KayteeJanes House

Chalkboard Banner

2012-02-20T16:14:00.002-05:00

I recently made this chalkboard banner. It combines the versitility of a chalkboard with a banner. You can erase it and rewrite something new.

Here are instructions for making it:

I found these Chipboard book kits at Michaels. I believe it was in the $ bin. Any chipboard or wood shape will work.

Paint the boards with chalkboard paint.

Once the paint is dry, I "seasoned" each board with chalk. I've always heard that you should do this on a brand new chalkboard so the first thing you write on the board doesn't make a permanent mark.

Rub each chalkboard with some chalk and then erase.

I found this chalk marker. It writes like a paint pen but when it dries it looks like chalk. It can be erased. It is not as dusty as regular chalk.

Write your letters.

Thread a ribbon through the holes on the top of the banner for hanging.

Use and re-use again and again!

KayteeJane

More Finds

2012-02-15T19:40:00.000-05:00

More finds from the flea market.

I found this neat cookbook there. I paid $1. It is a picture cookbook.

I am planning on tearing it apart and framing some of the pages. I will try to sell them this summer at the flea market. Here are few.

I also bought a few vintage necklaces and an embroidered doily.

Here I am wearing one of the necklaces.

I love going to the flea market!

KayteeJane

Checking one off the list

2012-02-14T19:01:00.001-05:00

A few weeks back I posted about vintage items that I was putting on my junk wish list. Well hubby surprised me this Valentine's Day with one of the things on my list. Purchased on ebay.

In the picture the dots look red but they are orange. We found out that this bowl was part of a nested set with a large green polka dot bowl, yellow medium/large polka dot bowl, medium blue polka dot bowl (which I already have) and this small orange polka dot bowl. So now I need to be on the look out for the green and yellow ones to complete the set.

Thanks honey!

KayteeJane

Love Notes

2012-02-09T19:54:00.000-05:00

My daughters left me some sweet love notes lately. Both were total surprises.

I found this one yesterday by accident. I wasn't even sure which one of the girls left it for me. It was kept a secret for 5 days.

Leave someone you love a surprise love note and make their day!

KayteeJane

Saturday Finds

2012-02-04T13:45:00.002-05:00

I hit my first indoor flea market for the year this morning. I bought a few things. I found this box of unused wine and liquor bottle labels. The seller was anxious to get rid of them. He sold me the entire box for $5. There are 100's of labels. He said he used to work for the LCB and aquired them through his work.

I like old ephemera and vintage advertising. I thought these were kind of neat. They could be framed as a group and hung on the wall. I bet someone who collects wine or has a home bar might like them to decorate with.

I think I am going to sell these by the piece or in small groups on either etsy or ebay. Whatever doesn't sell online I will sell this summer at the fleatique.

Here are some highlights:

More of my finds next time.

KayteeJane

Hanging Heart

2012-02-02T19:49:00.002-05:00

I am participating in the Heart to Heart Swap over at Sarah's. Here is what I made for the swap.

A hanging 3-D heart made from book pages.

Here are the instructions if you would like to make one for yourself.

I hope you will try one. They really are pretty hanging in a window or from a shelf.

KayteeJane

Linking up to Cowgirl Up! link party - click the link below to visit.

Antique Cups

2012-01-31T20:35:00.000-05:00

For Valentine's Day I put out my small collection of pink antique cups.

I love these next two that have a sentiment written on them. My favorite is "love the giver".

It is fun to have a cup of coffee in a beautiful antique cup.

KayteeJane

Fun Saturday

2012-01-29T19:59:00.002-05:00

Warning, this post is not about junk or collecting. Please indulge me as I share a trip to one of my favorite places on earth, The Strip District in Pittsburgh. Since there haven't been many estate sales or flea markets lately, this is the next best thing on a Saturday morning.

If you aren't from Pittsburgh, "the Strip" is a historic market place set in downtown Pittsburgh across several city blocks.

Here are some highlights.

A trip to Wholey's Fish Market.

Checking out the lobster tank

the fish market

Waiting in line as our order of fried clams, smelts & shrimp is made (while the kids snack on fresh-baked bread sticks from the bread bakery next door)

The reward!

Digging in!

Check out this array of pastries being sold on the street

A trip to Pennsylvania Macaroni Company to wait in line for cheese. The smell in here transports me back to my Grandmother's kitchen. The best place on earth in my mind.

Self-serve olive oil

Such a fun way to spend a Saturday.

Back to junk & collecting tomorrow!

KayteeJane

Birds

2012-01-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

I love these vintage pottery birds. I have this collection on display in a small cabinet.

Added in are vintage post cards, flower frogs, nests, flash cards & small books.

Happy Bird Watching

KayteeJane

Cocktail Stirrers

2012-01-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Since I don't drink many cocktails, I'm using these fun plastic stirrers as coffee stirrers.

