Flea Fallin'

Hi Everyone!

Hope you all enjoyed the weekend.  It certainly was spectacular around here - just the perfect fall day.  Mr. Bluebird and I headed out early Sunday morning to the Elkhorn Flea Market - my favorite.  It is only four or five Sundays a year and this one was the last one of the season.  Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

One of the things I bought today was a $7.00 bundle of bittersweet.  This particular vendor had the best looking bundles and at a really terrific price.  Look at the vibrant colors - they just glow!!  I laid my bundle across my old scale in our front entry. 

One of the first vendors we came upon had this yelloware Purina Mink Chow dish sitting all by itself on a table and he was asking $10.00 - tried to dicker him down, but he wouldn't budge.  Ten dollars was a fabulous price, so I couldn't walk away.  He told me he had a few more in a box underneath the table.  Be still my heart!!!  I wanted them all, but settled for this burgundy one along with a square burgundy dish.  Deal of the day. In fact, I had laid them out on the table to decide which ones I wanted and another lady almost absconded with them!!!  There would have been punches thrown if I did not get my two dishes!!!

The round one looks quite charming under my lamp on the sideboard.

 For now, I just plopped my wax melter on the square one, but I know it will  find a different home soon. I am madly in love with the shape of this dish.

I have to share with you the story of how I came to even know these "mink chow" plates existed.  Last week I was looking through EBay at Purina feed sacks. I wanted to pick a couple up for a project I've been wanting to do.  I didn't find any I liked or at a price I wanted to pay, but I did find the green Purina dish you see in the picture below.

There were only two or three for sale on this particular day and I knew I had to have it.  Something about it just spoke to me and I had never seen these before. Well, with shipping, this dish made it to my doorstep for the paltry (cough, cough) sum of $58.00!!! I thought I had gotten a deal.

And then of course, today at the flea market, the first thing I see are six of these things for $10.00 a piece!!! Oh well, I was happy with the price I paid before I got to the flea market so that's the way it is.  I am pretty darned thrilled to have found two more - especially the square dish, at such a great price.  I just love them.  Three's my limit, though.  The collection is officially closed!!  I think they will be turning up in numerous spots around the house as time goes on, lots of creative things to do with them.  And if Mr. Bluebird decides to start mink ranching, well - we have three dishes already bought and paid for. Lol!

I also had the opportunity to meet a fellow blogger who I knew lived close by to my house, Karen from My Colonial Home.  From the distance, I could see a vendor who had lots of fabrics at their booth and there was a familiar face, that I recognized from her profile pic, holding up a piece of wool.  I knew it had to be Karen since I know of her love for wool for all her beautiful crafting! So I scooted on over there and introduced myself.  It was so nice to finally meet her.  Be sure to check out her wonderful blog - she has a fabulous home and often writes about her travels, too.

We had to keep our flea marketing short as Mr. Bluebird had a golf game and I wanted to be home to get the house ready for our daughter who is flying in tomorrow.  She has been gone since July and is home for a week or so until she flies off again to parts unknown for her job as a leadership consultant for her sorority.  We are so excited to have her back home again, even it is for just a few days.

Hope you are enjoying these fall days....we'll be talking Thanksgiving and Christmas before you know it!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Linking with:
Southern Hospitality Thrifty Treasures
Amaze Me Monday
Masterpiece Monday
Monday Funday
DIY Sunday Showcase
Metamorphosis Monday
Show and Share
The Scoop
Inspire Me Tuesday
Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party
Wow Us Wednesday
Treasure Hunt Thursday

Aged Wal-Mart Olive Bucket Reveal - At Last!

Hi Everyone!

Happy first full day of fall!  I don't know how those calendars keep ticking off so fast, but they surely do!!! It is a fabulous, sunny fall day here in my part of the world - definitely a keeper.

Today I am finally going to show my Wal-Mart olive bucket that started out looking like this:

I told you about my find here.  After applying a bleach and vinegar solution that I found on the internet to help age my bucket, I wasn't overly impressed with my results.  I then used Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach and boy oh boy - that is the ticket folks! 

This is what it looked like a few days after the Lysol treatment.  A month or so later........

