Deer Antlers and Vintage Blue Bottles

One of my favorite rooms at the farm is an upstairs nook with a comfortable chair for reading.  I found this great white deer skull with antlers at a flea market and knew it would be perfect for the wall above my white cupboard where I keep some of my favorite books.

On top of the cupboard are vintage glass bottles in varying shades of blue that look beautiful on top of the white cupboard under the deer antlers.  I can't keep from picking them up when I find them in antique and flea markets - I just think they are beautiful.

I had lunch with one of my pals, Marcy today at a new eatery called BRGR Kitchen.  They have a salad called the Al Greens with cranberries, red onions, cucumber, grilled chicken and a great sweet poppyseed dressing.  Delicious.  It is across the street from the Mission Road Antique Mall were Macy has a booth called the Black Curio.  We dropped a few things off at her booth and I went to find the tiny dice that I had seen there.  I think they will find there way into some new jewelry I have been designing.

The deer skull and antlers have been an ongoing conversation I have been having with my husband.  I think it is beautiful and I just love the way it looks in the reading nook.  Dan has a different opinion, he thinks it is a little creepy.  I guess it's just the science geek coming out in me...I love fossils and natural elements.

Marcy and I have decided to share a challenge called "Up to No Good" where we go into one of our favorite junking shops, make our selections and then put together a mixed media piece using only what we found, paint, and wire, screws, etc. to join the pieces together that represents our theme of - Up to No Good.

We had alot of fun browsing and putting together our elements for the mixed media work we would put together.

After our junking jaunt, Marcy and I went down to the Hobbs Building in the West Bottoms of Kansas City to see studio space she is considering for her sculpture work.  It looks like the perfect space for her.

We then stopped in for a late afternoon cocktail at a local eatery in the West Bottoms.  I had an Elderflower Spritzer - it was elderflower liqueur, pinot grigio wine and spicy ginger ale.  Delicious and very refreshing.

We had a fun afternoon together in spite of the high temperatures in the 100s we are experiencing here in the Kansas City area.

Tonight, we went to our favorite BBQ restaurant - Oklahoma Joe's.  They have this fantastic sandwich call the Chicken Z Man, and it is delicious.  A smoked chicken breast, two onion rings, mozarella cheese, mayo, and BBQ sauce on a toasted bun.  It's heaven on earth.

Make Time for Nature

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature and it will never fail you."

- Frank Lloyd Wright

So many wise women left so many great comments filled with sage advice after my last posting and I encourage you to view the comments for inspiration when creativity is stagnate in your life.  One common bit of advice was the suggestion of turning to nature for inspiration and healing.

Taking this advice, I returned to our farm in the country and after a few days I became more grounded and  had a better idea of where I am presently and which direction I wanted to explore.  Time spent at the farm seems to ground me, it seems to stop the whirling of my mind and brings a peaceful steady rhythm back into my life.

I am so blessed to have this place deep in the country on the prairie and the generosity of spirit from some brilliant women that follow my blog and take the time to lend a helping hand by offering a bit of their wisdom to me when I need it most.  I am so thankful for that.

 This farm is my true home now, and no matter where I travel or where I sleep, it is the place I long to return to again and again.  It's nice to feel a connection to a place that makes you feel so connected.

This is the owl that lives at the farm with her mate.  Each evening at dusk they arrive to perch on the gutters of the house or in the limbs of the oak trees.  After many failed attempts I managed to get a photo of them which led us to pull a book from the shelves and the closest match we could find is the Barred Owl.  Just look at those eyes...

Look at the size of this majestic owl perched on the gutter.  It's a huge bird with a wing span of about 5-6 feet.  Their flight is completely silent and they will swoop from the trees making no sound at all.  As big and powerful as they are we have seen smaller birds chase them away whenever they get to close to their nests.   The owl will soar past with a smaller bird close behind squawking loudly.

Look at this great sweater with the knitted owls encircling the neckline.  It's that time of year that my mind begins to wander to knitting projects for the Fall.  I am currently working on some super soft open mittens in a vibrant grape yarn.

They are so soft and will be great hand warmers this Fall when hiking on my favorite trails. The color of this year reminds me of grape juice.  For the knitting enthusiasts out there - this is my favorite knitting pattern site called Knitty.com.

Summer Zinnias that grace my table are one of the joys of the season for me.  I plant them every year and can't imagine Summer without them in my garden or tucked into a vase on my table.  Their vibrant colors seem to scream Summer - reds, pinks, yellow, orange - the colors of my Summer.