If you believe in being "green" these are great. You can wash them and reuse them.

I bought them all this past summer at a yard sale. The person who owned them before me must have drank a lot of cocktails to have so many.

Another neat thing from the past.

KayteeJane

Junk Wish List

2012-01-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

Some people make lists in January to mark their resolutions. I like to make a list every year of those things I'm looking to find while out junk hunting.

Every year my list changes.

Some things on the list are constant - like Scrabble games. I always buy these games when I see them because I use the letters in craft projects.

Other things come off the list as my taste's change or as I acquire things.

Don't get me wrong, I don't carry a list around with me while shopping at yard sales. My motto always will be - if it speaks to you go for it. Instead I use lists to help me focus my hunts and remember those things that I saw somewhere online and would love to have for myself. Really it is just fun for me to think about and then record those things that I would love to find while treasure hunting.

Here is what is on the list for 2012. Subject to change :)

All images are from Pinterest. I created a board called "What I Am Looking For". I invite you to follow my board if you want to see what I add as the year goes on. Or maybe you could start your own board.

Pink Pyrex - Cinderella Bowls

I blew it on this one. I saw these at a flea market last summer priced around $40 - which is a total steal for these. I hesitated because I was trying to conserve money. My mistake because when I went back for them they were long gone.

Orange Polka Dot Pyrex.

I've never even seen these in person! I want them!

Pink Bottle Brush Trees

I love bottle brush trees but don't currently have any pink.

Store Displays
I love vintage store displays. I snatch them up whenever I see them and can afford them.

A Vintage Bike
I've been looking for a cool vintage bike for years. Way before they started selling repros at Walmart. I always wanted to park it in my front yard, add a basket, fill it with flowers and just leave it there.

Let's hope that I can find one or all of these items on my wish list!

KayteeJane

Jars of Thread

2012-01-23T18:15:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite display pieces - jars of colored thread.

I love the beautiful colors. Each spool is different. These pictures don't fully capture their beauty. I don't have these on display in my craft room but in my living room.

These are showcased in an old glass battery jar - another favorite piece of mine.

All the spools are wood. They are made by various manufacturers.

Even though I sew, I would never dream of actually using these. I like them too much.

Is there any collection that you have that would be pretty displayed in a glass jar?

KayteeJane

Breakfast for Dinner

2012-01-20T18:44:00.000-05:00

Tonight for dinner I made breakfast. I am tired from working all week and need something easy. It also seems to suit on a cold, snowy night when staying in beats going out.

Home fries cooking in a cast iron skillet.

A well-seasoned cast iron skillet is the best non-stick skillet there is hands down. This skillet has been in use for years and has obtained the perfect "seasoning".

Hubby looks for cast iron at yard sales and flea markets but seldom finds any. When he does they don't come cheap - they hold their value and rightly so.

Greasy Bacon - the real, pork variety - which I prefer to cook on an electric griddle.

Then, as the bacon is cooking all I can think about is how much bacon grease is getting on my Pyrex! (That is the down fall of open shelving)

But it is all worth it in the end when I sink my teeth into my yummy "breakfast".

Enjoy!

KayteeJane

Tree Quilt

2012-01-18T08:00:00.005-05:00

I love quilts. Vintage scrap quilts are my favorite. I wanted to share my tree quilt with you. I put it on my bed during the winter.

It isn't vintage but it is handmade. It was bought at a quilt auction about 10 years ago. Someone lovingly made it with a great selection of colorful plaid fabrics.

Here are some of my favorite trees.

Wouldn't it be cool if there really were pink pine trees?

KayteeJane

Winter Decorations

2012-01-17T08:00:00.003-05:00

I finally got out my winter decorations. You've seen some of these before.

Old books with a winter theme.

A milk glass plate decorated with a page out of a children's book.

My small collection of maple syrup bottles.

An old photo graph

My star picture holder is used to display a pair of child's mittens, a flash card and a crocheted pot holder, which I threw in because of it's soft blue color.

I love changing out my collections according to the seasons. I never grow tired of them that way.

KayteeJane

I'm linking this post up to Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground.

Stop over and visit to see some beautiful displays and inspiration!

Winter Love

2012-01-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

Call me crazy, but I love Winter.

Here are just a few of the reasons why...

Delicious clementines,

Paper Snowflakes

A cozy chair and a blanket for reading The Word - or any other good book.

And plenty of my favorite drink - coffee. Lots and lots of hot, delicious coffee.

What do you enjoy about Winter?

KayteeJane

Charm Bracelet

2012-01-15T16:38:00.000-05:00

I love charm bracelets. I own a few, both vintage and new. I love to give a new charm bracelet with one "starter" charm as a gift at a baby shower or wedding shower. The recipient can add charms over the years to mark milestones.

