Vintage Cool Metal Love

For years now, I've been picking up little metal pieces here and there - picture frames, silver plate trays, wire baskets, a pewter pitcher, etc, etc, etc. The thing is, I really like them rustic and tarnished. Back in the 1980's, I used to polish - brass, copper, silver, etc. It was a mess. But, occasionally, I'd find some old piece, and I couldn't bring myself to polish it. I just think tarnish adds to the charm of a piece. Occasionally, I'll buff a piece a little to bring out the details, but that's about as far as it goes. 


In the photo above is a silver plate lamp - not an old piece, but I found it with a broken globe. I knew I'd find something in my jaunts that would work, and sure enough the crackled glass globe is lovely, and I paid a dollar for it. The two frames hold photos of my parents. Aren't they cuties? The little box was purchased in an after Christmas sale a few years back - I think it's supposed to hold a little gift and hang on a Christmas tree. 

In the photo above, there's a pewter pitcher I bought at a garage sale for $2. I use it regularly. Next to it is a wire basket I think is supposed to hold a wine bottle. Note to self: buy a bottle of wine. In front is a wood box with a grayish color with metal trim on the corners.

Above is a wire basket I've had for years - I can't remember how much I paid for it, but it was cheap. I'm a frugalista, so I know it was not more than a couple of bucks. I've used it for magazines and other things, but I plan to put it on a shelf in my future studio (Mason's room) with spools of string and thread in it. It will look nice and be functional. The old drawer is something I purchased at a friend's shop, along with two old croquet balls. I think I paid $5 for the lot. Next to the box is an old rubber stamp holder. I've been trying to think of a way to use it that would be functional and still show the form. Do you have any ideas?

 In this photo is a silver plate tray I picked up last week for .25c, another very tarnished silver plate bowl, a box from India (via Tuesday Morning) that I found for $3 in a thrift store. I love lidded boxes and baskets! There's a very old perfume bottle with crackled glass and a pump-type lid. It was from a family member. The silver plate frame holds another photo of my mom, and next to it is a little orphaned silver plate cream pitcher.

Above, the old wire chicken-egg basket is perched on a galvanized tin vase I picked up for .50c a few months back. (It's upside down.) In front is a wire planter with two clay pots I purchased last week for $1. In the same thrift store, I found the pewter candlestick, made by Wilton of Columbia, PA for $1. I love the English look of it. 

This photo shows a selection of my folk art metal pieces - the hammered tin lantern was .50c in a thrift store a few years back, and the candlestick was a gift from my friend Vivian when she moved to New York years ago. (I got LOTS of cool things from her then! I like having them, since I don't have her nearby anymore.) This adorable frame was purchased on a trip to Santa Fe years ago. Inside is someone else's relative - she was in another frame I purchased for a few cents, so I adopted her. I'll never understand how people can just toss out photos. It always makes me a little sad to see them still in frames at thrift stores. (Lord, save us all from ending up there!) I included a little bowl of old keys - another thing I collect and use in my art projects sometimes. Behind all these items is a little hammered aluminum plate - it's really thick. I've used it as a coaster or as a place to toss keys or pocket change. 


I love a little metal in the mix in most any room. It gives a texture and patina you can't get in any other material.It looks great in mono-chromatic rooms or as a resting place in highly colorful ones. Mix metals for an eclectic vibe, or keep it to one color for a more traditional one.  It's functional, durable and practically indestructible - the perfect choice for a lived-in home!


Word for the Day:


Proverbs 3:13-14


¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
   those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
   and yields better returns than gold. 

Hannah's House - Before Photos of Thrift Store Finds

Tomorrow, I'll drive to Lubbock to see my daughter and to take her another batch of furniture and decorative items for her new house! Thankfully, we share a similar aesthetic, so I can shop for things I think she will like, and most of the time, she does.


Hannah's house is a 1940's wood frame cottage with red shutters and a porch swing. She and her roommates have recently moved to this unfurnished house from a furnished apartment, so we've been "shopping" for a few months now. (This is what began my blogging!)


The first purchase was 2 tablecloths from World Market. The oblong tablecloths that fit very long tables make great curtains by simply sewing a simple casing for a rod. Hannah's curtains dictated the color scheme for the living room and dining room. They're a lovely rich chartreuse green with an over sized floral print in rich red, deep hot pink, deep teal, dusty turquoise, cream and brown.

Here are a few decorative Items I found for the living room and dining room:

See the cool bubbled glass in the turquoise vase? I was tempted to keep this one for myself!

