Vintage Linens on the Line

Vintage doily's, tea towels, table scarves and just about any vintage linens are my weakness.  Anytime I see them at a flea market or yard sale, I gobble them up - I have drawers full of them.  And I don't just store them away, I use them.  I love the feel of the old soft dish towels - especially the ones with the calendars on them from the 1960's.

I use the old embroidered table scarves on my buffet and side table in my dining room.  I use the pretty little round embroidered linens under my table centerpieces and sometimes drape the pretty tea towels across the back of my dining room chairs.

I recently came across a blogger who was using her vintage linens in a unique way and an idea was born for using mine.  Angie, at the Knick of Time used some of her linens as a window treatment as you can see here!

I had always had a window over my sink until we bought and renovated our 1920's cottage style home.  Alas, the only placement for the sink was an inside wall since there was a huge bay window on the outside wall.  I decided to solve that problem with a distressed "window" with a rooster painted on the glass - it made it much more pleasant to be at the sink washing dishes.  Now with a little ingenuity and Angie's idea floating around in my head, I went to work making it a little more pleasant.  I added a clothesline to display some of my collection.  I plan to pick up some vintage style clothespins to give more of a "fresh breeze clothesline" look, but for now I've just draped them across the line.

Thanks Angie!  I loved the idea!  I'm no longer remorseful over the lack of a sink window.  With a view like this, who needs a real window anyway?

If you want to see some more photos of my  rooster themed kitchen, read this older post.


Linking today to a few link parties:
  Thursday's Favorite Things,  Wow us Wednesday, Vintage Thingies Thursdays, Thrifty Things Friday
 ,Make it Pretty Monday , BNOP's Met Monday,  Nifty Thrifty Tuesday  Feature Friday and Knick of Time

Vintage Jewelry Treasure Hunt

Hubby and I were off and at 'em this weekend to our favorite Saturday morning treasure hunt.  It's been a while since we've made the trek to the Barnyard Flea Market because our Summer seasonal business is in full swing, but we finally took a much needed weekend off.

I found several pieces of vintage jewelry and other things to put in my Etsy shop.  I love the jewelry of the 50's, 60's and '70's.  I'm always on the lookout for it - either to add to my collection or to re-sell.

It was not a very productive day, but there's always another time and another treasure hunt just around the corner. 

Vintage Sarah Coventry

Vintage Lisner

I found several unmarked brooches.  Vintage sparkly jewelry makes a beautiful accessory to giftwrapping for the Christmas Holidays.  For Girls Only.   Just pin one in the center of the bow.  It really dresses up a Christmas package!

This whole box of vintage Christmas stuff was only $2.

It included a Hallmark ornament of Pepe Le Peau

And a Kurt Adler circus elephant ornament

I love old church plates.  This one was done in 1965 for 1st Baptist Church of Brunswick Georgia

Love this little Oil & Vinegar set!

I went away from the flea market wishing I had a place for this lovely old sewing machine.  It was only $100 and it worked, was in excellent cosmetic condition and had all the original attachments! 

Until next time....Happy treasure hunting.


Linking to -  The Thrifty Groove's TFF, Vintage Thingy Thursday, Knick of Time,  Thursday Favorite Things,  Treasure Hunt Thursday,  Vintage Inspiration Friday. Nifty Thrifty Sunday. Knick of Time Tuesday,

Cheers!

July was a hot, steamy month for us here in the South, and August has had more of the same in store.  One night this week, we decided to chill out with a bottle of wine and light snacks instead of having a big dinner. A bowls of grapes, aged Asiago cheese and a sliced Italian bread with a dipping sauce of rosemary and basil mixed in a little olive oil and other spices - who could ask for more?

The bottle of Reisling is chilling in an antique pressed glass pitcher of ice.  The casual china and stemware are all Goodwill finds.  The hubby and I shared a toast and rather than cleaning up after a big meal, we had an easy cleanup and then sat and enjoyed each others company.

Cheers!

 Linking this week to:  The Thrifty Groove's TFF, Vintage Thingy Thursday, Knick of Time,  Thursday Favorite Things, Sunday's Flea Market Finds, Treasure Hunt Thursday,  Vintage Inspiration Friday. Nifty Thrifty Sunday. Knick of Time Tuesday, Thrift Share Monday

Vintage basket - is it treasure or trash?

This weekend was one of the few weekends all Spring and Summer that I haven't worked with Hubby at the coast in our seasonal business!  It was wonderful to be home and our local flea market was calling out to me.

