Signs of Spring

Hello All!

Well, as disappointed as I am that winter was a farce this year, it's surprising to me how happy it made me to see the daffodils blooming under the tree in the front yard.  That little wink of bright yellow is so delightful!  Those little daffies were the inspiration I needed to shake off the last remnants of the winter that wasn't and breathe fresh air into the house.  My dining room is my homage to them.

The last time you saw my dining room it was done up in its Christmas finery and looked like this:

and now that Spring has sprung...

It started with planning what silk flowers I would use.  The first choice was to use silk daffodils but I just didn't like the way the looked.  Luckily, the faux forsythia branches saved the day!  I love how the mirror behind them reflects them back!  Generally, I wanted to lighten the feel in here with simplicity and bright colors.  For the winter months, I love using faux fur and chunky knit throws so for spring, the natural color linen feels breezy.

To bring the forsythia to the table, I used these gorgeous green vases to display them:

I layered different sizes and heights of clear glass candlesticks --my favorite!  It makes the table look bright and airy.

The tree slice centerpiece is a nod, even if it's just a small one, to my love of live edge dining tables (Arhaus has them and they are stunning!  Check them out HERE.  I enjoyed browsing their website for other inspiration too HERE.)  The yellow etched glass candlesticks are vintage and thrifted also.

I really like the look of the natural bark edge among all the pretty glass!

The place settings are a combination of thrifted vintage glassware (Imperial Glass Candlewick and Anchor Hocking Block Optic) along with new dinner plates I found at Pier 1 (Field Notes).  The stemware is Lenox Firelight.  I used vintage gold plate flatware (thrifted) and tiny glass bud vases/place card holders (also thrifted).

 

I had every intention of using the Williams Sonoma bunny plates I bought a few years ago.  However, these plates caught my eye because of the yellow-leafed branches.  They really are perfect!  With a sale and purchase incentives, the set of 6 cost around $40.

I layered it with my trusty candlewick:

...and tucked a wisp of forsythia into the glass bud vase.  I might end up hosting brunch this year so I wanted to add a coffee cup and salad plate (Anchor Hocking Block Optic).  It added even more yellow to the table.

Please ignore the fact the flatware isn't placed properly in this pic!

This forsythia wreath on the thrifted antique mirror brings in the eggs from the plates.  The little purple flowers keeps it from being too matchy/matchy

It really is lighter and brighter in here!

The sweet bunny pillow came from TJ Maxx.  I bought one for myself and another for my sister, Shelly.  I know she'll love it!

There is one more--well, two more--items I'm going to add to the decor.  I found these at Arhaus and they will be so great in here!  They will sit next to the forsythia branches on the buffet.

I wanted to share the antique mantel even though I have only just started with it.  I found that awesome silver plate eperne at Bthrifty ($3) and I cannot wait to use it to create a live flower arrangement.  I also found the giant basket ($4.50).  I'm considering putting some forsythia branches in it too but might just go with some silk hydrangea.   The adorable linen and gold flag banner was on the clearance rack at TJ Maxx.

Happy Spring!  Have a great week :)

Thrifted Treasures - Pie Vent & Ironstone!

***Edited to add:  My fabby finds from last week were the most viewed  post from Kathe With an E's awesome YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT linky party!  Woo hoo!!  Thank you Everybody and huge thank you and shout out to one terrific and gracious host --KATHE (that's with an E ;)  If you haven't checked out her wonderful blog and link party, please do yourself a favor and head on over!  You simply must check out her amazing CANDLEWICK table setting.  I drool over it!!***

Hello All :)  I have been off since last Tuesday and boy, it is not going to be easy to get back to the ol' grind tomorrow!  I was sick last week with an upper respiratory infection so that was a bummer.  Even though I was feeling better by Saturday, the heat was awful so we decided not to head to Richmond and to just thrift locally.  The first stop was SALVO.

I saw this beautiful white pitcher sitting on the shelf:

I picked it up, wondering if it was real English ironstone, flipped it over to see if it was marked and saw this:

Yep, it's real - LOL!  Not only was I thrilled to find my first piece of ironstone, I actually laughed out loud that the answer to the question in my head was answered so clearly :)  It was $10.  I also picked this up:

It is an ashtray but will live in my sun room as art.  It was $1 and so was this plastic tortoise shell frame:

 Next, we headed to GW.  This next find is my favorite of the day:

It's a fruit pie vent or pie bird!  Isn't it precious!?

I have been wanting one of these --which is hysterical because I have NEVER baked a pie in my life unless it was a Mrs. Smith's -- but who knows, with this sweet little birdie, maybe I'll be baking up a storm!  It came from GW and was $1.  This chair was $8:

It needs some work but it's super solid and is going to look amazing in white with a re-upholstered seat!

These next items came from GW also:

4 iridescent glasses, 99c each!

4 Anchor Hocking pink argyle glasses, 99c each

Frosted glass platter with lemon slice graphic, 99c

Indiana Glass Celebrations punch bowl, rose pattern $4

After GW, we headed over to Two Times New, a resale/thrift mall.  Dan and I found this beautiful china cabinet.  I've been looking for one --Craigslist and SALVO --but just haven't found the right one...until this one:

Thomasville breakfront lighted china curio cabinet from their Collector's cherry collection.  BEAUTIFUL.  The $699 price tag had been reduced to $399!  

So that's all for me this week.  If the weather breaks, we'll head to Richmond this weekend --yep, it's barely Monday night and I'm already thinking WEEKEND ;)  I'm linking up!

