Happy Halloween

Happy Haloween!

It has been so rainy and overcast here the past two weeks, but nothing compared to the devastation we have been following on the U.S. east coast. Our prayers are with those affected, residents, hospital patients and staff evacuating hospitals, the emergency responders and all those working towards keeping people safe and helping to clean up.

With work, hockey, life, and lots of little projects I didn't get around to photographing our Halloween decor this year. I decided to not worry about it and so I am sharing a collage from last year. I have an almost 6 foot 13 year old with flu symptoms so I am home today taking care of him. 

We are just going to relax and enjoy seeing the 100+ trick or treaters stop by for candy tonight (we have had 150+ in previous years but the rain today will bring the numbers down closer to 100- I hope!) Wishing you a great day and week!

What To Do While You Decide On A Paint Colour

What to do when you are in the midst of lots of ongoing projects? Add flowers.

A Rainbow Of Christmas Ornaments

I know it is not even Halloween yet, but I couldn't help but be inspired with plans for Christmas decorating this year after seeing these displays of colourful ornaments.

We stopped at Canadian Tire tonight to look for Halloween yard lights and I was surprised to see the Christmas section well under way.

New Fabrics for Our Living Room

I finally found some new fabrics for our living room.

Our living room currently has white sheers, and while I love this light and airy look, I have decided to add a bit more colour.  

Vintage Napkins and Small Plates

I love using vintage plates and small dishes for soap dishes and to corral makeup in the bathroom.

I recently went to an outdoor antique show that I shared here, and saw some amazing pieces but they were really pricey. On the way home from the show I stopped by a thrift store and found some lovely pieces at much better prices. 

The little ironstone plate that I now use to hold hand soap and hand cream pumps in the kitchen was a steal at $1.25. I plan to make mason jar soap pumps just as soon as I can find some one- piece lids.

This little dish was 50 cents and now holds some eyeshadows in my bathroom.

The petite plate was $1 and has a lovely raised pattern. It is now used as a soap dish on the edge of the soaker tub in my ensuite bath. Inexpensive but cute pieces that work great in bathrooms. I also use little dishes on night tables, in drawers and on entry tables for jewellery and keys.

From the thrift store I also picked up this set of 4 matching napkins. I had been admiring a set of 4 at the antique show but priced at $29 for 4 I couldn't buy them. 

Love the little leaf detail.

At the same thrift store I found this set of 4 crochet edged napkins with the little flower detail.

Vintage crochet trim really makes me happy. I love that napkins can be mixed and matched with different place settings too. 

This weekend I decided to sell the oval coffee table I bought for our living room. I liked the size but since I am really looking for a more rustic bigger bench or a trunk I will keep looking. I made a nice little profit on the flip too. So, have you found any thrifty items lately?

I'm sharing this with...
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Vintage Inspiration at Common Ground

Religious Articles

I found some lovely religious pieces this weekend at our Church bazaar.

The little statue is St. Theresa (St. Terese of Lisieux), 'the Little Flower' the patron of florists and gardeners.

I also picked up two wooden bead rosaries made in Italy.. Love the detail on this one. The centerpiece medallion is Mary and Baby Jesus, with Christ on the reverse.

I like the wooden cross on this rosary and how it is capped with the metal.

Simple and rustic symbols of faith. Wishing you a beautiful Sunday.

Linking up to the following parties....
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Vintage Inspiration at Common Ground

A Day at An Antiques Expo

On a lovely weekend at the end of September I attended a great local antique show, Gadsden's Milton Fall Antique Expo, at the Milton Farm Museum.

There were so many great vendors and I only managed to snap a few photos with my iPhone. The variety of items was wonderful and so many nice vendors. The prices, which I am sure were competitive and reasonable, were too high for our tight budget. I knew that ahead of time but loved going just for the inspiration and as a means of comparing my thrifty finds. Besides, it was a beautiful day and I figured the $9 admission price was well worth the eye candy. 

Loved the great antique mantel and I am always a sucker for stars, especially these tin ones.

 Lots of great wood antique pieces, many of them early Canadian pieces from Ontario and Quebec.

Vintage maps, great signage and frames with lots of patina.

More great sideboards, cupboards and mirrors. The uniquely rounded front hanging cupboard on the far left of this photo was getting a lot of attention.

