the mailbox didn’t work so I retraced it onto a plastic sheet and created my own stencil.

  (I don’t know what I would do without Sharpies!)

I was so excited by the end result I started taking photos before the paint was dry.

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Bathroom Mailboxes

I imagine we repurposers all do it… try MANY adaptations for an item before we land on “the one”.

And so it was I was goofing around with a couple of salvaged mailboxes in the bathroom.

Just a quick share before they come down (the only place I read in the bathroom is in the tub, and the book is usually residing on the nightstand next to my bed, so…)

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Mailbox to Shop Sign

Remember the mailbox I added to the garden in 2015?

When a lovely woman opened a new antique store near here I planned a gift of the mailbox planter.

Just removed as much of the numbers as possible and applied (roughly – so it would fit the rest of the box) some homemade housepaint.

Printed off some wording, copied it onto the mailbox, used marking pens to fill in the lettering and added a fence picket as a directional arrow. Voila!

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Wedding Card Mailbox

This is a remake of a plastic mailbox I painted last fall for Christmas porch decoration Christmas Mail.

A friend’s backyard wedding this summer has me seeing wedding décor everywhere I look.

The other side of the mailbox had a big chip in the front. I covered it by making a few quick and simple fabric flowers and hotglued them to the mailbox.

The wording was printed off on the computer and applied using the packing tape method. A string of very inexpensive imitation pearls was hot glued for a little elegance.

 

 

Child’s Play

Don’t you just love arriving for a party to find a specially decorated porch or entrance? I do.

I learned to do this as a fundraiser at BC’s Children’s Hospital Foundation. We hosted donor stewardship events for the biggest (wealthiest) donors, and it was always a priority to make the reception area beautifu

But with house parties, hosts and hostesses are usually up to their backsides getting the inside of the house cleaned and decorated.

I’ve discovered that creating a greeting porch/station is a very welcome gift I can give to my hosts. And if you use props you already own this job can be fast and virtually free. Your real gift is your time and creativity.

When a friend’s youngest turned three, I pulled together (and borrowed one of the rocking chairs) some antique children’s furniture and décor. All the plants were from the garden, so there was no cash expense.

 

AiJ followers will be familiar with this seatless antique Canadian pine child’s rocker. I use a kitchen strainer as a planter. I got it from a curbside “Free” box a couple of years ago. It’s perfect for the purpose.

I borrowed this scroll wood child’s rocker and added a large teddy bear (a curbside rescue from a couple of years ago – I reserve it for outdoor decorating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I pulled a planter from another location and added the Garden Angel I made last week.

 

 

 

and an antique doll I’ve had for 20 years…

 

 

 

It’s a weekend. No mail delivery so the mailbox gets pulled into action, too.

 

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Junk Gardening 2015

Canada Post is quickly moving away from home delivery of mail and toward group mailboxes that people go to to get their mail. Mailboxes – both on houses and rural roadside – will soon be icons of a bygone time. Fortunately, both kinds make charming planters.

 

I love my perennials, like the day lilies, dianthus, lavender – but mixing in annuals like the petunias and pansies ensures there is always something in bloom.

Everyone of these planters was a roadside rescue.

My uncle is one of BC’s most prominent antique dealers. I was a passenger in his vehicle when we drove past this mailbox that was almost covered with roadside weeds and was full of rotting newspapers. But I come by my love of rustic honestly, so when I pleaded with him to turn around and drive back so I could rescue it he didn’t hesitate for a second.

About 17 years ago I went to a local antique auction to deliver some papers for my uncle. As I walked in the door a pair of these lovely cottage kitchen chairs were going up for bid. 10 minutes later I was paying for them. The family friend I delivered the papers to later told my uncle “there were only 2 real antiques at the auction and she bought them.” They were solid black – not from paint, but most likely from soot from sitting in front of the wood stove or fireplace. Sadly, this one was broken by horrible movers a couple of years ago, so it’s new home is in the garden.

I like variety in a garden – even a container garden. Different colours, shapes, textures – and height. This birdcage isn’t old. I bought it last year at a local supermarket, of all things, but it was well built and a good reproduction. And it gives a nice bit of height variety.

I have wanted a trumpet planter for some time, but it had to be an instrument that was beyond repair – and didn’t cost a fortune. I had all but given up when I found this little sweetie in my local thrift shop – just $20 bucks.