Vintage Finds Vignette

I think if I could find a way to get paid well to create vignettes ALL day long, I would. I love putting together vintage finds and personal items to create visually appealing displays. Vignettes are 3D "art installations". 

Yesterday I spent quite a large chunk of time marrying thrifted art with vintage frames. This job is never as easy as it would seem. Many of the vintage frames I have do not have glass and they never seem to be standard sizes. Finding backs and matts is always a bit of a puzzle too. I put three of the pieces I framed with some recently curated items to create an interesting vignette.

The three pieces of art I am sharing include "The Wedding Day", a Currier and Ives print, a Millais print of "The Nest" and "Deer Drinking" by Winslow Homer.

I have sourced some great coffee table art books lately and I included two in this display to add height and color. Sitting on top of the books is a wood THING. When I do a google search of this wood item, it comes up as an old farming tool--a seed spreader from India. it has holes in the bottom and sides and I can see it used as a seed spreader. The inside has something that looks like a rotating handle could have been attached to it to turn the seeds. It looks like it has been used or worn. I also se it come up as a candle holder. But, the inside is not a spike or flat at all that would be needed to hold a candle. There is a cow and a goat carved on the base.

A English Majolica pitcher from the early 1900's hold thrifted, faux flowers. The flowers create movement and incorporates nature into the vignette.

The beautiful hand-turned and signed wood bowl, which adds more organic texture, holds keepsake shells and black and white photos of Pompeii from my daughter. Brass candlesticks and a brass Diya India oil lamp repeat the metallic colors in the frame. 

I know I have shared before, but let me repeat some "rules" to creating a visually appealing vignette: 1) vary heights 2) layer objects, and place them so they visually touch 3) repeat colors and textures 4) use objects that you love and are unique 5) Take pictures to see what works and what doesn't 6) have fun--it is not life or death, enjoy the process.

Eclectic International Curated Collection

Today I am sharing more recently sourced and curated finds. I am calling this an Eclectic International Collection (i.e.--stuff that didn't fit in my spring or Montana collections). This collection is mostly art.

Most of these items will be for sale at my upcoming Pop-Up Shops (open date TBD). The small, lap quilt underneath the objects is silk and velvet and would make a perfect throw blanket or wall hanging or table covering.

Two vintage paint-by-numbers are painted in rich colors. The framed Picasso print is one of my favorites--so wonderfully weird!

I am having a tough time finding the origin of these two paintings on canvas. They look African in nature to me, but I am unsure. I love the warm, bright colors in them. They could be framed, but I also love raw art like this tacked to a wall too. The vintage toleware tin is a fun piece for a planter or desk organizer or kitchen utensil holder.

The vintage wood and glass tray is probably from the 40's. It is a great size, not too large. On the tray sits an antique, English Majolica pitcher that would look lovely with dried flowers in it. (I would use a jar of water in it for fresh flowers.) A small, feather art bird and a hand-stitched, leather, thunderbird wall hanging would be great additions to a gallery wall.

The large, vintage print, circa 1940's, is entitle Happy Babies by Chang Shu-Chi. I love its matting and frame. The new candlesticks may be keepers for my home.

See anything you would have picked?

Hand Carved Antique Wood Wall Shelf

Okay, I need your help with this one--what are your thoughts on the age and origin of this rustic, carved, wood shelf?

So, let me tell you a little bit about it first. I bought it at a thrift store and we added the thin wood back to it. It appears very primitively made and is assembled with nails that are rusty. I can't tell if they are square nails.

The carvings across the top look like they are from the Pennsylvania Dutch country. But, they also can be from India. When I do a visual search nothing comes up. Typically, if a piece is from World Market or Pier One, it will come up when searching which leads me to believe that it is not a mass produced item.

The paint and wood color is original--there is a greyish color under the blue and the paint appears to be milk paint. I did shine the shelf up with salve, but the paint was more matte before I conditioned it.

This picture shows the bottom shelf which shows age. It also shows the greyish color that is under the blue. (Plus I am sharing a cute, hand-painted, pottery trinket dish I thrifted.) I do think this bottom shelf did originally have a carved wood strip across the front of it like the other shelves do.

I would love to here your thoughts, but at any rate, I really do love this shelf. It adds interest, warmth, and color to a wall and is a great place to display personal trinkets and curated and quirky items that you love.

