Sunday, November 29, 2009

Vintage Christmas Monday ~ Number 2


{My vintage Christmas collecting even includes the old boxes that Christmas ornament hangers came in. Inexpensive with fun graphics.}

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Vintage Christmas Ornaments



{This is my Christmas tree from last year with many of my vintage ornaments. I have my Grandmother's, my Mom's and my own collection gathered over 40 years.}

Thursday, November 26, 2009

The Last Vintage Black Friday

For our last Vintage Black Friday {I will miss this blog party} I want to share something unusual that I recently bought from the estate of a retired upholsterer.

It is tin and cone-shaped.

IT has a hole in the top and wonderful graphics.

Do you know what it is?




It is filled with tacks which professional upholsterers poured out into their mouths and then spit out to use tacking upholstery onto furniture.

Yikes! Makes me nervous. How about you?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

White Wednesday~ Vintage Glove Forms

Vintage Glove Forms doing what Vintage Glove Forms were meant to do...



After they gave up their careers as Glove Formers...

Now they are holding up jewelry...

Very successfully holding up jewelry!


Find the other White Wednesday participants by visiting Faded Charm.

A Few Favorites from Monday's Vintage Christmas

While visiting the participants of Vintage Christmas Monday yesterday I was struck by the love and care that people took in their choices and the writing of their posts.

It was clear to me that this blog party inspired people... bringing back fond and joyous memories of their's and other's past Christmases.

Thank you so much everyone who participated in and visited our first Monday Vintage Christmas party.

And here are some of my favorites.




Sue Bee's darling vintage ceramic Santa
found in a thrift shop and lovingly brought home.




A family treasure Pepsi Santa that
Cottage State of Mind risked life
and limb to get a picture of for her post.




Recent flea market finds that Laura of 52 flea included
in her lovely post.




And Gypsy Brocante's Vintage Santa who is enjoying
both being out year round and his World Wide Web 15 minutes of fame.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Vintage Christmas Monday Blog Party

From now until Christmas I will be hosting Vintage Christmas Monday. I would love for you to participate and share your vintage decorations..

ornaments...and lights

trees...and wreaths

cards...and postcards

dishes, tree skirts, table covers...

creches and outdoor displays.

You get the idea.




Dawn from Cottage State of Mind made me a cute little button to add to your blog to announce the party. Thank you, Dawn!!!!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Vintage Black Friday~ Antique Clock Face

For today's Vintage Black Friday I want to share one of my favorite things. Many years ago I bought this clock face..yes, I only have the face... from a collector moving to warmer winters...

I never tire of looking at it...

It makes me happy ever time I look at it...

It was NOT a curbside find or EVEN a bargain....




Do you have things like that?

Things you HAD to have?


Or on the other hand~ are there things that you wanted... didn't buy and ALWAYS have regretted not buying?

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Ridiculously Easy Holiday Photo Holders

Over the last couple of months I have shown you many ways to make ridiculously easy photo holders. You'll find the basics there.

Today, of course, I want to show you some holiday versions using vintage bottles...

Not so Christmasy that they couldn't be used into January.











I was able to use some of the ribbons and glitter that I found a couple of weeks ago at the Florist's Estate Sale.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Vintage Bottle Snow-Guys

My latest bunch of snow guys wearing their little black coal faces...

and their vintage black and white vintage paper outfits.





And, yes. I made them.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Whites in the Kitchen

When I was thinking about what to post for White Wednesday I was standing in the kitchen...

So I decided to show you some things I see everyday...

While stopping by to get a diet coke out of the refrig...

No, I don't cook...

Mr. Anything Goes Here
does...

And yes I know I am very, very lucky!!!



















To find other White Wednesday Participants, visit Faded Charm.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Easy Breezy Christmas Decorating

For the last couple of weeks I have really concentrated on lightening up...lightening up how much stuff I have, how hard I work, and how much effort and concern I have been putting into my antiques business and even lightening up on the amount of time I spend blogging...

When people left my booth this weekend my intention was that they also could lighten up their lives... and feel free to decorate in a simple and natural way..using what they have, seeing imperfect and ordinary things in a different way...

There is already so much stress around the holidays, and now with the economic concerns....we could give ourselves permission to decorate in a simple and inexpensive way.



These are old tie boxes on an Estate Sale tree.



This is a cheap plastic wreath.



A red wire basket that I have had for years.



A white floral basket with greens from the curbside...someone recently trimmed their bushes..and I came by and here they are again....instead of in the landfill. We compost in my community so they will end up with a good afterlife.



Another flower basket..missing its insert, more rescued greens and crabapples from my yard.



And the one "over the top item"...an old battery box...not so inexpensive...with some of my blue and green ornaments on a bed of clothespins.

What is your approach for the holidays this year? I read all of your comments and love to hear what you think!!!!!!!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Vintage Black Friday

In the past I collected vintage hats and
all the things that went along with them
...hat boxes, hat flowers, hat stands.

I have since sold most everything in the collection....

Except these black and white vintage hat boxes!
















Do you have any collections that you lost interest in and have now gotten rid of or sold???

See other participants in Vintage Black Friday by visiting Vintage Brocante.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

White Wednesday

When the weather here in Northern Illinois starts turning colder...



I start thinking about using my candles..



All in shades of white, cream, and yellow...



What does the change to colder weather make you think of????



To see other White Wednesday participants visit Faded Charm.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

A "Little" Weekend Estate Sale Shopping

Do you ever get to the point where you are very, very tired of STUFF? I am there right now.



At this Estate Sale all of my purchases fit in one LITTLE box.



The twisted wire thing is a trivet. I think I like it best of my finds...



The scrabble letters are fun in the beakers.



What do you like best...if anything?



I am feeling renewed. A clean garage and a new week in a new month.