A Moment to Savor

Ahh.....new lights out of the box....they all work....no tangles......sa-weet!

Time To Decorate

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!!

Now it's time to decorate around here!

Junkin' Monday

I'm afraid no junkin' this past week here, but thought I'd show you the ties I bought at the auction I went to two weeks ago. Pretty, huh?



The patterns and colors are SO nice!



I like to imagine the suit these were worn with. AND, there was only one suit at the auction and I did bring it home too! Now, what to do with the ties....



I have a few boxes of great old wood hangers. So, here are the ties now in my sewing room held up on a couple of those hangers. So, if I want a snippet of tie fabric for something I can just go clip a bit off the back and still leave the great display of color in my room.



So many old things are just nice to display as they are.



I hung two of my antique pocket watches on the hangers and I think that's a nice finishing touch.

If anyone has any suggestions for projects with ties, I'd really like to hear them. I have another box or so of ties...

My mom made quite a few throws out of them and they looked quite sharp. I made a skirt for my oldest daughter for Sr. pictures, BUT ties are cut on the bias....and that was an issue. I wouldn't do it again without really good instructions. (I was winging it!)

Now, I'm off to see what everyone else is up to over at Clara and Marcela's!

Urban Habitat

I just got done painting my son's room. Long story which if I told would reveal way to much of how we roll around here. His room has been in an upheaval for a loooong time. 'Nuff said.

Two of the walls are Deep Bronze and gorgeous. We got a simple but sharp black coverlet to go on the bed and I think it will all look lovely but very masculine.




But, this post is about these. Paint samples--aaarrrrhhhggg--I love them! and Yes, I know I've posted about them before. (Whoops, If you click on that link, you'll know how long this project has been in the works!) But none of those were what he wanted so yesterday we went back for more. This time to the lumber yard in town. Which means new paint samples. I took so many I had to tell them because I felt guilty. Store guy says "go ahead". Now, if Valspar paint goes up in price we know why. Because I know all of you are going to want to get your own too.

This collection is called "Urban Habitat" by Valspar Medallion. Of course the display was much of the beauty. Each one very evenly spaced all lined up in glorious color splendor. It's like all my favorite vintage colors with a new twist.



And, look at some of the names! Under Construction..... Arbitrary.....Poetic Justice.....!!!

I don't know what I'll do with them---HA! big surprise right?! For now, I'll leave them in a stack on my sewing room table to thumb through and enjoy.

Mid Life Mini Crisis

So I went to buy myself a new wallet. The old one had broken and was quite shabby. I went in search once again for the perfect wallet. I knew what I wanted because I have carried the perfect wallet for about 24 years. It holds everything and has room for a bit of expansion as you stuff it, and believe me, I stuffed it! I've carried black, blue, and brown, but basically it's a plain (but perfect) wallet.
24 years!--it hit me there in the aisle of Target. I don't care if it's perfect! I don't want to carry the same ugly wallet while all the cute ones continue to taunt me with their style. Even though I know they'll NEVER hold everything I need. So, I bought a stylish fabric wallet that looked like it could have come from Fossil--but my midlife crisis wasn't that bad. I wouldn't come up with the money for a Fossil wallet, so I settled for "similar".

So--now I had no place to carry my checks--I couldn't even find one of the cheap ones lying around the house. Besides, I didn't want boring.



So, I ordered from Etsy some of those plastic checkbook covers that you can add your own paper in. I used fabric collage instead-- some from that lovely big bag I bought on Sunday and posted about yesterday.



I even used vintage text from an accounting book I bought on Sunday. It was from an example page of how to record your transactions and it mostly listed shoe purchases--fun!



More vintage fabric for the liner.



Here's the checkbook opened up flat. I used a rubber stamp on fabric for the bottom layer just to give it all some depth.

NOW, I still have to find something to carry all my pictures which used to fit in my perfect wallet too.....at least now I have something interesting in my purse!

Junkin' Monday

I was able to get to the last day of an estate sale yesterday- my favorite time to go as they want to deal and love someone buying in bulk. The books are just a small sample from the 3 boxes I bought. He made me a good offer what can I say? I only bought one suitcase, but was oh so tempted to come home with about 3 more!



This book cover is very rough but still so beautiful.



Look inside--to Rosa from Santa Claus in 1894. (Does that make you all sentimental? It does me!)



This little note was tucked inside. "Are you mad at me for being late?"



