Dumb Daisies and Rusty Gold

As the growing season comes to an end, I want to share a little garden project and thrift victory from the spring/summer. 

A couple of years ago, I found this funky mid century plant stand at my favorite thrift store, Bethesda, near my sister's place in Horicon.  It was half off day, so it was only $2.50 - my kind of deal!  You can find a few of these for sale on Etsy most of the time for anywhere from $60-$120.  I'm no Mike Wolfe, but the rusty iron doesn't scare me.  I like stuff like that in the garden.

 Here's some rusty iron that's been in my garden for many years.  Is that a treble clef?

Anyway, back to the round plant stand that sat buried in the back corner of our shed for several years.  I'm sure my husband wanted to get rid of it.  In fact, I think I remember him saying, "Let me get rid of this thing."  Oh, but I could be confused with so many other times I've heard him say that.  Ha ha.  Cleaning it with brush and suds in the basement stationary tub was the hardest part.

Some spray paint and the job was done.

Of  course it looked better when the flowers filled in... except for the darn daisies which were custom chosen for that spot because of their height.  Anyone know why they never bloomed again all summer?  There were even buds that never opened!

Good luck with all your thrift store treasures, your daisies, and

fending off the discarding desires of your significant other!

My Scottish Fling

Well, I did it.

I packed up, got on a plane, flew over the Atlantic and went to Scotland!

I really did... and lived to tell. 

While waiting for my first grandchild to arrive,

my son Lars, his wife Spring, their friend and vintage queen Máiri and I

went shopping on fashionable Byers road in the West End

of Glasgow near their apartment.

If you poke around in the alley ways, you can enter one shop and exit another.

Diagon Alley?  Here's a very pregnant Spring entering a place called, Relics.

I don't know how my son ever discovered these shops... 

...which could take a hint about merchandising.

This one is pretty neat, but in some shops,

stuff was precariously piled so deep and so high

there was no way possible to get to it.

Some beautiful reclaimed tile.

I was always on the lookout for vintage fabric which was quite scarce.

Here is a 36" wide piece for 14£.

Oh, and I almost wept with excitement to actually see some Charles Rennie Mackintosh architecture and interiors!  Actually, I did start to cry at the Mackintosh house on campus.  I couldn't believe I was really there!  A wonderful tour led by Nigel, a wonderful guide.  Here is a lovely wardrobe designed by Mackintosh.

A gorgeous light fixture found in the entrance hall.  

Not only did I see the Mackintosh House

on the University of Glasgow's campus,

but a sweet new Scottish friend, Karen,

actually took me somewhere that exceeded

my wildest dreams in Helensburgh...

 

 One of the crown jewels of the Mackintosh experience! 

The Hill House!  OMG!  I studied this place in college!!!

And, I got to see a Hill House Chair IN THE HILL HOUSE!!!

(Ok Kathy, take a deep breath...)

I was also excited to see my son's university.

What a beautiful (I think I can safely say, ancient) campus.

Here he is leaning against the cross vaulted arches

in the walk-through between centuries old courtyards

in the oldest part of campus.  Positively medieval.

Last but certainly not least and most important of all - the whole reason for my trip - my new granddaughter made her entrance into the world halfway through my visit.  Perfect timing.  She's beautiful.  It was almost impossible to leave her.  But! On the bright side, I will see her in six months when all the Scottish adventurers return to America!  Until then, thank goodness for Skype!

Sometimes You Get Lucky

Thrift shopping can be like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get... I mean... find. And a few weeks ago, strolling through our local Salvation Army, I got the foil-wrapped truffle bon bon from the center of the box! There, by all the other worn out, dated sofas was this brand spankin' new looking mid-century modern couch.

I looked it over.  Lusted after it.  Wondered over it.  Could it be vintage?  It looked so new!  No, after closer inspection, I could tell it was authentic vintage.  And I also knew it would look perfect on my 60s retro turquoise porch.  But (OH NO!) I just got another cute frisé late 40s, early 50s sofa from a friend, so I just couldn't use this darling piece!  Sigh!  And how much did it cost?  There was no price.  Perhaps it had been sold already.  Oh well, couldn't buy it anyway.

Upon returning home, I casually mentioned it to my oldest son who, with his wife, is temporarily living with us in between stints in China and possibly Glasgow.  Anyway, this son enjoys quirky and retro and he's very curious.  So, unbeknownst to me, he went over to the store to check it out.  He also got them to price it.  Would you believe only $20?  YES!  So, he bought it.  And it ended up on my 60s retro turquoise porch anyway... in front of the other couch... for now... or at least until someone returns from Glasgow I guess...  hmmm...

