Weekend Learnings

Hello all!  I hope you had a very lovely weekend.  My weekend was filled with just great things.  And not the kind of things you can buy (well, one of them you can.)  I learned a few things this weekend.  

I learned that my husband is a genius.  Yes, I said it.  He is smarter than the average bear.  You see, we have been working on potty training.  I know they will do it when they do it.  And that boys take longer. Still, that didn't stop me from making a goal in my head: age 3.  Well, sweethearts, age 3 is rapidly coming down the track (hahahhaha!!) and we are still in pullups.  He had one aspect of it down... always peed.  It was just the other.... okay, I will say it...poop!  He would not poop unless I just caught him at the right time.  We were having major issues.. their were tears... bribing.... yelling... some things were thrown.... nothing was working.  So, my GENIUS husband told baby hughes... if you go on the potty, we will take you to see a caboose.  Every time you go. 

Let's just say that we have high fived this caboose several times this weekend!  At one of the trips, Mr. Hughes looked over at me and said... so, our boy really loves trains.  Yes, yes he does.  That is another lesson I learned.  How much my baby loves trains.  He takes this deal quite seriously... he asks for a dollar as well ( previous deal struck.)  And we give in (since we are enabling parents and he is an only child.) We aren't saving any money on the pullups since we are giving him a dollar and a car trip at least once a day.  The thing is though, I can see it clicked.  And, he is so excited and proud.  The house is a happier place.  I also learned that while I love being right and finding the perfect solution to problems, especially with our child, I am okay with not being the one that thought of it.  I concede to Mr. Hughes.

I have also learned that with me, one obsession turns into another... got the camper (she is looking pretty spiffy too... needs just a bit more spiff!) and then I move on to another.  Dollhouses!!!  I have had this saved in one of my many folders on my desktop before I found pinterest.  Then I re-found it on there... now I am obsessing again!! The above idea?  Now that is something I wish I would have thought of first.  Mr. Hughes went to the flea market without us and I begged him to find me an old wooden dollhouse.  I have plans, ladies.  Big plans!  I really, really want a dollhouse.  Trust me... it is a good idea.  So, if any of you has a wooden dollhouse, please, give it to me!!

And I just learned in the past 20 minutes that I adore Nutella.  Why did I wait 32 years to try it?  Why?  It was always right next to the peanut butter... I remember passing it and wondering what the heck it was...  I blame my parents.  They failed me *wink*

Okay, I need to sort of clean up the various messes in the house.  I have been bff's with the sewing machine all weekend long.  I will show you some of the new creations this week! (muahhahahaha! that is an evil laugh!)

bye for now!

Plead my case!

Hello all!  

Thanks for all of your input on my last post about the embroidery sampler.

I think I will get it and a book... so if anyone would like to suggest a good beginner book, that would be so helpful. But, just so you know... I couldn't learn to knit from a diagram, so I will need a very detailed but elementary book.  And I will probably watch a lot of youtube videos too!

I think we may have discussed that I am a little bit spoiled. But, I don't beg and whine to get things...obsess, maybe... but no whining.  

Today, I need you to whine for me.  

I am serious.

Mr. Hughes went to auction the other day and got a set of 8 antique dining chairs.  Yeah, yeah, I thought.  He says.... they are pretty.... yeah, yeah. I like the ones I have.
Then, he brings them home...

He wants me to give them a little makeover and put them in the booths.

I can't.

I love them.  They have to stay here... right here.

Aren't they perfect... they have a sassy pair of front legs too.

I am supposed to be up before them this morning painting 2 of these chairs for the booth.

So, before he brings me 2 more home from storage, I need you to beg and plead and whine on my behalf... I just think they are perfect for us.

Perhaps the jury needs another view...

And, just in case it raises arguments, I can still use those slipcovers that I had to have.... They will fit these better.

C'mon ladies (and a few gents)... help me out here!

oh and the plan would be to recover them... right now they are in a crunchy vinyl... I know... "crunchy".... I am thinking there is horse hair under the vinyl.

I am undecided on painting them if the Mr. says yes.  My heart says yes, paint them!  And so does my head for that matter.  If that offends all you purists out there and keeps you from pleading my case, just know that they will be painted if I sell them too.

Okay, I am counting on you.  No, really I am.

bye for now!

***update*** 
He caved!  heehee!  Thanks for the fuel ladies!  Off to find some great fabric for the seats ~ xo ~

Opinions needed: Am I in over my head?

Hello and Happy Saturday!

