My Love for Armoires

 

My Armoire on Etsy 

I love antiques and even more so an antique armoire! When I found this armoire I was so excited but my the majority of my family doesn't share my love for antiques so I have decided to enjoy it for a short while and pass it on. More pictures of this beauty can be found here:http://tinyurl.com/4yxjq5q

Here are some uses for these beautiful pieces of furniture.

Below is a nice example of an armoire made into a bar. 

Courtesy of ladolfina blog

This next piece of furniture has been repurposed into a pantry by Martha Stewart.

I love this next one! Make a kitchen pantry!

city sage armoire

And lastly, don't forget the baby's room!

 Martha Stewart Baby Armoire

If you have your own armoire that you have repurposed I would love to see your pictures and post them!

I love my job!

This is the time of year that I really start to enjoy my job. The townwide yard sales start. One of my favorite towns is a historic town called Hackettswtown in NJ. Over 150 years old with beautiful well kept old homes. 

One of the homes on this rainy sale day had a sign that said "sale under porch." My problem was I got sidetracked by the overpowering flower smell. I didn't even notice the nice lady sitting in her stone porch screened-in alcove. I just had to find that smell! There were so many flowers to try smelling. Flowers I didn't recognize, lilacs, rhodos and then the owner popped out to check me out! I was too busy looking for right flower to be embarrassed. The owner sweetly pointed out the Lily of the Valley which at the height of 4" I easily missed.  She explained that the flower had come from her grandmother and that her husband had spent years creating their heritage garden. It looked like Eden. 

The linens I bought from her were just a nice bonus. I also bought that day a suitcase and crate but what I really wanted was a Lily of the Valley plant.

I LOVE Typewriters

I really love typewriters! If you follow my etsy store I am sure you have noticed that. I love them in any shape or color. To get them in color isn't easy. I still remember when I let a pink typewriter  slip through my fingers because I didn't want to lay out the money. 2 years later I am still kicking myself!  All these different typewriters type differently and behave differently. They even sound different.

Many of my customers buy them for their photo shoots. I would REALLY love to post their photos to my blog. Sure would beat my photos!

Above is a 1928  Duotone Remington No.3 currently in my shop: http://tinyurl.com/6ezrwt6

Below is 1960 Royal Pink Typewriter. I really want one in good condition! 

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser Instructions

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As seen in Country Living magazine 9/10. Remove glass insert from lid and drill a half 1/2" hole to fit pump insert. Inserts can be found at onedreamdesingn.com for $3.75.  I have loads of jars and lids in many styles so come shopping or send me an email. http://www.etsy.com/shop/ingenuityondisplay

Ideas for Vintage Show Ribbons

Ribbons are beautiful, satiny and colorful. There will always be one to match or coordinate with your decor. They are beautiful together or all alone. I have had several customers buy them in groupings to decorate their offices. Below is the same idea in a bedroom.

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Another fun idea is dressing up a mannequin. LOVE this! I have a relative that has a mannequin in her hallway and she dresses her up for every season. How fun "she" will look with her daughter's ribbons on there. 

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By some ribbons and enjoy making your space colorful!

I Do Believe Country Living Missed the Mark with Horse Ribbons

Country Living is my favorite magazine by far but horse ribbons were really hot a year ago. I just received September's issue this week and there is a horse collecting theme. Horse Show Ribbons are one of the featured items. The price for ribbons can range from $9.99 - $20.  I think they also had had a beautiful display of vintage ribbons in a frame last month. Here are a few of the vintage ribbons I have sold.

 A year ago my ribbons were selling like hot cakes but now not as quick. I hope Country Living makes a new interest in all show ribbons! Not only are horse ribbons beautiful but dairy and dog too.

Crates for Organizing

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You can hang crates! Don't just think horizontal. You can buy any square crate and they don't have to be the same size to hang the wall for organization. All you need is to make sure that they are sturdy. But my favorite idea here, from the gypsydaisyblog, is the Coke soda crate or organize books. Here at home we use these low crates to organize canned food and other pantry items. I have tons of theses crates and others for sale. 

http://tinyurl.com/yegnpz5   If you don't see the one you want just email me from my etsy site. I also have mason jars for sale.

A Fabulous Professional Picture Using One of my Vintage Cameras

One of my customers, Meagan, bought this camera from me on my Etsy shop and took this amazing professional photograph. It is just begging to be displayed! To see more of her fabulous work visit  http://www.meaganhildebrandt.com and for more camera ideas please keep looking through my blog!

Time for Another Suitcase Showcase!

