This is part six of a six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

Finalist #6

We asked finalist #6 about the patio furniture (shown at right) and here’s what we learned:

Q: Where did you get your patio furniture from and when?

A: We got our patio furniture with the house - the house belonged to my grandparents and they bought the patio furniture in 1970 when they built the house.

Q: What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about your patio furniture?

A: My least favorite thing is that they are mismatched colors, are very rusty and they could break very easily. My favorite thing is that they belonged to my grandparents and they are no longer with us, so there is a lot of sentimental attachment to the furniture.

Q: Do you have any stories or interesting facts you’d like to share about your patio furniture?

A. It’s funny to watch people when they go to sit down - they will look around for another place to sit first before they sit in these chairs!

Read more about each of our finalists and be sure to vote for your favorite!

This is part five of a six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

We asked finalist #4 about the patio furniture (shown at right) and here’s what we learned:

Q: Where did you get your patio furniture from and when?

A: The rusted and white chairs were given to us by friends and family sometime around 1995. The #3 washtub was bought by my father-in-law around 1991 from a flea market. It has been used to water and feed animals and our grandkids played in it during the summer.

Q: What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about your patio furniture?

A: My only favorite thing about our furniture is the memories associated with it. My least favorite thing is: it’s ugly, ugly, ugly!!

Q: Do you have any stories or interesting facts you’d like to share about your patio furniture?

A. My chair on the left has bullet holes in it from my husband practice shooting. My other chairs are rusted and I just painted one chair blue with spray paint a month ago so I won’t get rust on my clothes when I sit on it! My table is a #3 washtub and the footstool is a 5 gallon bucket.

We live in the country and my husband and father-in-law would not have settled for anything new back in the ’90s. This is all that our dear friends and family have ever seen.

Check back tomorrow for the next part in our six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

This is part four of a six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

Finalist #3

We asked finalist #3 about the patio furniture (shown at right) and here’s what we learned:

Q: Where did you get your patio furniture from and when?

A: This patio furniture was bought 15 years ago in Mt. Home, Arizona. I have replaced the strips on it four different times. Now I can no longer find the strips - I have two recliners and two chairs and none are safe to use at this time.

Q: What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about your patio furniture?

A: I have always enjoyed the fact that the furniture was easy to take anywhere, if needed. My least favorite thing about this patio furniture is that it’s no longer safe to use.

Q: Do you have any stories or interesting facts you’d like to share about your patio furniture?

A. It was always available to use anywhere: the beach, at the neighbors’ house, visiting anywhere. Each time I would replace the strips, the set looked brand new. People would think that I got new furniture when I would replace the strips or try a different color.

Check back tomorrow for the next part in our six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

This is part three of a six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

Finalist #2

We asked finalist #2 about the patio furniture (shown at right) and here’s what we learned:

Q: Where did you get your patio furniture from and when?

A: I got this set from my parents’ house 18 years ago.

Q: What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about your patio furniture?

A: My favorite thing about having this furniture in my back yard is that it brings back memories of watching my mom and my aunt sitting on this set on our deck, sharing endless cups of coffee while solving all their problems. I also remember the memory of Mom’s great joy picking out her first new patio set. Until we were grown, she did not spend much on herself.

My least favorite thing about this set is that it is no longer functional at all.

Q: Do you have any stories or interesting facts you’d like to share about your patio furniture?

A. This set belonged to my deceased mother. As we were cleaning out our childhood home, I could never bear to part with it or throw it in the trash. It has been in my yard for over 18 years now.

Check back tomorrow for the next part in our six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

This is part two of a six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

Finalist #5

We asked finalist #5 about the patio furniture (shown at right) and here’s what we learned:

“I have a very nice patio that my father built himself and I use it often to entertain. Recently, however, several of my well-meaning friends have mentioned that I might want to think about making some changes.  During a recent get-together on the patio, the discussion turned to different styles of furniture and trends and how things have changed over the years.

“Back in the day, there was the Victorian look, Italian Renaissance and the minimalist Scandinavian trend. We discussed the modern look and the ever popular ‘Early American’ styles. One of my friends looked around my patio and said, ‘Rose, you could start a new trend with your patio furniture. We could call it, “Early Slum”.’

“I was a little disconcerted by her remark and I took a good look at the ambiance my patio provided. The picnic table, acquired from neighbors when they moved away two years ago, is a little old and weather-beaten, but serviceable. The fact that is has little holes where insects have used it as a feeding trough gives it a certain character.

“The rocking chair came from someone’s trash and is a little rickety. This is my favorite piece of patio furniture and a great dumpster-diving find.

