A Little Wooden Storage Crate – for your home and garden

The prospect of Spring arriving here in my corner of the world after a long and wet winter is rather exciting. For me, it is when nature gradually becomes more colourful, that I feel each new year begins. In our garden, the daffodils are emerging from our lawn as I type – Mr M finds this extremely messy and frustrating; I find it utterly charming – and my pretty outdoor buckets, filled to the brim with tulip bulbs are putting on a glorious growth spurt of their own. And all too soon it will be time to turn our green fingers to our gardens. And no matter the size of your garden, be it balcony or much more, this week’s treasure will surely come in handy. I have had in mind for a while now, a project involving recycled wooden slats. I thought they might make a delightfully simple little wooden storage crate for the garden or indeed the home if one preferred. “Sun’s out Mum and I for one am looking forward to a relaxing weekend” said Master M upon his return home from uni recently. “It’s been full on study for so long now, it’ll be nice to kick back and chill for a couple of days.” “Of course it will darling” I replied as I handed him the wooden slats and smiled “now, about this little wooden storage crate I have in mind ….”

Just before I begin though, did you notice my new logo and tagline by chance? I do hope you like it and I am further hopeful it best describes the direction my blog is heading these days. I’ve pretty much filled up my home with upcycles here and there and save for a few more items of furniture awaiting a lick of paint or a rub down, I have no current desire to do much more. So, for now I aim to offer more simple and seasonal ideas for your home and garden through my crafts and styling here on these pages. There will always be more stories from the lives of The M’s and The Spotty One how could there not be, just less of the paintbrush and more from the craft table. Oh, and I almost forgot, I have some jolly exciting news of our home and garden to share with you in the coming weeks. More of that soon; for now though…

Way back at the start of my Instagram journey, I made a friend named Karen from @karen_sagegreeninteriors . Karen has followed my blog since the start and she once gifted me this beautiful and extremely useful garden seed tray. It never made it to the garden shed though, since I preferred to use it in and around my home instead. Currently it stores all manner of stationery on top of my bureau and I wanted something similar yet not the same from the wooden slats.

I talked Master M through my specific requirements… “a bit like this one but not the same, a little deeper but not too deep and a tiny bit more rustic but not so it looks like it should be thrown out…” was the brief. With such clear instructions to hand, there wasn’t too much more input needed from me. Mr M was also in the garden chopping logs and once he’d provided Master M with a crash course on which one of the many nails, hammers and thing-a-me-jigs he should use, the boy was up and running. I heard the occasional talk of the need to “clamp the wood nice and tight” and “perfect right angle corners” and I left father and son to their bonding session whilst I sought solace in the greenhouse sowing seeds.

Master M was rather pleased with his efforts as he proudly produced my little wooden storage crate. “Oh I love it darling!” I gushed “and I think this vintage handle will look just perfect on the side” I said passing a small ceramic handle salvaged from this up-cycle from way back when. The handle did indeed finish the storage box off and I decided there and then, I preferred the simple rustic look to perhaps a painted version. Then followed an epiphany as it dawned upon me exactly how I could use this wooden crate best.

My following on Instagram and subscribers to my blog’s mailing list have each increased rapidly over the past few weeks and by way of thanks I would love to give a prize away to one lucky winner. So, what I plan to do is this. I shall fill this little wooden storage crate with simple and pretty Whitewood and Linen charm in the form of crafts for the garden and home. And just as my new tagline suggests, these simple crafts will come from my home and garden to yours. There will be delicate paper garlands, see I have made these already, a rustic wooden sign for the garden, perhaps a slate plant marker and definitely wildflower seeds from my garden.

There will be a hand stitched key ring, a scattering of vintage buttons and maybe a trim of lace from my stash. I may add a pretty card or two, perhaps an essential book mark and of course there shall be a few surprise treasures. What I will declare is, all the contents of the small wooden crate shall be homemade or homespun. A little wooden storage crate full of Whitewood and Linen goodies. One of a kind crafts and ephemera for one lucky winner whose name will go into a hat (or online generator I imagine) and will be announced at a date to be determined.

So, if you want to be in with a chance of winning, make sure you’re following my Instagram account and I will offer more details of how to take part soon. I shall continue crafting and creating with gusto and I shall pay attention to and take care with, all my stitching and sticking for I feel certain these particular pieces should be the best I have created yet if they are indeed to grace your home and garden. And if you join me back here next week, you will see a new craft on these pages which will of course be included in the small wooden crate too. Until then…x