Lucky Antique Table Find

Today I hit the jackpot!  I'd been looking for a vintage dining table for the past few months, with no luck.  We got rid of so many things when we moved to Washington State, and even more when we moved back to Michigan this spring.  So we were in dire need of a table.  I searched high and low at consignment, thrift, and antique shops, as well as Craig's List.  Either I didn't see anything that I liked, or what I did like was totally out of my price range!  So today, Hubby and I went to a neighborhood garage sale.  I was a bit disappointed, as not many people were participating.  Come to find out, the big day is tomorrow, when there should be lots more stuff treasures.

Anyway, I almost overlooked this beauty.  It was covered in a tacky plastic tablecloth, and covered in stuff!

 It's solid oak, circa 1930, and still has the original tag on the underside, which reads "Lentz Table Corporation, Nashville, Michigan".  It came with 5 leaves, and when they are all in it's nearly 8' long, making it perfect for entertaining!  I've pictured it with one of the leaves in.  Someone had started to refinish it, but didn't do any of the leaves.  While I know that some will think it's sacrilegious to paint a solid oak antique table, that is just what I'm gonna do!  Yes!  I'm going to shabby her up and paint her a creamy antique white, then distress her a bit.  I am in love!  So, now all I need is to find some chairs.  I dearly love the dining chairs in Pottery Barn, but not the price.  So I just may head back to the sale tomorrow to see if I can get lucky!

 In the mean time, I had fun creating a little vignette. I placed this gorgeous vintage crocheted table cloth on it (another garage sale steal from a few years ago for only $5!), as well as a few milk glass vases from my collection.

 I found the one in the center the other day at Goodwill for just a quarter!  Love it!

 Isn't this one pretty?  A moving sale find a few years ago.  Oh, and the silver tray was a lucky thrift store find back in Washington.  I think I paid a buck or two for it.

I found the vase below this week at a thrift shop for a mere 49 cents!  Sold!  I think my sweet peas, purple coneflower, and white feverfew look so pretty displayed in the milkglass.

 Found this tall pretty wooden candlestick a few years ago at a garage sale for $1 (can you tell that I love a good bargain??).

 And a better look at my tray.  Love the patina!

 What really sold me on the table was her legs!  Yes, this lady has great curves!  Oh, and did I mention that she is very heavy!  They sure don't make solid wood furniture like they used to!

 Here you can see that they didn't do any of the leaves.  I know that it will be a bit of a job to paint, but I can hardly wait to start!  Oh, did I mention she was only $100?!  I did the happy dance all the way home!

What treasures have you found lately?

On a side note, my thoughts and prayers are with the people in Colorado who were hit with such a horrible tragedy.  It is just so hard to comprehend.

Be sure to give the ones you love a big hug today!

Sea Shell Chic

It's been so blazing hot all summer long (today temps were around 100, yikes!), that I barely set foot outside today.  Instead, I keep cool indoors by "puttering", and organizing my craft room!  I also had fun bringing out more of my sea shell treasures, that I thought I would share with you today.

I made these shell candle holders several years ago, from shell that we collected on vacations. Actually, they are little mirrors that I had in my bedroom as a teenager (and I won't tell you how long ago that was!), that were from a Home Interiors party.  You might not see the mirrors themselves very well, but they really look so pretty when the votive candles are lit!

I love anything on a pedestal!

I've also created quite a few shell covered boxes over the years.  Again, almost all of the shells you see here we picked up on beachy vacations, so they hold many special memories!

This one below was a particular labor of love.  Tons of shells, and quite a few glue gun burns later, and a former boring metal recipe box becomes a shell encrusted treasure!

The frame you see below was my very first shell covered creation.  The photo is of hubby and I on Lake Michigan several years ago.

Here's a close up of some of the details.

I also displayed some of my shell collections on my vintage hutch.

Another box, this one was a vintage cigar box.

And another little box.

Oh, I should have warned you about all of the pictures in this post!  Once I got started playing with my shells, I just couldn't stop!  A vintage silver creamer (love the patina!) holds a bit of moss, a real birds nest, and some glittered shells ('cause I've got to get the glitter in somewhere, after all!).

A cream wire basket, a garage sale find, holds more treasures from the sea.

Ok, I sure wish that I knew the trick to photographing glass cloches!  So sorry for the glare!  Anyway, underneath I have added the sweetest little sandcastle, made from real sand from the Great Lakes.  I bought it several years ago on a trip to Munising, Michigan (which is way up in the Upper Peninsula).

