Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Sourcing Floral Finds

I have said it before, but I will say it again--when thrifting, have a few key words in your mind and you WILL better see and find those items. This week I have been thinking FLOWERS and just look at these floral finds from the past few days!
Vintage Floral Finds from the Thrift Store
From the floral fabric piece that I thrifted for $1 (and that I will use to recover something or make pillows) to the vintage, amateur floral paintings, I have been sourcing all the flowers this week. 
I met a gal who was an amazing picker when we lived in Idaho for a year. She told me she manifests her picks by saying aloud what she wants to find. I am not sure that always works, but I do know that we see what we want and what is in our minds and I do believe in the power of positive thinking. This week I have been thinking grow and spring flowers.
Vintage Floral Finds from the Thrift Store
The tall pitcher is an antique, Bennington Rockingham, hand-painted piece from the 1800's. It will make a lovely vase. The vintage stationary set with bird and floral art on both sides of the box is a sweet memory for me. As a preteen in the 70's we often received stationary sets as gifts and is a reminder of slower times when letter writing was commonplace. The orange juice cup is a 1950's Napcoware piece. i thought it would be cute for toothbrushes in the guest bathroom. The divided floral dish is Czech Slovakia Erphilia and will go on my wall. It originally would have had a handle on it.
Vintage Floral Finds from the Thrift Store
The three, amateur floral paintings will go into my sunroom, I think (I am running out of space for florals in there). The basketweave pitcher holds faux flowers for spring.
Vintage Floral Finds from the Thrift Store
The smaller, tall stool came from a friend that is moving. She used it as a plant stand and currently it is sitting in my entryway with the fake plant on it. 

I often think of Field of Dreams and "If you build it, they will come," while thrifting. If you think it, you will find it! It doesn't always work and sometimes I have to be more patient than I'd like, but I do believe I find more of what I am wanting to source because I think I will.




Friday, March 8, 2024

Recent Thrift Store Finds

This week has been sparse for thrift store finds. I did source some great items in the two previous weeks. Some of them I have already shared how I am using them and styling them, but keep reading for the specifics.
Recent Thrift Store Finds
This vintage circus tray was an advertising giveaway piece for a California Credit Union. Why the circus for a bank? I am not sure, but the colors caught my eye. The blue colander makes a great planter and the amateur artwrk is in my entryway. The embroidered tea towl is perfect in a spring vignette.
Recent Thrift Store Finds
The brass desk calendar still works. 
Recent Thrift Store Finds
An amateur painting pf the local mountains has great colors  A floral plate is for my collection and will eventually be on the wall with others. The watering can may get a paint job to brighten it up.
Recent Thrift Store Finds
The art deco, stainless candy and nut dish with a little whale in the middle was a fun find. The green vase sits on my windowsill.
Recent Thrift Store Finds
An outdoor, butterfly pillow sits on my green metal chair on my front porch andds a much needed bit of color.
Recent Thrift Store Finds
The metal, horsehead bookends would be perfect in any library. I loved the chrome coffee pot with the teak handle. I am not sire what I will do it with it, but I think it will be for sale.
Recent Thrift Store Finds
This black forest carved wood bread dish is fairly old and is in great shape, In it sits the two green men that I am using as bud vases.
Recent Thrift Store Finds
The vintage apron and rainbow tray are being used in my kitchen. The large tablecloth underneath will most likely be sold. The sectioned, floral tray is plastic, but I think it is vintage. I like it for a dresser for jewelry and coins or for entertaining for nuts and candy.

These fun, colorful finds took work to source. Some days I find plenty and others nothing, but I do love the hunt.

