Some Of My Favourite Things

Well it's Friday night, and I decided to post something, even though I haven't got any projects finished at the moment.  I started the makeover on the armoire that a neighbour was throwing away last weekend, but it will probably take at least a week to get finished.  I'll definately post a "before" and "after", when it's all complete. 

I have been taking a lot of pictures of my favourite vintage, vintage inspired and antique pieces that I have around my house, so I thought I would share some "eye candy" with everyone.  I just love going to antique markets, so I have acquired quite a few things over the years.  I already did a posting about my antique "blue flow china", so I thought I'd just post some pictures of random pieces that I have.  They're not in any particular order, and I couldn't pick a favourite if I tried, so here we go..............

This is an antique oval framed picture that I found several years ago at my favourite antique market "Southworks" in Cambridge, Ontario. My living room is a  mixture of  many shades of antique white and blue, so this works perfectly in my decor.

This is not an antique, rather antique inspired, and made by me from an image I got on the internet.  The frame was from Homesense ( our version of Home Goods for those of you in the U.S.A)

I love this pretty antique plate, also purchased at "Southworks" antique market.  It sits on a shelf in my bedroom ( if you look closely, you can see that I didn't dust the shelf before I took the picture- haha!!!)

This mirror is also an antique, and I love the scalloped edge design.  If you look in the reflection, you'll see an antique floor lamp, with a small birdcage hanging from it ( I keep a small candle in it for now, until I can find the perfect antique lantern to hang from it).  Both pieces were purchased 3 years ago in a small village called Bath ( just outside of Kingston, Ontario).

I absolutely love, love, love this antique window that was handpainted by a local artist.  I bought it at one of my favourite stores" Kimberley Jackson"- you can link up to there website through my sidebar.  They make one-of-a kind furniture and accessories from reclaimed wood and antique windows/doors, etc. 

This is were it hangs in our front window.

This "chimney" cabinet was also bought at " Kimberley Jackson", and  was a real splurge at $1300.00, but I bought it with my first ever "bonus" cheque from my last job as a home furnishings retail manager.  The sconce beside it is also from the same place and is one of a pair  (the other one is on the other side of a triptic hanging on my dining room wall). They were all made from genuine antique reclaimed wood, and are extremely heavy.

This shadow box (from Ikea) holds a sterling silver fork and spoon set, with my name engraved at the bottom.  I'm from France, originally, and it is the custom to give engraved silverware to a baby at their Christening.  I left the patina on them so they look vintage ( and since they're from the 1961, I guess they technically are vintage ).

The rest of the items I'm going to show you are not antique or vintage, but they have a vintage or Shabby Chic feel to them, so I love them too.

I love this white planter, and the dried roses were the center-piece from my wedding cake.

 I love the look of hand-dipped tapered candles that are still attached.  These ones are hanging on the knob of an antique singer sewing machine that came from my husband's, grandmother's house.  This sits in our dining room with my collection of' " flow blue china" surrounding it.

Here's how it looks in my dining room.

These candles are not vintage, but I had fun with my photo-manipulating program making them look like they are lit. Gimp 2.6  is a free download on the internet, and my 9 year old nephew told me about it.

The vase is really pretty, and was about $5.00 at Homesense.  The little angel was from Michael's and cost a few dollars.  I'm not a purist- if I like it, and it fits my look, I'll buy it.

I love this rectangular laurel wreath - and I bought that at the William Ashley warehouse sale about 5 or 6 years ago.

And finally.........

I get many comments on this plaque.  It lives on our bedroom door- and it couldn't describe my husband in the morning any better.  Even he had to laugh when I bought this at a gift shop a few years ago.  It even has a vintage feel to it- I  smile every time I look at it.  And that's what it's all about, this obsession with collecting unique and pretty things.

Well, that's enough for now.  I still have lots more, but I'll save it for another time.  Have a great weekend.

Au Revoir!!!!!

