I See!

As I was sewing a couple weeks ago, I had taken my glasses off as I prepared to do some top stitching on a bag. When I am doing any type of finishing stitching on a project I like to really be able to see up close-I literally have my brown peepers just inches from my work-and in order to do this I have to take my glasses off. And, as usual when I’m working on something-my studio turns into utter chaos. As I was looking for a clear, safe spot to put my glasses, ( I learned the hard way that a safe place is critical-I sat on a pair of glasses once-they were never quite the same after that) my husband walked in and said, “You really need one of those chains that you wear around your neck to hold your glasses.” Brilliant suggestion! And as usual, I started to look for a vintage one. I found this cute eyeglass chain on Etsy from a shop called mupearls. Not vintage-but beautifully handmade from vintage amber and golden glass beads. I love the way they sparkle-and wearing my new eyeglass chain makes me feel rather glamorous when I work! Now if I could just operate my sewing machine’s foot pedal in my 40’s Cuban heels!

In A Different Light

I live in an old house. It was built in or around 1900, and though it’s held up well through the years, it needs some cosmetic improvements. One thing I’m trying to do is to replace all the more modern light fixtures with vintage or vintage style ones. Several months ago I found a old and beautiful chandelier at a surplus sale, and entered a bid in a sealed auction. Well I won—with a winning bid of $41! This chandelier had been removed during the renovation of one of the old buildings on the campus of Central Washington University-Sue Lombard Hall-a dormitory and dining hall. It was one of the original fixtures when the building was completed in 1926. Parts of this chandelier are even real silver! This week, after a good cleaning and polishing by me, and rewiring and installation by my husband and father in law-it now provides light for my studio, where it replaced a white ceiling fan. It looks stunning, hanging majestically from the ceiling and it makes me happy to see something beautiful from the past once again performing the task it was made to do!

Watch out ugly blue wallpaper! You are next!

The chandelier before cleaned up.

After a good cleaning and polishing.

Great Finds: Vintage AND Cheap!

I know I can always find good vintage treasure at an antique store, but I am excited the most by the great things to be found at places such as Goodwill, Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul's.

When I first started thrifting in the 80’s, it was easy to find really great stuff at places like the three I mentioned above—but now not so much. Back then the sorts of items I like to buy were still considered just “used” and therefore plentiful and bought because they were cheaper than new. Now the same type of items are considered collectible, and rarely show up in these stores .

But every once in a while a real gem appears! Here I’ve shown 6 lucky finds that cost two dollars or less…and here’s hoping for many more in the future!

Gold resin candle holders. Who needs candles?

Scotty dog perpetual calendar-from the forties perhaps? This little pup is very well behaved..but if Willow got a hold of it she'd chew it right up!

Lucite and glitter tissue holder. What an elegant way to grab a kleenex!

Vintage drink markers. These are so cute that what you are drinking doesn’t matter-they look good on my glass of water!

California pottery ashtray finished to look like wood. Back in it's heyday, at some swinging cocktail party, just think--8 people could use this baby at once! I also get a kick out the idea of putting a lighted cigarette on a piece of wood. Hmmm…

I love this vase, and I have no idea of its age, but it is so pretty in such an old and shabby way. I also love the combination of glass and metal. The top of it looks like a test tube--and would look great holding anything from a flower to a science experiment!

Happy hunting!!

The Girl in the Picture

I see her peering out from her frame every day-a barely coaxed smile on her lips. I bought her for the frame she came in-homemade and obviously someone's early attempt at woodworking-but that was the charm. I found that I couldn't remove her though-she belonged in that frame. The thought of casting her aside as others already had done bothered me. She must have meant a lot to someone once...long ago. And so I "adopted" her and set her among my other photographs.

I have lots of old family photographs and to me they are priceless. I would never think of getting rid of them. They are part of my history. They are a link to times and places I'll never get to visit, and a tangible reminder that I am here now because of those who came before me.

So who was she? I'll never know. How and why did she end up in a dusty corner of an antique store? That, I'll never understand.

Instant Art Work

I fell in love with this piece of sheet music from 1917, but didn't know what to really do with it. It's too old and fragile to just sit on my piano, but I didn't want to hide it away in a drawer either. I came up with the idea to frame it and put it in my studio because the colors perfectly match the barkcloth curtains I already have.

After putting it in a mat and frame I found at a framing store, I must say I was impressed with the results. It was a project that was fast, cheap and easy to do, and I'm proud to hang it on my wall!