{scissor variations}

missoni collection by value village

 

 i had a few Barbies growing up, but i could take them or leave them. i was more enamored of the portable cases and closets, the plastic scrolled hangers and shoes, and the tiny details on the clothing.

 

 

now when i find myself in a thrift store i quickly peruse the bagged up Barbies to see what they're wearing. and i check their hair. i search for matted, tangled hair. this can be a telltale sign that it is an older Barbie--and if you're lucky they'll be sporting a retro outfit.  

 

last fall Missoni created a collection for Target.  i remember, as a kid, that my mother had some Missoni clothing.

   

one day in the VV Boutique i did my usual Barbie scan. my eyes became fixated on the dress of one Barbie.

Matted hair? Check.

Cute dress-and pink + orange, no less? Check.

Missoni?

Indeed the dress was reminiscent of Missoni, with some chevrony-craziness going on.

 Hmmm.

Missoni in miniature? Check.

Frameable? Check.

my Missoni.

 

(this post on Blair's blog is what actually opened my eye spy eyes to Missoni again)

 

**when i find miniature clothing pieces i gently wash them in a delicate detergent, rinse and press out the excess water. you can then "block" the clothing -like you would do after washing a quilt or afghan--pinning the perimeter so it will dry flat, or simply place the piece between 2 towels to dry--a heavy book on top helps.

vintage office favorite: the tanker desk

 

another favorite recent find was this stainless steel tanker desk.

or rather find(s) as i happened upon 2 of them. actually i was forced to take 2 of them, "if you take 1, i'll throw in the other one" he said. how could i resist such salesman charm?

the tanker desk is a classic design--i have a double drawer style and the above single drawer style-both with the curved base legs (my favorite detail).

there is a post over at Apartment Therapy that gives a bit of history about the tanker desk--you can read it here.

 

you can find these on ebay + craig's list, or of course, the local thrift shop. i got mine locally for what i would consider a reasonable price. also know your shipping costs if shipping is even offered. these are the "beasts" of desks and weigh a ton!

 

here is a a ridiculously fantastic finished tanker desk.

swoon.

 

i covet: (more) vintage storage

 

these are some of the shelving units i chanced upon just before the holidays

 

these photos were taken as they were freshly unloaded off the truck.

they have since been dusted + wiped down. the scotch-taped-on paper labels removed.

 

someday i hope to have these stripped so that wonderful steel patina shows through, but in the meantime i'm looking forward to filling up the shelves + creating new labels for the compartments.

 

i think these types of units would make great shoe shelves in the right foyer or long hallway. i can see them used in a kitchen for all of the extras and would be a nice contrast to more sleek shelving units.  and of course perfect for a retail store--hello, skeins of wool. what a colorful display that would be!

 

when i see units like this my mind quickly drifts to the "prop hire business"--and how great it would be to display some of the items within these little cubby holes.

 

i don't have a prop hire business, but sometimes i think about it. not sure if i could let my treasures out of my sight for any length of time though. i'm much more comfortable with the idea of them tucked upon this shelf, so i could glance at them from time to time throughout the day just for a smidge of inspiration.

 

 (another shelving 'find' i shared a while back)

 

tacky wrapping

 

perfect tiny boxes.

 

if you don't have tiny boxes on hand, a quick trip to the grocery store to purchase a package of small matches (these are very cheap) and you're set to go.

 

simply trace around the box (using the largest side as your template) onto decorative paper, cut out  + glue. tuck your small treasures inside.

 

faux-talian thumbtack mini DIY can be found here

 

holiday packaging {vintage bakeware}

 

i am loving-the-holiday-grey color scheme this year + vintage bakeware fits right in with its silvery, tarnished finish.

the perfect vessel for stacking cookies, rolled confections, dense quick breads--you can't beat them for pretty presentation.

 

i think there is still time to find a few gems at the thrift store --

some of these i just found a few days ago. for pennies.

 

if you like the patterned ones--look for the brand name "Ovenex"--they made wonderful pie pans and cake pans too, as well as the tart tins (muffins weren't such a big thing at that time).

the stacked square tins on the right hold those prepackaged "Delacre" cookies---i find these at the thrift store all of the time for 25 cents. or at my thrift store you get a free tin when you buy something, so i always choose these for their simple shape.

 

+ just for good measure add vintage tin ice cream spoons as "toppers" tied onto your jam + curd jars

--so pretty + reusable.

gift packaging as its best.

