Isn’t She Lovely!

Wait!    Start the music….THEN scroll…

My first attempt at a chair facelift!  I got six of these at a yard sale a couple years ago.  They weren’t pretty, but we needed the extra chairs for a party.  Now I am changing them one at a time with all kinds of fun spray paint colors and shabby fabrics! Stay tuned for the other five.

Isn’t she LOVELY?!! 🙂

Thrift Therapy

Sometimes things just keep on piling up!  No, I don’t mean thrift store finds and other junk.  I mean life!  And with many sad things happening all at once, it is such a magical thing to walk into a Goodwill in a Goodtown.  I forget sometimes that the key to great thrifting, or yard saling, or any bargain shopping for that matter, is to shop in the right neighborhood!  Having a dental appointment an hour from home landed me in shopping country with a mall and a Goodwill only yards from each other.  Needless to say, I went a little crazy.  A lot giddy.  And self-control was out the window!  I haven’t felt this good in weeks!  Being immersed in isles and isles of clothing where scanning for the cashmere or linen isn’t necessary because high-end fabrics abound.  Here the game is to decide how many will go to the fitting room.  The cart gets swamped, burying glassware and goblets with denim name brands.  The fitting room won’t allow carts, so there is the added adventure of popping out to spy.  Is someone shopping from my parked cart?  Oh the joyous stress and mischief of it all!!   Okay. Without further ado, here is my loot!

Ahh fall! Denim, sweaters and plaid! Love.And the best things in life are NOT free!  A pair of perfect fit Matchstick jeans go for WAY MORE than sensible!  Unless you find them at Goodwill! Oh you thought I was kidding when I said goblet?  Pier One, Dollar General or Antiques…I could care less!  They’re mine now!Oh my! A little festive eggnog or cocoa with a foamy frothy top perhaps? Christmas is coming!! Holy Moses!  I’m losing my marbles! Here’s a sample of vintage finds: Pillow from my sis, lampshade from a Tennessee yard sale, picture frame from Salvation Army, and of course marbles marbles marbles! Okay, now I’m bushed.  Time out for tea!   Happy thrifting!

Girly Girl Fun

Since my daughter and I used to spend time creating the perfect setting for tea parties, it seemed fitting that her bridal shower be a tea party on a grand scale.  The preparations were endless, and the day turned out magical! A wonderful turnout of friends and family shared this special day, and now that it’s over, I keep grinning thinking of it: Anne with her apron and “white meat only” chicken salad. (Which was great by the way! Good job Anne.) Linda at the blender mixing some pink divine grapefruit margaritas, and Adrienne filling her pink eggs.  Everything pink and prissy and foo foo galore! I really like being a girl! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changing Tastes

I can feel spring just around the (long) corner. It’s making me want to say goodbye to old collections and accumulate new ones! There was a time I sat for hours hunting down groovy teapots from the 70’s on ebay. They were a lot cheaper then, and shipping was too! What better time a year to take some snapshots and open up an Etsy shop? Let the fun begin!

Vintage Fun

The Gift of Fabric!

I recently scored the Jackpot when I was granted a “have at it” over a huge selection of vintage fabric. I have been in a quilting daze ever since! Here is my first quilt top.  I fogot to take the finished photos, as it is off in a package to my neice who decided to give birth a bit early. But you get the idea..

 

 

O What FUN

Brown paper packages, tied up with string…naw…too grown up.  Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes?  Sure!  Warm woolen mittens?  You bet!  But the warm fuzzies that these glassy ornaments bring is a WAY favorite thing!  I have seen photos of them on etsy, or pinterest and thought, Why yes! I must have them.  And WHAT to my WONDERING EYES did APPEAR?  

But lots of them everywhere! As basement finds, gifts, and thrift store loot! Oh Merry Christmas to ALL and to ALL a GOOD NIGHT!

Sweaters, Sweaters, and Summer’s Still Here

Since I am spending the days by my lonesome I decided to share my morning’s adventure and do a spot of writing on my blog.  First of all, thanks to all who enjoy reading my ramblings and looking over the images I capture.  It is with sharing in mind that I take photos in the first place. It isn’t only the freezing of time, or the capture of a moment, it is also just the beauty of being able to share a simple, “Check this out!”  It is as if I have you walking down the sidewalk with me, and I’m pointing to this or that and interrupting whatever you may be thinking or doing to show you something.  Something as miniscule as a how the wild flowers are the exact same species here, but look a little different.  Yes, this I will have to show you, since my companion didn’t think so. The Queen Anne’s lace is thicker here; not as wispy as ours is in the states.