I found two matching lamps, similar to the ones in this post. She has two adorable patterned drum shades from World Market for them. They sit on a dresser turned sideboard she painted white and antiqued. We'll see about painting them - they might look good in oil rubbed bronze.

Her bedroom is painted a with Walmart flat wall paint in Earthy Mushroom Taupe. It's a lovely deep warm grey-taupe. Her bedding and furniture is all whites and creams.  She's trying to decide whether to use metallics with the whites or add a color - like turquoise. We'll shop for curtains tomorrow, and that should settle the point. Meanwhile she pinned a photo she liked on Pinterest from purlbee.com:

Aren't they wonderful? Do you recognize them? It's just embroidery hoops with fabric stretched in them! So adorably graphic, aren't they! So, I found these today for 25c each. Some are round and some are oval.

I'm not sure if these would go in the living room or the bedroom, but they can go somewhere!


When I visited the first of August, she had about half the wall above her bed (where the headboard will be) paved in empty frames after being inspired by Anthropologie.  Since then I have been shopping for interestingly shaped frames and small mirrors to complete her wall. Once again, the curtains will be the deciding factor whether they're a mix of white and metals, or color is incorporated.


Here are some frames I'm taking for her to use. These are early to mid 20th century brass frames. (BRASS is back, people!):

These are ugly little frames now, but they have nice details that will be cute painted.

These can be used as they are now - 

they're creamy white and gold leaf.

These were a splurge at $4.95 for the pair - they had "art" in them, and they're wood, not plastic. I bought them at a mission thrift store, so it was for a worthy cause! The little porcelain cameo box is a bit of a stretch, but Hannah may like it...the color is a lovely soft, dusty turquoise, and it was only $1.17.

This piece is a little wall shelf that was given to me by our favorite aunt June. It will be nice to have something of hers in Hannah's house. 

Now that you've seen the before photos, we'll have to be sure and send you some after photos! 


Word for the day:


Matthew 7:9-11


⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!


Blessings this Labor Day weekend!


-Revi

Gray is Grey - one of my favorite places to visit...

Many cities have those quaint little shopping areas tucked away in the middle of a neighborhood just waiting to be discovered. Some are now considered inner city locations. Back in the day, most families had one car, the wife stayed home and the husband drove it to work. These little shopping centers provided the daily necessities in a very convenient location - a beauty salon, barber shop, dry cleaner or grocer.


Today, we're more likely to find a coffee house, a bakery or a specialty shop of some sort. Gray is Gray is just such a place.




As I drove through a neighborhood near my church and saw a little gray building with a sign that read "Gray is Grey," I was intrigued.Some very interesting beehive type baskets graced the window, and decided I had to check this place out! Unfortunately, I was on my way to work. Later when my daughter was home for a weekend, I told her we had a new place to check out. When we got there she said, "This doesn't look like an Amarillo store..." 


I purchased the hand in my "little black vignette" that day. The owners are a lovely young couple - he creates iron furniture pieces in addition to running the store.

Gray is Grey offers items you won't find anywhere else in our city. 
Their offerings are more sophisticated than mainstream. Some items are vintage or reclaimed. 

Others are handmade by local artists and craftspeople.
You'll find rough textures, rustic charm, and lots of patina. 

You'll also find slick, shiny, highly refined objects and original art that changes seasonally.

What you won't find at Gray is Grey is color. True to it's name, Gray is Grey is a color-free zone. You might find a little color in a natural leather chair, or as a visual punctuation in a piece of original artwork, but that's about it. 


I must be honest and confess -  I'm a bit of a split-personality when it comes to color. I LOVE color. I also love the absence of color. Bright saturated color is cheerful, energizing and happy. Grays and naturals are peaceful, restful and calm. I like both - it just depends. As my dear friend Cathy put it, "It all depends a lot on everything." I don't know if I could ever live in a color-free home, but I love having certain rooms that are predominately white or neutral, like bedrooms, bathrooms or hallways and I love an all white kitchen. 


It makes me happy to be able to drive just a few blocks away and partake in a visual feast. The menu is a little different every time I visit. Kudos, Cole and Brittani Campbell! I'm already looking forward to my next visit.


You can find Gray is Gray at http://www.grayisgrey.com/ and on Facebook 
They have lots more lovely photos and contact information there.


Word of the Day:


Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.

All the best,
-Revi

... and a Little Black Vignette

About 20 years ago, we purchased this Shaker style sofa table from a man in Houston who made furniture. He used poplar, which is a hardwood that is most typically painted. He chose to oil  this table, as it might have been finished traditionally, instead of using polyurethane.He constructed it with dowels instead of nails or screws. This particular poplar was a yellowish color, which worked well with our golden oak furniture pieces. I think we paid $80 for the table. A little later we purchased an 8-feet long dining room table, which I still use. 