This is my "Winter Charm Bracelet". I found it several years ago at an antique store. The charms are an ice skate, some hearts, a flower of the month charm for January and a cupid. I think it is a child's bracelet because it isn't very wide. Lucky for me that I have small wrists.

These bracelets don't ever go out of style. Keep your eyes peeled for vintage bracelets that come already outfitted with charms or start your own keepsake bracelet today.

KayteeJane

Pie Safe

2012-01-14T15:52:00.000-05:00

Here is the cupboard/pie safe that I bought last week. It is just sitting in my dining room right now in it's temporary home. Once the weather warms up I will be painting it and changing the fabric on the doors. I'm thinking either burlap or a vintage fabric.

Here is the inside. This is the reason that I bought it - lots and lots of storage.

When it is finished, you will be the first to see it's new look.

KayteeJane

Mantle Display

2012-01-11T18:00:00.001-05:00

Hubby took over the mantle display. I guess I can't really say much as he does live here too after all. Lots and lots of trains.

Fresh and New

2012-01-08T21:08:00.002-05:00

The Christmas stuff is put away and I'm ready for the freshness & newness that January brings.

The other day I stopped at a local antique mall and came home with these. They were only $2. I'm kind of on a white kick right now.

There is just something that attracted me to them. For several years now I've been drawn to romantic creams & whites. Maybe this will be the year that I take the plunge and paint all of my rooms in that palette. Here is a shelf in my family room devoted to a collection of black, cream & white.

I even bought my new iPhone in white.

On that same trip to the antique mall I bought this cute kerchief. No, it isn't white, but oh so vintage & cute. It reminds me of "Rosy the Riveter". I think I'll wear it this summer while out thrifting. My daughter was gracious enough to model it for you. She looks so much better in it than I do!

Then today, while working at the antique store where I have a booth, I caved and bought myself another primitive country cupboard/pie safe. I have sort of an addiction to them. It is painted a sort of ugly burgany color. I intend to fix that problem straight away by painting it what else...but creamy white. Pics to come soon!

Hope your new year has started out fresh too!

KayteeJane

I'm sharing this post at Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday.

Christmas Around the House

2011-12-22T15:53:00.002-05:00

This year's decorations. Mostly Vintage.

My white feather tree that sits in my dining room. This tree holds my antique ornaments.

Vintage manger made in Italy.

A Christmas present one year from my husband. Found on Craigslist.

Dime-store manger made of cardboard

A miniature feather tree with small glass ornaments

My beloved collection of Putz houses.

The first pic is to show them all together across the mantle.

More houses and bottle brush trees. These trees are ones that I embellished. The large red tree and the white trees were bleached and then dyed and then glitter and ornaments were added.

Vintage Elfs - waiting to be hidden on Christmas Eve.

The family tree

A most-cherished ceramic tree made by my Grandma Kate and given to me.

Silver Angels

The front porch

Thanks for stopping to take the tour.

Wishing you a Christmas filled with Joy, Peace and Love.

God's Blessings to You and Yours

KayteeJane

I'm sharing this post at:

Common Ground - Vintage Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home

2508 - Potpourri Friday

Check out all of the beautiful Christmas displays.

Gift Baskets...with a vintage touch

2011-12-20T09:00:00.004-05:00

When out at flea markets and yard sales I often find cute vintage things at very inexpensive prices. This makes it hard for me to walk away - even if at the time I don't have a specific purpose for said item. Case in point - these cute little syrup containers.

(The one with the red lid is my favorite :)) I think I paid about 25 cents for each of these.

Later an idea came to mind to add them to some gift baskets I was making for my daughter's teachers.

The theme of the basket is pancakes, so these were added in for a cute vintage touch.

The basket liner is a napkin. I bought 2 of these napkins at a thrift store. Cotton napkins and vintage linens are usually very inexpensive when you find them at yard sales and second-hand shops. They make great "green" gift wrap that can be reused by the recipient.

I found this little cutie at the Goodwill recently. It is a cut-glass creamer. I really liked it and just couldn't leave it behind so it came home with me. I decided to add it to this gift basket I made for a friend. I tucked a linen dishtowel inside the creamer. Of course that was thrifted too.

These little items are so very inexpensive but they add a nice touch to your gifts. All year long be on the look out for treasures that you can store away until you are ready to give someone a gift.

Some other ideas for using vintage treasures:

A vintage coffee canister filled with Keurig K-cups or a bag of Starbucks coffee.

Vintage salt & pepper shakers filled with homemade popcorn seasoning or cinnamon sugar.

A lovely antique tea cup and a box of herbal tea.

A glass cake plate with a homemade cake on top.

A silver spoon tied to a jar of homemade preserves.

The ideas are endless.

Happy Gift Giving!

KayteeJane

Vintage Cookie Cutter Garland

2011-12-19T14:24:00.001-05:00

I made this garland a few years back when I wanted a fresh way to display my collection of vintage Christmas cookie cutters.

