Monday's Bouquet

Uh Oh...I was running late this morning for work and I didn't get out into the flower garden to cut flowers for my Monday bouquet. My husband took a week's vacation and he has disrupted my usual morning routine. You girls know what I mean.

So I would like to share with you a previous photo of flowers I picked for a Spring bouquet.

They are not from my garden, they are violets growing wild from the field behind my house.

There is beauty in everything, if we just open our eyes, mind, and heart.

Happy Monday.

I'm in that mood again

Before you jump to any conclusions, I'm talking about a blue mood. Although Saturday was not a very good day for yard sale finds for Dona and I, I did find a few things the previous week at various sales. I couldn't pass up more blue and white. The single plate is called Birds of Paradise. I am trying to be more selective with the china I buy, not buying anything that is damaged, and even though this plate has a crack and small chip, the colors are so delicate and the scene is so graceful that I made an exception.

I also found a set of five dishes called Tulip Time made in England by Johnson Brothers. They too are not "perfect" with a few chips, but again I enjoy the scene.

I can envision a light Spring meal being served on these dishes.

Check out this cutlery. Now, I need some help. I have searched the internet and I can't find the name of this pattern. I hope I'm searching correctly. I'm assuming that this is vintage Corelle.

And what is china without a lovely linen. I bought an entire box of linens last week. The sale was a few blocks from my home so I walked up. You know I'm trying to do my part for the environment. I also thought if I walked I would think twice about buying anything big or expensive. It didn't work, rather than digging through the entire box, I offered them a price for everything. It was too heavy to carry home, so I ended up walking home and driving my car back for my finds. These are the linens that I have ironed so far.

And these are the ones that still need ironing. I'll get to them soon.

I did find something practical. A set of dishes for four for me. What do you know, they're blue.

For the love of wood

I love wood. Old wood.

There is a history that is to be imagined. It has a soul.

It is organic. It is sensual. It begs you to touch it.

The details tell a story.

Wood with patina. Wood with age. Wood with character.

Yes I love wood.

Monday's Bouquet

Day lilies, each bloom only lasts one day, so you must enjoy them as they bloom.

Just like life, enjoy each day for what it has to offer.

Happy Monday

Connie

The back story

Dena from Swaddle Cottage asked me about the story of the rug that Dona posted about. Now it's been a few Saturdays ago that Dona and I left the flea market that we were selling at and we stopped at an estate sale that had started the day before. Dona had been there the day before and couldn't believe the prices, cheap, practically giving the stuff away, so we went back to see if there was anything left. Now that day it was HOT, like almost 100 and my Honda was packed with my things that I brought for the flea market. And yes, I can pack alot of stuff in my little Honda Civic. Even Dona couldn't believe it. So anyway, we are walking around the house and yard at this estate sale and I found a rug on the back deck. It was $3. Ok I'll take it. Now how the heck am I going to add anything else in my car? Well the rug rolled up and folded and we stuck it on top of everything else putting it through the back window and diagnally across bringing it out the front passenger side window. Just a little, but I couldn't close my windows and the rug was face level and near my face and stunk and I did mention that it was about 100 degrees. By this point I was down right tired, sweaty and miserable. I just wanted to get home, get a cold glass of iced tea, unload the car and sit in the AC for the rest of the day.


I had to ask my son to get the rug out of the car, I just couldn't do it.


After all that...the colors didn't match the room I wanted to put it in and it was to big for the room that the colors did match. I called Dona and said if you want this rug, COME AND GET IT. I told her I don't deliver...it stinks. Of course it looks great in her library.


In a totally unrelated story, I went to a Thursday sale and bought some items I could handle easily.

This vintage necklace and pin. They are not a set, but the colors do match.

More silver. I can't get enough.

I couldn't leave this pin. Could this be the key to my future?

A sneak peak at the colors of a tole tray. This tray is in the best condition that I have ever seen, and I have had alot of tole. Not nearly a scratch on the front.

Have a good weekend and I will see you in a few days.

Connie

Come along with me

Welcome

I took a few days off to spruce up the place before I had company.

I see you found the side door.

follow me

watch your step

It's cool in the shade

And even cooler sitting and talking a spell.

