Thankful Indeed

Hello Everyone!  I hope your Thanksgiving was lovely and if you were out shopping on Black Friday Shopping, I hope you got some awesome deals.  Our holiday was really nice.  Jenna and I cooked together and had such a good time.   She is dating a really sweet guy, Beau, and he joined us for our traditional T-day breakfast and to watch the Macy's Parade.  We ate dinner together as well and everything went well except for the Sweet Potato Souffle.  It didn't set like it should have :(  It still tasted good, it just wasn't pretty - LOL.  Then, on Friday, Dan and I went out to get one special thing:  a 9ft Christmas tree (for $158!).  Once we got it home, I was a bit antsy to get started on the Christmas decorating.  Yes, the Christmas season has commenced in the Jackson household but, as usual, the time zone is quite behind in the Land of Encraftment so there's still time to share my Thanksgiving decorations.  (yup, my own little world....)

I used a lot of thrifted items and it is thrilling to see things come together and for such a small amount of money.  I started with the foyer:

The small pumpkin, beaded grapes and porcelain quail came from GW outlet.  I bought the painting ($3) at the retail GW and the vintage amber glass lamp ($12) came from Two Times New.  I bought the silk leaves at Michael's after Halloween for 80% off so it feels like it was thrifted :).  The "32" is our house number and I bought them at Hobby Lobby last season.  If you look in the mirror (bottom square) you can see the wreath on the front door - cool! :)

Next, I decorated the family room mantel:

There are a number of thrifted things here too -- two cut glass hurricanes, Murano vintage amber glass candle holders, vintage green Napco vase, silver mercury glass candlestick, the two large birch logs, firewood holder, and the basket with the fall arrangement.  The galvanized bucket is hosting a string of lighted fall leaves --also thrifted--and LED branches from Target also.  I bought the birch branches from Michaels last year.  My favorite thing here is the metal "FAMILY" from Hobby Lobby.  It was the cherry on the top of a lovely Thanksgiving :)

I set the dining table with vintage glass:

The centerpiece, vintage Indiana Glass diamond point green and amber goblets were thrifted as were the amber glass butter dish (which served cranberries for the big meal) and the large amber compote.  I bought the tablecloth at Kohl's last year.  My plates came from antique stores --with the exception of the Myott turkey plates which came ebay.  Here is a closer look at the plates:

I used candlewick salad plates (*love*), Queen's Myott Thanksgiving Turkey plates, and Federal Glass Patrician  (1933-1937) which I used as a charger.

The silverware is International Silver Rogers Bros., "Louvain" pattern (1918 silverplate).  I thrifted my first few pieces (from Class and Trash) and have added to it by finding pieces on ebay and antique stores.  The napkin rings are clear glass (Pyrex).  The pretty little metal leaf picks came from Hobby Lobby - 80% off :)  Here is the table all decked out:

Here is a closer look at the buffet:

The buffet was a Craigslist find for $125.  The picture frames, little shelf, candles, and tiny plate were thrift finds.  I framed an International Silver ad from 1920 advertising the pattern I collect.  I don't know what to put in the other

and just because I'm sappy and sentimental, here is my dining room last year:

And here it is now:

I'm linking up!

From My Porch To Yours, Treasure Hunt Thursday
Kathy with an E, You're Gonna Love it Tuesday

Have a great week!

Richmond Thrift & Moonglow!

Dan and I found a new Goodwill outlet in Richmond and we headed out early Saturday morning to check it out.  It's bigger than ours and the housewares are organized far better.  The bins are shallow and there's lots of them so it's easy to shift dishes and other breakables to look around without breaking something else - Thank Goodness! - it causes me great anxiety to dig and hear all the crunching and cracking!  I found some really wonderful Christmas decorations.  Check this out:

I really like this Old World Santa!  He has such a kind face - guess Santa should, right!?  There are no labels or other markings to help me  identify where this may have come from.  It is very well made and I'm pretty sure the trim on his sleeves and hem is real fur!  He stands at 18" from the top of his head to the bottom of the wood base and his head and hands are ceramic (porcelain?).  He is missing something out of his right hand but all that's left is a glue.  I'm sure I'll be able to find something he can carry (bells maybe).  Other than that, there is nothing wrong with this decoration.  It was just laying in a bin.  I saw the fur edge first and have to admit, I was a little creeped out for a second because I wasn't sure if a varmit was lurking about - but no, it was just a fancy discarded Santa - LOL!  The clothing is very clean; there are no tears or pulls in the cape or tapestry fabric.  The wood base is a bit scratched but I figure it's from trying to survive the bins.  Here's a closer look at his face:

See - kind eyes and great beard!  Ok, in the bin next to Santa, I found this little darling:

Look at that sweet little face!  The label says "Hansa" and although I couldn't find his particular style number (9820) the newer ones retail for $45.  Good golly!  The pickin' was HOT!  Look at this --

1960s Josef Originals Christmas angel in perfect condition --even the identifying stickers are still firmly attached :)  When I fish something like this out of a bin, I feel like doing a touchdown, victory dance!  She's so darn cute.

So, now I've got a theme going here - Santa, toys, Christmas angel with figgy pudding -- and now, it's time to decorate the tree:

36 fancy ornament hooks and three delectable mercury glass cupcakes...or possibly ice cream cones? The tag  says "sugar plums."  Which reminds me of the "Night Before Christmas," when "not a creature was stirring, not even a ...

... vintage (1960s) blow mold flocked big-eared mouse.  Hee hee!  There is a little wear right around the edges of his ears but it just adds to his character.  So, to conclude the Christmas theme here - let's not forget the reason for the season:

I'm guessing this was a kit?  I can't find anything like it -- well, that's not accurate, I can find ceramic lighted churches but this one has an iridescent glaze and "stained glass" windows!  Try as I might to capture it's shimmery pearly gorgeousness, it just kept coming out white :(  Again, it's in perfect condition - zero chips, cracks, or otherwise.  This will absolutely be displayed in my dining room at Christmas because it will match my BEAUTIFUL new (to me!) table settings.  These didn't come from the outlet.  I bought them from eBay and Etsy and the plates just arrived today!  Look at these BEAUTIES:

I am in HEAVEN!  They are Federal Glass Company Moonglow dinner plates (early 70s).  The dessert cups are also Federal Glass Company but they are from the 1930s and are Depression glass fluted sherbet dishes <3  I did NOT fish these out of the bins at the outlet either - I found them in a fantastic little thrift and antique shop called "Class & Trash" in Ashland, Virginia.  We stopped in on our way home from Richmond (...and it's going to be on the agenda every trip to Richmond!).  They were very reasonably priced ($6 each) and are perfect!

I'm linking up with:

Her Library Adventures, Flea Market Finds
Coastal Charm, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday #112
Hey What's for Dinner Mom, Penny Worthy Project #27
From My Front Porch to Yours, Treasure Hunt Thursday #54
A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words, 2nd Time Around
Finding Fabulous, It's Frugalicious Friday!
Boogieboard Cottage, Masterpiece Monday #70!
Kathe With an E, You're Gonna Love It Tuesday #2

Have a wonderful week!