Vintage Look Bottles

I love the look of antique and vintage look bottles.  I have been a big fan of the Graphics Fairy for over a year now, and make many projects with her free graphics.  I especially love using the perfume and cosmetic themed graphics.  It's very easy to do- just print out the graphic that you like on your printer, and resize it to the appropriate size for your bottle and cut it out.  I use Mod Podge to glue my graphics onto my bottles.  Sometimes the ink runs if you put Mod Podge on the front of the graphic, so I spray with an acylic spray fixative/sealer in a flat finish first, if I want to protect the label.  You can decorate with ribbon or raffia as well.  That's it- quick and easy.

Here's a selection that I did in just one afternoon.  All but two of the graphics are from the Graphics Fairy.  See the link to Graphics Fairy on the right sidebar.

I use them in this cute cabinet in my bathroom.

The photo in the top left is another graphic I printed from a website- sorry , I can't remember which one. 

I made my own custom liquid soap dispenser too, with an old plastic pump bottle and a Graphics Fairy label. 

Here's another cute old fashioned milk bottle with another Graphics Fairy Label.

Hope you enjoyed seeing this quick and easy project.

Au Revoir!!!!!!

Are your Kitchen Counters and Appliances Really Clean?

Tonight, after washing and putting away the dinner dishes, I wiped down my counters, back-splash and appliances like I always do.  I thought everthing looked clean.

Here's a picture of it, and no, it doesn't always look this neat. I staightened up for the picture.  Sorry for the bad focus.

  Then my husband made a comment that the phone in the living room looked kind of grungey ( is that the correct spelling? maybe it's grungy!!!!)  So I broke out my secret weapon- the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.  I love this product- just dampen, wipe and it magically cleans dirt and grime. Even my husband was impressed.  So, then I decided to go over my counters with it, and boy was I disgusted when the magic eraser came up all dirty and grimey.  I had just wiped everything down, and I consider myself a 

 clean-a-holic.  Now, I was madly wiping down every surface- back-splash, fridge, kitchen telephone, microwave and window blinds.  That damned Magic Eraser just kept showing me more grime.   YUCK!!!!!!!!

Here's some pictures so you can see what I saw.

Looks innocent enough.

Can you say GROSS!!!!!!!!

Well, since I'm taking pictures anyways, Here's the rest of my kitchen.

Here's all the white- and I cleaned it all up nice just for these pictures.  I can't wait to get a new counter and back-splash, but no money for that right now.

I love to decorate in vintage and antiques, but don't have a lot of counter space, so I have to use shelves and a free- standing Island / Counter for storage etc.

This is my collection of green glass wear, antique coffee grinders, and copper kitchen wear, etc.  Terrible lighting from our ceiling fan/ light fixture ( sorry).

My spice rack/ display shelf over the stove.

Here's a closer shot of my Fry's Chocolate Giclee' Print,

This is my beautiful Counter/Island with which I could not live without.  We eat most meals here, and there's lots of storage.  It's from Cambridge Furnishings, and they customized it so it sits against the wall, since we have no room in the middle for an island, It's my absolute favourite thing in my kitchen, and I love the color.  It keeps the kitchen from being too white-  the cabinets and display shelves are Cottage White by Behr.  Oh, and the wallpaper was already in the house when we bought it, and that will come down one day- it is okay color-wise, but I really DO NOT like wallpaper in an entire room.  At least its vinyl and looks a little like tile, and is easy to clean.  But the flowers on the wallpaper really have to go.  One day!!!!!  Oh, and my clock is from Walmart- it looks just like one I wanted from Restoration Hardware, only a little smaller, and was only $10.00.  They just came out with a line of vintage looking stuff, and well- the price was right.

Well, good thing I took these pictures, because the neatness lasted approximately 2.5 seconds after I was finished.  That's when the hubby came in to get a bowl of chocolate ice cream, dripping all over my clean counter, and leaving his dirty dishes in the sink.  At least I can look at the pictures.  I will show better pictures one day, after I  get a new counter, re-paint the cabinets which are chipping and take off the wallpaper.  Lots of stuff for future posts in this house.

Bye til later.  Au Revoir!!!!