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: With Tuesday Morning

It was on Saturday, I discovered Tuesday Morning. The store, I mean. It had been added to a strip mall near our city's only Trader Joe's. Having heard the good ladies on the Holidays board of GardenWeb speak so highly of the place in terms of thrifty bargains, I was eager to see what it had to offer.

And what fun it was! I thought you all might enjoy seeing what I uncovered. As you can see, I really managed to find decor for about every holiday there is! Well, I think I'm missing St. Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving, but I didn't want to get too carried away.


These creepy-fun pumpkinheaded fellows reminded me of the art on vintage Halloween cards. This particular grinning guy brandishes a bat on a spring...


While our second Jack o' Lantern has a bobbling head and a big crepe paper "Boo."


And who is that beside him? Why, Santa, naturally-- who else did you expect to see? I mean, haven't you heard the story about how Santa goes door to door trick-or-treating to get free goodies to regift for stockings at Christmastime?...


Okay, you're probably not buying that, are you?... Well, I gave it a shot. I liked how Santa had an old world style, and was covered in sugary glitter. (Crafter Rosemary of Rose's Petite Maison knows all too well about this kind of old timey glitter-- eh, Rosemary? :) )

And who do we see there hopping before Santa? If it isn't Peter Cottontail. A 50% of 50% discount on this little bunny box made it $1!


Then back to the North Pole we go, with a papier mache castle, and a teeny plastic Santa...


We leave Tuesday Morning on this Saturday excursion, and pop by Mahla Antiques in the Strip District. This is where I got two English commemorative plates. The first commemorates the crowning of Elizabeth II, from 1958...


You can see the crest and the photo a bit better here...


And the second is from 1937, and commemorates the Coronation of King George and Queen Elizabeth. I like how subtle the royal symbol is on this dish-- just worked there into the center of the pattern...


And you can see the back here...

Lastly, here are just a few things I uncovered at the same rummage sale where I netted that box of 42 vintage hankies. This cookbook promises to be fun. Another Lea & Perrins cookbook, this one I believe is from the 40s...


For $0.10 was this TV Radio Mirror Magazine from the 50s. I thought it would be fun to see what was going on in Hollywood at the time.

And as our friend Porky Pig used to say, "That's all, folks!"

• If you missed last Sunday's post on the hankies, click here.

Otherwise, perhaps I'll see you this coming Sunday, or thereabouts. Take care!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Vamps, Lamps and Halloween Camp

As leaves turn from green to gold and swirl in the chill air, Route 30 takes on a solemn, almost lonesome tone. Yet the thrifting there this weekend was bright and inviting. It, in fact, marked an unheard of three-lamp Saturday.

Those who have read me for a while know I have Lamp Addiction. I fix them up, sometimes I give them to people. I see a good lamp and it needs to come home with me.

Well, at the Salvation Army near North Versailles, I got my prized lamp of the day. This transfer rose beauty, with handpainted detailing...



You can get a closer look here...


I loved the subtle tones of color-- and also that it absolutely matched my diningroom. I've been moving other lamps around to accommodate it. But that's the beautiful thing about decorating-- nothing is etched in stone.

My other lamp score came in the form of two vintage cherub lamps at just $4 a piece and completely rewired...

Take a look at these funny fellows...


And while we're on the subject, I was thinking I might paint these an antiqued white, instead of this gold-- what do you folks think? Leave them as is, or paint them?

At the Ligonier Fleatique I got this excellent tole cake box. It needs a bit of gentle cleaning, but at $5, it's going to be a nice addition to the kitchen...


At the Goodwill in Irwin, I found these tin deer-printed salt and pepper shakers. I may give them to a family friend. Right now, they need a good cleaning.


And at the Salvation Army in Greensburg, I uncovered this nice green Depression glass juicer...


Last of my thrift finds for the week, are these two vintage-style purses. You might be able to tell I'm already thinking ahead to summer, but it's better to plan ahead than be wishing I had them later...


Here are just a couple of closeups on the beadwork on the one...


And the needlepoint of the other...


And just for a change of pace, I thought I'd tuck in today some pictures of my Halloween decor as it's coming along. As you saw up top, this is in my entry way...


The black candleabra I found at the Goodwill. The raven was a Target find. The moving picture portrait of Dracula was $1 from the Giant Eagle grocery store last year after season. And the Poe book? That's just for readin'.

Here's a pic of my Halloween dining table in progress... You can see where those crystal dishes I'd bought went to...

