Flexible Flyer Ladies

Usually you need snow to go sledding, but these sleds are for show ~ not snow.  They have seen their sledding days, but now they will be adorning someone's front porch for Christmas.I found both of these sleds at yard sales this summer and they are real gems with lovely wood that is beautifully aged to the kind of perfection that only time can create.This first one came with it's garland and lights.  All I did was paint the sled white, distress it and add a new bow.

This fine lady is a Flexible Flyer all decked out in her Christmas finery.She may be vintage, but she sure looks fine.

She only lasted in the store a few days and has found a new home on the front porch of a local Victorian home, where she will continue to flash her finery.

This next sled I found at a yard sale in Cleveland and is also a Flexible Flyer "No. 14 "Yankee Clipper" with beautiful markings on the back. 

 

This vintage sled has lovely wood and I didn't really alter it other than applying a coat of polyurethane and a new bow with greenery.

While I was helping out at the store yesterday afternoon, someone came along and claimed this vintage treasure, so now they have both found loving homes.

I found a third sled this summer, but this one found it's new home at my house.  It's smaller than the other two and I painted it black and distressed it.  This is not the best picture of it, but it made the perfect Christmas decoration nestled behind a comfy chair next to the fireplace.  I didn't add a bow because I felt it like it was perfect just as it is.

Linking with~Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday~
 

Flea Market Find

Scott's Antique Market was in town this weekend and I bought myself an early Christmas present ~ a pair of corbels.  I have always wanted a pair of corbels, but they are always so big and so pricey.  This time I found a pair that were small enough to use in my house and within my price range.

  I was playing around with them today, trying to find a place where they would look best.  I had just finished waxing the bottom section of my hutch and tried them out there with a small tree in the center. 

 I really liked the simpleness of them here, but there is a top part to this hutch, so this is not where they will end up. 

 The tree was a Goodwill find last year and I added a few sparkly items to glitz it up a little. 

 It all makes such a simple statement, which I find I like more and more the older I get.

~Linking with~The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday~Dittle Dattle for Amaze Me Monday~Little Red House for Mosaic Monday~Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday~Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday~Tutus and Tea Parties for A Pinteresting Party

Bloomsbury Loft

i wanted to share with you some beautiful and whimsical wool creations by judith mercado, owner of Bloomsbury Loft. judith has many of her lovely things for sale at Peacock Lane and i wanted to show you some of her wreaths.  the one that i wanted to buy unfortunately sold just before i could get it, but all these lovelies are still there.

all of her creations are made from wool clothing she  buys at Goodwill and yard sales and after boiling the wool, she fashions these lovely flowers. 

 each wreath is unique and has it's own personality and each one makes you smile. 

 i was particularly taken with the flowers on this wreath that look like morning glories and as you will see, i took quite a few pictures of them.

  how about this Christmas cutie?  i love the little tree in the middle.

 this one is a little harder to see because of the reflection of the mirror, but i love it's softer colors.

these little guys make me feel like i've walked into a Dr. Seuss book. 

 

the wreath i wanted to buy was in soft shades of beige and pink to match my bedroom. i found this picture of it on judith's blog. 

 this one is hot pink and makes quite a statement.

aren't these guys sweet?

judith's room at the store is truly a delight for the child of any age.

linking with~common ground for vintage inspiration friday~french country cottage for feathered nest friday~the thrifty groove  for thrifty things friday~

A Quiet Place

My Christmas mantel this year isn't much different than last year.  I used the same garland, but added a large container of pears and pomegranates to the center.  

The candlesticks are elevated on stacks of old books that add charm and age to the vignette. 

The mantel is anchored on one side with the clock ~

and on the other end is the mantel lamp decked out in it's red shade just for Christmas.

But next to the mantel is a different chair this year.  I sold my old wing back chair at the store and in it's place is my daughter's club chair from when she moved back home this summer.  It is a comfortable and quiet place to sit.

Tucked behind the chair is a sled I'm working on to sell at the store, but I kind of like it there and may end up keeping it.

There's nothing like white twinkle lights to create a Christmas atmosphere in the evenings.

I told you this is a quiet and comfortable place to sit and one usually has to fight Charley for the chair.

~My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for theChristmas Mantel Party 

Pretty Little Trays

Getting off to a rather slow start with Christmas decorating this year.  There's nothing like being under the weather to suck the Christmas spirit right out of you.  But, I did manage to get a couple of these cute little trays painted for the store.  They started out as black, but I decided to paint of few of them to give the customers some choices.

I love the dainty scrolls on this little tray giving it  a sweet and delicate look.The first one I painted a sage green, but since I filled it with so much greenery, you can hardly see the tray.

The next one I painted off-white.  After painting all of these trays, I waxed them with a mixture of clear and dark wax to give them a more aged lookand protective finish.

Last, but not least, is a red version for the holidays.

This little Santa looks a little lost.

So which one is your favorite?

Linking with~Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday~Dittle Dattle  for Amaze Me Monday~The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday~Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday~Craft-O-Maniac for Craft-O-Maniac Monday