Friday, May 28, 2010
Horses & Aprons & Fairs (oh my)
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Small Pink "Blanket?"
I made a quick dash into the thrift store last week and found lots of PINK and LOTS of vintage linens. They are in the wash now but I'll show you some later. I always hit the baby section in search of vintage baby blankets and there, I snapped this little thing up!
I couldn't resist that fat little cat with the ribbon around his neck. (Even if I don't like real cats!)
Notice the tag: "SMALL BLANKET." I didn't pay much attention to it. After all, most baby blankets ARE small but I use them as lap-throws so they work for me.
When I got it home and unrolled it ,it was no bigger than 20" x 24"! It would barely cover one leg! I think it is 100% wool and had been washed. Does anyone know if I can soak it and stretch it out again??? I've done that with cotton items but never with wool. Any ideas?
This little kitty is playing with a ball of green yarn. He's so cute and puffy!
Even at it's present size, it would still make a very sweet wall hanging for the cottage.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Rummage finds!
I just wanted to share a few goodies with you. I got this pretty little dish for a dime. It's only 3" wide but is perfect for holding my rings when I do the dishes.
I know it's chipped but I couldn't help falling in love with the little blue birdies landing so delicately on the tree. (click on the photo for a larger picture.)
Look at this adorable pendant! It actually started out as a keychain but after I found a nice silver chain to put it on, it started a new life. I just love the doe, so demure, in her apron.
Here is a stack of tiny "plates". I think they are coasters...well, at least that's what I'm using them for. They come in their own holder. Again, with the little birdies!
Two metal bed trays, you know, the kind that you can get breakfast in bed with? Each has a lovely sketch of the Eiffel Tower with the words "Paris Au Printemps" at the bottom. Anyone know what that means? I don't!
This last prize I got at an antique store for $8. Not exactly Garage Sale price, but when you figure out the price per card, it was well worth it! A box of 8 vintage New Baby cards! The graphics are precious. I've already sent out two of them.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Happy Mother's Day!
My "little" girl (18yrs and 4" taller than me!) made this beautiful crystal necklace for me in all my favorite colors...pink, pearl, silver and crystal. It SPARKLES!
My "big" girl (27yrs and 4" SHORTER than me...) made me this beautiful clock to hang in the cottage! She hand painted it from a photo of our Pondicherry Cottage. Isn't it perfect?
Here is the cottage, an old photo before we even had the porch redone:
And here is a close-up of the clock:
Didn't she do a great job?! She had to paint "around the tree" in the front yard to get the entire house in. It looks exactly like the real thing!
I've got one more special gift to show you. A sweet new friend, that is a regular at my thrift store, gifted me with a garage-sale-find. She said that when she saw it she knew it would go PERFECTLY in my house...and it DOES!
Look at this pretty little thing! Pink and rosey, it fits "just right" at my bedside. You are a SWEETHEART, Glennette! Thank you!
I think she said she paid a whopping $2 for it! That makes me love it even more!
Okay, just one more thing...I stopped at a yardsale on Fri and they were just setting up. "The sale really starts tomorrow, but you can look. Just ask if you don't see a price."
There were people digging through everything! With each item I picked up, the lady would say,"That's a quarter." She'd look at her friend and say "We are NOT taking this stuff home!"
I don't think I've ever been to a sale where "Early Birds" were encouraged!
I got a couple of really cute summer tops, some old Disney videos, an antique parasol and the tree skirt pictured below...
Now you are either gonna HATE it or LOVE it. I LOVE it and it will go under my tree next year. A few felt pieces are missing but easy enough for me to replace.
But it's the sequins and the ric-rac that I go GA-GA for! This picture doesn't do it justice. Click on it for a larger view. It really glitters! I also got an antique wash stand for a buck, but that will have to go in another post.
Happy Mexican Mother's Day today! ('specially to mi mama y mi hermanas!)
Love Rosie
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
How to Repair Old Plaster Frames
I went to my son's stash of modeling clay for a couple of blobs of Sculpey. (I use this for lots of cosmetic repairs on china and ceramics.)
At the same time, I replaced a larger piece missing from the scroll-work at the top of the mirror. Here, you can see the brown base color before I added the top layer of gold paint. (This piece had to be molded by hand because the corresponding scroll on the opposite side would have molded backwards...I learned this through trial and error! My dyslexic mind couldn't figure that out until I tried to make the mold!)
Here you can clearly see the patch but when I got the mirror hung, it was virtually invisible. You couldn't find it unless you were looking for it.
This is the first time I've tried this and it really was a simple fix. I am pleased with the results. The only thing I would do differently is to blend the patches a little better.