I was so happy to be part of Karen's Blog Party,
the women who joined
are so creative and inspiring.
Looking forward to next year!
Click pictures to see larger image.
This little workshop started as a garden/tool shed.
Not a pretty sight, see the last picture.
I believe it started to take shape in my mind after I
bought the large garden window at a second hand store.
I measured and came home to measure the opening
on the side of the shed, when that looked feasible,
I cautiously approached the handyman husband.
I was lucky he was between projects and must have felt
this was worthwhile. He's done an outstanding job,
we've had many parties at the house and people always
gravitate to this little space
I now have a charming little space to display garden
antiques, a long work counter, for crafts
and potting plants, love, love, love it!
The garden window I drug home so many years ago!
The old seed box came from Colorado, it was old 20 years ago.
This oh so crusty painted little green birdcage
with ceramic birds has little glass cups for the seed
and water.....just for looks only! ;)
The sign is newly painted, but had the look! ;)
The small chest came from an antique store,
it currently holds seed packets.
The lamp is made out of a large old thermos,
it has great graphics on it.
The old oil painting I've had for years, it moves around a lot!
This corner is a mess, I ran out of time to get it cleaned
up for the blog party.
The original garden shed.
I just came across this Wall Street Journal gardening
article after posting pictures of my garden shed,
thought you might like it!
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The garden shed was not the only eyesore,
this is a before and after view of the back yard as
viewed from the side of the garage.
BEFORE
AFTER
Walk along side of garage going to the back yard.
The office plus creative work space,
I share with my husband.
Click to see larger image.
The interesting small things can be lost in a large picture.
The metal bill paying tin below is an example,
it looks like it's from the 1800's the only stenciling
I can read on the front is BILL HEADS
At the moment I'm using it to hold tags and small books.
The screen saver is a picture I took of an old typewriter
backed by a vintage movie reel box.
The juxtaposition of the old typewriter keys with the
wireless keyboard is so cool!
The antique oak file card holder, has addresses
and a number of other things I need to get organized one day.
This office would not be complete without a pencil
holder, of course this old pitcher holds more than
pencils, oh and my magnifyer needs to be close, then a
small ruler, scissors, paint brushes, etc.
This little vignette is just for looks, love old globes,
I'd have more if I had room for them.
Believe it or not, I once had this pine cabinet in a store
for sale, I loved it, spent time displaying it just right,
got lots of compliments while I worked and when
I was done, I realized I couldn't part with it. I then broke
the display down and hauled it home, it's been
with me for 10 years or more.
Not just eye candy, it holds a lot of my stuff too.
This small red bookcase came home with me from an
outdoor sale, I believe it cost $30.00
Stores many of my reference books.
Another couple of things I couldn't part with. the pansies
done in chalk pastels. The square black item is the top off a
victorian box of some kind, possibly a letter box,
it still has the hinges on the underside.
This is part of a description I found in an online dictionary.
laque burgauté, also spelled Lac Burgauté, in the decorative arts, East Asian technique of decorating lacquer ware with inlaid designs employing shaped pieces of the iridescent blue-green shell of the sea-ear (Haliotis).
Master Bedroom
Almost everything in the bedroom is vintage or antique.
I've been collecting for so many years, much of it came from
antique stores, auction houses, estate and garage sales.
The green and burgundy flannel throw on the bed
was made by a talented friend.
This old green scale has just the amount of rust at the moment,
however if it stays by the open window long it will
have more. I must remember to wax it or use a spray sealer.
My husband added this wonderful fireplace when we
added on to house 12 years ago.
We could only add 10 feet to the side, but it made
a huge difference, gave us room for another bathroom,
walk-in closet and best of all the washer and dryer
that had been in the garage.
I left the original coral color on the old wicker settee.
but had the cushions upholstered with the fabric used on
the bed pillows. It has a matching chair that I didn't have room
for, however I did find a spot for it in a guest bedroom.
I have a ton of antique reference books all over the house,
I use the internet to do most of the research now, but I still
like using the books, and seeing the pictures.
This little waste paper charmer came from the antique store I
used to sell out of, actually I probably
bought more than I sold. The owner used
to tell me I was one of her best customers. ;)
French Rolltop Desk bought many years ago,
at an antique store close to Santa Maria Ca.
I didn't have my van with me so I drove 5 hours home,
next day jumped in the van and drove back and
picked it up, came home same day as I remember.
I have a thing for desks, I have two in the master bedroom,
the larger rolltop desk is pictured in an earlier post
Master Bath
Not much to say except I love this bathroom.
Did I mention I love old black tole trays.
mostly I found them on the east coast.
Gosh, the things I used to bring back,
one year I fell in love with a round tilt top
table, we took the top off and crammed it into
my garment bag, which made it look pregnant.
I carried the 3 legged base on to the plane
with no packing.
The flight attendants were great on both
flights coming home and found places to
stash them.
No way could I get by with that today!