So once again, allow me to bend your ear, your eye, your attention and humor me while I sketch a portrait of a Danish morning.

                  Queen Anne’s Lace Danish style

                  And North American Style

 I should be writing. This is what I tell myself.  I leave my room , or closet rather, so housekeeping can tidy up the place.  I go to the cafeteria-like dining room and sit with my computer and coffee and work on my story. But I can’t concentrate.  The sound of foreign sirens rings outside. (Link on right if you want to really be here with me…)

But that isn’t why I can’t concentrate.  The trouble is I have kroner burning a whole in my pocket and thrift stores I haven’t visited since June.  So after giving housekeeping a bit of time, I return to my room, ditch the computer, grab my camera and head out.  I have twice the usual distance to walk; something I would have done well to remember before loading myself up with heavy bags of winter loot! But here’s the load I carried back:

Found this funky raspberry jacket made of felt, and this quilted thing isn’t a skirt (yet). It’s a big square that I found with the scarves.  Looks like a good table cover to me.  Or maybe a skirt.

Love this big suede belt! And underneath is a fabulous long dress in a heavy tweed-like fabric! Oh, and I almost forgot this necklace I found that should look awesome with it!

                Don’t ask.  I have no idea.  But I liked it. And it was $3.

I guess I feel fall and winter coming on.  I love to collect sweaters, belts, boots, and all things warm.  But outside, it is still screaming summer. Even here in Denmark.

So there you have it.  Another day in the Old World.  Be sure you follow me if you want my blog posts to come to you automatically. And comments are cool.   Don’t be shy.  Next post I am thinking of sharing a teaser for the story I am working on.  Click like if you’re interested.

Route 90 Fifty-Mile Yard Sale

I had to wait anxiously til Sunday to hit the fifty mile yard sale on the other side of Cayuga Lake. But it was worth the wait, and I’ve got lots of goodies and finds to share. We headed south in the morning and drove until I said, “STOP”.  Then we turned around and started browsing as we made our way back up the lake. The “STOP!” was caused by these beauties here. I have been looking for a cool oil lamp so I could start a collection.  By days end, I had a small collection.

Next stop I was gasping and biting my tongue and trying my best to sound casual! She had this old quilt marked $3.00.  Yeah, that’s right. THREE DOLLARS.  And a quilt top in a bit better shape, but unfinished, for $10. I hemmed and hawed and offerred her ten for the both of them.  DONE.  (Drumroll please…I am in heaven)

I found some good deals on glasses. One big box was only three bucks and it contained ten of these little juice gems that I fondly remember from my childhood.  In those days, you only had one glass of orange juice in the morning, and this was the size of the glass!  I guess with seven kids, you have to set limits.

I also found these wonderful diner-style coffee cups with saucers and dessert plates in a “free” box.  Plus another lovely mug for my collection.

 

I found this green stuff that I am unsure if I like it enough to keep it around for long. But it may become a keeper. Time will tell. 

I will surely keep them for a while anyway.  These candle holder swans are heavy and even though I paid 50 cents apiece for them, I am pretty sure they are silver. And if they are not, I am certain they are lovely!

This candle is a thrift store find from a month or so ago, but I am just crazy about it.  I would guess it’s made of bees wax since it has little honey bees all over it.  

I’ve been looking for one of these little-thing-holders for months now. This one came complete with all the little brass pieces!

And last of all, I picked up four pillows to fill these Pottery Barn pillow covers I found  at Salvation Army. 

That is one yard sale I will be putting on my calandar for next year!  In the mean time, it’s local  garage sales till summer’s end.

Around Town in Roskilde

Lovin these brass candle holders.  Oh dear.  Here we go again.

This could be done with an old picture frame and wallpaper and little hooks.  I think it’s to hang your necklaces on.  Love it!  Will try to make my own for sure!

Another “must try” idea: wallpapered drawers and darling knobs.  Oh yeah.

Here I go again, looking like a dork, taking pictures because the shops are …well, just wonderful!

Oh come on!  I could wear this…somewhere!!

Found a little bunny I couldn’t live without.

And a few plates from England.

Trim my wick and put me OUT! Yeah! Love that flea market.

Never know what to expect around here.

Got married up there nearly a year ago!

Starting them young.  Busy Saturday in Roskilde.  Hej Hej !! (That’s pronounced Hi Hi and it means Goodbye! LOL)