vintage Archives - Page 2 of 20

Old School Sign

September 1, 2011 jennifer Decorating, Happy Finds

I added a vintage metal sign to my kitchen this week.

I found it earlier in the summer at a consignment shop in Newport Beach, California and loved it instantly. One of the things I love about my kitchen is the soothing color scheme. Blue walls, white cabinets, dark wood floors, mirrors, silver. My kitchen chairs are all painted different shades of blue with one bright green in the mix.

While I love this color scheme and am far from tiring of it, I wanted to add a touch of pattern or something more graphic to the room. I think this sign does the job. It’s the kind of thing I fall in love with in magazine pictures. (Are you like me, always falling in love with the one vintage piece in a room instead of all the things they’re trying to sell?)

And how cool is that, to find a sign that says “Old School House”? When I bought it, the shop owner asked me if I am a teacher. I said, “No, but I do have eight young children.” Her response, “Close enough! You’re a teacher 24/7!”

Today I’m enjoying a new vintage touch in my kitchen. What are you doing today?

Hopeful Homemaker

2 comments Decorating, vintage

The Carrot Seed and Old Windows

July 21, 2011 jennifer Children's picture books, Decorating

One of my all-time favorite childrens books is a little one written in the 1950’s. The carrot seed by Ruth Krauss is an absolute treasure. It tells the simple story of a boy who plants a carrot seed, then waters it diligently and carefully weeds around it while his entire family looks on telling him “it won’t come up.”

But he doesn’t quit. He continues to tend his seed patiently until one day…

I love this story. I love reading it to my children. It speaks of acting in faith, believing in yourself when others don’t, of the law of the harvest. I have also dreamed for years of somehow hanging this book in my home as a reminder to us all. I hesitated, however, worried about the number of picture frames it would take.

Last year a friend gave us a beautiful set of two old windows. Painted a beautiful butter yellow, they each have six panes. One day the light went on in my head and I rushed to my copies of The Carrot Seed to count pages. Sure enough, I could do it. It took two copies of the book (purchased years ago from Scholastic for 99 cents each).

I cut the binding off the books and carefully taped the pages to the backs of the windows. And now, on two old windows, we have the entire story hanging in the toy room. It makes me smile to peek in and see the children reading it while they play. Exactly what I hoped for.

A simple way to hang an entire book, and the windows add character and interest to the room. Most importantly, we’re reminded daily to keep working on those good seeds we’ve planted in life. Eventually they will come up.

Jennifer

Vintage Pop Shoppe Bottles

June 29, 2011 jennifer Entertaining, Happy Finds

A fun way to dress up any gathering is to serve food or drinks in unusual containers. It gets attention, looks festive, prompts conversation and generally makes everything more fun.

Don’t you love those red labels? They had me at first sight.

I bought these bottles at a yard sale years ago and we’ve used them countless times. They’re perfect for birthday parties, barbecues and the 4th of July. I bought an entire crate of them, 24 bottles in great condition.

I store them in my pantry with a towel over them to protect them from dust. They’re ready to pull out at a moment’s notice. After using them I simply run them through my dishwasher. I’ve learned that the easiest way to use them is to serve drinks in a large dispenser with a small spout for easy refills. We add straws and have fun!

A simple drink table becomes a festive spot with the addition of these bottles.