As you can see it can be challenge to garden in the shade. Color is secondary to shades of greens and whites. Hostas, hydrangeas and daylillies are my friends. The day lillies are budding and just waiting to pop. I hope you can visit again when the colors are blooming.

More lucky finds

I can now show you what I've been up to this weekend. This is the chest that I found Friday that I had to go back and pick up. It has alot of character, meaning that it has seen alot of use, and maybe abuse, but I knew I would find a spot for it. This replaces the chest that I had in my dining room. I put that in my bedroom (another project which is not entirely done).

I love the patina on the wood. I know that alot of you are probaly thinking. Why isn't she painting that? Well I just can't paint good wood.

I found more books for the bookcase.

Now this table may be a contender for painting if I can't get the wood to look any better.

The wall sconses are just what my living room needs.

I would love to hang this chandalier in my power room. I'm not sure if I can do this myself because of our plaster walls. My second option is in the hallway.

I think I will put this in my powder room instead. There was only one fixture so the price was right.

I was not so fortunate to find these items for free like Dona. I spent my allowance for the week. I wish my budget was bigger, I could have filled up a truck with some beautiful things. I guess it's just as well. I'm going to be busy all week completing these new projects.

My lucky day

So who believes in bad luck on Friday the 13th? Not me. There is no good luck or bad luck, it's just a matter of being at the right place at the right time ...or the wrong place at the wrong time.

There was an estate sale on Friday morning, that I was itching to go to. I took a couple of hours off of work, went in late and Dona and I went to the estate sale. We really wanted to get into the house. The ad said A 130 year old house came with it's contents and the new owner needed to sell items to make room for their things. Now tell me, wouldn't you take a few hours off of work to go too? It was far away enough that Dona drove because if we found something big it was too far to go back to pick up your finds. Well we didn't get to go into the house and everything although very nice, was too overpriced for me. But on the way back home, we found about 6 yard sales and I did find a thing or two at them. Now she is telling stories about me, don't believe a word she says. Who is the one that finds the free stuff in the trash and does wonders with them? Dona. And who is the one who finds the big stuff that you need to go back and get the next day? Me.


It's 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night and I just got home from picking up the chest of drawers that I bought on Friday morning about 8:00 a.m.

The best I can do today is this picture of some pitchers that I found on Friday. The drawers to the chest, the chandelier, wall sconces, and crystal wall light fixture are still in my car. Hubby had a busy day and I think the chest of drawers is enough for him to handle for one day. After all, tomorrow is Father's Day.

I will share with you tomorrow the full bounty of the weekend.

Wishing all the fathers out there, a Happy Father's Day.

Connie

Monday's Bouquet

May the day be blooming with possibilities.

Happy Monday

Working for a living

Confucius say: Love what you do and you will never work again.

I am one of the many women that must work 9-5 for someone else, yet long to work 12 hour days/7 days a week for myself.

Even though I sit at some one else's desk by day doesn't mean that I can't bring some Magnolia Street Style with me. I live and breath antiques, vintage and collectibles, I want them around me at all times, so I have started to bring my style with me where ever I go.

I started simply enough by bringing in a bouquet of flowers from my garden...in a different vintage vase each week. Everyone loves the flowers and the vases.

I bought these items that were donated at work, the basket too, and made a little vignette that I left on my desk for a couple of days. It was so adorable I didn't want to bring it home. Where would I put these things if I did? Everyone loved it. I didn't realize how many people love linens.

It makes people stop and comment, and of course I LOVE to talk about what I do, you know as "my business" . I also get a pulse on what these women are interested in. I am getting more confident in my business ventures with each sale, each new connection, each customer that I meet.

The tea cup and saucer are just adorable. I think a tea party is in the near future.

This cute vase doesn't have any marks on it so I don't know it's history. Although it doesn't matter I fell for it anyway. It's white you know.

I could call this market research. Or I could call it my escape from the everyday grind.

I've been a bad blogger, focusing more on selling than on buying or blogging for the past couple of weeks. I will be getting things together tonight to bring to a Saturday flea market tomorrow. It's really tough to be selling on a Saturday and not buying, but that's business. More market research, I say.

I hope to take pictures to share with you. I'll visit with all of you soon.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Connie