Estate Sales

Inspired by friend and fellow blogger, Alisa with Five Eleven Decor, I checked out a couple estate sales over the weekend.  A while back Alisa posted on her blog all her favorite places to treasure hunt (although, I can't seem to find that post at the moment), and that is where I discovered http://www.estatesales.net/.  I've been searching my area for sales and found two near by.  Below are the items I picked up:

Vintage Tin Box

Skeleton Keys

My eyes were drawn to this old tin container and as I picked it up, I realized something was in it.  It was a nice surprise to find a bunch of old skeleton keys inside.

Vintage Iron

My grandmother has been looking for an vintage iron to use as a door stop.  She will get this one tied with a bow for Christmas.  Don't worry I did not spoil the surprise, she already knows about it.

Pillow

I found a pair of small pillows with an neat design.  One pillow is on this red chair and its twin is across the room on the sofa.

Blue and White Decorative Pillow Shames

I've been wanting to change up the bedding in the guest room.  It was a bit too matchy, matchy if you know what I mean.  I found these two decorative flannel pillow shames at my favorite local consignment shop Carriage House Consignment. They are well within the pattern theme of the bedding but the darker pattern add a little contrast and they are super soft.

Previous Bedding

This shows the pillow shams that came with the bedding set and the matchyness (is that a word?) that I am referring to.

Hobnail Milk Glass

Hobnail Milk Glass

Vase With Clear Ruffled Edges

The milk glass collection is spreading to the mantel

I picked up the milk glass the consignment shop.  Carriage House has quite a bit of milk glass available but I am picky and search out the items at the cheapest prices.  My favorite type of milk glass are the pieces with the clear edges.  I put a few of the skeleton keys from the estate sale in the little round hobnail milk glass and two sparkly Christmas balls in the oblong hobnail milk glass dish.

And yes, I did break out the Christmas decorations.  I use the month of November as a transition month.  You will find both pumpkins and Christmas balls in my house right now.  Maybe it was the Christmas shopping over the weekend that put me in the holiday mood.

Have you started Christmas shopping?

Take Care!

Barn Sales

The time had come for me to check out the world of barn sales.  On a sunny, brisk and beautiful autumn morning, friend and fellow blogger, Alisa with Five Eleven Decor met up with me in Frederick, Maryland. We visited two holiday open house barn sales: Chartreuse & Co and Sweet Clover.  

Here are a few shots of the awesome handmade and vintage home decor goodies:

Alisa and I had an opportunity to meet a few of the locals at Sweet Clover.  These lovely horses were very friendly... at times, a little too friendly.

Anyway, let me share with you my finds from the barn sales.

I picked up two pieces of milk glass (the top and bottom piece) to add to my mini collection.  I added a little bit of greenery. I love the sharp, crisp and clean color of white milk glass.

A vintage floral frog.  The medal used to make the frog adds the perfect amount of weight.  I painted the frog blue and am using the frog as a card/photo holder.  Currently, the frog is holding the memorial card from my great grandmothers funeral.

 

A small silver bowl and three skeleton keys.  Thanks Alisa for the tip on the hydrangeas at Hobby Lobby. The skeleton keys are difficult to see due to the glare on the cupcake stand but they are leaning on an old thread spool my grandmother gave me.

This is a close up of the silver bowl in the above photo. If you look really closely, you can see a fancy calligraphy T in the center of the engraved scroll. How could I not buy this little guy?  It basically had a sign calling me... well at least a sign with a T.  Close enough.

A vintage folding yard stick, cute mini Brownie camera, blue book and a galvanized drawer.  The yard stick and blue book found a home on the wood pallet display. The Brownie joined a my vintage camera collection on the library bookcase. And the galvanized drawer is still looking for a perfect place in our home.

Last but not least, an old piece of white ironstone. Usually, I find ironstone to be rather blah but this piece had a little bit of personality with detailed handles and mini pedestal.

That is all for this treasure hunting trip.  It is hard to believe it is November already. Several stores are blaring holiday music. Dear stores, I need to ease my way into the holiday season, not get thrown into it!

Take care!