Vintage 4th of July

Joan @ Anything Goes Here is hosting another fun vintage holiday party.  With the 4th of July rapidly approaching, it's time to share our vintage patriotic decor.

Well.....after looking through all my "stuff", I realized I didn't have any 4th of July decorations or postcards or family photos that qualify as vintage (might be time for me to start a new collection).  I always love participating in the vintage holiday parties that Joan hosts but I was really having a hard time coming up with something to show and thought I might have to sit this one out.

Well a party's no fun if you don't join in so I decided to make a 4th of July decoration out of a couple of vintage items I found at the thrift store.

I found a beautiful oak framed glass door (it looks to be a glass door from a lawyer's barrister bookcase) at my local thrift store.  I combined it with an old flag found at another thrift store and created a 4th of July decoration for my mantel with a vintage feel.  (The flag was not cut for this project.  I folded it to size and the pleaded edges are being held by tape to the frame so as to not damage the flag.)

My "new" vintage inspired holiday decoration.

Happy early 4th of July!

Jane

My Inspiration Board

You know what I realized after visiting so many of the beautiful studios during the "Where Blogger's Create" party?  I realized I needed (wanted) an inspiration board in my space.

I saw a lot of wonderful inspiration boards while I was party hopping and you all inspired me to create a board of my own.

I found this rusty metal piece last weekend at an antique mall.  I'm pretty sure it was a screen door shield in it's previous life.

First I nailed it to this chippy wood piece I've had in my closet for a couple of years.  

Then I dug through my drawer of odds and ends.

And found these two hooks to add to the top.

The reveal......my inspiration board to display photos, projects, ideas, gifts, etc.

Thanks to everyone for inspiring me to create my board.  I can't wait to start filling it up.

And one more "just because" picture.  I found a bag of old rolled thread at a thrift store and placed the rolls in an old jar.  The jar was sitting on my work top tonight when the sun was shining through the window.  I think it made for a pretty picture.

I'm linking with Leigh @ Tales from Bloggeritaville for her popular Thrifty Thursday party.  There's always a lot of great thrifty finds at the party so link back to Leigh and check them out.

Jane

White Wednesday Garage Sale Find

Thanks to everyone that stopped by for a tour of my studio for the "Where Blogger's Create" party.  I really appreciated all of the nice comments.  The room was organized for about a day and then it was back to business (and mess) as usual!  I spent as much time as I could this past weekend visiting as many participants as I could.  It may take awhile but I hope to visit everyone on the list.

I have a love for just about anything with numbers.......clocks, game pieces, old playing cards, bingo cards, yard sticks, rulers, etc...

(the picture is an early 20th century photo of the house that I grew up in)

One of my favorite numbered items are old folding rulers.  Back in January I did a post on how I have used folding rulers in my decor and for projects.  You can see that post here.

A week ago I stopped at a garage sale.  After I got past the 1970's hearse (complete with casket) for sale in the driveway (I'm not kidding) I spotted several old folding rulers.

There were about 10 sitting on a box.  And inside the box?  45 more. 

So what's a girl to do when looking at 55 folding rulers?  Well I got them for such a ridiculously low price that I bought them all.  Anybody need a ruler?....I think an etsy shop might be in my future!

I'm linking my white garage sale find with Kathleen @ Faded Charm for White Wednesday.  Link back to Kathleen's blog to check out all the beautiful whites.

Where Blogger's Create......Welcome to My Studio

Welcome to my studio.  I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit. 

Last year at this time I didn't have a blog.  I was reading a lot of blogs and marveling at the talent of the bloggers I "stalked" but I was hesitant to start a blog of my own.

What changed my mind?  Karen's first "Where Blogger's Create" party last July.  When I saw the information about that party last summer I had just finished creating a studio space in a spare bedroom.  Wanting to join the party and show off my space was just the push I needed to start my blog.  It was a great decision and I have Karen and her "Where Blogger's Create" party to thank!

So I am very happy to be joining in on the fun again this year.  My studio is part creative space, part display space for my collections and part getaway space for reading and relaxing.  The mood of the room reflects my love of all things vintage and I have incorporated all of my vintage, thrifty finds to create a space that is definitely me. 

I hope you enjoy the tour.

The jumping off point for my studio was the antique mail cubby that I found at a local antique store.

The cubby holds pictures and favorite little objects that I have collected.

The top of the cubby holds a display of vintage sewing notions I have collected, with my prized possession being my Mom's old Singer featherweight sewing machine.

Thrift store and garage sale finds help keep my space organized (most of the time).

A German beer crate holds paint, glue and other supplies.

Vintage silver pieces organize jewelry finds.

A mail/letter holder now holds old photographs.

A vintage suitcase stores lace and purses.

An oak spice rack is now used to organize beads and other small supplies.

And ribbon finds a home in an old wood box and a chicken feeder.

On a small wall between the door to my studio and a bathroom door I have a small bookcase for more storage.  Above it hangs a chippy white shelf with more favorite vintage finds.

On the wall opposite my work space is a display of family photos and a sofa for reading or watching TV.  The sofa is covered with a $2.00 quilt I found at a thrift store.  My dressform "Shirley" stands in the corner.

To the left of the sofa I have a very small space for a desk and my computer.  Above the desk are two shelves I created using old wood crates and iron braces.

The last use for my studio is to display some of my many collections.

Brass hose nozzles hang over the door.

Vintage clocks are displayed above the windows.

Part of my "E" collection hangs on a wall.

And my collection of buttons is displayed in a vintage printer's drawer.

Thanks for stopping by for my tour.  Please link back to Karen @ My Desert Cottage to view 100's of creative spaces being displayed for the Where Bloggers Create II party.  You won't be disappointed!

Jane

Studio Whites

As I was cleaning my studio tonight I noticed all of the various shades of whites in the vintage objects and collections that I have displayed in the room.  I have always enjoyed the White Wednesday party that Kathleen @ Faded Charm hosts each week but I have never participated.  So tonight I thought I would join in and share some of my vintage whites.

Happy White Wednesday!