Studio 27 - By Jennifer Adams: 2025

Friday, September 5, 2025

Exterior Makeover: Side Yard

As I left off last week I showed you the progress we have made in the backyard, today I'm sharing the side yard:

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Exiting the garage is this mishmash of red bricks, poured concrete and rocks that my husband absolutely hates! He's planning to rip all of it up and put in a new surface, either poured or large brick pavers. For now we've thrown down a rug and battle the weeds. This spot is also where we keep the grills and smoker.

I added the window privacy with paint and lace like this.

A little bit further and the rocks end into more meadowscaping; Dutch Clover, Woodland Violets and Creeping Charlie. Even though they don't grow that tall, I've still been using the trimmer to keep things tidy around the berry beds.

I want some sort of raised bed constructed underneath the window so I can plant something that will attract hummingbirds. It would be awesome to make the A/C equipment look a little nicer but I don't want to disrupt the airflow. The cloth pot has new Coneflower plants that I've started for transplanting into the front yard once they are a bit bigger.

The three raised beds contain blueberry, raspberry and blackberry plants. These were started last fall so they haven't produced a whole lot yet, but the plants are coming in nicely. I did learn the importance of putting the fences around them - last winter when the snow was high a rabbit ate one of the blueberry bushes right down to the ground! It's made a healthy comeback though.

Here is the very end of the side yard.

The circular metal bed contains a dwarf cherry tree and flowering Thyme plants. I debated here whether or not to dig out the ground and put the beds perfectly level, or leave them gently sloping. I decided to stick with the slope to keep as much rainfall away from the house and foundation as possible. The visual bugs me a bit but I feel like it's better in the long run!

The white bin is a rain barrel that is sitting there temporarily, and the vine in the lower left is a cucumber from the vegetable patch gone wild!

If you took the same walk but looked to the other side, you would see the strawberry bed and the vegetable garden. Husby wants to extend the patio up to the berry patch and replace these red bricks with something more attractive.

Here are some posts I have about the decorative items:

Strawberry shortcake garden houses

Strawberry painted rocks

DIY Yard Mushrooms

And just past the strawberry patch is the vegetable garden. This year my husband has zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, brussel sprouts, okra, beets, carrots, onions....

Here is a post showing how I made the hanging garden signs.

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And that's how the side yard is going so far!

In case you missed any of the previous posts, here are the links:

Repainting the House

Front Yard Progress

Backyard Progress

I hope you enjoyed this yard progress post, thanks for stopping by!

-Jennifer

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This post was added to the following link parties:

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Blog Planner Worksheet Set

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Wednesdays in the Studio - Link Party 33

Welcome to Wednesdays in the Studio, a weekly link party focusing on designing everyday life.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week! This week's features include:

A mid-century modern bathroom from Two Chicks and a Mom

An Autumn floral wreath from Steph Creates Things

Lunch in the garden from Dinner at Eight

Reversable scarves patterns from Stitch Whisper Designs

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Were you featured? Grab this photo and add it to your blog!

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Want to join this week? Here are the rules for participation:

*Add up to 3 posts related to designing everyday life. Examples include crafting, sewing, cooking, baking, home decor, holidays, party planning, blogging, thrifting, gardening, DIY projects, organization and so on.

*Please link to a specific post and not your homepage.

*Link only your own posts, not someone else's.

*Etsy shops, giveaways and other link parties are ok as long as they are design related.

*Party runs from Wednesday until Monday each week, Central Standard Time.

*A link back to this party isn't required but is appreciated!

*Linking up gives you the opportunity to be featured in next week's party.

*By Linking up you give Studio 27 by Jennifer Adams permission to use your posts and photos in social media and as features. If used, a link back to your material will be given.

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If you don't already, please consider following me on:

* Facebook * Pinterest * Instagram * Etsy *

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Now let's party:

-Jennifer

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Do you like the convenience of crafting or organizing with instantly available digital downloads?

Check out this week's features from my Etsy shop:

**********

Halloween Printable Fake Bake Tiered Tray Kitchen Pantry Home Decor

Halloween Treats Art Set

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Fall Quotes SVG Bundle

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Blog Planner Worksheets

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Exterior Makeover: Backyard Progress

A couple of weeks ago I shared how the front yard was going, today let's take a look at the backyard:

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Here is how the backyard looked at move in...

