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    Home » DIY And Crafts

    Favorite DIY Projects, Tips & Recipes

    Published by Pam Kessler | 613 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article. - 20 Comments

    2016 was a year to go down in the record books.

    It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .

    • It was the year that politics forever ruined Facebook for me. You just can't ever un-see Great-Aunt Mildred's potty mouth rants about her political views. Me, I'd rather go through life with blinders on regarding family and friend's political views, thank you.
    • It was the year we lost Prince, George Michael, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Florence Henderson . . . and the list goes on. It starts to get real when the people we grew up watching on tv and listening to on the radio are dying.
    • It was the year that saw so many of my favorite bloggers run over to Instagram and never come back to blogging! I miss you guys! Get back here!

    My favorite DIY projects, tips and recipes of the year. From DIY Industrial Pipe Shelves to the best Banana Nut Bread to Gardening Projects for this spring.

    But, there were also good things that happened. Somewhere? Right?

    Unfortunately I'm having a hard time coming up with the good things right now, but until I do here are some of my favorite posts from House Of Hawthornes in 2016.

    Favorite DIY Projects, Tips & Recipes

    DIY Projects

    Shopping in the plumbing section at Home Depot has never been more fun.

    DIY Industrial Pipe Shelves

    DIY-Industrial-Pipe-Shelves-4951
    This little post about jamming evergreens into dirt was featured by a much larger site and ended up being my #1 viewed post of the Christmas season.

    How To Make Winter Porch Pots

    winter-porch-pots-tutorial-6016
    And Better Home & Gardens featured this post on their site and got a whole lot of people interested in cutting up lemons.

    Lemon & Rosemary Natural Room Scent

    Learn how to make an all natural room scent with lemon, rosemary and vanilla. It's quick and easy and makes your home smell yummy and cozy!
    My dollhouse turned birdhouse post was one of my favorites this year. If only the birds had loved it as much as I did. (I later made it in a Christmas house.)

    Vintage Tin Dollhouse Repurposed Into Birdhouse

    Vintage-Marx-Tin-Dollhouse-Birdhouse-4511-3

    Recipes

    I made a statement last year that I was going to do more recipe posts, because I LOVED doing the photography for them so much. Here are the two (yes, a whopping 2) that I did this year!

    Summer Mixed Berry Salad

    Yum! This quick and easy summer mixed berry salad with sour cream honey dressing will be the perfect healthy side dish for your next barbecue or picnic!

    Banana Bread - This Ain't Your Mama's Recipe

    Banana-Bread-4582

    Gardening

    In this post I showed you both the flowers I chose and how I turned a galvanized tub into a gardening container (hint - it involves power tools).

    Summer Container Gardening

    This how to guide for container gardening includes plant selection, instructions to prepare your container and a tip to make potting soil go farther.
    About this time of year I can not wait for spring to get here, so I occasionally hurry it along a bit. There may be some hammering involved.

    How To Force Flowering Branches

    Gorgeous pink crabapple blooms against a vintage green chalkboard.
    Here are my 5 favorites for the late summer garden. When will spring get here again?

    5 Favorite Late Summer Flowers

    Purple-Coneflower-Echinacea-purpurea-3920 (2)
    OK, so if you absolutely can't wait for the snow to stop flying, then buy yourself a plant that doesn't need dirt to live. Air plants are sort of footloose and fancy free (as far as plants go).

    Caring For Air Plants

    How-To-Care-For-Air-Plants-4840

    Yard Saling & Thrifting

    I did a series of a few thrifting/yard saling posts this year. I have more on tap for 2017.

    40 Yard Sale Tips For Hosting Your Own Sale

    40 yard sale tips to make the most out of your sale this year. Yard sales and garage sales are a GREAT way to make extra cash while decluttering your home.

    Top 5 Things To Look For At Yard Sales This Year

    5 Things To Buy At Yard Sales This Year

    Tips For Shopping Flea Markets, Festivals & Fairs

    tips-shopping-flea-markets-festivals-fairs

    And one more category for the road . . .

    Bitchin' & Moaning

    Because if you can't piss off ½ the internet, you're doing it wrong. Apparently, shiplap is a much loved wall covering.

    Is Shiplap The New Paneling?

    Fixer-Upper-Shiplap-Home-Decor-2

    I'm joining Rhoda at Southern Hospitality's Best Of 2016 party today! If you have a minute pop on over and see what other "Bests" happened in 2016. I promise, Great-Aunt Mildred won't be invited to the party.

    « Wishing You A Merry Christmas
    The Things You Find At An Antique Mall »
    668 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kirby

      December 27, 2016 at 8:09 am

      Great choices!

      Reply
    2. Sue Pagels

      December 27, 2016 at 9:02 am

      I am usually not one to complain, and always count my blessings, but 2016 pretty much sucked. Hoping 2017 will be on the upswing! Thanks for always making me laugh - your blog is one of my favorites and I pretty much only read three regularly! Short, simple, sweet, cute ideas - love it. Wishing you all the best in 2017!!

      Reply
    3. Anne @ DesignDreams

      December 27, 2016 at 9:14 am

      You summed up 2016 perfectly! It went the same way for me. Here's hoping only the best comes in 2017! Lovely selection of your posts.

      Happy New Year!!!!!!!

      Reply
    4. Aimee Mcallister

      December 27, 2016 at 9:34 am

      Thanks for all the great blogs! I'm looking forward to all the new ones to come in 2017.

