Hollywood Regency Style

Today after work, I decided to stop by a new thrift store I haven't been to before. Boy oh boy am I glad I did! I walked out with 4 items total...:) Here they are....

First up is a sweet little frame. It is in desperate need of a paint job, but for fifty cent, I couldn't pass it up. It is about 7 inches in diameter and has very pretty raised detailing around the edges.

This planter was only $1. It has the cutest little feet and a pretty raised vine and flower design on the sides. I will paint it a pretty color and put a pretty annual in it on my porch I'm hoping we build this summer! I have a couple other tin planters that will be joining it as well.

I was thrilled to find this tiny cloche that fits perfectly on the display base I already had. I broke the one that came with it and have had a bigger one sitting on it. When I spotted this baby, I just knew it would fit and it did....:) You can see the other one in the background that I was using....now to find something to put under it!

 

And last, but not least....my Hollywood Regency lighting! My heart skipped a beat and I almost squealed out loud when I spotted these gorgeous beauties! They were not marked, so I asked how much they were. The guy told me $20. Well....I already had these other 3 items picked out and $20 in my pocket, so I asked him if I could have it all for $20 and he said sure! I smiled all the way to the truck...:) I have tried to find them online, but haven't been able to find any exactly like them. They are from L and S Lighting Fixtures Company in Los Angeles. Based on what I have found, they are mid-century modern Hollywood Regency style. I found some similar on ETSY and ebay. I think I got an excellent deal! Now....I'm debating on whether to split them up or leave them together and also on how to paint them. There are so many possibilities! White would be gorgeous, but so would aqua blue....or how about black! Decisions.....decisions! 

Here they are before I cleaned them.....

They are pretty big...I'd say around 16-18 inches from top to bottom. 

Here are a couple after cleaning shots....the glass orbs are just gorgeous!

I hope you enjoyed looking at my new old lights! I can't wait to paint them and figure out where to hang them. I'll update when I get them up! 

Until next time.....

Ice Cream Table & Chairs

Source: The Daily Quotes

You might remember me mentioning last weekend that I had an opportunity to buy an ice cream table and chair set. Well, I did....and here it is!

I actually have 4 chairs, but only room for 2 in the room I have it set up temporarily. I plan to put it on my porch when we get it built. Isn't is adorable? I got it for such a steal....especially when you price them online! Mine only cost me $50....that's only $10 per piece! I am one happy camper..:) It has no maker's mark anywhere on it so I don't know how old it is, but I'm guessing it's at least 50 or 60 years old. It is in great shape....one of the chair seats has a crack in it but that's it. I'm debating on painting it. I was thinking of painting the table base white and painting each of the chairs a different color....orange, lime, pink, and sunny yellow! I also might cover the seats with padding and cute fabric.....but I'm still debating! 

I decided to put some of my ice cream dishes on the table for the pictures, along with a sweet decorative ceramic ice cream plate. Below you can see some of my ice cream dishes. The largest ones are very old and were given to me by my Aunt Loretta. I have 6 of them. I have 4 of the mid-sized ones, and two of the smallest ones. They are so little! I found them at a yard sale a while back and couldn't pass them by!

I absolutely love these little pedestal ice cream bowls. They are by Seal Test Ice Cream and are from the 1950's or 60's. I got these for a mere fifteen cents each at a yard sale a couple of years ago and  I am still on the look-out for at least one more of them. Aren't they the sweetest little things?

Here's another shot....

Source: Web Clip art

I'm linking up with Kathe from Kathe With an E for... 

and Marty from A Stroll Trough Life for...

Now....it I only had some ice cream to go in one of those dishes!

Hope Chest Redo!

Today I am sharing a little impromptu project I just completed. It took me about half an hour to complete and what a difference! I recovered the top of my old hope chest. My parents bought my sister and I these beautiful Lane hope chests for Christmas when I was 17. Mine is solid cherry wood and very well built. I used it to store things for my future home and after I married, I used it to store sentimental items and mementos that I want to keep but not display. It is full to the brim and I need to clean it out some day, but not today! Well, a few years ago the padded top got wet and left some nasty water marks in the fabric. I have been able to camouflage it with the "stuff" I sit on top, but it was time for a change. Here are a couple of before pictures.

