Best of Etsy: Vintage Finds

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  My weekend flew by and although I didn’t get everything checked off on my list, I did spend a lot of time in the garage sorting through stuff getting ready for a big Upscale Yard Sale that will be taking place in two weeks.  If you live in Atlanta or the surrounding area, you’ll want to mark your calendar for this one ’cause it’s gonna be great.  More details at the end of this post.

Since my mind is in a SALE mode, I thought I’d bring you a fun post today all about Etsy.  If you’re not familiar with Etsy, it’s an on-line marketplace full of the best handmade & vintage goods and supplies for making things.

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Decorating with Doors: 10 Inspirational Ideas

I just started working on a new project and I want to incorporate an old door into the design plan.  The space I’m working on is a family room that will be decorated in a casual, vintage-inspired  old-world style  Before I get knee-deep in the design process I went looking for some design inspiration using old doors and came across some pretty great ideas.  This is what has me inspired…

I love the idea of an old door styled with bookshelves flanking a seating area.  I also think this idea would be great in a kitchen styled with cookbooks and cooking accessories.

Most of the doors I come across are solid wood, but I really like this look with glass pane doors as a wall décor alternative.  Positioned behind a console table and against a painted or wallpapered wall, the doors add architectural details without being visually heavy.

An old door with hooks added would be great in a foyer or near a back door.  This is also a really cute idea for a bathroom or bedroom wall to hold towels and robes.

A slim panel door can be positioned behind a side chair to fill a corner or create a vignette in the living room.  I love the idea of hanging a basket or even a piece of framed art on the door to embellish it a bit more.

This is the look I’m loving most. I love the way the door helps to fill up the wall space next to the cabinet and adds a bold statement to the entire wall vignette.

If you like the idea of decorating with old doors but your living room is not in need, check out these ideas for other rooms in your home.

Old doors make a great headboard.

This is a fun decorative statement for a guest bedroom or home office.

The idea of an old door as the backdrop to a nightstand is pretty cool.  The addition of a light sconce makes the door stylish and functional.

  

A door bookcase is a great way to add organization to a girl or boys room without spending a lot of money.

And I love the idea of an old door turned into a coffee table.  This is an easy DIY project that yields great results for a den or basement play area.

Anything vintage and old including an old door is a great way to add charm to your home.

So, do you like the idea of decorating with doors?  If so, what room in your home would you place one?

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Thrifting and a few Highligts from Scotts

Top of the morning to everyone.  I hope you had a good weekend!

I spent a good chunk of my weekend thrifting at a few local haunts and made a trip to Scott Antique Market to see what goodies I could find there.  I didn’t attend Scott last month so I was excited for the show this month.  One of my favorite vendors at the show brings boxes and boxes of items he purchases from estate sales, auctions and antique dealers.  His usual set-up consist of about 20+ tables loaded with stuff, some good and some on the “junk” side.  Looking through his tables is always an experience and most times I come away with a few good pieces.  I buy most of my milk glass from him and he always has piles and piles of vintage jewelry which is a draw for me.

Whenever I go to Scott to shop “my guy” as I affectionately call him, I go on Thursday, the first day the show opens. His stuff sells fast and there is always a crowd.  I’ll make sure to take photos of his space next month and show you the madness.

Anyhow, here’s a look-see at what I picked up from Scott’s and a few other spots around town.

I found this old scale and couldn’t resist. $8.00!

These vintage McLaughlin Milk glass bottles were a great find at only $3.00 each.  I’ve seen these selling on-line for as much as $40.00 a piece.

I adore vintage jewelry!

I’ve wanted to start collecting ironstone and was thrilled to find this piece for $5.00.   I feel a new obsession collection starting to build.

 Aren’t these woven knobs cute?  “My guy” sold me these for .50 each.

This was probably my best buy from Scotts.  These unfinished oval frames which measured 48″ x 32″ were $5.00 a piece.  Image the mirror, chalkboard, corkboard options!

 After making my purchases at Scott’s I made the rounds and snapped a few photos of things that caught my eye.

 Love this mid-century modern lamp at the Parker Kennedy booth.  David and Lance always have a stunning booth filled with incredible pieces.

This gorgeous chest is also a Parker Kennedy piece.  That hardware is to die for!

 

 I loved this tabletop vignette.

 A stunning piece of furniture!

