The Only Pet We Own . . .

I purchased this little decorative cage a few months ago and decided to finally pull it out of the closet to give it some life. 

I'm not even sure what color this is.  I just knew I was going to paint it.  So I enlisted the help of my 3 and 5 year old girls and they gladly obliged.  When we finished, it looked like this . . .

It looks white, but it's actually Martha Stuart's Aegean Blue . . .  a very pale blue.

 I sanded it a little to let some of that rust-colored paint it originally had shine through.  

I also purchased this plate to go along with it . . .

What birdcage would be complete without a bird?  Check out this beauty I found at the third store that completed the look . . .

  What a perfect match wouldn't you say?

I finally found one . . .

I've been looking for a nightstand for my daughter's room for a while.  I wanted a girly-shaped one that I could paint.  I finally found one at (can you guess) the right price.

This actually reminds me of the nightstand I had as a child.  I think it looks exactly like it.  I can't wait to paint this.

. . . just have to decide on the color.

Life after the flea market experience...

So after my first flea market experience that I talked about here, I headed to a couple of antique stores.  I walked out of one store with this . . .

An Old Kentucky Home scale for the kitchen.  I've been looking for kitchen scales for a while now, but I was never satisfied with the price until now.  It's functional with just a little age to it.  Perfect.

I also purchased this little tin tray from the same shop:

Who can resist a blue tray with flowers?  I can't . . .

First Flea Market Experience

Believe it or not, I've never really been to a flea market.  I say that I've never really been simply because I have gone two other times in my life and that was years ago and at the request of others.  I didn't go to actually look for something to buy.  Well, I went yesterday with the intent to buy and boy was that an experience.  I didn't even know where to start.  When I finally decided on a path, it was a path covered in cobwebs.  I walked straight into cobwebs.  The old me would have screamed and ran for the hills, but I have toughened up over the years.  After I brushed the cobwebs off my face, I finally came across one item worth purchasing.  This old stool:

I thought it showed potential so I quickly picked it up and had it set aside while I browsed around a bit more.  Truth be told, there was a ton of  "real" junk (like dolls with missing heads kind of junk) and I was ready to leave.  So I made my purchase, made sure I didn't walk into anymore cobwebs, and took leave of that place.  What I didn't realize until I loaded this little stool into the backseat of my husband's car, was that it also had cobwebs under the seat.  Not only were there cobwebs, but the little creatures that spun those webs were there as well.  I couldn't catch them (I was afraid to).  I figured they were in the back and wouldn't crawl into the front seat while I was driving.  I also figured that this hot Texas sun will kill them before my husband goes to work on Monday.  So in my mind, the problem is solved.  All of that for this little stool . . .

For now it's sitting in my little hideout (storage room).  I have to clean it, remove the old paint or whatever this stuff is that is flaking off like a layer of skin, and figure out what color to paint it.  I wonder why they call these places flea markets.  This particular market had spiders . . .

Oops, I did it again . . .

I went to another antique store yesterday, but it was in a small town so there was some hope.  What looked like total trash on the outside, was an addict's treasure on the inside (and out).  I could have spent hours sifting through everything, but I had my two little ones with me.  Speaking of sifting, guess what I found?

Can you read this old rusty thing?  It's a vintage Androck Hand-i-Sift.  The little fine print states that it was made in the USA.  Can you believe it?  Something made in the USA.  Well, this was probably because in 1924, that's how things were made . . . at home.  Would you like to see a little more?

Yes, I put FLOWERS not flour in my old sifter.  You're probably wondering what those two weird looking shoes are.  They're antique shoe forms made out of cast iron.  I thought they were pretty neat looking.  They're also quite heavy.

But it didn't stop there . . . I found these:

Two beautiful vintage frames.

I had a wonderful day finding very beautiful and interesting pieces . . . It was a good day indeed.  Perhaps some of you are wondering why I chose sepia to display my photos.  All I can say is that I find it beautiful.  I think it adds even more character to a piece when its simple form reflects beauty that can attract the eye more than vibrant colors.  It whispers, "There's a story .  .  . come take a look."

 Now, all I have to do is figure out what I'm going to do with these vintage frames.

Gone

Remember this table that I rescued?

Well, as of today it is no longer in my storage room.  It is G-O-N-E.  I sold it!  This is so exciting for me because it's the very first piece of furniture I've sold.  It's such an amazing feeling to work on something like this and have someone appreciate your work. Actually, I find this quite addictive and can only make my other addictions, which I talked about here, all the more intense.  There has got to be some kind of cure out there for me.  Even if there happens to be one, I don't think I would want it.

Latest Finds

I went to an estate sale a few days ago and left there with a couple of decorative items.  The first item I picked up, was this faded tin tray:

I'm not sure why this chippy tray caught my attention but I just couldn't help myself especially since the price was right.  On the back of the tray, it has that Mary Ryan hand painted it and made it alcohol resistant.  I guess knowing that it's alcohol resistant is an important piece of information . .  . maybe?

After holding it for barely a minute, the lady working the estate sale asked if I wanted her to put it behind the counter for me while I look around some more and I agreed.  I then spotted this hanging on the wall:

But the painting isn't what caught my eye . . . it was what accented the piece and attached it to the wall:

Beautiful . . . is it not?  

I spy beautiful brushstrokes . . .

 When I returned home and turned the painting over, I discovered some writing on the back:

I'm not sure what to say about the back of this painting, but I certainly love what is on the front and the beautiful frame that surrounds it.

Saving all furniture is worth it . . .

Sometimes I come across things that are not antiques but are certainly worth salvaging like this piece . . .

This actually belonged to my grandmother.  It was in a sad and not very appealing state.  The table was either on its way to Goodwill or the dumpster.  I quickly asked if I could take it home . . . scratches, stains, and all.

I cleaned and sanded as much as I could tolerate.  I'm not of fan of doing either one of those jobs.  Next, I painted it in Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint.  

Paris Grey

After painting with the Paris Grey, I initially trimmed it with Old White. Then I decided to paint the top with Old White as well.  I then waxed and distressed in order to avoid giving it such a clean look.  I like the worn, I've been used and loved look.

Everything on and under the table where great finds.  The large frame was found at an estate sale, and the other at an antique store.  The two lamps you see were that nasty brassy sassy color.  I paid only $14 for the two of them. I spray painted them Heirloom White and purchased burlap covered shades at Target on sale. Feast your eyes on the before that was such an eyesore:

Before

Sitting Pretty After

This next piece is another I rescued from an early demise. It was in the same sad state as the table above.  It has strong bones and I saw a lot of potential.  It just looks kind of sad right now.  

But with the help of some more chalk paint in Louis Blue and Old White, it looks like a completely different piece of furniture that has been well cared for.

Oh, how I love paint . . .

I'm linking up to: