Author Archives: vwyler

Weekend DIY: Outdoor Canopy

Outdoor Decor, Weekend DIY

The weekend is ALMOST here and we’ve got an easy and chic Do-It-Yourself project to tackle this weekend. If you want to add more shade to your backyard, but want to skip the umbrella route, try a colorful or patterned canopy. We love the color palette of this one featured below!

This easy and budget friendly DIY project is from the magazine All You. The main things you’ll need to pick up are: 5 5-gallon buckets, 3 80-lb bags of cement mix, some PVC pipe, 4 planters of your liking, a large bag of gravel, soil, bamboo poles, 3 yards of outdoor fabric, and plants. Many of the other supplies you’ll have on hand. You’ll also need two days to do this project as you’ll need to let the cement set overnight – so start this project on Saturday, and finish it off on Sunday!

diy outdoor canopy (Photo Source: All You)

For the complete Do-It-Yourself project instructions and materials, visit All You. We also found another DIY Canopy idea from Apartment Therapy if you want to check out another way to do this same project.

Happy Weekend!

Welcome Back the Birds

Birds

We know the birds have been back a few weeks now, but isn’t it just wonderful when they begin to grace your backyard again. We love to hear all their chirping, singing and fluttering about near our windows. We even have a goose we’ve nicknamed “Gazer” (short for Stargazer) that tends to visit our office weekly.

If you are looking for more ways to attract birds to your backyard, we have some solutions for you! Check out these birding products from Willard & May, including this dual sided feeder we did a mini photo shoot with:


(1. Bird Feeder with Umbrella 2. Ceramic Bird Bath 3. Cast Iron Bell with Birds 4. Maple Leaf Bird Bath 5. Blue Aged Ceramic Bird Bath 6. Decorative Bird Bath and Feeder on Stand 7. Woodpecker Bird Knocker)

These also make great gifts for Mother’s Day – which isn’t too far away!

Weekend DIY: Easter!

Outdoor Decor, Pin Inspiration, Weekend DIY

Easter is THIS Sunday – and if you are like some of us here, you’re just now looking for a few ways to add an Easter vibe to your home. We’ve found a few of the best Easter DIY projects out there and put together this list for you! Check them out below and let us know which one you tried in the comments!

Easter Egg Garland – Honey & Fitz

Easter Terrarium – Honest to Nod

Easter Egg Balloons from Martha Stewart + More Easter Ideas from her

Robin’s Egg Blue Easter Wreath from Uncommon Design

Happy Weekend!

 

Before & After: Beachy Porch

Before & After, Outdoor Decor

Looking for a bit of inspiration to update your front or back porch? We came across this awesome Before & After from Grey Like Nesting, featuring the Grover’s porch makeover. They took a planting bed and updated it with decking, paint, and some love. We think this look is perfect for those who are wanting to add a beachy California vibe to your outdoor space. Check out the before and after, and for more photos visit Grey Likes Nesting’s post.

BEFORE

(Source: The Grovers)

AFTER

(Source: The Grovers)

Have a Before & After you’d like us to share? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Weekend DIY: Bamboo Chime

Outdoor Decor, Weekend DIY

The sound of wind chimes are amazing… If you live in the city,  it helps to break up the traffic noise. And if you live in the country or suburbs, the chimes help relax you. At this time we don’t have any wind chimes for sale on Willard & May, so why not make your own? This is also a great project the kids can use their painting skills at.

We came across this unique “Summer Time Chime” made of bamboo, on the blog Michele Made Me. For this fun Weekend Do-It-Yourself project, you’ll need: bamboo stakes (1 or 2), a stick from a tree, a drill (with a small drill bit), a handsaw, string, needle, acrylic paint and paintbrushes, sharpie and varnish.

Here are the simplified steps: Saw the bamboo intro various sizes. Then you’ll paint it and seal with varnish, and drill holes for attaching to the stick. Then use the string to attach each piece and hang up where it can be viewed for all to see! *We thought this also might look good as a circular chime – for this you’d need to find a round piece that you can attach the bamboo to, like a wooden hoop.

For the complete tutorial, visit Michele Made Me.




(Source: Michele Made Me)

Don’t have bamboo but have other objects you think might work for a DIY wind chime? How about some old earrings, buttons, old keys, or tin cans? Check out these other wind chimes we found to help inspire you to create!


(1. Rebecca Sower 2. Ellen’s Creative Passage 3. Wallace Gardens)

Happy Weekend!

Trend: Neon Spring

Gardening, Outdoor Decor

Ever watch the teenage sitcom, Saved by the Bell? Remember the crazy fashions: bright neon colors, spandex, splatter paint, bleach, that whole look? Well, I have good news for those who enjoyed that era (and still have the fashion to prove it)! NEON is back, and is the current trend for spring and summer!

Doing a simple Google search for “neon trend” shows you what you can do with a bit of neon… and you can do a lot!

Now, let’s take the neon idea and bring it out to the garden! Check out these colorful garden totes that come in four vibrant hues: pink, orange, blue, and green! Never misplace your garden bucket in the landscape again! We also rounded up some of our favorite summer-blooming bulbs from TulipWorld that can bring those neon hues to your flower beds and your neutral garden planters this summer!


