Bring a Hankie to the Wedding--Or Picnic

When is a handful of handkerchiefs not just a handful of hankies? When they're a stylish runner fit for the most colorful, casual picnic or the prettiest, most elegant wedding.

Hubby and I are starting to think about retirement and whether to stay in our current home. That means I'm beginning to take stock of all the things I've collected over the years and am starting to thin things out.

I have a large stack of vintage handkerchiefs that I've always wanted to put to good use. This week, I got them all out, gave them a good washing, starched and ironed them and made a couple of runners out of the white ones. I still have dozens in other colors to use on future projects.

Making a handkerchief runner is simple. Lay out the hankies in a pattern you like, using as many as you need for your table, buffet or piano top.

Sew them together by machine or hand, iron and you're set to go!

This runner looks great layered over my grandmother's 60-year-old picnic blanket and an antique French linen table runner I made for my son's wedding. My casual vintage kitchenware is a nice contrast to the elegant simplicity of the pretty hankies.

Either of the runners I made could be used for a dinner party table or a wedding cake table. The simple shades of white and off-white and the pretty embellishments can dress up a country, rustic or cottage chic setting.

I layered this one over a crinkle fabric semi-sheer repurposed window curtain and a different runner from my son's wedding (this one made of antique Belgian linen).

If you want something a little more whimsical, you can string the runners like a banner on a length of pretty ribbon or twine using mini clothespins (available at any craft store).

If you have a nose for vintage hankies, think about these versatile accessories in a new way next time you run across a pile of pretty ones at a sale.

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Saturday Sparks

Bouquet of Talent
Share It Sunday
Nifty Thrifty Sunday

Share It One More Time
Knick of Time Tuesday
Cottage Style Party
What's It Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things

Vintage Finds Are My Cup of Tea

It's been a while since I've shared any of my estate and thrift finds. For the past several weeks, I've been on a mission to find teacups and saucers and teapots. My son and his fiance plan to plant succulents in them and use them in their wedding reception centerpieces. These are just a few of the beauties I've picked up for them at thrift stores and estate sales.

While on the look out for tea cups, I've come across a few goodies for myself.

This stately handmade, primitive tool caddy, found at an estate sale, is so versatile. It would look charming filled with plants in the summer. I'm thinking it will also look totally stunning all dressed up for the winter holidays. Judging by the couple of holes drilled in the bed of the box, the previous owner must have hung it on the wall. That's a wonderful option, too.

My son and his fiance have joined the pig craze. Rather, I like to think they were ahead of that trend, though, as they are both Arkansas Razorback alums who have been collecting and decorating with hogs for years. Have you ever seen the Arkansas Razorback? I can't look at that adorable mascot without smiling.

Hubby and I found this well-used cast iron bacon press from Taylor and NG at a recent junk fair. From what I could find online, it appears this heavy-duty device was made in the 1970s. Now, it's enjoying a new home in Texas, alongside our son's other interesting pig pieces.

I found this fun 1950s beverage cooler at an estate sale. Nothing like a little kiltie to liven up a picnic! I forgot to take a "before" picture. "Before" what? Before elbow grease. This sweet thing was so covered with dust and grime, that the color barely showed through and for the first instant I saw it, I thought it was a gasoline can. The layer of dirt was so thick I couldn't tell what condition it was in.

It had a pricetag of $5 and even if it were beat up a bit, I knew it would be worth it. Surprise, surprise! The outside has some slight age-related wear, but no serious scratches and no dents. When I opened the lid, I was delighted to find that the inside looked as if it had never been used.

Hubby struck pay dirt at the junk fair, too. He found this beautiful mid-century cake carrier. It's the first blue piece in his collection. And, what a lovely blue it is! The 1950s design reminds me of Pick Up Sticks.

I have a few more finds to share, but I'll save them for another day. Happy treasure hunting this weekend.

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Frugalicious Friday
Junkin Joe Features and Linky Party
Shabbilicious Friday
Anything Blue Friday
Weekend Blogging Reading: Link Up
Sunny Simple Monday
Knick of Time Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Crazy About Crazing

We've had a small break from the 100-degree weather here this weekend. For the first time in several weeks, I felt like being out and about, taking advantage of the garage sale and estate sale scene.

I know I've said this before, but church rummage sales are my favorite. A church not too far from us consistently has the best sales in town. Best organized, best variety, best volume of items, best antiques and vintage items, and best prices. I look forward to it every year. This weekend was the weekend and it did not disappoint. In fact, I did my part to help the cause two out of the three days of the sale.

Among my favorite acquisitions is this vintage green pitcher. It's a bit dinged up, but it has incredible character.

The crazing is the best part! There's something wonderful about those deep, dark lines--the roadmap of its long and full life.

The Valier's Dainty Supercake Flour sack is a brand I haven't seen before. Love the name Dainty Supercake Flour.

Dainty is dandy, indeed.

This pretty cross-stitched Christmas apron is one of several I brought home. Look for it and a number of others in my shop in the coming days. 

The vintage wood rack the apron hangs on is also a bargain from The Best Church Sale. It folds up like an umbrella. A gal can never have too many drying racks (for me, they're display racks).

Not to be left out of the treasure hunt, my husband acquired a 1970s avocado green cake carrier. It has a pie carrier on the bottom.

Fun weekend, great weather. Back to hot temps this week, weatherman says. 

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Be Inspired at Elizabeth & Co.
Cottage Style Linky Party
Vintage Thingie Thursday at The Coloradolady

Let Them Keep Cake

A few years ago, my husband found this nice, vintage metal cake carrier at an estate sale. He was drawn to its chic metal frame like a magnet.

Funny thing is, he doesn't like cake. Just the carriers. Reminds him of his childhood, I guess. Although, I don't think his mom was into making layer-cakes. And, I'm certainly not. I can't remember the last time I baked anything. Ask my adult children if they remember me ever baking them anything.

Well, the cake carrier came home with us. I put it on a shelf in the storeroom and forgot about it. Occasionally, my better half would say, "We should display that somewhere." I'd nod and promptly forget it.

Enter Cake Carrier No. 2, which my husband found and purchased at an estate sale two summers ago. This time, I decided that rather than having these bulky things--which actually are quite fun and interesting--sitting on a shelf somewhere, I should put them out and enjoy them. So I displayed them on my Hoosier cabinet along with several other bright-colored vintage kitchen items and some of my Thermos.

They say that whenever you have two or more of something, it can be considered a collection. Well, within the last month, my husband doubled the size of his cake carrier collection. when he found these two beauties at estate sales.

The chrome carrier has seen some hard use, but it has great character and wonderful detail around the cover and a wood acorn that serves as a handle.

I love the yellow carrier--definitely my favorite. The mid-century modern design is fun and interesting and reminds me of Sputnik.

The Hoosier cabinet and vintage picnic baskets provide a perfect background for the colorful collection. They also pair nicely with the Bauer custard cups my mom gave me, as well as my collection of Thermos.

So what if we don't bake cake in our household. My husband bakes a mean brownie and these useful treasures are perfect for shuttling pyramids of his delicious goodies.

Cake carriers are space hogs, for sure. They can chew up a lot of real estate on the storage shelves. But, in the "off season," they can store decorative plates and other small glassware and pottery.

If hubby picks up any more of these vintage beauties, I might be in the market for another antique kitchen cabinet to display them on.

Make it a great day!

Linking to:

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
A Little Birdie Told Me at Rook No. 17
Vintage Thingie Thursday at The Coloradolady
Potpourri Party at 2805
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things
Sister Sunday at Sisters of the Wild West
Flea Market Finds at Her Library Adventures