After years without re-oiling the wood, the surface became dry and the top acquired a rust stain from an enameled bread box that sat on it for a while. Eventually, I painted the table with Rustoleum oil-based gloss black paint. I love Rustoleum oil paint! My woodwork is painted in gloss white, and I plan to paint my front door in the gloss black soon. My dining room hutch is painted antique white. I have chairs and a bench painted "farm implement red" This paint wears so well it will last for a lifetime.

The glossy finish didn't work for this table, though. I left it alone for a while, but eventually decided to distress it. Recently, I got my palm sander out, and did just that. I concentrated on the edges, hoping to highlight the simple lines of the table, and reveal the dowel joints. I wiped the table down with Minwax Gel Stain. I like it much better now. It took about a half hour to change the look of this table to something I like! I should have done it months ago.

I plan to use this table in my living room, where my color scheme will be a wide variety of greens and black. Tonight, I pulled some of my favorite black items to stage the table and to present a counterpoint to my last post - a little white vignette. 

In the top photo, there is a piece of black metal art that reminds me of an old ceiling tile. I don't know the origin of the piece, but I found it in a used furniture store and paid $11 for it last year. Below the metal piece, there is a little silhouette I bought in a thrift store for .50c. It had a rust colored frame, which I painted black. 


Items on the table include a hand I purchased earlier this year for $12 from one of my favorite shops - Gray is Grey. I think it may be a glove form. 


Next to the hand are three framed black and white family photos. The small one was .50c in a thrift store. The larger two were gifts from my daughter, Hannah - in the center photo. To the right of Hannah's photo is a new purchase from Goodwill last week - a wire house. It cost $2. Next to my son Ethan's photo is a lamp purchased for $1.91 at a thrift store. It is wearing a borrowed shade from my bedroom - one I found at Walmart for $10. The lamp is resting on a stack of three vintage books. 


In the top two photos, you'll see a black wicker chair. I purchased it at the store where I found the metal art, and paid $10 for it. It was a very chippy white. It still chips off paint, so I occasionally pull it outside and touch up the black paint. 


After years of having lots of warm, beautiful colors in my home, I'm ready for something different. I'm still using the colors I love, but instead of mixing them all up in a room, I'm having a green room, a red room, a white room, a brown room, etc. Most rooms will have some black in them. Black helps ground a space, and its timeless. 


Next, I'll show you what I'm taking to Hannah's house this weekend!


Word of the Day:


Isaiah 44:3-5


3For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
   and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
   and my blessing on your descendants.
⁴ They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
   like poplar trees by flowing streams.
⁵ Some will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’;
   others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The LORD’s,’
   and will take the name Israel.


May your Wednesday be AMAZINGLY blessed!
-Revi

A Little White Vignette

Most of the rooms in my home are in some stage of revision. I decided to show you one little corner in my bedroom. It's not completely finished, but it may be closer to finished than any other space in my home at the moment. 


You might be asking why my home is in such a state. It all started when my son moved back with me in January 2010, and brought his dog. She's a brindled lab, and you could not ask for a more wonderfully sweet, loving dog. She is a GREAT watch dog. (So great, the paint on the front door is now a chippy mess - and not in a good way.) She goes crazy when the postman puts mail in a drop box that empties into an old wooden drawer on a chest. Two years ago she was still a puppy. And if you've ever had the pleasure of knowing a 2 year-old lab, you'll understand; the dog ate my sofa.

I promise I am not exaggerating one bit, and if I were a little less prideful, I might post a photo of the sofa to show you. But, I was raised to make sure your home was clean and in order before you invited company inside, so I hope you'll understand why I just can't do it. Now, the sofa has become a giant dog bed. C'est la vie.


Aside from the sofa and the chippy front door and window, I can't stand the hair. Poor girl - she sheds so much I am just amazed that she has a single hair on her. I am really NOT exaggerating when I tell you I often sweep up a dustpan FULL of hair in ONE room each week from her. It's everywhere. I love her, but I'll be happy when I can visit her at her new house and take her doggie treats and such.  


Now, it's time to take back my house. I'll miss the safety factor. I'll miss having a loving creature who is excited to see me when I arrive home from work. (I know I will.) I'll miss how she eats anything I drop, 'cause I'm a klutz. I'll miss how she puts her head on my foot when I'm sitting on the sofa. But, I won't miss the hair. If she were bald, I'd probably arm-wrestle my son for her, but she's not bald. And I want a lovely hair-free home.


