Odd Collections

Lately I find myself collecting odd things. Things that normal people probably wouldn't consider bringing home. Maybe that's why I'm drawn to them. I was inspired to find this lard tin (yes, you read that right, lard.tin.) after seeing one on Karen Russell's blog. I fell in love with her entire studio but there was something about that danged lard tin that I couldn't get out of my mind. Weird, I know.

I guess I suffer from Orphan Syndrome. I just feel the need to give things a home that might not otherwise have one. Lonely things that seem to have lost their other parts are particularly attractive to me. Go ahead and analyze away Freud. I found these clock hands at the flea market last week for .10 each. By the way, you know you are focused on a financial goal when you go to the flea market and only spend $10. 

 

This is a clock face I recently found. I was unable to resist that aqua 6 right there. You understand, right? There were actually other numbers on there too but within hours of buying it I dropped it and all of the other numbers fell off. Seriously. A little dusty pile of broken numbers. Thanks goodness my 6 behaved itself.

So, what's new with you guys? I miss you but I have so much to do. You understand, right? This house goes on the market in about 5 weeks and I'm as busy as a one armed paper hanger. Did any of your moms use that phrase? I woke up at 3 am this morning with the full realization of what we are doing. I still can't believe it. I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm probably more than a little crazy. What are you doing today to make your dreams come true?

Blast From the Past

These are some things I found last week at an estate sale. They remind me very much of the ornaments my mom lovingly made when my brother and I were little. It upsets me more than a little that they consider such things vintage. My mom generously split the ornaments with my brother and I. Sadly my half got lost when we moved from Tennessee and the packers didn't get the Christmas decorations from the attic. My brother's half got lost when one of the crazy women in a long line of crazy women he got involved with, wouldn't let him have them upon termination of their relationship. I felt like I owed it to my family to buy these.

This old basket is just perfect for my studio. Can you believe I balked at paying $10 for it? Upon further reflection, I have no idea what I was thinking.

I love the colors in this picture, they are perfect in the studio. Plus we had just seen the Nutcracker the week before so how could I resist?

 

Treasure hunting has been very good to me lately. I was pleased with my purchases, but the best thing I got that day was free. I received a box from my mom that was filled with my great grandmothers buttons and a stack of old pictures. I love old stuff but my old family stuff is just priceless to me. Thanks Mom!

Worth the Wait

I have been searching high and low for this insulated bag ever since Cammy bought hers and shared it with me at the lake. I finally found one and I hope I'll be feeling up to a picnic with my family this weekend so I can take it for a test drive.

I have to tell you that it was a bit of a budget buster, but here's something I have realized about myself lately, I love beautiful things. They bring me such happiness. I would rather have 1 beautiful thing than 10 things that are just okay. I've started to be more discriminating and selective and I have to tell you that I apply this philosophy to all parts of my life...clothing, housewares and even friendships. I would rather be surrounded by people and things I love than to spend my money and time on those that just don't make me happy.

I hope your weekend is filled with beautiful things.

Fresh Finds

Don't you hate when you go to someone's blog and they have a bunch of pictures posted of stuff they've bought and it makes you want nothing more than to go shopping? Yeah, well. Here you go. These are some of my finds from my antiquing day with Cammy while on vacation.

Love this crown crock. How have I never noticed these before? How can I be expected to resist anything with a crown?

I also get weak in the knees when I find honeycomb decorations and don't even get me started on shiny brite ornaments. These were a steal.

Cammy and I both suffer from the same affliction. That is, buying old hats so that we can decimate them for their flowers. Shameless.

I love this little quilting piece from a fair. It made me sad that someone gave it up. Don't worry Gladys Winter. I will take good care of it. Plus how could I resist that cute fair tag?

Oh look! Another crown! I love the little stapler and I'm hoping that the petite staples from the totally awesome McMaster and Storm will fit it. We also found some fun paper stuff including an old ledger book that we had to do unbelievable things to get. Let's just say that it involved Me, Cammy & a creepy old guy in the backroom of an antique store and leave it at that. Oh what a girl will do for old paper.

I also found these vintage flour sacks. Don't you just love the colors? I'm seeing pillows and embroidery samplers in their future.

I think antiquing with Cammy was the most shopping fun I've ever had. Did I mention that we were apparently antiquing in the middle of the town where Deliverance was filmed? Scary, but the prices were good, so it was totally worth it. It's nice to shop with someone that has the same taste as you, except that they always find something you wish you had found first. Lucky for us neither of us minds sharing.

Flea Market Jones

Forgive me bloggers for I have sinned. It has been 3 months since my last trip to the flea market. I'm going out of my mind waiting not-so-patiently for September when the Indianapolis flea market starts back up. I might soon have to make a road trip to some place where they realize that treasure hunting is a full time occupation. Until then I did manage to find a few treasures at local antique shops to tide me over. Vintage wallpaper, which I never find, a great wire basket that just may end up getting painted, a lovely children's book and the exact tea cup I have been searching for to scoop my flour.

Little Blue Houses for You and Me

See this adorable little felt house? It was a birthday gift for Emma that I got from Wisteria. I loved it so much that I had to get one for myself. Well, actually I fell in love with it first and was determined to buy it when the Little Miss went and fell in love with it too. It was less expensive than the one I first saw at Anthropologie. It's also quite a bit larger and much sturdier. Emma has a lot of plans for hers. She uses it to play with her tiny stuffed animal collection, plans to use it as a suitcase on trips, and eventually as her sewing box. Mine is going to be used to hold my embroidering. Little girls come in all sizes.

Answers to your Questions:
I get a lot of questions from you guys, usually left in the comments. I try to answer them as best I can and thought I would occasionally start doing this at the bottom of my posts when I have lots to answer. If I've missed any of you, email me and let me know.

Allison- The mirror is strictly because, apparently I'm pretty vain and I like to check my face on the way out the door. Originally I just hung it in there for the hooks but I realized while we were working on the room and the mirror wasn't in there that I really missed it. Plus it does make the room feel slightly bigger!

The Lind Family- The glass canisters are from Target in the kitchen aisles. They are super reasonable and I love them. I use the same canisters in my kitchen, I would probably have them in every room!

Lisa (Coastal Nest)- The counter is that blasted plywood I was talking about. It is spackled and sanded and spackled and sanded some more. Don't get me started.

Esther- The cream color is just Antique White by Dulux/ICI paint. It's what the builder used for all of our trim so we carried it in this room too.

City Girl Em- The paint color is Martha Stewart Araucana Blue from Lowes and by the way those baskets are from Target.

Christine- The room is 5'9"x6'3" and the cubby area is 3'3"x3'9". The above pic is for you. Because of the size of the room it is very hard to photograph that corner.

Long Live the Queen

I am the queen, well at least the queen of this house. Although sometimes I wonder if I'd rather be the princess. That title comes with none of the responsibility of being queen but with all of the benefits. I guess my penchant for considering myself so highly would explain why I have taken to collecting jewelery that has a crown like feel to it. I would wear a crown or a tiara everyday if given the chance. I recently told Sweet Hubby that I should have a different apron and tiara for each day of the week. I got the look. Wouldn't you think he'd be used to such proclamations from me by now? I bet all of you can imagine me feathering my nest in just such an outfit. See? That's why we're friends. You appreciate the real me.