Over the weekend, I harvested more elderberries to juice, helped my parents process 85 pounds of tomatoes from their garden, did a bit of junking, read a book, and enjoyed snapping some shots of the farmhouse.  I am still learning how to use my new lens, but I think I am beginning to get idea.

One of my favorite farmhouse finds that I hung on the wall next to a delicate embroidered curtain in my living room window.  I like the play of something so delicate and feminine next to such a masculine farm shovel.   I love the wooden handle and the unusual galvanized metal scoop with the open tines.  I believe someone told me that it is a potato shovel for scooping potatoes from storage bins.

If anyone has any ideas how this shovel was used on the farm, please share the information.  It is the only one of it's kind that I have seen at the various farm auctions I have attended.

Another little raccoon in the dry creek bed at the farm over the weekend.  He was looking for minnows and crawdads in the puddles in the creek bed.  Oblivious as he went about foraging or did he just not care that I was parked on the bridge snapping photos of him.  Even when I whistled or called out to him to look my way....he just kept focused on the task at hand - searching for an afternoon snack.  Another lesson from nature - being in the moment.

Lovely tarnished silver continues to thrill me.  I love the soft glow of the silver shining through the layers of tarnish.  I use it under bouquets of flowers in crystal vases, as coasters for my coffe table, on my dresser to hold my jewelry, as back drops for my china cabinet, and on my fireplace mantel.

I also am drawn to enamelware containers.  This is my composting pot that I keep in the kitchen to collect potato peelings, onion skins, salad bits, tomato skins - well, you get the idea.  This enamelware commode is perfect for the task - form and function!  It's roomy, has a lid and a nice wooden handle to carry it out to the composting bin.  If you like this composting container, I will be adding a few to my Etsy site soon.

My mother, was amused that I would use a commode for a composting container and wasn't sure if it was appropriate for the kitchen given it's checkered past.  She also thinks it's rather strange to hang a dried weed on the wall.  However, she is my biggest fan and loves to come over and wander from room to room to see my latest addition to the decor usually saying - I would have never thought to do that...

Like this whirling vintage GE fan sitting on one of my favorite green stools that has such a great patina of green chippy paint.  There is something so nostalgic about the sound the fan makes as it whirs and oscilates back and forth on the stool.  My parent's had stories to share about fans like this when they were young.

My Mom told the story of the oscillating fan that was so noisy keeping her awake at night as a child and her sister in law in the bedroom down the hall that would fall asleep listening to a transistor radio balanced on her stomach each evening that would wake everyone up when she rolled over and the radio clattered to the hardwood floor in her bedroom.

There's something so comforting about the nostalgia of stories from childhood shared as the sun begins to fade in the West. 

Blessings - Julie

Collecting Elegance - Finds From the Weekend

det mysiga heestrand

Collecting Elegance will be the new title for my weekly offerings to you replacing Fabulous Finds.  I think the new title is a bit more fitting, after all isn't that what we do?  We gather elegant items for our homes that soothe us and create an atmosphere of understated elegance...

Bringing in these lovely items creates a calming effect in our personal havens where we rest and escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Children's Rosary from Italy - Purchase Here

I love rosaries in general and have an extensive collection, but my very favorite rosaries are the small versions made for children.  This one is especially sweet with tiny opaque white glass beads and a tiny silver crucifix made in Italy.  Drape it over a lampshade, hang it in a window, place in a tiny crystal bowl or lay on top of a vintage Bible.

paul massey

I have been gathering tarnished silver pieces, vintage linens, beautiful worn books, kitchen enamelware, old cork bottles in lovely shades of blue and artist odds and ends that I will photograph this week and present to you next week.  I love them all!

Vintage Brass Hose Nozzle - Purchase Here

I love these old brass garden hose nozzles and use them in alot of my displays because they remind me of my love of gardening.  When I can't be in the garden, I like to surround myself with vintage items from the garden.  Old plant markers, hose nozzles, garden tools, vintage seed packets and gardening books.  It's the next best thing...to being in the garden with my hands in the dirt.

paul massey

Blending the old with the new makes me happy, it's the perfect blend of vintage meets modern design.  Good design will always be good design...making all eras interchangeable.  It's a sophisticated eclectic style that I love in my home.

det mysiga heestrand

I have decided to replace some of my cabinetry in the kitchen with white open shelving to display my vintage kitchen pieces.  I have been collecting vintage hardware to add hooks to the bottom of the shelves.  I must reproduce the tiny fly screen cabinet, too.  Don't you just love it?