If things go according to plans, they will move in September. The half-eaten sofa will go with them. Mason will buy a slipcover for it.  I'm making plans about what  to do to a living room with a chippy door and no sofa.

• I'm turning Mason's room into a studio/exercise room.
• I'm turning Hannah's room into a guest room. 
• Den furniture will be relocated to the living room.
• Two twin beds from Mason's room will be used as day beds in the den. (Any good ideas?)
• Everything is getting a fresh coat of paint. 
• Furniture will be moved around - some to new rooms. 
• Favorite objects will find new spots to dwell.
• I will finally tackle projects I'd put on the back burner because they were lower priority than texturing and painting every wall and ceiling when we moved in 8 years ago.
• I will update and freshen up my home using items I already own, and filling in with thrift store finds as needed.
• I will find a venue to sell treasures that I like, but that don't work in my home.

Over the past year, I've begun to pare down a bit and relegate things to the garage for a future garage sale. I painted my bedroom.  It was green before, and now it's mocha cream. I've begun to take down artwork and clear bookshelves - all in anticipation of the new updates.  I'm getting excited about being able to repaint the front door - it will be shiny black instead of red - inside and out.

Today, I swept up the dog hair and took a few photos of my little white vignette in the corner. 

The dresser in the photos was free - a gift from my church. It was in exactly the condition you see. I will probably tweak it later, but for now it works. It was in an old three-story house where our Youth groups meet and they wanted to get rid of it. They also gave me another "ugly lamp" to remake, so I'm on the lookout for a nice shade.

It has great storage, and it is ONE HEAVY PIECE of furniture! It's so heavy that I couldn't get those little furniture moving things out from under the feet in a couple of places.  (See the bottom left corner of the dresser? As a single woman, I LOVE those things because they make moving furniture on any surface easy.But I'll have to ask Mason to help me lift the dresser to get it.)


Every mirror in the vignette but one is from a thrift store. They were once wood finishes and I have painted them various whites, and distressed or stained them. They each cost a dollar or less.


The capiz shell bowl on the left is from Target originally and came to me via Goodwill. It still had a label on it. I paid $3. The little pedestal on the right is from a thrift store, as is the crocheted doily and the bird.

Very few things were purchased new - and they are old! The angel above the French mirror is a keepsake from a trip to San Antonio from over 10 years ago. The two lamps were from Dollar General, and I think they cost about $12 each - including their former shades. They are about 9 years old. They had little beaded shades but needed an update.The lamp shades in the photo are from some of those brass lamps like I spray painted last week. (See here if you missed it.)


I kept the vintage burlap shades because my daughter already has lovely patterned drum shades purchased at World Market. I'll take the lamps to her next weekend, along with other goodies I've collected for her house.


I'm working on making some drum shades for these lamps, and you can be sure I'll let you know how those turn out. 


Next week when I visit Hannah, we'll arrange furniture, stage book shelves, wall art, etc. I will take photos and show you her house and our projects. After all, she and her new house are what started me down this path anyway!

The white ceramic candlesticks and bowl are all thrift store finds. I once read that you should always burn candle wicks a little, so they don't look unused. I guess it struck a chord with me, because I do it now to all my candles. The walnut tray is from a garage sale - one of three purchased for $4.00. The vintage crocheted piece and small ceramic tray are thrift store finds from years ago.


Word of the Day: 


Matthew 7:6


“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."


Have a lovely weekend, everyone! I look forward to seeing what treasures you find next week.

Many blessings,

Revi

A Surprise Blessing and Two Chairs...

Above:  "Cross 5" by Debbie Hannah Skinner

Tonight I was the recipient of unexpected blessings! Instead of going home after work and watching TV or participating in my new favorite pass time; looking at blogs, I was invited by my sweet friend Debbie L. to attend a special Women's Gala at our church. 

We shared a table with some lovely women and enjoyed a delicious catered dinner, complete with designer cupcakes for dessert. I should have taken a photo of the cupcake centerpieces - they were beautiful as well as tasty! I promise to be more blog-aware as we go on here.Then we gathered in the Sanctuary to hear Debbie Hannah Skinner speak. Let me tell you, those cupcakes had nothing on her! 

  

Debbie Hannah is a multi-talented woman and a gifted speaker. She makes you feel like you're sitting across from her over a cup of coffee and enjoying a lively conversation. She is an amazing watercolor artist. She painted a small painting that illustrated the main focus of her message tonight - a chair. She did this WHILE speaking. 

Above: "By the Window Sill" by Debbie Hannah Skinner

Then she sang and played the piano quite well - a song she had written herself.

