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Jun 22, 2011

I Love the Red, White, and Blue!

I love this time of year!  Summer is officially here...the weather is great...and I can decorate the front porch in red, white, and blue!  There is something about the Fourth of July that brings back so many good memories.  As a young girl, I loved watching the fireworks with my family.  Anything americana makes be yearn for yesteryear when things seemed simpler and more innocent.  So any excuse to bring back good memories and to show some patriotism, I'm game!

I picked up this chair for free a few years ago.  I painted it cream and distressed it.  I made the bench years ago from a couple of headboards.


I found this old metal chair on our property...and love it!  The shutters came from the original house that used to be here before we rebuilt.  I hinged them together years ago to create a folding screen.  The old flag was purchased from a thrift store.  Buntings are all over the web these days.  I love them, but wanted to do something a little different.  I tore 3/4" strips of cotton fabric and tied them onto some cotton cording.  Then I gathered the red, white, and blue strips at the bottom and tied them with another strip of white fabric to form each triangular "flag."




I found a quilted pillow sham the other day at a thrift store.  I loved the design and the "weathered" look of the fabric.  I brought it home,  cut it in half, and serged the raw edges.  Then I tore 1" x 10" strips of denim from an old shirt.  I folded the strips in half to find the middle, then I stitched the middle of each strip to the top edge of the sham.  This gave me strips that are now 5" long.  I did this to both sides.  I ended up with 30 full strips sewn to each side (or, 60 5" strips on each side.)  So, when I tied them together, I was using two strips from each side tied together in one knot (30 knots total on each pillow.)  Of course, I inserted my pillow form before I tied them! :o)

  


I made chair cushions from a couple of striped pillow cases.  The top button detail allows me to remove the coverings for washing.  Remember, if you do this detail, you need to make buttonholes in both layers of the pillow case!  If you put the layers together and make your buttonholes...oops, you won't be able to get into it!



Some sweet people I know gave me this drop leaf table a few years back.  I immediately painted it red.  I think every porch needs a red table.  It is so versatile with decorating...Christmas...Valentine's Day...Independence Day...you name it!  The tablecloth is an old flag with borders of patriotic fabric.  And, I love the basket of strawberries...YUM!




Have a happy Fourth of July!
God bless America!

Linking to THESE great parties!

And...







And also the Red, White, and Blue Challenge at....

Visit thecsiproject.com

Featured on...






36th Avenue  Visit thecsiproject.com   Boogieboard Cottage  





60 comments:

  1. This is absolutely stunning! I love it! I am blogging about red, white, and blue crafts for a few days. If you have time hop over and check it out!
    Jenni
    kissedbyafrog.blogspot.com

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  2. Woah... that is incredible! I particularly love the way you did your bunting. Nice job!

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  3. Love your porch decor! If I were visiting, I know I'd look and look to take in every last detail.

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  4. Love the way this turned out! I especially love the ribbon banner!

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  5. Love your porch! The strawberries make it perfect! And your pillows are very creative. Love the bunting.

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  6. Loving EVERYTHING about your porch...all the details and lovliness! It is fabulous! Coming over from the CSI project! Christie at Three Pixie Lane

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  7. I so love your porch!! How wonderful to have those patriotic items out and about for all to see. You really did some fantastic transformations and I love the bunting!!! I may have to borrow that idea because it is so ingenious!!! LOve, Love, Love this post!!

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  8. Ser.E.OusLy! Your porch is darling! It kinda took my breath away when I realized you made that bench.. I guess I'm gonna have to try it! I am definitely a new follower, and stealing your button.. Found ya through CSI and I would vote you if I were the judge!!

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  9. Love it Susan - thanks for sharing!

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  10. you're so creative and innovative. Anything can become something nice.


    love~mongs
    mythriftycloset.blogspot.com

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  11. I'm over here from A Glimpse Inside link party. Your porch is fabulous!

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  12. I can't believe that most of that furniture was "free". I love it! Your bunting is so cute. Now you need to come and visit us down here and decorate my porch, too! :o) Love ya!
    -Kim

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  13. Wow, I love all your details...I especially LOVE your version of a pennant flag garland, awesome!

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  14. What a clever idea for your bunting! So creative!!!!

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  15. Your porch is so wonderful! Gorgeous details! I love the banner!

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  16. I'm ready to come sit a spell in this "Old Glory" honored space. D.lightful!

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  17. I absolutely love your porch!! I love the bunting!!

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  18. I'm visiting from CSI. Wow, your porch is absolutely gorgeous!! I love every single detail. It looks like such a wonderful place to relax!

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  19. Hi Susan, I'm here for the blog party, Love your red, white and blue porch. I am your newest follower and glad I found you.. can't wait to see more of what you do no your blog.. have a great weekend

    Pattie

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  20. So fabulous! This brings back great memories of teh 4th of July growing up!