Spring is such a wonderful frenetic time of year, with all the activity after months of being cooped up inside, it's so much fun to dash outside and bring blossoms inside from the garden.  The challenge for me is to always have fresh blossoms to snip and place in vases inside throughout the growing season. 

I picked up the prettiest white geraniums and lavender petunias for my front porch that I can't wait to plant in a hanging wire basket.  The smell of sweet petunias as you come and go is a sweet indulgence.

What are you planting in containers this year?  Have you found anything special lately at the antique markets?Any Spring projects going on?  I'd love to hear about them.

Vintage Star Colander - Purchase Here

Vintage colanders have an abundance of uses other than the obvious - washing fresh strawberries from the Farmer's Market.  They also make great candle holders on tables in the evenings on your screened in porch.  They cast delecate star shapes as the candle flickers inside.  They also make great bowls for pistaschios, candy or fresh fruit.  Like any bowl, the usefulness is endless.

Enjoy the week, my friends....may you have gentle rains for your Spring gardens, warm sunshine on your shoulders and soft grass beneath your feet.

Blessings - Julie

Fabulous Finds From the Weekend

Do you ever think to yourself - Where did the week go?  Last week I spent a two days working in the shop in preparation for a Mother's Day weekend show with two other remarkable ladies, Karen and Laurie.  Karen's specialty is primitives, wicker and Swedish design - her offerings are amazing.  Laurie creates the most unique potted containers using primitive and antique vessels - gorgeous.

I also spent time designing our post card for the mailing that will go out later this week and tags for the finds for the show, it's a fun process.

French Vintage Readers - Purchase Here

Yes, these are vintage readers from France in creamy white with just the right amount of rhinestones at the corners with two different magnifiers and the best part -  they are from France.  Fun, romantic and useful - it doesn't get any better than that!  Don't need readers.  Look how fabulous they look just tucked into a display...sitting on top of a vintage guide book of Paris....ooh la la.

I also spent time packaging jewelry and vintage goodies to be shipped within the US, but also to Australia and Finland.  I love to package my offerings in a special way using lovely tissue papers, ribbon, and then tucking in a truffle, a saint charm, holy card or other vintage goodie to surprise the recipient.

Jeanne de Arc Living

Vintage Rosary from Italy - Purchase Here

Of course, I have to squeeze in a photo shoot for the week's fabulous finds and get them up online for you to browse each week.  It's alot of fun setting up the shot and then working to get a good pic for the blog.

I also squeeze in a bit of time searching for the goods...it's something I enjoy and it gets me out and about in this beautiful Spring weather we are having.  Special requests are always welcome from those that collect things that aren't readily available in their city.  Let me know what you collect and I will add it to my list of items that I look for.

Vintage Silver Creamer and Sugar - Purchase Here

The weekend was spent at the farm in the country...it was sublime...the birds were singing and the honeybees were buzzing around the blossoms on the fruit trees.  I cleaned out a flower bed, planted three white peonies and prepared the bed for annuals to be planted in the upcoming weekend.

Potatoes, red and white onion sets and sweet peas were planted in the vegetable garden.  A strawberry patch was planted at my Dad's house in his garden.  We tucked 125 strawberry plants into the bed on Saturday morning with my Dad, crawling around the patch on hands and knees while shooing Lucy, the black lab away whenever she tried to get into the patch with us.  She's the sweetest dog, but has no true appreciation for little green strawberry plants - plopping down on them wagging her tail in the process.

Hand Forged Square Nails - Purchase Here

I love vintage hand forged square head nails which are harder and harder to find these days.  They are perfect for altered art projects and fun to tuck into altered art books, collages, and assemblage art pieces.  Use them for the legs of an assemblage doll, use them horizontally as a hinge or a book, or allow them to be part of a dangle.  They are charming and nostalgic and represent a simplier time.  These nails are three inches in length.

Lila Blanka

Make a garland from vintage tiny bottles and vintage clips for a mirror - tuck in a few blossoms from the Spring garden and you have the perfect welcome in your foyer or guest bath.  Or hang in your child's bedroom window...so sweet.

Vintage Receipt Spike - Purchase Here

Old receipt nail in vintage metal in just the right shade of blue/green that would be perfect on your desk, in a window or on a shelf...use them to hold a to do list, write 25 things you are grateful for on small squares of paper and place on the spike - then pull on off each day to remind yourself of what's really important in your life...  or 25 things you love about your spouse, kids, etc.

