Sweet Little Armoire

I placed a bid on this sweet armoire when I was at an estate sale recently.

The sign said to place a bid and, if the item did not sell during the course of the sale, “any reasonable offer will be accepted”. Weeelll, with a price tag of $300.00, I wasn’t sure my bid of $70.00 would be considered “reasonable”.

But here it sits in our Music Room. She accepted my offer with the contingency that I also purchase the other item I placed a tentative, again not-very-reasonable bid on, which I will tell you about later.

I love the lines and curves, and the carvings old wood furniture often has.

The design at the bottom of this armoire sort of mirrors an old chair I have nearby.

Details always seal the deal! This is the hardware for the cabinet and drawer pulls.

It took some time to spruce it up as I don’t think it had been dusted or really paid attention to at all for at least 30 years, maybe longer.

It had some bumps and bruises I mostly rubbed out, and the dust in the grooves where the carvings are was level with the top of the carvings!

I say it's little because it’s shorter than any of the other armoires we have. But it’s pretty deep, as you can probably tell by how far it stands out from the wall, and very heavy.

I finally have a place to keep my linens that actually makes some sense and keeps most of it in one place. It also has a hanging bar so I can hang up some items that need to be mended, stains removed, etc.

This is the same room where I have the Napoleon Dynamite Chair, where I often have my Quiet Times. I am not sure I have it permanently arranged in here, but I think I will end up putting a basket under the hanging bar where I can keep books, study materials and cookies other items I like to have at hand during quiet times to myself.

I loooove getting a good deal!

If you enjoy vintage items, you can see many more at Colorado Lady's

Vintage Thingie Thursday.

Design-A-Weekend

I believe I mentioned I would be gone backpacking over the weekend.

But I wasn’t. We canceled our trip due to…

Waaaaiiiiit for it----

Ya. Typical. I’m used to it. And I love rain. You just gotta be flexible.

So the plan changed, no biggie.

As for me, I sorta designed my own weekend.

We thought using a pane of glass over tomatoes was a great idea. But even this did not have any tomatoes. Only blooms. It has been a really odd weather summer.

It involved coffee and quiet times, school prep, visiting the GW (several of them) and several antique malls, rummaging through a barn sale and some estate sales, hanging out with lady friends at a ranch in the evenings, then driving home each night and sleeping in my own bed.

This mall is located in an actual barn and is pretty quaint

Except for missing hiking, this was the perfect blend for me. I love digging, so all of the rummaging through things was fun. I love being with gal pals and big old lodges. I have weird sleeping patterns and the idea of waking up and having to lay awake and stare at the ceiling quietly for hours, in the dark of the night, made me feel claustrophobic. So having the ranch within an hour’s drive was perfect so I could hang out, but then sleep in my own bed.

I saw several string holders in one mall. I have seen them before, but not many. So it was funny to see about five in one trip.This one was especially cute, in a 60’s sort of way.

This canister set is so cute. And in really good shape. I was tempted.

But I am holding out for turquoise.

Sorry about the reflection. But it is a mirror after all.

At one sale the guy pointed into his shop where lots of things are stored and said “everything’s for sale --- even up there”, and pointed to the rickety ladder on the right! Turns out he is an artist and has his sculptures in galleries all over the country. It was interesting to talk to him and see his studio and work area.

Here is one of my estate sale finds. It was already a great deal at $300.00.

I placed a bid for $100.00 and, when it didn’t sell, I was the only bid, so my bid won.

(I didn’t buy the doll head!)

Grain storage barn, moody against the rainy night sky

Cozy place for playing games and fireside chats

What would you do if you planned a perfect weekend “off”?

This was a great weekend for me and I feel refreshed. I am looking forward to tying up some loose ends around home and finally taking that camping trip later this week!

Whimsy On Wednesday, My Napoleon Dynamite Chair

Awhile back I posted about how much I love whimsy, and why. I meant to start posting about whimsical things sometimes, thinking "Whimsical Wednesdays" has a cute ring to it.

That was awhile ago and, well-- no more whimsy has made it’s way to this blog, on a Wednesday or any other day. At least not intentionally. But you can bet I have been collecting whimsy in real life. I like a little chuckle, something that tickles my fancy, every once in awhile. It sort of breaks up the monotony around here, the hum-drum of everyday life...because that really happens alot around here, as you can imagine.

One of my friends commented, “Unfortunately, that line between whimsical and tacky is varying widths, and some folks need glasses to find it.” Okay, THAT made me laugh because it is so true! I hope I don’t cross that line.

But you might wonder when you see my whimsy for today…

Since I referred to it last week, I thought that, today, I’d post about my cheerful and ugly whimsical chair.

