Treasure Box Wednesday: Heavenly Finds

And a-one, and a-two, and everybody sing...

Er, no, better not. Let's just talk about our friend the conducting cherub here, and the other found items for this Treasure Box Wednesday.

The elaborate winged fellows are a lamp discovered at Construction Junction architectural salvage. This has already made it's way into my blue room. I would say it probably was the land-speed record for lamp placement in America.

How the lamp managed to survive in that store amid the big chunks of heavy marble mantles, thick wood planks, and masonry, I can't imagine. It does have some issues, certainly. A chipped wing here, a missing bit there...

And this fellow is completely sans-arm. But I think some clever patching will make it less obvious, and just add to the character. Too much was brilliantly intact for me to care very much...
Sometimes I think it's the imperfections in well-made old pieces like this that make them even more worth rescuing to me. Like I have to save them from further damage!

At the Salvation Army yesterday, there was absolutely nothing wrong with this pink hobnail vase...
I've seen this in white milkglass a bazillion times over the years-- in fact my mother had one-- but never, ever in pink! This was quite a surprise to me. I believe I recall it being an Anchor Hocking piece, but don't hold me to that.

I had also picked up this green Depression glass platter...

Funny, I'd been in line, saying to the friend I was shopping with how there were just a few small chips on the bottom, but how no one would see those. And the woman in front of me in line sniffed, "Well, I can tell you're not an antique dealer, then!"

Er, yes. I probably wouldn't expect people to buy from me something that had chips. But given it was for my own use? Well, you all know how I feel about that. Again, it's another pretty item whose beauty isn't ruined by the little flaws.

And my last second-hand venture of the weekend was attending a flea market at a local synagogue. It was set up almost identically to the church rummage sale I went to just a week or two ago. And there, I set my eyes on this great sandwich-glass and lightly-lustered amethyst dish...
(Here you can see an aerial view)...

And this excellent large, old mirror for a whole $2...

So it's been a pretty heavenly week for fun finds! And a nice respite from working on that fireplace.

• Folks who've not yet seen the whole fireplace installation extravaganza can check that out here.

It's going well, by the way. I installed the rest of the trim last night. It still needs a few coats of paint, and then I have some other touches to add. Oh-- and the mantle shelf. But the mantle shelf issue is one I'll share with you later. I think you'll laugh.

Take care, and I hope you'll pop back on Sunday for our next post!

Fireplace Fun: Part One

I believe I'd mentioned wanting to put a faux fireplace in the blue room I've been working on, on the place where many moons ago, there once really was a chimney breast. I wanted to keep it similar enough to the original fireplace that's in my diningroom downstairs, but make sure it coordinated more toward the blue and cream theme I was using.

Here was what that area of the room looked like without furniture in it...

Because I couldn't fit an architectural salvage wooden fire surround from Construction Junction into my car, I found I could get flat-pack pieces from Lowes and then construct it into place. This meant the baseboard on the chimney wall was going to have to be removed...
That was my project last Sunday, and I was relieved it was easier than I'd thought it would be. I also started using tile glue, to adhere the tiles I'd gotten for inside the wooden surround. I was trying to keep it along the same lines as the fireplace downstairs. That tile is a speckled pale green. I was lucky enough to track down a speckled light blue, also at Lowes...

And at $4 for a square foot, the cost was terrific. I looked into getting repro Victorian tiles, and at $10 for a single six-inch tile, I just couldn't afford it. The Lowes tiles have the same effect and were much more in my budget!

Here you can see the partially tiled wall, and the fire surround accessories I was noodling around with...
Now, time to make Tollhouse cookies...
Or, um, grout the tile. The color of the grout is "vintage white." I liked it because it's not as stark, bright white as some...

Still looks like cookie dough, though. Or maybe I'm just really hungry.

Here's the fully-grouted wall!...

And now on to painting the fire surround and its wooden accessories...

This next part looks like nothing, but it ended up being the rough part. It involved getting the first bracket on the wall, to hook the wooden fire surround to...

