Chenille Bedspread Pillows

My friend gifted me a torn chenille bedspread that was her mothers'. It truly was a gift to me. First of all, I can't have vintage torn fabric go to waste and I love to make pillows with these remnants.

So, I made six chenille pillows.

I didn't realize how hard chenille was to work with and how much of a mess it made when it was cut up. But, I was on a mission and didn't want to stop. I cut around the most intricate parts of the bedspread....

and I used a torn vintage tablecloth that I had been saving for just this reason for a pillow. I used the torn tablecloth on the back on a few of the pillows and the rest I used vintage inspired fabric. I always put a zipper into the pillows that I make.

I am very pleased with how they came out.  I can't wait to bring them to the Holiday Open House at the Carriage House!

This is why treasure hunting is so fulfilling and exciting.....

Happy treasure hunting!

Fall Highlights

What crazy weather we had today! Windy, sleet and snow showers.  It's all par for the course in Illinois. It's also the weekend for Autumn Drive  in Woodstock and surrounding areas. I went yesterday in the rain and did find some treasures. The weather didn't seem to be slowing down the crowds. Two Sisters With Junk in the Trunk will continue their barn sale in Marengo tomorrow if you have time to stop by.  You'll love it!

I finally put my garden to rest this week. I was waiting for the mosquitoes to go away.  So, I picked the coldest day to close it down. The funny part is that while I was garage sailing this week, I found quite a bit of garden items that I have to store for the spring.

I'm going to use the red rusty train as part of my holiday display at the Carriage House. Since I'm talking about the holiday open house, I'll share the information with you now.

It's November 8-11. It's always lots of fun. Once again I have lots of vintage Christmas items.

Now, back to the fall. I couldn't resist this glass and metal angel base cake stand. I just sat the angel planter on top of it. It's perfect!

For a while now I have been looking for a silverplate cake stand. At the same sale, I found one! It's great to use for creating a small vignette.

My friend Mary and I went to the 3 French Hens flea market in Morris last week.

Here I am next to the canal and bridge holding my finds. It was a beautiful fall day. I'm going to make a point of going more next year. We ate at Letty Mae's Tea Room and shopped at Whimsy. I bought an adorable black vest with fur surrounding the zipper. It's a super store. 

The next market for the 3 French Hens will be held at the Grundy County Fair Grounds for their holiday market November 9-10. I went last year and there were vendors outside and in the barns. Dress warm!

So now that I'm in the holiday spirit, I created these displays. This one was a velvet jewelry box that had lost its velvet bottom.

This one has a base that was from a lamp. Mr and Mrs Claus surround it as well as a sleigh and deer on the back.

Both will be for sale at the Carriage House Holiday Open House as well as the truck creations that I make every year. 

Here are some events in November so that you can mark your calendar: November 2-3 is Nellies Christmas at the Farm in Belvidere. Also on November 2-3 is the Urban Farmgirl store in Rockford holiday open house. November 3 is Trove in Rockford and Rubies and Rust in Rockton holiday open houses. You can make a day visiting all of these. November 7 is the holiday open house for the Shops on and off of Pepper Road in Barrington. November 8-11 is the holiday open House at Carriage House Antiques in Crystal Lake. Nov 9-10 is the 3 French Hens holiday market in Morris. The stores in Lake Geneva Wisconsin have their holiday open houses November 10-11.  November 16-17 is the Harvest Lane holiday market in Elburn.  November 17-18 is the Washington Street holiday market in Naperville.

Happy treasure hunting!

Catching Up

With the change of seasons, I find myself being busy all the time. It's a good thing. I like to keep busy.

Here's a few of my finds recently:

I have been looking for an ironstone tureen for a while now. Even though the handles were reattached, it's beautiful! It's a keeper.  Another keeper is this wonderful Easter bunny decoration:

It's never too early to think ahead for the holidays. You have to buy it when you find it right? Speaking of the holidays....I found a large amount of vintage Christmas recently.  I couldn't stop my heart from beating out of my chest. It was so exciting!!!!

There were a lot of candy containers and light up figures.

For a huge vintage Christmas lover that I am, this was amazing!

Out of it all, I only kept 2 things. The rest I'll be selling at the Vintage Christmas Open House at Carriage House Antiques November 8-11. (More info to follow)

Another great find, or 2 for that matter was a trophy and ironstone pitcher.

Both are fabulous. Both will be for sale at the Carriage House in the near future. I'm learning not to keep everything I find, but it's hard.

I did a presentation on Flea Market Gardening for the McHenry Garden Club in September. It's a fun presentation that always seems to amaze those attending at how you can upcycle something.

Here I am with a simple display that anyone can do. 

There are still church rummage sales going on. There's one in Huntley tomorrow starting at 12 noon. 3 French Hens is on Saturday in Morris. There's also a fabulous vintage market on Sunday in McHenry at Smiths Garage called A Vintage Market. A fun event in rural Woodstock is Autumn Drive Oct 19-21.

Whatever you choose to do....

Happy treasure hunting!