...and here is how it's going - the entire house has been repainted and all of the weeds to the left have been ripped out in favor of a large vegetable garden. My husband retrofitted out gas fireplace into a woodburning one and has a stack of split wood near the back door. There is a firepit in the center of the yard, woodchip paths to each of the sheds and the Dutch Clover has about halfway taken over the grass at this pint.

Here is another angle, note the circles as each one represents one of my sheds 😎

The very left circle is home to this spot, my decor shed. At 9X6 feet it's my largest shed and where I keep all of my seasonal decor. It might not look that big but I've got three Christmas trees and tons of bins in here.

The wooden fencing is placed about 5 feet or so in front of out chain link fence. This gives a decorative screen for what we call the 'junkyard', where my husband keeps all of his many collections 😃

The yard isn't mowed here because I'm trying to let the Dutch Clover seed take off, and hoping that the Woodland Violets (all those bright leaves in front of the fence and under the chair) stick around.

The hanging lights on the shed are candle holders that I glued solar lights into. The tall candlestick was a lamp with more solar lights - post coming soon.

The middle circle now contains my 'Playhouse' shed. It looks like a regular, boring shed from the outside but open it up and it's a playhouse full of vintage kitchen, food and doll toys. I'll have a full photo tour for you in an upcoming post, I can't wait to share it!

The right circle is my 'Garden' shed, in quotes because it contains nothing functional whatsoever. Instead it houses fake plants, art and other things that make me smile. You can see that photo tour here.

Both of these sheds are 6X4.

Near and around you can see more of the woodchip paths, the Dutch Clover/ Woodland Violet/ Creeping Charlie meadow in progress and stumps that I'm using as table tops.

Next to the garden shed is a Mulberry tree and then the vegetable garden. The path between leads to a tucked away seating area and features a stepping stone path. When my children were little I made a footprint stone each year. They are arranged now so it looks like their footprints are running along the path going from small to large.

The old trash can is a compost bin, tucked in near the Lilac bushes. There are footprints all over it too - racoon!

On the side of this shed are votive candle wall sconces that I put solar lights into, and on the fence behind I'm growing honeysuckle.

That's the backyard so far. In case you missed it, here is the front yard post.

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I hope you enjoyed this yard progress post, thanks for stopping by!

-Jennifer

**********

Do you like the convenience of crafting or organizing with instantly available digital downloads?

Check out this week's features from my Etsy shop:

**********

Fake Bake Tiered Tray Halloween Kitchen Pantry Decor

Halloween Treats Printable Posters

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https://studio27byja.etsy.com/listing/1296007639

Fall Quotes SVG Bundle

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Blog Planner Printables

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Wednesdays in the Studio - Link Party 32

Welcome to Wednesdays in the Studio, a weekly link party focusing on designing everyday life.

Thank you to everyone who joined last week! This week's features include:

A media cabinet makeover from Creative Moments

Thrifted kitchen wares from Debbie Dabble

Whole wheat sourdough bread from Scratch Made Food

A Krishna amigurumi and brooch from Hand Crafted Crochet

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Were you featured? Grab this photo and add it to your blog!

**********

Want to join this week? Here are the rules for participation:

*Please link to a specific post and not your homepage.

*Link only your own posts, not someone else's.

*Etsy shops, giveaways and other link parties are ok as long as they are design related.

*Party runs from Wednesday until Monday each week, Central Standard Time.

*A link back to this party isn't required but is appreciated!

*Linking up gives you the opportunity to be featured in next week's party.

*By Linking up you give Studio 27 by Jennifer Adams permission to use your posts and photos in social media and as features. If used, a link back to your material will be given.

**********

If you don't already, please consider following me on:

* Facebook * Pinterest * Instagram * Etsy *

**********

Now let's party:

-Jennifer

**********

Do you like the convenience of crafting or organizing with instantly available digital downloads?

Check out this week's features from my Etsy shop:

**********

Halloween Quotes Printable Posters

**********

Halloween Fun SVG Bundle

**********

Blog Planner Worksheets

Friday, August 22, 2025

Bundt Pan Outdoor Pumpkins

I made a couple of decorative outdoor pumpkins using thrifted Bundt pans, check it out:

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I started with these pans that I found for a couple of dollars each, and made sure to poke a hole in the centers. This will prevent rain from pooling and making a mess once they are outside. A hammer and nail will make the perfect sized hole.

I then spray painted the pans in a pumpkin orange shade and glued on some faux leaves.

For the centers I recycled some of my undecorated faux cupcakes. After removing the cupcake wrapper I painted the foam orange and glued a stick from outside into the center. Any foam will do here, just cut it into the size and shape that you need.