And here it is after! I used burlap to cover the top for now. I like the neutrality of it and it works well with the vignette I have on top. 

My sister, Nancy gave me this sweet altered book years ago. It has a sweet little poem about sisters. The frame is a sisters frame as well and there we are! Cuties or what? I'm 2 1/2 years older....that's me in the bonnet!

Next up is my old teddy bear....another treasure given to me by my Aunt Loretta. I don't know how old he is, but he is old! His arms, legs and head are all jointed. Isn't he sweet...:) 

He sits in my cute little miniature red wagon. 

Here you see my grapevine wreath in the background, with a sweet little pillow my daughter, Miranda hand stitched for me when she was in kindergarten...:) A little old timey tricycle sits in from of it along with my old bronzed baby booties and a picture of me when I wore them. It is truly vintage...lol! The booties sit on top of a hand crocheted doily made by my husband Joey's late grandma Lottie. 

Here it is all together....hodge-podge I know, but all of those items are special to me...:)

Here's a close-up of the burlap. What do you think?

I'm linking up with Brenda from Cozy Little House for Tweak-It-Tuesday...:)

Tomorrow I hope to share the ice cream table and chairs I am supposed to go pick up today! 

I am so excited to be acquiring a set....:)

Until next time.....

Vicky's Victorian Violets

Source: English Emporium

Well, all roses aren't red and my violets aren't blue....they're purple, but you are all sweet...:) Thanks for stopping by! Today I wanted to share my violet themed china collection. It all started years ago when I was a teenager. My favoritest (not a real word I know) Aunt Loretta had this beautiful, enchanting little teapot that I thought was just the prettiest thing I had ever seen. She inherited it from my Uncle Jim's mother when she passed away a long time ago. I never met her, but I know she has so many treasures, many of which reside in my aunt's home and a few in mine as well! The lady had so many beautiful things! Anywho, back to the story.... my Aunt Loretta told me that I could have that teapot on my 20th wedding anniversary. I never forgot that and would remind her on occasion...:) Well, years later, but not quite 20 years into my marriage, my Uncle Jim told her she should go ahead and let me have it, so she did. It is one of my most prized possessions, and I absolutely adore it....and her! She has given me so many treasures over the years, but this one is by far my favorite!

Just look at this little beauty....

It is Victorian Violets by the Hammersley China Company and she thinks it is probably close to 100 years old. It is in pristine condition with not a chip or crack anywhere. 

Here's a close-up of the violets....aren't they sweet?

You can see the pretty gold trim in this picture of the lid...:)

I have a few other pieces of this pattern I've collected over the years. This little dish is like a soap dish.

You can see my teacup and saucer and creamer and sugar in this picture.

Now....I also have several other pieces of violet china. You can see those in the pictures below.

You can see my rose collection peeking out under the violets...but I will save those for another day!

Here are a few of my other favorite pieces. 

This is a beautiful pattern called Violets by Royal Albert.

This isn't violets, but lavender roses that I love...:)

This next piece is unmarked but very fine bone china that is translucent when you hold it up to the light. It is a beautiful ,old piece that I bought years ago!

This is a beautiful saucer by Bavaria. It is titled "Favorite" and has D.L. '15 on the back. I don't know if this is the year it was produced or what. Do any of you know? It is really pretty...:)

Last up is a set of salt and pepper shakers. They are hand-painted as well but are unmarked. 

They are trimmed in gold and just so sweet!

I hope you enjoyed looking at my violets! It makes me so happy just to look at them. I'm hoping one day to be able to splurge on some Victorian Violets dinner plates. They are costly though, so it will be a long time! Too many home improvement projects to be done. It's OK though...I am always on the lookout at yard sales, thrift stores, and flea markets, because you never know when you might luck up on a piece! I love treasure hunting!

I'm linking up with Rose Chintz Cottage for

and Artful Affirmations for Tea Cup Tuesday. Be sure to pay a visit to these ladies and check out all the lovely tea cups...:)

Until next time....