Here is a better look.  Isn't it just the cutest?

I really love displaying shells in my vintage little silver creamers.  I found these while we were living in Washington State.

A pretty vintage milk glass bowl holds more shells.

Here is a close up of my favorite creamer.  Love it!

You may have already seen my three tiered vintage wooden pedestal bowl before.  I really love changing it out with the seasons.  Here I have filled it with shells that I collected from our beach when we lived in Washington State (oh how I miss it there!!!).

And a few close up shots.  Just check out this huge oyster shell!  It's a whole one!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I enjoyed our visit!

I'm sharing today's post with Kathleen over at Faded Charm, for White Wednesday, and Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday.  Do be sure to visit for tons of inspiration!

Camping on the Shores of Lake Michigan

Hello everyone!  Hope you all are having a good day, and keeping cool!

Last week we camped in our motor home in Northern Michigan, in one of our very favorite campgrounds in the state.  The sites are huge, very private, and wooded, there are lots of wonderful hiking trails in the woods, and stairs that lead to a gorgeous white sandy beach on Grand Traverse Bay.  No internet connection for an entire week, though (phooey!)!!! Now that is what I call roughing it:)!

 It was a nice and relaxing week, and we even got a welcome break from the heat, til the last two days.

 I just love this view of the beach, from the top of the stairs!

 One afternoon, we drove to the Old Mission Peninsula and did a bit of wine tasting.  This adorable little school house, dating from the late 1800's, is home to a neat winery.  It even has it's original blackboards and hardwood floors!  You may be surprised to know that our state has many amazing, award winning wineries, that would rival any that we've visited in Sonoma and Napa Valley.

 We took our bikes, and of course Emily's little cart!

 As a puppy, she hated riding in the cart, and would always try and chew her way out.  Now that she is considered a "senior", she's finally realized that it's fun, and a great way to catch a breeze!

 Nothing beats watching the sunset over Lake Michigan.  It was breathtaking!

 I've got a few more pictures of our trip that I'll share with you later this week.

 So now it's back to heat and humidity, and trying to keep my poor plants and flowers watered!

Enjoy your week!

How to Beat the Heat

Hello!  Hope you all had a good 4th!

Like many of you, we've been experiencing a major heat wave here in Michigan, with temps in the high 90's-low 100's for days and days.  Add the humidity, and it really feels like a sauna!  So, the best place to be right now is in the water!  Our little furry girl Emily doesn't exactly like to swim, but she know just how much better she feels after a quick dip in the lake!

 So, she waits for me to get in, then she dutifully dives off the ladder (yes, she really does!  I need to try and get a shot of that!), then does a very quick lap around the pontoon boat. 

 Just look at her go!  I can't even keep up with her!

 Then, believe it or not, she climbs up the ladder all by herself (ok, that's me, "Mother Hen", holding my hand on her back just in case).

 Ahhhhhhh, much better now!

 And here she is prior to her swim, showing her patriotism on the 4th!

 It sure is rough being a dog:)

Hope you all have a great weekend, and keep cool!

Giant Vintage Framed Chalkboard Makeover

Hello, and Happy 4th, a day early!  What are your plans for the day?  Tomorrow we will be having friends over thru out the day and evening, for a cookout, time on the lake, then fireworks over the lake.  Oh, and a boat parade around the lake at noon:)

So, I thought I would take a break from preparing for the festivities, and share with you one of my latest transformations.

You know how much I love creating chalkboards from found frames. Well, here is my latest, and I must say all time biggest, vintage framed chalkboard!  This puppy is huge, measuring nearly 5 feet long!  I wish that I had saved a photo of her "before", but I accidentally deleted it, ooops!  Anyway, it's made of a heavy resin, similar to Syroco.  I happened to find her last summer when we flew home for a quick visit. She was at a yard sale, looking none too pretty with her dirty gold frame and a, well, lets just say rather homely looking and equally dirty old print.

Since she was so big, and not about to fit into our carry on bags, I stored her at my Mom's house, til we moved back here this spring.  A good cleaning, some Heirloom White, and a new masonite board (cut by hubby) covered in chalkboard vinyl, and she is much, much happier!

 I really love the details of this amazing frame.  It is heavily grained, and really does look like carved wood!

The exciting news is that I placed her in my Etsy shop, and a bride to be purchased it for use at her wedding!  Yeah!

On a side note, I do want to thank you all for your prayers for my Mom.  This past week has been very difficult, and just knowing that you've been praying brings much comfort.

Enjoy your day tomorrow, and stay safe!