Thursday 31 January 2013

The Week's Haul....

Hello Loverlies!
I've spent far too much money that I don't have this week.  Really.  But you know how it is when you come across something that's perfect for a specific room or spot in the house or for a project you're doing and you just can't let it slip away!  Well that's what happened to me this week....although it happened to me more than once.  Here's the haul:


All three of these little dumplings are for my laundry room.  It's the one room in the house that I'm designating as pure '70s chic.  Owls and mushrooms all.  In shades of brown, green, yellow, and orange.

1970's Mushroom Pitcher...yes, those are actual plastic flowers from the '70s as well!
1970's Owl vase/planter...is he not just the cutest thing you've ever seen?  I love his drippy left eye!
1970's Owl figurine...I had to buy him.  The drippy eyed one said he'd eat my brain in my sleep if I left his friend behind.  I believed him.  Cost for all three: $18.50.  Not exactly 'thrifty', but not bad!





This little sweet pea was too perfect to resist!  Not only does she match my salt and pepper shakers (CiCi and Pierre), but the gold tag on her back reads, "Souvenir of Virginia".  So she fits into my travel souvenir laden kitschen decor like a dream!  I've named her 'Pebbles' because the bone she's holding and that top knot make her look like a canine version of the spawn of Fred and Wilma Flintstone.  Cost: $1...yeah, that's right!  $1!





The smaller chalkware puppy is the 'new to me' darling.  The larger one belonged to my grandparents.  Don't they make a handsome pair?  Chalkware Lassie...$1





This little gem of a late 50's-early 60's Paris souvenir plate is honestly just gorgeous.  And it better have been for the $3 price tag at the thrift store.  $3???  At a THRIFT store????





As I mentioned, I have a new Scottie puppy named Pip.  He turned 4 months old yesterday.  My mother also has a new Scottie named McTavish.  He's 2 1/2 months old.  They don't get along.  Mom watches Pip while I'm at work and she didn't mind until they got Tavvy.  Now, with the two of them barking at one another nonstop, she'd rather not.  Today, she was kind enough to look out for Pip while I was doing errands.  One of them was to go and check out the new antique shop that a friend just opened.  On one of the shelves was this cutie patootie of a vase as well as a cute figurine of two scotties.  I gave the figurine to my mother in gratitude for dealing with the two 'little men' all afternoon and kept this one for myself!  It's for my sewing room, which is the art deco room of the house...and also the 'scottie room' for all of the vintage scottie 'stuff' I've acquired over my life of collecting it.  Scottie vase: $5.





Here we have a swatch of the mid century table cloth that I found at Goodwill.  Normally I boycott Goodwill, but today I made an exception and I'm bloody well glad I did.  I've got three stools that sit at my bar that need recovering.  I've gone through all of my fabric and, since I don't know that I'll be keeping the stools in the end, I hesitate to waste good fabric on them.  This however is perfect and was a steal at $3.  It's one of those textured vinyl table cloths with a fabric backing.  Not something I'd use as a tablecloth or even in one of my designs, so it's perfect for the project!  And the colour and pattern both fit.  Plus, I like the pattern so much that I may use what's left over to make a couple of outdoor appropriate throw pillows for some saucer chairs I'll be refurbing once spring gets a little closer.  Actually, looking at it this way, a portion may look nice framed and on a wall in my dining room?!!  Maybe??

Have you lot bought any goodies this week?

xx

Wednesday 30 January 2013

The Bitch Is Back!

Right, so I know it's been ages since I've been on and I apologize profusely!  It's been a mad house round my way in the past few months.  While it's not slowed down, I'm determined that my blog be ignored no longer!!  So I'm back!
When last we spoke, I was working on getting my grandparents' early '70s 'time capsule' house in order so I could move in.  I've been here since the end of September and it really is coming along nicely!  I even have a new housemate, Pip...


...who will be getting his very own post later on.


For my first day back in the game, I want to share with you (as promised so long ago) some of the great original elements of the house.  Today, lighting...

Not all of the lighting elements in the house are original, but most are.  The rooms that were updated will be experiencing a 'throw back' shortly!

So here we go, a lighting tour of 'The Brady Ponderosa':

As you walk into the house from the carport, the main entry has a terrific globe light.  It's off white with a mottled, marbleized grain in gold.  Very late '60s/early '70s glam!:


The door you see leads to the laundry room, where resides THIS atomic lovely of lovelies, the flying saucer ceiling lamp:



Yes, it has little holes in the top so that, when turned on, it looks as though little green men are landing upside down on my ceiling.  It's a real gas!

In the dining room, you'll find the chandelier that gives the house the 'Ponderosa' half of it's name:

You can't beat 'Mod does Victorian', now can you my dears?  Especially when it involves yellow to orange ombre shades!

In the adjoining kitchen, the matching single fixture:


The living room is home to a horrid new ceiling fan.  I'm currently searching for a suitable replacement.  I'll post if I find one!

The first bathroom has a couple of great original fixtures.  The first being these great lamps that flank the mirror.  Another 'Mod nod to Victorian':


There's a poppy on the wall plates!  Oh, be still my little Mod heart!

In the same room, we're treated to a great little ceiling lamp that, for lack of a better description, looks like a soap bubble:



On to the spare room and it's lovely starburst shade!:


Kind of hard to see.  For some reason it just wouldn't take well!

The sewing room has a hideous 1980's shiny brass monstrosity where there used to be another of the same great shades as in the spare room.  Hopefully, I can find a replacement, or something equally as fab to replace it with!

The master bedroom has it's original circle pattern shade:


The master bath fixture is missing it's shade all together.  I'm on the search for a replacement, but can't seem to find one that fits the original fixture, so will probably replace the whole thing.

Here's some vintage lighting inspiration for you!












See you tomorrow with more mid-century wonderment!  Kiss Kiss!!!