Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving



Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.


My Fall Mantel

I'm not hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, but this yummy side dish may appear on my Christmas menu.  It's a sweet potato casserole from  Ruths Chris.  Yummm.

Ruths Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

(click on photo or highlighted words to go to recipe)


I hope you'll all follow this advice from Radiant Republic when you begin your holiday shopping.




Kathy

Enjoy your day with your family.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Ballet Ties on Furniture

I recently found this fabulous frenchy iron chair---loved the color and the curves.


I think it needed something.  I found a coffee sack with some green in it and made a cushion for the seat.    I wrapped the legs with jute cord ballet ties.
 Its green color made it perfect for my holiday sale. 


Coffee Sack Seat


It reminds me of some similar chairs I saw in Hudson, New York in the window of an upscale shop.


If you missed the post about the fabulous shop windows, go here to view them all.
The displays were very impressive and inspiring.

I used jute cord because it matched my coffee sack.  You could also make matching cording with some gray linen and create this fabulous European look.

Via
Via

Do you like ballet ties on furniture?


 Kathy



Sunday, November 11, 2012

Shop My Shop for Holiday Decor And A Special Guest

I know it's way to early to be thinking about Christmas, but that's how it goes lately in retail.    Even though we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving, my shop is filled with holiday decor.

Now here's my waaaaaay too early holiday merchandise.
I hope that you readers who don't live in the DC area will pick up some ideas for your own decor. 

I knew I wanted to decorate a tree for my shop.  Here's what I came up with for my "tree".    I had this old wooden orchard ladder in my inventory for longer than I want to admit.  As I was staring at it wondering how low a price I'd have put on it to sell it, I noticed that from the side it took on the triangular shape of a Christmas tree.  Voila, I had my tree.  I started at the top of the ladder and wove garland from side to side from top to bottom and then placed two more garlands down the side supports.  To brighten it up I wove some burlap ribbon and then added the ornaments.
 Here's the result.  Get your coffee cup.  It's a long one.


I wanted to show you the side view.  I was able to put more merchandise onto the stairs.


Leaning on the opposite side of the ladder is a vintage sled in a great green color.  I tied some fresh magnolia, a pine cone and some ice skates from the 1920's onto it.


 I topped the ladder with a plaid hat box.


I purchased many of the ornaments from my wholesale suppliers.


I also created my own ornaments from letters that were used by stores to create signage.  I punched a hole in each letter and added a ribbon to turn it into an ornament.  I also rolled up pages of sheet music, tied them with a ribbon, and tucked them into the tree.


I have a selection of the alphabet letters.


I thought this vintage Frenchy chair was the perfect holiday color.
 I made a coffee sack cushion with ballet ties for it.


I also found this pair of red shutters.  I love the hint of navy mixed with the red.


I have another tree filled with prancing deer surrounded by an upholstery webbing garland.  I tucked antlers into the branches.    The base is a flower pot.  You could use a basket, an urn, or a tin bucket.  I hold the tree in place with sand-filled-zip lock bags.


Instead of purchasing tree skirts, I use holiday tablecloths or fabric in holiday colors, or my favorite, a vintage ladies fur wrap.  For this tree I tucked a sequined ladies jacket around the base to cover my sand bags.
Don't miss that plaid suitcase on the left.  It folds open, legs pop out, and you have a picnic table or side table.


Next to my tree is a mahogany tiered table.   It's a perfect compact size for a holiday dessert station.


On top of the table is a vintage postcard that I placed in a gold frame.  I could see it on a mantel surrounded by greenery and ornaments.


Below the table is a vintage glass pedestal cake stand, a set of 10 "gold" coasters, and a florentine box.  I love the table legs with their brass caps stepping out of the magnolia branches.


How could I have a barn sale on a horse farm without including equestrian ornaments.  I tucked some crystal mini chandeliers in the mix.


This chalkboard globe trio rests on a drawer from a walnut dresser.   This old drawer, placed horizontally, makes a great riser.  What wonderful carved drawer pulls.


Large wooden dough bowls are popular holiday display containers.  I placed a burlap coffee sack and some more magnolia branches inside, then filled it with ornaments.


I used my other walnut drawer vertically.  The vignette includes an antique cast iron door stop in holiday colors and a crystal jar with sparkling deer.


