Remember this throwback series?? Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve posted a $2.00 Tuesday. Not because I didn’t want to, but I hadn’t found anything to share with you – until now… I went thrifting this past weekend and … Continue reading
Hey Everyone!!! Once again, I’m wishing you a happy, healthy and wonderful New Year! Thanks a million for following along in 2015 and I look forward to what 2016 has in-store for us to share with one another. For my first post of the new year, I’d like to talk about being eclectic and venturing outside the norm. So many times, we are stuck in the mindset, “things HAVE To MATCH”. Well it may be true for 90% of our lives, but when it comes to table settings, I think we can break the rule- well at least I’m going to break it.. and I’ll show you how.
Many times, I’ve gone to estate sales, thrift stores, garage sales and would see a plate, saucer, or cup and love the pattern but often times, it’s not a complete set. So, I decided to mix it up! I found different patterns that tend to blend and decided to create my own eclectic setting. I started with these nicely patterned placemats I stumbled across at Walmart. I’m glad I ventured to that isle and found them.
Not bad right? At $1.99 each and having the perfect metallic gold finish, I figured they would pull the look together. Modern placemats mixed with thrift score dishes would create a beautiful table setting. Next I added gold crackled charger plates, which were $3.00 for the set of six at Goodwill. Then, I layered the plates and here is the finished look.
I love soft floral pattern dishes and by using pastel blends of similar looks I was able to mix pieces for a cohesive style. The dinner plates were about $1.50 ea, the bread plates were between $0.50-$0.75 ea, the brass napkin rings were found at Goodwill for $0.59 each and never used. The white linen napkins belonged to my grandmother.
Also featured in my setting are limoges bone dishes, which are rare items to find and they blend with the floral patterns. Limoges is a delicate fine bone china made in Limoges, France and began being manufactured in the late 18th century. You can read more about its history here. At the turn of the century, bone dishes were used to hold discarded chicken or fish bones, because it was considered improper to allow bones to remain on your main plate as it appeared to be an unsightly mess (the Victorians were very neat), henceforth, the use of the bone dish.
I also found the crystal (dumbbell shape) knife rests years ago and purchased them from an antique shop. Knife rests are rarely used these days, but they are very handy when eating. They offer a more convenient place to rest your knife while not in use, instead of leaning it on your plate. Lastly, the gold flatware was a wedding gift. Hard to believe I’ve had them almost 30 years.
As you see, you can create a pretty, delicately balanced table setting using thrift store and estate sale finds by mixing patterns.
The cute little place card is made of porcelain and I found the set at an antique shop about 20 years ago, when I was hosting tea parties.
This is the complete set – Isn’t it the cutest.. Just use a sharpie to mark on them and wipe off with water..
I finished the look with depression glassware I inherited from my grandmother. She had a complete service for twelve with water goblets and wine glasses, plus six smaller glasses (which I used for the children), along with the pitcher, salt & pepper shakers and two serving dishes. It’s really a nice set, so I consider myself blessed to have it.
You see how mixing patterns, styles and eras could blend together to make a beautiful setting? Not only does it look pretty, but it also adds a bit more interest. Have you ever mixed patterns to create a table design? If not, would you? If so please share – I’d love to see it.
I hope this has sparked an interest and the next time you see a pretty plate, get it and build on it to create your own blend of tableware.
I hope you enjoyed my Mix It Up tableware? If so, let me know…. As always, remember, beauty doesn’t have to be costly. Thanks for reading and until next time.. Smooches!
What do you do with a chair no one wants? Well ask me that question and my answer is keep it! That’s exactly what I did with my new addition. Like an unwanted puppy, I decided to be her new owner. Give her love and affection and breathe new life in her just like I did Clarissa (and still working on Don).