  I don't usually post on the weekends... not that I am opposed to it or anything... I am just usually out.  But, this Saturday finds me at home with the monster... cleaning and trying to get the house a little presentable for a dinner guest tonight.

Ever since I came across this alphabet sampler, I have been a little obsessed... so obsessed that I sort of panic when it isn't minimized on my desktop for me to maximize and admire.

Mr. Hughes assures me that I am out of my league on this... I have never actually embroidered anything, per say.  But... you have to start somewhere right?  But, he knows my patience level pretty well.

So, what do you think... I know some of you embroider... is this crazy ambitious for a first time project?  I love it so!!!  When I first saw it, the kits had unfortunately sold out, so I would only be able to get the pdf.  Which adds a new layer of skill... transferring this to fabric.

So, please tell, me... what do you think?  

Have a great weekend!  Especially you dads that may be reading!

bye for now!

pdf pattern can be purchased here

My Last Day

Hello all.

Today is it.  My last day of work.  

I have been at the same job for 6 years. 

Next week I start my new job with my new boss... he is a talker.  And cute.  

And blondes aren't usually my type.

*wink*

Still excited.scared.nervous.happy.

Last week I got a surprise.  Mr. Hughes brought home a bunch of furniture for me to paint and a surprise.

He called it my Happy Last Day of Work Present (a week early.)

You may remember me lusting after a certain item in this post.

Well, I think it looks much, much better in my dining room.

Don't you think?  And you also must think that I am spoiled.  And that Mr. Hughes is dreamy and considerate.  And I would have to agree with all those things. 

You should also know that our anniversary is in a few weeks and this is for that too.

So I am not totally spoiled.  Just like 75%

I have been wanting a Swedish clock for awhile (I am not sure if this is considered a "Mora)

This one is from 1790 and has the maker's signature on the back ... Hermann Hoffstred along with a piece of paper from a Stockholm newspaper.

It doesn't work... just stands there and looks pretty.

And what a great looking face!  I haven't seen one on the few Swedish Clocks that I have seen.

Okay kids... I am out of here to go to my last few hours of paid labor!

bye for now!

Should I (it) Stay or Should I (it) go?

hello

(said in my best Eeyore voice)

I have something to tell you...

I may have mentioned it a time or thirty.

I.am.sick.of.the.winter.

I know, I know, I should 

live in the now and appreciate the outline of the trees

blah blah blah.

Kids, I just am not feeling it anymore.

I am ready for 70ish days and sunny

(and you guys better not find any old blog posts where I am complaining about the heat)

Okay, finished complaining.

I have something to show you

(and if it weren't for this dreary weather, I would have a photo of it in my house... okay, really, I am finished complaining)

I love it.

I have never seen another like it.

 

I have a thing for mirrors

Especially ones so worn.

But, I don't know if it is *me*

I adore it.  Each and every bit.

But, I am afraid if I keep it that I may have to rearrange/redecorate my whole house.

And I don't know if my marriage would survive.

So, I am trying her on for size.

Maybe she will play well with others.

If not, she will be at one of the booths.

*sniff, sniff*

In other vintage treasure hunting news, 

I got some stuff. 

Good stuff. 

Booth stuff. Etsy Stuff.

Let's leave it at that. 

And, let's say that my stack has doubled in size over the weekend.

Which caused some rearranging.

All of which I would be happy to show you if the sun would just come out for a minute.

Oh yeah, and if my house wasn't in shambles due to all the refluffing.

Soon though... very soon... you will see...

bye for now!

Short Stack

Do you know how completely lovely the weekend was here in TN?

Do you know what it looks like now? Grey and rainy.

Oh well, it could be worse with 18 inches of *snow* on its way.

Lately I have been obsessing over suitcases.

Specifically stacks and stacks of them.

like

found ~ country living

found ~ country living

found ~ the locker via my sweet savannah

 A small stack in my bedroom

Well, kids, I love it.

And now I want more... 

so baby hughes and I went to a little place near here to see if they had one that I remembered from months ago.

And they did!

I scooped (well, heaved it up, it is pretty big)

and Mr. Hughes found a great one last week.

And then I stole one from under his armoire in our bedroom.

So I have a short stack in the living room.  But of course, I want more. MORE!!

here are a few of my favorites on etsy right now

just in case you need a short stack today.

found~ sadieolive 

found~ lepinkchandelier

found~ cometwreckage

found~ brightwallvintage

Consider it a early week Friday Favorites!

Bye for now!

A Sliver of Wall

Hello there!  Hope you are all getting along fabulously! Have you ever needed something but you can't put your finger on it.... a space whispers... "fill me."  