This year I hung the garland in my kitchen from the open shelving. A few years ago the garland hung across a window.

It was very simple to make. I took an old Christmas sheet (or you could use fabric or an old tablecloth) and cut some long strips for the garland. Then I ripped smaller strips of fabric to hang the cutters with. I chose to rip the smaller pieces of fabric because I like a tattered/rustic look, but you could just as easily cut them neatly with scissors.

I alternated aluminum cookie cutters with the clear plastic red ones. Each one is tied from the handle.

When I get tired of displaying them this way I can untie the cookie cutters and they are as good as new!

Sharing this link at Ivy and Elephants Whats It Wednesday

KayteeJane

Vintage Kitchen Cannisters for Christmas

2011-12-09T16:03:00.002-05:00

I had some old cannisters hanging around and came up with this cute idea to repurpose them.

Before these became Christmas decorations I tried to sell them at a few yard sales. I pretty much couldn't give them away. I guess nobody appreciates their vintage charm like I do :)

Anyway, I like their new look now better than I did before.

Remember these - bought at the thrift for a quarter each?

Hubby rewired each candle and drilled a hole in the back of the cannister for the wire to feed through.

I like this one made from an old candy tin. It is decorated with silver and blue vintage balls.

This one is decorated with pine cones, candy canes and red and gold balls. I originally bought this cannister and a smaller one for 10 cents at a yard sale.

Who prices stuff like that?

I think they turned out pretty cute, if I don't say so myself!

I'm linking this post to Common Ground for their Vintage Inspiration Friday.
Stop over to view lots of Vintage Christmas eye candy.

KayteeJane

Homemade Ornaments

2011-12-03T11:45:00.000-05:00

Here are some ornaments that I made using vintage/recycled materials.

Clothespin Angels

These were made using old clothespins, burlap, sheet music & silver pipe cleaners.

Some of these were sold at a craft show. Seems like people liked the ones with the sheet music better than the ones without. The sheet music came from an old hymnal.

Hoop Ornaments

These were made with needlepoint hoops that I bought at the thrift store. I look for these when I am out thrifting. The smaller sized hoops make the best ornaments.

I gathered up some fabric scraps that I had. You could also use vintage fabrics from old quilts, tablecloths & doilies for these.

I chose to use this bird fabric for some of the ornaments. I love things with birds on them.

I added glitter to the front by using spray adhesive and then sprinkling fine white/translucent glitter over the face of the ornament to resemble frost. These pictures don't show the glitter very well. I tied a twine ribbon to the top.

A vintage-look Christmas fabric was used for some of the ornaments.

There were made using muslin, black paint & foam stamps.

Rustic Stockings

To make these I started with a bag of toddler-sized socks from Dollar General. I tea-dyed the socks to make them look old. After dying them I ironed them with starch. Using scissors I roughed them up a bit by cutting some holes in the toes & heels and also making snags in the material. Glitter was glued to the front of each sock.

I added pine garland, shredded ledger paper and a candy cane to the inside of each sock. I glued a paper saying onto the front.

Instead of using a metal ornament hanger for these I hung them on the tree using an old clothspin. I think these would be very cute hanging from twine strung across a window or mantle.

I hope you have been inspired to try making some of your own ornaments using materials that you may already have on hand.

Happy Decorating!
KayteeJane

Colored Lights

2011-11-28T07:57:00.000-05:00

Here are those glass light bulbs I bought at the thrift store this weekend.

I found some old jars that I wasn't using and put them in for a colorful display.

I think it sort of looks like candy!

Thrift Store Black Friday

2011-11-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

Instead of going to the Mall on Black Friday, I went to the thrift stores.

I spent under $20 and came home with some great vintage Christmas stuff.

These, and several more packs just like them, came from my favorite thrift store. They are headed for resale at an upcoming craft show and then the antique mall. I might add something to them. I will be sure to show you pics when they are finished.

"old school" electric candles. 25 cents each. These will be used in some craft projects.

A bag of large colored lights. These will be going in a jar for display.

Some great vintage Christmas pins for on coats and hats this season.

The Salvation Army store I went to had a Black Friday special - everything in the store 50% off the marked price. These guys ended up being $1 each. They are going on my front porch.

You wouldn't believe the bargains on Christmas decorations that I saw at the thrift stores. Artificial pine garland for 50 cents, holiday dishes, artificial trees, ornaments and more - all very resonably priced. If you haven't decorated yet or you need to buy some things for your displays, consider the thrift stores. You will get something at a reasonable price, save the planet because you are buying used, and most importantly, your money will go to charity.

The Thanksgiving decorations are put away and I'm working on Christmas now. I hope to share my decorations and some fun crafts and gift ideas soon.

Please stop back.

KayteeJane

Estate Sale Finds

2011-11-12T16:43:00.000-05:00

Here is what I found at an Estate Sale this morning - and all for $18.