Because underneath the wall plaster is the old brick chimney, I had to use a masonry drill bit, in order to drill the holes. This, of course, was not a part of the instructions of my fire surround kit, which assumed I'd be hooking it into drywall. So a consultation from a wonderful, helpful fellow at Home Depot earlier today, and a few of the right tools, set me straight.

And set the bracket straight, as well! I was so excited to have accomplished this, there was actually some dancing involved...
And three more brackets later... would you believe the fire surround actually fit?!

Another musical dance interlude! (Icould tell you I was kidding, but when it comes to home project success sometimes ya just gotta dance)...And before I quit for the day, I got the first two brackets on. These will support the mantle...

The mantle, and all of the fire surround accesories, however, will be for another day. I'm pretty happy with what I've gotten done in just a week, while only really tackling this after work and on the weekend.

So... the project continues! Wish me luck on the rest of it. I'll share with you what happens-- for good or bad!

• If you missed last Wednesday's post on Driving Away the Autumn Blues through some little household tricks, click here.

If not, well, perhaps I'll see your smiling faces this Wednesday. I wish I could promise you all Tollhouse Cookies, but the best I can do right now is grout...

Not so tasty.

Driving Away the Autumn Blues

While the freshness of spring always tends to give my spirits a lift, autumn typically finds them settling like fallen leaves.

The chill in the air, the long hours of darkness, the sense that another seasonal chapter is coming to a close, I admit, it makes me a bit wistful and I work to remain motivated. Or perhaps the ol' brain just seeks to hibernate, and recharge for brighter more active days.

So as a little departure from the traditional Treasure Box Wednesday post here at The Thrift Shop Romantic, I thought I'd share with you a few things that have helped drive the autumn ho-hums away... Little things you also might want to try around the house to make it feel more warm, inviting, soothing and cheerful for those long cold evenings ahead.

Now, naturally, for individuals who believe they may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is something you should discuss with your doctor. My suggestions below are not meant to trivialize the condition, or "cure" it in place of actual medical treatment.

But given our busy lives, sometimes it really is just a small change... a little nicety... and unexpected merry detail that can help make even the longest, darkest day seem just that much brighter.

• Fill the house with an inviting scent. Whether you prefer a tart warmer, scented oils, or fragrant candles, a favorite warm autumn scent can temporarily help lift the spirits. While the world outside may be musty with dried leaves, a nice fragrance at home can trigger cheerier, comforting images of baked goods, fond memories, vacations or just warmer days.

• Light candles. Separate from the concept of scent, I've found lighting candles, and getting to see that nice warm glow, adds a lot to a room-- even if there's no special occasion-- and can create a cozier atmosphere. Obviously with kids and pets, this may not be ideal-- and would certainly require supervision to be safe. But as fall light wanes, a little flicker of light in the night does a lot to make the evening feel more special.

• Change textiles to richer, more vivid colors. Trade usual pastels for juicier colors and suddenly an autumn room takes on more life. I was surprised at the difference, for instance, in my bathroom, as I swapped out the pale greens, light pinks and whites, for this deep plummy purple, eggplant and warm dark pink. The room seems deceptively warmer-- and without ever touching that thermostat.

• Break out that Crock Pot. What's better than to come home from a long day of work and find dinner already made? A pot roast, soups, stews-- even a whole roast chicken-- are fantastic slow-cooked in a Crock Pot. And you can't beat the smell of home-cooking the moment you step through that door!

• Use reflective items-- luster and mirrors-- to bounce light. Those of us with older homes know, getting enough light isn't always easy. But the Victorians used items coated in luster-- a layer of metallic opalescence-- to reflect off the limited light there was, and flicker under the attention of candles. And this trick still works today. Add to that a few mirrors, or other metallic surfaces, and you can brighten up your space easily.

• Tackle that long-procrastinated craft. Whether it's sewing, latchhook, crochet, knit, needlepoint, sketching, beadwork, or a thousand different crafts, cooler days and shorter nights are a great time to think creative.

