Table decor for the Holidays

Found the great pewter plates at a Tag Sale. I absolutely love how this looks!!

Newest bundle of Joy

Measuring in at 2 1/2 inches tall x 8 inches round x 2 1/4 inches across top x 2 1/2 inches across bottom. Love, love, love this baby firkin!!

Chimney cabinet

Just a sneak peek at the weekend's project. More pictures to come once I have the cabinet in place.

Rug Beaters

I love finding unique rug beaters. Pictured below is my collection of rug beaters. One day they will be displayed in my laundry room.

Book - Must have for a Primitive Lover

Passion For Primitives-Folk Decor for Interior Design by Franklin and Esther Schmidt is an excellent book for someone who loves primitive decor. I purchased this book from Amazon for about $32. Normally I don't purchase books, but this book had great reviews. The book was also a hard-cover book with 176 pages, so that was another bonus. I find myself picking up this book and looking at it at least once a day. Today I received my January 2012 issue of Country Sampler and this book was a feature story (page 12-13). I am so glad that I purchased this book!!

Tag Sale treasures

Well it was another early morning (6am), but well worth standing in line. I found 2 chairs for my mom. These chairs are beautiful and will look great in her kitchen. I absolutely love the old blocks and pewter items that I picked up. The blocks will be a good bowl filler and my niece will enjoy playing with them. The wood carrots are also a fun treasure that I picked up. These were handmade by the homeowner, and they are just wonderful!! The pumpkins will be great for fall decorating. I also picked up a few christmas items. Looking forward to decorating for the holidays, but I must wait till after Thanksgiving. Hope you are enjoying your weekend!!

Thrifty Thursday

6 items for $2.10....yes please!! Love 1/2 off bric-brac day.

Treasure hunting

Another successful day of hunting for treasures!!

Christmas Decor and Projects

It was such a nice day here in Nebraska!! Blue skies, no wind and the temperature was in the 50's, which is unusual for this time of year. I'm loving this weather and hoping the white stuff passes by us this year. I know, I know what is Christmas without the white stuff.
It seems that Christmas is in the air earlier and earlier each year. Every year there are new colors and new styles for Christmas decorating. Each year I toss around ideas of how I should decorate my home. This year I've determined that I will decorate with what nature has given me, along with a few homemade items. Let the search and crafting begin!!
Yesterday was my first attempt at dried apple slices. The process was quite simple and I loved the aroma that filled my home. Thanks to A Primitive Place & Country Journal-Winter 2011 issue for the article on Decking the Halls with Drieds (pg. 86)!! They must have read my mind!! Another excellent issue created by A Primitive Place & Country Journal staff!!
Today I headed out to the park to search for some pine cones to add to my Christmas decor. Nature is one of the greatest treasures that we all have been given, plus it is free!!
I'll post pictures once I've completed my holiday decorating.

Shelf - Thrift Store find

The BEST find of the weekend!! Only $4, that's right $4 for this nice oak shelf (48 inches long). I saw this shelf on Saturday and didn't pick it up. I ended up having dreams about this shelf. Guess I was meant to have this shelf as it was still waiting for me on Sunday. Price of the shelf was $7.99, so I was greatly surprised and happy to take it for $4. I can't wait to clean up this shelf and hang it on my wall!!

Chairs~Please have a seat!!

Absolutely LOVE these chairs!! Need to get to Denver to visit this AMAZING store, Old Glory Antiques. From what I've seen, this store has some pretty great treasures!!

Thrift store treasures

As you may notice from previous posts, I have found a new love for hunting for treasures at thrift stores. I was extremely excited with my last visit. All the items in the picture were purchased for under $7. If you're looking to re-decorate/decorate a room try checking your local thrift store for items to use. Not only will you save money, but may also be donating to a good cause. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!!

Tag sale/Thrift store finds

Enjoyed last Saturday attending a tag sale and exploring the thrift stores. I think I found some great treasures. Stay tuned for some before and after projects.

