Secondhand Treasures ~ Cobalt Blue Bottles

I think I was born with a collector's gene...it's something I definitely inherited from my dad's side of the family.  My Gram had the most amazing collections and I loved going to her home and seeing the newest additions to her plate wall or bell shelf or salt and pepper shaker cabinets.  

My mom was never a collector.  She didn't have a curio cabinet or even a china closet.  Never a lot of knick-knacks needing dusting!  Although, she did have my dad attach shelves to a few of the windows in our house.  That was the only spot in the house that displayed any sort of trinkets or tchotchkes, tucked between the houseplants.  

My favorite of her little baubles were the 2 little bluebirds of happiness she had in her kitchen window.  Ever since then, I've admired cobalt blue glass.

 

I purchased these little bottles because they reminded me of those bluebirds in my mom's window!  Aren't they so sweet?  Especially with the American Flag as a backdrop!

Sadly, these won't be sticking around for long.  They'll be making their way to my Etsy Shop as soon as I work out the details and get the shop up and running.  

But for now, they are sitting in my kitchen window and look so pretty when the mid-morning sun shines through them!


I'm sharing my vintage finds on the following blog carnivals and linky parties:

• Works for me Wednesday hosted by We are THAT Family
• Rednesday hosted by Cottage Sweet Cottage 
• Homemaking Party hosted by Hope in Every Season
• Vintage Thingie Thursday hosted by The Colorado Lady 
• Flaunt It Friday hosted by Chic on a Shoestring 
• Blue Monday hosted by Smiling Sally

Secondhand Treasures ~ A Tray Full of Summer

I love adding red accents to my kitchen, especially when they are cute vintage treasures either found while browsing the thrift shops and yard sale or gifted from a friend or family member.  

This cute little tray was originally "picked" by my friend Barb.  Isn't it adorable?  Each time I saw it at her house, I complimented her on how much I liked it.  

One day, she arrived early for a party I was hosting and surprised me with the tray.  I was so thrilled, that I immediately found a spot for it on my kitchen table...it's been there ever since.  I just switch out the items I place on it according to the seasons or just based on my mood at the time!  

Lemons and strawberries are wonderful summer flavors.  

We know that summer is it's way when the local churches 

start selling their strawberry pies 

and lemon cakes start filling the bakery cases 

at the markets.  

Lemon is one of my favorite summer time flavors! 

Since I've been eating a lot of Lemon Fettuccine with Carrots, 

we picked up a 2 lb bag of lemons when they were on sale last week. 

Don't they look refreshing in this vintage mixing bowl?  

Berries topped with yogurt is the perfect light summertime breakfast. 

Light and refreshing...healthy, too!  

Recently, I picked up four of these milk glass chowder bowls.  

They've since been my favorite for snack time!  

Since we live in a small house, 

I try to limit my vintage collections to items to items 

that can be used around the house.  

This glass juice reamer has gotten a lot of use 

the past few weeks!  

Occasionally, I do purchase items that are not vintage or second hand. 

The sweet little tea towel, was a Target find...

gotta love the Dollar Spot!  

I'm showing off my vintage treasures at the following blog carnivals and linky parties:  

• Rednesday hosted by Cottage Sweet Cottage

Second Hand Treasures ~ Vintage Cookware

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved old things.  I enjoyed looking at a vintage item and wondering about it's history.  Now, I tend to look for things to incorporate into my small, but growing collections while still thinking about the previous owners.

A few weeks ago, we happened to be running errands not too far from my favorite thrift shop.  I was pleased when my four year-old asked to go into what she calls the "bird store".  Fitting name since there's a bird on the sign.  We didn't have anything else planned for the day, so we parked the car and ventured into the shops for some browsing.

Grace enjoys testing each chair and sofa in the furniture department, but her patience wears off by the time Joe gets to the hardware department.  By this time she is so excited, she just can't wait to get to the toy section!  I love that she can be equally pleased with a 99 cent thrift shop find as she would be with a shopping spree at that major toy retailer.

I thought that I took pictures of all of our finds from that day, but when looking back at my camera I noticed I only took a couple photos of some pots and pans we picked up that day.  So, I'll have to come back another time to share the rest of our second-hand treasures with you.  But for now, take a peek at 3 of the items we brought home with us that day!

The top two pots were my picks for the day!  

I have a difficult time resisting old enamel kitchen items.  

Joe has wanted a cast iron skillet for some time.  

This one needs a little cleaning up.  

Since I don't have any experience with that, 

I'll leave that up to him!  

I love that large stock pot!  

I wish I had this one around when Grace was smaller, 

it sure would make for a great photo prop!  

I don't usually purchase two enamel pieces in one outing.  

We live in a small house, so I really try not to go overboard with collecting.  