Here’s the picture from Craigslist. It’s a little blurry because it’s a picture of a picture that I took to send to my niece. I knew she’d laugh.

This is my Napoleon Dynamite Chair. It’s a 1940’s chair with 1970’s upholstery. I bought it off Craigslist for 50 bucks. I love the eclectic, risky retro feel of it.

And anyway, it’s sort of a test piece. Right away I have a gauge by which to measure one’s likes and dislikes, maybe even personality or mood, based on their reaction to this chair when walking into our music room.

It sort of takes you by surprise when you walk by the door and ---WHOA! There it is!

I think that’s funny. I love seeing and doing the unexpected.

I’m not loving the area rug, so it will eventually be changed.

When I sit there, I am surrounded by things I really like, many of which remind me of people or events I treasure. I even love the french doors leading into the room.

Some people don’t like my silly chair. That doesn’t hurt my feelings at all. Because I know it’s questionable. Even my own sons don’t like my chair. I think that’s funny too.

Personally, I think it’s a hoot -- not to mention practical. It has really wide, flat arms where I can rest a book (or a magazine) or a cup of coffee. I keep a Bible which belonged to Grandma M, an adopted grandma of ours who recently passed away, on one of those arms too, where I can think of her often.

My sons say there is a floral couch in the movie Napoleon Dynamite which they think looks alot like my chair. They paused the movie at just the right moment and showed me which couch they meant. It was important to their emotional development that I acknowledge the similarity. And, being the caring, sensitive mom that I am, I went with it. And, ya, okay, I’ll admit -- it does have the same basic colors. But mine has a much denser floral pattern. It’s even a bit louder!

There it is, all situated and comfy. You can see how big and cozy it is when I curl up in it, cuddled up in the blanket the stewardess told me I could take if I didn’t tell because she isn’t supposed to advertise that we can take them I acquired from Lufthansa, once fall sets in. In a long, long time from today.

That blanket, though tucked under the pillow and not really a compliment to the chair, gives me something to snuggle in, and reminds me of the trip I took to India and the precious people there, who I will always remember.

The picture that hangs above it was left to me by Grandma K, another adopted grandma. She was our neighbor when we first got married. Her husband gave it to her when they were dating and he wrote on the back of it. I always admired it hanging on her living room wall. So here it hangs in our home, where I think of her every day. It is perfect for a music room.

Even the books and the plant on the table are special for one reason or another. The chair just gives me one central place where I can have all of that loving goodness in one very whimsical spot!

What whimsy do you have in your life that makes you chuckle, or think about those you love?

I love whimsy.

I’ve been saving it up so I have lots to share too!

What is it?

Look what I found on the way home from our camping trip, in a little out-of-the-way town.

It is over 2 and 1/2 feet long and a foot wide. It sits up on little legs and has a stationary handle, which goes the length of the box. There is a divider in the middle of it, making it into two separate compartments.

If I had to guess, I’d say it is an old toolbox. But it’s been used for something else. I can tell because there are water rings inside of it.

I’m excited about using it. Can you guess where in my house I will use it, and for what? Because, yep, I got me some plans for it. But I am willing to be swayed. A little. Maybe.

Do you have any ideas on what it was originally made for, or your own suggestions on what to use it as?

Thanks again Goodwill. And thanks kids, for being patient when I have to stop at each and every one I see…

Secondhand Saturday

Today I went on a mission to find some items for my homeschool room repurposing projects. I did get some goodies I am excited to share sometime.

And, ummm, well, I brought home these lil sweeties.

Bakelite Bangles, Circa 1930s

Okay, so while they don’t help my storage problems, they will look awfully pretty on my arm as I read to my lambies, therefore making the entire room a sunnier place. See how that works?

I’m not big into “stuff” but I do love, Love, LOVE vintage and antique jewelry. That’s really all I wear. Oh stop. You know what I mean. I like clothes too, and wear them everyday. But, even more -- I love to accessorize with unique vintage jewelry.

Bakelite is so fun and colorful, especially if you put a few together. Doesn’t really matter if the rest of your outfit is somewhat nondescript, these make the whole thing POP!

I have looked at Bakelite bangles at antique shops, shows and expos for a few years now, in hopes of finding a stack of my own. Though I have found a few as gifts as well as a couple look-alikes, usually either my hands are too big or the price is, so I have just enjoyed looking at the colorful displays. Until today …

I was pretty happy to find these, which actually fit over my hands, at a garage sale --- for TWO DOLLARS EACH! Don’t worry, I got several other good deals today too, even a couple for the homeschool room, as I originally intended.

I love a good deal! It was a pretty good day that way. How ‘bout you?