Retreating into Springtime Creativity & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #753
The winter seemed so, so long this year which was exacerbated by the huge snow dumps as well as a seriously deep dive into my own psyche. That is what the hibernation months are for, aren’t they? To rest and rejuvenate while also making plans for the awakening season.
For the past six years, I have chosen a motivational word that would help shape and inspire how I want my life to be over the subsequent 12 month period. I have always shared those posts in early January but this year I completely forgot. My previous focus words (or mantras) of the year have been think smaller to go bigger and letting go (2019), reinvention (2020), perspective and gratitude (2021 and 2022), healing (2023), and badassery (2024).
My word for 2025 is retreat. In light of my personal experiences over the last year, I have fled unapologetically into retreat mode and I plan on remaining isolated, secluded, safe, and happy within the confines of my beloved home surrounded by my amazing little family. While in retreat mode, my focus has been on my kids, my husband, myself, and my home. I am no longer willing to allow people or things into my sacred spaces if they are going to detract from the joy and happiness that I have painstakingly curated for myself through decades of deep introspection followed by purposeful action. It turns out that a half century of intense self scrutiny and reflection have left me unable to tolerate the bullshit that people keep trying to feed me. Guess what? I am not hungry for bullshit at all and I will decline any and all offers to eat other people’s shit. But most people don’t get it and continue to offer me their shit to eat. So now I am retreating and I have literally never been happier!
Retreat mode has not only improved my level of happiness, it has also led me into a flurry of creativity. So this post is more about my raggery and upcycled junk projects than it is about retreating. I hope you enjoy what I have been creating (or re-creating, so to speak).
My first project was a super easy way to upcycle old vases. I had picked up a few bunches of tulips from Aldi just before Easter. I was looking for vases to display them when I realized all of my favorite vases had stuff in them. So I went digging around in my basement and found two clear vases that were the perfect size. But they were so boring and plain that I was actually offended by them. So I raggified them with scraps of fabric and strings that I had been saving for some raggy project or other. The project was so simple that it took about 10 minutes to complete both vases. I could not be happier with the end result of my raggy vases. They really make me smile!
Another Easter project that I completed in late March is my giant brightly colored hanging porch eggs. My husband had brought home these two large pieces of scrap metal from work that were in the shape of eggs and asked if there was anything I could use them for. Well, yes, of course, I can use huge pieces of junk metal. I love junk and I will find a way to make it not junk.
So I headed off to Lowe’s and picked up four different colors of spray paint, some sealer, and a roll of painter’s tape. I painted both sides of the egg shapes so I would have four different patterns.
My original plan was to stake them into the ground in my front yard so you could see both sides, but then I got the idea to suspend them between the porch ceiling and railing so they would spin around in the wind. Once they were painted and dried, my husband drilled holes in them and hung them exactly as I imagined. I brought my wind chime collection out of winter storage to complete my Easter front porch decor. Now that Easter has passed, however, I need to replace the eggs so we are working on creating sheet metal butterflies and/or flowers.
I also really need to pressure wash my front porch. Gosh, it looks terrible. I am planning to paint the wood once we clean it. Stay tuned!
My next project was actually done in the fall. My mother-in-law loves those little display shelves for bric-a-brac as much as I love the word bric-a-brac. That would be a lot of love in case you didn’t know how much I love the word bric-a-brac. It is one of my favorites. It’s just so fun to say.
I found this cute wooden shelf for a few dollars on a thrifting adventure in the fall as my mother-in-law was getting ready to decorate for Halloween. I painted it purple and black with some homemade chalk finish paint, lightly distressed it, and sealed it with a coat of wax.
It turned out so adorable with all the Halloween bric-a-brac. My mother-in-law did not stop there, however. She switched it up for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and Spring.
All this cuteness made me think she needed another one plus she had also mentioned to me that she would like a second bric-a-brac shelf in more summery colors. I went out a-thrifting a few weeks back and found this sweet shelf that would be perfect with a beachy makeover.
Again I made my own chalk finish paint using paint that I had on hand. Just add some Plaster of Paris and a little bit of water and you have your own custom colors of chalk finish paint. My living room is painted in shades of blue that remind me of the ocean so I used the leftover paints from that makeover.
I wanted to change the drawer pull so I went to Hobby Lobby in search of a beach themed knob. They had lots of charming pulls to choose from…mermaids and seashells and lighthouses and fish…but none were small enough. I never did find a new pull for the little drawer, but I did find a delightful selection of seaside themed bric-a-brac. I couldn’t resist filling the display shelf before gifting it to my mother-in-law. I am excited to see how she changes it up through the seasons!
Finally, I want to share a very special gift that I received from my mother-in-law for Easter. For Mother’s Day in 2021, she had given me two of her mother’s butterfly brooches. I cherish them so much because Nanny and I had a special bond as well as a shared affection for butterflies. Whenever I see butterflies or images of butterflies, I know that she is with us. In fact, I just wore one of those pins with my thrifted double denim outfit on Monday.
Well, it seems that Nanny had even more butterfly brooches just waiting for my mother-in-law to pass on to me! And Easter 2025 was the occasion. Imagine my surprise when I opened the box with four beautiful vintage butterfly pins. I have a whole flock of them now. Look how pretty!
