FINDING TREASURES AGAIN

Some of my favorite moments are those spent scouting out yard sales, flea markets or some previously unvisited antique mall.  I am always fascinated by all the different things people are searching for. 

Recently I noticed someone who delights in primitive items. Another man was buying old oil cans (like Frankie on The Pickers) and hardware from  another century and there I was scouring for vintage linens and teacups and saucers and the like. 

 As I was waiting to pay, a man wheeled by his purchase of a unique potting bench that someone made from  pieces of repurposed wood.  It was really cool!  I am on the hunt for an old door - one with a curved round top which is harder to find.  I would love it even more with a little curved window you could open out in it.

I am sharing some of my weekend treasures today including another Tuscan cup and saucer which has more silver on it and slightly different than the first two I found.  Also:  a pretty pink embroidered runner, a Swan vase, another straw hat to wear in the garden and another white milk glass vase.

What have you been looking for?

ARRANGING AND REARRANGING

I love to change things - you know - change the location of a teapot or cup and saucer.  I have been playing with my new Shabby Armoire and can't resist sticking more in here or there.  These best part is that I finally have room for my cake platters!

My husband has done a great job

painting a lot of our furniture

pieces which are mostly vintage and

some antique.

This week we have been getting a new furnace and air conditioning at our home and I am so happy that the wall thermostat was moved out of the kitchen where it was in a terrible location.  Of course, now the wall has to be patched and painted.

SHABBY CLOCK AND FLORAL

Our Victorian Wall Clock just 

went Shabby Chic:

As many of you know, beginning a number of weeks ago, we decided to change things at our house where dark Victorian prevailed.  I am loving the transformation to lighter colors that seem more "cottage".  

The clock was completely taken apart which was a little scary but it is working great!

I am also sharing this silk floral I did this week with stuff I had on hand.  I love these vintage flower baskets. I want to tell you

 to be sure and pick up a copy of the June 

issue of Romantic Homes - a special tea is included with the theme: Downton Abbey.

And lastly a little Victorian Marble Table my husband painted:

OUR KITCHEN TABLE HAS A NEW LOOK

I am so excited that May is finally here even though it snowed all day on Tuesday May 1st and our temps are still only in the 50's now! 

We had a little painting slowdown while I was gone to Virginia for a week but we are now done with our antique oak kitchen table and four chairs.

 I knew I would like seeing this piece white because I have always loved this 45" square table. We bought it many years ago at an antique mall in Conroe, Texas.  This table offered no problems painting with it's center leg and 4 large curved legs.   Again, we used the Vintage White Cece Caldwell chalk paint.   I am glad to get this done because we have been eating on a card table in the den for weeks.  Even the basket in the center of the table was painted with chalk paint!

PAINTING PHOTO FRAMES WITH CHALK PAINT

Several weeks ago I spread the kitchen table with newspapers and began gathering up the picture frames around the house. I took the photo and glass/backing out.   Some were metal and others plastic.  Some were that old out of style 1970-1980's resin look.  I had decided to paint them with chalk paint and I found that 1 coat was basically all it took, a little distressing with sandpaper (or just wiping some of the wet paint off with a rag) and a quick wax job and buff.

You can totally change the look of your frames easily!