Arched top shutters…so beautiful. I would use these pieces inside a home as décor.

 This Grandmother clock was fabulous.

Another pretty piece of furniture. The mirrored back and scalloped detailing really gave this piece its uniqueness.

After Scott’s I stopped at my one of my favorite flea markets and found a few things…

  I’ve had great luck selling the other scales I’ve come across in my Etsy shop so this one will be headed there as soon as I clean it up a bit. This one is large and a really beauty.

I also found this Mottaheda Pinecone Finial( turned lamp) for $14.00.  This baby is solid brass and gorgeous.  I spotted the finial selling on-line for $200!

I’m so fortunate that Atlanta and the surrounding suburbs have lots of antique stores, thrift shops and flea markets to shop at.  A few days before Scott’s my friend Dorothy and I made a trip to visit Antique Traditions and on the way there we spotted church thrift store.  Of course we had to make a U-turn and pop in for a visit.

 I picked up this beautiful blue glass bowl for $2.00 and the slate blue egg cups for .25 each.

 

And this original oil painting was $4.00.

I also found a pair of ornate wall plaques with a mirrored center .  These pieces hang vertically and will look great flanking a larger mirror.

And finally, I found what is likely to be one of my most favorite pieces ever at an auction I attended last week.

This stunning cuckoo clock made my heart flutter.  I love the detailing and the old world charm it has.  I was told by someone at the auction to get it appraised but what I know so far is that it is a Schneider Black Forest Cuckoo Clock, maybe worth in the hundreds!

All in all, the past few days have resulted in some of my best thrifting finds.   I love the thrill of the hunt and coming home with a few things to keep or sell in my shops is always good!

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What’s New in the Shop(s)

Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!  My weekend was pretty low-key with lots of work, lots of creating and a little R & R thrown into the mix.

I had dreaded sitting down at my computer to update my Etsy shops but finally I got it done.  I’ve added a slew of new vintage finds , lots of new jewelry pieces and some fun paper products.  My little hands have been busy.

 Here’s a glimpse of what’s new…

 Vintage Emerald Green Vase

Vintage Milk Glass Lidded Dish

Vintage Navy Marblelized Ice Bucket (perfect Father’s Day gift)

 Vintage Jadite Bubble Bowl

Handcrafted Gift Wrap Embellishment Pins

Stylish Gift Tags

 Handcrafted Vintage Hardware Necklace

Gold Pendant Necklace with Pearl Drop

You can view all the new vintage and handcrafted jewelry pieces at my ConfettiStyleDesign shop

and you’ll find fun paper products, gift wrapping supplies and embellishments at my new RufflesandRemnants shop!

 I hope you’ll take a moment to stop by and see what’s new.  While you are there make sure the follow my shops so you’ll get notified of new items, special and sale events.

I have been in a super creative mood the last few weeks  and it feels great.  Between design projects, making jewelry and vintage shopping, I’ve also been working on new clipboard designs.  You’ll see the new styles available in the shop by this weekend.

The week ahead is looking like a busy one with a couple of design meetings on the schedule, Scott Antique Market on Thursday (I didn’t go last month) and I finally decided what I’m going to paint pink.

 Cheers to a stellar week ahead!

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New on the Bookshelf

There are lots of new design books which have recently been released and as usual, I couldn’t resist adding a few new titles to my ever-growing collection of design books.  Here’s what new on the bookshelf…

Outdoor Spaces, produced by Coastal Living and is filled the stunning images of chic and stylish outdoor space.  I found inspiration on every page, from the accessories and pillows to the furniture layouts and color combinations.  With some many design books focused on the interior of a home it is great to add this outdoor inspiration book to my collection.

If you love to entertain and throw parties, you’ll definitely want to get The Art of The Party.  From small-scale events to larger galas and weddings, you get a fresh crop of ideas that will inspire your next party.

Ronda Carmen, the blogger behind the blog All The Best has compiled some of the most beautiful spaces that exist in her book Designers At Home.  All of the rooms featured are the personal living spaces of some of the nation’s top interior designers like Bunny Williams, India Hicks and Charlotte Moss.

Bazaar Style: Decorating the Market and Vintage Finds spoke to my love of thrifting and finding the diamond in the rough.  I love seeing how items from yesteryear are incorporated into stylish interiors for today.  This is the perfect inspiration book for my this years shopping trip to the Longest Yard Sale.

