An amazing story of antique wisteria and garden karma
When I was a very young girl growing up in suburban New Jersey, my mother would sometimes take me to a place called the Van Vleck estate in Montclair. It was a huge and mysterious place - its perimeter was surrounded by mounds of rhododendrens that were tucked behind tall, black metal gates. Beyond the gates, there was an Italiante villa … [Read More...]
How NOT to paint a basket
I found this cute little basket at the dump the other day and brought it home.... It was nice and sturdy and had strong handles... So I thought I could load it up with mail in my hall... And here it lived for a week or so until I decided that I just HAD to paint it... Silly … [Read More...]
$79 dining room sideboard
As part of last fall's renovation-that-wore-me-out, we turned our old kitchen screened porch into our new dining room. Before it was done, I knew I wanted to have a sideboard for that space to hold all of our tablecloths, candles, etc. I loved the look of this piece from Thrifty Decor Chick: The color, the legs, the … [Read More...]
A morning visit to the garden: fringed tulips
Its so nice to watch a new garden rise in the spring. We did a lot of planting last year, and this spring we are reaping the benefits of our hard work. Of course, there are always little oops moments that appear - this is too close to that, there is too much space here, that died. Little details that make a gardener's to-do list always … [Read More...]
Ugly – really ugly – lamps
I have this odd thing for ugly lamps. I truly cannot explain the attraction, but I get all daydream-y when I see a lamp (or OMG a pair of lamps!) that look like monstrous freaks of design. Here's a pair of lamps I came across several weeks ago at our local ReStore. Now really. Look at those. The curves have potential, but the brass … [Read More...]
Botanical junking: happy little weeds
We broke our lawn mower last fall. Ran right over a big old rock and bent the blade. Lesson: you can't mow rocks. But it being fall and all and thinking "well, its gonna snow soon anyway", we dealt with it by promptly parking it in the back of the garage and ignoring it. So of course come spring our lawn sprouts up overnight and when we … [Read More...]
French country nightstand transformation
I scored this sweet little nightstand (and its partner three drawer chest) for a song. I've wanted to do a transformation on a French provincial piece for a while, and was delighted when I found these pieces. They sat in the garage all winter, but this spring set up my fancy-shamnsy sawhorse-and-plywood workbench in the backyard and got to … [Read More...]
Garden gifts
One of the best things about being a gardener is that you are never at a loss for quick gift ideas. I had to rush off to a dear friend's birthday celebration last night after a LONG day at work and boom! out to the garden I went to scare up a bouquet for her. Not much is blooming now, so I snipped a few daffodil blooms and added some shrub … [Read More...]
Wild Daffodil
I was out in the woods this morning with the dogs and came across the neatest thing: Can you see it? Look a little closer.... There it is! Growing all by itself, as happy as can be - how on Earth did that little guy get way out into the woods? But there it was! Growing big and strong and all … [Read More...]
Living room armoire
So we are still working away - slowly - on our new great room. Still no stone work, still painted plywood floors -whatever. I wasn't too motivated to do much over the winter - the fall construction knocked the wind out of my sails! We did a little decorating - got new couches and a rug but the room just wasn't coming together. Then it … [Read More...]
Hi – I’m Maggie and I created Crunchy Diva to share my creative adventures with you! I’m a design junkie, treasure hunter and sucker for all things reclaimed, restored and repurposed. 