“My lounge chair has a small amount of sentimental value, as it was the one my mother used for sunbathing in the 1950’s. The original cushion, complete with a few rips and faded, is probably the one that came with the lounge.

“I looked at the metal tub which was part of my parent’s old washing machine and marvel at its potential. I could use it as a table, a fire pit or a trash can.

“I rescued my mother’s old sewing machine table from the trash and it sits on the patio, ready to accept platter of food and snacks. I admit it is not a pretty sight.  This is my least favorite piece of patio furniture because if I was not using it outside I could clean it up and bring it inside.

“My friend said that my patio furniture did not qualify under the ’shabby chic’ category since it had an abundance of shabby but no chic. I sighed and admitted the furniture was detrimental to my social life. I have noticed my friends arrive with paper towels, disinfectant wipes and disposable table cloths and covers. My daughter has stopped inviting her friends over in the summer, apparently embarrassed by the ‘Sanford and Son’ look imparted by the furniture.

“While I pride myself on using innovation and creativity in my decorating efforts, I have to admit the patio furniture has crossed the line between eclectic and junk. Perhaps the patio furniture fairy will magically appear and transform my back yard into an area that will enhance the patio so lovingly constructed by my father.”

Check back Tuesday for the next part in our six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

This is part one of a six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

Finalist #1

We asked Finalist #1 about the patio furniture (shown at right) and here’s what we learned about this unique ensemble:

Q: Where did you get your patio furniture from and when?

A: I got the table in June 2006 from the trash and found the pink and red chairs in the trash after a flood in August 2006. The plastic chairs came from my sister-in-law back in 1994-1995, when she left her husband before she moved to Arizona. The blue chair was a gift from my husband on his birthday three years ago and I keep them covered with a tarp.

Q: What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about your patio furniture?

A: My favorite part about this furniture is that they are strong and will not break like the plastic chairs. We just had a wind storm and I had to run and chase the plastic chairs but not the brown table and the pink and red chairs — they stayed in one spot and I didn’t have to run to catch them.

Q: Do you have any stories or interesting facts you’d like to share about your patio furniture?

A. They say someone’s trash is somebody’s treasure!

Check back tomorrow for the next part in our six-part feature, highlighting our six finalists in the “Ugliest Patio Furniture” contest. See all of our finalists and vote for your favorite!

It’s time: you can now vote for your favorite in the Ugliest Patio Furniture Contest! …and don’t forget you can win, too: three lucky voters will also receive a $100 Montgomery Ward Gift Card.

See photos of our six finalists and be sure to check back again soon, as we’ll be sharing stories and telling you more about each of the entries.

Here are the finalists:

finalist #1

finalist #2

finalist #3

finalist #4

finalist #5

finalist #6

You know who you are: your favorite sounds of summer include the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd. The smell of roasted peanuts and hot dogs is the ultimate comfort food. If you count the time between games in hours, not days, you’re a true baseball fan and this is your favorite time of the year.

Can’t get enough of the home team? Here are some of our favorite picks to help you cheer on the team from the comfort of your own home:

• Major League Baseball Woochie Pillow (shown at right)
• Perfect for the ballpark or at home, stay warm on chilly nights with these Major League Baseball Blanket Throws
• Bring some team spirit to your home office with a MLB desk lamp
• Greet your guests in style with a MLB team logo door mat for your front door
• …and more! Find your favorite team in our MLB Team Shop at wards.com

Last chance: contest ends tomorrow!

Send us a photo of your ugly patio furniture for a chance to win up to $1,000 in new outdoor patio furniture and accessories from Montgomery Ward! View complete rules and entry details here.

It’s the middle of summer and, unless you’re lucky and have a summer birthday or anniversary, there’s no gift-giving occasion in sight. Which is really unfortunate because we’re in love with these fun, whimsical diamond accent necklaces.

Perfect for summer, this diamond flip flop (sandal) pendant is definitely one of our favorites. It’s fun, under $100 and unique. We also can’t help but love this retro eyeglass pendant necklace with diamond accent. One last sea-themed pendant to tell you about: this diamond accent starfish pendant.

Know someone who’s stylish and loves a good cosmo (the drink, of course)? She’ll really appreciate the style of this diamond martini pendant.

Need some good luck? Whether you’re starting a new job, getting married or just need an extra boost of luck, it never hurts to take your lucky horseshoe with you every day — this lucky horseshoe pendant necklace may be just the thing you’re looking for. Good luck!

(More diamond pendants also available online at wards.com. …and don’t forget: $100+ orders qualify for deferred billing so you can bling today, pay later!)