More Vintage Finds

Over the last couple of months, I've added a few more mid-century treasures to our home.  The first is thanks to my mother and the thrift store near her house.  This sofa was only $49!  Although I do like the fabric, it has seen better days and is faded and stained.  I'd like to get it recovered at some point.

 

This coffee table was $8, a find from a tour of part of The World's Longest Yard Sale.

 These Boling "Changebak" chairs were free!  They had been sitting under a covered entrance to one of our church buildings for several years, and I finally asked if they were being used by anyone.  Since they were not needed, the church was happy to have someone take them.  I am currently sanding them down for a fresh coat of stain.

 Lastly, a ceramic and wood table lamp ($2), a set of 6 Vera linen napkins ($3), and part of a set of Youngstown cabinets.  This cabinet is part of a set that had to be split up a bit since I didn't have space for all of the pieces.  I do have one other cabinet with an extended top and a separate table complete with hairpin legs.  My parents kept 2 of the cabinets, so they're all in the family at least.

 A closeup of the napkins and the boomerang top of the cabinet.

 

I can't wait to go treasure hunting again!

Vintage Finds

 I wanted to share some of the vintage items my mom and I have found since I have moved.  Below is a side table I found at an antique store.  It has the typical mid-century modern style that has become quite popular these days.  It has been refinished and is a great piece.

 This is an area rug my mother found at an estate sale.  I don't know much about it other than it was made by Sears and does look fairly old because of the style of label and the wear it has.  It happens to match our bedding perfectly! 

 This is a pair of Italian made dining chairs I found at a consignment store.  They look a bit more like office chairs, but I fell in love with the subtle floral upholstery and the metal detail on the sides.

More to come!

 

Sunscreen

Last year I wrote about trying to find a cruelty-free, paraben-free, and oxybenzone-free sunscreen without spending a small fortune.  The one I went with last summer was Nature's Gate.  It ended up being just okay, but a bit too tacky.  I'm happy to report that this summer I have found one that is both more affordable and easier to use.  It is Ocean Potion Anti-Aging Sunblock, and is available both online and in stores (I bought mine at Wal-Mart).  Their products were already paraben and cruelty-free, but they recently reformulated their products to be oxybenzone-free as well. It absorbs easily and has a pleasant smell.  Problem solved.

Right Now I'm...

Feeling a little overwhelmed.  I've let my blog fall to the wayside for quite a long time now, but it's not been forgotten.  I have several posts in mind that I need to get to, mostly involving crafting and vintage finds.  Last month, my family and I moved to a home built in 1958.  It still has lots of original features such as 2 bathrooms complete with original tilework and chrome fixtures.  I love both of them as they have been well cared for over the years.  We have a formal living room that needs some seating, and I have made it a goal to furnish it in period appropriate pieces and within a slim budget.  I'd like to find as much as I can at thrift stores and estate sales.  I will post pictures shortly of a few of the mid-century pieces that we've gotten, mostly with the help of my mom who is an estate sale queen.  So, this is the beginning again for my blogging endeavor.  Hopefully I can learn this time around to be more focused and proactive.

Terrarium

Lately I've seen lots and lots of terrariums on Pinterest and various other sites. Since I have a backyard full of beautiful moss, I thought I should jump on the terrarium bandwagon. I didn't actually read any directions on how to put one together until after I was done. I have since learned that I should have lined the bottom first with a layer of small rocks followed by some activated charcoal. Since this one isn't fully enclosed, it may be okay without the charcoal. So far it still looks okay after 2 weeks. I used 2 different kinds of moss, some lichen, and a small evergreen seedling. I think my daughter's Squinkies look great in it too!

Embroidered Bag

This is the project I referred to in my previous post.  I got this bag for free and it is a great size for carrying books, craft projects, etc...   It was like a blank canvas asking for some embellishment, and the front zippered pocket seemed like the perfect spot for some embroidery.  I can't wait to get it finished so I can actually use it, but it's slow going.  I haven't decided if I'm going to fill in the circles or just leave them with the outline.  Any thoughts?

Right Now I'm...

Okay, I actually saw this on another blog which had been copied from yet another blog, and I thought I would copy it as well.  Shameless, huh?
Right now I'm...reading Shanghai Girls.  I have to saw I'm not enjoying it all that much yet, but will keep reading either until I can get into it more or really can't read any further.  I used to have a feeling that once a book was started, I had to finish it, but these days, if I'm not fully enjoying it I move on.  There just isn't enough time to spare.
...watching Once Upon a Time.  I absolutely love this show!  I watch religiously every Sunday evening and the wait not-so-patiently for next week's episode.  I didn't think I would enjoy a series based on fairy tales, but there is so much depth to each story line and character that I'm hooked. 
...working on getting more items in my Etsy shop.  There is not much to see yet as time with two young children plus my poor time management skills has not been very conducive to my productivity.
...working on embroidering a bag for personal use.  I need to upload a picture as soon as I get a chance.