This blog post is going to have a few different subjects. First of all, I want to mention that after some counsel from a friend who is knowledgeable in the world of selling hand painted furniture and/or decorating, I have decided to actually make some pieces to sell. Or, give it a try anyway. I am planning on finding bargain pieces at my usual thrifty haunts, hand painting, stenciling some of them, distressing, and just plain making them look cool...and then having a yard sale to see if I can sell some. This will be my first practice in what I hope will become a possible career to do from home some day. I love painting so much, and wooden furniture allows me to be creative while reusing and bringing something to new useful life! I am really excited about this. It will be an ongoing project and the yard sale will take place in the spring some time after I have made enough pieces and the weather is warmer. I will keep you all posted!
Now, moving on to the next subject. I have been frequenting a consignment shop in Chesapeake called Better Homes and Bargains, and I cannot leave this place without something awesome every time I go. It's one of those places where every way you turn, you see something new that wasn't there 5 seconds ago (even though it was.) It is seriously floor to ceiling antiques and vintage awesomeness, with a narrow path meandering through the treasures. The owner, Cheryl, has basically everything that you want to find at thrift stores, contained in one place so that you don't have to sift through anything newer than the 1950's (and if it is newer than that it is REALLY cool and eclectic and worth looking at.) Last week I bought the antique mirror that Ben and I had been eyeing since we first discovered the place. Round, gilded, gesso frame...the usual Victorian charm, with the original faded mirror for added history and mystery. This is what I am getting at in this part of the post- my love of antique frames and how I am slowly collecting them. I have three, two which are mirrors and one which is just a frame. Below you will see the pictures.
This frame came from my great grandmother's old farm house, and it is mid 1800's. I thought about painting it, but I love its patina (I THINK that used to gold paint, but it is really hard to tell..) and the chips are very charming. I also love to think that family members long gone used to look into the same mirror which I look into now.
Next I found this frame below at Salvation Army, and you may have read my post about painting it. This one started out black and gold, but I painted it light blue and gold. It hangs on our bedroom wall, with a little statue of angels in it.
And finally, we have the gold mirror that hangs above our TV cabinet, purchased at BH&B...
OK, so the frames are some of my prized vintage possessions , but I cannot leave this post without showing you all this...something that junkers are always on the lookout for...this fabulous old trunk, refinished by Ben's uncle and sitting in storage for years, until we bravely ignored its intimidating size, stuffed it in the back of our Honda Element, and found a place for it. I LOVE this trunk. It is solid wood with metal details, and one surviving leather handle. Ben's uncle upholstered the inside. It is somewhere between 100-150 years old (that's my guess) and for the age is in great shape (after the refurbish years ago.) The wood stain is the same as out desk and TV cabinet, and it really fits nicely in our living room as an amazing conversation piece. Pottery Barn, you WISH you had one like this!
Happy treasure hunting, friends. :)
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