~Hitting the Jackpot!~

No, I didn't win the lottery.  No, I didn't go to the casinos.  Nope, I don't do those kinda things.  Just in case you were wondering.  My little furball, Banjo, had to go to the groomer and I had some time to kill...lucky me!  So, I drove up to the big college town and did some browsing at an antique mall.  Not looking for anything in particular.  Just looking but hoping that something would jump out at me.

And I found not one, not two...but four little items I just couldn't resist.  An old wooden stool, a large crocheted piece and two beautiful, dainty hankies.  So, in my world, I hit the jackpot!!

This old stool looks like it was pieced together and repurposed.  You can see some screw heads that aren't attached to anything and also places were support pieces were removed.  Kinda sloppy job, huh?

You can also see the holes where screws were used to attach the seat to the legs.  There's a bit of a stain on the far side but look at that lovely, rustic, old finish!!  And I love the worn areas of the seat where many a bottom has rested on it....maybe belonging to watchful little eyes in grandma's kitchen while she was kneading some bread dough for dinner or putting together a batch of cookies?

This little baby stands about 28 inches tall and I knew right away that would make a perfect side table next to one of the loveseats in my living room.  Sloppy or not, I am in love with it.  I need to clean it up a bit, do a little patch work and then repaint it keeping the rustic charm.  Not bad for ten bucks, huh?

For some time now, I have been looking for a square, crocheted tablecloth small enough to cover my breakfast table. I didn't have any specific measurements, just a picture in my head.  I don't know what this pattern is called but I love it.  Does anyone know the name?

 If you look real hard, you can see a couple of stains and what look like rust spots.  Other than that, it is in perfect condition.

Here it is on my breakfast table before washing it.  I'm not a fan of pristine white, so I am going to tea stain it.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect fit!  It was only fifteen dollars.  I thought it was a real steal.

These two  little hankies caught my eye while I was sorting through a stack of linens looking for doilies and such.

The fabric is so lightweight and the stitching so delicate.  And the baby blue color....I couldn't resist.  I can't imagine a lady using it for anything except dabbing her nose or wiping away a few tears.  This definitely wouldn't pass the 'blow your nose' test, would it?

I had thought about framing it but since the design doesn't go all the way around the piece, I thought otherwise.  I think I will gather up several more hankies (may need to do more shopping...darn!), create a 'quilted' star pattern and then frame it.  Guess I'll have to add it to my project list and when it's done, I'll show you what I am talking about.

It's hard to see in the pictures I took, but this little beauty is a pretty light green.  For sure, I am going to frame this one.  It is going in my sewing room, which has the colors of sage green, pink and cream.

I'm in heaven with the delicate stitching on this one and, for sure, it is going to get framed.  I'm thinking about placing it on top of some osnaburg or burlap for contrast.  With or without glass?  What do you think?

I'm pleased as punch about my finds as I haven't done any real antique hunting in a while.  It made my day!  Do you go antique shopping?  If so, what treasures have you found lately?

Hope you are having a marvelous Monday ~

~Farmhouse Cupboard Vignette, Part One~

Several years ago after building our new home, there was a little nook in the breakfast area that needed to be filled.  I had an idea of how I wanted it to look. One, I was looking for some type of antique, shabby looking cupboard to go in that space; two, it had to have the right dimensions; three, it had to be in the price range that I was willing to pay, and four, it had to be yellow or white.  (My kitchen and dining room are creamy shades of blue and yellow.)  Now, that wasn't too much to ask for was it?

I had been searching for only a few months going to some of my favorite antique store haunts.  Lo and behold, I walked in a store, had one of those "lights shining from heaven" moments.  I swear I could hear the angels sing.  I saw this yellow cupboard, which is actually a darker yellow than the pictures give justice, sitting on the floor!  I had my handy dandy little tape measure with me ( a must for serious shopping), ...it fit the space, it was the right color and, you guessed it.  it was the right price!  I think those guys were kinda shocked that they had made a sale with a customer who had been in the store maybe five minutes.

The cupboard was a perfect fit, I think.  If it had been any larger, I don't think I would have been able to keep the cabinet doors open all the way, which is what I was wanting to do to show off my collection of antiques, precious family pieces and gifts. I didn't care that there was warping and alot of peeling on the doors.  It added to its charm.

Even on the inside of the doors, there is peeling of paint, stain and warping.  Having my home built and decorated with all the blemishes that make up an old home was what I was going after, which gives it such character and charm.  I feel very at home with this type of decorating.

Having the doors open to show off everything made for great conversation with my bed and breakfast guests and family.  I could explain that this item came from an antique shop or this one came from an auction.  A couple of pieces are very special in that they were given to me by bed and breakfast guests who came back for another visit and knew what I liked to collect.  Several of the pieces were items that were on my wish list of things to own someday.  The pieces I most cherish are the ones from my grandmother, which I will point out later.  :)

I didn't realize I had so many vignettes going on until I dusted and cleaned my normally hodge-podge look.  Most of the items in my collection are things that a farm wife would have in her kitchen and I liked the idea of arranging them according to some kind of theme.  With so many items to look at, I thought it best to break my 'tour' down to two maybe three posts.

My handy-dandy son-in-law installed the cupboard for me (I made sure he had it secured really, REALLY well since I knew I had lots of things to put in there.)  I was very glad that there was plenty of space on the top to display some of the taller items.  The butter churn and coffee grinder were items that were on my wish list.  I had only one rolling pin in my collection originally and decided it looked rather lonely all by itself, so I got a couple of more and then needed someplace to store them.  What better than an old crock?

I love having the beautiful blue canning jars on the top shelf.  It adds a little burst of color.  The gadget in the back with the large handle is a fruit/vegetable masher used to puree such items for canning purposes.  The item in front of the masher looks rather menacing, doesn't it?  I 'think' it's a dough cutter.  I knew at one time, but have forgotten.  I need some help on this one.  Anyone know?  For a flash of pizzazz, I added this glass door knob.  Mr. Bill gave it to me one year for my birthday along with some other little antique knickknacks.

I love my little collection of metal tins.  I may have picked up a piece here and there.  A couple may have been gifts.  I honestly don't remember (effects of the meds I'm on :/ )  Most of the brands, I've never heard of.  There's Rumford Baking Powder, Royal Tudor Cocoa, Country Club Black Pepper (I don't think this one was ever opened as it is quite full!), Steero Bouillon Cubes and the well known Calumet Baking Powder.  The white enamel lid in the back goes to a large pot that I am using to house a plant in a bathroom.

 Years ago, when our children were younger, we went through a period of making our own butter and I used this butter mold and paddle (again, given to me by Mr. Bill).  The tinware in the back is a strainer and then the tinware coffee pot.

I love my collection of antiques.  It's almost like having my own mini antique store!  I'll take you on more of a tour tomorrow.  So, what do you think?

Hope you have a sunshine-filled day today ~

Update:  I am participating in a blog party at Laurie Anna's Vintage Home