Some lace trimmed hankies, and 2 embroidered silk pillow cases

"retro" linen dish towels

My favorite find of the sale - 2 vintage hat stands

Some old games to use in craft projects

A metal Whitmans Candy box

2 linen tablecloths

Ticking stripe pillow

a box of wooden thread spools - to be used in a craft project to be shown to you soon

A box of bottle brush trees - also to be used in a craft project.

It has been a rather bleek estate sale season around here. This sale brought back the faith that there are still some good sales to be found!

KayteeJane

Thanksgiving Decorations

2011-11-07T18:48:00.000-05:00

I love to decorate for all of the holidays. Here is what is out for Thanksgiving.

Kitchen shelves.
The great thing about open shelving in your kitchen is you can change what is on display according to color, holiday, season, whatever! It can be lots of fun.

These metal trays are one of my favorite vintage collections. I love the bright colors. I was lucky enough to find all three with leaf designs. Each of these were found at different places over several years. Collecting is fun like that. You find something you love and then from there on out you are on the lookout for another to add to the collection. When you find another it is a happy day!

Turkey Plates:
I found these English transferware plates at a yard sale. They aren't old but I really like them. Vintage cookie cutters, an Anchor Hocking apple & a turkey candle are part of the display this year.

These old spice tins were found at a barn sale for $1 each. I think they make great Thanksgiving decorations for the kitchen.

This vintage chocolate box was bought last Thanksgiving at an antique store in Virginia.

This tin is a new addition - yesterday to be exact! Bought at Goodwill. I like the brown and tan leaves. It is not very old, but I love the graphics. It cost $1.99.

I like to use old flower frogs to display cards, photos and other small paper items around the house. This is a recipe from my Grandma's recipe box written in her own handwriting. Grandma is with the Lord now, but when I look at this recipe I feel like I am still in her kitchen learning how to bake.

These old candles were my mom's when I was growing up. Another fun reminder from my childhood.

Some old post cards and an old (politically incorrect) flash card.

I love Thanksgiving!

KayteeJane

Autumn Chex Mix

2011-10-23T19:28:00.000-04:00

Serve this yummy snack at your Halloween or Harvest party - or make some just to snack on :).

Autumn Chex Mix

Ingredients:
4 1/2 cups Corn Chex
4 1/2 cups Rice Chex
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 bags of candy corn
5 cups of bite-size pretzels
Non-stick cooking spray

Directions:
In a large bowl place cereals. In a seperate bowl melt butter in microwave. Add brown sugar & corn syrup to melted butter and stir. Add baking soda and stir until dissolved. Pour this over the cereal and stir until cereal is coated with butter/sugar mixture.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cover a baking sheet with foil and then spray with non-stick cooking spray. Pour cereal mixture onto sheet in a thin layer. Bake for 10 minutes or until brown and crispy. Remove from the oven and cool.

Once cereal is cool remove it from the baking tray and put it back into a large bowl. Some pieces may be stuck together. Just break these up with your hands. Add the pretzels and candy corn. Mix it up. Done!

I made some for party favors. I put the mix in canning jars, topped the jars with fabric and gave them away.

Enjoy!
KayteeJane

More Autumn Displays

2011-10-17T18:15:00.000-04:00

As promised here are some more Autumn displays showing around the house.

This is an old calendar dishtowel from 1971. I bought it because I was born in October of that year. Wouldn't this make a great birthday gift for someone - a vintage towel from their birthyear?

I don't use it as a dishtowel but instead just hang it out on display as part of my seasonal decorations.

I decided to move all of my yellow pottery to one area. The squirrel pottery is added each Autumn and then gets put away for the rest of the year.

I changed out my bright colored Pyrex on the kitchen shelves to show the ones that have autumn colors.

A Chrysanthemum glass takes center stage.

Outside my little garden cart displays pumpkins & gourds.

Isn't this a cute idea? Find a triangular shaped piece of wood and paint it to look like candy corn. This was made for me by my friend Meghan.

These were painted at a farm where we bought our pumpkins this year. The artist drew the faces with Sharpie marker and then filled in with paint. Cute!

Have a great day!

KayteeJane

Spooky Cabinet Cards

2011-10-14T09:14:00.000-04:00

Halloween Decorations continue...

I saw this idea in an antique store last year and just had to copy it. Take antique cabinet card photos and embellish them. You can usually find these for sale in antique stores for around $1 - $2 each. I'm sure some people would scoff that I use the original photograph and not a copy - but I feel like I am giving these "orphans" new life! Now each year they will have a place of honor as part of my display. Otherwise they would be sitting unnoticed in someone's attic or store gathering dust.

If you don't have any old photos to use search online for digital copies to print.

A family is transformed into "wicked" witches.

I really like this one. I cut a ghost out of vellum and placed it behind his back. Look for photos with black mats - these are great for Halloween.