And the reply on the back side, "Yes, what are you going to do?" ....I picture this note being passed in an old small country school house between Rosa and ...maybe his name was Andrew...and he was supposed to meet her to walk with her to school....



I can never pass up a typewriter at a reasonable price. This may be one for parts. It's a little sticky and no black ink left. But, I don't know. Otherwise it's in such good shape. I just love how a typewriter looks. In my opinion that's enough. It doesn't have to be used for anything. I have two that are so lovely they have their alloted shelf space just to sit and be admired.



More buying in bulk--bling!



One big bag of vintage scraps. I'll keep them in a clear bag and just pull out and iron what I need-- when I need it. There are a couple of really lovely pieces in that mess!

I'm joining Clara and Marcela again for Junkin' Monday. You can check out what they found this past weekend and many other bloggers as they share their new treasures here.

Transformation Thursday

I bought these glass canisters at the thrift store on Tuesday. Glass containers that I used to walk by not giving a second thought to---now make their way home with me to house lovely vintage supplies and collections.



Here they are now in my sewing room holding spools, clothes pins, metal hooks, and glass door knobs. This was a pretty fast project, but to be honest--I can't even believe that I did it right away. Seems like I have to let things sit for a long period of time before actually doing something with them. This is a record for me---next day! I feel a change coming on---it might not last--I better enjoy the moment!!



I popped off the round ball knobs and painted the lids. Then, I replaced the ball knobs with vintage spools of thread that I stained a bit to darken.



After painting, I used a rubber stamp for the image of the woman at a writing desk.



I don't own many rubber stamps, but this one is my favorite among those few I have. I clear coated the lids after everything had dried so they have a nice finish on them now.

I'm joining in on Transformation Thursday over at the Shabby Chic Cottage. So head on over and be inspired!

Lovin' Blocks and Words

I thought I'd show you all some of the projects I've working on recently. I'm having a lot of fun using wood blocks in projects.



I'll be doing more blocks as soon as I fix our saw....it broke when I tried sawing a block of wood that must have had a nail, knot or something "not good" in it. A chunk it my son across the table. Uhg.



There's no place like home....



....free form machine embroidery on vintage text....



I've been making word nuggets from vintage text and from my old typewriter on vintage paper.



"What's a word nugget?!" you may be asking~~~Just little words that you can set around blocks, photos, stick in drawers, packages, or make into magnets.



Another set of blocks from a vintage Christmas card.



One of my word nuggets on a tealight candle holder. I often think less is more. And this is one of those times. One word speaks volumes don't you think?



I have some of these listed in my Etsy shop. They are fork wall art easels. Gosh, I love to hammer. You can hang them as they are use them to hold a photo or small piece of art.



Large ornaments made from a tattered and faded toile vintage tablecloth.



I adore this tablecloth. I've saved every little scrap from anything I've done with it and will keep using each little piece in projects.

If anyone is interested in anything or a custom order just email me (click on the sidebar icon) and we can chat.

Junkin' Monday

I was able to go to the auction in town yesterday. (woohoo!) There was a lot of neat stuff there, and mostly I came home with vintage fabric, vintage clothes, books, and magazines. I was happy!



Lovely~




Feedsacks!! The red geometric is my favorite. These will more than likely be listed in my Etsy shop so if you're interested, shoot me an e-mail.



This piece is gorgeous.



And this upholstery fabric is similar to the chair I posted about here. I don't currently have a chair that needs it, but it will eventually find a home.



I have very rarely seen uncut vintage upholstery fabric.

And guess who I found out was bidding against me on this great find?! Cammie from Daffodowndilly's. Can you believe it? We had talked a couple of times (but hadn't met) about different things and she was going to come "shop" from me sometime. Well to make a long story short, it was hours after she was at the auction that I discovered she was there. She and her husband came to our house after the auction to finish filling their truck!! We had a really nice time, ordered pizza, and I picked her brain about the junkin' business. My daughter said it seemed like we had known each other for years the way we were chatting. Neither one of us really wanted a picture after a day at an auction so you only get the story!




Had to share one of the books I bought--My four year old is Audrey. Neat, huh?!

Now, head on over to Clara and Marcela's to see more finds!

Pilger's Fall Fest--Come and Visit Me!

I will be here--selling my "wares"--a little of this and a little of that. But all made with vintage supplies or photos of vintage treasures. Now, back to my sewing room to put the finishing touches on some!

An Invitation

If....



you



came



junkin'



with



me.....



I'd share my coffee with you out of my favorite vintage thermos!!