I decided to do some research on this chair and found it’s a Louis XV style Fauteuil armchair. These chairs were beginning to be made in the 1600’s and were considered French by Royal Design and was designed with a woman’s figure in mind, by having delicate curves. The backs were round for the softness of the woman’s shoulders and the carvings were considered the ornaments (like a woman wears jewelry). This particular chair was made during the turn of the 19th century (between 1880 – 1900). The chair had it’s original needlepoint fabric, however, as you see, it pretty much took a beating. But, one thing for sure, she’s a real McCoy, a Louis XV french chair. So, I’m thrilled that I couldn’t sell it for the mere $25.00 I was asking for it at the yard sale. The average price for these chairs is $500.00, so yes, she is definitely worth investing in. I’m going to name her Kittra. Luckily, the frame was strong, but the wood stain was a bit drab. I decided to paint the frame using Martha Stewart antique gold (please don’t squeal 🙂 )
The gold paint gives it a new look, without taking away from the beauty and not making it gawdy.
For the fabric, I chose a soft chenile pile white fabric and wanted to incorporate cheetah print with it. I also wanted the authenticity of the chair to remain intact, so I had the upholsterer keep the straw stuffing but add enough cushion for a better seat. Keep in mind that if you ever get a chair or sofa and discover it’s an antique, it’s always best to preserve some of its history.
Here’s Kittra’s new look
Time to bring her home and find a space for her.
I’m in the process of making a few changes in the living room, nothing big, but changing up the wall color and adding a few reupholstered items. But for now, she’ll rest here. I was just so excited with her new look I wanted to share it with you.
I’ve never used white before on furniture, and now that we’re empty nesters and no little ones around, I thought I’d give it a whirl (for at least one piece) and the cheetah print has always been my fettish. I plan to add a bit more of that around. I hope you like Kittra’s new look as much as I do. Have you done a makeover lately? I’d love to hear all about it. Until next time, Happy hunting and enjoy thrifting your house into a home! Smooches
Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of joining my hubby on his yearly golfing trip. Well before we left, I did a quick search for thrift stores and shopping centers that were in the Daytona area, and saw they had a few, so, at least I could have something to keep me busy. Luckily I had the wheel during the wee hours of the morning. The roads were empty and my eyes could wander a bit. Well I spotted a few thrift stores and a Goodwill along the way to the hotel. Naturally I couldn’t wait to get there the next day. Well my friends… let me tell you… That was THEEE Best Goodwill I have EVER, EVER,(pause-roll the head) EVAH been to. OH MY GOSH! This was a true “being at the right place at the right time” moment for me. Ok.. talk about luck – I had to pinch myself.. Me and my aunt walked in the store and I notice how neat and clean it was (and got even more excited) walking past the registers I look up at the top of the racks and spot some crystal wine decanters, and walked towards them, but then low and behold I spotted some bee-u-tiful barware. I made a mad dash to them. I couldn’t believe it.. They were the exact ones I’ve been watching and wanting. I told my aunt stand right there and guard them while I run to get a cart. She started laughing at me – because she couldn’t believe my excitement. She said – “Girl, you’re acting like you found gold” I told her I did!! Look what I found!!!!
A complete set of Culver “Valencia” barware. What makes this glass set special is it’s embellished in 22kt gold and it’s their most popular design that ever sold. Culver glass company was founded in 1939 by Irving Rothenberg in Brooklyn, NY. The company later relocated to my nearby hometown Rahway, NJ in 1980 and remained there under the realm of Mark “Mickey” Rothenberg, who took over the company in 1987 after his father, Irving, passed away. Mark ran the company until he sold it in 1996 to Moderne Glass Company, Inc. He then headed another glass company until his death on 9/11 – he was one of the passengers on the hijacked Newark-to-San-Francisco flight that crashed in Pennsylvania. Known for lavish designs, many embellished with 22-karat gold, the company gained notoriety and its products became highly collectible. For the most part, Culver did not begin producing gold embellished glass until the late 50’s and much of their pieces made prior to this time, are unsigned, unlabeled and often difficult to identify.
In the early 60s, Culver perfected the (still secret process) of high heat firing, 22k Gold onto their fine glassware, allowing for thick, textured, gold & rhinestone displays, that better handled the test of time. Wealth was abundant in the US, and opulence was equally embraced, with the sleek, Mid Century Modern / Futurist Atomic Age styles, more commonly associated with the time, and business soared.
