Christmas Treasures from the Thrift Store

Hello!

I hope you're doing well and ready to stuff yourself on Thursday and shop-till-you-drop on Friday. This time of year, I crave pumpkin pie (especially for breakfast with a cup of coffee). Well, I couldn't wait until Thursday and made one today 4-days-early (to the excitement of the guys in my house). It totally hit the spot with a dollop of whipped creme and will be even better in the morning!

I stopped at the thrift store on the way home from work on Friday and found the cutest Christmas treasures. A few will stay home-for-the-holidays at my house, but most will go to the antique mall and wait patiently to be adopted by other vintage loving gals like myself.

The first is a 1960s vintage plastic light-up Santa (I remember these. Maybe you do too!)

An adorable 1960s metal snowman tray with white rick-rack and red plaid and polka-dot trim. The deal of the year-a beautiful cast iron ornate red tree stand (for $6.99)!

A cheerful Christmas tablecloth with red rick-rack trim. It would be sooooo cute on the kid's table.

A pretty hand embroidered Dutch Christmas linen that says, "Boas Festas" (Happy Holidays).

I was feeling festive and put up my tiny red Christmas tree with silver and white penguins and black sparkly balls. It's not too early is it?

Have a good night and get some rest. You'll need it this week!

Di

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Hello!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas-at the Antique Mall.

Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier every year. Our Christmas open house at the Antique World Mall in Boise, Idaho (where I have a booth), was November 1st!

I love the charm of vintage Christmas items. If you haven't Christmas shopped at your local antique store yet, you need to grab your best gf and go. You can find adorable santas, angels, and sparkly silver aluminum trees that will whisk you back to Christmases past. Here's the added bonus: vintage items are usually less expensive, better quality, and much cuter than anything you can buy at a department store.

I snapped a few pics of my antique booth to share with you. I hope they have you humming Christmas carols in no time.
















The "JOY" is made of old plastic store letters I found at the thrift store for .25 each. I dug through the pile of broken and scratched ones until I found a J O Y and a N E S T.
A sweet shabby white baby doll crib waits patiently to be taken home while a 1950s ladies blue hat with dotted lace sits on it's edge saying-please wear me to town.
Several old black vintage birdcages are all dolled-up with silver stars and white dove inhabitants.
A pretty pink tea set and pink jewelry box sit in front of a shabby white spice shelf.
Vintage garden items hang with Santa on the top shelf.
The glass display case is filled with blue world globe banks, sweet pastel children's planters, and flower hankies.
A New York snow globe rests next to the Eiffel tower and Christmas cookies sit on a black and white enamelware plate. Will Santa ever come?

Happy dreams of a vintage Christmas!

Di

Happy Halloween

Hello. I hope everyone has a frightfully fun Halloween on Friday!

What's really scary is my baby will be turning 18 on the 30th. I can't believe it! The time has gone so fast. I'll probably bawl all day.

In the meantime, I thought I'd invite you inside for a Halloween treat and maybe a monstor martini or two in the bar!

Have a safe, spooky day.

Di

Vintage Decorating With Pumpkins

Hello!

I've been awhile since I've posted any fun vintage decorating ideas. Things have been a little crazy with work, family stuff, and a new writing class I'm taking.

A fun, easy, and cheap way to decorate your vintage items is to stop by your nearest farmers market or pumpkin patch and buy a variety of pumpkins in different shapes and sizes. Set these out around the house, in the yard, on the front porch-anywhere you need a little Harvest color.

The beauty of the pumpkin is that uncarved, it can be both Halloween and Thanksgiving decor.

Here's a few pics of some pumpkins around my house.

Take care, and see you again soon!

Di

Show & Tell Sunday-Pretty Figurines

Hello and Happy Sunday! Today's Show & Tell topic is our favorite pretty figurines. I only have one figurine (shopping is definitely in order), but she's very charming. I had always wanted one of these birthday figures with sparkles and pink flowers, but never got one as a girl. The beauty in being an adult is you can buy that stuff you missed out on as a kid. I lucked out and found her a few months ago at a yard sale. She sits in my antique, writing, sewing room and cheers me on silently in my endeavors.
For more pretty figures, check-out Cerri's blog at the Little Pink Studio http://www.littlepinkstudio.typepad.com/ for a link to all the great blogs sharing today.

Take care,

Di

Hello Again!

I hope you’ve all been well! The last few weeks have been crazy with too many things going on to possibly have time to blog about vintage decorating. That’s changed now, as we’ve fallen back into our fall routine.

Speaking of fall, Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday! Who doesn’t love the spooky decorations, dressing up, and candy (preferably chocolate). I still need to bribe my guys to get down all of the decorations in the attic (maybe this weekend), but I did have a few stray pumpkins from the local craft store that I put out as a “teaser” to the upcoming festivities.




Take care, and I'll talk to you soon!

Di

A Few of My Favorite Things

Hello.

Everyone should have at least one item that makes their heart skip a beat when they spot it in the distance at a yard sale and walk/run over, trying not to knock anyone down in the process. Having a collection turns an ordinary garage sale or rummaging through a dusty thrift store bin into a treasure hunt. You never know where that sought after item will pop-up.

I have a few treasures I search for on early Saturday mornings while bleary-eyed and pumped-up with coffee and chocolate donuts. I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite things.

I love Eiffel Towers! They're romantic and make you feel as though you've been whisked away to some far off destination. I found this recent Eiffel Tower at the Idaho Youth Ranch for $1. It stands in front of a large plate with scenes of a French market in my craft/sewing/treasure room.

Every vintage princess should have a tierra! This is the first of what I hope are many future tierra treasures. Even though it's a cheap child's tierra, with fake jewels bought for .25 at a yard sale, it looks fabulous sitting on my chalkboard.
I love vintage snow globes but have never collected them. That is, until I saw this charming New York snow globe. I think a new obsession has been born. My birthday is in June, and I was thrilled to find this cute little June angel with sparkly jewels and pink crown.

Have a great weekend! I'm off to help the twins move into their college dorms.

Take care,

Di