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Simple Spring Decor Touches

The one thing I quit doing a few years ago is completely changing out my decor seasonally. Because I wanted less stuff and fewer items to store away in plastic tubs for 75% of the year, I simplified my seasonal decor and found better ways to store it. But, it doesn't mean that I still don't love adding small, simple, seasonal touches to my home. 
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
Back in January when we started working on updating and redoing our kitchen, I told you I wanted the UN-kitchen look. The UN-kitchen has more decorative touches and items that you typically wouldn't find in a kitchen--framed artwork, lamps, and other decorative pieces.
This kitchen corner is basically unused for anything utilitarian so it is the perfect spot for some seasonal items.
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
I switched out the painting I had here for something a thrifted, vintage watercolor with more green and pastel colors in it.
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
I removed the stack of old kitchen cookbooks and vintage tea tin (and put them in one of my glass-fronted kitchen cupboards that I have space in), and added a stack of vintage green dishes. A pair of Target dollar spot gold bunnies sit on top of the dishes. These are last year's bunnies, this year's are a bit smaller.
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
A vase of faux tulips sitting on a tray replace a brown pottery bowl. This corner is so cheerful and cozy when the ginger jar lamp is on. Other than the bunnies, everything yo see is from a thrift store.
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
I changed out a few items on my snack tray that sits year round on my upper kitchen counter corner.
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
A vintage green vase with faux spring stems replaced a blue bottle with branches. A gold bunny jar lid that I made last year was added. 
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
I found these vintage, cabbageware, candy dishes this year. They hold some Christmas candy leftovers--wintergreen life savers. They sit atop a stack of springy colored dessert plates that stay here all year, except at Christmas.
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
A covered Cabbageware casserole dish holds wrapped candy. The blue and white candy jar and other items that sit out here most of the time are in a cupboard. Having enough cupboard space is a key to storing seasonal decor in an easy and convenient way. If it won't fit in my cupboards when I am not using it, I won't buy it anymore. No way am I wrapping and storing dishes in the attic or basement.
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
A couple of the smaller Target bunnies from this year were added to my all season, kitchen table centerpiece.
Simple Spring Decor Touches from the Thrift Store
Keeping holiday decor simple and small makes it so much easier and less stressful to change seasonally. Adding colors and objects fitting with the time of the year makes decorating for the seasons effortless.  

Friday, March 1, 2024

A Wee Bit 'O March Decor

I have been on the hunt for all things springy and colorful at the thrift stores. Even though I wasn't sure what they were, when I spotted this pair of small, green, mustached men at the thrift store (for 50 cents each), I decided they were perfect to welcome March into our home.
vintage green mustached men candleholders
The tops are open and I wasn't sure if they had stopper for salt and pepper shakers or what. I did a little research on them and discovered they are definitely vintage from the 1960's.
vintage green mustached men candleholders
Some of my research said that these were most likely bud vases, which is how I chose to use them. I set them on a vintage cocktail book on my bar.
vintage green mustached men candleholders
Upon further digging I discovered that they almost always come together as a pair. I think they were intended to be candleholders, but for fairly small candles like the Menorah candles I have. They may have been made as soldiers or nutcrackers for Christmas time, but I think they are perfect for March. 

And how do I research? I use Google Lens as a starting point. But then I try to google search words and more information. It is not a perfect search, but it helps me to learn a lot about the items I source and I love researching!
vintage green mustached men candleholders
They look like two, wee, jolly Irishmen ready for a tip of whiskey and they make me smile.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Bright and Cheerful Candle Display

That's it, I'm done!! Done with winter anyway, done with cold white and brown. So while I always decorate with color, I am ready to add even more bright and cheery colors to my home.

So, I have been on the thrifting hunt for all things colorful. When I spied this rainbow striped, hand painted, ceramic tray at the thrift store, I knew it had to come home with me. The fact that it was only $3 made it even better.
Bright and Cheerful Candle Display
The blue on it isn't really "my blue", but I don't care. When you use neutrals for your major decor  spaces--walls, cupboards, sofas, etc., you can use all of the other colors as you please. I mostly decorate with dark greens, navy blue, burnt orange, and mustard yellow. 

I decided this piece would be a great candle holder for my upper, eat-in kitchen counter where I keep a seasonal centerpiece or display. This is what I had there post Christmas for the winter months:
Bright and Cheerful Candle Display
Now, This cheerful and bright candle display sits here.
Bright and Cheerful Candle Display
I replaced the neutral colored rattan runner with two thrifted, colorful, matchstick placemats.
I simply set the next to each other and placed the rainbow striped dish on top of them.
Bright and Cheerful Candle Display
I placed modern style wood candlesticks on the tray. I made these a couple years ago and you can read about how and why I made them HERE.
Bright and Cheerful Candle Display
The wood candlesticks adds some of that natural, organic texture that I love and tones down the bright colors. The wood also matches the wood tones in the placemat. The shape of the candlesticks help the display to look clean and modern.
Bright and Cheerful Candle Display
I found a candle snuffer on the same day as I bought the colorful tray. It is brass and has a little bird on it. The style is a bit more cottage than the ret of the display, but it is springy and I like using opposing style elements in one display as it creates interest and tension in the visual components.
Bright and Cheerful Candle Display
And, it works well! Today's thrift tips are: have fun with your decor, add some springy colors that make you happy, and if it catches your eye at the thrift store, you typically can find a way to use the item in your home.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Vintage Thrifted Art

Art is one of my favorite things to thrift, if not my very favorite. I always take the time to look through the art area at my local thrift stores. A vintage pastel drawing of an iris and a vintage, bamboo frame were both found on the same day, but in different thrift stores.
Vintage Thrifted Art
I loved the art--the green background with the white and yellow iris sings spring vibes to me, but the goldish papered frame wasn't quite right. 
Vintage Thrifted Art
I had bought the bamboo frame first and decided it would be a perfect fit for the iris art. I had to carefully remove the art from the matte it was glued to. I then taped it (with acid free tape) to the matte that came with the vintage frame.
Vintage Thrifted Art
Propping the art on my entryway shelf with other thrift store finds that have similar tones and textures is the perfect way to say, "Welcome spring, we are ready to greet you."
Vintage Thrifted Art
The vintage, bamboo frame is perfect for the vintage art. Remember, you can reframe thrifted art and make it more compatible with the artwork and your home.

