Christmas in July

In my world I live by the ABC rule--always buy Christmas. I have not seen a lot of Christmas in the second hand stores around here, but I have found a few items.

Some great, plaid wool blankets, a sweet, cross-stitched tablecloth, plaid napkins, a large heavy, wood snowman, and a wool pillow.

I love this vintage, costume jewelry tree I found!

The wreath will eith get more items added to it, or be taken apart and changed up. The vintage book is a wonderful collection of Christmas stories, entitled Fireside Book of Christmas Stories.

These items will be available for sale later in October at my pop-up shop!

Brightening a Kitchen Corner with Plates

I started collecting old, decorative plates about 4 years ago. My plan was to put them above my kitchen door and have them swoop around the corner and above the cupboard that is above the refrigerator. I collected 30+ plates, and even laid them all out, but never hung them because I thought they were going to be too busy and cluttered. Today, I decided to hang some of them on the side wall next to my refrigerator.

I had cutting boards hanging here for the last four or five years.

I decided with the butcher block counters we now have, that I would like a bit more color in the corner.

Some of the plates are very old--I think this divided, floral, English plate is the oldest.

And some are newer like this floral Pier One plate,

but, they all make me smile.

I love this cozy and colorful corner in my kitchen.

Oh, and above the kitchen door and over the fridge I added some peel and stick wallpaper that I randomly bought. The colors in the wallpaper tie the kitchen cupboards in with the exposed brick.

Curated Cabin and Montana Home Decor

I can adore and appreciate certain styles of decor, but still not decorate my home with them. I have a blast curating items that I might use if I had a different home or, in this case, a cute Montana cabin in the mountains. I have to love the home decor I source, even if it isn't my style, and I enjoy finding it for my customers. 

So, here is a collection of recently curated items I am calling "Montana Autumn". These items will be available at my Harvest Home pop-up shop at the end of August. 

How about this copper jam pot? I did use salt vinegar to reveal the solid copper under the tarnished patina. I may need to shine it up a bit more, but she is a beauty!

I will frame up the vintage partridge print. The Yellowstone aluminum trivet is from the 1930's.

The oil painting entitled "Camping on the Flathead Narrows" by Montana artist G.H. Betzer is a fun find. The title is written on the back in older style handwriting. The artist painted mostly from 1930-1960.

A stoneware, crock jug, perfect for holding fall stems, sits on an original ducks in flight painting.

A pair of wool pillows depict a Native American bear with a heartline.

A signed, wood sunburst and an original barn painting (with gorgeous muted colors) sit on bird hunting tapestry fabric that i will use to cover something or make a pillow out of.

a needlepoint duck pillow and a vintage woodpecker print

A handmade, heavy, oak mirror with a rounded shelf may get a paint or darker stain makeover.

What catches your eye? are you ready to decorate your Montana home or cabin?

Curated Fall Decor for the Pop-Up Shop

The pop-up shop is not open until the latter part of August, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy sourcing and curating new goods for the shop.  

I am loving blues and golds and oranges for fresh fall style. The brown, rust, and blue plaid tablecloth in the background in the upper right of the photo is a perfect example of the colors you will be seeing in home decor for autumn.

A vintage print depicting a late summer harvest, a needlepoint pillow, and a vintage, cowhide handbag--all represent fall colors, textures, and themes.

A vintage, USA Toby mug (named after Toby Phillpot, a heavy English drinker) and a vintage, brass cemetery urn with a heavy metal ballast ball in it incorporate warm tones in the home. A vintage apple label will get reframed and new towels show off a lovely, deep blue color. These sit on a vintage, brown plaid blanket.

cute apple dishes, an old dinner bell, a vintage, round mirror, and a sweet music box

A gorgeous, pottery serving dish, a leaf bowl, a sweet blue and white pitcher, an owl print, and a print from the 1908 book The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam in an antique frame all sit on a golden yellow piece of upholstery fabric that I will use for something.

This 1880 book has amazing illustrations and is really fun to look through. I love the cover! The oval, plaid, lidded dish is old and is completely crazed inside.

The carved wood box in the upper left corner is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Look for my August pop-up shop dates to be announced at the beginning of August. Until then, I will continue to curate and source unique, one-of-a-kind pieces for you (okay, and a few for myself too)!

Thrifted Summer Tablescape

I loved my spring tablescape so much that I thought I might leave it all summer long. But, a thrifted, blue, table runner convinced me that I need to change it up for July.

I decided to use MOSTLY red, white, and blue items with a few sunny yellow touches. When I shared my spring tablescape I had been watching lots of English decorating shows and fell in love with the idea of a more interactive and usable centerpiece or tablescape.

As always, I use some simple "rules" to create a cohesive and visually appealing display on the dining table--vary height, repeat colors and materials, use some natural elements to create warmth and to incorporate texture.

The red, enamel tray in the center of the table was made in the 1940's in California and was used on Hollywood sets by caterers to serve food to the cast. It has different shaped compartments that I utilized to help me decide what to place on it--white salt and pepper shakers, blue floral plates, and a blue striped vase with good faux, red flowers in it. Real flowers from my garden will be used in this vase when they are ready. The wood vase sitting in the fruit plates adds warm wood texture and holds faux dark red flowers.

A wood garden trug holds yellow flowers and cloth napkins that will get used daily. The 1935 atlas is a perfect "tray" or base to hold a blue and white bowl. Currently the bowl has one of my favorite after dinner, sweet treats in it, Probiotic Strawberry Yoggies from Costco. But, it will also hold fruit throughout the summer, especially cherries, my favorite summer fruit.

A rectangular serving dish adds a little more yellow to the vignette. Wood salad utensils await our next summer salad and a few red peppers are for nibbling (ok, and for the staging photos).

A rattan basket sits on red plates. We do use the plates when needed for dessert or extra plate space. A red candle sits on a wood candle holder and adds more height.

In the basket there are a dozen or so very vintage, Yellowstone Park postcards that are meant to be looked at and talked about. I like having interactive items on the dinner table like old photos, conversation cards, brainteaser puzzles, etc.

I love having a summer vignette that isn't your typical red, white, and blue flags and is instead a little quirky and eclectic and something that might spark conversation or a hands-on  experience. And, I am happy that almost everything in this tablescape came from a thrift store.