rustic plank table & chairs (and a Gratitude place setting)

 

Thank you to all my readers who had such nice things to say about the rustic plank table my Dad and I made out of a pile of sun-bleached wood. If you missed it, you can click HERE to see how we made it.

I really had fun sharing this project and today I thought I’d give you an update on my outdoor seating for this table.

Personally I love the combination of wicker and wood in the patio, and if you remember I already had two thrift store chairs to use so I splurged and bought these four wicker chairs (on sale) at Pier I Imports.

After I painted the wood chairs with a batch of homemade chalk paint, I removed the seats because I wanted to put this blue and white ticking on them and replace the foam.

Honestly, I didn’t take photos of this part of the re-do because I thought it was going to be so easy and too boring for you.

Little did I know.

I ended up having a terrible time with the foam. I bought the wrong thickness and when I tried to cut it with scissors it was messy and slow.

Thank goodness I have some incredibly talented readers like Robyn, Sandra, and Violets are Blue who let me know about using an electric knife with foam. It was the answer.

 

I know it’s not as fun to look at plain old tables so…

… I added a place setting to give you an idea of what dining on this table might look like.

I think the blue ticking seats look perfect with the weathered wood.

What do you think?

In case you’re curious about this place setting, I simply snipped a piece of fresh rosemary and tied it with twine. I printed the word “Gratitude” on the computer, tore the edges and ran them over a sepia ink pad.

Then I mod-podged the word onto a tag.

Here’s a close-up of the white-washed planks.

 

And this is my gratitude place setting

Because this is my word lately.

Gratitude is such fascinating experience, don’t you think? It seems to grow the more we focus on on appreciating those simple, tiny details of our lives which interestingly, end up being the important stuff.

Like sitting around this table last night with my parents and suddenly realizing that everyone in that moment was healthy. My parents. Jim. Me. God, that felt incredible.

And realizing that Michael has no more surgeries ahead of him. And Patrick hasn’t fallen on his head and had to go to the emergency room lately. And realizing I have friends. Amazing ones who took me to San Francisco to celebrate my birthday.

And a husband who went shopping with me over the weekend and bought me a dreamy birthday present. OK, I’m digressing now…but I can’t help it cause I’m sooooo excited about what I got this weekend….

one more thing to be grateful for….

Here’s a few teasers.

Hint 1: it’s something to sit on

Hint 2: Belgian linen.

stay tuned for more….

xoxo

Leslie

 

I’m linking this post up with these friends:

• http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/2013/07/share-it-one-more-time-features-and_20.html
• http://elizabethandco.blogspot.com/2013/07/be-inspired-features-and-link-party-79.html
• http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/
• http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-144/
• http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/07/174th-inspire-me-tuesday.html
• http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com/2013/07/the-inspiration-exchange-no-9-and.html
• http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/07/wow-us-wednesdays-128.html?
• http://www.greenwillowpond.com/2013/07/what-we-accomplished-wednesday-24.html

 

 

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