The Charm of a Woven Basket Plant Stand
I recently became acquainted with the charm of a woven basket plant stand in the dark, dusty corner of an antique mall and I haven’t stopped gushing about it since I brought it home. I’m not joking. It’s my new favorite thing and you need this type of simple joy in your life too. I fully acknowledge that the charm of this particular woven basket plant stand is multi-faceted. First, I got a screaming deal. The basket did not have a price tag on it. The store worker had to call the owner of this particular antique booth to get a price. When she reported back to me that the basket…
Happy Thrifting: Chelsea Forge Antiques and Quaker Antique Mall
A few weekends ago I left the ten-mile radius surrounding our house to explore some new-to-me antique shops. As you can see, I’m really branching out. I even crossed over the border into Pennsylvania! Although, that’s not saying much because as the crow flies we practically live on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I figured if I was going to leave my comfort zone, I’d better check out an antique shop that had a ton of square footage, so I chose the Quaker Antique Mall in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. As luck would have it, Chelsea Forge Antiques and Design (pictured above) was right on my way, so I stopped there…
My Latest Thrift Store Finds: Part 3
Did you go thrifting this summer? I probably went a couple of times a month, but only found a handful of thrift store finds worth bringing home. I’ve been idly looking for some very specific thrift store finds, which means, of course, I won’t find them. I’ll find everything I won’t need instead. For instance, was I looking for a wood duck? Uh, no. But how could I turn down this $5 find? Look how pretty it is with its iridescent, shimmering feathers. Did I need another wood tray? Sometimes the lines between need and want are blurred, so let’s just go with yes. The answer is always yes. It…
Glazed Terra-Cotta Pot Makeover
Have you ever done a glazed terra-cotta pot makeover? I haven’t either…until now. *insert dramatic music here* I found a glazed terra-cotta pot at a thrift store for $10. It is huge, almost 18 inches tall, and it was begging for a makeover. Begging. You can see the potential, right? This is not one of those situations where I’m going to slap mud on a vase to make it look like authentic earthenware. I already had authentic earthenware. It was just hiding under some painted on flowers and swirly things. My plan for this glazed terra-cotta pot makeover was simple. I was just going to paint it. Easy breezy. However,…
Collecting: Antique Car Horns
I have two antique car horns and I’m looking for a third, so I guess I’m collecting antique car horns now. I’m pretty jazzed about it! Every once in awhile when you visit this blog I want you to not only leave with inspiration, but some random trivia to impress your friends and family with too. It’s the least I can do for you, right? Here goes… Antique car horns were first used in Britain in the 1800s. It was a matter of safety when self-propelled vehicles started sharing the road with horses, wagons, and people. By the late 1800s, motorists were using horns, bells, and whistles to alert others to their presence. In the…
Four Recent Thrift Store Finds
I’ve become more interested in thrift store shopping for my home in recent years for three reasons. I really, really, really, really like a bargain. Certain items of yesteryear are made better than they are now. I don’t want my home to look like everyone else’s. Plus, it balances out my Amazon shopping habit. Oh, and did I mention I like a bargain? My conundrum with thrift store shopping is that I really don’t like shopping in general. It feels like a waste of time and I don’t usually have the patience for it. More often than not I go to a thrift store and see nothing that sparks a…
Happy Thrifting: Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market
Today I want to introduce to you a flea market I’ve been to twice now: Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market. It is located along the scenic Delaware River in Lambertville, New Jersey, right across the border from Pennsylvania. The flea market has been open since the late 1960s, so you know it is a good one. Plus, it is open year-round and three days a week: Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Some flea markets are only open seasonally and that’s a bummer when you really have a hankering to find some neat treasures, but nothing is open! The name Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market is a nod to the man who…
Invisible Picture Wire Saves the Day
Do you ever have one of those “anything is better than nothing” moments? Any seasoning at all would be better than having to eat one more bite of this bland food. A few lunges while I brush my teeth is better than no exercise today! This mint stuck to the bottom of my purse is better than having no mint and bad breath! Using my husband’s deodorant is better than not using any deodorant at all! Added perk – I can enjoy the manly smell of ‘arctic ice’ coming from my armpits all day long. I had one of those “anything is better than nothing” moments as it relates to…
The Best Flea Market Score
Not only did I recently find the best flea market score EVER, it happened twice at the same flea market. I know, I know. I don’t think you can technically have two “best ever” declarations in the same sentence. Alas, it won’t be the first or last grammar violation on this blog. Now, while I’m still riding the high of the moment, I am well aware that the best flea market score to me is not the best flea market score to someone else. And thank goodness, right? Otherwise, they’d be walking home with my finds and I’d be walking home sad and empty-handed. Actually, I’d be driving. New Jersey…
Happy Thrifting: Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market
Have you ever seen a faraway place on TV or in a magazine and thought that it would be a cool place to visit someday? That’s what I’ve always thought about Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market in Connecticut. It is often the backdrop for the HGTV show Flea Market Flip. It has also been mentioned in magazines the likes of Architectural Digest and by interior designers like Emily Henderson. As it turns out, I can now drive to Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market in about two hours. I’ve been stuck in traffic jams in Atlanta for longer than two hours, so driving this long to potentially score some unique treasures at a…