What books have you added to your bookshelf lately?

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Confessions of an Auction Virgin

Ok folks, why hasn’t anyone told me about auctions before? Many of you have written about going to auctions on your blogs and I’ve seen some of the great items you come home with but no one ever told me how totally awesome they are!!

Last week the hubs and I had a new experience and attended an auction for the first time.  All I can say is that I’m hooked and will definitely be making this a regular part of my schedule.

The auction we attended is held in an old warehouse that at first glance was a little suspect.  The place was not pretty, the lights were low and the crowd was pretty diverse. All I kept thinking as we approached the building was, “I’m glad I didn’t wear sandals just in case a varmint runs across the floor” and “I’m so glad the hubs came along”!  But once we walked in the door I knew we had entered someplace special.  Just image thousands of items stacked to the rafters.  I’m not talking junk people, I’m talking furniture (antiques and newer), lighting, artwork, rugs, decorative pieces and just about anything else you can image.  This was a thrift shoppers dreams and I was living it!

As we made our way to the back of the building we passed a food buffet that is apparently a signature element on auction night.  And, there was also a bar serving all kinds of beverages.

The back of the auction house had rows and rows of chair set up for bidders and in front of that were all the items that were going to be auctioned off that night. I immediately registered, got my bid number and began looking thought the auction items. I was overwhelmed with not only the number of items but also the range of pieces.  As my heart began to beat faster I started jotting down the numbers for the items I was interested in.  OMG I was beyond excited at the possibility.

Precisely at 6:15 pm the auction began and as I sat there I couldn’t believe my ears.  The auctioneer started the bidding at $5.00 for most of the items and $25.00 for the larger furniture pieces. Are you kidding me!

Long story short, I bid on 5 or 6 things, only won the bid on two and we left the auction house at 11:00pm with the bidding stilling going on.

If you live in Atlanta and are wondering where this auction is, word on the street is that this auction is a well-kept secret and those in the know don’t share the name or location so I’m sworn to secrecy!

Just to give you an idea of the “awesomeness” of it all, I snapped a few photos of some of the items up for grabs.  Hold on, you are going to be blown away by the prices these pieces sold for.

Everything you see in the photo, plus the stuff on the walls were being auctioned off and this was just a fraction of the items.

This antique settee sold for $100.00.  The frame was in great condition and all it needs is a new upholstery job.

This wood cabinet sold for $85.00.

There were 4 of these vintage kitchen chairs and they sold for $90.00 for the set.

Here’s a look at some of the others items up for auction.  The globe sold for $10 and that vintage dresser sold for $45.00.

I loved this old wood umbrella stand with shelf and bid on it.  It sold for $80.00. I only wanted to pay $50 so I didn’t win the bid.

This vintage desk was beautiful.  It sold for $150.00 and I think it could sell for $500+ at an antique market.

I also loved this vintage wood display piece and could just image my spools of ribbon on it.   Too bad it wouldn’t fit in my car.  It sold for $95.00.

This was one of the steals of the night.  This arch top secretary desk sold for $125.00.  I saw a similar one on eBay for $2200!

This wall clock was not working but had a really great style and design to it.  It sold for $35.00.

Two guys bought this massive piece of original oil art (7.5′ x 5′) for only $120.  The frame alone was worth hundreds!

After the majority of the big items sold the crew brought out racks of smaller items like glassware, frames and pillows and  decorative objects.  Each shelf on the rack was auctioned off in total with most of the shelves selling for $5.00 or less.  There were lots of shelves that sold for $1.00.

My purchases for the night included a vintage wood magazine rack something like this one for $12.00

and I bought a “lot” of picture frames and framed art for $12.50 (14 pc. in total).

Attending my first auction reminded me of a few life lessons:

1. Never Judge a Book by It’s Cover–Inside that “old warehouse” was a stash of fabulous items.

2.  True Friends Share–A good friend that was “in the know” shared the date and location of this auction with me.

3.  Growing up my mom used to tell me that nothing good happens after dark–In the case of this auction, some of the best bargains can be found after 10:00 pm!

4.  My husband is my best friend!

5.  The Core Of Man’s Spirit Comes from New Experiences–Chris McCandless

6.  Dreams do come true!

Now that I have my first auction under my belt, I think it’s appropriate to call me an Auction Hunter!