And here it is all decked out for fall in a little corner of my kitchen.

See the rust and the crusty, chippy finish? Just what I was looking for! (Mr. Bluebird is still shaking his head over that. But hey? Again, I say, is this our first date or something? This should not be a surprise!)

For the picture, I grabbed the quilt I bought when we were in Branson this past spring and just draped it on my hutch, tied it with some fabric and added a little pumpkin basket.  I also added a little sunflower sweatered teddy bear just for fun.  Remember when decorating with teddy bears every where was all the rage?  I add a gazillion of those things.  Now I think this is the only one I have left and he just comes out to strut his stuff in the fall. Times change.

I am not sure where this olive bucket is going to turn up next in my house, but I really do love it a bunch.  With only an investment of a little toilet cleaner and about a month or so of waiting for it to weather outside, I think it looks great.

Wishing you wonderful first week of fall!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Linking with:
Amaze Me Monday
Metamorphosis Monday
Make it Pretty Monday
Show and Share
Boogieboard Cottage
Inspire Me Tuesday
Tweak it Tuesday
Les Chateau des Fleurs
The Scoop
Twirl and Take a Bow
Wow Us Wednesday
Party in Your PJ's
Grace at Home
Saturday Sparks

The Power of Words

Hi everyone,

Just dropping in with a super quick post about a really terrific quote my niece shared on Facebook.

Being empty nesters, this quote just seemed so powerful to me and I wanted to share it with you!  I do not know the author, and I did shorten it up just a bit to fit on my chalk board at home. This hangs in our foyer and is visible from our living room. I usually have something seasonal, or a birthday greeting, etc.  This one just really struck me.

Have a great weekend everyone!!
Jane

Fellow Bloggers: Can You Help a Girl Out?

Hi everyone,

I have a blogging question and I know someone out there has the answer!

Edited 9/22/14:  Thanks everyone for all your great tips and patience!!! From your great advice, I was able to get my replies on track and know my answers/responses are going to my sweet readers.  Thanks so very much to all!!!!! J

It is about replying to comments on a post:

If I  reply to a comment on one of my posts, using the reply button - does the person who left the comment receive that in an email or would they actually have to come back to my post to see if there was any kind of response?

I have been replying this way and I am worried that my readers are not seeing my reply.  I don't want my readers to feel I don't value their visits - because I do!!!! So much.

Any one out there know the answer?  How do you reply to comments on your blog?

Many thanks,
Jane

Early Fall Mantel

Hi Everyone!

I've been adding a little fall here and there. My approach to fall decor has toned down dramatically the past few years - just taking a simpler approach.  At least simpler to me! I still like lots of "stuff."  But, I don't enjoy taking it all down and I also really like to showcase some of my favorite fall things, which can get lost in the crowd if you do too much seasonal decor.

The fall mantel, 2014:

Just a woven and metal basket filled up with pumpkins and fall picks. I also added two roosters, lifting them up on vintage scales for a little height and movement in the arrangement.

I also used two large floral sprigs on each side of the basket, and used those cool, tiny, battery-operated light sets - one for each side.  I picked those up for just $2.99 each at Menards - and they even have a timer! Super deal.  I pulled some of the light set away in the picture below to show you just how thin the wire is and how small the lights are.  They tuck right in and the wires cannot be seen.  They give off great light, too.  Can't wait to pick some up for Christmas time - I can think of a jillion places to use them.

*Look to the right and forefront of the picture to see the wires.

There you have it! Simple and sweet - it looks so pretty at night.

I will be adding more fall decor as the season goes on, and of course, filling in with some jack o lanterns and hauntingly fun pieces once October arrives.  Then, it will be the turkeys and Thanksgiving things.  Just love this time of year and all the coziness it adds to the house.

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Linking with:
DIY By Design
Party in Your PJ's
Grace at Home
Home Sweet Home

So Close (And Yet So Far)

Hi Everyone!

The kitchen chairs are finally done.  Even though they were a beast to do, and I am not in love with working with chalk paint - at least this first attempt - , I am so happy with how they turned out.