    Anna
    www.mylifeandkids.com

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  21. Great porch and great space!! I love how you decorated it, it's so very Patriotic, I'm getting very inspired for my tablescape for the 4th. of July. Thanks for sharing. I just dropped from The Pcket Fence party. Hugs, FABBY

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  22. Hopped over from CSI. I too love decorating with the Red, White, and Blue! I did my front porch on Flag Day. I loved it all! Your bunting turned out just darling! Love your furniture and shutters.

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  23. WOW!!! Your porch is absolutely beautiful! So inviting and festive. Makes me want to sit out there all evening with a glass of lemonade and a good book. You did such a wonderful job putting it all together!

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  24. Great job! I especially like your take on buntings.

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  25. Popping over to say hello for the "Blog Party"! Adoring everything about your porch! xoox, tracie

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  26. Your bunting is just about the cutest thing I've seen. And the way you added the denim to your pillow was so clever. Everything looks great!

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  27. Wow what a cute and inviting porch! Love the bunting, just perfect! We would love to have you link this up to our linky party tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!
    Britney
    www.jandmseyecandy.blogspot.com

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  28. I would love to sit on your front porch! Gorgeous!

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  29. I love the fabric strips bunting! That is something I could make living overseas where the American decor is not available. Thanks!

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  30. This is all fantastic......every detail is just wonderful. You are certainly a talented woman and you blog is my absolute favorite!!!!

    I just pinned this as "Spaces I Love".

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  31. I just want to let you know that I featured your amazing porch on my blog... Thank you so much for sharing it at my link party. Feel free to come and button up ;)

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  32. Susan I love all your Americana! I especially love the red, white and blue garland! Very inspirational...
    Susan @ homeroad.net

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  33. Congratulations on the top ten, and thank you so very much for the kind words on my blog!

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  34. Beautiful all around! I pinned the ripped fabric bunting idea because it's just so clever (and I have been wanting bunting forever)!

    PS Your lobelias are gorgeous!

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  35. I absolutely love this! I have an aunt that lives in my great-grandma's house and she decorates it all up like this! I'm going to send her your link!

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  36. i love everything. can you come make mine pretty?

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  37. I saw this the other day at another party and just LOVE it! You did a great job and the strawberries are such a cute (and yummy) touch! I'm going to feature this Friday on my blog! Grab a button if you'd like. Thanks for sharing!
    Jen
    Scissors & Spatulas

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  38. cutest patriotic porch-LOVE IT. Now you can kick up your glitter toes sip on some lemonade and enjoy your freedom. WINKS-JEN

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  39. Ok so yours might just be one of my new favorite blogs! Love your style-every detail of the porch is so perfect! Great job!

    Happy 4th!!

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  40. Love, love that bunting! So nice to see a fresh take on it :) I pinned it for future reference!
    Amy @ www.themombot.com

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  41. I so dream of a porch like that! I'm over from the Tip Junkie Party.. http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/

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  42. This is fabulous! Love it all: the bunting banner, the revamped pillow, the flag-like scarf, et. al. Lucky you for finding the chair! Beautifully put together!

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  43. I am totally loving your version of bunting!! I saw it on Tip Junkie today and had to pop on over. I added it to my own blog with credit to you and a link back to your blog for my friends to read more.

    ~SandyPants
    www.therubybelle.blogspot.com

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  44. Just beautiful all of it, love those partiotic strawberries too, I have been cooking a lot with them recently.

    Hope to see you link up with us again this week at Bacon Time.

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  45. i love what you did with those shutters, that's a great idea. what a wonderful space you've got here. and i love your blog background, too!

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  46. I love it all too! Since we both love the Red, White and Blue, please enter this post at my Patriotic Linky party that I'm currently hosting - it fits perfectly! Have a safe and Happy 4th!!

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  47. me too and I love the great variety of red white and blues that you share come see me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

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  48. Your porch is amazing! I love the Americana look of it...it's magazine worthy. You've put into play so many special touches. That pillow sham with denim fringe is fabulous! :)

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  49. Wow! You've done an incredible job decorating your porch. It should definitely be featured in a magazine. I just was on pinterest last name and I pinned the picture of the red, white and blue bunting with the chair and flag. So great to find the whole scene and your blog.

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  50. What a great space! I couldn't pick a favorite if I had to.

    I am having a Red, White and Blue Linky Party that I'd love for you to join in on by adding your link!
    http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2011/07/red-white-and-blue-linky-party.html

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  51. Hello There- You have been featured over at COM, thanks a bunch. winks-jen

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  52. Hi there! I found you via Pinterest and I linked you up! THANKS so much! :)

    http://deedeecampbell.blogspot.com/2011/07/pinterest-goodness-4th-of-july.html

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  53. Thanks for sharing your love for the Red, White and Blue and thanks for sharing this on my Patriotic linky party! :)

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  54. This post is fantastic! That porch is so warm, inviting and beautifully patriotic. God bless America! Have a wonderful holiday!

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  55. Great images, great colors and great design. Thank you Susan, we shared one of your photos (with a link) here: http://www.renocompare.com/2015/06/4th-of-july-decorating-ideas/

    If you want to share another project please don't hesitate! Happy 4th of July!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate the feedback and always look forward to reading what you have to say! Susan