This photo was already stained and faded when I bought it. Look for ones that are already browned & rough around the edges - they make the best "spooky" looks. To give your copies or better condition photos that effect use a dark brown ink pad to add staining.

How fun would this idea be if you copied pictures of your actual ancestors and embellished them? I might try that in the future.

On a side note...yesterday I posted a pic of a children's book called "The Crows of Pearblossom". Colleen asked what year it was published. The year was 1967. Thank you Colleen for calling attention to this book and the author Aldous Huxley - who also wrote Brave New World. I didn't realize that until you mentioned it. How cool!

Have a great day!
KayteeJane

Halloween Decorations

2011-10-13T14:39:00.000-04:00

I finally got my Halloween/Fall decorations out. I'm embarassed to admit this but it took me an entire day to put this stuff out. Shuffling items from one shelf to another to make room for holiday decorations can be time consuming! Makes me question the point of it all...but that subject is not one for a blog about collecting!

For Halloween this year I gathered from around the house several things that are black to use as the backdrop for my holiday items. Today I am showing off what is on my living room mantle. Look around your house and use items that you already have. Things liks old cameras, suit cases, old bottles, black shoes, typewriters, old letters, black & white photos and interesting books with spooky titles would make great decorations.

Here is what I came up with.

I have been collecting these dime store plastic pumpkins for a few years. I don't know how old they are but something about them makes me smile. The one with the hat was bought this past weekend at an auction along with some other junk in a box for $2.

To make the Jack O Lantern sign I spray painted 2 Scrabble Game letter holders black and then added Anagram & Scrabble letters to form the word. Keep an eye out at garage sales & rummage sales for old games. They have awesome graphics that look cool on display.

An old pair of children's shoes & a black typewriter add to the "black" theme.

This little owl wears a witches hat - both items found for pennies while junk hunting.

Old clocks set to Midnight!

I like how my collection of old cameras looks. I'm thinking this display needs some fake spider webs draped over it.

I found this cute children's book about crows at our library's book sale some time ago and thought it would look nice as part of a Halloween theme. When decorating for holidays use unexpected things - like a kid's book - as part of your display.

More to show tomorrow. It is great to be back to the blog!

KayteeJane

Short Break

2011-10-05T16:02:00.001-04:00

I will be taking a short break from blogging because my computer is currently out of commission!

The i key stopped working last week and as a result I had to send my laptop out for service. Hopefully it will be fixed and good as new within a week.

Thanks for your patience. I miss you all and can't wait to share with you my vintage Fall decorations and some craft projects I've been up to. Please stop back!

Until then,

KayteeJane

The Yellow Playhouse

2011-09-28T16:19:00.000-04:00

When I was a little girl I was so envious of another girl who lived on my street. You see, she had a cool little playhouse in her backyard that was painted pink and sported a dutch door. Although I grew up pretty spoiled - we even had a pool - I always longed for a playhouse. What little girl doesn't?

When I became a mom to two little girls of my own, I thought about that playhouse again. My husband promised me that he would build our girls one. It seemed like such a huge undertaking to build one from scratch and years went by and we never seemed to have the money or time to start it. Both girls worked their way through elementary school and still no playhouse. We decided that we had better get that playhouse built or the girls would be too "old" to enjoy it.

Finally last summer the playhouse became a reality.

Take a look from start to finish.

The framework

This is what it looked like with almost everything on the exterior finished and painted. The color is the same yellow as our house.

We gave it the house number 610 1/2 because our real address is 610.

A little porch light. It actually works.

All lit up at night.

Of course the inside is just as cute as the outside. I made sure to fill it with some vintage dishes and decor found at yard sales. What fun! Maybe I'll post some pics some time.

I think once the girls are done using it I may just move in myself.

KayteeJane

And the Winner Is...

2011-09-13T08:00:00.004-04:00

Thank you to all who entered my Vintage Purse giveaway! I really enjoyed reading your comments...they truly made me smile. Sometimes when doing a blog you wonder if anyone is actually reading it or cares about what you are posting. Reading the comments that you have left has inspired me and keeps me doing this! I wish that I had a purse for each one of you sweet ladies and friends.

Wendy will be receiving this cute little plaque with her purse also.

It was found in a thrift store in Berkley Springs, WV.

I love what Louann said in her comment regarding giving the purse away..."if you are giving one away a new one is bound to find you!"

I believe that to be true always - when you give something away you always get something back in return! Hopefully it will be something vintage!

Have a great day!

KayteeJane

Enjoy the Small Things

2011-09-12T08:00:00.007-04:00

For some reason I am drawn to small-sized objects. I have a printers tray hanging on my wall where I display interesting, tiny things.

When I find small things that are interesting I add them to the tray. To me this is what makes decorating a home fun...and personal. When you come to my house you will see all sorts of things out on shelves and on display - I put out those items and treasures that are a part of my journey - things that I find unque or that mean something to me and my life.

