Showing posts from September, 2013

Changes to my Fall Potting Bench

September 29, 2013
If you missed my early fall potting bench decorated with mums, you can view it  here. The mums that were available in my isolated northern Minnesota locale were already pretty advanced in early September, but I bought them anyway.  Some years the temps get too cold to even bring them into full bloom by late September. For today's new arrangement, I went rustic with a couple of old kerosene lanterns that I just purchased for $2 and $3 at a local antique shop yesterday.  The glass was missing, but I can still use them for display.  I like them with a little Spanish Moss and small pumpkins. Rust and orange make a good combination!


Looking for Vintage Treasures

September 24, 2013
I think I have mentioned a lot on my blog that I visit thrift shops, and consignment/antique shops on my lunch hour every day that I work. This week I found the following:


A Vintage Potato Masher Fall Wire Cloche Vignette

September 22, 2013
I purchased an old potato masher for $4 this week at an antique shop. What I liked about the masher was its square shape and four wire style, sort of like a "wire cloche".


A Versatile $3 Thrift Shop Decor Purchase

September 22, 2013
Last October I picked up a wire basket with two zinc pots at a consignment shop for $3.  It had a couple tired looking faux flowers glue into the bottoms with styrofoam. After a lot of heating the glue with a hair dryer and trying pinterest hints to remove glue, I finally accepted the fact that all the glue and styrofoam would never, ever come out.  But no matter, I have used the little zinc pots over and over and over!  They have become one of my go to decorating accessories.


More Rustic Autumn Vignettes

September 20, 2013
On one of my first thrifting trips after Christmas, this vintage wooden bowl wheelbarrow was one of my finds. I paid $2 for it, and it was marked Woodcroftery.  That post was  here.


From Funnels to Candy Corn

September 20, 2013
Funnels are one of my new collections.   Yesterday I found this little white enamel ware funnel for $7.  It is 3" tall and 2 7/8" across the top.  The middle sized canning funnel is 2 1/4" tall and 3 7/8" across, and the larger canning funnel is 3" tall and 5" across.


Re-Purposed Junk Pumpkin Vignette

September 16, 2013
Yes.  I did.  I made another junk pumpkin this year. I used some of this junk.  These junk parts were originally part of a knife sharpening tool my Grandpa had rigged up in his garage year's ago.  I blogged about this acquisition  here.


Halloween Decorating with Head Vases: The Black Widow

September 15, 2013
I just love to use collections in seasonal and holiday decorating.   This lady head vase is my very favorite.   Here she is starring in a Valentine's Day coffee table vignette.


A Rustic and Vintage Fall Covered Patio

September 14, 2013
I have been in the process of decorating for autumn inside and outdoors but have been hindered by the scarcity of REAL pumpkins.  They got a slow start this spring, and have been very slow to grow and ripen.   Well today I found and purchased some REAL pumpkins at a local Community Farmer's Market, so without further ado, here is my fall covered patio! Starting with three mini pumpkins in canning funnels on the crock table with a rusty crow and lantern.  


A Houseplant Round Up

September 13, 2013
I think I have more houseplants than most of my friends.  I think I have more houseplants than most of my relatives.  I think I have more houseplants than most of my co-workers.  I think houseplants are too much work for many busy people these days. I think most houseplants thrive on a little neglect versus over watering for example, but they do die if left totally on their own.  I water about once a week.  I fertilize every two weeks during the growing season April - September.  This has worked for me, and I have been successful with houseplants for the most part. I think a houseplant round up may be fun! My current houseplant list is as follows: A variegated ivy.  I love ivies, but I have killed a few.  I like them on my mantel or on my desk hutch but both are low light areas and die after a while.  I love leaving them is a small neutral pot and sticking them in vignettes, or in fun containers like this vintage plaid lunchbox.  I have had this prayer plant for a lo


Vintage Trouser Hanger Fall Door Swag

September 12, 2013
I still have quite a few vintage wood and metal hangers in my garage, and I got the idea to use a trouser hanger for a door swag. Here is my hanger, a weedier, grassy, faux floral spray and a sunflower spray with pine cones and colored leaves.  I found them at a local drug store. In this photo, I had stained the wood with a darker stain, but opted to go in the end with a natural wood tone hanger that showed up better on my terra cotta door.


Decorating for Fall with Vintage Collectibles

September 12, 2013
While some of my fall decorating is on hold until real pumpkins are available here locally, I have put together an over the kitchen sink vintage display. On the far right, I have an old granite ware coffee pot with a faux apple and flower spray.


Chair Planter Ideas

September 08, 2013
When I walk into a consignment or antique shop, the first thing I spot are wooden chairs.  I just LOVE old chairs, especially outside.   This is a recap of some of my old outside and garden chairs: A chair is great for holding a wooden crate vignette.  Here is a a fun raisin crate with vintage garden tools, a peace lily, and an iron lady figurine.


A Trio of Pumpkins in a Fall Kitchen Vignette

September 08, 2013
I worked my trio of Jello mold pumpkins into a kitchen corner shelf vignette. The Jello mold pumpkins join a larger pumpkin, a vintage scale, orange thermos, coffee pot, tea pot, bread boards, Folger's puzzle, and faux fall flowers.  A pumpkin pie recipe is in the flower frog.


Picture Frames, a Camera, Shutters, a Runner, a Teacup And a Vintage Fan

September 06, 2013
I really haven't been to any garage sales lately but I continue to shop at the consignment shops on my lunch hour.  Sometimes.   In the summer, I do miss some days with the extra time needed to keep my flowers watered. I certainly purchased my share of picture frames recently. First, this fun, rustic frame was $8 at an antique shop.  I have it hung up already, next to my front door in a fall vignette.  I will show you the rest of the covered patio vignettes as soon as I can find some real pumpkins.  None available yet!


An Early Fall Potting Bench

September 05, 2013
With a couple days off, I have started a little fall decorating outdoors.  I put some orange rusty colored mums and an ivy in my weathered gray chair.  During the summer my weathered chair was in the front yard border planted with a trailing petuna.


An Up-Cycled Bicycle Wheel Garden Pumpkin

September 02, 2013
My bike wheel has appeared on my blog in several posts. First here in my 2012 Christmas Mantel.


Quick Garden Pics from a Professional Photographer

September 01, 2013
I am a blogger with a point and shoot camera.  A Canon SX230HS.  It takes decent photos. A neighbor of mine, (who takes photos professionally) did a quick tour of my flower gardens and yard, and emailed me the photos.  When I say quick, I mean in about 5 minutes with her kids and dog along and not a lot of photos!   I asked her to email me the photos and she did.  I think they are a lower resolution for email but I thought it was interesting to see the difference between her camera and mine.  I like the lighting of the more expensive camera.  Hers Mine