Today was a great shopping day…and I love those.  I’m a girl.  What can I say?  It started out early.  My MIL and youngest boy set out to one of my favorite bi-annual community yard sales.  Right off the bat, I spotted a house that had loads of antiques for sale.  Most of it was a little too expensive for me (for resale purposes), but I did buy a few old books, a huge frame, and a folding wooden chair.  All for $4.00.  Then, we were off and running.  We had walked through most of the neighborhood and I hadn’t bought another thing (except puzzles for my 3 1/2 year old, cookies for the boy and a brownie for me.)  This day was going to be a bummer.  Then, I spotted a Frenchy chest of drawers with great hardware (and stickers and a nasty paint job.)  It was very sturdy, solid

I hit the right Goodwill at the right moment on the right day.  The Goodwill store in Westminster, MD is big and always has a lot of cool stuff, but it can be a little pricey sometimes.  Today, they were overloaded with furniture and almost every employee looked like a college student who didn’t care about fetching a high price on something “old.”  So, I scored a bunch of really great things for a song.  I got this chair… …a vintage wooden rocking horse (that I’m going to paint to look more sophisticated)… …a ratty, but not stinky, ottoman… …and an amazing antique china cabinet, which I have not snapped a photo of, yet.  I also got some silver and three Pyrex bowls.  It was a jackpot for someone like me.  We also hit Lowes and I found a couple of goodies there as well.  I needed some more drop cloths to make

It was my very first time ever at an auction and I really didn’t know what to expect.  I was nervous about raising my number to bid.  I didn’t fully understand what the auctioneer was saying.  I was trying to work two rooms at one time.  It was overwhelming.  By the end of the night, I was a pro and was leaving with a lighter wallet and a van full of really neat things.  I won this gorgeous pair of side tables, which were originally joined to make a vanity.  They were already a perfect shade of aqua and I simply added some painted details and glaze to put my stamp on them.  Trust me when I tell you that I hauled these all over my house to try to find a spot for them, but I did not have room.  I took them with me to the Lucketts fair last year.  For

My mad dash to get things ready for Lucketts continues and will continue for a few more weeks.  I feel the lure to work on my living room, but there is too much paying work to be done.  I had this vintage pair of clogs from my aunt, but they were a yellowish pine and not very cute.  I decided to paint them using a technique to make them look chippy and naturally worn.  There’s something “telling” in distressing with a palm sander, so I wanted to try something different and I’m in love with this new technique.  These are coming to Lucketts with me to sell.  Sigh…maybe they won’t sell and I can keep them.  I also finished this pillow for a client.  She is having me make another “Gasthaus” sign like the one I just sold right off my wall.  There’s an old shelf in our basement that I am

In 1886, Grover Cleveland, the 22nd President of the United States, was in office.  R. L. Stevenson wrote “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”.   The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor on October 28th.  John S. Pemberton first introduced Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia.  And this table cloth was made.  Aunt Nancy is my husband’s great, great aunt and this table cloth was discovered in her attic.  His family knows I love and appreciate antiques, especially family pieces, so they gave it to me. Can you imagine how long this lace work took to make?  I’m impatient when I’m waiting for my pictures to load, so I can write a post.  I would’ve had a tough time finishing a project like this.  “Things of quality have no fear of time” This table cloth is evidence of that. Don’t miss your chance to win a crochet camera bag.  Click here

First of all, make sure you check out my guest post over at Shabby Chic Cottage.  I contributed a project for the 12 Days of Handmade Christmas in July.  Hobby Lobby already had some Christmas decor out, so why can’t we on the blogs?   I do not let having guests stop me from hitting yard sales.  So, Saturday morning, I dragged my in-laws and two toddlers out with me “hunting for treasures.”  It was a hot day, so there weren’t many sales, but I did find some good things.  I bought an antique riding toy… …a pair of baby wooden shoe forms… …and silver plated creamer… …and two antique garden tools.  All for $17.00. Not a bad haul for a hot day.  It’s been a little quiet on my blog, because I had time to work on my living room sofa slipcover.  My MIL and I made one last push

My husband has had a lot going on lately and that means I was in desperate need of a break.  Yesterday, my husband stayed home with the kids and gave me the afternoon out.  Woo-hoo! While I was looking through the piles of junk at my favorite antique haunt, I had a thought that I needed to buy something for you!  My readers.  Well, for one lucky reader.  I’m creeping close to 2000 followers and that calls for a celebration and giveaway.  I decided I would put together “Miss Mustard Seed in a Box” for the winner.  Don’t get worried.  I’m not going to pop out of a large crate that’s delivered to your door step.  I’m going to put together a box of goodies that is very “me.”  Here’s a sneak peek of one of the items…  If you want a hint of what else might be included, you can

Yesterday, I shared some of my newly acquired yard sale and flea market finds and this vintage milk delivery box was among the deals.  It didn’t look like this when I bought it, though. The box was in excellent condition with a clean interior (it wan’t all rusted and nasty), but the paint advertising the dairy had worn off.  This box fit several categories that I look for in what I buy.  It has a story, it is multi-functional, and it’s great storage.  I can image one of these sitting on my front porch when my house was young (it was built in the 1940’s.)  I am not old enough to remember those days, but we did have bread, beer, and sodas delivered to our door when we lived in Germany.  I decided to use the blank front to my advantage and marry the vintage piece with a modern product.  Chalkboard paint