• Switch shower gel to a new, heavier scent. I know this seems like such a strange detail to suggest, but a good hot shower is the way so many of us start the day. And for those of us who really respond to scents, changing up the soaps you normally use to something new and fun-- and a bit more fragrant than normal-- is

• Take even fifteen minutes to a half hour, if you can, to curl up with a book or magazine. Time to mentally regroup can be extremely helpful when the days feel bleak and busy. So a little quiet time with a book... or my fave, a decorating magazine... is a nice way to settle down a bit and gain a fresh perspective.
  

Well-- that's all I have for today. But what are the ways you make the colder months warmer and more cheerful? Leave a comment below-- I'd love to hear from you!

• If you missed Sunday's post on Halloween decorating-- another fun way to make the house spookily whimsical for Autumn, click here.

If not, perhaps I'll see you Sunday when I hope to show the progress on the faux fireplace I'm installing! Take care, friends!

Decorating As If Henry Tudor Had a Halloween Bash

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year. Not only do I pick things up over the course of the year at thrift stores and put it away, I find things at stores like Target and Michaels-- on serious discount-- and enhance my Halloween decorating repertoire when I can.

This year, Target went quite "Henry the Eighth" with their theme, and I selected a few things I thought I could use for multiple years ahead, from their ranks. So, I combined the plastic hobnail pieces and tapestry-style chargers they had, with real hobnail, glass and golden chargers I'd picked up years ago for pennies, to create a black, gold and purple tablescape...


I loved in particular the black damask Target did with dragons, thistle and various otherwordly creatures. They printed the same thing on very inexpensive yet fun plastic plates and bowls. Which is plastic and which is glass?-- it's actually very hard to tell!

This centerpiece is simply a Target candle on a dish. When you light the candle, it will run in a red Halloweeny fearful way. I actually like the skull and medieval heraldry detail so much, I probably won't run it this year in order to retain it...
I put a circular mirror from Pat Catan's craft store under it to reflect the scene. I've used this inexpensive mirror so many times, it's become a staple for centerpieces.

The Bela Legosi animated photo is from-- of all places-- the grocery store after Halloween 2007 for just a few dollars... Here love is in the air with Count Dracula...

And here the Count shows his true colors...

And last, I found a few interesting bottles at Michaels on a BIG sale... Like this organic bat brain (herbal, of course!)..

And here's my feathered friend Roderick, of Poe fame, to skwawk out a seasonal "Nevermore!" He was after-season clearance last year...
Lastly, I had quite forgotten I'd gotten some decor off-season at Tuesday Morning. I love how these creepy jack-o-lanterns catch the eye...

That second item says "Trick" and not "Rick," by the way I have no particular Halloween vendetta against some poor, innocent Rick fellow. :)

In addition to all the Halloween decorating you see here, I will soon be unveiling a brand-new fireplace surrroud in my Blue Room. It's still in-process, so I should be showing this to you soon! Your hostess has been a very busy gal (who has many stories to tell you about the process)!! I think you will all approve once it's been completed.

• Click here to read about all the painting that's been going on.

• And here to check out the last Treasure Box Wednesday on Rummages and Resale Shops!

And perhaps I'll see you this Wednesday, with more updates!

Cheers!
-Jenn

Treasure Box Wednesday: Rummages and Resale Shops

A little exploring on the weekend brought me to some Treasure Box opportunities I don't ordinarily have-- and which I'll share with you today!

The first was a local church rummage sale. It was a misty gray morning, drizzle dropping down on us as we queued for the sale to open. Neighbors met neighbors. Kids dangled distractedly on their moms necks. And I felt a sense of anticipation. This sale had yielded goodies for me before, in spring...

And fall was no exception. In fact, as we stepped out of the rain into the warmly lit basement, in the very first row, I found a 1930s-ish art deco print for $3...

