My Salvaged Treasures: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

A Dreamy Start to 2012

I thought about making a New Year's resolution to stay away from Pinterest Land. I thought about it long and hard for a whole five seconds and then decided against it. Maybe I'll rethink it again for 2013 if my plan to allocate five minutes every now and then doesn't work. My plan goes into effect tomorrow, so for now I can still dream about a perfect way to spend the first day of 2012 courtesy of Pinterest.

In my dream this is where I'll be spending New Year's Eve.

The Travel Enthusiast

This looks like a good place for a nice dinner.
I'm sure they have a dress code, so I'll need something to wear.

Four Seasons

It wasn't easy shopping for something sparkly that's age appropriate.
I think this might do, but I'm hoping it comes in black.

Marie Claire

This isn't my every day style, but I need something fancy schmancy to go with my dress. This Edwardian garland diamond and platinum necklace will work if they let me borrow it.

TMW Jewels

This little hotel on the French Riviera will be the only hotel available. Darn, a two week minimum stay is required. Looks like I'll have to settle in.

Concierge

January 1st will start out with breakfast at a sweet little cafe.

Vintage Home

Early morning shopping at a Paris flea market is next.

Oh Happy Day

Browsing through the antique stores will be fun.

European Antique Market

A quick stop for nourishment before more shopping.

Facebook

I'll make time to shop for after Christmas bargains.

Decorating with Sheets

I have to leave time to explore the charming neighborhoods.

French Larkspur

I'll explore until the sun sets.

My French Country Home

This restaurant will be a nice quiet place to relax after a long day.

Sunsurfer

What a day!

Daily Contributor

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and blessed 2012.

May all of your dreams come true.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Some of My 2011 Favorites

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday celebration. It was sure nice to get away for Christmas this year and enjoy this special time with family and friends. I spent an extra two days at my mom's house so we could get in some good quality junkin' time together. Now that I'm back home, I'm trying to get the house put back together again and prepare for another round of visitors.

With everything that's going on this week, I thought it would be a perfect time to share some of my favorite posts from 2011. Just click on the title to bring you to the original post. Hope you enjoy them....again.

Repurposed Yardsticks
I turned my yardstick collection and some old hooks into hanging racks

Visions of Spring Repurposed Jewelry
(most viewed)
Bits and pieces of vintage jewelry, keys, and rhinestones

New Life for a Tired Old Camera
Jewelry created from this beat up old Brownie camera

Upcycled Old Sewing Machine
How I turned this rusty old sewing machine into a necklace and bracelet

New Life for Tired Old Linens

A tutorial on how to turn old linens into pretty new hangers

Precious to Me: Nana's Quilt

My grandmother's crazy quilt

Under the Sea Weekend Finds
An instant shell collection

Chalkboard Books
A tutorial on how to turn inexpensive books into little chalkboards

Button Love

My vintage button collection

Repurposed Folding Rulers
(most comments)
Old folding rulers meet a salvaged cabinet door

I hope you're all enjoying this last week of 2011. Even though Christmas is behind us, there's still so much happening this week. I'm really looking forward to getting my creative groove back in January:-)

A Pause on the Path for Best of 2011 Blog Hop

Friday, December 23, 2011

A Touch of Sparkle

One more day! Are you finished with your shopping, wrapping, cleaning, cooking, decorating? My shopping is finally finished, but wrapping is still in progress. Cleaning is on hold until next week because we're not hosting Christmas this year, and I'm still cooking up a few side dishes to share. Decorating was the first thing I finished this year because I only put out about half of what I normally do.

I thought I'd share a couple of jeweled Christmas decorations I made several years ago. The tree is just a Styrofoam base that I wrapped in silver ribbon. I used silver spray paint on my first pathetic attempt and then watched it disintegrate right before my eyes. Oh well, the silver ribbon looks much better. I attached bits and pieces of vintage jewelry, then filled in with loose stones and colored push pins.

This tree is usually one element of a much larger centerpiece on our Christmas dining room table. Since I'm not hosting Christmas dinner this year, I found a new spot on a small end table to display my vintage jewelry tree. The cloche is a recent purchase and the antique mirrored tray came from an estate sale several years ago.

For my wreath, I wrapped the Styrofoam base in gold ribbon and used hot glue to attach the green, gold, and white jewels. In this picture the wreath is hung on an old cast iron mirror stand.

I took a picture of it in two different locations and finally settled on this one....

It's a perfect fit right in the center of this chippy old arched window.

I could easily become addicted to making these if I didn't use all my stray jewelry pieces for other projects. Now I save up what I don't use in my repurposed jewelry creations and pass them on to my mom. She's now the jeweled tree and wreath queen.

Wishing you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Let's Go Shopping

I really should have been working on other things and concentrating on my "to do" list on Friday instead of playing at Room With a Past in Walnut Creek. This awesome store is only open four days a month, so I had to seize the opportunity when opportunity knocked. It was my first visit to this location, and I have to say I like it even better than their sister store, Paris Flea Market in Livermore.

Love the polka dot seat on this pretty pink bike. Too bad it wasn't parked in the right direction because the finger took me on a little detour down the street.

The entire store was packed full of vintage treasures with just the right amount
of holiday decor mixed in.

This gorgeous swag is made from book pages with sewing pattern flowers added to each end.

I knew it was time to settle in and get comfortable once I discovered these tasty treats; I can't shop on an empty stomach. Does being on a sugar high make you spend more money?

Burlap and silver.....always a good combination.

Piles of vintage ornaments all ready to be wheeled out.

Aren't those lampshades adorable?

This 4' tall shelf with two curved drawers on the bottom spoke to me.

It spoke very loud.

I've been looking for something narrow enough to fit in a small space in my studio. This was perfect because it's only 11" deep. Can't wait to get it all loaded up with goodies.