Look What I Found

While perusing the KSL ads yesterday I came upon this beauty.

I just couldn't believe my eyes.

Look at the size of this lovely!

The seller explained it is a bookcase from an orphanage in California.

And then I wondered what was the story to get it to Utah.

The price was listed at $3,000.

And because I do not have $3,000 to spend on such a beautiful piece

and

because I don't even have a wall big enough to fit a piece like this

I

just graciously sent them an email and told them how fond I was of their treasure

and

although I could not afford it at this time I was admiring it from afar.

Within a few hours it was gone.

No longer listed.

Sold.

Twelve Candles

I was at my friend Allison's a few weeks back and she offered me this . . . .

can you believe it! I think it is wonderful. I was informed by a reader (thank you Abby!) that these wooden pieces were used to form sugar cones when sugar was very expensive. The cones would traditionally be wrapped in paper and stored under lock and key in colonial times. Abby is a prop stylist and has used these before to display flowers, spices, herbs, flatware and candles. I cannot wait to swap out the displays as our seasons change as well.

Allison had initially tried to use this in her craft room (which is absolutely amazing) but because the holes are cone shaped they were not functional for her because the bottom is so narrow.
The first thing that popped in my mind were these candles we had left over from our wedding reception four years ago.
They fit just right and make the kitchen table quite cozy as we head into the winter months. With that said, I know that they will only be lit on very special occasions because having a three year old makes this a bit dang-er-ous!

Thank you again Allison.

Welcome Tuesday.

Treasuring Hunting - Boat Oars

We hit a yard sale a few weeks back and walked away with some great items. These boat oars will eventually hang in the boys room along with this old oil painting of a sail boat. The boys headboards are black so we plan to paint the frame black as well. Mike spotted these and we picked them up for $5.
The paint is super chippy from all the years in the water. The patina showing through at the end of the paddle shows the age of the oars.
We are looking forward to the weekend and finishing up a few projects. The fall weather is setting in and our days are beautiful with sun and mild temperatures and our nights are chilly. I hope we can enjoy some more weeks of fall before winter hits.


Happy Friday.

I linked to:

Vintage Card Catalog

Look what I picked up last night.

And I am a wee bit excited about it.

I am linking up to the parties on my sidebar.

Week of Treasure Hunting

We had a great week of treasure hunting! But not everything went as planned! First up we found this old door and it already has a great coat of paint and some nice distressing. I plan to find a glass door knob to make it complete. I have not found a permanent home for it yet so I am waiting to show the final reveal once it is in place. I am always looking for old wire baskets. Love them! I have yet to find gym baskets but I am always on the look out. I love filling these with old smaller books.

We also found but not yet pictured two big landscape pictures (you know I love them) for $1 each and some additional nice sized frames. I found a fantastic old glass lamp which is just waiting for a good clean up. Mike stumbled on some old rowing oars that are so old and chippy and amazing! We picked those up for $5 which will go on the wall in the boys room next to an old ship painting we found for them a few months back.

Last Thursday my little one and I ran to the DI to look for some great paintings and frames. I found a gi-norm-ous (you know I love that word) frame. It was a steal at $6. Well because it was so big and awkward people had to open doors for us and pretty much move out of the way so they did not get hit. It was just that big. I was steering the cart with that and trying to hold Faith's hand and it was just pretty much a nightmare making my way to pay for it. Once I got up to the cashier he only charged me $3 because all the artwork was half off. Oh my gosh! I couldn't believe my good fortune! Well that was about to take a turn as soon as we got to the parking lot. In all my of excitement I forgot that I was not in my forerunner but in Mike's little Honda. As I pushed the awkward cart toward the car I thought this is never going to fit! What was I thinking! I got Faith buckled in the car and then tried to get that frame in the trunk. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Then I tried to put it in the back seat with her. She knew as well as I did it was not going to fit and she told me just that. What does she know - she is just three! I tried every angle at least five times! I pulled it out and started over about six times! I tried calling my sister to see if she were in the area at all to swing by and help me. No answer. Faith just kept looking at me like I told you so! Then my next thought was I am not going to unbuckle her and awkwardly get this back in the store. I was hot and irritated. I looked around to see if I could offer it to anyone who might have a car bigger than MINE! But no one. So then I made a lazy decision and set it by the lamp post in the parking lot. I figured that I either gave it away to someone who came along and took it home or an employee came out and saw it and I re-donated it. Blah! I was so grumpy! But we waved good bye to it and drove away never to see it again. I hope it found a happy home.

(photos courtesy of Faith)

And one last side note - I am so allergic to animals and pets of all kinds! Dogs, cats, horses, cows. You name it and I get itchy eyes and a heavy chest and can hardly breathe. The other night Faith told me she wished she had a little white puppy with brown spots that she could play with outside and give her kisses. Oh the guilt. Hey - what is wrong with our current pet? Fish are fun. Tiko is a good pet. Not much maintenance. Plus when Faith taps the glass he makes eye contact with her or something like that. Our Tiko is a keeper. :)

Happy Monday!

Summer Weekend Finds

I found some great finds over the weekend. Wahoo! The first up is this little basket. Crazy I know. It almost looks like it caught fire at one time so I chalk that up to adding character. Look at the wood posts on the side. Absolutely love those. Then I found this book. But not just any book. This book was donated to my elementary school back in 1959 which was long long before I got there. It is marked Adelaide Elementary Room 1. Then I found these two small pictures in vintage golden frames. Lucky for me someone had set them down in the wrong aisle and I happened to walk by and see them amongst items completely unrelated. I was not in love with one of the pictures so I swapped it out. Then I found this terracotta trio. I already had the flowers at home so this this was an easy one! I love wire baskets so this was a great find!
And lastly we have been eating a ton of these rootbeer popsicles. We sit out on the porch and try to cool off while our little one goes rolly polly hunting (potato bugs). Each one she catches is in her words "so cute"!

And one last find is this old butterfly net.

Is it not just the best! It does not sit here for long. Our little one has found various uses for it . . . such as catching people.

Next up is a super old buffet that we are refinishing for a client we met with last week. Plus I had a very talented friend leave something for me on my doorstep last night. I cannot wait to show you!

Hope you are enjoying your summer!