Her message was full of touching personal stories with relative scripture passages. One favorite little vignette was about how her mother always keeps a small card with a scripture near her kitchen sink - Psalm 118:24. Debbie Hannah told us how her mother had cared for her father over a number of years as he suffered with Parkinson's disease. As her mother's care-giving responsibilities increased, she carried on with an amazing attitude.

This past June, her father passed away. On the day of his funeral, her mother said, "This is not a day I wanted to live, but THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT." What a testimony to her children, her grandchildren and now to over 100 strangers! 

Debbie Hannah encouraged us all to stop, sit (hence, the chair) and savor God through His word, and therefore be strengthened.

At the end of her message, there was a drawing. One woman would win the little chair painting. One woman would win a pack of her special note cards. Guess who won the chair painting? YOURS TRULY! (That's Debbie Hannah Skinner on the left holding the chair painting, and me on the right, looking like the cat who just swallowed the canary! Oh wait, that was a cupcake.)

Visit Debbie Hannah Skinner at her website 

http://www.wisdominwatercolor.com/ 

and her blog 

http://www.wisdominwatercolor.com/new-blog-home

So that was my blessing and chair number two. 

Chair number one, I found earlier in the day while driving down the street.  I was doing a favor for my son. It's a cute little French style number I scored for $3.00! 

I also picked up some other items I’ll show you later!  May your day be blessed with whatever it is you treasure. 


Word of the Day:  


It's gotta be Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."


With love,
Revi

One Man's Trash - Another Woman's Treasure (Another Lamp Tale)

A few weeks back, I went to my favorite little thrift store just to look around while waiting to meet someone. It's a smallish place with small items and clothing - not much in the way of furniture. I find lots of books and tabletop items there.


This day happened to be their busiest day of the week - Monday. Everything on a hanger was half price. Most people were there to find clothing. I was looking for lamps. My daughter has recently moved into an unfurnished house, so I thought I would see if they had anything she might like.


Then I saw her.  A lovely lamp. The price was $3.93. 
No-brainer - SOLD!

The first thing that caught my eye was her shape - very lovely feminine curves. As I took her off the shelf, I admired her patina - tarnished silver. Yummy. I like tarnish.


Then, something caught my eye; a little blue enamel emblem.

I took a closer look and read, "RGC" and below it, "Invitational Tournament  1931  Seventh Flight Winner."  I realized this curvaceous lamp was a trophy someone had converted to a lamp. My first thought was, "WHY would someone get rid of this lovely, sentimental trophy???" 
They were probably going totally modern and slick, 
and she didn't quite fit in.

My second thought was, "This thing could be sterling silver!"  

I couldn't wait to get home and take her apart to look for stamps on the bottom. (Yes - sort of like undressing the new Barbie doll.) So I paid my money for the lamp and a few other items and calmly walked out the door, feeling a twinge of guilt.

When I arrived home, I grabbed my wrench and loosened the fitting that held the retrofit base in place. Sure enough, there were stampings, and one of them said, STERLING.

I was thrilled, needless to say. I Googled "Sedlacek & Sons" and "antique sterling golf trophy" and got several hits:


http://www.cowanauctions.com/auctions/item.aspx?ItemId=32806 two trophies, one exactly like my lamp, sold at auction for $517.50 in 2006.

http://www.rubylane.com/item/717039-116/Los-Angeles-Country-Club-Sterling The maker also did a cigarette holder which is smaller than my lamp, now listed for $225. on Ruby Lane's web site.


I dressed her in a borrowed shade from my bedroom side table lamp and photographed her.

See, people? She can look good with a modern shade, too. So, now what?

• Do I keep this lovely trophy lamp for her aesthetic beauty, or do I sell her and use the money buy more lovely things or pay bills or put it in savings or something?  
• I know silver is selling high now, but just exactly how does one find an honest and reputable silver dealer? 
• Would she bring more as an antique trophy lamp, or as scrap silver? 
• She's a little dented, but that's part of her charm. She has a weighted base (as happens to many of us over time), so how does one weigh the silver alone? 
• Would she be destroyed in the process of ascertaining her value? 
• What if I decided I wanted her as a lamp after learning her silver was only worth the price of a regular lamp at a big box store?

I have lots of questions and would appreciate feedback from anyone who has had any similar items. What did you do with your sterling trophy lamps?


Word for the Day:


Proverbs 2:1-5

1 My son, if you accept my words 
   and store up my commands within you, 
² turning your ear to wisdom 
   and applying your heart to understanding— 
³ indeed, if you call out for insight 
   and cry aloud for understanding, 
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver 
   and search for it as for hidden treasure, 
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD 
   and find the knowledge of God. 


Blessings,
-Revi