If Trunks Could Talk...

One of my favorite shows on HGTV is If Walls Could Talk.  I'm so envious of these people who restore old homes (that's MY dream!), inherit the amazing antique furniture that came with it, and then find treasures hidden in the strangest places, like a book signed by Ernest Hemingway or a whiskey bottle believed to have been used by Al Capone.  Does it get any better than that?

In my travels to estate sales, yard sales, auctions and the like, I keep a list in my head of things I would love to add to my increasingly-eclectic home, a bucket list if you will.  For example I would love to add more old walking sticks to my growing collection.  Old bread boards are a new favorite, as well as quilts.

About a month ago while out yard saling with Denise, we came across another must-have on my bucket list - a steamer trunk.  I see these all the time on Craig's List, but they go for about $150 around here and I just don't want to spend that much for something that I don't really need.  Besides, these things can be big, so you better have a place to put it.  But just like the houses on the show, antique steamer trunks tell a story.  And.I.Love.That.

It was a "Stumble-Upon" yardsale.  The kind that's not on your list, but if you stumble-upon it and it looks decent you have to stop.  Heck I don't just brake for yardsales, I do a complete 180, tires screeching, small animals running for their lives, etc.  It helps to have a car that stops on a dime.

Anyhoward, it was late in the morning and all the good worms are usually gone by then, scooped up by the earlybirds so when you see something awesome at this time of day you can usually assume that the price tag is high, hence why it is still there.  That's what I assumed when I saw this trunk and almost didn't even bother to inquire about it, knowing the disappointment that was sure to follow.  But curiosity got the best of me and I asked, "How much for the trunk?".  What happened next is a little foggy as I can only remember picking my jaw up off of the ground after hearing the words "three dollars".  The startled look on my face wasn't lost on the seller either because he then added, "what, is that too high?  Okay one dollar."  What just happened?

I collected myself, happily handed over three dollars and checked off an item on my proverbial bucket list.

Oh, and I did find the perfect spot for it.  Right next to the sofa in my Living Room.

See that blanket inside the basket?  That is actually pieces of several old picnic blankets sewed into one big one.  I snatched it up at a church rummage sale last Spring for $2 and almost sold it at my show, but at the last minute came to my senses.

I just love how this room came together - bits and pieces at a time.

And who knows, maybe someday my walls will talk...

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulicious week!
xoxo,
Kim

Joining: Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Find Finds

Yardsale season is in full swing helped along by unseasonably warm weather.  We hit a few this morning and then stopped at the flea market on the way home where we scored big.

Most of our finds are going with us to Clover Market next month, like this pair of old wooden tool boxes.

In the fun and whimsical category are this antique leather and brass telescope.

An old pair of binoculars for just $5 and an old leather German hymnal for $1 sit on top of this awesome black lidded wooden basket.  Believe it or not, I got that basket at Marshalls.  It looks totally antique and I can't even believe that I got it for $12.  It's pure fabulosity.

This combo sits on top of my entertainment center in the family room.

I'm kinda liking how this vignette is coming together.  It has a very eclectic look to it, don'tya think??

Also at the flea market I scored this cute basket for two bucks.  Of course I see baskets all the time at yard sales, but I'm always looking for one that speaks to me.  This one said, "buy me, I look old, but I'm not telling you how old I am".

I also added another bamboo cane to my collection.

And this demijohn had me at hello.  Been looking for one like.for.ever but I'm not willing to pay the Pottery Barn-like prices.

Do you see the price?? SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!  Would you believe I had the peanuts to ask if he could do better?  He sold it to me for $15!  Woo to the Hoo!!

I will confess that I did splurge on a little something from PB this week.  I've had my eye on this salt cellar since I received my new Spring catalog, and the price wasn't too outrageous.

I love how it looks on the wall next to my hutch in the kitchen.

I found more goodies for the hutch at a mid-week church rummage sale, including a pair of ironstone candlesticks for $2.

And this S&P for $1.

As well as this sweet little silver bowl.

I love how my hutch looks now.

The white platters above I picked up on my trip to Marshall's as well as this fun glass jug.

Doesn't it look so Pottery Barn?  Guess what?  It was only $7!!!  I wasn't coming home without it.
It sits on top of my library table in the family room.

This room is coming along nicely.  But I'll wait to give you a tour until it's totally done.

It's a very different look than what I'm used to, but I absolutely love it.  Much more casual.

Just waiting for the windows to be done.  Mr. Wonderful is adding trim around them today, and I'm still waiting for the bamboo shades to be delivered.

All in all I found some great stuff at amazing prices this week.  SO glad it's yardsale season.  Let the fun begin!!!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a handmade children's dress.  Just click the button on my sidebar to enter.  Giveaway ends next Friday, March 23rd.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulicious weekend.
xoxo,
Kim

New Treasures

Thank you to all of my dear friends for your sweet comments on my last post.  For the most part this blog is a no-brag zone, but sometimes a Mom just can't help herself!  LOL!  You guys are the best and I certainly appreciate the comment love.

Onto my latest loves.  I've been on a lucky streak over the past few weeks finding treasures around every corner - from yard sales, to Craig's List, to the generosity of my best friend.

