Reclaimed Silver Pieces Shine

I have to write about this silver-plate coffee pot & creamer transformation! I snagged these treasures the end of September at the Faith Church annual rummage sale in Issaquah, WA.

Would you believe the coffee pot was marked $3? I saw the potential and knew that at the very least I could fill it with flowers. The hinge at the lid was bent and Dan is charged with bending/fixing it back. I found the matching creamer on the floor below the table and the church lady "threw it in" because they shouldn't be separated. Score.

Once home, I pulled out a container of Weiman Silver Wipes which I think I bought at the Container Store, but had never used. 

Um...boy do they work! I spent about 20 minutes rubbing, rinsing and buffing dry. Piece of cake! Wear disposable gloves and make your holidays shine!

Borner Vegetable Shredder is a Treasure

How is it possible that I found a second complete Borner V-Slicer set at a rummage sale? I found the first at a church rummage sale in Birmingham, Michigan in 2011. It was wrapped in a bag with the instructions rubber-banded to the exterior and was $4. It included all of the mandolin slicing blades, plus a host of extras like a tool to turn the peel of an orange into a flower and a stand-alone blade that shredded zucchini or lemon zest. 

I may have been the only one who knew what it was on sight, and quickly snapped it up. I priced the piece of that set online and I think it was around $150 retail. I have treasured this set and laugh when I think of its origin. Did a mother-in-law buy it for a daughter-in-law that didn't cook? Was it a well-meaning husband's birthday gift? It had never been used - ever. All of the packaging and original plastic wrap was still on every piece. I had to leave it in Michigan until we finally sell our house and move everything. And frankly, I have missed being able to use it.

Fast forward to 2015, last Friday in fact, when I heard of a local church "garage sale" to benefit Habitat for Humanity. I love to look for treasures and I still can't believe that I found another never-been-used set! This one for a mere $2. 

Thanks to my new treasure-hunting turf, my vegetable shredding plans are back on track. 

Rummage Sale Score and Follow Me on Facebook

Hi! This is not really today's post.  I'll be writing about Frank Lloyd Wright later I promise.  This is just a reminder to follow me on Facebook so I can keep you in the loop as the holidays approach.  

I'll show you when hard-to-find items are on the shelf.  What I'm baking or planning in the kitchen and occasionally I'll show you my rare finds that will have you running to the next rummage sale or flea market.

This week's score featured on Facebook was a never-used French silicone baking pan for $2 at my church's rummage sale.  I will use it to make personal Bourbon Orange loaves for holiday entertaining.  You can bake them when you have time and defrost when it's time to party.  Recipe coming soon...

Flower Arranging: Vintage Canister is an Unexpected Vase

In the spring, summer, fall, I am flower driven. My interests collide when I can take a vintage oatmeal canister (my mom's find from an antique show) and fill it with flowers from the garden.  Could this arrangement be any prettier?

A melange of color and texture that gets your attention and holds it for a few beats.  When I see this arrangement, my brain ping-pongs around these thoughts:

• How can the colors of that hydrangea be so delicate? Pale celery green and puff pink together is perfect. 
• Why don't they make more pretty china canisters - clear plastic Oxo containers are just not beautiful.
• This grouping would translate beautifully to fabric. Where is Laura Ashley when I need her?
• I have to plant bellflower and more yarrow next year (then I write that in the Notes portion under May in my 2014 calendar.)

Looking at beautiful things is good for you.  Making a bouquet and seeing it every time you walk into the family room is even better.

Apple Peeler Corer Slicer

Hands down, this is my favorite seasonal kitchen gadget, an apple peeler corer slicer.

I was working a shift at our church's rummage sale and happened to find these 2 great pieces - a super cute kiwi green Pyrex bowl (remember my blog post about starting a Pyrex collection?) and a never-been-used apple peeler corer slicer.  I bought both of these beauties for $7 total.  The universe is telling me it's time to make my famous apple pie!

I bought my first apple peeler corer slicer at least 15 years ago at a Pampered Chef party.  I loved it and used it many times a year, to make quick and easy apple pies.  You basically jam an apple onto the spear end and then crank the lever as the apple spins past a peeler and spiral slicer.  It works like a dream and gives you apples ready for pies/tarts/muffins in no time at all.

My sister-in-law in Texas thought that this machine was right up my alley and gave me one for Christmas a few years ago.  I tucked it away in the basement and when my first machine grew tired and dull, I happily pitched it and pulled out the one in my basement.  

It feels good, after today's shopping success, to know that I have a perfect (and practically free) lady-in-waiting ready for the next swap out.  But honestly, I would pay full price for it any day of the week.  It is a fantastic tool that saves your hands a lot of work and it very fun to operate with kids around - everybody gets a turn at the crank! 

Don't you think it's time to make an apple pie!