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My Visit to Antique Traditions

Before I headed off to the Kentucky Derby, I had the privilege of being the guest of honor for Ladies Night Out at a fabulous store north of Atlanta.  Antiques Traditions is a cute home décor a gift store that is actually composed of 4 stores under one roof.  The store sits on a quaint little street in downtown Norcross which exudes all the charm of a sweet southern town.  The streets are tree-lined, the people are friendly and the ambience is unmistakable!

Lorraine who owns Antique Traditions started the business years ago with her mom, Hazel.  After years of being in business alone she opened up her shop to three women, Carolee, Taylor and Mary, each of whom has their own unique shop under the Antiques Traditions roof.

I can’t fully express to you what a wonderful selection of vintage, handmade and new items Antique Traditions has to offer so I’ll let you enjoy my own personal photo album.

 

This iron star wall grill is one of the stores best-selling items.  I think it would look pretty awesome as a ceiling medallion with a chandelier hanging from the center!

Antique Traditions carries one of my favorite personal care lines, Shelley Kyle!  This line of products will really make you feel pampered!

Lovely accessories

and wonderful textiles!

I loved this table with the carved swan base!

The jewelry selection at Antique Traditions is fabulous and the prices are great.

Handmade soaps and pillows

Adorable baby items, perfect for gift giving! Carolee also offers custom monogramming for many of the items in her boutique.

A wonderful assortment of personal stationery

Vintage lighting, furniture and decorative accents.

Beautiful watercolor art

and whimsical linens.

I love, love, love this necklace!

Isn’t this chandelier fabulous.  I can envision it hanging in a bathroom or bedroom.

There is a wonderful selection of artwork

and mirrors!

And lots of lovely trinkets!

A few of these metal tags came home with me

and you know I love this cloche!

I am so happy to have had the opportunity to meet the women of Antique Traditions.  With so many specialty retailers closing their doors, it is great to know that a store like Antique Tradition is thriving and creating a special shopping destination for its customers.  I’ll definitely be making lots of visits back to the store and look forward to checking out the rest of downtown Norcross.  Thanks Lorraine for inviting me as the special guest at your event!

Antique Traditions

109 South Peachtree Street

Norcross, GA 30071  770-263-7761

http://theshopsofantiquetraditions.com/

And, like Antique Traditions on Facebook here!

 

 

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I Went Thrifting and Came Home with Lace

Happy Day to all of you.  Did anyone do anything fun and exciting this weekend?

While most of my weekend was spent working, I did manage some time on Friday to run out to the Lakewood 400 Market.  My hubby tagged along so we could spend the day together even though I know that shopping is never something he wants to do

While I typically find some good vintage pieces at Lakewood, this show did not have much to offer me.  I walked each of the aisles and didn’t really get excited about anything until I entered the Ribbon Emporium.  It’s no secret that I love ribbon, have way to much of it and can’t stop buying it, so when I entered Grosgrain Annie’s little shop I could truly feel my heart beat faster.  Come along for a quick tour of the Ribbon Emporium…

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Grosgrain Annie’s Ribbon Emporium has been a staple at Lakewood 400 for years and has a prime spot near the entrance of the building.  The little shop is stocked inside and out with beautiful ribbons in every color, material and designs.

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The shop carries a wonderful selection of lace ribbon

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and hand-dyed vintage rayon ribbon.

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I love the way the shop is set up with ribbon spools hung on the walls and displayed in vintage cabinets.

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You can also find a variety of vintage buttons, trims, paper tags and crafting supplies.

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This wall showcases silk ribbons in every color of the rainbow.

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Many of the ribbons are wound on vintage wooden spools which adds to the charm of the shop.

Not only did I get to indulge in lots of beautiful ribbon but I also had the pleasure of meeting JoAnn, the owner of the shop.  It was such fun to talk with her and share our love of ribbon.

And of course I didn’t walk away empty handed…this assortment of vintage lace ribbons came home with me and will be added to my stash. I’ve got big plans for these ribbons and can’t wait to get crafting.

Even though I didn’t come away with loads of vintage goodies for my shop, spending time at the Ribbon Emporium and getting to meet JoAnn made the trip worthwhile.

If you get a chance, hop over and visit Grosgrain Annie’s Facebook page and say hello!

Thanks for stopping by today!

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