With the release of the Valencia pattern, popularity exploded & soon Culver was considered the wedding gift of the “Up and coming”, becoming available in the finest department stores. The process of high heat firing 22k Gold onto the glass for permanence, was kept close to the vest by the family & employees.
So you see, I did find gold! I couldn’t wait to get them to their new home displayed on my bar cart
They added the perfect touch to the cart
The cute pineapple hand towel was a gifted item I’ve had for years.
The brass pineapple was an estate sale find for a mere $8.00 (woohoo) and my girlfriend spotted the cheetah print napkins and she said they had my name all over them 🙂 (Thanks Kimmy!)
The vintage emerald green decanter- another yard sale find for $5.00 enhances the jewel tone of the glassware and the silver bar accessories were caught at the same estate sale for $4.00.
Now the story starts with me watching this barware on Chairish. I was holding off buying them until after some upcoming travel plans. I’m so glad I did, because I was able to snag this 13-piece set for $32.00. I would have kicked myself if I’d bought them before. My stylish bar cart look is complete and all done with thrift store, yard sale and estate sale finds. Now let’s get our “Drink On!!”
I had to give my hubby one big kiss (one for winning the tournament and one for bringing me 🙂 )
If you liked these glasses check out more of them on my Pinterest Board “Fancy Glass” and follow along. Happy hunting and remember – you, too, can thrift your house into a home! Cheers
*ps.. the Culver glass history was retrieved from Collectors Weekly and you can read more about it here:
While everyone is displaying all the pretty mums, pansies and lilacs for fall, I’m still admiring my Forever Hydrangea plant. While I lived up north, I was never the green-thumb gardener, but I remember falling in love with the Hydrangea flowers. I would pass by houses with the beautiful blue, purple, green and mauve color bushes and say to myself “one day I’ll have those”. I have to admit – I use to wait till night fall to sneak and clip a few – like a bandit in the night wearing a handkerchief and baseball cap ..(lol- I know- shame on me). When I moved south, those were the first things I planted. Needless to say the first couple of years I was not very successful at growing them. So I kinda gave up. But throughout the years, one bush managed to stay strong. I couldn’t believe it and I’m just tickled pink happy. With all the rain, this one bush, which is planted right outside my bedroom window, is still blooming. Every morning after I rise, I take a peak just to catch a quick glance at my beautiful blossom buddies.
Last week, I decided to take advantage and clip a few to dry out, so I can enjoy them until next summer. To dry hydrangeas where they’ll maintain color is really simple.
FIRST: Cut a few of your beautiful blooms to display in a favorite vase. Only cut the ones that have fully blossomed and appear to be almost dry (sort of like soft paper). Remember to cut at a slant and lightly shake off the bugs. Remove the green leaf – I left a couple on near the very top. My first batch came to work with me to brighten my desk area. The cute tray was a DIY you view here
The second batch was placed on the bar cart for some added color (can you believe how colorful they are in November??!)
SECOND: Add water, but only about an inch up. You don’t want the stems too deep in the water. As the water slowly evaporates, the drying process will begin. Once the water has completely evaporated, and the flowers feel dry, leave them in the vase for another day or two (or until the stems are completely dry). This will take about 2-3 weeks so be patient and enjoy the color.
THIRD: Your dried beauties are ready to be display in a fall basket:
Or create a bouquet. Here I added them with pecans in a vase
The petals tend to darken a bit as they dry, which adds to the fall richness. The olive green and lilac combinations are perfect fall accent colors.
Or use them with a fall centerpiece, like here: I just added them on the corner of my simple table display.
These have the green and mauve tone colors which again, are rich with fall colors.
I couldn’t be more pleased with the having them lingering around my house till next year. It’ll only remind me of how summer is to come.
So if you have a hydrangea bush still blooming, go ahead, pick a few to bring inside to create your own display. I hope this post was helpful in drying out your flowers. Until next time – continue to enjoy the Fall-bulous season. Smooches!