Letting Go of the treasure...after the hunt

I have concluded that the part I love best about thrifting, whether it is a yard sale, word of mouth find, or from a thrift store, is the treasure hunt itself.

I like the repurposing of something that no longer is able to do it's original job, and envisioning it's new job. I also enjoy the vision of bringing life back to something old and in a neglected state.

One of my finds last year was an amazing old bedroom set that my husbands mailman( for his work), told him about.

 The mailman's wife is from W. Virginia, and when we went to see the furniture she said it came from the "hollers'. Well the story just won me over, as I love old furniture that has a story.

We piled it into our trailer, and took it home. This is the tall dresser, and it has been used it's whole life. The lady sid in the "holler" when your done with your furniture, you pass it on to a neighbor or friend, and this set looks like it was around the block more than a few times. Scratched, stained, some cracks in ...but in tack and all hardware included.

How could I not bring it home, as it has an extraordinary look with the detail of the pieces.

It came with the headboard and footboard for a double bed, and a stunning dressing table and mirror.

Ok, this was a great find, and I felt like I could now choose to direct the destiny of this old set. First I considered doing the whole set over in Annie Sloan chalk paint...but really was not in a hurry to make a drastic change to the look of this furniture. It was just so cool looking. 

I decided, the fun for me had been the hunt, and I would get it out there to go to someone with more expertise to bring the life back into it.

I put it on CL, and shared it's story. I sold it to a Home Interior designer, who specializes in Vintage Furniture Redesign....a perfect match!

I was delighted that she saw exactly what I had seen in this set, and I am sure she will make it stunning for herself or a customer.

Good ending for this old bedroom set, which has come along way from the "holler" of W. Virginia.

Any recent treasures found in your life?

Jan

Loving our Pacific NW Summer...

This is the best time of the year in the Pacific Northwest..we are having another glorious dry warm summer..with near perfect temperatures.

My covered atrium is inviting with my repurposed pieces, and the radio on 24/7 to my favorite station. I retreat here often, when I am by myself, to read or pray.

I got this old trunk which is a coffee table of sorts for me now, at a thrift store. They said it came from Sweden over a hundred years ago...my husband says ummm...no... the little tag inside says made in Illinois.

That's OK, I still like it.

I have pulled many of my extra overflow art pieces, and made this my own little art gallery...as you can see we do have horse art galore.

Even the dogs are enjoying the outdoor space...

The wicker was purchased last year at an estate sale, and I spray painted several pieces black...and am glad I did.

 I picked up new cushions in the spring at a Ross store, so they were very reasonable, and since they match, brought the different wicker pieces together.

I was leaving to go garage sale-ing a couple weeks ago and barely got a mile down the road and saw a pile of old patio furniture, with a free sign. I was driving my convertible, and the top was down. I scooped up 3 plastic old sad looking Adirondack chairs in the back of my convertible, poor old things  were a worn out looking beige color.

Well, 2-3 cans of spay paint later..I was rather pleased with them. Don't ya just love it when you see a "free" challenge, beckoning you to take it on!

I hope your summer's are good, and not to hot or wet...mine is near perfect, I must say!

Jan

New "old" find...

For the life of me, I cannot understand how someones hundred plus year old family album can end up outside of the family, and in the home of a stranger.

I was at a new antique store full of new vendors that opened in Monroe. So many treasures, and the prices were not bad.

Then I saw this old album, in a gold worn mohair cover, made to stand up on a frame and when unlatched, opens in a really lovely way. It has raised decorative initials on the front...and is full of some ones old family pictures.

And then you open it, and the family history of someone I don't know, literally unfolds in front of me...

The names shown are the photography studios in Vermont and Maine...and here they end up in Washington State...

Oh, this is when you only could wish to know the stories that go with these folks of so long ago. Who are they, where were they born, what were their lives like, what is the story of their lives?

I doubt if I will ever know...

Jan

How cool is this...The Pink Geranium "vintage" business card!

As I was browsing through some of moms things, guess what I came across?  

What a special treasure to me, personally...

This is the only business card I have found for Gloria's old brick and mortar consignment store, the Pink Geranium.

Though the store in Issaquah is long gone, the Pink Geranium lives on here in my blog. 

I was going through her record books from the early 1970's and see it was an act of love and not money that was her motive. The entries are all hand written, sold and consigned items, her debit and credit columns all hand written, with receipts attached with a paper clip on those pages.