So, for the sake of space and our budget, 

I usually limit my purchases to ONE collectible item.  

Especially, when it's not half price day!  

But I really had a tough time deciding 

when I came across this green pot.  

Even Joe was surprised 

when he spotted both items in our cart!  

I rationalized it like this:  

Well, we haven't been here in a while...

and probably won't be for a few weeks...

And I don't have anything this size (speaking of the stock pot) 

or this color (that green pot) yet!  

I'm still waiting for Joe to clean up this skillet 

and cook up something delicious!  

I'll have to pull a few more items out of the cupboards, so I can snap some photos to share with you next week!  

This post has been linked up to the following blog carnivals and linky parties:

• Vintage Thingie Thursday hosted by the Coloradolady

How the Grinch Stole {my} Christmas {tree}

Ever since my Mom dropped off two boxes of vintage Christmas ornaments last year, I've been trying to find a way to use them in a way that show off their vintage charm without being lost in the darker, homespun/primitive decorations that I've collected over the years. 

After seeing this photo on Pinterest, I KNEW just how I wanted to display those beautiful ornaments from my childhood.  I just thought I would have to wait a couple of years before we could afford a new tree. 

I just happened to find a great sale on a 4ft. pre-lit tree (just over $17 including sales tax) and couldn't pass up the deal!  After Grace went to bed, I dug out the two boxes of vintage treasures and set out to decorate my new little tree! 

I finally went to bed at 3:30am.  Tired but extremely pleased with myself and my adorable new tree (shown below). 

Grace woke at 4:30 and Joe took her to the kitchen to get some milk.  Apparently, the little monster she started grabbing at the tree.  (Of course, I knew she would...I just thought I would be the one to deal with her at a more reasonable hour.)  Joe got Grace back to her room and then got himself ready for work. 

When I got up with Grace later in the morning, I came out to find my tree missing!  I thought for sure the Grinch had stolen my sweet little tree!  After a quick peek into the garage, I found my tree safely hiding in the garage until we can find something taller to place the tree on...away from curious little hands. 

In addition to finding a safe spot for the tree, I also need to learn how to take better photos of the lit tree.  (the top photo was with the flash on, the bottom with the flash off)


I'm linking this post to the following blog carnivals and linky parties:

• Show-Me-How at It's a Blog Party
• Homemaker Monday
• Anything and Everything Christmas-y at Just Simply Christmas

 

Shopping Craigslist: Vintage Patio Set

I love to shop yard sales and second hand shops for furniture, but without a car of my own, I don't get to go thrifting very often.  To me, Craigslist.com is the next best thing.  Or, maybe it really is the best option since you can window shop online at all hours! 

Since moving into our house almost 5 years ago and having a yard for the first time in over ten years, I really wanted a patio set.  As with most big-ticket items, money was an issue.  Sets that we could afford were not sturdy enough for our needs.  Joe is a big guy.  So are most of the men in our families.  We needed something that we wouldn't have to replace the following summer. 

That first summer passed without us finding an affordable outdoor table and chairs set.  At the end of that summer (and each one after), I vowed that I would save up all winter long to get a sturdy set the next summer.  Yeah, never happened.  Other (more important) things came up. 

Every once in a while, I find the time to browse the furniture section on craigslist.  Last Sunday, after Grace was in bed, I browsed the listings hoping to find a dresser for the big girl room that I want to get started on very soon. 

I didn't find a dresser that I liked, but I did end up seeing a listing for a Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Set, $100.  I clicked on the listing and saw this: 

Joe was still awake, so I showed him the listing asking if he thought he'd be able to stop and look at it on his way home from work the next day.  So, we set up an appointment to take a look at the set.  Since the address was on Joe's way home from work, he went alone to check it out and decide if we would purchase or not. 

I was so excited when I looked out the kitchen window and saw Joe's pick up truck full of our new (to us) patio furniture!  Here's a picture of it after it was hauled out of the back of the pick up: 

I love it!  I'm so glad we waited until we found the perfect set for us and a price we could afford!  Round table, 2 chairs, 2 benches and they even included a heavy umbrella stand.  This is so much more my style than any of the patio furniture sold in retail stores right now.  It's an older set (not sure how "vintage" it really is), it could use some cushions, an umbrella and maybe a new coat of paint in the next year (or maybe two).  I'm thinking yellow!


I'll be linking this post to the following blog carnivals and linky parties: 

• Thrift Share Monday
• The Penny Worthy Project 
• Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
• White Wednesday
• Penny Pinching Party
• Works for Me Wednesday
• Vintage Thingie Thursday
• Treasure Hunt Thursday
• Thrifty Thursday
• Treasures and Trinkets Thursday
• Thrifty Things Friday
• Frugal Friday
• I'm Lovin' It
• Homemaker Monday
• Making a Home