Also, an aside--while trends come and go and I absolutely think you should style your home with items you love, a 2025 trend is more color!! Earthy tones and rich jewel colors are hot and ALL white is OUT (too cold and yawn inducing)! But, you do you, just remember to use items and colors that make you smile and that help your home to feel welcoming and cozy.

Montana Cabin Style Curated Finds

 I love it when I can group my curated finds into a theme. I am calling this one Montana Cabin Style!

Let's get into the details! I sourced some fantastic, vintage, original art. The larger acrylic is from 1973 and the watercolor is from a MT painter. The 1964 print of a boy feeing squirrel (don't feed the wildlife) is an old school poster. A cedar box is always a good find.

The vintage dog sledding tapestry is perfect for any cabin or rustic or eclectic home. A copper ladle, wood cutting boards and a wool snowman pillow are fun finds. 

A hooked rug, no doubt from the 70's or early 80's, depicts a sunset deer scene. Bison art from an old magazine and framed in Montana barnwood is perfect for any home that loves wildlife.

A trough style dough bowl and a wrought iron candleholder will look fantastic in any space. Pen and ink drawings of Montana breweries need frames still. Sourced goods also include an olive green teapot and a live edge wood frame. 

Most of these items will be available at my next pop-up shop (date TBD). See anything you love?

Reclaimed Wood Bookshelf with a Copper Back

A very cold few days turned into a great weekend to get some building projects done. We worked on a few different things including a reclaimed wood bookshelf with a fantastic copper backing on it.

Keep reading to see how we built this and some tips on styling a bookshelf. First off, I say WE built this because hubby and I worked on this project together. I designed the shelf and picked out the wood we were going to use, he did the cutting and assembling, and I sanded and finished it. it was a perfect joint project and turned out just as I had pictured it.

The wood is reclaimed barnwood and it is all hardwood--white oak and maple. The copper panels were given to me several years ago and had been originally used as a backsplash. They had been finished with the verdigris patina using an accelerant. I did wipe them down and removed some of the verdigris finish, leaving a bit of the copper to shine through. The back of the panels is bright, shiny copper with contact cement on it. 

I like the trim boards that we put across the front of the shelves and at the top and bottom. The trim makes the shelves look beefier and more finished. I stained the wood with Special Walnut stain and use a clear coat on the wood to protect it. I styled the shelves with recently thrifted finds and personal items.

I styled the shelf sparsely since it will be for sale, but still used good design rules to create visually appealing vignettes: odd numbers, asymmetry, varying heights, repeating elements and colors, and creating cohesiveness by having objects layered and "touching" if only visually. What does that last part mean? If you look at the top of the shelf you will see that your eye flows from item to item because they are grouped in a way that they look connected. You can give the eyes a rest by having two groupings like on the first inside shelf. Don't arrange items solely in the middle of the shelf which stops the eye dead center. You want the eyes to flow in an S pattern for balance.

Definitely add books to a BOOKshelf, but incorporate other objects and personal items as well. I would utilize more books if I were keeping this shelf because I am a reader and a former teacher and I love books. An aside--I do not like books turned around to show the pages. Nothing screams I don't read more than not showing the spines with the book titles. I get it, it creates uniformity and the all white decor lovers do this, but it annoys me. Books are great decorative objects, but let's not forget their main purpose is to be read. I value books and I think flipping them around devalues them. Okay, stepping off my soapbox now. 

Remember to use objects that have meaning to you when you style your shelves. Feathers and rocks collected on walks, a favorite photo, a book from a vacation all have a place on this bookshelf. Recently curated objects are great too if you love them and they make your heart got pitter patter. Do not decorate with something simply because it is popular or in style. Use objects that will make you smile when you see them. 

It was fun to get in the workshop and I look forward to this shelf finding a new home soon!

Help Wanted

Here's the truth about thrifting, almost everything I buy needs some work or upcycling before it is ready for my pop-up shop. When I found a rustic, hand-carved, HELP WANTED sign at the thrift store, I thought it would be a fun piece for a kitchen or laundry room. But...it needed a quick makeover first.

The letters were painted black and did not stand out against the dark grey wood sign. So, I decided to paint them red.

After painting, I sanded off the red that got on the sign rather than the letters, and then clear coated the piece.

It is a fun sign to hang in the kitchen, set up above cupboards, or a home office or in a laundry room. And while word signs are no longer popular, vintage, authentic signs will never go out of style! 