The early 70's was a "hippie" influenced period, and I was in my 20's. Being creative was part of that era as well, as I am sure many of you in my age group are have a flashback of memory to that period too.

I remember a Hippie type crocheted shawl I made, and sold through the shop on consignment, kind of like this...

What is funny is I really was shocked when it sold it, that is my memory!

This sign hung on the wall outside the shop.

It's a shame I have not found any pictures of the shop itself, as that would have been so cool to see now. If we had the kind of digital camera's we have now, ...well, we would of had plenty of pictures.

After looking at the books, I don't know how she made any money.
I believe having her own shop may have been something she always wanted to do, and if we had the online options then that we have now, well that is where she would be selling her stuff.


Now.....another treasure from her family.

I thought I would show some other family treasures that live on with me...in my home I mean.

My great grandparents dining room chairs. I remember thew chairs when we went to my grandmas house when I was a kid.

My mom used to tell me she could still see in her minds eye, her "gramps" sitting in his armchair. I am fortunate to have the 4 chairs. For  awhile some of them were up at the family cabin, and I brought them home when the cabin was sold.

      The fabric is still the fabric my grandma put on them, I kind of like it so I have not stripped the chairs or reupholstered them.

 I did see the same chairs that had been stripped and -re-stained with new upholstery, at an antique store in Snohomish...they looked really nice and wanted a chunk of change for them!

What is pretty funny is I did not notice until recently that one chair is different... but has been with the 3 that "match"  for like...forever!

Thanks for taking the time to go back in history with me...it always makes me feel connected to my family's past.

Jan

Linking with:

Tweak It Tuesday

Primp Your Stuff Wednesday

It's Party Time

Knick Of Time Tuesday

Asking for prayer for my neighbor...

This is not my usual kind of post...

I am fortunate to have a wonderful neighbor, who has been a blessing to my household for the 19 years we have lived here.

We watched her kids grow up and get married, we took care of each others horses and critters when one of us went on vacation.

 My neighbor "L", has been a leader in the County 4-H program, and had her own farm full of various critters, including goats and horses.

For the last year or so she has been fighting an agressive cancer. She has a love of antiques, her living room is a testimony to that!  She is also a quilter, who has been making quilts as her therapy during this time.

For me, other then by being as good a neighbor as I can, I feel so helpless... other then to pray for her and her family.

Since I believe in prayer and a loving God who answers prayer, I ask for you to join me in prayer for L.

I have been told the prognosis is not good...but until God takes her home, I pray for a miraculous healing.

And if he chooses to take her home, I pray he takes away the pain of the cancer at this time, and comforts her, and her family.

She is a wife, a mother and a grandmother,  and a good friend and neighbor...

I appreciate your prayers joining with mine for L.

Hugs,

Jan

Vintage Perfume Bottles...

As I was straightening up my closet, I found my mom's vintage perfume bottles.  Oh just getting them out, and the smell of the light perfume scent remaining in them...well it just makes me feel like I am looking at then with mom here with me.

I love how when she left us, she had everything somewhat organized. The box was noted, and the bottles were all together and wrapped in tissue.... 

I am sure I will find a way to display them, for now I am just enjoying them. I have some favorites like this very art deco one...

And this blue one is just so lovely...

And this crystal type one with the "wow" big flower stopper...those were the days!

 It makes me think of Hollywood in the old days, and those great old Hollywood movie classics...

And this last picture just screams Art Deco period of 30's and 40's...at least to me it does...

The last bottle is the one that she had on her dresser when she left us, and though not vintage, very special...

Thanks for taking the time to reminisce with me today! 

And welcome new blogger friends from "Grow Your Blog" I will come visit you too!

Jan


Also linking to:

Three Mango Seeds

Treasure Hunt Thursday

Tweak It Tuesday

Primp Your Stuff

Wow Us Wednesdays

Cottage Style Party

Share Your Cup Thursday

Family Treasures...

I seem to be the one out of five siblings who had the hardest time releasing many of Mom's things, after she was gone. I suspect my mother knew that would happen, as for decades she had given me little treasures of hers, knowing I would treasure them, as she had. 

So I thought I would reminisce over a series of posts, and share some of the much loved items I have pulled out for display.

When she gave this small children's pottery pitcher to me, maybe 15-20 years ago, she had written a note and put it in the vase. 

By the way, this is a great idea to do while the information is still available so it is there for future generations!