Vintage Skeleton Key - Purchase Here

Vintage skeleton keys are always a favorite and look great wired to a vintage bottle, suspended in a sunny window, or use them in your altered art, assemblage and jewelry making endeavors.  You can't go wrong with an interesting skeleton key.  I have a friend that uses hers for a key ring...

Lilla Blanka

Vintage Brass Hose Nozzle - Purchase Here

Vintage brass hose nozzles are another of my favorite things that make me happy.  I tuck them onto shelves in groups, insert a copper wire with a hook at the end into the top for a charming stand for rings in the kitchen, or put them in an ironstone bowl as a fun garden inspired bowl filler.

I hope you enjoy this week's offerings and that you have a week filled with fun Spring projects.  I am off to buy trees this week to plant at the farm.  I am looking for white pines, a honey crisp apple tree, an anjou pear, a dogwood tree, a few ornamental pines, pin oaks, a tulip tree and a dark burgundy maple.  We are having a tree planting party at the farm over the upcoming weekend and hope to plant 21 trees!

Then we will work on filling the vegetable garden with seeds...

What Spring plantings are going on at your house?

Fabulous Finds from the Weekend

Jeanne d' Arc Living

There are some days when you stumble upon one of those obscure antique shops that doesn't look promising from the outside - it actually looks a bit shady...  You wonder should I stop in, is it worth the time to park the car and go inside, is it safe to go in alone? 

 So, you pull the car off the highway, park the car and go inside - you take a chance...

Let's browse the kitchen goods....

Silver Glass Salt and Pepper Set - Purchase Here

I love the way vintage glass looks, it has a distinctive warbled effect that is beautiful in the light.  The round shape and little silver tops drew me to this salt and pepper set immediately.

I venture inside the musty and rather dark flea market and the first thing I see as my eyes adjust to the dim lighting is fishing tackle!  I thought to myself, "Julie, what have you gotten yourself into this time?"  I could feel a sense of dread as the musty smell became stronger as I walked past the first booth filled with fishing gear.

Pastry Extruder - Purchase Here

My mind began to race with ideas when I saw this pastry set with disks in so many different shapes.  This pastry set could be put into service in your kitchen or  the metal disks could be used in altered art projects like a halo for an angel's head, or fill with disks with resin for an interesting pendant, add a pin back for an interesting broach base or use them in an assemblage piece....the possibilities are endless.

The next booth was filled with vintage books, post cards, and loads of lovely kitchen items...my heart begins to beat a little faster as I start filling my first basket with vintage goods.  In an instant I am so glad that I took a chance and mustered the courage to venture inside.

Silver Tea Bag Strainer - Purchase Here

If you love hot tea as much as I do, you must have a pretty silver tea bag strainer for you favorite tea cup.  Add a little elegance to you life whenever you can....it will make you smile each time you make your afternoon tea.

The next few booths were filled with "junk" and not the good kind.  I was still excited by the second booth and all it's treasures so I moved forward into the maze of booths with walls made of chicken wire filled with determination to find something else worthwhile.  I knew that I would find another booth filled vintage silver, ironstone, wireware and vintage antiques from Europe - all of my favorite things.... if I just took my time and really looked closely.  The booths were filled with new, old, weird and occassionally - wonderful items.

Now let's go browse the found industrial objects.....

As I moved methodically through the booths,  I began to find objects that give personality and interest to altered books, jewelry designs and assemblage work and my heart began to beat faster once again.

Vintage Nibs - Purchase Here

Vintage nibs with a great patina and just the right amount of rust are great additions to your assemblage, altered art or jewelry making endeavors.  Celebrate the love of the written word by adding these nibs to your art.

Something caught my eye.... What is that in the dingy ziploc baggy?  Oh my, it that vintage bottle caps?  Are they really vintage and not reproduction?  Yes!  They are the real thing!  The baggy goes into the basket and I scour the booth for another one...but, there is only one to be found.

Vintage RC Cola Bottle Caps - Purchase Here

I love these RC Cola bottle caps in red and white with our United States Presidents stamped inside the caps... how fun are these caps?

Antique Door Knob Set - Purchase Here

Look at the detail on this Door Knob Set that is ready to adorn a vintage door inside your home or just tuck it into a tabletop arrangement - either way it's fantastic...

In the dim light of the booths vintage silver takes on a special glow, you can see the bright silver shining through the tarnished surface and it is really beautiful.  I could imagine the pieces at night with a candle burning close by casting shadows onto the silvery surface...sigh...it's so beautiful. 

 Then I see this little silver baby's cup with engraving on the side celebrating the birth of a son from long ago... How precious to hold this tiny silver cup and "feel" the loving welcome this little boy received at his birth - the celebration of a new addition to a family.  Precious.  My heart feels full and the cup goes into the basket.

