Next TUESDAY Meet Mom for lunch, Get Senior Discount

It's nice to meet your mom for lunch.  Next time, schedule it on a TUESDAY because many thrift stores offer senior discounts of up to 20% off one day of the week.  Look what my mom and I found when I secretly asked her to join me for a quick stop in the Goodwill after lunch! 

Dining table with leaf and 6 dining chairs.  Awesome paint color and patina.  The wicker caning was in great condition and with mom's discount, the whole shooting match was $150.  Recover the seat cushions and you have an amazing set for cottage or kitchen!

This dresser was at a different thrift shop and I think that I am drawn to green, because I thought this piece was great.  Add it to a foyer, kitchen, end of a hallway, whatever - it's a great piece.  It was marked $75 but they offer senior day on Tuesdays as well.

World Mission Thrift stores give 50% discount off ALL merchandise on the last TUESDAY of the month.  Stop in there, you'll have to wait in line to check out, but you can't beat the discount!!  See you there.  My mom and I will say 'hello.'

New Addition to my bag of tricks

I blogged once before about the tools you might want to carry with you when you go antiquing, thrifting or salvaging.  Well, I took my own advice and tossed in this pair of garden gloves.  They are my most utilized tool now!!

Loved it so much I couldn't set it free!

My Etsy.com shop has really taken off and I am having so much fun finding great vintage home accessories to share with others.  I have been out on the prowl, scouring the thrift stores, estate sales and some secret haunts and have unearthed some amazing vintage pieces.  If you're looking for any cool vintage accents to bring your home to life, please check out my shop! 

But, as I have been out on the town, I found some pieces I just can't sell or set free.  They have made their way permanently into my home.  My kids and my husband even think these new additions are great - especially when they find out how much (or how little) I paid for them!

This is a spool cabinet.  I found it at an estate sale in this great apple green color.  The old men at the sale were commenting about how sad it was that it had this awful color painted on the beautiful wood and hardware.  I just smiled and paid them and secretly knew that was the EXACT reason I bought it!

My new pride and joy.  Welcome to the family ROYAL 1938 typewriter!!  Doing research on this piece after I snagged it for a whole $8 at an estate sale (you heard me, EIGHT dollars) I learned that the manufacturers of these pieces of machinery were so proud of their state-of-the-art mechanics that they put glass on the sides so you could see the inner workings.  This is a piece of history.  I wonder what great literary works were created on this.  Another fun fact about it - it has no number 1 key.  They figured you could use a lower case L. 

This baby is the real deal.  It is from the 1960s and I paid just $4.99 for it (plus the new shade which ran around $50 bucks).  I love the patina on the brass base.  I think it is so crazy how style comes back around.  These gourd shape lamps are extremely popular right now straight out of the 60's.

Snap, Crackle and Pop

I'm talking PATINA here!  If it doesn't have chips, or crackles, or rust - it's just not for me!  Love this cute "industrial chic" (yes, it is a new term and I LOVE IT) metal side table with pink paint and black legs.  It just had to go in my girl room!  The small table lamp was a thrift find - $1! Looks great with my Rachel Ashwell books - the original queen of flea market style and the one who coined the term Shabby Chic.

Add Something Shabby to Your Chic Decor

I talk a lot about this, but I had to show you a few pieces of furniture and accents I came across recently to drive this idea home.  Look at these amazing finds from a great store called Amsterdam in Saugatuck, MI:

What a cool piece for a foyer, mud room, potting area, or kitchen! 

Pull up a seat!  These old stools had a life of their own and were just waiting for you to take a load off and have a cup of coffee with the girls at the kitchen island!

My favorite stool with curvy legs and a spinning top!

This chippy, shabby workbench would be the ultimate kitchen island.

Chubby cubbies!  Great for kids homework or shoes!

HUGE statement piece.  Amazing old piece of history from a hardware store or tool shop. 

Order UP!

Do you ever feel like you are a short order cook feeding children and husbands round the clock?!  I sure do.  I recently added this rustic red bell for a bit of whimsy in my kitchen.

Drive A Few Miles to Get Inspired

Well, it's time to hop in the car and go for a color tour.  Actually, it's not what you think...I'm not talking about all the beautiful leaves that peaked with the colors of autumn in Michigan (although that is a great idea on a sunny October day).   I am talking about getting inspired by color in a different way. 

Do you find yourself shopping at the same old haunts?  Every day to the same places...Target, Costco, and the grocery store maybe tossing in a Hobby Lobby visit here and there?  I do love, love, love Target and I always pick up something there that looks great in my home, but when your car automatically drives there and your red cart goes up and down those same isles you stop noticing the new and exciting things offered.  I want you to go another direction and try something else.  Cross town.  Drive a little.  Go explore the next city over.  They will have the same stores over there, but will have it presented differently and you might even stumble across a cute boutique or fun mom-n-pop store that speaks your decorating language.  This is the color tour I am talking about. 