Well, it does match.  Take a look at the weave close up in the sunlight.  

So cute.  Some blue, some olive and some brown.

How perfectly mid-century modern.  

Happy thrift shopping to you and yours and

may you also find the foil-wrapped bon bon of chocolates on occasion!

That's what keeps us going, right?

Carly's Kitchen - Update!

A post ago, I showed you some Victorian die cut roses I framed up for a friend. Well, she has them up in her new kitchen and isn't it all perfect so far? Nice job Carly!

 

Pulled

Well... it's been a while since my last post. Personally, it's been the toughest month of my life. It's caused me to reevaluate every decision I've ever made.  Wisconsin is not a happy place politically right now.  I may be changing some important things about my life, but this blog and my creative interests will not change. So, while I'm being PULLED in several directions, (get ready for the segue... here it comes...) let's talk about zipper pulls.

Where are zipper pulls these days?

I think it's time to bring them back.

Everybody loves a good accessory.

For heaven's sake, they even sell purse jewelry these days.

It's time for the return of the zipper pull.

Just think how awesome a well-placed pull would look

on something made from one of these patterns!

Oh yeah.

That's what I'm talking about.

Get ready.  Zipper pulls are coming back.

Equal Time For Angels

A few weeks ago, I did a post on Christmas elves,

so now it's time to feature their more feminine counterparts...

the angels.

There are two kinds of vintage angel ornaments out there. 

Some are painted and glittered spun cotton like these two

candle and Christmas tree bearing soul sisters...

 and others are like these three made from foil paper cones.

Peak under their skirts and they tell their stories.

Research says many were made in Japan during the 1930s-1950s.

While others, like these maraca shaking twins...

are from West Germany - made as early as the 1920s. 

Now all are members of one big happy family

who spend one month a year hanging around my house.

Meet the Flockers

So, when I was a kid, your typical "flocked" Christmas ornaments

held no special fascination for me. 

But, as I have grown more and more intrigued with all things mid-century,

I am gaining a new appreciation for these simple beauties.

I couldn't begin to tell you what I endured to get these awesome baubles.  Let's just say the man working at the antique store that day was unquestionably too sick to be taking his shift.  (A story too sordid to put into print.  Suffice it to say, these were thoroughly decontaminated upon arrival home.)

I smell a new collection coming on with these nursery rhyme ornaments.  I don't think they're very easy to come by, but I did see one the other day at the antique mall - Little Boy Blue - tucked in a box full of boring ornaments for $24.  Sorry Blue.

Finally, some flocked ornaments

off my husband's retro white tree -- 

all bearing the simple messages of Christmas wishes.

Christmas Buttons

I've had a history of making Christmas decorations out of buttons... and since I have several big jars of mother of pearl buttons, I've used them a time or two.  Here's a felt wreath covered with tiny shell buttons.  There are also a few gold victorian buttons sprinkled in.

This is a small ornament made from two inch and a half pierced shell buttons mounted on a foam core disk, wrapped with a ribbon around the circumference and decorated with gold beads affixed with gold pins.  I made a bunch about 20 years ago and this one survives.

Here's the front and back of an ornament made from a huge covered button and trimmed with ribbon, cording and smaller buttons.  Although I once made many ornate and embellished victorian style ornaments of this type, this one is covered with a vintage 50s kitchen print.

Here's a button decoration contribution from one of my children.   (Kids, if you're reading this, which one of you made it?)  A Christmas tree banner decorated with all kinds of buttons.  At the hanger you'll find the largest button I've ever seen - a ginormous three inch carved mother of pearl beauty.

An old "feather" tree made many moons ago out of a vintage wooden spool,

straight pieces of wired evergreen, and a dowel.   

  Glue gunned old buttons all over it.

Crowned with a clear celluloid button trimmed with a now oxidized copper star...

somehow, I haven't really gotten tired of my button tree yet.

Last of all, I'd like to introduce you to the button man.  He's been hanging around our Christmas tree for a couple of decades and we all like to style him in flamboyant poses.  Made from stacks of buttons on wire with a wooden button hat, he seems to have a French flair about him  Pierre, the flamboyant button man says, "Joyeux Noël!"