      Reply
    5. Brenda Kula-Pruitt

      December 27, 2016 at 9:46 am

      Oh, I so agree with you about the politics on FB! I just had to leave it and go away for awhile. Enjoyed all your projects, gardening and recipes. And of course, the best of 2016 on your blog for me is your phenomenal wit. Can't get enough of that!
      Brenda

      Reply
    6. Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces

      December 27, 2016 at 9:58 am

      I love your blog, Pam...all of your wonderful projects and decorating...and you always make me smile! I'm not on FB much anymore, for the same reason. Hoping for a great 2017! Happy New Year!

      Reply
    7. Tammy Hart

      December 27, 2016 at 10:01 am

      I always enjoy your stories and projects. I too was saddened by political views posted on Facebook and have filled my feed with liked bloggers' pages and websites. The occasional rant still slips through now and then but I ignore it. I love all of the posts you chose but my favorite is the tin dollhouse turned birdhouse. It brought me so many lovely memories and even sent me on a hunt through storage to find all the beautiful wooden dollhouse furniture my father made for me. Project 2017 is to recreate the dollhouse I received for Christmas all those years ago. Thanks for your stories and project and I'm sending out love and light for a beautiful 2017. Life is what you make it to be....choose light!

      Reply
    8. Linda

      December 27, 2016 at 10:44 am

      You make me laugh which is one of the reasons I read your blog! I also enjoy your creative ideas AND I'm with you on the shiplap! Can't figure out why this is so popular! When I had read your thoughts on it, I felt validated! LOL! Thanks for a great blog and the best for the New Year!

      Reply
    9. FLORENCE L SALMER

      December 27, 2016 at 11:43 am

      Hey Pam,
      Interesting to see your top posts! A lot of these were my favorites too. Loved the pink coneflowers picture. Enjoyed your birdhouse post. Always fun to see the top garage sale finds. I might have missed a few in there like the recipe posts. My eyes glaze over when food becomes the topic b/c I hate to cook. Haha. Well, anyway, happy new year!

      Reply
    10. chris aka monkey

      December 27, 2016 at 1:33 pm

      you know i adore you, but i disagree about joanna and chip if i see those words or fixer upper my eyes glaze over, and i think i go into a coma, it was like they took over the internet and most of the stuff they do is way over my budget sorry xx

      Reply
    11. Melinda

      December 27, 2016 at 5:37 pm

      Great choices.

      I wish Blobbing was what it used to be.
      I keep trying because I am stubborn and don't want
      to give my little blog up.
      Maybe a comeback will happen in 2017.

      Happy New Year!

      M : )

      Reply
    12. Pat Miller

      December 27, 2016 at 5:46 pm

      Have not been with you very long, but you are a " keeper" for me! I LOVE your decorating ideas! It seems as if everything in my home has a story...as does yours! Someone's story, anyway! I love using vintage and recycling. Most of the treasures in my home are from my mom, and it puts a tear in my eye every time I explain them to my friends and visitors. We need to save the planet AND our vintage treasures for our children and grandchildren is what I say!
      Keep up the good work...and a happy new year to you and your family!

      Reply
    13. Amy | Stow and TellU

      December 27, 2016 at 11:02 pm

      Although FB and I haven't broken up completely, we're kinda taking a break, for the same reason. Ugh, there were days there, where my stomach turned just thinking about clicking on.

      Your Christmas porch was absolute favorite Holiday porch of the year. I did very minimal Christmas decorating this year, but I did make a winter porch pot inspired by yours, so thank you for that fabulous idea and all of the others you've shared for 2016!!

      Happy New Year and here's to great DIY for 2017!

      Reply
    14. Ginger

      December 29, 2016 at 5:49 pm

      Pam, as usual, your blog is a bright spot on the blight that is, soon to be was, 2016. And Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds? Come on!!! As a fellow Ohioan, all you do translates perfectly and I love all your ideas! Keep it coming!! And maybe all your readers can get together at the Country Living Fair this year and exchange our ideas! And our purchases!! Keep it coming and Happy 2017!!

      Reply
    15. Maria Brittis

      January 03, 2017 at 9:48 am

      You have the best recipes, i love the bread recipe, I just got a bread maker and will be making some for 2017
      Maria

      Reply
    16. Jeanie Emmert

      January 03, 2017 at 1:12 pm

      You sure had some incredible projects! I am such a fan of your blog (and your wonderful sense of humor!). Happy New Year! Pinned

      Reply
    17. Amy DeCesare

      January 03, 2017 at 6:11 pm

      Looks like you found a way to glamorize the past...and make 2016 look like a fabulous year! Thanks for sharing so many wonderful ideas all year, every year!

      Reply
    18. Laurie @ Vin'yet Etc.

      January 05, 2017 at 8:37 am

      Haha, I love your blog so much! There is only one thing we disagree on, shiplap forever! 😉 I basically went on a pinning frenzy lady, so so good! xo Here is to an excellent 2017!

      Reply
    19. Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

      January 05, 2017 at 8:07 pm

      What a wonderful round up! I love the galvanized tub as a planter! If I'm honest (heck, why not?) 2016 was pretty rough for me, too! Happy New Year! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

      Reply
      • Pam

        January 06, 2017 at 1:56 pm

        Happy New Year to you too Marci!

        Reply

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