While visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina with some dear blogger friends…Barb of Grits and Glamour, Kathysue of Good Life of Design and our wonderful hostess, Carol, Chisenfam of Rate My Space…I was excited to discover that our visit coincided with the 50th Annual Beaufort Old Homes and Gardens Tour…in the third oldest town in North Carolina! Were we lucky ducks or what?
We got to tour inside the lovely old homes but, unfortunately, no photos were allowed, so I am only able to show you the exteriors. They ran the gamut from Victorian gingerbread to wonderful coastal bungalows. In addition, we stopped to admire some gorgeous old homes that were not on the tour…
…such as Hammock House, the oldest home in Beaufort and the former home of Blackbeard the pirate! And yes…he was real! I had to snitch these photos from the web since the owner was relaxing on the porch, reading a book! I don’t think I would want to live in this one since it is supposedly haunted by Blackbeard's unwilling 18 year old French wife whom he hanged for infidelity! Yikes!
We also got to peek into some wonderful gardens…lush from the heat and humidity. I love the big, overturned flower pot as a birdbath base!
We discovered that Beaufort has a style of fence particular to the town…interesting!
We also saw stepping stones in the shape of sand dollars…love it! So coastal!
Also typically North Carolina…a vintage tobacco basket…used to display tobacco taken to market…serving as wall art on a guest house patio! I would love to have one of these!Now…I don’t know about you, but I used to return to my humble abode a little depressed after touring all those gorgeous homes. Sooo…I finally discovered a way to take a little of the tour home with me! I would try to steal…er…borrow three ideas! And here are my three for this tour…
I love this coastal look…a blueberry wreath with starfish attached!
And here is my version…easy peasy! I just tied the starfish with some jute twine for an added natural look! I found the wreath last weekend on sale at my favorite flea/antique store and I already had the starfish. It’s hanging on my back door.
I love this little door in the tree…so cute! It is intended to be a fairy door, but it reminds me of one of my favorite childhood books…
… The Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown illustrated by Garth Williams. I love this idea and I am looking for the perfect little door!Update! I found the very same door I saw on the tour here, plus some cute little windows to go with it! Woo hoo!
And finally…what a wonderful surprise to find this little flower pot man peering out at us from the dense growth of the garden! Love the succulents serving as his hair!
And here is my version…made with a collection of flower pots I found at Goodwill for $2.92! He is held together by jute twine secured by washers and a generous amount of hot glue! A dowel rod through the center helps to hold him erect and serves to attach the “head” topped with moss rose hair. I also dabbed him with a little gray craft paint to add an aged look. Here's a link on how to make a flower pot man, although I did a little adjusting to create one that stands. I think this idea is my favorite! I will remember my time spent with my dear blogger friends each time I look at him!Thanks so much for stopping by! Please visit these wonderful ladies and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today’s Thrifty Treasures
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
See you next time! A la prochaine!
What gorgeous homes...I think this is one of my favorite parts of our country! How fun you got to travel with all of those lovely ladies...I am sooooo jealous!
ReplyDeleteI love the ideas you stole;)! I am going to make the little garden man tomorrow...I am hoping hubby can help me...I am not too crafty! I have the perfect spot for him and he is darling!
Love this post!
Cathy
My kind of house tour...ghost and all!
ReplyDeleteI love your pot sculpture, Debbie!
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Cute, cute, cute, love your little flower pot man! I might steal (er, borrow) your idea!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Debbie! And I loved the tour, too.
ReplyDeleteThe book, THE LITTLE FUR FAMILY, is one of my favorite books, too! I have also been on the lookout for some little doors after going on that Mad Hatter Tea Party meme and seeing them there. So if I finally find some, I will let you know. I have a hole in my tree where one would be perfect. LOL!
Love your wreath and cute little man! You always have such fun ideas that you "borrow, and I like to "borrow" from you!
It's hot here, and I am inside. Mr. Magpie went to the beach to roast and toast himself! He's been in a trial all week.
You are not even going to believe this, but I looked up out the kitchen window and saw a squirrel taking a NAP! He is the cutest thing, and he's so sleepy he can barely stand it. I got a few shots. LOL! Then he woke up and started grooming. Then he went back to sleep. I would have taken more, but my battery went dead. He's up in the crook of a shade tree where some limbs meet. I wish you were here to see him. Oh, he's CUTE!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Oh Debbie, I just smile every time I see one of your pics from the trip or hear one of the stories. You guys are such fun and you had the best time. I love all the old houses, so pretty and your wreath is just gorgeous. What a fabulous idea. The little door is just the cutest ever, and your little pot man is fabulous. How fun to have such great memories and treasures to see every day. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteI love your versions...the wreath is so cool....the houses are amazing...