I saw a set of them in one of the antique malls and they were listed as being candydishes/ice cream bowls. I hadn't thought of them for ice cream, but it would make sense why they would come en masse and in different colors.

And that closes the Treasure Box for today.

• If you missed Sunday's post on humorous ads from the 60s women's magazine, The Workbasket, click here.

And this coming Sunday, why, I'll be here if you will. Happy Wednesday to you!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Halloween Creeps Along the Mantle

Since it was a low-thrift week, this Treasure Box Wednesday I thought you all might enjoy seeing a decorating work-in-progress, with my dining room mantle. Here, you can get a sense of the long-view (please pay no attention to my streaky, streaky mirror!)...



You'll see some green foam pumpkins courtesy of Michael's, a couple of thrifted candlesticks, my great-aunt's carnival glass bowl, a terrific carnival compote I got for my birthday last year, a little folk art and my beloved little papier mache friend with his pumpkin wheelbarrow.

I was really happy how the red of my mixed media portrait-- "Ellerey," from Audrey Eclectic -- and the little costumed boy seemed to just mesh so well.

Some fresh gourds seemed appropriate, too, in this carnival bowl. I don't know why, but I am particularly fond of the ones that look like teeny pumpkins. And the more petite, the more I seem to adore them...


Here, you can see a cl0se-up of my little Halloween devil. I found him last year at the L&L Fleatique for $6, and I haven't seen his like anywhere yet.


These carnival glass plates will adorn the table, once I get my butt in gear and set it. I have some gold chargers that I think I'll use and-- well, we'll just see what kind of centerpiece moves me this time. I really never know until I play around with it.

Oh, and while I remember-- off the track of Halloween now and on to some minor thrifting-- these luster teacups were a recent thrift find. These were from St Vincent dePaul...

And here-- the small pottery face was a Salvation Army find. The larger vase was from an antique and craft mall in Monroeville. It hasn't been open long, and they seem to have some nice things. I couldn't pass this up because of the great color and the unusual shape...


So, that's Treasure Box Wednesday for this week.

If you didn't get a chance to read all about The Thrift Shop Romantic's trip back in time to the Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival, click here.

Or-- you could get comfy and have yourself a favorite fall beverage of your choice. Can you believe it's autumn already?

Ah, well. I guess that's what happens when you time travel. :)

Thrift Shop Romantic Favorite Posts

There are a lot of goodies here on The Thrift Shop Romantic. So to make it easy, I've collected some of my very favorite posts for you, all in one spot!

Funny Vintage Cooking and Decor

• Visit the Funny Farm with 50s Farm Journal Ads
• Extreme Entertaining: Livin' Large with 60s Better Homes and Gardens
• U.S. War Bonds with Popular Photography
  
• Brow-Furrowing Ads of Successful Farming Magazine
• Even more Brow-Furrowing Ads of Successful Farming Magazine
• Fit to Be Tied with Funny Knitting and Crochet
• Getting Bossed Around by 1003 Household Hints and Worksavers
• The Spryford Wives: Recipes from Commestible, Digestible Spry Shortening
  

Valentines' Day Decorating

• Thrifty Valentine's Day Tablescapes and Other Decorating
• You Gotta Have Heard: Impromptu Valentine's Decor
• Queen of Tarts: Valentine's Jam Tart Recipe
  

Easter Decorating

• The Big Easter Lambie Whammy
• The Peep Project
• The Peeps Carousel
  

Halloween Decorating

• Halloween Creeps Along the Mantle
• Thrifty Halloween and the Orange Evasion
  

Christmas Decorating

• The Christmas Decorating Big Finish
• Hall Decking and Other Fa-la-las
• A Dickens of a Time Decorating
• A Pine Old Time Decking the Halls
  

Feelin' Crafty

• Goodbye Plain Wooden Sign, Hello Kitty!
• Of Teacups and Toto: Holiday Decorating Swap
  

Thrifting and Antiquing Road Trips

• Come Fly with Me: Vicarious Vacationing
  
• Fleaing Lambertville and Exploring New Hope
• The Route 30 Antiquing Trail
• Look Out East Liverpool!
• Field Trip: Treasure Hunting in East Liverpool and Columbiana
• Antiquing Adventures North of Pittsburgh
• Three States, Two Antique Malls: One Big Day
• Field Trip!: Welcome to Amish Country, Smicksburg, PA