Here are some you would see if you came to visit...

A metal "Bob Pin" holder. I love how Bobby Pins were once sold in a metal case.

Miniature Bibles.

I wonder who decided what scriptures would make the cut and which ones wouldn't?

A very small clothespin.

A tiny doll with a crocheted dress. She is no bigger than the size of a quarter.

I wonder if someone hand-stitched her outfit?

I also have a pottery bowl that sits on a shelf that is filled with keys and other "what nots". I bet many of you have something similar in your home - either in a drawer or out on display.

Here is what is in there - a pink dart, a compass, old keys, a hole punch, a bottle cap, another clothespin and some dice.

My daughter Hannah loves to touch and play with this stuff.

Who needs toys when you can play make-believe with old keys and other junk?

I also like to collect things with our family initial.

What small things do you collect?

I challenge you to bring these things out and put them on display.

Enjoy those small momentos and trinkets that you've collected over the years.

KayteeJane

PS: Today is the last day to enter the Vintage Purse giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, go to this post and leave a comment before midnight tonight. Thanks and good luck.

Cursive Writing

2011-09-11T12:58:00.000-04:00

When I was a child I remember being taught cursive writing in elementary school. Although it was tedious and a little boring to learn, I'm so glad that I know how to do it. Sadly, this is something that students don't spend much time learning anymore. If it is taught, it is given a low priority after all the other subjects that our kids need to know. I'm wondering if at some point cursive writing will just be a thing of the past.

I found 2 of these antique school books from 1896 at an antique store.

These books show how important good penmanship was 100 years ago.

The student who used them inscribed on the cover - "Finished Friday March 27th, 1896"

This was back in the day when cursive writing was your calling card - done with ink and a metal quill pen (another collection that I have).

Take a look at these beautiful pages. I am sharing some of my favorites.

Letter C - Control your temper.

Letter L - Let your light shine.

Letter J - Join in the chorus

Letter U - Unspoken words do no harm.

Letter Z - Your last page must be best. (I guess they couldn't come up with a good sentence beginning with Z. No matter. This is a great advice.)

I love how moral values were taught along with the writing!

Let's keep cursive writing alive and well.

Go and write someone a letter in your best penmanship!

Until next time,

KayteeJane

Vintage Purses

2011-09-05T20:28:00.002-04:00

I love purses. New purses, old purses, it doesn't matter. Here are some vintage purses.

Tan box shaped purse

Awesome black and red velvet purse. This is a favorite. A gift from my friend Cindy.

Navy blue crochet clutch purse with a plastic handle

Love this child's wicker basket purse - can't you see this being worn on Easter?

A tiny metal coin purse.

The penny is there to give you an idea of the size of this purse

Another velvet beauty. This one has perfect colors for fall. (also from Cindy)

Love the butterscotch satin interior

This particular post marks my 102nd posting.
In honor of surpassing 100 posts I am doing a give away.
I am offering to one lucky reader the great vintage purse show above & below along with a vintage (never used) hanky to go inside.

(This is sort of a sacrifice as I really like this purse - but I like my readers more!)

This purse is soft embossed velvet with a brass closure & leather handle.
It has a tan background with gold, olive green & dark red flowers & leaves.

This is the hanky - with a hand-crocheted butterfly & border in yellow & brown thread. Neatly pressed & never used.
I don't know about you but I love carrying a cloth hanky in my purse.

To Enter:

Leave me a comment on this post.

When you leave your comment please make sure that I have a way to contact you if you are the winner.
If you are commenting using a Google Account please check the "follow up comments to your email" box...or leave your comment using your name and blog/website URL.

Please tell your friends or mention this contest on one of your blog posts.

I would surely appreciate it :)

The contest closes Monday September 12th - so please enter by then.

I will choose the winner randomly.

Speaking of blogs - one of my favorite blogs about collecting is Colleen's FreshVintage blog. Colleen has such a humorous way of writing about all of her awesome vintage finds.

I have followed her for a few years now and I am never sorry that I stopped to visit. I love her taste in vintage advertising, typewriters, industrial furniture & games. Recently Colleen was nice enough to mention my blog on this post.

Please stop by and say KayteeJane sent you!

Until Next Time,

KayteeJane

Enjoying the Last Days of Summer

2011-08-29T17:57:00.001-04:00

Hi Friends,

I apologize for not posting for several days :) I am an elementary school teacher and the end of August is always hectic so I haven't had much time for blogging. Thank you to those of you who keep checking in!

Anyhoo...Here are some of the goodies that I've found lately while out at the sales. This past weekend was a better weekend than I've had recently in the way of finding good vintage "junk".