ReplyDeleteThe Outer Banks is one of my most favorite places and I enjoyed seeing all of your photos of some of the homes there. And all three of your "borrowed" ideas are terrific. I love that fairy door...I've never seen that before. Too cute and I may have to "borrow" it too!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post! I enjoied my visit to your blog!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Thank you for taking us on your tour! Your time with your blogging friends sounded like so much fun and great companionship!
ReplyDeleteI love porches, don't you? The flags, flowers, rockers and swings make a hardy welcome to all who pass by!
And I got a couple of ideas from the garden pictures also!
Yvonne
How lucky you were that your visit coincided with a garden tour. I love the three ideas that you incorporated into your garden, especially the pot man. What a cute touch!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie, what beautiful homes! And I love the ideas that you came up with to enhance your own home. The wreath, little fairy door and that jaunty little flower pot man!
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a fun day, Bonnie
What beautiful homes and gardens. I know you had a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteThe homes are beautiful! I really love YOUR take on the three ideas! They came out terrific! You really are so talented and creative! Well done, very well done!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie! Oh, what lovely homes! Did you get to go inside too? Love those little ideas you borrowed! The wreat is wonderful! Love the little fairy door and the pot man! Oh, too cute.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
shelia ;)
Beautiful homes...love your little pot man, he is just adorable. I may have to steal that idea, too. The wreath is so pretty with the starfish. There isn't much for beachy decorations here in the plains! Have a great week, Debbie.
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie! It sounds like you had a great time with the girls. I love to do house tours and gather ideas. The wreath is wonderful and the pot man is adorable. I have been looking for one of the fairy doors. Guess I'll just have to make one.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Sherry
Cute ideas! I'm curious.... just how pricey are the tobacco baskets? I bought one in NC about 25 years ago (still have it) and my hubby thought I was nuts.
ReplyDeleteOh my, what a tour! The homes are absolutely awesome! The best thing was the friends, I am sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in to see me, you are so sweet! Your comments were just so kind, I appreciate it so much!
Nancy
Oh Deb how fun to see it all over again and your wreath and little terra cotta man turned out great!! WE did have a grand time didn't we. Wish I could do it all over again on a cooler day,hehe. Love and miss you,Kathysue
ReplyDeleteThat fairy door is delightful. I have the perfect tree, now to find the door. I am really anxious to read your favorite children's book and maybe have it for Riley. Thanks for the title. Loved your post as always. Wish you were here to decorate my home :)Hugs from Deb, Ginny, Mr. Ed, Cali, Sierra & Lily (+ 2 boarders, Rae-Rae & Joe) & Krazy Kane
ReplyDeleteHi Sylvia! Thanks for stopping by! I have seen tobacco baskets that are in perfect condition for as much as $250 and some for as little as $10...depending on the seller. You may have a prize!...Debbie
ReplyDeleteI love your rhmmmmrrmmm "borrowed" items....I might have to "borrow" that blueberry wreath...I bought one at the thrift store and it is so naked ! I have never been on a garden walk and your photos really make me want to go !
ReplyDeleteHugs ~ Kammy
Debbie, Oh its so much fun to see everything again through someone elses eyes! You are such a TALENTED photographer, everything looked so pretty. I loved seeing your version of the wreath, since I have a blueberry wreath at home too, but am fresh out of the starfish. I love how you tied yours on, and the terra cotta man is the best! I'll have to revisit a few times to look at it again to figure out how to do it. Carol
ReplyDeleteLooove Beaufort! It's not far from my family's vacay spot in Atlantic Beach, NC. :) Such lovely homes!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally taken with the fairy door!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I love touring old homes like those. How fun to do that with blogging buddies. I love the wreath and flower pot man you made. Very nice recreations.
ReplyDeleteEeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Debbie, THANK YOU! I'm so excited you found where to order. Mr. Magpie and I just ordered the door set. The St. A. house is going to be on a garden club tour at Christmas, and we're going to put the little Christmas door on a hole in the tree outside the kitchen window for people to enjoy at Christmas! Did you see the tiny lights??? I am doing the happy dance!
ReplyDeleteThe squirrel pic turned out, and I think eventually I will use him in an Outdoor Wednesday post. You are going to flip. She is SO cute! I think it's a girl. My camera battery will charge a little if I put it in the charger, and I did and was able to get quite a few shots before it gave out of juice again... as she fell back asleep. I love squirrels. I can't befriend them here, though, because my neighbor's Miss Maxi would have them for lunch. Miss Maxi is a very fluffy, very smart (obeys hand gestures and commands) kitty.
XO,
Sheila :-)
P.S. Thanks again for the tip. Love you!!!
ReplyDeleteThat door is slightly big for my little one little tree!!! It is so precious!!!
ReplyDeleteI did a double take when I saw Beaufort NC was the subject of your post, because I know & love Beaufort SC! Situated just a few miles from HHI it is a lovely little town to visit & go antiquing.