Well, I have had a space like that for over 4 years (but, I don't think I have obsessed over it the entire time...) 

You see, there was this spot, under the railing of the stair landing upstairs... a small sliver of wall that framed the exit from the entry/dining and led into the rest of the house.  It needed something. 

 I have had ideas...a skinny mirror... a piece of vintage architectural detail... a really long photograph.... and would find the perfect thing only to find that is would be too big.  

Then, when we were visiting Scarlett one day.... I saw it...I had seen them before...but they never spoke to me the way they did that day...

pssst... take us home...

And I ignored them.

What?  Yes, ignored it and then talked about them all the way home....

well... do you think they will look good....  

do what you want.....

do you think they will fit....

call her and ask her to measure them.....

really... what do you think?

I don't know why you just didn't buy them today.

So, I rushed in and emailed her to ask her to hold them.  And told her I would be by on my lunch the next day to pick them up.  Oh, and asked her if she had any perfectly chippy brackets or corbels, whatever you would like to call them.

She didn't have just what I needed in the brackets, but when I was out fluffing my booth at The Roost, Debbie did.  I knew they would fit when I saw them and they were the perfect greyish whiteish vintageish color.

So, that is my latest dose of creating character in our cookie cutter house.

The wings are reproductions and you can purchase them at Scarlett Scales Antiques.  And, the brackets, well, you are out of luck... they are one of a vintage kind.  But, I bet you could find some that are perfect for your space.

And... guys c'mon... I want to see your favorite pieces of vintage furniture... no "befores" necessary!!

Email them to me with a short story if you have one 

michelle at vintagejunky dot com
I will put the post up Monday

Well, off to change "le poop"
joy!

bye for now!

A Secretary, a King, and a Duck

all walk into a bar and the Secretary orders.....

No, really this isn't a post about a joke.  This is more of a post about the pressing issues on my mind involving the furniture in my house that I love and desperately want to work.  I am seriously obsessing over this in between wondering if I have enough orange and aqua blue pom poms for the 2nd birthday coming up next week.  

Let's start with the Secretary.... that is pretty simple... I even think I know what colors Kate is going to be (isn't Kate a perfect name for a classy Secretary that greets you when you walk in the door?) 

Now, this isn't my classy lady Kate.... I don't have a before photo of her yet, but it gives you an idea of what she sort of looks like, but my girl Kate needs some work... 

And, if you read closely before, you read correctly "colors"  

We are talking special *just for me* colors, and maybe some vintage wallpaper or a fun color on the back of the upper cabinet.  This girl is staying... if you recall a long time ago, I mentioned here that I have been wanting one.... well, I found one while out looking for booth lovelies.  She was was in front of the now beautiful Collette. The guy even asked me what color I would paint her...I think she winked at me and whispered "make me pretty!"

And, a few days later, Mr. Hughes told the guy that he would be out to get her to shut me up (I made that part up, but that sounds like something he would say.)  She is now in the garage, just waiting for baby hughes to turn 2 and for my sister's kitchen table to be painted (I have priorities... and my monster and sister come before my desire to love this lady... plus, I need some time to find the perfect jewelry...)

Now, about that King....

(it is amazing about how many of my posts involve me obsessing over some piece of furniture... maybe I should see someone about this *wink*)

anyhow, back to the matter at hand.  The King...

this is actually a new obsession involving an old one...

(seriously, need  help)

These are 2 twins that Mr. Hughes found on craigslist to shut me up about the 2 cane and wood ones.  We thought we would hang on to them until we moved far away and lived happily ever after.  Well, kids, I just don't think that is happening anytime soon.  And, in the meantime, we could use a bigger bed and a new mattress... did you know 2 twins = 1 king....

So, last night, while Mr. Hughes was out, and I bribed the baby with a Handy Manny movie, I lugged 2 twins upstairs.  Yep... sure did! Mr. Hughes wasn't too happy about it... said some nonsense about me not being as young as I used to be.... what?!?

So, at about 9:30 pm, we constructed 2 twins in our room in front of our current queen.  And, I think it looked great.  Now, there are some technical aspects that will have to be dealt with to make this happen, but that is boring and lets face it, in my house, the Mr's job.

But, here is why I am hesitant...

A. (or do you prefer 1?) The bed will have to go in front of the windows... the headboards are low so hopefully it won't block too much.  I need the light.

B.  We will have to save a buy a new king mattress AND bedding.  I have a lovely duvet that I JUST bought last year.  And, I love it, so hopefully I can size up.