I arrived hopeful, with my big shopping bag in hand.  I love these big shopping bags from TJ Max.  You can get tons of stuff in them, they're very sturdy and best of all, they're only .99 cents.  I have several of them.  They're wonderful to carry my shipping boxes to the post office.

When I don't arrive bright and early, I'm always wondering what great things I've missed. But the things I bought were things that apparently other people had passed right buy.  Like this cute little girl with the yarn hair, composition face, and jointed legs that reached out to me as I was about to walk away.  I don't know what possessed me - I'm not a doll collector.

But on down the walkway was a vendor with an old jewelry box with a few glitzy pieces.  I bought these Lisner earrings and Weiss earrings from her.  They're in my Etsy shop at this link.

Lisner Clip earrings.  I love this shade of yellow!

Weiss Clip-ons - Sunflowers!

Next it was on to an old farmer who had been cleaning out his barn.  These were hid among some old boxes he had under the table.  I felt like a kid in a candy store and bought all three.  They're the old Hazel Atlas quart jars with the flip top glass lids.  I love these things!  I have a perfect vignette in mind for them along with my blue Ball jars when I get time.

Then there was this well-used basket.  I don't know anything about it but it looks a little vintage, don't you think?

I haven't decided what I'll do with it yet.  I may keep it beside my chair for my knitting yarns (which I don't use very often) or I may put it in my Etsy Shop.  If any of my readers know what this is, I would appreciate a comment filling me in.

I so enjoyed my shopping day.  Like I always say - it's the thrill of the hunt!  Was this trash or treasure?  I don't know, but I sure had fun finding it.  Have you been junkin' or thriftin' lately?  I would love to hear about your finds.





Linking to the following linky parties:

 The Thrifty Groove's TFF, Vintage Thingy Thursday, Knick of Time,  Thursday Favorite Things, Sunday's Flea Market Finds, Treasure Hunt Thursday,  Vintage Inspiration Friday. Nifty Thrifty Sunday. Knick of Time Tuesday, Thrift Share Monday

Cameos - a diamond in the rough

If you follow my blog, you know how I get "high" on the thrifty finds that I manage to score on my Saturday morning jaunts to flea markets, yard sales, estate sales and thrift stores.  Some of these finds I keep for myself, but most I sell on Etsy or Ebay.  I always say it's my way of financing my habit - the thrill of the treasure hunt.  Today I wanted to share with you one of my recent success stories.   Believe me, they don't all end up like this one, but occasionally I'll zone in on that one really nice find that everyone else has missed and I usually dance a little jig right on the spot when I do.

I found this vintage brooch at an estate sale.  A young lady was selling her grandmother's costume jewelry and I was looking for the blingy stuff - you know - the costume jewelry from the '50's with lots of glamour and glitz to sell in my Etsy Shop, The Glitter Connection.  I arrived early,  but still watched with envy as others were walking away with the rhinestones. 

I dug through some of the leftovers and still found some nice pieces with gold and silver that were priced high, but still reasonable enough that I could maybe make a  little profit.  I passed though because I'm a bargain hunter.  I want REAL bargains and don't want to waste my time listing something that may not sell for as much as I paid for it.  Then I spotted IT.  I capitalize "it" because "IT" called out to me saying "I'm the real thing - I may not look like much, but you would do well to buy me - don't let a little dirt deceive you".  I picked it up.  "Isn't it ugly?" the seller said.

It was a cameo - looking to be from the early 20th century - and looking suspiciously like coral.  It was full of detailed design and the cameo was finely detailed also.   I know nothing about cameos and even less about coral, but when she told me the price, I knew that I couldn't lose.  Besides, I liked it and if I couldn't sell it for the low asking price, I would wear it on a chain as a necklace from time to time.  When I got it home, I put it in my Etsy / Ebay jewelry box and forgot about it until a couple of weeks ago and pulled it out to polish it up a bit.  The detail work prevented me from getting into the little grooves and I didn't want to alter the nice rich gold patina of an antique piece in any way.  I would rather let the new owner clean it.  I listed it telling where I found it and showing very detailed photos and stating "I know nothing about this piece of jewelry but I'm starting the listing at the same amount I paid for it and you be the judge from the photos".   I was hoping to get about $90 for it.

It's really quite pretty, don't you think?

Well, Mrs. Flea Market Junky was totally stunned this week when the auction ended.  Final selling price:  drum roll please......  $262.88.

Hmmm.... keep on treasure hunting.  You never know what you'll find out there that's a diamond  cameo in the rough.




Linking today to:   The Thrifty Groove,  Junkin' Joe at the Cottage Market, Thrifty Love @ Cap Creations,  and Vintage Thingy Thursday.  Thursday Favorite Things, Sunday's Flea Market Finds, Treasure Hunt Thursday, Vintage Inspiration Friday. Nifty Thrifty Sunday.