I always display treasures under cloches.  I placed a large pine cone inside and placed it on a silver candle pedestal.  I also filled vintage bottles with "snow" and silver branches.  I have several stockings made from old coverlets.


This carved swan had to dress up for the holiday.  And, who can resist a vintage snakeskin hat box.


For your holiday parties I have a vintage glass-lined ice bucket and scoop and silver serving trays.


Some serving pieces too for your celebration.  I placed them in a old drawer for easy access.  You could use this idea for your flatware at a buffet.


I'm also selling some jewelry bling.  I used silver chenille pipe cleaners as "ornament" hangers.  These pipe cleaners are easier to attach to ornaments and hold the ornaments on the tree better than hooks.  They're prettier too.


My favorite find for the holiday season has to be this Saks Fifth Avenue tin.  I also found this chippy column base.  I'm displaying ornaments in on bowl on it, but it just as easily could be a base for a small Christmas tree.


More ornaments in clear containers.


I found this Victorian frame at the Old Lucketts Store.  Usually, these vintage items have a mirror on top and a print below.  This frame was missing its print.  I decided to create a chalkboard in the lower half.  It was already painted silver and is a perfect way to display your holiday menu.  Did you notice that the mirror is etched?


I was also very excited to find these early 20thC hockey skates.
I'm displaying them on a window frame.


Don't worry.  I didn't forget Thanksgiving.  These vintage turkey vases and salt and pepper shakers can become part of your holiday tablescape.  I couldn't pass up the orange syrup or the vintage Thanksgiving post cards either.



As many of you blog followers know, Marian Parsons, aka Miss Mustard Seed ,
 has just written a book called Inspired You.
She will be at the Stylish Patina Barn Sale on Friday November 16th from 10 until 12.
** Giveaway!** Everyone that comes to the barn for the Nov Sale 11/16-11/18 can enter to win Marian’s Book & some of her Milk Paint {$100 total value}!

   We will have books here for you to purchase or you can bring your own.  Grab your girlfriends, get your book signed and a picture with Marian and shop the day away!

I'm looking forward to seeing you locals at the sale.  Please say hello.
Thanks to all my readers for stopping by.  I hope I've inspired you to get a start on the holidays.

Kathy


Sale Dates
November 16,17,18
10am to 5pm


  4051 Stanford Ct, Frederick MD
- We are right off Rt. 15 {coming from Leesburg it's a right / coming from 270 it's a left} turn on to Mountville Rd.
- 1st left onto Winchester Blvd.
- Wind through the industrial park
- Turn right into the horse farm at Stanford Ct!  You'll see our sign at the end of the road.
*** Stanford Ct is a new road so most GPS's don't find it so use a phone mapping system or print directions from Google before you leave.


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Change Up-----Maybe

Of course I've been out shopping and checking out a new store,
B and B Home Shop--The Vintage Marketplace at Glenwood, and of course I found a chair to purchase.  I know, the last thing I needed was another chair.  But, it was black and it was patent leather, and I loved it.


Now, here's the change up----maybe.   You know that I just buy because I like it and think about where I'll put it later.  I thought it would be a good desk chair next to my spinet desk.
(If you missed the post about the desk, go here.)

New Chair Next to Desk

Now, here's the quandary.   I already have this lovely chinoiserie chair that I covered with my favorite gray zebra fabric.

Original Desk Chair

I like them both.  I love the black they both have.  The new chair has gold trim that works perfectly in the room.  The chinoiserie chair works better style wise since I have a chinoiserie chandelier on the other side of the desk.



Help!!!!! I need input to decide.  What should I do?
 (Please don't say stop shopping.)


Let me know what you think.

Kathy



Friday, November 2, 2012

Antlers and Seed Pods

At the end of my street is a tree that drops the most wonderful pods while releasing its leaves.  They look like huge pea pods and turn a warm brown, curling and twisting perfectly.  The next image shows them wrapping themselves around a vintage book.


I decided to fill an urn with these wonderful seed pods and let them entwine with my deer antlers.


I placed some around the base of the urn too, mixing with my weathered cement acorns and more antlers.


Here is a close up of the acorns, antlers, and seed pods on my garden table.



The arrangement even looks good viewed from behind.


What have you found outdoors and used in arrangements?

Kathy

If you missed my other posts about Fall decor, go here, here, here, and here.

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