I loved this contemporary Canadiana folk art called THE CANADIAN EXPRESS by PEI artist Kerras Jeffery. What a conversation piece this would be, but at $2,595 not for the average homeowner.

There was a great selection of vintage ironstone at the different dealers. An antique show like this would be a great spot to pick up an instant collection but it would be pricey. The large platter was marked $32.

Check out the old porch posts and the lovely counter or island. Loved the patina on the old cupboards and stepbacks too.

This was my favourite booth, with I think 3 vendors in one space. Fabulous items, but quite a bit out of my budget.

Lots of vintage, French and industrial pieces.

booth in last two photos:Tattered and Torn and Pelican

I thought this was a great way to spend a lovely Fall day, wandering the aisles and admiring the vintage collectibles. I may not have purchased anything, but I got lots of inspiration and found a few items at a thrift store on the way home. I might just have to save up a bit for next year's show. Have you attended a vintage or antique show in your area recently?

Oval Coffee Table Find

I found a coffee table for our living room but I'm not sure if it suits the room.

I have been looking for a bigger bench, a chest or a coffee table for our living room. I didn't want anything too big as our living room is on the small side. I saw this solid wood oval table from a local guy's ad on kijiji. He refinished it and I thought $40 was an okay price. 

This is the little white bench we were using. I love the idea of a rustic bench, but this one is a bit small.

I really like that the coffee table is fairly narrow so walking around it is not a problem. It is an overcast day, raining on and off, so I had to turn the overhead light on for photos.

Now I have to decide if I should keep it until I find the perfect (affordable) rustic chest or resell it. I like the shape but I'm not sure if the stain is too dark or if it is too short. Also, my style tends to be a bit more rustic. There are a lot of brown tones going on, but I could always add a white cut-work or vintage crocheted runner to the table to lighten things up. I also plan on replacing the little tray table to the right of the couch. The gallery wall is a work in progress too.

I need to think on it awhile but I would love to hear your opinion. From the same place I bought two old chippy paned window frames. After I clean them up I will take some photos. Okay, back to pie baking for tomorrow's Thanksgiving dinner. 

I am sharing this at the following parties...

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House-Thanks for the invitation!

Happy Thanksgiving (Canadian) Fall Tour 2012

I put together a tour of our home for Fall and our Canadian Thanksgiving, combining photos from several of my Fall posts. 

I kept things fairly neutral in the living room with a pillow, throw, table runner and bunting in plaid flannels in creams, tans and grays. Scented Fall candles, a wood star garland and a wire basket filled with pinecones sit on the dresser. The big basket is going to be filled with blankets and quilts for cooler evenings. I am going to have to get some more cozy throws out tonight as we are having a very cool long Thanksgiving (Canada) weekend.

Our family room is pretty much the same with just a few additions on the barley twist table-more pinecones and lots of yummy scented candles.

 

In the dining room I filled the pie cabinet with blue and white transferware. On the blue tea towelling table runner I used a pair of zinc lanterns and added pinecones and a wood berry garland to the big ironstone platter of pillar candles. More wood berries, this time with rusty stars, are casually laid on the simple chandelier. And more pinecones in the china cabinet and a row of tealights in the dining room window.

Finally, a few photos of our entry (I forgot to take photos of the entry hall cabinet, so I will do that soon and then add them here.) The wood berry wreath is hung from our coat closet door with burlap ribbon and actually stays here year round. The framed cross-stitch is one of my favourite pieces for Autumn.

 
I haven't had a chance to photograph our kitchen Fall decor as we are preparing to host 19 people for our Thanksgiving dinner on Monday but you can see our kitchen last year here, here and here. You may have noticed that I don't have any Hallowe'en decor yet, but that will go up after Thanksgiving.
Thanks for stopping by! I wish my Canadian friends a very Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you all have a great weekend.
Linking up at.....
October'fest of Fun-Home Tours at Debbiedoo's


SNS at Funky Junk Interiors


All Things Fall Link Party at The Vintage Farmhouse

Cowboy Up Link Party hosted this week by Crafty Texas Girl

Fall Around The House at The Inspired Room

and SNS Funky Fall Decorating at Funky Junk Interiors

Thanksgiving Traditions Party at Freckled Laundry