Fabulous Flea

The title sounds like a great name for a consignment store doesn't it?  I've found some nifty, thrifty finds over the last couple of weeks at flea markets, yard sales and thrift shops.  My sister got in on the action and scored the best buy of the month.  It's nice to have sisters out scouting for you!  Scroll down for a lowdown of our treasures.  Click on photos to enlarge.

Some treasures found

 A nice old cow creamer  above- $1 came from a VFW yard sale for charity
And two globed candle holders below - $2 for the pair - came from an individual's yard sale

 Good old Goodwill!  I found 8 ice tea goblets and 8 wine goblets in this etched striped pattern of crystal stemware.  Haven't had time to look up the pattern name yet, but it has a nice "ring" to it.  It's nice to have sisters who look out for you. Marty bought this "China Pearl" Leling China service for 12 for $25 at a yard sale on Saturday. It also has a serving tray, two serving bowls and a creamer and sugar!  96 pieces in all.  She paid about 30 cents a piece for all this china!  What a find!  Oh, and did I mention that she didn't keep it for herself - she must love me lots to give it up for me.

 I bought the peach linen tablecloth and napkins for $5 at the flea market.

These little vintage napkins are on cards with delicate little vintage hankies.  They are on cut-out dolls with a poem about hankies written on the card.  Paid $5 for 10 of these. 

Don't you love the vintage tea towels above?  And the wonderful vintage linens below!  You won't believe that I bought them for 25 cents each!  They are perfect - no stains at all.

This Weiss rhinestone brooch and Pell earrings that "almost" match was sold to me as a set for $2 at a yard sale.  Couldn't turn those down.

I got a box full of great stuff from the VFW yard sale for $1.  It was full of old buttons, vintage sewing stuff and these fabulous pink Hazel Atlas Crinoline ruffled bowls and sugar bowl. 

And I saved one of the best for last.  I love this large sunflower crocheted doily. It will be pretty on a summer table setting with fresh cut sunflowers! 

The weekend is just around the corner, so off I go for more adventures.  Happy thrifty shopping to you!



Linking to: The Thrifty Groove, Junkin' Joe at the Cottage Market, Thrifty Love @ Cap Creations, and Vintage Thingy Thursday. Thursday Favorite Things, Sunday's Flea Market Finds, Treasure Hunt Thursday, Vintage Inspiration Friday. Nifty Thrifty Sunday.

Framed! A transformation

When I ran across these little swinging vintage frames this week at Goodwill, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.   I've been wanting to start a paint project on a small scale and work my way up to painting some furniture.  I paid $1.99 each for these little beauties.

These are vintage swinging frames.  One had glass for a picture and the other has a small oval mirror.  They were in excellent condition, but not very attractive because of their finish.  The photo frame one was an odd brown/green paint and the mirror was brown and gold.

Since I'm doing this on a budget, there was no way I was going to go out and buy paint so I started foraging in my closet under the stairway where I keep leftover paint from house / room painting.  Great!  A can of white semi-gloss exterior paint with about a quart left in the gallon can.  I shook it around a bit and took the lid off.  The can was a little rusty, but the paint inside was fine. 

After I disassembled both frames, I just started painting.  I wasn't very prepared, only having a small artist paintbrush.  It took a little more time with the small brush, but after 3 coats of paint - drying between coats - I was ready to distress for a shabby chic look.  After putting the frame back into it's "swing" and putting the screws back in, I was very pleased with the new look.  I scrambled around finding a 5 x 7 photo to put behind the glass.  I found a precious one of my granddaughter when she was four years old wearing her Easter dress.  After playing around with some vignette ideas, here's some photos of the transformation:  You can hold down the Control button and hit the + button, or you can click on each picture to make the photos larger.

Now, do I dare to tackle the nightstand in our bedroom - or better yet, my small kitchen entryway chest that my granddaughter is standing in front of in the photo?  I've been wanting to tackle that one for some time now - it's big, ugly and brown, but it's the only thing I've found that will fit in that little nook.  Hmm - not sure I'm ready for that big of a project...but what can it do but approve the appearance.  I suppose I have nothing to lose.

White just looks so bright and cheery - not dull and drab like the browns of the "before" photos.
What do you think?



Linking to Metamorphosis Monday,  The Thrifty Groove's TFF, Vintage Thingy Thursday, Knick of Time,  Thursday Favorite Things, Sunday's Flea Market Finds, Treasure Hunt Thursday,  Vintage Inspiration Friday. Nifty Thrifty Sunday.