ReplyDeleteThe wreath with the starfish is gorgeous, I want one!
Have a great week.
Maggie
The Carolinas are a favorite destination for me. How lucky for you to time your visit so well.
ReplyDeleteYour wreath and flower pot man are adorable. I may have to "borrow" the ideas for my home.
Have a great week! La
Those homes are gorgeous! I love the sand dollar stepping stones, and the fence is just beautiful. Your flower pot man came out great! Such a cute idea, he almost looks like a little terra cotta robot. And the wreath is beautiful. Wonderful post Deb. Hugs, Kat
ReplyDeleteLove your flower pot man. Thanks for all the gorgeous pics.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I just love your flower pot guy! I made a flower pot doggie once...swore I'd never make another. LOL It was sooo hard...had to buy a special drill bit to drill through the pots. You got a great deal on your pots at Goodwill!
ReplyDeleteI love the darling little fairy door...how cute is that!!! Thanks for sharing all these wonderful ideas and the great links!
OMWORD! I love all 3 ideas. That little door just kills me and the flower pot man reminds me of dolls my grandma used to make using bottle caps and yarn (I think it was yarn). Fun post and WOW those houses are amazing and now I'm depressed. lol.
ReplyDeleteBeaufort is one of my favorite southern towns. As soon as I saw the title of your post I had to come and visit! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I know what you mean about going home to a not so huge and gorgeous house after we visit the idea and showcase homes. I love what you did with the starfish wreath and your little pot man. I saw one in a BH&G magazine a few years back and have never copied it. You did great! Frugal and fun!
ReplyDeletehugs, Sue
Oh, I LOVE, LOVE, Love just walking around looking a beautiful homes with my camera ready to snap pictures of stuff I see that I adore (to steal for my own use later)!!
ReplyDeletethe fairy door is so cute. I was just talking about them to one of my friends the other day. I spotted a couple of Etsy stores who are selling them as well.
What gorgeous homes! Thanks for taking such great pictures! You're right, there is loads of inspiration to be found here...love the little door and stepping in stones!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all of those lovely pics!!!! Love your pot man!!! I might have to try that!!!
ReplyDeleteKeep on Junkin!
Jennifer
Thanks for sharing your fairy door source - love your borrowed ideas!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour of the house and gardens. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThose are such beautiful homes! I love the pirate house but I don't think I could live in it either. I really love the little door in the tree too!
ReplyDeleteDena
Debbie-Those are such beautiful homes. Now I am going to have to go and read up on Blackbeard--you have sparked my interest. I am in love with that door at the base of the tree! Children would have so much fun with that. Love your wreath too! Our house was actually in Seagrove--our first time there and we will go back next year for sure! I did not make it to the Red Bar this trip, but the kids went. I have been and love their crab cakes! I bet November is the perfect time to go. I want to go back soon. Also did not get to eat at 30A or the Ocean Club which is my favorite! I have been watching the Jimmy Buffet concert live at Gulf Shores on CMT tonight! I wish I had been there!
ReplyDeleteDeb, What a wonderful post as always...and the homes OMG So beautiful, They look just like I have seen in the movies. So romantic, charming and full of wonderful stories.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Buffet!! I love him. He was here a few years ago.
It is a pleasure to read you as always
Deb
A slacking bloggy pal :)
I think you were very smart in "borrowing" some great ideas...love all three of them !!!
ReplyDeleteOh that was wonderful. What gorgeous old places and I love the verandas or porches and all the gingerbread. The stolen ideas were fab. Going to link over and learn how to make a pot man. Thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful homes! I can see why they would be so inspirational.
ReplyDeleteDebbie my son and his family vacationed in the Outer Banks this summer and I was mesmerized by the beautiful homes thereThis post made me eve more determined to see more of them in Beaufort in the future.
ReplyDeleteI love the flower pot man and the little tree door! They are both so whimsical. Happy Outdoor Wednesday!
Debbie, what a fabulous tour! Your pics are just perfect! And what a cute little man! Would you call him a pot head? Naughty, naughty! He is adorable. Linda
ReplyDeleteOooo, lucky you! I love house tours! And I have to say that your little pot man is adorable! Thanks for sharing at MM. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I would love a tour like that. Looks like so much fun and I LOVE the way you brought some of those great ideas home. I think my favorite is the little door on the tree. It really is a good imagination sparker!
ReplyDeleteChristi @ A Southern Life
http://asouthernlife.com
How beautiful thoose houses and gardens are and you made great mosaics with the photo's. Love the ideas too. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteThe wreath "steal" is marvelous -- I really like the look of the tied-on starfish.
ReplyDeleteOh you are just too darn clever for your own good...I love love love that wreath...had did you find that blueberry wreath at one of your thrifting joints??...and you better join us at our next blogging function...I really missed you this time...