Remember this pic I shared a couple of weeks ago?  Well I failed to mention what it was, but some of you majolica-lovers out there guessed correctly.  If you want the back story on her, you can read about it here.  It's an umbrella stand.

So now of course I'm on the hunt for vintage walking sticks.  I nearly scored an umbrella stand full of 'em last weekend at a yardsale, but some lucky lady beat me to the punch.  I asked her if I could buy just one, but she politely declined.  It never hurts to ask people!

For now I'll enjoy my nearly empty and partially broken majolica umbrella stand in the foyer.

Did you spot my other treasure in the last pic??  It's an antique barometer!  I spotted it on Craig's List a couple of weeks ago for $15 and didn't respond right away.  When I came to my senses I crossed my fingers that it was still available and I was just in time.

The seller was a sweet lady from Moorestown who was getting ready to downsize.  She said it was a purchase her mother made on a trip to Scotland in 1966 and came from an antique store there.  Of course that made me love it even more.

And off to the right of the foyer is my other treasure.  This one was a gift from Denise who knows that I collect turtles.

She found it at a church rummage sale that I wasn't able to go to.  It's a faux leather footstool in the shape of a turtle!  How cute is that?

Thank you sweet friend!

And my last treasure is from a townwide yardsale this past weekend.

I see these all the time on Craig's List and even bought one years ago at a flea market that I eventually sold myself on CL.  But this one caught my eye for it's unique and beautiful wrought iron base.  It reminds me of an old sewing machine.

It's an antique smoking table/humidor.

Not all of these still have the original copper lining, but I was lucky to find one that did.

For now it serves as an end table in my Family Room.

I have a lot of wrought iron pieces in this room so the table sort of fits right in.

Looks like somebody snuck into the picture!

"Mommy, are you blogging again?"

My little guy is gonna be 9 months-old next week!

Denise and I have been busy preparing for our next show this coming Sunday at Clover Market.  It's going to be even bigger than last month and the weather is supposed to be beautiful.  Can't wait to share pix next week.

Thanks for checking in and have a fabulicious day!
xoxo,
Kim

New Coffee Table

There's an advantage to being decisive.  You know immediately when you can't walk away from something.  There are few regrets.  It's one of my strong suits - that and being able to listen to a baby scream for hours on end without ripping my hair out.

This weekend was the annual Audubon townwide yardsale and I came across this beauty that stopped me in my tracks.

It's big, it's bold, it's beveled and it's beautiful!

It's also a $450 designer table that I got for........

Fifteen bucks!!  SCORE!!  I love how it compliments the mirror above the sofa.

The coffee table that I had in here before was moved in from the Family Room (had to get that out of baby's way!).

That was another bargain at $20 (Craig's List), and it was fine, but it lacked the wow factor I was going for in this room.

It was also a little small for the scale of the sofa.

The new one is so rustic and even looks a little bit chippy.  I absolutely LOVE it!

And even better, I can add more accessories now.  And who doesn't love to accessorize??

The stems and mercury glass candleholders are from Michaels.

This little silver candle I got recently at a yardsale for fifty cents.  I almost never pass up a good candle at a yardsale.  You can always use them!

This tray was a Marshall's purchase as were the faux pears.  The cloche I got at a barn sale.

I gave the other table to my little bro.  I've been helping him decorate his new office nearby and he needed a coffee table.  I'll have to take pictures of his new office for a post someday.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulicious day!
xoxo,
Kim

Weekend Finds, Crunch Time and Sad News

One of my favorite yardsale destinations is the over-55 communities.  I always seem to find the most incredible home decor at these places.  This weekend was no exception as we almost cleaned up at one particular home.

Here's a quick look at everything I got.

Most of this stuff came from the same woman who just moved from a larger home into this community.  I've bought from her before - the prints over my family room sofa came from her (you can read about them here).  I absolutely love this lady's taste, and her prices are amazing!

The arrangement was $2 and the large red urn was $5.  I used both of these to decorate my brother's office.  The wire chicken and little brass piggy were from another home.

She sold me BOTH of these Southern Living At Home sconces for $2.  I kept one and hung it in my powder room and the other I used in my brother's office.

This beautiful picture is huge and Rosemary (we're on a first name basis now) sold it to me for $10.  I also used this in my brother's office although I hated to part with it!

A cute iron scroll that will go in my stash for now.  That was $2.

I bought this beverage tub for $3, but have to find a base for it.  I'm sure I'll come up with something and for $3 who cares if I don't!

These next few things came from a different yardsale in a different town.  Our favorite town to go yardsaling is Pitman, a sweet little historic town close by that we just have a lot of luck with.

Most of these things are going to Clover Market with us on Sunday.

 On a much sadder note, Denise's sweet Mother-In-Law passed away yesterday.  It was expected, but still very devastating.  As most of you know, Denise is my best friend, and also my business partner.  Together we've been planning all Summer for our big premier at Clover Market this weekend.  The funeral is on Saturday.  Somehow we are not even worried as we both know that it is in God's hands now.  Fortunately, we worked ourselves like crazy this past weekend getting as much done as we could, preparing for the worst.  Please pray for Denise and her family at this difficult time.

I'll leave you with a pic of Baby Bliss and Mr. Bliss.  It was Cole's very first Eagles game and they were both very excited to have some male bonding time.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulicious week!
xoxo,
Kim