Happy Easter!

Happy Blessed Easter to all of you!

I thought I would share some of my vintage Easter collection with you...

I had this adorable guy for a while and then I found this one a few years ago...

and then there are these sweet little guys....
The larger rabbit is a candle we had when I was growing up.

This collection of vintage cement chicks has been growing...

The rabbit cabbage tureen is one of my favorite spring items. 

Wishing you a blessed Easter day! Palm Sunday for those celebrating Orthodox traditions.

Shopping My Stash!

It's soooooo much fun to shop my own stash!

Since we are still on the shelter in place order, I have been relooking at my home from different views.  Even the outside has gotten a slight transformation. I painted a bistro set white the other day which will replace a vintage motel chair. I have been spending more time sitting outside for the enjoyment of it. A small table and chairs suits that space much better.

A few month ago, I bought a chippy white Victorian bassinet from Steeplechase Antiques in Barrington IL. I knew that it would look perfect in my garden but I didn't want to lose the aged patina on it so I am keeping it in my sun room.

At Christmastime I filled it with greens and a tree and now I'm filling it with springlike items.

As I was cleaning up in the garage, I came across the chippy, rusty floral toile tray that my father gave me a few years back. I didn't have the perfect spot for it until now! It was the basis for the color scheme.

The white chippy bird cage was hanging in a bush in my yard but since the bush needs to be cut down, this is where it will be for now.  The sweet little purse is a just because piece.

The green bucket was an item that didn't sell at my space at the Carriage House. I can't figure out why since it is fabulous. I have always loved it so maybe it was just meant for me to keep it. Rounding out the display is the floral piece. I always keep a stash of floral stems for just this reason.

Another decor changing idea was to change the picture in "my" room. I had found this fabulous vintage floral painting at the Goodwill store years ago and wanted to hang it up year round. I had been using it only in the spring with the spring decor. It looks perfect in the vintage frame I have hanging on the wall even though it doesn't fit perfectly.  The frame has a chippy green border that compliments the painting colors.

Since we will be sheltering at home for a few more weeks, I just may be finding more treasures in my stash.

Happy treasure hunting!

Hello April!

I have been working on projects that should have been done a while ago. I figured that now is the perfect time since the shelter in place order was issued here in IL until April 30. (As of now).

A few years ago I bought an unfinished patchwork quilt top from a thrift store and I only had put in the batting and made the back for it. So, I was tired of seeing it laying around and finally finished it! I'm not a perfect quilter but it was finished with love. The vintage fabric used for the top is so fantastic that I really wanted to finish it.

I'm so happy with how it came out!

Speaking of vintage fabric, here's a slight glimpse into my vintage linen collection....

I collect vintage tablecloths, doilies, trim and fabric. My mom always used doilies and tablecloths and changed them out seasonally. I do the same. I love embroidered pieces especially. It's heaven to me when I look into this closet.

With some time on my hands, I have been reading my favorite magazines. It gives me incentive to do some redecorating.

I was motivated to scrape, sand and paint the window frames in the master bedroom. It took me three days but it was well worth it. I live in an older home built in 1946 and we still have storm windows to put up and take down. Tomorrow, when the paint is dry, I'll be able to put up the screens and let the fresh air come in! The warm weather is starting to arrive.

I'm sure that most of us have been baking. I saw this recipe for lemon blueberry scones and decided to try baking them. They didn't disappoint. My friend, Dragana Seizovic, originally showed these scones on Instagram. So, this was my hand at making them.

Today was beautiful! I was outside without a coat on planting a few pots and tulip bulbs and just walking around putting out my garden ornaments, It felt so great to be in the sun with my hands in the soil.

My yard is full of vintage flea market ideas.

This angel statue is in front of my garage.

I just love gnomes! These are my absolute favorites.

And this lazy gnome too.

I'm also pretty crazy about pink flamingos too.  This one was missing its legs but I couldn't get rid of it.

The blue motel chair is broken too but I couldn't part with it either.

These pink flamingos look great when surrounded by the lilies when they come up.

My yard is mostly shaded surrounded by woods, but at this time of year the area in front of my garage is bare. The hill has moss growing on it and the ground cover and ferns haven't come up yet. I really like it this way. To me it's so peaceful.

That's it for now! Stay well, get some sun and stay positive.

Isn't this chippy, rusty chair fabulous? I think so!

Welcome Spring!

Spring has finally arrived! At least on the calendar anyway.

Since I have been spending a lot of time inside, I decided to tackle some projects that have been on the back burner. (besides dusting and vacuuming the house). Yesterday I posted a fabulous piece of  floral barkcloth fabric. So today I used it to make a pillow. Just a plain and simple pillow with no trim or frills on it. It's great!

I also had bought a vintage high school "B" letter sweater at an estate sale a few years ago. I turned that into a pillow too. I decided to keep the collar opening so it still looks like a sweater minus the arms. I'm super happy with how it turned out.