 

(no. 3) holiday display revisited: trees + jars

 

 i have a fairly large personal collection of vintage alka seltzer jars. i love their turquoise blue lids.

usually i have them filled with what-nots and nestled inside of a vintage seed packet display box.

 

 

during the holiday season i like to remove the bottle lids, insert tiny trees, replace the lids and stand them up in a cluster. here, there and everywhere.

if you have some stray jars you can do the same:

gather an assortment of jar sizes + simply paint the lids.

instant cloche!

 if you prefer an upside down cloche ...you could cut out some stars from some special decorative paper scraps, adhere them to some pretty silver thread. tape or glue to the interier of the painted bottle lid. replace the lid and have them "dangle" down into the bottle.

 

baby food jars would work well for these types of project--i see these often at the thrift store. or simply gather an assortment of various sizes + shapes of  bottles.

 

hotel condiment jars used for room service would also be interesting. the jars can be larger of course, whatever suits your fancy. i also like the idea of mixing lid colors. i would love silver + turquoise or a red + turquoise combination.

 

 these would work perfectly for other seasonal celebrations--just pick something interesting + meaningful to you to "showcase" within the jar.

 

(holiday revisited is a random series devoted to project ideas from holiday past that i am currently re-sharing'  + adding additonal notes + ideas)

{ no. 47 } interlude

 

 

as someone who is not particularly of frilly mind, i find it hard to resist these small decorative squares--vintage hankies often exhibit the most beautiful handwork.

i am also obviously someone not of the 'ironing mind'--as laundering + pressing awaits to brighten these up to their full potential.

some day.

 

 

at the thrift store [as of late]

 

 

a rhyming dictionary (my first)

+ vintage hooks & eyes packages--i love the backs as much as the fronts

 

a small hard cover book for a special project

 

look at all the words that rhyme with 'thrifted'

 

 

what i didn't buy

 

 

i became quite enamored with this organ. it was in terrible shape. but if you look closely at all of the carved detailed elements--the music stand, the buttons, the carved lower portion--all elements which would stand on their own if the piece was taken apart. it was a steal at $55. but of course i was traveling light.

this entire "stop" was quite picked over by the time we arrived on the scene, but i loved rooting through the decrepit, torn cardboard boxes where everything was a dollar.

that huge tree in the back ground had piles and stacks of old picture frames leaning against it. many of the frames still holding the moldy, musty original art work.

 

{this is the "ceiling" of the new antique shop we discovered}

 something i have learned over the years is in consignment shops like these if you politely ask "what is your best price on this?"--they will offer you an alternate price on the spot if they are able to or look up what the consignee has deemed a fair, lower price.

 

and of course, there are a couple of things i am still thinking about....

 

roll-down classroom maps just don't fold well and my sister is still keeping one in her garage for me from a visit 2 years ago. that one was $5 and so i don't care how long it takes me to get it back here(!)

 

oh, and there was a 3 feet by 3 feet dove tailed wood shipping box that had Encyclopedia Brittanica stamped on it. i thought it would have made the perfect toy box for Piper with castors added to the bottom. or a mitten box for a mudroom. or a book box for a child's room.

this one might have been my biggest regret when it came to "things i really wanted but were too large to bring home".

 

i was trying to convince my sister to get it since she is in the middle of a mudroom addition.

 

 

and a few more wee things to add to my "to have + to hold" collection:

tiny tea ball (i have amassed a bit of a collection of tea balls and i love it when i find this wee size)

the twee trophy i shared a few days ago

glass ironing bottle (my mom told me that her grandmother had one of these and it was used for sprinking water when ironing). instant vase for pixie posies.

 

we had a great time perusing the roadside treasures (and extreme junk). i had an interesting conversation with one of the shop owner's who was featured on Canadian Pickers telling me what the experience was like (it was not staged). i will also not forget the amazing onion rings at the roadside food truck located in the middle of nowhere. nor will i forget the gorgeous yard we stopped in only because of the amazing tree whose foliage spanned the entire width of the lawn + formed an umbrella over the tables that were set up.

 

can't wait 'til next year!

 

to have + to hold [an ongoing theme]

 

i unconsciously developed a theme early on in the yard sale marathon:

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

i have a weakness for vintage school + office supplies, and perhaps an even greater weakness for  vintage containers.

combine the two and i'm hopelessly smitten.

a little rust? who cares?

a ding?  a dent?  not a problem.

still totally functional in my eyes.

[and in my office]

 

also in my returning luggage were vintage school locker baskets (at only $5 bucks each I could not resist) + vintage metal bakeware pans.

....all in the name of office organization, of course.