My White Shelf

I really like this shelf in the dining area. My dining room and family room is actually one big room. The family room part has a lot of black. Black furniture, black frames, black accessories. So this all white shelf stands apart. And I like looking at it.

Of course, right now it looks a little bit different than usual, though I'm not sure what "usual" is because I'm always changing things around. But, the white turkey platter is a seasonal addition. There's a silver platter peeking out from behind it which is usually the backdrop.

These little birds were a souvenier gift to my mother from my brother from his eighth grade Spanish class's trip to Mexico.

Both soup tureens were gifts from my aunt to my mother. But, they're also in "my" possession now! The double candle holder was a Christmas gift from my mother one year.

Two of the milk glass vases I found while yard sale-ing last weekend. They were marked 10 cents each, but I got them for free!

The fact that the seasonally-colored candles happen to exactly match the little rose from our yard is purely coincidental. But, that coincidence brings a smile to my face each time I look at them.

Red

Our church held a G.O.O.D. sale on Saturday. Get Out Of Debt Sale. Participants brought crafts, baked goods, and all the goodies that were the result of their decluttering. The object was to apply their profits to their debt. The sale was a huge success. Not only did we make money, we promoted our church, and we had so much fun it was like having a huge party!

One of the benefits (or a downside, if you are of the negative persuasion) was the swapping amongst friends. I came home with a fair amount of new treasures. One of them was this mirror. (Thank you, Bonnie!)



It's shape reminded me of the 60's and the color of the 80's. But, I saw an opportunity to buy another can of spray paint ($1.12 at Wal-Mart) and bring it up to date! Interestingly, the mirror pops out just like the glass in a picture frame. So, without even having to tape or cover anything, a few minutes later I had a new mirrored tray -- just in time for Valentine's Day!

What Would You Have Done With It?

A couple of weeks ago, we came across this very old suitcase at a yard sale. It is SO HEAVY, I cannot imagine anyone actually carrying it when their belongings were inside.



But it really did capture our attention. Gabe and I (and Sarah-Kate!) love old suitcases. I probably wouldn't have bought it, just because it really was beat up. But, then we saw this sticker.


That sticker and the fact that the price was $1 made up our minds. Just think of its history! My mind just reels with questions. Who owned it? Where's it been? What has it carried? How long has it been around?

I'm not sure who thought of it first, but we somehow both thought of making it into a coffee table. I know what you're thinking.........a coffee table? What would make us think of that?

The bottom of the suitcase was not in good shape at all.

So, Gabe cut a piece of plywood to fit and I covered it with batting (another yard sale for 25 cents) and a piece of vintage-looking fabric (2/3 of a yard @ $1 a yard). I used hot glue.

The most expensive part of the whole project was the legs. From now on, I will be on the lookout for legs, spindles, and finials at yard sales and thrift stores!

The fabric-covered plywood did double duty. It helped make the inside look nice and it gave something extra to screw the screws into.

I primed the legs,

and then sprayed them with this.

You can see that it kind of globbed in a few places, but it really isn't noticible when they are sitting under the suitcase.

So, we attached the legs and here we are! A perfectly old, beat-up, funky coffee table!




With storage space inside.

A Major Haul, Vintage Laundry Bags, and a New Friend!

This summer, we went to a two-family yard sale. They had some nice stuff. We bought a few pieces. One lady threw in some extras. Yes, on her own and just because. Turns out she was moving out of town and was down-sizing big time. She was tired of standing out in the heat and just wanted to be done for the day. Besides it wasn't even her house where she was selling this stuff.

We had purchased a good-sized chair, so we had to go get our son's truck to pick it up. When we got back, she mentioned that she had a bunch of stuff in her garage that was just odds and ends and wanted to know if we wanted it.

What do you think we said? Of course, we wanted it.

We took the truck and FILLED it. Her odds and ends ended up in my still-to-be-finished patio room. I've been VERY slowly going through it. So slowly, most of it is still there!

But, in my defense, it is hard to go through this stuff. Why? Because most of it I want to keep! Either it is perfect or I think, "I could probably use this for something."

I will probably be referencing this stash in the future, but I thought I would show you something delightful I came across while looking through a pile of linens. Isn't this the darlingest vintage laundry bag you've ever seen? Hand embroidered on soft muslin. My poor photos don't do it justice.





It is currently just hanging in my laundry room making me happy every time I see it.

Oh, but that's not the end of the story. And not the best part, either.

We really hit if off with this charming woman. She started sharing her life with us. We prayed together. She committed her life to Jesus. It was such a divine appointment. We had her over for dinner the next night, along with Sarah-Kate. After dinner, we three women sat in the living room talking late into the night. Even though she left early the next morning along with her moving trucks, it was wonderful sowing seeds into a brand-new friendship.

Loot

Last Saturday, I found (through my daughter) the best little parking lot sale I have ever been to! There was so many treasures priced so low (and with my husband's bargaining went even lower) that I filled up the car. If I would have had a truck, I would have come home with a great deal more! I'm serious. Here's what I did come home with:

Isn't this just a cute little rocker? The rocker rungs indicate that it may be from the late 1800's. The original price under the $15 sticker is $135! We bought it for $7!

This table with magazine holders on both sides will be just perfect painted (At this time, I'm picturing Shabby Chic white.) and in my new patio room! $2! I could have bought a bunch more furniture for even less (can you believe that?), but alas, I had no more room in the car!

From a FREE table!

This cute little creamer matches my kitchen exactly. I can see it sitting on the kitchen window sill full of little daisies.

What am I going to do with veiled pillbox hats? I don't know, but they are hanging on my coat rack at the moment. They look cute there, too.

Pink glass bowls and platter, very old books (some early 1800's), and little baggies full of adorable odds and ends. One of the books is Letters from a War Correspondent -- from the Civil War! 50 cents!

Old buckles and three university labels, and Irish linen napkins. $2 One of the university labels has "Study to show thyself approved" in the center.

Various jewelry pieces, including two lockets and a watch pendant. $2 I bought it for the pendant.

Crocheted baby booties, tatting shuttle, buttons, and sewing kit. Look at those adorable booties!! $5

Old rhinestone pin with no pieces missing! I'm sorry for the poor quality pictures. I think I'll have to upgrade my camera for blog work! :-) It really is a beautiful broach.

The peach crackle glass vase is the perfect color for my living room, dining room, or family room!

This has gold edging. Can't wait to serve little delicacies on it!





The pearl bracelet has already been stolen by Sarah-Kate.


This 1932 cookbook is fantastic! There are recipes in here for everything under the sun, I think! They are written with the assumption that you know how to cook and bake. Not a lot of explicit directions. Makes me want to try them all the more!



And then, the piece that I am MOST THRILLED about -- a gorgeous boudoir floor lamp! $15! I think I had a shopping high after buying this piece!

It definitely looks like it might have been a romantic bedroom lamp, but it is going in my living room for now!