Rummage Sale

I have a weakness for church rummage sales, but after finding things like these "milk glass" blue dinner plates, can you blame me?  The minute I saw them, I knew that they would be perfect to highlight my antique Chelsea dishes.  I was able to get a set of four and they are on my kitchen table, looking just like the photo, as we speak.

I also found an electric warming tray for entertaining (my secret to a successful brunch is keeping the breakfast strata and french toast casserole hot!) for $3.  I think I am going to take this one up to the cottage to use for all of our Fourth of July festivities.

If the mood strikes, see if you can find a church rummage sale in your area.  You never know what treasures you'll find, and with DIY fever going around, you can breathe new life into many items with just a coat of paint.  My last "find" was a large round basket with handles for $1.  I know will look brand new with a shot of spray paint.  I'm just not sure what color to paint it or where I will put it, but there's time!

Cookie Cutter Find

What a find. All these cookie cutters for just 25 cents - no joke! I was at a trusty church rummage sale and I noticed that they had bagged antique cookie cutters into random sets. I saw this grouping and thought: a giant turkey (that would make a great crust cut out to bake on top of a pumpkin pie), Texas (where relatives live), a cow (my mom loves cows) - Sold!

I'm sure by now you know about my cookie cutter collection - I am pushing 275! I love them and my collection keeps growing. I arrived home last week to find a padded envelope in my mailbox. My dear friend, Barb, found an antique "Santa" cookie cutter that she knew I had to have. Isn't that the nicest thing ever? Thank you, Barb. 276

Julia's Kitchen

I think you'll remember when I visited Julia Child's kitchen at the Smithsonian a few years ago.  Well my memories of her kitchen (shown above) all came back to me this week as I attended two church rummage sales. 

In Julia's day, there really was no such thing as beautiful kitchen tools.  Nothing matched, most items were metal or wood and non-stick spatulas were relatively new.  There wasn't anything special about her tools, but they were all she needed to make a delicious meal.

As I saw people sorting through dusty boxes of these humble (yet necessary) kitchen tools, it reminded me that although they aren't the gorgeous pristine pieces from Sur La Table, they'll do the trick. 

What was my Julia-worthy find?  A metal "sauce and gravy" whisk for twenty-five cents.

Pierre Frey Tray

We all have stories of "the big find" at a garage or rummage sale.  How something so perfect fell right into our lap...and at a great price too.

Tonight was my night.  I showed up a little early for my shift at the church rummage sale.  Twice a year I hunker down with a calculator and a cash box to be the "cashier" in the furniture department.  I came early with the hopes of doing a bit of quick shopping before my shift started.  I had about 20 minutes to be a power shopper and look what I found!

A huge (21 x 16 inch) laminated fabric tray in "Plateau Tyrol" by Pierre Frey.  With the original sticker Pierre Frey/Paris on the back!  This is the kind of tray that is large enough to put on an ottoman to hold a coffee pot and several cups and saucers.  This is a sturdy designer-style showpiece.  Now I have wanted one of these trays for YEARS, but with a price tag of around $175, I have always talked myself out of it.  You see, there is a Pierre Frey shop just around the corner from the hotel I like to stay in when I am in Paris (The Millesime).  I can't tell you how many times I have stared in the shop window looking at the selection of fabric-backed trays displayed like dominoes along the window ledge. 

Well tonight was my night and among the frayed and discarded rummage, I noticed one of these trays on a table in a stack of items.  When I pulled it out and confirmed that it was what I thought it was, I looked at the price: $1.00.  Yes, one dollar.  I practically shook when I knew it was going to be mine.  Now I'll have to wait a few months for it to make sense in my living room.  An alpine scene just doesn't cut it in May.  But I can wait.  The minute the snow flies I am serving coffee on my new tray.  Love it! 

Vintage Nativity Figures

It all started because my Mom was looking for some more animals for her nativity scene.  I was heading to our church's rummage sale a few months ago and she asked me to keep my eye out for cows and sheep.  In the 1950s and 60s, the dime store figures she uses in her nativity scene were very popular. She thought that there might be a chance to expand her flock at the church rummage sale.

Lo and behold, I found a small bag of mismatched Wise Men, shepherds and one sheep!  Some were plastic, most were broken or chipped and the bag was missing a key figure...Baby Jesus!  But for 25 cents, it was a wonderful start. 

I've kept these pieces on top of a cabinet in my office (as shown) since October and arranged them so that you couldn't tell that any key figures were missing!  The more I looked at this distressed bunch, the more I liked it. 

When I showed my Mom the bag of figures on the day of the sale, she insisted that I keep all of them.  In the meantime, she has given me an "extra" Baby Jesus that she had in her box of Christmas decorations. 

I already had a pristine nativity scene, complete with camels and a moss-covered manger, when this treasure hunt started.  But this little vintage scene has stolen my heart and usurped the more complete display for now. 

I have arranged my little collection on a woven charger with a garland of dried orange stars encircling it.  It is center stage on our living room coffee table - keep your eye out for it in a future post!