Baby's Silver Cup - Purchase Here

A vintage silver cup engraved with Baby's name and date of birth would be perfect to hold paper clips, tiny florals, Q-tips.... what would you put inside or would you just place on a shelf in your kitchen?

I go back outside into the warm sunshine and fresh air carrying my box of new found treasures and feel a sense of pride that I had the courage to take a chance, conquer my fear and reap the reward of a chance taken.

What is your favorite story of "a chance taken"?

Blessings - Julie

Fabulous Finds From the Weekend

 

Image Courtesy of Jeanne de Arc Living

Over the weekend, I did a little antiquing and found some things to share with you.  

Silver Bowl - Purchase Here

Little silver bowls are perfect for seashells, acorns, jewelry, rosaries, little beach pebbles or a base for a candle - perfect for any arrangement.

It has been very cold here, but it seems that the sun will be shining on us once again today.  Halleluya!  It's something to get excited about around here as Winter continues to cover us with snow and cold temperatures.  Our family is sharing a cold virus that started with the youngest and is now making it's way around the family.

Small Ornate Candlesticks - Purchase Here

Tiny candlesticks are very ornate and small enough to tuck into any display where you want to add a touch of romance.

I did manage to get out of the house and travel to Hannibal, Missouri over the weekend where I found these antiques.  My husband was attending a historic wooden floor restoration workshop, so I went along and spent the days wandering while he was in class.....

I spent the morning browsing shops and then had lunch at a little tea house where I had a delicious spinach salad with mandarin oranges, cranberries and walnuts.  My Earl Grey tea was served in a vintage teapot with a vintage cup and saucer along with home made raisin bread.  Yummy! It was so wonderfully quaint and feminine...  I sat by the fireplace and read a vintage letter I found at an antique store written by a young woman who was staying at a hotel in 1896... it was a sublime moment.

Tiny Alarm Clock from Germany - SOLD

This little alarm clock from Germany is only three inches square and has glow in the dark hands.  It has the most charming tic.tic.tic sound which reminds me of my Grandmother's house as a child.

The first day was busy and fun, and then it began to snow... and snow.... and snow....  I had planned a trip to Quincy, Illinois which is across the Mississippi River from Hannibal the following day.  

I decided to venture out in spite of the snow and drove across the Mighty Mississippi - it took 18 Mississippi's to make the crossing.  I'll translate that for my international friends...  Here in the States, we count as children - One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three Mississippi and so forth as it takes approximately one second to say each one.  

As children we count the time between lightning flashes and the rumble of thunder to gauge how close the storm center is to us at night in our beds... in an effort to console ourselves.  We have violent thunderstorms in the Midwest during the Summer and they can be scary for the little ones.  Our parent's teach us this little trick to reassure us that we are not in danger.  Once we learn this counting method we use it during storms, games of hide and seek or just for fun as an adult to gauge just how wide the Mississippi River really is as we drive across.

Vintage Sewing Bobbins - SOLD

Vintage sewing bobbins are great for altered art projects or look great in an ironstone dish.  Use them in your jewelry making endeavors, add them to a chipped paint board with a screw for a whimsical hanger for artwork...

When I arrived in Quincy which is a lovely town filled with remarkable Victorian homes it was covered in snow and all of the shops were closed for the day.  It was disappointing, but not everyone has a four wheel drive vehicle so I am sure that there would not have been alot of shoppers that day.  That's the way of antiquing, you never know how the day will turn out which is part of the excitement.  I did enjoy driving around the city sightseeing in spite of the snow which I thought was really beautiful.

I love putting garlic, fresh ginger root and shallots in ironstone platters in my kitchen they seem to go together so well.  

It was an adventure traveling to Hannibal and Quincy over the weekend.  The shops were filled with friendly folks ready for conversation and to offer assistance when needed.   My husband's workshop went well and I had fun getting out of the house and exploring a bit.  I did miss my puppies while we were gone over the weekend, which was mutual.  Molly chortled and yipped in happiness at our return and Angus was at the door to welcome us as we arrived.

Tiny Dancer Silver Ring Caddy - SOLD

Isn't she pretty, a tiny silver dancer to hold your jewelry or to just look pretty on a dresser or shelf.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and that some of you had sunny, warm weather where you are...we were in the teens here in the prairie lands.  The landscape is all dressed in white, gray, blue, and driftwood tones - it really is beautiful.  There is more snow in the forcast for the upcoming weekend...