Gloria was my Mom, born in 1923, this small children's pitcher had belonged to her Great Grandmother, Lydia who was born in 1836.

I have a picture with it showing both my mothers grandmother and her mother.. I do not have one of her Great Grandmother Lydia who was the original owner.

The picture you see beside the vase shows my Grandma Agnes on the left, and my Great Grandmother Sarah (my mothers grandma) on the right. 

The old postcards displayed around the picture were my grandmothers, dating around 1900, and the other items around it were my mothers treasures. The picture of the parakeets was my mothers, and a reminder of her mothers love of parakeets. She had amazing results in teaching them to talk.

When I have moments to look at old photos and see my family history, and actually see the things that were in their lives, it really does make a family tree just that... a place that connects me to them.

Jan 

Linking up with:

Treasure Hunt Thursday
Transformation Thursday
Grace at Home
Feathered Nest Friday
Home Sweet Home
Be Inspired Friday
Three Mango Seeds

A New Year and Reflections...

What is it about time that the older I get, the faster it goes by?

It seems like 2012 just began, and I was still committed to a 40 hours a week job at Verizon Wireless, then after  21 years.. poof, my office is closed (end of June).

 I am a 'displaced worker" and from there on the time flew by, and the year is over!

My new found time  had opened up all sorts of options, like to consider what do I really want to do?

Not what I was doing, that was for sure.

So after my real estate agent told me I needed to de-clutter my house full of furniture to prepare to sell the house in the future...I seem to have gone a different direction. Oh true, I did sell some items, but more then made up for it with what I purchased. The good news is much of it is projects, so it's not all in the house.

So as mentioned in a previous post, I sold some old oak pieces, tables, chairs, Hoosier cabinet, mission buffet, mirrors, etc. I had a garage sale over the summer, and of course sold off CL as well.

Of course I also bought 3 project tables,  and a project desk. These larger projects are waiting for warmer weather to paint with chalk paint. I found several wicker pieces that spray paint has refreshed with new life. I found an antique washbasin (below), as well as lamps, a Amish pie safe, oak ice box, and many other misc treasures. This was all after my job ended.

The old wash basin was a great find last summer at a garage sale, and could be used for outdoor party's to put ice and pop or beer and wine in as the metal top lifts off. Now it is in my outdoor atrium / garden room as a table. This picture was from fall, can you tell?!

A trip to a couple sales one summer weekend brought home several fun finds...that called for some new color on the candle sticks and birdcage ( though I think I will paint the birdcage black next) ...the hydrangeas looked great in the silver teapot.

And the items in this picture have all been re purposed as well, after another fun weekend of garage sales. The rusty table, got ASCP on the board top, and is now my coffee table.

The atrium has been the transition room for much of the treasures...and with all the sun we had late summer it was the perfect place to retreat to. Pretty much everything in the below picture of the atrium came home from different garage/estate sales over the summer.

I did get this lovely ladies desk ilast summer at an estate sale, for embarrassing cheap. It is now in my bedroom, and I have grown fond of it as well!

You may remember from a previous post here, my carved rooster from the Goodwill,  I really like him..and now that Christmas is past..he will be coming out of hiding to a new place in the house.

The pewter grasshopper from a previous post you can read here, is on call, waiting for incoming mail !

Two of my favorite summer finds were both put to work. One is some vintage TV trays with stand, which are used often and well worth the $12.00 I paid for them.

I also came across a huge cauldron at an estate sale, and it is now s fire pit. On Christmas Eve it was moved out in front of the house, and was a wonderful place to gather outside as the evening was dry and crisp and the fire was glowing in it.

And the first project I painted with ASCP, was my Mom's old "workhorse" tea cart, which got a coat of ASCP... and came back to life. She used it to display things at the many garage sales she used to have and I am honored to have it.

OK, so back to the question about time, and what do I want to do...I want to create.

Not sure what, as it  depends on what I have to create out of. But, that is the joy of re purposing, it fulfills that need to create.

I also want to see my blog grow, and find new friends as I do... and hoped to pick up some followers to help me feel the love of creating!

So now I am chomping at the bit, time to get busy, get organized, de-clutter, and start some creative accomplishments!

So I am wishing you a wonderful Creative New Year as well!

Jan

Linking up with:

Tweak It Tuesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Treasure Hunt Thursday 
I Gotta Create 
Creative Things Thursday 
Yesterday on Tuesday
Mop It Up Monday
Tuesday Treasures

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