Then there was the time I brought a
rather large blanket chest home on the plane
by myself...I'll save that story for another day!
Guest Powder Room
The green lawyer's bookcase was the first new/old piece I
added to the remodeled guest powder room.
The green color set the tone for the room, the floral wall paper on the
lower half of the room coordinates as does some of the art.
I also have a number of pictures of what I call "Instant Relatives",
meaning they're someone's relatives, just not mine.
Green diamond shaped small tiles intersect the larger white ones.
I managed to find this cool old container
that we use for trash. It says
City Hotel, Wilmington, North Carolina
The small towel holder came from an antiques store,
I use it to display antique embroidered linen towels.
c. 1800's Empire Period Ogee Mirror
my little art project.
I had this old mirror for a few years in the garage waiting
for inspiration to strike me.....then WHAM!
I took the mirror out then took the walnut veneer covered frame
to the hot tub I had preheated and dumped it in the water.
Guess what.....it floated to the surface, oh crum!
By the next day it was submerged and the glue that held the
veneer was soft enough to peel and scrape off.
Underneath was pine, after it dried, I lightly sanded it and put on a crackle finish. The flowers were cut from the wallpaper and the writing at the top says
"Nothing Is Impossible"
The final touches were stain and a coat of sealer.
Long narrow room.
Old music stand that holds antique sheet music and
pictures of my mother-in-law and her sister when they
were children.
I love old house pictures, I have 3 in this guest bath.
Love her work, I have another one that's
a cupid with a bow and arrow...sooo cute!
Living Room
OK, I confess I enhanced the color of the view out
the picture window. I had to stand so far back in the
room to get the pix that the view was a wash,
and the color of the boganvilla is so gorgeous!
Love Photoshop!
Another Instant Relative over the living room fireplace.
My own relatives were much too scary to hang on the walls!
1934 model of an ocean liner, lots of
crazed paint makes it look older than dirt!
This old 19th C. red cabinet I bought in Brimfield, Mass.
and had it shipped to my office loading dock.
It was in two separate crates.
The men working the dock put it in the small pickup
truck I borrowed, unfortunately it had to ride home
in the upright position as there was not enough room
to lay both pieces down in the back.
It was a long nerve wracking ride down the freeway!
This grey wall cabinet is mostly original,
I believe originally it was a blind front, it's very
shallow and might have been used in a Barber Shop
to hold customer's shaving mugs, although
the top is a little too ornate for that.
Anyone out there know what it is, besides bee-utiful?
I keep a collection of CD's in it.
The old ships model has moved around this old house a lot.
This is my current favorite place, it's almost as crusty as the red coffee table.
Our American Flag as Art and as History from
the Birth of the Republic to the Present
Don't you just love anything with a lot of drawers!
The Howard Chandler Christy War Bond Poster is an original
from 1917.
Color poster depicts a woman dressed in a
white gown and holding a U.S. flag in the air.
Troops march in the background, also carrying a U.S. flag.
Looking over the wall to the stair landing.
Cut down early chair paired with ladies
high top, laced boots.
I love the old diaramas, hard to find on the west coast.
The wood frames are hand carved
as well as the ships, a labor of love by some seaman.
The primitive green bench is very wobbly, I expect it to fall over one day.
I have an old Dobb's hat box, a large white chippy paint basket to hold magazines.
Last but not least a very old model of an Amish horse drawn buggy,
bought it back east possibly from the Brimfield, Mass.
antique show I used to love to go to.
Blue and white checked ottoman, has been around a for
a while,not an antique but very serviceable,
I keep thinkingI'll have it recovered,
just haven't gotten around to it yet.
I'm such a procrastinator!
Photo Bowl
I found this idea somewhere years ago,
I have a lot of family and friends pictures out for
friends to look through if they're so inclined.
So much easier than digging out the shoe box.
Old ship model came from Boston,
it's on a high shelf in the living room.
This old pine step back hutch I found in a California
antique store. This old house had the perfect wall
across from the farm table in the dinning area.
A closeup of the top shelves.
JUNK DIVA'S
Being able to share my home with friends is a joy!
These girls are antique dealer friends that share my love of
all things antique and vintage, well most all things anyway!
I might have a few things too primitive for them!
My neighbors are the best, we're way overdue for
Kitchen
Love the way the remodeled kitchen turned out, lots of
shelf space to display old bowls, tins, glassware
and of course my Buttermilk sign.
GREEN YELLOW WARE BOWLS
Finding the green bowls is a challenge,
I see yellow or cream colored ones,
The wood dough board was a great find.
YELLOW WARE BOWLS
only have three under the old Challenge Butter sign
maybe a couple more would look nice,
if I could find the right sizes.
This sign was a gift from a dear friend who has since
moved out of state, I miss her lots,
but thanks to email we can keep in touch.
METAL FISH POACHER
I've used this lots of decorative ways over the years,
never to cook fish though.
The handy man husband built all the cabinets!
