Break from Blogland

I am taking a break from blogland to go watch my Grandchildren for 10 days. I love MY time with them. I found these great pics, and had to share.

Isn't this fun? I might have to go through hubby's old boots.

I never get tired of seeing old bicycles. This one is so cool. I love the whole rabbit theme.

Old wheels are the best. I have many around my yard. They have so much history behind them. We have several old ones on the farm I need to rescue.

Take care ladies,

dana

Garden Urn Makeover

I found this fun urn last Saturday at a garden store. My hubby gave me the LOOK when I had 5 of them lined up to buy. He wouldn't say it, but I KNOW what he was thinking. "Why are they going to buy these from you, when they can go and buy their own?"

First I dry brushed white, then blue glaze, and then white over the top again. The picture doesn't show the blue much, but it's there. 

I added pussy willows, nest, bird with old key , and a vintage postcard. I have had these old clips forever, and I'm glad I didn't throw them away. It worked perfect for clipping the postcard to the branch.

I will have these for sale in April at the shop.

dana

I'm going Cottage & Junk style

I have gone from " UP NORTH & MOOSE" decor to PRIMITIVE, and now on to COTTAGE & JUNK. Isn't it funny how our style changes. All of my up north & moose decor went to the cabin, and I have sold most of my primitive. I have LOVED cottage for years, and am finally making the change.

We are painting our whole house inside white - and then that's it. I have wood furniture, not painted, so I think the white walls will be perfect. 

I will keep all of my garden junk, love it.

YES, I DID IT. I tore the covers off of old books. I said I wouldn't, thought it was silly, but it really does look cool. These books are from 1910. 

I'm keeping this old light fixture too, and I love to decorate with birds and nests all year long.

Krista gave me this old store string holder for Christmas. We decided to give each other one recycled gift. I saw this at a yard sale, and she was sneaky and bought it for me. I was so surprised when I opened it. She is the best daughter.

Yes, it's cottage & junk style for me.

Have a great day!

dana

Saturday finds & I'm not a stalker

Hmmm, where do I start? Last week, when Deb called, (who has a charming shop called The Tattered Angel), she told me that there was a indoor flea market in Bemidji on Saturday. I love my phone visits with Deb, she is a wonderful and super talented gal. Check her out on facebook.

We set the alarm for 5:30, and woke up to the wind howling and freezing rain. Great, what should we do? But you know us die hard junkers, LET'S GO FOR IT! We drove out of the rain after about 40 miles, and then just contended with wind and blowing snow, a piece of cake for us Minnesotans. 

We get to the flea market, and it's packed. Hubby dropped me off at the door, and people are already coming out carrying many bags, grrrrr!

Then, lots of junk, and not lots of GOOD JUNK. I did score the tractor seat, level, pumpkin, clay pots, and that weird deer candle holder, (plans for that ugly thing). 

Who did I run into? Deb, we chatted a little, and then on to find treasures.

We didn't stay there long, and on to the next stop, a thrift shop. Who did I find there? Deb, we laughed, and I assured her that I wasn't following her. We didn't find much there, just the handled vase, so we all headed across the street to another shop. We parted ways there, and off we went.

We stopped at another shop, where I grabbed the giraffe, (NO idea why, I do love giraffes, but seriously?) This was a frustrating stop, one of those where everything cool, is NOT FOR SALE. Time to leave...

We stopped at many more shops, found the old steamer, horse muzzle from the 30s, and silver dish. Time to head for home. We stopped in Blackduck, wanted to check out the Blackduck Antique & Gift Shop. Guess who was there? Deb! Now she totally thought I was stalking her. We had more laughs, and I picked up the cool wall grate.

It was a fun day. Thanks Deb, for telling me about the flea market. Where are we going next Saturday, LOL.

dana

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

I have been debating on selling my Easter treasures in the shop or keeping them. I dragged them out yesterday, and put together a little vignette to help me decide.

I know Easter is not for weeks, but hey, we decorate for Christmas 6 weeks before Christmas at Thanksgiving time. Easter is a special holiday too.

I don't have much, but I have collected a few fun items over the years. I do love this rabbit.

And this rabbit isn't too bad either. The picture is my kids when they were little with their Easter baskets. I don't use doilies anymore, but the display needed some white to tie in with the door, so out they came. They were my Mom's, so I keep them too. I'm sure someone in my family made these long ago. The middle of them is tatted, so much work.

See the pussy willows? When you live in Minnesota, you have to save them from last spring. I won't be able to cut any up here till May.

I still have a few weeks before the sale to decide if I should keep them. I could keep them and pass them on to my Grandchildren some day. I know they like them now, so I might have to ask them before I decide.

Do you decorate for Easter?  Lots or little?

Talk to me ladies...I'm buried in snow on the Canadian border.

dana

:-)

Sorry ladies...I'm keeping it

I'm keeping it for now. I'm sure it will end up in the shop, everything does, LOL. 

I found this old metal stand with the FB ROGERS vintage silver tray on top of it a while back. I was cleaning it up today to take to the shop. It is super heavy with lots of detail.

Then the light bulb came on, not as fast as it used to be, but none the less, it still works. Could this work on my table? 

I added shredded dictionary pages, (my favorite filler), an old ceiling light fixture filled with real blown eggs, nest, bird, and of course a cloche. Everyone should have a cloche, they are so much fun.

It is kind of high, but it does make a statement. It's just hubby and I, so it's not in the way for us. I guess if I had company, I would move it. 

What do you think? What is in the middle of your table today???

dana

Old typewriters...

I LOVE old typewriters. I just found this one on Friday at Old Town Antiques in Duluth MN.

Thank you, Sarah.......it was in her booth in the window. She has the best treasures.

It's not a No. 5, which I really want, but it works, and it will be fun to use for many projects. 

I think they are such a big part of history, just think of  everything that was typed on these -

Manuscripts for plays and movies - like - Gone With The Wind

All of the books

Love letters 

I love to find old typed letters and documents, they look so cool, compared to things typed on computers today. The letters are uneven and not spaced properly, which give them such charm.

I may have to type letters to my Grandchildren on this one.

This Underwood is really a big typewriter. I will probably keep it for a while, and then sell it in the shop. Hopefully I will find a No. 5 someday in good working order.

Have a good day, ladies.

dana

Greenhouse LOVE

Oh YEAH, it's snowing again. This is my view every morning, while I drink my coffee, and dream of SPRING. It is never going to get here this year. We will have snow till May.

That is my flower garden, buried under way too much snow. Ding Dong, the wicked witch isn't dead! I can see her head again. I bought her at Junk Bonanza last fall, and she never got put away.

I found this site this morning -

http://www.1kindesign.com/2011/02/01/glamorous-vintage-inspired-greenhouse/

This greenhouse is amazing!

The story is also very sweet, this gal's hubby renovated this potting shed for her as a wedding present. He used recycled windows, and is so talented, my kind of man.

The inside is just incredible. You could sit here all day, and never leave. Check out those chandeliers, oh my! There are many more inspiring pictures on the site.

Thank you Heather for sharing, it made my morning coffee taste a little bit better.

dana