How I Found My Tobacco Basket

I've been keeping my eye out for a tobacco

 basket for years. I was hoping to find one

 on my travels for a good deal.

It needed to be authentic.

I was very lucky to find this one leaning
against the side of a dilapidated garage in
 a big overgrown yard in North Carolina.

We were storing our trailer there until
we drove up again to pick it up. 

The owner of the property didn't own the
basket.  He would try to contact the lady
that did. I was not leaving without a good
effort. We went to lunch in town and
I checked back with him later. 

Still no contact with the lady.

He promised to try again. 

We ran some errands...translation: I was
stalling to hit the road until all efforts
 have been exhausted.

Stenciled edges

On my next call he said that she was not
interested in selling. She knew what she had.
Now a normal person would give up at this
point. That's why they don't have elusive
treasures. I asked if she would be
interested in a trade. 

He'll get back to me.

Morristown, NC

We drove back to the lot and met with the
 lady. We chatted a bit and I offered her
the pick of any item that was in my trailer.

It was basically stuff I had accumulated
from garage sales and bulk trash days.
 Things I didn't want.
She liked a tile top table.

 DEAL! 

The table had a rustic North Carolina style
that wasn't going to work in Florida anyway
...PLUS I had picked it up for FREE on one
of my bulk trash day rounds.
So the tobacco basket cost me nothing.

Everybody was happy, as all deals should go.

Here's the best part. She had 2 baskets! 

TWO!

I basically got 2 huge antique tobacco
baskets for FREE.
But wait there's MORE!

 I sold one when we got home for $165.

Next, finding just the right spot for 

this 4' x 4' beauty. 

I first cleaned it up and oiled it up to

 protect the wood and bring out it's color.

  We first tried it in the family room 

on top of the wall unit. It looked
terrible there!

We strung little lights around and through.

After testing the lights first, they didn't

work in spots after we strung them...

as all Christmas lights do!

We finally found the perfect spot in 

the dining room above the large

antique cupboard. It was meant to

be there! The lighted pinecone basket

was already there. We took down the

antique beveled glass widow and

will use that in a better spot with

natural light. 

I just love, love it!

Cheers!

Links: Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram,
Between Naps On The Porch

MAY St.

I found this street sign many years ago at an

antiques flea market. The vendor said is was

 an old cast iron sign from San Francisco.

 This weekend I decided to hang it over the

archway from the kitchen/breakfast area

leading into the living room.

 I took down the chalkboard sign that was

previously there.

This is such a better place for it than where I

had it. Don't know why I hadn't thought

of hanging it here where we can see it.  

It was in my laundry room. On the back wall 

with the antique washboards. I spent a few 

days cleaning out the laundry room; all the 

cabinets, even the tops, and all the stuff up 

there, under the utility sink, organized all the 

cleaning supplies, reorganized the shelves

 on this make-shift bookcase made out of 

old bifold doors. That's when I remembered a

 friend suggesting that that sign really needed

 to be somewhere where it can be seen. 

"Too cool to hide" were her words. 

So here's it's new happy home. 

I'm liking it in here. 

Welcome N MAY ST

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Dwellings, Coastal Charm, 

Decorating With Antique School Desks

I love the antique school desks I've collected
over the years when we lived near Chicago.
I knew I'd find a place to use them in Florida

They are a great accent piece that can 

add a little personality in any room.

Here's one in the bathroom holding a 

Longaberger basket and stack of towels.

I dress it up for Christmas.

I also have one in the entry way. Another

Longaberger basket on top holds things that

need to go out...like videos and books for 

the library. It also holds Lucy's leash and

a kleenex box stuffed with plastic bags

for doggie pick-ups.

The front seat is a landing spot for

my purse or whatever I'm bringing in.

It gets dressed up for Christmas too.

It's on the other side of the mirror

and entry table, next the half wall.

This one is in the back of the family room. 

It usually holds a stack of afghans 

and a few baskets. 

Love the old wrought iron scrolls and the 

hole for the inkwell. The book shelf is a

great little spot when I've used the desk

as an end table or bedside table. You can

run your cords through the inkwell.

I change the afghans and baskets

for the seasons.

Dressed for Christmas.

This little desk  and chair was a hit with

 the grandkids when they were little.
It's been used as an end table and a
favorite spot for coloring. 

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Coastal Charm, Dwellings,
My 1929 Charmer, The Scoop,
A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style

Craigslist Antique Cupboard

This is the beautiful antique I found on Craigslist last week.

It was an old listing and I was sure it would be

 sold. But it wasn't and it was just in the next

 town. So it was meant to be mine.

 We were able to get it into our van and 

drive home with back doors tied open. 

Larry unloaded it and I gave it a cleaning.

I used Murphy Oil Soap and water.

 It's in good shape for such an old piece. 

Even the back wood is original.

 I decided to load it up with lots of silver.

That look didn't work for me

so I switched everything out and filled

 it with white and cream pottery.

 I love, love the crown details and the 

heavy side scrolling.

 Love the carved flowers that arch each 

of the glass door.

Love the deep carvings on the bottom doors.

 Love the storage on the bottom,

 and look at those two hidden drawers. 

Secret compartments if I ever saw one!

 Lots of carved detail. I wish I knew more 

about this piece: age, style, history.

 The perfect thing for me also was it's size. 

It needed to be narrow to fit into my hallway.

I had been looking for something

unique for this space ever since I gave my 

daughter the 2 etegeres that were here

previously. Click HERE to see.

 The top is quite deep so I raised it up with

 scrap wood boards.

 I gathered a few things for the top, a basket,

 3 Ball jars and a painting my granddaughter 

did 4 years ago.  She didn't like it, 

I kept it and now it has a spot.

I borrowed an old key from another

antique piece until I can find one.

Oh! and the price was perfect too.

$100. 

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Under The Table and Dreaming,
Coastal Charm, Creative Cain Cabin,
A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style

Pieces Of Silver

We always had a mish-mash of silverplate
 flatware when I was growing up.

These few pieces are all that are left. 

I upgraded my parents with a matching set 

as a gift many years ago.

That was a time when vintage just meant old 

stuff. Now vintage is vogue.

The small child size fork and spoon were

 always my favorites to use.

I loved the daffodil handles.

My father would tell me these were specially

 made for me. I was  not easily convinced. 

But he would show me the R monogram and

 what he also said was a J intertwined

 for our last name. RJ 47. 

Yup! That's me.

Just a few left, a big fork and spoon. 

That fork has been used to turn lots of pork 

chops in the pan over 60 years.

I still like to think of these as mine.

I gave these few pieces of silverplate a polish

and put them into a Mason jar by the stove,

I can grab one to turn a pork chop.

I love the memories. 

Cheers!

Links: Savvy Southern Style,
No  Minimalist Here, Stone Gable