(1. Sylphide Anemone 2. Orange Double Camellia Begonia 3. Golden Chalice Hybrid Calla Lily 4. Wyoming Canna Lily 5. Golden Emblem Decorative Dahlia 6. Tout a Toi Gladiolus 7. Red Pixie Lily 8. Guacamole Hosta 9. Royal Dream Hybrid Lily 10. Pineapple Lily 11. King City Gold Semi Dwarf Canna Lily 12. Purple Gem Cactus Dahlia)

Happy NEON spring!

Weekend DIY: Outdoor Lighting

Lighting, Store, Weekend DIY

Nothing beats a beautiful night out on the patio, reading a good book, sitting around a fire, enjoying dinner and making s’mores. The key to a warm, romantic backyard patio at night is the lighting – whether it be by candle, fire, lanterns, or strings of lights.


(Source: Pocket Full of Dreams)

This Weekend Do-It-Yourself project from the blog, Pocket Full of Dreams, will be the the perfect addition to your outdoor space to add some color, as well as light to your outdoor evening. Here is what you’ll need to get started: twine (colored twine is better or use spray paint once you have completed the steps to add color), glue, cornflour, warm water, balloons, marker, Vaseline, old tray for the glue mixture, a broom or long piece of wood to hand the balloons from, set of white lights (the kind you use on your Christmas tree), and fishing wire.

To complete this project, just follow the six simple steps outlined in the complete DIY found here on Pocket Full of Dreams.


(Source: Pocket Full of Dreams)

Looking for other ways to bring light to your outdoor space? Check out these items from Willard & May to complete your outdoor scene.

(1. Hardwood Lantern 2. Rustic Lanterns 3. LP Gas Square Fireplace with Slate 4. Gazing Globe with Cutouts 5. Votive Candle Stakes)

Happy Weekend!

 

Spring into Spring

Before & After, Curb Appeal, Gardening

Today marks the official first day of spring – and lucky for us, the weather reflects that today with a wonderful high of 70 degrees F. The coming of spring can also mean many things, such as spring cleaning, new life as plants begin to grow again, finding new ways to do things, or a new fresh look.

How about this spring, you find a new way to relax. You can sit back in a hammock, enjoying the chirping of the birds and the humming of the bees and lawn mowers – and think about how you won’t have to drive in or shovel snow until next winter. We think this photo describes exactly what spring should be all about, when it comes to relaxing…

(Source: House to Home)

Once you are finished relaxing, let’s talk about spring cleaning… Spring is also a great time to clean those pesky things that we normally skip over during weekly cleanings. We have compiled this spring cleaning checklist that pertains to your outdoor spaces for you to use over the next few weeks to get your outdoor space in tip top shape! You can download a free copy of our checklist to print out here.


OUTDOOR SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST

Garden Space

  • Clean up any trash, weeds or dead foliage
  • Clean and/or replace garden tools

Patio

  • Power-wash your patio or deck, and clean to remove grime, pollen, fungus and/or mildew

Other Backyard Areas

  • Check and replace pool filters
  • Wash windows
  • Hang up screens on windows and patch any holes
  • Re-seed spotty grass areas
  • maintenance
  • Check your hoses for cracks and leaks
  • Clean out the gutters
  • Clean and organize garages and sheds
  • Check your driveway and sidewalks for any needed repair

Are there any you think we missed on our checklist, if so let us know in the comment section below! Happy First Day of Spring and happy cleaning!

Weekend DIY: Kites

Outdoor Party, Weekend DIY

Aaahhh – Warmer weather is here and *fingers crossed* hopefully here to stay! Even if Spring is just teasing us, you might as well enjoy it while you can! Here is a fun and easy Do-It-Yourself project to tackle with the kids this weekend to make your own box kite from Fresh Home Ideas!

To get started, you’ll need to gather these materials: 1/4 inch pine dowels, Tyvek (house warp), nylon ribbon, strapping tape, string, 1/4 inch PVC tubing, markers for decorating, basic tools, handsaw and utility knife. Then follow these simple steps: 1. Cut the pieces. 2. Make the connectors 3. Position the Long Dowels. 4. Insert the Cross Pieces 5. Add the string and tail, and finally 6. Fly your kite! To read the complete DIY process and for other great tips along the way, check it out on Fresh Home Ideas.



(Source: Stuart Scott / Fresh Home Ideas)

If you want to make a kite, other than a box kite, here are some other Kite DIY tutorials we found for you, such as a butterfly kite, grocery bag kite, diamond kite, and fabric kite.

(1. Giddy Giddy 2. Rhythm of the Home 3. Fresh Home Ideas 4. Martha Stewart)

Happy Weekend!

Green Pottery for St. Patrick’s Day

Gardening, Outdoor Decor, Store

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and to celebrate we thought we’d share our favorite 11 green items on Willard & May. These ceramic pots, bird baths, strawberry planters, and multi-tiered planters would all look great on your front porch to decorate for the holiday…and then keep them around for the summer to plant flowers and fruits! And what’s more: all pottery is currently 15% off!


(1. Green Graceful Planter 2. Sea Shell Planter 3. Green Basic Pot 4. Green Cluster Pot 5. Green Gazing Ball 6. Green Kos Planter 7. Green Round Pot 8. Green Plain Planter 9. Green Strawberry Planter 10. Green Adonis Planter 11. Green Bird Bath)