Easy Cake Plate Update

Ever ask yourself, "Hmmm, what were they thinking?" I do, quite often, especially at the thrift store. So when I spied this gun metal grey, metal cake stand at the thrift store for a few dollars, I knew I was buying it and I knew it would need a makeover. 

I mean, I like grey well enough, but not for food. It is just so depressing and an unappetizing color, not celebratory like a cake plate should be. So, I looked through my paint and chose a fresher and delightful color for it, a vintage mint green.

This was a paint sample can in a matte finish. I pained it right over the gray, which was also flat, after cleaning the cake stand. Remember to turn pieces upside down and paint the underside first and then flip over. 

I did sand the edges a bit where the grey paint was bumpy and then clear coated the cake stand with a matte, spray on finish. While the paint and finish is non-toxic, I would recommend sitting unwrapped food on a napkin or doily rather than directly on the painted surface.

This color is so much better and I love how it looks like vintage jade green cake stand. I styled it in my kitchen corner with some thrifted dessert plates (with GF Oreos), a small, battery operated candle in a wood spoon rest, and a jar of trail mix. I used Antique Gold Rub-n-Buff on the jar lid and glued a faux succulent to the top.

Paint--always a game changer and a great way to update thrift store finds!

Early Spring Vintage Finds

I know, it is only mid-January, BUT in the sourcing world, I have to be thinking ahead. So, spring (and late winter) have been on my brain as I curate items for my pop-up shop. Here are some of my recent finds!

COLOR--aahhh!! You might notice lots of florals and greens--prefect for spring. Keep reading to see DETAILS!

This faux lavender looks so real that I actually smelled it when I picked it up, thinking it was  dried bouquet. The silver candlesticks are perfect for Valentine's Day or a spring wedding. The original geranium painting is well-done and an acrylic I believe. Based on the framing, I think it is vintage.

This vintage, cast iron, Swedish casserole dish is quite the find. The green repeats on the dish part and it is HEAVY. The robin print is from a 1965 set of classroom posters. I got a dozen of them and will be framing many of them. The framed sheet music is  fun for lonely hearts during February. The small vintage sunflower creamer makes a good vase or cane be used for cream. These items are laying on two green pillow forms that I will be using on my loveseat.

A book bird print, a vintage oil painting, and a chippy white frame all say hello spring. The silver dish is a 25th anniversary Oneida bowl from 1969. I need to finish polishing it up.

This sweet applique art with buttons depicts a lovely cottage and picket fence.

A vintage needlepoint and a framed print entitled spring (that I reframed in this nice easel frame) and an Oneida striped pitcher all add much welcomed color to any home. I love sourcing new items for the shop and I enjoy sharing them with you. 

Recently Sourced Home Decor for the Pop-Up Shop

Even though I haven't picked a date for my next pop-up shop opening (I am waiting on weather), I am still busy sourcing fantastic, vintage items to sell. Here are some of my recent finds:

I love these old, vintage, wood, folding chairs (I have one hanging on my wall as "art", and extra chair). I revived them with Wise Owl Furniture Salve. You can buy it from my friend Tina HERE. I made the table from a metal table base that I spray painted and a wood lazy Susan.

I use washers and screws to secure the wood top to the heavy metal piece.

I love this primitive wood shelf with the scalloped beadboard on the back. Based on construction, I think this is a fairly old piece, although the paint on it is maybe a recent addition. All i did was use the salve on it to give new life to the dry wood. The watercolor painting on the wall is by a rather famous, American artist, Dale Hamlett. He passed in 2011 at the age of 89. He painted professionally for 50+ years and was painting up until his death. He won many awards both nationally and internationally. On the back of his painting is a return address label with his name and address in MN, so I wonder if tis was part of his personal collection that he kept.

On the shelf sits some smalls that will be for sale. I love the Japanese Majolica creamer.

I loved the pastel stripes on this vintage Oneida pitcher. Boy, this thing was filthy and took a lot of hot water and Dawn dish soap to clean up. The oil still life is primitive, but very old in an antique frame. I think it is. This was on the back of it:

I did a little research and found the artist's obituary, she passed in 1953

Curating items for the pop-up-shop is one of my very favorite things to do. I am happy with these finds and look forward to offering them to my customers. See anything you love?