C. I have 2 wonderful, handmade by my Mommy, queen size quilts that she put a lot of time and money into... can I ask her to make me a king.?

Are kings really that much better than queens?  What about blocking that window?  I really do want to know what you think, but just know, I will probably do what I want.

The bright side to doing this is that the Tara could be my nightstand along with a Tara II for Mr. Hughes (that doesn't sound quite right.....)

So, all of THIS got me to thinking... I bet some of you have some pieces that you love, love, love.  And, that you would want to share....

so how about this....

I will do a post or a couple of posts with photos that you can email me with a short description or story about how you stole it from someone or how it was uglier than a kick in the shin at midnight (that was my dad's phrase... I think it lost something in the Spanish to English translation...) before you made it over.

So, if you want to participate, send me your stuff at 

michelle at vintagejunky dot com

 If you have a blog, be sure to send the link so I can link to you in the post... I thought we could so it this way instead of a McKlinky.  I would love to have them by August 12 so I could get the post together by the 16th (that's a Monday, Friday seems too obvious!)  Oh, and here are the rules (sorry) it needs to be furniture and it needs to be vintage.  Oh, and you have to love it!  If this is super popular, then maybe I will have to split it into a few posts.... what do you think... are you game?

Well, kids, that is all I have for you today!

Bye for now!

there was never a duck... just put that in for funsies

Moss Terrariums: A How To + a giveaway

First of all, thanks to all the advice and encouraging comments on my last post.  I am getting really excited and want to be ready ASAP!  We are going out of town this weekend and we have guests the next, so you better believe that every spare moment I am going to be working on getting stuff ready for the booth.  I want to be in by the beginning of June.  I got a larger piece last night that is waiting for paint.

Well, back to the matter at hand... terrariums.  I bought these really cool vintage canning jars at the Bloomin Garden Show and I was inspired to change things up in the living room... I was thinking a little beachy, a little green... so I decided to get some moss and try some moss terrariums. I have made a terrarium before with plants and it was a success.  So much of a success that I was afraid the plant was going to lift the lid and strangle me in my sleep... it was that big!  With that in mind, I decided to do these... they are pretty simple.

First, you will need a clean container with a lid... I like glass, but you can use plastic.

Then you will need (right to left) potting soil, activated charcoal (keeps your terrarium fresh) and small pebbles... if you use small pebbles you will not need cover moss (the cover moss keeps the soil from washing into the stones.)  I used pea gravel which is small, so I didn't use a cover moss.

Of course you will need moss... I bought mine here and she sent me some assorted varieties.

And, the important stuff... fun little decorations!

First, add a layer of pebbles

Then, a layer of activated charcoal

Then, your potting soil.  Arrange your moss on top of the potting soil.  Moss doesn't have roots so you don't have to dig it down... just press it gently on the soil.

Then, arrange your terrarium with your little shells, figures, what ever you like....

I have a thing for vintage clock faces and baby hughes has a *small* obsession with owls.  We found a tiny one in Bell Buckle, so I had to add him.

Then, mist  (don't water or soak) your terrarium and put the lid on the container.  You will need to mist it every 4 weeks.  The condensation that accumulates will "rain" back down on the moss to keep it moist. Place your terrarium in an area that gets plenty of indirect sunlight, artificial light is okay too.

So , after I made my terrariums, I went to work collecting stuff from around the house that went with the beachy terrarium vibe I was looking for.  And, here is what I came up with...

I added my giant crown crock with a fern on the hearth.

I left my mirror up and added some starfish and some coral and seashells

I won Faded Plains giveaway and I got a couple of these numbers.  I tied them around a jar full of sand from St. Martin where we went on our honeymoon.  I bought the coral from a shop on Tybee Island.  

I used some "faux" terrariums that I made last year... they have dried branches and dried moss in some little vintage baby bottles.

You can see the condensation forming and my clock faces.

I had so much fun making them... I am thinking about making some for my booth and maybe for my etsy shop too.

And, I decided to make one for one of you!  

This small vintage jar has all the essentials and I added some clock faces and a piece of coral.  Then, I tied it all up with some vintage ribbon and an enamel broach.

So, here is what you have to do to win... just leave me a comment.  That's all... you don't have to be a blogger, just be sure to leave your email if you aren't.  If you want extra credit points, tweet it or post about it and let me know and I will give you an extra entry.

 I will draw the winner next Tuesday evening.  

Good luck! 

Wish ME luck keeping little fingers away!

oh, and speaking of giveaways...scoot on over to see Anne at Fiona and Twig!