ReplyDeleteFabulous pics, Debbie! So sharp!
ReplyDeleteLove your new finds, you are just so clever!
If I press 1 will they sing in English??? :)
Dear Debbie, I love each and every detail of the tour, but mostly what you have done with the inspiration... that little door on the tree is something so sweet that I must copy the idea from you, my darling!!! and the wreath came up charming as well as the pots man, too difficult for my so I won´t copy this to you.... jaja..
ReplyDeletemany hugs to you,
maria cecilia
Love this post! (And all your posts!)Beaufort is such a special place. The fairy door is too cute! Thanks so much for the link to buy one for my tree!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting those photos. It's often a detail that can make such a difference when you "borrow" an idea and there's no place to get details like photos! Also, I never knew what a tobacco basket was -- it much be a regional thing. Great info! Hope you'll stop by and see us. Jane F.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love to tour the homes too, especially Victorian era homes.
ReplyDeleteI love your beautiful recreation of the pots!
Thanks for taking us on the tour. I adore that flower pot guy. I will have to whip one of those up this weekend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tour to go on...lucky you!
ReplyDeleteI'll be in Beaufort South Carolina in September :0)
Love the tour. I plan to order the children's book you mentioned for my grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteOh My Gosh! You did a great job! I love your wreath and your little pot man. So stinkin' cute! :) I think I am going to order the little elfin door and windows.... I have seen them a couple of times and now I think I need them.... :)
ReplyDelete~Liz
I love to steal... er... borrow too!
ReplyDeleteWell, it's said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. I love to go on tours to garner ideas for my home too - we can't all have all the original ideas all of the time!
ReplyDeleteHey Deb! Love the ideas! And my fav is the little Terra Cotta Man with the hairy plant! How adorable! You're really doing a great job this summer creating the items from what you see out there. One of my recent favorites was the planter box that you made by removing the lid on a strawlike suitcase...and you distressed it, and planted some lovelies in it...you are having a ROCKIN summer putting your ideas INTO action plans~ We gotta have coffee/tea soon~ Miss you friend! ~CC (Hey, Abbie at Emma's Attic has some really cool new items this past week if you've not been in lately)
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous homes! Love the sand dollar stepping stones and the blueberry wreath! Very coastal, very lovely! Thanks for sharing and Happy Wednesday.
Blessings,
Sandi
Oh I love the then and now comparisons and all the cute coastal decor! Have a good rest of the week :)
ReplyDeleteHood Photo Blog
I love all the "ideas" you stole! They turned out very cute. Those homes certainly are lovely...I can only imagine what the insides are like!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tour! The porches and gardens are wonderful. The ideas are great with the pot and birdbath. The garden man is really cute and I love the wreath. Beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteWonderful ideas Debbie! I LOVE the little door!
ReplyDeleteLOL! We're like to ships passing in the night, at each other's blogs at the same time!
ReplyDeleteHow fun to tour old homes, love doing that! You picked the nicest things to copy and your version turned out so good, Debby. Love them all....Christine
ReplyDeleteI love the ideas you came home with. I am going back now to look, I love the little door on tree!
ReplyDeleteMarie in NC
I will never, in this life, live in such a home..but I can do some of the cute things to my yard that you feature. :) It made me want to rush right out and buy some more flower pots...sooo cute!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Mona
Debbie, this HAD to be the bestest trip ever! I can just imagine the antics of that group. LOL
ReplyDeleteLove your little potted guy & I'll try to keep an eye out for a tobacco basket for you. I have a friend in southern Ohio who leases out her family acreage for a guy who grows tobacco on it. I'll ask her if she has some.
Come see my cloche I made out of the cheese dome. Its just like yours!! Oh & candles with script, too! You're my idol, ya' know. ;-)
Debbie, how DID you get so smart? I love these ideas. Your star fish wreath looks so pretty (love the addition of the twine), and your flower pot man is better than your inspiration picture. He's adorable! What fun that you "girls" got to go on the tour, and how great that you are smart enough to mimic some of the ideas you saw. I'm so glad you'll be linking this to to Favorite Things. I'm off to see about ordering a little fairy door. Thanks for the link. laurie
ReplyDeleteI never tire of looking at the beautiful old homes here in the South.
ReplyDeleteMy family raised tobacco in this country from the 1600s up until about the 1960s. I remember going to auctions as a child and since the farm my great-grandfather started in the 1880s is still in the family and my cousin doesn't throw out anything, I'll just bet one of those baskets is laying around somewhere in one of the old barns. I'll have to check it out on my next visit.
Great post, I enjoyed this tour!
Almost forgot! I've made several of those flowerpot people and they are the cutest. I always give them as gifts, I need to make some for myself. AND that little fairy door is adorable!
ReplyDelete