Upcycled and Styled Bookshelf

When I find a solid piece of furniture at the thrift store for a good price, it is almost always a YES! Such was the case with this short, wood bookshelf that I am guessing came out of a church or school.

Why do I think it came from a school or church? Because as I sanded the cream paint, I discovered institutional green and pink underneath. I sand the paint just enough to create some grip for the paint, and then painted it with an oops can of green paint.

It took a couple coats of paint and a clear coat to upcycle this old shelf into a fresh piece ready for a new home.

I styled the shelf with some recently curated items that will be available at my upcoming pop-up shop.

A vintage plaid tablecloth and a vintage cottage creamer and Pottery Barn teapot are perfect for spring. A unique shaped jar holds a couple nests.

I love the green color that this handmade pottery vase is glazed with. It sits on a vintage, South Pacific, yellow and green bamboo pattern platter.

This bookshelf is a little tall for  seat, but it would work in an entryway as a place to take off shoes, so I added a few pillows to it. Old books, a wood box, and copper pan incorporate texture and warmth to the bookshelf. The upcycled bookshelf and most of the styled decor will be available this weekend at the pop-up shop.

Red and Pink Curated Home Goods

red and pink, vintage, curated home decor 

I have recently sourced lots of red and white napkins. I love the round, striped napkins and the red and white picnic checked ones too!

The ceramic, red and white, Terramoto striped vase or the red, speckled, enamel coffee pot add pattern and a bit of color to a space. The floral, needlepoint pillow is a fantastic granny chic accessory.

A vintage New York Franken wood fruit bowl holds more cloth napkins. We only use cloth napkins as a way to use less paper and I like them so much better. The enamel, bumper crop bowl with the lilies and a red background will look nice sitting on a coffee table with candy or old photos in it.

I arranged a faux floral centerpiece in a vintage green and pink sewing basket.

a vintage, round, floral needlepoint wall art and a miniature floral oil painting

a vintage pink flower painting, a cute, old children's framed print, and a brightly colored woven market basket

Fun 💗finds ready for the pop-up shop. I will be open Friday, February 20, 3-6 and Saturday, February 21, 10-3.

Feeling Blue, Curated Blue and White Home Decor

I have been feeling the BLUES--blue and white home decor that is! Here are some curated and recently sourced, vintage blue and white items for the pop-up shop. Be sure to keep reading to see close-ups and details.

I found five of these SPODE, tulip, Rochelle plates and two of the grape leaf salad plates.

I love the white turnip, vintage, Nabeshima platter and the Heran Chaban 1920's antique, lithograph of a harbor scene with a windmill. It does have some blues in it, especially in the sky.

How about the vintage, blue and white, fruit tablecloth or the blue flowered, cloth napkins?

A handmade, blue and green, pottery vase is a one-of-a-kind find.

I sourced two six piece sets of cobalt blue and white, vintage Thomas dishes that were made in Germany. They are in excellent condition!

I am still researching the swan art, but it is signed and was framed locally. The swan with a blue grey background and frame is perfect for spring. I found the vintage blue floral stitchery last fall, but had it tucked away for winter. The little blue and white canister is sweet.

A planter and trinket box add deeper blue tones to a space. The Ken Edwards Mexican pottery creamer would make a lovely vase.

I love when I have a vision and can curate gorgeous, vintage pieces that perfectly fit what I am picturing. These items will be available at my next pop-up, date TBD.

Upcycling an Antique Carved Wood Chair

Oh, how I loved this chair when I spied it at the thrift store. It was sturdy with beautiful carved wood, BUT it had a broken caned seat.

The caning on the back is in good shape, but the seat was stretched out. Still, it had good bones so I bought it because I knew I could upcycle it and make it usable once again. 

I taped a piece of newspaper to the seat and traced with my fingernail around the edge of the caned seat to create a pattern. I then traced the pattern on to a piece of plywood and cut it out with a jigsaw.

I did cut the sides a big wider so they would rest on the wood sides of the seat.

I then used some memory foam, quilt batting, and brown and white pillow ticking fabric to cover the seat, that was then screwed to the chair seat base from the underside.