Projects - Before and After

Purchased this item at a tag sale for $5 and wanted to change the color. I went back and forth on the color. Thought about mustard yellow, dark blue, red and finally decided on gray. I think I made a good decision and love the outcome.

What a crock!!

Love, love, love my new crock!! I've been looking for a gray colored crock, and today was my lucky day. The picture really doesn't do it justice. It measures 8 1/4 inches tall and 5 3/4 inches wide. What a great treasure that I found today!!

Fall treasure hunt

What a great day here in Nebraska!! Started the morning attending the Cabin Fever Antique Show and Sale. This show is usually held in January, March and October. There are so many great dealers that attend this show. Prices are usually pretty reasonable and dealers are willing to negotiate a deal. Today's purchases included the neat octagon wood bowl, the multi-color and unusual size area rug and the muted color turkey. I love each of these treasures and can't wait to display them.
Since I was in the neighborhood, I decided to visit The Aardvark Antique Mall. While there I picked up some other great treasures. I always love when I find such great items. My treasures included: a neat harvest picture, a circular metal framed picture of a couple in courtship, wood mortar/pestle set, 2 miniature cutting boards, small basket, a gorgeous blue/brown/red quilt, small wooden sled, willow doll-size bench, long hanging basket, small plaid pumpkin, primitive standing mirror and a small wood pumpkin hanging.
Treasure hunting is always such a fun adventure!! What will I find next?!?!

Thrift Store treasures

Saturday was spent searching the thrift store for treasures. By the looks of it, looks like I picked a great day for hunting. I found a lot of great treasures. The best part is that my total was under $8. Stay tuned for the transformation of a couple of the treasures.

Corn display

One of my favorite treasures is the corn mold. Since I'm from the "Cornhusker" state it will always be special to me.

Bucket

Love my wooden bucket!! This was such a great find.

Grunge candle project

Ingredients included:
Spices-cinnamon, cloves, allspice
Instant coffee
Mod Podge matte finish
Water
Candle
Paint brush
Container for mixing
Cookie sheet
Aluminum foil

I must admit that the candle did not look so good at first. However, I love the finished product.

Harvest treasures

Love these treasures!!

I can't wait to display these items in my home.

Sweet Annie's show

Sweet little sugar bucket wall hanging....newest treasure!! If you haven't checked out Sweet Annie's in Roca, NE, you must!! They have some great primitive items and I love their displays.

Chair

This chair was featured on the Junk Bonanza Facebook page. I love this chair!!

Tag Sale treasures

My love for tag sales grows each sale I attend. I think it's the thrill of the hunt. "What treasures am I going to find once inside the house?" I also find it interesting to see what other people value as treasures. There is always a wide variety of people that attend the sales. Now that I've attended a handful or so of tag sales I can now recognize the 'regulars'. However, I guess I could now be considered a 'regular' with the number of sales that I have attended. I absolutely love all my treasures that I gathered yesterday. Next sale is in October and I'm already looking forward to the adventure.

Shed Sale

> Attended my first shed sale at Gathering on the Blue. They had a lot of great treasures. I was pretty pleased with the treasures I purchased. Not pictured but treasure I purchased was a great metal stool in white. I have a matching stool in blue. These will be a great addition to a kitchen island/bar.

Shelf love

Love the color and style of this shelf!!

Saturday Adventure ~ treasures

Today I attended an antique show, tag sale, estate sale and visited an antique store. Each event had some great treasures. I love each of my items and enjoyed the day hunting for treasures with my family. Another great day of hunting for treasures!!

New addition

Welcome my new little baby!! This little firkin is so dang cute!! When I opened the box I was smiling from ear to ear. This is the perfect addition to my firkin collection. The fall issue of A Primitive Place & Country Journal featured an article regarding firkins. I highly recommend you check out this magazine if you haven't already. Excellent magazine if you love primitive and country decorating!!