Hope you are making the most of your time at home. I still have a quilt to complete, I'm hoping to get to that soon.

Stay healthy!

March Ramblings

Happy St. Patrick's Day! With so many cancellations due to the COVID-19 virus going around, I needed to find some happy thoughts today.  After working on Gardenfest for 1 year, it obviously had to be cancelled due to the health concerns. I get that, but I was still devastated when it was cancelled.

Somehow, a walk in nature today around my yard, picking up sticks and throwing them into the woods, really helped my mood. That and the sun shining. I am truly blessed! I just need to be reminded of that sometimes.

Listening to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes helps too!

The Elgin Flea Market went on as planned a few weeks ago. It was before the shutdowns began.

Here's my car so packed that I couldn't even see!

There was still a nice size crowd even though it was sunny and warm.

These are just a few pictures of my set up. I always have a good time selling at the event and I always make some time to shop too. How could I not!

This was my favorite find! I love vintage floral paintings. This one is super fantastic!!!!

It's in my happy place room in my home.

Another fabulous find was this floral barkcloth.

My plan is to make a pillow with it.

While getting out and shopping at the Vintage Shop Hop that was the first weekend of March, I was at Pink Geranium in Barrington. I bought this super sweet child's dresser. I redid a corner in my basement that gets lots of light. So every time I do laundry, I smile.

The small vintage floral painting was a rummage sale find. Love the combination of colors in this corner.

Look at the details on these columns! They will be for sale soon at the Carriage House. They were an estate sale find.

I also picked up these cute spring decor pieces recently at a thrift shop....

They are sure to bring a smile to anyone's face.

Well, since lots of markets and sales are on hold for now, why not spend time cleaning and rearranging your home. Move things around for a decor refresh and get things ready to donate to a local charity. I will be doing just that. Carriage House Antiques is closed this week and I'm not sure if we will open next week so I'm going to keep busy with projects that I never seemed to have time to do.

Stay safe and well my friends. Soon enough we will be treasure hunting again!

And Just Like That!

And just like that, February is almost over!

Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day!

I always have the urge to declutter or just rummage through my collections when it's cold outside. So there I was going through my vintage trim collection, when I came across some fabulous pieces of trim. One is actually a belt.  They look super cute on my "favorite" vintage dress form.

This has to be one of my favorite photos ever!

I was so fortunate to have two wonderful friends give me flowers for my birthday! What a way to bring spring in!

Speaking of flowers: I love love love this vintage floral painting I picked up at a garage sale many years ago. I think that even without a frame it's super.

Especially surrounded by a few of my sea shells collection.

I wanted to show you how playing around with most of the same items can really change a vignette. This was one in my booth at the Carriage House. 

It's fun to play around with items you already have but also to add a few "new" things. I try to change things around in my booth weekly so it never looks completely the same.

I just played around with this vignette yesterday in my space:

The gold really pops!

I couldn't take the winter collections in my house any more this weekend. I wanted a splash of spring so I put away the Valentine's decor and brought out the Easter and Spring. I'll show you some pictures next post. 

This picture is from my booth and the cutest vintage Easter items I just put in. I needed that splash of spring!

I hope you marked your calendars for March 8th for the Elgin High School Flea Market.  I'm selling in the gym in space 180. If you were there last year, I'm in the same space. I have been busy pricing and organizing my treasures.  It's always a fun sale. Just remember that daylight savings time begins that day so turn your clocks ahead 1 hour.

Also remember that the Vintage Shop Hop  is that weekend on Friday and Saturday. (Some shops are open on Sunday). The Carriage House is participating on Friday and Saturday.  So Sunday is free for you to stop by the Elgin High School Flea Market.

Rummage sales are starting in March so get ready!  Happy treasure hunting!

January Ramblings

Welcome January and all its' cold and snow!  Happy New Year!

I spent some time in early January in New Jersey visiting with family and friends. The temperature hit a record 70 degrees on a few days. It was so warm the day I was in Atlantic City. A walk on the boardwalk was picture perfect!

Before I left I found this treasure at an estate sale....

and these fabulous concrete statues....

These treasures I found when I returned from my trip at an estate sale...

I love these vintage Easter chicks!  I'm keeping them as a part of my collection.

Originally I bought this stool to sell but once it was home, I just couldn't part with it yet. It's perfect in my basement.

March 8 is the Elgin High School Flea Market in Elgin. I will be a vendor again this year! As soon as I know my location I'll let you know. It's a well attended flea market with many many great vendors. It's a mix of vintage, new, crafts and food but one of the best flea markets around held once a year. Make sure to mark your calendar.

That same weekend, March 6-7 is the Vintage Shop Hop with over 500 shops in WI and IL. Carriage House will be participating again this year.

I'm still updating my favorite flea market and shows calendar page so keep checking it out and marking your calendar.

Happy treasure hunting!