This will be for sale at my next pop-up shop (date TBD). Check out the gorgeous, antique, oak, beveled, heavy, lead glass mirror I recently sourced that will also be available. 

This chair is comfy and would be a great piece to create a cozy reading and sitting spot in your home.

Maybe it is because we just got home from a winter vacation to Costa Rica, but right now I am all about sourcing sunny, brightly colored home decor for the pop-up shop. Here are a few recent finds.

Greens, oranges, yellows--all vitamin C citrus colors I crave this time of year.

A pair of vintage, Scio, 1940's MCM, cabbage leaf, vegetable bowls,

a vintage, green, cherry pitcher and a fluted, hand-painted, orange fruit dish incorporate bright color into the home.

An asparagus tray will be perfect for the Easter table.

A lily pad print (that I need to frame) is a wonderful way to interject some spring color.

Walls don't need to be repainted and entire home color schemes don't need to change to add a bit of spring to your spaces. Simply include a few fresh, new to you, home accessories to brighten your home.

Sourcing Spring Home Decor

Ya, I know, it is still January, although it is hard to tell in SW Montana as we have no snow and it has been in the fifties. BUT, it is time to start sourcing goods for the spring pop-up shops and I have curated some fantastic things that I can't wait to style the shop with. 

Keep reading for the details!

Let's start with this 1960, wood block print by Mervin Jules entitled Boy and Bird. It is signed in pencil and marked AP, meaning Artist Proof, which is how artists sign the first prints that they typically keep and examine for mistakes or additions they may need to make. 

I love color in the spring, and am especially drawn to blues this year. A hand-painted, made in Portugal vase and a goose and floral egg shaped, made in occupied Japan planter are a perfect way to bring in spring plants and flowers. The single, printed napkin would be cute under a centerpiece on a shelf or table.

An antique, St. Elmo patterned, blue and white vegetable dish and a pewter blue and a periwinkle blue condiment dish are a great way to add a touch of color to current dishes. They also make pretty display pieces on open shelving.

Steinberg blue floral cups, a blue and white dip dish, and a blue, metal, Yellowstone plate incorporate more blue into a space. The bird print and green striped king sized shams will work as table runners or a dresser scarf. 

A green glass pitcher, a vintage puzzle with a gorgeous scene, and a vintage, carved, coconut, floral wall hanging are subtle ways to incorporate spring in the home. 

Good faux flowers are a must (no silk or plastic ivy!!) such as these pale yellow bouquets or

these potted violets. An art print depicts spring flowers and butterflies.

I am not sure if this framed art is spring, but the salmon and yellow colors on this Indonesian fruit packaging piece are nice.

The pop-up shop won't be open again for another four weeks so I have a lot of time to curate more vintage goods, but I think I am off to a good start. What do you love?

Curated Rustic Goods for a Montana Home

Sourcing a curating goods for my pop-up shop is a never-ending quest. Here are some recent finds that I feel fit into a warm and cozy, Montana rustic home style. 

Keep reading to learn the details on these fantastic finds.

A hand-painted barn scene, painted on a barrel stave and a brown plaid scarf that works as a runner, and a footstool with a needlepoint Pointer on it add simple rustic touches to any spot.

The stool will be appropriate in a cabin or country manor. 

On the mustard yellow, leather top table sits a broken, antique mantel clock and a vintage, brown wine "jug" with curly willow branches in it. I love this table because it is a great size, has a shelf, and is on metal wheels.

A vintage. souvenir sign from Yellowstone hangs on the wall. 

Also hanging on the wall is a framed sheet music piece. The music subject doesn't necessarily fit a cabin theme, but the gorgeous frame sure works beautifully in this vignette. A LARGE cutting board or charcuterie board incorporates warm wood texture. A vintage, souvenir Yellowstone bowl or plate and a handmade deer tie in well with the rustic theme.

I added a little wire to the back of the wood fish platter to hang it.

A weathered blue candlestick and a nest and pinecone sit on a wood tray that I copper-leafed. The tray sits atop two orange, green, and blue plaid pillows. 

The colors, the textures, the mix of vintage and worn objects help to create a warm vignette.