Showing posts from April, 2012

A Blogger's Rite of Passage

April 29, 2012
Could you guess from the post title that I am talking about making a chalkboard? I have seen a lot of chalkboards made from frames and mirrors, and lots of other stuff , since I started following blogs. I now have a chalkboard under my belt too! I started with this great frame my mom gave me last week, an antique, wooden, oval frame with plaster decoration. I had a piece of glass cut to fit it, painted the glass with chalkboard paint and painted the frame with Heirloom White. I didn't distress or antique it, yet. I may do that. But for now, I hung it on my living room door. href="http://www.theivycottageblog.blogspot.com/"> src="http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/krystalwinn/hfd/cowgirl-up-003-button-4.jpg" />


Thrift Stores, Estate Sale, Rummage Sale, Antique Store & Mom

April 29, 2012
In addition to hitting the consignment stores this week, I made it to a rummage sale at the Senior Center and an estate sale. Here are my finds: Consignment store find. I think it's a green ballerina pattern depression glass vase. Sure of the pattern, not sure if it's real or a repro. $5. This was my most expensive purchase. A chippy, old, wooden, primitive tool box. $22 at an antique store. I am going to use it to display some old game boards. Two oval Irvinware chrome trays and one round Shelton tray at thrift/consignment store. $2 each oval, $3 on the round. Like new condition. I think these will be used in my flower garden for some bling! I love to collect sprinklers (especially red) and old clippers. I think these are marked Stalwart. Along with the little funnel, all great garden junk! $4 clippers, $4 sprinkler, $1 funnel estate sale. I don't think I could have too many watering cans and I couldn't pass up on this one at the estate


De-Formalizing the Living Room

April 28, 2012
Now that my living room walls are back to white (after 10 years of yellow), I am changing up the decor slightly. The de-formalization of the living room includes, a few less doilies, new burlap curtain panels, using more baskets, and the addition of more painted furniture. I recently purchased this great shelf, with a bead board back, and three color paint distressing, at the Tattered Angel, a local shop. The great shelf in the above photo will replace this shelf in my living room: This mirrored shadow box shelf is vintage. Definitely from the 1960's. When I purchased it at a rummage sale in the late 1970's, it had a blonde finish. I didn't really repaint and use it until the late 1990's. I am keeping some of my blue and white dishes up in the living room but with the new shelf. I like this shelf with the blue and white china! I would like to add at least one more cream pitcher, but this is the new look. The blue willow plates at left and right are from m


A Vintage Baking Vignette

April 25, 2012
I decided to dismantle the "spring" vignette in my kitchen corner that I have used for a couple months or more. I put together a vintage kitchen vignette from stuff that I have on hand, like: a crockery mixing bowl, a Bromwell flour sifter, a Bake King baking pan, a wooden rolling pin with green painted handles, aluminum Ekco measuring cups, a craft shop sugar advertising sack/pillow, and a faux potted plant. And of course my trusty red star! One would think that I like to bake, but I don't. I like vintage kitchen utensils, bowls, etc., just for their decorating value! I have a roast chicken in the oven for dinner, but no baked goods here!