| One of the less frequently written about styles is | | | | 2. Platters, plates, casserole dishes (flat things) can |
| western or prairie decor. If this style is for you, | | | | be hung from ribbon loops off of cup hooks. |
| you may be able to relate to the following | | | | 3. Horseshoes (if you have those) can be made |
| question asked of me. And check out my answer | | | | into a wreath by tying them together with |
| to see if there's anything you'd like to add to your | | | | bandanas. |
| decor! | | | | 4. Bandanas can be used for lots of decorating, |
| Q: My husband and I live on a ranch in | | | | including stitching them together to make curtains, |
| Southeastern Wyoming in a 100 yr old plus house | | | | valances, table runners, placemats, etc. |
| that was a outlying house for cooking and housing | | | | 5. Worn out boots of all kinds can be great decor. |
| for the Swan Land and Cattle Company ranch | | | | Hang them on the wall with their toes pointed out |
| that encompassed acres from the Colorado | | | | and use these has hooks - maybe in eth |
| Wyoming border to beyond Wheatland. Since its | | | | bathroom for towels, or by the door for coats. |
| purpose was more utilitarian, the house is basically | | | | Plant them with dirt and plants from your yard - |
| a rectangle, long rooms with windows, old | | | | including small trees. These make great Christmas |
| stovepipe holes covered over, few electrical | | | | trees. |
| outlets, not many redeeming features! | | | | 6. What "clear glass" stuff do you already own |
| That being said, my husband and I love it because | | | | (candlesticks, bowls, plates, - whatever). These |
| of the history, but I would like to "fancify" it | | | | have more decorating uses than I can list here. If |
| somewhat. I love the Cottage style, but because | | | | you tell me what you have, I'll give you some |
| we are ranchers, would like to do more in the | | | | ideas. |
| way of Western style as in when the pioneers | | | | Now about "natural" stuff: |
| first came to this area. There is virtually no | | | | 1. Stones are an awesome decorating tool. They |
| money for doing anything and in order to get to | | | | can be used to fill bowls, as flower frogs, to |
| flea markets and such I have to travel between | | | | make stone sculptures for your table - put a |
| 1-3 hours away. Can you get your creative juices | | | | photo between two stones to hold it up. 2. |
| flowing and help me out? | | | | Branches are also great decorating tools. I used a |
| I am wanting to change from white interiors to | | | | bunch of them to make a chandelier in my house |
| deep jewel tones, such as purples, golds, rusts. I | | | | - hanging crystals from them. |
| have two other friends who are wanting to do | | | | 3. You can remove thin bark from limbs and |
| the same style era. We are even jokingly | | | | cover your window frames (if you have enough |
| considering doing a book as there is nothing out | | | | bark) or your switchplates (if you don't). |
| there that really addresses this era unless you | | | | 4. Nuts, cones, seeds - all that natural stuff can |
| consider the "Cattle Baron" look in a few books. | | | | be used as decor - plus some of them (like |
| Michelle | | | | seeds) can be mixed in paint to give it texture. |
| A: Using what you already have, plus "stuff" from | | | | 5. You can always frame grasses, pressed |
| nature would work with this style and budget. | | | | flowers, or moss. Or you can use those same |
| Starting with what you have: | | | | materials to trim out picture frames and mirrors. |
| 1. Pitchers, pots and pans, measuring cups - | | | | 6. Nests of all kinds - bird nests, wasp nests, bee |
| anything with looping handles can be hung from | | | | hives - even critter nests attached to limbs, can |
| cuphooks on your walls as art (plus a great place | | | | be used as accents. So can bird houses, if you |
| to store them). I have some pictures of | | | | have those. |
| copperware I've hung to give you an idea: | | | | |