Here is where we started:  Loved the black, but my kitchen was feeling a little too dark and somber for me. The tapestry chair cushions (which matched the wing chair in the living room) were also starting to feel a bit blah and needed an update.  A little lightening up was in order.

The new, main color of the chairs (primer coat - yes, I had to use primer with the chalk paint, grrr)....

With a little zesty color thrown in (and three others not shown!).....

All ready for their new cushions,....

I am waiting for the wax on the chairs to cure for a few days before attaching the newly covered cushions, and Mr. Bluebird needs to raise my curtain rod a few inches for my curtain panels.  I am also saying goodbye to our patio door vertical blinds.  We had bought them years ago because we thought it would help our dog with his lightning anxiety during storms.  They don't - never have, never will - so bye, bye, bye verticals!

And so.....the final reveal is still a few days off,  I will say that I am so delighted with how they turned out - just the amount of brightening and lightening this space needed.  Looking forward to showing you all!

Happy Monday!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Scents & $centsability (Wal-Mart Style)!

Hi Everyone!

It is a cool, fall Saturday in my neck of the woods - 56 degrees! Brrrr! (yesterday the thermometer never reached 50.)  The average high for this time of the year is in the low seventies, so it is feeling a little brisk today.  Much more October-like than mid-September!

I'm a-ok with that - I'm a huge fan of weather like this.  Bring out the sweaters, the pumpkins, the fall scents! Bring. It. On.

Today I am going to share some thoughts on a few of my favorite scents of the season - at a bargain price.  I know I have said before that I absolutely adore Yankee Candles - oh I DO!!! But, they can get a bit pricey at times and one thing I adore more than Yankee Candles is infusing my house with the wonderful scents of the season.

In the past , I have shied away from WalMart candles.  They were cheap, had a waxy smell, and were very, very sooty.  No thanks.  I will stick with my higher priced Yankees, thank you very much.

But wait!! In the last year or so, those cheapy WalMart wax products have gone through a huge transformation and have gone from a sow's ear to a silk purse! Pinky swear.

Have you tried them lately? Their Better Homes & Gardens candles,under $4.00 for a medium jar, are amazing!  I don't know if the Wal-Mart Mainstays candles have changed, but today I am only commenting on the wonderful BH& G.  (Let me know if you've tried the Mainstays lately and what you think!)

I whipped up a little kitchen vignette of some of the fall scents I am crushing on this fall season.  (My dog to the right - well, he HATES my camera with a passion and was in the throes of a barking fit the entire time I shot these pics! Grrrr!)

   I am constantly using my wax melters (I have a bunch throughout the house).  This is one I have in the kitchen.  At $2.00 for a package of eight wax melts and $3.75 for a double pack, you just can't beat the price.  I usually use two of the cubes at a time - .50 worth, and that will last me two - three days of 12 hours use (36 hours total)!  As opposed to my old favorite of wayyyyy over a $1.00 (on sale) for a similar amount and burn time - that's a big savings, wouldn't you say?

Some of my fall favorites  I am using right now.  Yum!

Even more cool weather deliciousness!

The Better Homes & Gardens candles do not disappoint either. Long lasting, clean burning, and a true scent (not at all waxy), they are a great value.

The Fresh Apple Butter is one of my favorites.  The one shown burning is Simmering Apple Cider - awesome!

The cute carved kitty was a long ago purchase from a Country Folk Art Show that used to travel the country.  They even had a magazine at one time.  I know I am dating myself, but they had some really great shows "back in the day."

How about you? Do you turn to scents to warm up and spice up your home this time of year?  I do still adore my Yankee, and I still give up plenty of $$$ for their wonderful candles, but it sure is nice to find something at a bargain price that I use all of the time.