Monday, February 19, 2024

Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture

I have been sourcing some wonderful items lately that all seem to share a common rustic theme with fantastic, earthy and organic texture.
Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture
Keep reading to learn more about some of these fabulous finds.
Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture
Wood printers trays have been a staple for those who love antiques for as long as I can remember. One of my childhood friend's mom had one hanging on her wall with lots of little trinkets displayed in the small cubbies. Today, I would hang this on my wall as is without filling it. It has a lovely, aged wood tone and would add interesting texture and warmth to a flat wall.

I loved the sides of the antique mirror with the reverse glass painting on the top. The wood cutting board has great patina.
Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture
A leather binocular case will get flowers and as far as I can tell, the carved, black forest, bear candlestick is a genuine antique and has some value. The square wood box has a little wood handle that when I first saw it, I thought it was a goose. The light colored wood box has Egyptian drawings on it and was used as an invitation to an Egyptian slide show. Slide shows? Yes, that is something my parents did in the 60's and early 70's to entertain guests.
Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture
A beautiful hand-woven, lidded basket with handles and a vintage crewel with an indigenous design would look good together. 
Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture
This vintage, bentwood, oak chair is very solid. It may get recovered in the deer tapestry. The deer pillow has a cottagecore vibe. The white, striped, cotton blanket is clean and the perfect throw blanket.
Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture
The vintage, brass crab is heavy and the shell opens to reveal an ashtray (one of the indicators that it is vintage). The brass mirror is an antique, which is obvious if you saw the wood back. I would like to find a mirror to fit in it. The wood scrapbook has black paper pages and it does have one, old, black and white photo, circa 1950, in it.
Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture
The three small wood bowls or dishes will get some furniture salve. They are the perfect size to hold rings or change on a dresser or vanity. The little, white ceramic swan is open on top for a tiny plant or ??? The metal box has a nice, tarnished patina and is velvet lined. 
Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture
A couple vintage book page prints will get framed.
Rustic, Vintage, Curated Finds with Organic Texture
I like to use the word curated for the items that I find for my shop. I do not randomly pick and buy items, but rather take the times to find and select items that I think are special and unique and that I love and would use in my own home.  

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint

Thrift stores are full of fabulous, vintage and antique, wood furniture pieces. I recently found a bench with a caned seat and an antique mirror that would have been on a dresser.
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint
While I love the look and warmth of natural wood, both of these pieces needed some work and so I made the decision to paint them a dark, bluish green color that I mixed up from several different paints.
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint
The mirror had cup hooks all along the bottom of it that I am sure someone used for jewelry. I pulled those out and filled the holes with wood filler. 
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint
I knew that the holes, even though filled, would still show if I didn't paint over them. The bench was scratched and one of the wood medallions on a leg was missing so I decided it needed paint as well.
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint
I taped off the mirror and the caning on the bench and used a knife to trim the tape on the rounded corners. Paint prep is a pain, but so worth it in the end.
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint
After lightly sanding each piece and wiping them down, I painted two coats of the self-mixed dark green paint.When the paint was dry, I sanded a pit off it off on the detailed area on the top of the mirror and on the legs and handles of the bench. A matte clear coat of Min-Wax Polyacrylic completed the transformations for these two thrift store pieces. 
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint
Oh, and removing the tape to reveal clean lines is so satisfying!
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint
I did not paint over priceless antiques and the paint freshens and updates these wood finds and gives them new life for a new owner. I staged the bench with two thrift store pillows, neither one has green in it, but I love how they look with the bench and wall tapestry.
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint
My daughter studied in Italy last spring and so many of her photos had art and mirrors layered over tapestries or fabric covered walls. The layers add warmth and interest to a space. This thrifted tapestry is the perfect backdrop for the green mirror and bench and easy to change up or move. Ohh, and hello! There I am in the mirror.
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint
Hint--if you resell, paint items that can work together the same color and hope for a bundle purchase. While I love both of these pieces they will be for sale in my pop-up shop at the end of the month.
Updating Thrift Store Finds with Paint