When I returned from my girls weekend to New York, I realized how narrow minded we get in our own little world and how it stifles our creativity and inspiration.  It is so energizing to step outside of your community and see how the world works on a different main street.  It inspired me to get out and see more!  A different view, a different perspective, and a different shade of the same colors we are used to.  I highly recommend changing up your day and seeing the same things in a new light.   You don't have to go to New York, or on a plane, just go for a drive.

I did this just the other day.  I drove about an hour from my house to the Lake Michigan lake shore community of Saugatuck,MI and then headed north to neighboring Holland, MI.  On my way home, I stopped at a different Target off my usual path and discovered so many new things.  It was an eye opener.  Here just two ideas that stemmed from from my trip into new pastures.  I got so many new ideas just stepping across the county line.  I'll share more soon.

This beautiful greenery has the effect of a topiary, but it in fact is just a bird bath with a huge pot of flowers placed in the bowl.  I thought it was genius because it lifts the focus off the ground and creates a beautiful statement.  I am totally going to try this next year.

A mirror on a hook - who would have thought?  It creates so much more interest.  The composition of this vignette is perfect (minus the surveillance camera).  I love the shine of the chrome and the reflection of the light when the lamp is placed directly in front of the mirror.  So often we place lamps and accents to the side, but in this case the designer put the lamp smack dab in the center of the mirror and I think it looks great.  It's just a different approach.

Wallpaper and Justin Bieber

Wallpaper is an old concept that got a bad reputation and went by the wayside in recent history.  I for one vowed to never use it EVER as I was painstakingly removing it from every wall in a previous home.  I kid you not, that Chicago Bulls wallpaper (with coordinating BORDER) in the guest bedroom was the bane of my existence in that home.  It took a full week of serious peeling, scraping, and swearing to get that stuff off the walls.  But, wallpaper is back and I am the first to admit that in this instance "never" meant "temporarily."  As my mom and Justin Bieber say "Never say never."

I recently ventured into Lowes to look at paint and found myself lost in the different wallpaper books instead.  They have it conveniently organized in books by color and even one dedicated to metallic papers - gorgeous.  If you don't want to order it and you need instant gratification at the check out, they do have a selection of ready to go rolls.  Each roll is less than $30 and for that price, the effect is outstanding.  Try it!  If you hate it, you can take it down!  It's not as difficult as it used to be.  Go slow - don't jump in and wallpaper your whole house.  Try an accent.  How about the back of your bookshelves, the inside of a cabinet, or in a few frames like art work.  It is a very cool way to bring some color, pattern and texture into your room.  And its not a huge commitment.  Look at this great wallpaper I found at Lowes:

It's all in the details - get your carpet CLEAN!

Your home could be decked out with nicest furniture and accessories, but if your carpet has spots and dirt, and (gasp) pet odors, that's the first thing your guests will notice. 

If you have one of these...


You are gonna need these...


The Woolite Stomp 'N Go pads are miraculous.  Seriously, you're not going to believe how well they work and how little work you have to do.  I swear, I use them all the time to clean up after the *&%$ dog and after the boys' spills and messes, too.   It's kind of like a paper towel, kind of like a wash cloth, but it has carpet cleaning juice in the pad.  You lay it down on top of the spill and step on it.  Then leave it there and it sucks up the mess.  Easy and efficient - and leaves a fresh clean scent! Try them - and then thank me! Find 'em at Walmart!

Scrap Metal or Decor? Use Heavy Metal and Farm Equipment and Old Tin in Your Home!

A vintage anchor, some old pad locks, vintage copper, old cookie cutters and a sack holder used in an old barn for loading grain in burlap sacks.  You would think I was going to fill my pick-up with junk metal and cash it in at the scrap yard.  Well, I have thought of that...but, instead I am going to show you how you can use these things in your home and get a cool look.  Yes, you can use these as decorative items and I think they are GREAT!  Before you pitch something made of metal, see if you can re-purpose it.  Scrap metal pays off, but look at the treasures I saved from a melt-down!

Collection of vintage padlocks that don't have keys.  Purely decorative, but really textural and cool.  Plus, a vintage anchor.  So heavy and rusty and awesome.

    On the left are the vintage copper pots I found at the Paris flea market.  On the right is the barn sack filler that I am going to use for a pot rack - YES I AM!

Found these while rummaging...Shabby Chic at it's finest.  They are from Italy and they are fab.  Definitely not scrap metal!  I have a pair.



This cute old recipe tin has tons of charm and can be used to store or display vintage cookie cutters!



Does this remind you of your grandma's house or your parents' 1975 rambler?  Well, it's officially back in style.  Don't scrap me!

These vintage Jell-O molds would be darling as small lamp shades for a string of lights.  Just drill small holes ta-da you've got a one of a kind party light string!  They are readily available, and too cute to throw out.

This hand painted tole tray is all metal and all girlie.  It would be so cute in your bedroom for your watch and rings and loose change before bed.  Perfumes, toiletries, whatever - so sweet.

Cute little aluminum salt and pepper shakers. 

More metal!

Keep or Sell?