I have a bunch of other projects in the works that I will share as they are completed. Spring is finally here and I am creatively energized. I just went on a junking adventure with my sister in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They have so many fabulous flea markets and thrift shops around there. We found some great junk and some pretty awesome new stuff, too…coming soon.
That’s it for now. Always remember that one person’s junk is another person’s treasure!
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Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
24 Comments
Nancy
Good that you choose that word, ban nasty people or of your life.
I’m so in love with that see themed cupboard! It’s so British, so I’m totally loving it. And the Easter decorations are very cute. Enjoy your weekend!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, my friend! I hope you are felling well and enjoying the springtime!
xoxo
Shelbee
Neha Sharma
I love how retreat mode is sparking such creativity! 🌸✨ The transformation of those simple vases into raggy masterpieces is amazing! Upcycling always brings new life to old things. 🪡💕 So inspiring to see how embracing solitude can lead to happiness and creativity. #SpringtimeCreativity #SpreadTheKindness #Upcycle #RetreatMode
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Neha! I really appreciate your lovely comment!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anne M Bray
Home projects and keeping our hands moving on tactile things (and I don’t mean keyboards or screens!) are the way to sanity in these crazy times.
Have you read “Your Brain on Art” by Magsamen and Ross? Really good – I listened to it on Audible (while stitching) and then also bought the paperback.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I agree with you 100%! And I just added “Your Brain on Art” to my Audible library. I will be listening to it next week while sewing together another patchwork woven rag rug and painting some chairs!
xoxo
Shelbee
Melynda Brown
OK, that knoted fabric jar/vase is great! Often I will love the shape of a jar or bottle, but don’t keep it for use, because it will just be another clear jar with no personality. Things are about ready to change! Thanks for hosting, I appreciate it. Melynda @scratchmadefood!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh, thanks so much, Melynda! I am so glad that I could give you some inspiration for your own clear vases and jars. I am excited to see what you create!
xoxo
Shelbee
Di
Shelbee, there is so much inspiration here with your crafty projects! I especially love the colorful oversize Easter eggs-they are so cheerful and adorable. Time alone can really help allow your imagination to florish. Thanks for sharing and hosting the link up. I hope you and your family have a lovely weekend!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Di, thanks so much, my friend! I have so many different projects in the works right now. My biggest problem is focusing to completion of one project before I start another! Hahaha. I’ll get there. I hope you have a most wonderful weekend as well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sally in St Paul
I have been in a retreat mode for a while, and I agree that it’s great for creativity and happiness. I love the projects you’ve made and look forward to seeing more!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so very much, Sally! My problem right now is that I have a bunch of started projects that need finishing, but instead I keep starting more new ones! Hahaha. Time to get to it! Happy weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Amy Johnson
Thank you so much for featuring my fashion post! I so appreciate it!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks for joining us, my friend! I hope you have a lovely weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
nicole orriens
I love what you did with those vases! And especially that it can be done within 10 minutes. I’m not much of an arts and crafts person, but this I think I can do!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nicole! This project requires very little craftiness, skill, and time and it turned out so stinking cute. You definitely can do this!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
That is so cool. Retreat mode is something that all of us need. I need that. I love the vases and I love the eggs. All so very cool. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, my friend. I do enjoy retreat mode so I think I’m gonna stay here for as long as I can! Sending some good positive energy your way!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Now that is a clever way to decorate glass jars! I used to have a huge collection of them before this last move. I had a large rack in the basement for when I wanted to pull one out to paint or do something with. Now, I have to go looking for them at Goodwill if I need something for a project.
I agree about weeding out the toxic people/things in our lives. It’s just too short for that. I am trying to get out and about as much as I can these days as Mike’s second surgery has been moved up from October to May…yikes! Days will go by, and then I’ll realize I’ve not left home at all. I seem to be in a bit of a malaise as I don’t find my home particularly cozy or cocooning. I need to add some hygge to it.
Thanks, my friend, for the link up!
Marsha
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Marsha. Doesn’t it always work that way…as soon as you throw something away that you have held onto forever you suddenly have a need for it? I will be sending lots of positive healing energy your way for Mike’s surgery. That is soon! In the meantime, you should definitely start adding some elements of hygge to your home, my friend. We all need some cozy cocooning every now and then.
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I love your raggery vases. I can appreciate the word retreat as your word of the year. I’m sure whether I was conscious of it or not, that has been my word of the year at least a couple of times in the past. Turns out my word of the year is Albania. I didn’t see that one coming even 6 months ago.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Michelle! I am truly enjoying retreat mode. I have never been happier really. How was your trip to Albania???
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Our trip to Albania was amazing. We purchased a condo on the beach. (And I remember that you dislike the beach!) Two Californians’ dream – and a place we could never afford here in the States. So we are back in NC disassembling our lives and getting our house ready to sell. The only hiccup was that I forgot my anti-anxiety med – which I was wondering if I needed anyway – and about 3 days before we were to come home, started having mini panic attacks. Got my answer – yes I need it. Who knew I would be starting my biggest adventure yet at 61?
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am so excited for you and this new adventure! I hope the Albanian beach life is all that you imagine it will be! Definitely get your anxiety meds in order though. I understand how that goes!
xoxo
Shelbee