A few months ago, I curated some collections on eBay and shared them on my blog.  Now, I’m refreshing the ones that were the post popular…adding even more inspirational goodness and, this time, including vintage and antique finds that are similar to those I use in my home.  I found a set of French cane chairs almost exactly like the ones in my dining room… …a similar stool and the exact paint and fabric used in my master bath… …an ironstone soap dish… …and the exact alarm clock and locker baskets I use on the shelves. It’s been fun to “shop my look” in these collections and find things I love and enjoy using in my home. For more inspiration and curated collections, click HERE. One last thing.  eBay has launched a new campaign called  Curate for a Cause.  You can check out the full details at www.ebay.com/imbornto, but for every curated

I unpacked and tagged some more of my finds from Friday.  The contents of the box I unpacked were wrapped in a padded, bluish-green plastic.  As soon as I unwrapped the first piece, I realized what they were – disposable, absorbent pads.  Also know as “wee pads.”  As I was opening everything, I couldn’t help but think of Tim Gunn on Project Runway begging the contestants to not be so unoriginal as to make dresses out of wee pads.  Oh goodness…random. Anyway, here’s what I found… …this pitcher has the prettiest detail on the handle… …and I couldn’t pass up this old handless mug… …and this clock couldn’t be passed up, even with the broken face… …this Blue Willow child’s tea set is available in the online shop… …this clock has the prettiest face… …and I love the label on these soap flake jars… Most of the pieces are tagged

I don’t know about you, but the whole “sping forward” thing messes me up for a week each year.  This morning I could hardly keep my eyes open as I made lunches for the boys.  Jeff took them to school and I crawled back in bed.  By the time I dozed, did my workout, showered and ate breakfast, half of the day was gone!  I still managed to get a lot done, but I’ve got to get back on a normal schedule. Anyway, as I shared over the weekend, my mom and I went out shopping on Friday, so I thought I would share some of the things I bought. I loved the patina on this handmade wood box inscribed 1865… …and it even came with the key! The crackled finish is so cool. I also picked up a couple of cameras… …some cow bells… …a pretty ironstone tureen… …an

I remember the first time I browsed through an antique store, I left with two things.  One was an aqua mason jar with a zinc lid and the other was a delicate cream child’s bonnet, obviously old and handmade.  I was drawn to the yellowed patina on the fabric, the dreams that may have been poured into every stitch and the small piece of history I could now hold in my hand. I’ve been an antique textile junkie ever since. It doesn’t matter if it’s a petticoat… …a tea towel… …a pillow case… …a quilt or coverlet… …a set of napkins… …a towel for keeping bread warm… …or a table cloth. I’m a fan of antique textiles.  Are you? If you are, check out my curated collection HERE.  If not, you can check it out, too, but you may get hooked. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You can follow

As a newlywed 15 years ago, I discovered decorating books and magazines.  Well, I always knew they were out there, but now that I had my own home and was in search of my style, they applied to me and I became an addict.  I quickly gravitated to a more “country” style and homes that displayed a lot of antiques.  I noticed fans, scales and typewriters used as props in the homes that were featured and all three made it to my “list.”  The list of things I would hunt for as I was out shopping.  I bought my first antique fan, a black Emerson oscillating fan from eBay for $15.  It’s in the photo shoot below… A few years later, I found a rusty typewriter at an antique store for $5 and took it home.  The typewriter I have now is a portable Corona I found at an estate

There are some things that attract my attention at antique stores and it’s hard to explain why.  Some of those things are alarm clocks, pocket watches and opera glasses and binoculars.  Maybe it’s the fact that they are beautiful and utilitarian at the same time.  Sometimes those two qualities are viewed as opposites that can’t coexist happily.  If it’s beautiful, it can’t be functional.  If it’s functional, it must be ugly.  I love it when things prove that idea wrong.  With smart phones and jumbotrons, alarm clocks, pocket watches and opera glasses/binoculars have become almost obsolete, but I think they have an amazing decorative quality and often make it into vignettes in my home and photo shoots… I put together a collection of some of these beautiful, yet utilitarian pieces that caught my eye, including these lovelies… You can follow the full collection HERE and follow all of my eBay collections