All these pictures are from Country Living Mag. but you can easily do this yourself! Suitcases have SO many uses. Decorate, store things in, display, make a pet bed. I have a GORGEOUS set of suitcases listed on ebay (ingeniouslycreative) and some listed on etsy. Just use the link on the right. Or if you have some laying around the house use them and send me some pictures and I will post them! I love new ideas! KW8M2CXCVH42 

A Litte Break from the Typical Work

Too hot to do much of anything lately and not enough rain so I spend a LOT of time watering and in the garden taking care of things. In the first picture I got the homemade trellis at an estate sale.  

In the last picture is an antique lawn jockey. I have had a few of these in travels. Google and see the interesting history on these. This little man isn't too old (40's) and his electric has been cut so he isn't too expensive. A true original will be over $1000. There is a milk can with original paint in front of the door. My cats use that to peer in the window and let me know they are home. On the right is a 6ft bench I "rescued" from a barn and a barrel with a wandering jew on it. 

The barrel is an item I will ship from my etsy shop but the other items are pickup items due to size. 

Get out Your Mason Jars!

  Go ahead and get them out! If you aren't using them for storage start using them for flowers. Garden season is upon us so start cutting those flowers and put them in jars. Any old jar will do. For my peonies I used a small Ball bail jar because the stems aren't long. I liked the clear with the white flowers. Maybe for my pink peonies I will use my green jars....

Ideas for Decorating with Vintage Suitcases

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I love old suitcases and I sell most of them on ebay and from sales it seems that others do too! So here are a few pictures of different ways to decorate using them. Top left is courtesy of Country Living. These are just mismatched basic tweed cases. The next picture uses vintage LV but you can use any old suitcase. I like that there is a tray used on top. In the last picture 3 very worn suitcases are used for storage at the end of the bed.

All terrific and beautiful but now you have to find the suitcases!

Ideas for Decorating with Mason Jars 2

Two different jars with two great ideas. The picture on the right the jar has a zinc lid (glass removed) and has been made into a lamp. You will need a drill bit meant to be used with glass. The lilacs on the left a from a neighbor's bush and I put them in a 12" tall wire ball mason. Visually the tall jar supports the height of the flowers.

One Last Word on Crates

I have had a few requests for newer wine crates set up on the floor that I have pictured in one of my posts. Since I only sell antique and vintage I can't provide you with the newer crates. Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea of what the antique crates will look. You provide all the goodies to go in them.

Ideas for Vintage Cameras Part 2

What terrific ideas! A vertical shelf is really unique looking and makes the column not look so distracting. The second picture has a Polaroid 360 (or similar) in the center of a bunch of books on a window sill. The last picture is full of Twin-lens reflex cameras. Neat little cameras that usually are only good for decorating and hiding a little something in.

Ideas for Vintage Cameras Part 1

Anyone who looks at my shop knows I have a thing for old cameras! Fun to play with and for some fun to use. I am going to do a few posts with pictures for ideas on how to decorate with them.

These 3 pictures are all from one man's apartment using vintage cameras. The display looks great and wasn't expensive until he bought the cameras. There are some expensive cameras in the collection. There is a nice Polaroid SX-70 in the middle shot! Take a look around a see if you can spot a few and send me a message.

Ideas for Crates Part 3

I just love these ideas!! You will need to be a little handy to make the pet dish holder but what a great use of a crate. I think it would be a good idea to seal the crate with polyurethane so it doesn't get ruined by the water.

The middle crate is a Coke soda crate but a Pepsi, Atreat (I have loads!) or any other brand would work just as well.

The last crate on the bike is a beautiful wine box. I LOVE wine boxes. That aren't that easy to find but they are almost always beautiful and worth the search!

Ideas for Crates Part 2 Floor Storage

Crates make great storage and display pieces all in one. Use as is like shown in the first picture. For this look you can use 2 of any size. In the second picture they have used newer wine crates but you can use older crates for a more weathered look. In the last 2 pictures they have been modified with casters for rolling storage. Rolling crates will also be great for use at a party. Line with a plastic bag and fill with cans of soda.

Ideas for Crates Part 1 Shelves

I am going to do several posts with pictures for ideas of what you can do with crates. I have taken these from the net. What I would really LOVE is for those that have bought crates from me to send me pictures. I have heard some TERRIFIC ideas.

This 1st picture is a great look. I sell loads of crates but I have yet to come across a load of similar crates.

The middle picture is fantastic look. Switch out the cutting boards and you can use this look in any room. The lower crate is a dairy crate, probably Borden's, and has a metal bottom. The other crate is a produce crate.


The last picture is either wine crates or produce crates.

You can look me up anytime on etsy and send me your pictures. I would love to see them!