Quilt kind of day

Went out on a treasure hunt yesterday and the key items seemed to be quilts. The designs and colors of these quilts caught my eye. One of the quilts was made by the Lutheran Sewing Circle in Ida Grove, IA. The tied quilt I found was a unique item. I have never seen a quilt design like that before. The yellow and lime green colored quilt would be fun for a kids room. I look forward to displaying my great treasures.

Jackpot in AZ

I had a great trip to Arizona seeing some fantastic friends!! One day of my trip was spent touring the antique shops of downtown Glendale. Its always fun exploring new shops and see what they have to offer. I had a blast looking at all of the different items. I had to remember to buy smaller items since I had already hit my baggage weight limit. It's so hard when you have to limit yourself.  I did find some great items to add to my collection. The best part of my treasure hunt was that I only spent $52 for all my treasures. 

Sent from my iPhone

Arizona treasure hunt

Do you see a theme!?!?

AZ treasure hunt

Spending the day searching for treasures in Arizona. Always fun seeing new/old and unique items.
Sent from my iPhone

Walnut, IA treasures

Well another successful trip to Walnut, IA this year. I wasn't sure how the trip was going to go since it rained almost the whole way there. We arrived and started the adventure. Most of the vendors had their items still covered in tarps hoping that the rain would pass. I made it through the first street with only a light sprinkle. We stopped to eat some breakfast provided by the Walnut Fire Department. Which may I add, they always do a great job! After breakfast the downpour began, and the rain lasted for a couple of hours. This provided the town businesses with business that they may have missed out on. Rain let up about noon and the sun and the people came out to play. One of my search items this adventure was for a dry sink. While I did find a couple, I did miss out on what had to be one of the greatest deals of the day. I was a mere second away from calling the dry sink mine, when I heard a man say that it had just been SOLD. I was sad that the item had sold, but sick when I heard that the man only paid 'ONE HUNDRED FIFTY' dollars for the item. I guess this just means that I will find a better dry sink that I can call mine. It was a great day even with the rain. My treasures included: 3 strainers, tart trays, small rag rug, nice oval picture, child's tin tray, 2 very nice rag runners and an old/neat bread board. I found alot of fun treasures and look forward to my next adventure.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Walnut, IA adventure

So excited!! I'm headed out for another adventure tomorrow. I'll be going on my annual trip to Walnut, IA for their Antique Show.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Tag Sale treasures....

Well, my Tag Sale adventure was a success!! Found some great items and even went back the next day for the discounted remaining items.

To tag or not to tag....that is the question?!?!

So I have recently found this new love for Tag Sales.  While searching the web I came across a site for Tag Sales in my area.  I viewed the tag sale website and determined that February 5th would be my first tag sale.  I was bound and determined to get an old tool box\trunk that they had displayed in a photo.  I arrived onsite around 7 am and waited for them to start handing out numbers.  The time arrived and numbers were handed out at 7:30 am.  I was so excited to receive the number 8.  The doors were open at 9 am and the mad rush began.  I was in such aww of the event that I didn't even know where to start my search for my new found treasures.  Based on the photo that I saw, I thought the tool box\trunk had to be in the garage.  I went through the house and into the garage and saw what would soon be my new treasure.  Luck was on my side, because the tool box\trunk was all mine.  A small enamel teapot ($.25) and blue primitive shelf ($12) added to my purchases. 

Since then I have recruited by brother and 3 year old niece.  I know probably not very fun for a 3 year, but she does a great job.  Tomorrow my parents will experience their first tag sale, and the tag sale protocol has been communicated.  Tomorrow will be my sixth tag sale that I have attended and each time I'm excited to see what new treasures I will find.  Well I better get some sleep cause tomorrow morning is going to be here before I know it.  First lesson learned from my tag sale adventures, is that you must be there early to get your number.  I'm hoping to pick up some great treasures tomorrow. Wish me luck!!

Where do I begin?!?!

I'm new to the blogging world, but have recently fell in love with other peoples blogs.  I'm fascinated by the number of great blogs that I have found during my search.  My blog will be dedicated to my adventures, my love of finding old\primitive treasures and creating\transforming my great treasures.  Hope you enjoy my blog!!