Her Library Adventures, Flea Market Finds

Kathe With an E, You're Gonna Love It Tuesday #12
Cap Creations, Thrifty Love
Hey What's for Dinner Mom, Penny Worthy Project
Southern Hospitality, Thrifty Treasures Party
What-About.co, Showoff Friday
From My Front Porch To Yours, Treasure Hunt Thursday
The Thrifty Groove, Thrifty Things Friday

Have a wonderful week! <3 Lisa

Birthday Thrift-O-rama! (Part II)

Dan and I went on a Birthday super-duper thrift trip last weekend and the haul was so awesome, I needed two posts to share all the finds.  Without further adieu, welcome to part deux (see what I did there? LOL!)

Well hello darling vintage Serva Snack set by Anchor Hocking!  $7 - for 4 punch cups with matching trays.  The box has the name "Mrs. Knox" written inside the lid.  Thank you Mrs. Knox for keeping your wonderful snack set in such pristine condition and please know it has come to a home where it will be loved! :)
Lookie at this cool thing -

Can't you picture this baby in black....say, like, a glossy "witchy" black??  It looks like a witch's boot to me and one I saw used in an Halloween vignette.  It was painted black and looked so cool and elegant, but try as I might, I couldn't anything like it.  Now here it is!  Yeah, it does have a crack but I'm hoping that once it's painted either you won't see it or maybe it will look like creased, old leather.  Probably wishful thinking but after searching for one a couple years ago, and to no avail, there was no way I could walk away from it.

Now, to avoid a third post for the thrift trip---even though it was a marathon thrift!---I'm going to show the rest of the haul in this next pic:

Wm. Rogers shell silver plate platter, poppy trivet, International Silver silver plate bread plate and candy dish, hobnail milk glass creamer, milk glass with fish scale pattern (and vintage glass Christmas ornaments inside), milk glass trinket basket, egg shell candles, hand-carved wooden cow, German "1/2" cup coffee mug, Home Interiors porcelain dove, vintage (1950s or earlier) Murano Summerso "drip" amber glass vase, antique milk glass cross, hobnail milk glass tumblers, swirled pattern milk glass bowl, mini milk glass candle holders, Avon milk glass vanity jar, Avon milk glass candle holder, English hobnail milk glass ball vase, milk glass urn, Westmoreland quilt patterned footed candy dish, crystal lamp made in Holland, milk glass lamp. 

 The silver plate trays are going to be used in a wall collage (like this one HERE).   The milk glass is a mix of a little of everything, hobnail, English hobnail,  scalloped, quilt - I cannot get enough of it :)  The cross is antique --it's also broken as it was a candle holder --but still it was a $1 and unlike anything I have so it came home with me.  Both lamps work - woohoo! - and the crystal lamp was made in Holland.  I have to find a lamp shade (?) for it but again, the fact is was only $2 landed it in my basket.  Here's another look at the lamps:

The pink glass alone made me want this :)  The metal on the hobnail lamp was gold at one point but it had flaked off in areas and looked pretty messed up.  Dan took the lamp apart for me so I could spray-paint these parts (I used Rustoleum ORB with primer).  100% improvement!  The milk glass lamp is going on the nightstand in one of the guest bedrooms and the crystal lamp will be put in the foyer.  

My final find for the day which makes it possible for me to present my Finale Find - LOL - AND for me, it's quite a doozy!  I have been looking for something like this and there, in the final GW we hit before wrapping it up for the day were these little beauties:

1950's Indiana Glass orange blossom 10 pc. snack set - $20!  Happy Birthday to ME.  Seriously, I couldn't believe my eyes; I saw them from across the room (ok, rack) and it was love at first sight.  Look at those delicate, sweet little blossoms!

Happy Thrifting! <3 Lisa

I may not have won Mega Millions but...

I sure hit the thrifty lotto this weekend!  Look at this MEGA vintage glass haul I found on Saturday:

This collection, with the exception of the lamps, all came from the same thrift shop with prices for the milk glass ranging from $.50 to $2 and the carnival glass was $3 for each piece.  I was delighted to find such an array of shapes and sizes!  Here's a closer look:

Look at all that milky goodness ;)  The iridescent lamp caught my eye because it's opaque white and shimmery.  It's both milk glass AND carnival glass!  It also works!  It has a three-way switch so the first turn  illuminates the base, the second just the bulb and the third lights both the base and the bulb.  AWESOME and only $10.  Here's a closer look:

I'm not sure what kind of shade will compliment it.  Any suggestions?  The hobnail milk glass lamps will need a little makeover.  

It looks like the finish has come off the metal or maybe someone tried to repaint them...not sure but they both work and I love their style :)    I also scored the matching cups for my vintage Anchor Hocking Star of David punch bowl.  I have pieced this set together and it all began when I picked up the pedestal --although at the time I didn't know it was a punch bowl pedestal (see it here).  And in the weeks following, I have now accumulated THIS:

I so wish I would have had this for Rhonda's bridal shower!  And the relish tray!  How cool is that!?  For $2 it needed to come home with me.  The cups (16 of them!) ranged in price from 25 to 59 cents and the punch bowl was $10.  Now I need to have a party just so I can use it ;) 

So my last find this weekend was a signed/dated painting.  It caught my eye for two reasons - the colors are fantastic and look great in my dining room and it is dated the year Dan was born - 1966.  

Unfortunately, I'm no photographer and my lighting really washes out it out but it looks lovely against my teal walls!  This tag was attached to the back:

The title of the painting is "Mood of a Sunday Afternoon."  LOVE IT.   Here's the signature:

So that's the whole haul!  I hope you have a wonderful week!

<3 Lisa