It's called "The Viking," I learned, when I took the frame apart to clean the very dirty glass. And while it looks quite a bit like an Atkinson Fox print, no name is on the piece. All there is is the title and this publisher's mark...


"Reliance Picture Frame Company-- NY." Looks like when I get some time, I'm going to have to do a little research!

I also uncovered some 60s cookbooks-- one of which I believe I'll be treating you all with in a future post-- and this vintage pottery planter...

At fifty-cents, I figured I couldn't go wrong!

Later in the day, at a resale shop in Bellevue I hadn't been to before, I found this detailed Made in Japan figurine which, thanks to info from a nice reader, is likely based on the nursery rhyme about the cat off to see the Queen...

Anyway, I loved the bisque look and soft colors. The store benefits a local hospice, the prices were great, and it is definitely one I'll visit again.

(I have to get the details to share with you all. I admit, I was so enamored looking around at the merchandise, I forgot to get the contact info! Ah, the price of being an avid treasure hunter-- we get distracted sometimes.)

The other item I bought was this 1950s style carriage-shaped novelty clock. I thought. given the fairy-tale quality the blue room in my house has been taking on, it might fit in well on the mantle I'm assembling.
Lastly, I stopped by the Ohio River Boulevard Antique Mall and came across additional material for a future post... These "Official Detective Stories" magazines...

I love old pulp fiction, and these dramatic, kitschy covers really caught the eye. Plus, at 50% off, how could I say no?

Anyway, that's the Treasure Box for this week, my friends!

• If you missed Sunday's post-- "Painted Lady"-- which talks about how a furniture stash is getting a makeover, click here.

If not, I'll see you on Sunday perhaps, where I should have more progress on some home decorating projects!

Painted Lady

Apologies that my Sunday post is a little late today compared to some days. But I have an excuse I do believe you'll all understand. You see, I've been painting furniture...

And painting furniture...

And painting furniture.

Yes, folks, at my house it's been one of those marathon "Let's Just Get This Done" sessions filled with excited ambition... and which always somehow manages to take four times longer than you initially expect.

The project? Furniture and accessories to be used in my blue sitting room. If you recall the other day, the endtables started out like this and I was about to give them a touch of off-white paint...

And here's the first coat for comparison!...

Ya just don't realize how many sides and fiddly bits there are to a small endtable like this until you have to cover it in three coats of paint, let me tell you! Just when I'd think I'd gotten it all covered, I'd see it from another angle and realize--- oh, NOOOOOO!--- I missed a section.

One of the endtables is pretty much done with the exception of a clear topcoat. The other still has a way to go yet-- and then there's a matching coffetable to tackle.

So while I was... um.. watching paint dry, I started priming this antique fire surround I got at the Construction Junction architectural salvage store...

Some good ol' Rustoleum should keep that rusty section at bay. Then this will get a coat of the off-white paint I'm using on the furniture. I think it will be pretty in the blue room, as part of a makeshift faux fireplace I'm hoping to add in there.

Here you can see it all primed up!


And here's a close-up on the detail. Gotta love those elaborate vines and berries climbing along it...And because I hadn't already gotten myself in enough trouble with painting projects, I ended up painting the black base of a bust I want to use in that room. (Don't worry, the bust was from TJ Maxx, not any priceless antique!) You can see here in the lefthand side of the photo below...

And I also worked over this thrifted lamp...

It's a strange little cherub on it-- I'm guessing it's from the 70s. But I think the antique white paint doesn't look too bad...

This was the first coat. I'll need to do at least one more to even it out. But you can get a sense of how it will be.

Anyway, that's where we stand today. As I get things finished and moved into the room, I'll give you all a little update.

• And if you missed previous posts and want to know which room I'm talking about, you can check out what's been done to date here.

The next Thrift Shop Romantic post will be Wednesday. Oh, and while I remember, I want to thank everyone who has subscribed to the The Thrift Shop Romantic RSS feed. I'm really delighted to have you all share in the thrifting and decorating adventures.