Have a great weekend!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Linking up with these fun parties:
Saturday Sparks
Treasure Hunt Thursday
Flaunt it Friday
Home Sweet Home
Amaze Me Monday
Coastal Charm Show & Share
Metamorphosis Monday
Boogieboard Cottage
Make it Pretty Monday
Inspire Me Tuesday
The Scoop
LouLou Girls Fabulous Party
Wow Us Wednesday
Party in Your Pj's
Grace at Home

The Black & White Alternative

Hi Everyone,

I have been promising to show you my mini master re-do for a long, long, LONG time.  To say the least, it has been a lengthy process for something that was no more than a redecorating project.  I finally have one side of the room done. However, for the life of me, I have not been able to get a decent group of pictures - the glare from the southern facing windows has just been too much lately. On the flip side, when I lower the shades, it comes out dark and funky looking.  I am the proud of owner of a basic point & shoot, which limits my photographic abilities dramatically. Boo to that.

Have no fear!  I made an executive decision today. having put off posting pictures long enough, I will show you the pictures in black & white! (Personally, I love the way everything looks in a black & white pic, so there wasn't a lot of arm twisting needed.)

Here I took a wide shot to include the bed, or at least part of it...just to give you a sense of  where the seating area is located.

As I shared last summer, I picked up the cool, vintage, lettered bench on one of my antiquing stops.  I think it is perfect for elevating my little faux woodburner.  The woodburner used to sit on the floor, but it just sort of got lost and really needed to be a focal point.  I love that little thing!  It is very cozy to have the "fire" on - you can use it with or without heat, so I can have the cozy factor in July if my little heart desires!

The rocker is an oldie my mom refinished years ago, when I was still a kid.  It used to sit in our kitchen and the five of us children would take our turns sitting in it, hanging out with our mom.  I remember sitting sideways, with my legs hanging over, putting on my makeup! Lol.

The curtain panels are no-sews, that I made with hemming tape and Pottery Barn clearance tablecloths.  I really like how they turned out.

I will throw this pic in just to "keep it real" and show you just how terrible the color and glare was on the pictures I took.  Oh my goodness, it looks like the circus exploded in my room.  Let me assure you, things - while colorful - are much more subtle and subdued.  I do have to admit that the burgandy wing chair to the left does not even remotely "go" with any of the fabrics in my room.  It's a good quality chair, though, and I am planning on recovering it soon - I just have not found the right fabric yet.  Suggestions?

So, there you have it - a tiny, black & white bit of my master bedroom re-do.  Still a smidge more to do, not much really.  Hopefully the finished room will be done soon, a camera upgrade will have happened, and I can share it all with you folks in living color!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Linking with these fun parties:

Grace at Home
Wow Us Wednesday
Find Your Voice Friday

Chair by Chair: The Update

Hi Everyone,

This chair thing is really taking a whole lot longer than I had planned.  This is my first foray into chalk paint, and I will tell you that I pretty much hate don't like it.  At all.  These babies would have been done long ago with traditional paint, with a nicer finish I think.  But........after some tweaking, the chairs are coming along and are going to be just great once they are done.  Whenever. That. Might. Be.

Let me say: don't believe a word of the no prep!! Not true. At least not for me.  I cleaned and sanded my pieces, as they were a very shiny, factory finish. The paint still would not adhere.  Luckily, I started with just the one panel.  After I sanded my first attempt off, I gave the chairs a coat of primer.

Now we're cooking with gas and the paint is staying on beautifully.  My main motivator for chalk paint originally was the no prep tantalizer, so that was disappointing to find out that I had to do just as much prep (and a lot more work) as if I was spraying them. Perhaps if my chairs had a different finish to start, things would have been different.  

Here is one  chair with a coat of primer, and a coat of chalk paint.  They have been taking 2 1/2 coats to get a nice finish.

And now - drum roll please - I told you I would be using all the of the paint colors I showed you in a previous post, just not in the way you would expect.  Here is a glimpse of what I did (bear in mind that most need a second coat, or were in the processing of being waxed when I took these photos:

I still have one more color to use, and the fifth chair will be left white. I have waxed the chairs with several coats of clear wax and I am pretty sure I will be using dark wax on just the colored portion of the chairs - the floral carving will pick up the dark wax quite nicely, and the colors will be slightly toned down.

Personally, I am loving the color combo!  I can't wait to get the upholstered seats re-fastened to the chairs and finish things up so I can share the finished product.

That's my update for now.  I am {this close} to being done.

Hope your weekend is going along great!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Linking to:

Find Your Voice Friday