Oh - Seriously!!  I have been finding so many great wall hangings and art pieces at estate sales lately.  I have put many new things up for sale in my Etsy.com shop, but these Paris landmark prints are SO GREAT (and I love Paris) that I might have to keep them...I'm just not sure.  They are from the 1960s and I think they are fantastic.

Vintage artwork is a great way to add character to your room.  It's fun to find real art - like oil paintings or water colors.  You know you will be the only one of your friends to have it and you never know, it might actually be valuable some day!  No matter what your style, there is a vintage piece out there for you.  Find what you love - there are different mediums, different subjects, different eras, and different styles.  I am drawn to pictures of the sea or water landscapes.  Take a look at this collection I have been gathering for my home.  I think it is interesting when you line them up.  It creates a long coast line - it's crazy that the sky and horizon line kind of line up!  Yes, this collection is growing!

I also found this - can you tell me if it is a boy or a girl?  At first, it's clearly a young boy.  But, then as you look further, it could be a woman with either short hair or her hair pulled tight.  Look at the chin, lips and eye lashes - distinctly feminine. It is ambiguous!  That's what I like about it.  FABULOUS!!

Remember when I blogged about that great store Fishs Eddy, I told you about how much I loved all the vintage portraits of women.  They had them all over the store.  Just women.  So, I decided to start looking for them to collect.  Kind of boho, kitsch, cool.  I bought one recently and I think it is very cool.  I don't know her, but I call her Sophisticated Woman.  She is on Etsy.com...

Here is an original water color of a small hill top town that looks just like San Gimignano, Italy.  It's funny because I just blogged about my trip there and the pottery I purchased and then I saw this painting at an estate sale the very next day.  I think it is fun to layer or stack art on top of another.

I love travel prints and posters.  The ones above from Paris were probably souvenirs from a wonderful trip.  They are memories that people frame carefully to  keep forever.  I think that is nostalgic and very sentimental.  So, naturally, when I saw this souvenir poster print from the 1960s of Rome I had to pick those up, as well.

 
It's true, however, that EVERYONE thinks they are an artist.  Lots and lots of people try their hand at painting.  More often than not, the works of art at thrift shops are paint-by-number failures!  But, if they have cool frames, they are valuable just for that!  Case in point: this drippy water color is not very good, but I loved the bright green frame so it was valuable to me.  I'll use it for something!  Speaking of frames, I found 7 matching vintage frames with mats at a thrift shop.  This picture does not do them justice, but I love them! They are all different sizes.   Can't wait to find a cool use for them.  Instead of pictures, I was thinking about framing 7 pieces graphic wall paper from the same roll...

I'll Be Your Friend Or Family!

Did you read my post about the great furniture at World Market?  Well, now is your chance to get those great pieces and also get a little help from me pulling it all together.  This weekend is the Friends and Family sale at World Market.  I am a "member" and I get 25% off everything in the store (aside from wine and booze!)  so let me know if you saw anything there lately you'd like to get for cheaper!  E-mail me and I'll take you shopping over the weekend and then we can place it in your home and freshen things up a bit!  Hurry - sale only goes thru Sunday.  WooHoo!  Let's shop!!

Fishs Eddy - That's the Name, Really

While visiting New York, my dear friend Carrie (who is a food stylist for the Today Show on NBC) was our tour guide.  As a lover of everything in the kitchen, she lead us to a shop that was an instant favorite and I want to share it with you.  It's called Fishs Eddy.  I know - crazy name.  But, as soon as I passed by the shop window and walked toward the entrance it was - for me - like going to Disney World.  Instead of Princesses and Magic, there were dishes and table linens.  I love this stuff.  Turns out, I was so immersed, I did not take nearly enough pictures to show you the size, scale and cool-factor of this store - so you'll have to visit the website to get a better idea.  I'll do my best to show you what I found thru the minimal amount of photos...

So many cake plates - they had every color, plus silver and novelty ones that I had not seen before.

This was not for sale, but I just loved the vibe and the character of this store.  It had an old fashioned dry goods store type of look with vintage shelving and displays, plus some of the coolest dishes, serving pieces and table linens I've encountered.

I really, really, really wanted to purchase this restaurant-style serving tray with a rubberized texture.  It would be perfect for parties, for creating a bar, or as a tray on your coffee table.  It was casual and unexpected.  You don't see these items in homes very often and I love that idea.  It was only $11 but it was so big that I had no way to take it home on the airplane, not to mention lugging it around NYC all day.  Unfortunately, this item does not seem to be on the website, so I am afraid I'll have to keep looking.

Another cool tray made from recycled barn boards.

I admired the dishes in the windows from the outside and inside.  They seriously had every color.

They had a jar shape and size for anything you could imagine.  This is what I like...I brought home a few jars.  Look at the marbles!!!  So cute.  There was also a whole row of jars with dog treats.

Mixed in with the dishes are table linens and some cool home accessories - like this flea market artwork. 

I bought this salt keeper for my counter top.  I use Kosher salt more frequently than table salt and I LOVE this jar!

If you visit this shop or website, I guarantee you will find something cute for your kitchen and nobody else will have it!