This is my favorite find of recent weeks. It is a child-size shopping cart. This isn't a toy but an actual commercial grade cart made by a manufacturer that makes adult-size carts for grocery stores. This was used in an actual grocery store in my area where the young shoppers could push their own cart through the store just like mom and dad. My kids love it and have enjoyed playing "store" with it. Guess how much I paid for it? Only $3! You know all you moms out there are jealous! (Thanks Stacy - wink! wink!)

I also found this great vintage milk-glass spice set.

It was priced $1. I kid you not! The jars still had spices in them. All the paper labels are perfect.

Hubby and the kids went yard saleing on their own a few weeks back and bought me some treasures. Here is what they found for me.

This tiny metal Fineline eraser box - with the erasers still inside. This is to add to my vintage school supply collection. Actual size about 2" across. They paid $1.

This little pottery bowl set. They paid 75 cents.

A "Big Ben" alarm clock. Price = 50 cents

And this cast-iron match holder. I left the price tag on for the picture.

Didn't they do well? They got some great treasures and for so little money.

If you want to see what other yard sale shoppers in blog land found this weekend I'm also sharing HERE at Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday.

I've been doing some cooking lately since there are so many delicious vegetables available from the garden right now.

I thought I'd take a small departure from my collections to share with you two recipes that we made this past week.

Mexican Salsa

Ingredients:

Using a knife cut up into small pieces:

6-8 ripe red tomatoes

1 onion - I used a purple onion

2 jalapeno peppers - remove the seeds (I recommend wearing rubber gloves when doing this so that your hands don't get pepper oil on them which can burn your eyes and mouth for several days after handling the pepper.)

also add:

1 cup of finely chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

the juice of 1 lime

3 cloves of minced garlic - or more to your liking

salt & pepper to taste

Serve with tortilla chips. Yum! - Whatever you don't eat store in the refrigerator. Good for up to a week.

Homemade Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

Olive Oil

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups diced potatoes

2 cups fresh green beans - cut into small pieces

4 cups chopped fresh tomatoes

2 cups of corn - cut off the cob

3 celery stalks - chopped into small pieces

1 onion - diced

minced fresh parsley - about 1/2 cup

minced garlic - about 3 cloves

salt & pepper to taste

In a large stock pot cover the bottom of the pan with olive oil. Cook onions, celery & garlic until soft. Add all remaining vegetables & parsley. Add chicken broth. Cook on a low simmer for around 1 hour or until vegetables are soft. Add salt & pepper to taste. Serve with your favorite bread!

I hope you get a chance to enjoy the last days of summer too by hitting a yard sale or two or by cooking up some delicious, healthy, homemade food using the season's bounty.

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon.

KayteeJane

A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You

2011-08-18T08:00:00.005-04:00

Back in February I posted about my favorite book from my childhood Love Is A Special Way of Feeling by Joan Walsh Anglund. That post continues to be one of the more popular posts that I've done.

Recently at a church sale I found another of Joan's awesome books. I am awed by her talent. This one is as charming as the one I shared earlier. It was originally published in 1958 and is as relevant today as it must have been then.

It is titled A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You.

I will not be keeping this one. It is a birthday gift for my dear "sister" Cindy. Today is her birthday. So before I let this gem go I wanted to share this special book with you all so that you could enjoy it too and to thank all of you "friends" out there in blogland who have come along with me on this journey by visiting with me here.

I invite you to read along with me. You won't be disappointed.

Isn't that just lovely? I dedicate it to all of my friends...and you know who you are...who have stood beside me these past months with love. I love all of you.

Thank you Joan!

KayteeJane

One Person's Trash...

2011-08-17T11:21:00.000-04:00

You have all heard the saying "one person's trash is another's treasure". I wanted to share with you today some of the great things that I have found in people's trash. No, I am not too proud to pick out of the trash. My husband and I used to make a fun game of it. We would buckle up our young daughter Gaby in the seat between us in our 2 door pick up truck and head out on garbage day looking for "rusty gold". When we would see something good we would hum the song to "Sanford and Son" as our congratulations anthem. There were so many times when we would be low on cash in our bank account and then stumble upon something neat that we could sell online for cash or scrap the metal for cash. God really provided for us during those times in a way that some may find weird but we found fun. I wish I could show you pictures of the cool things that I didn't keep but sold. So many awesome things which included...a vintage Howdy Doody marionette, an antique child's doll-sized steamer trunk, train things, antique furniture, collectible hotel keys, and the list goes on.

What you see here are some of the things that I kept. All of this was found over several years - not all at once. I haven't found anything in the trash this year at all. Some years you find so many things you can't believe what people are throwing away and other years you find nothing. It is all part of the hunt.

I begin with my MOST FAVORITE FIND of all time - probably my most favorite item that I own, this old glider. If you know me then you know that I love this thing. I once worried that someone would steal it off our porch and my husband burst out laughing. He said "No one is going to steal that!". To me it is as precious as fine jewels....what can I say I have a junk collector's heart!

These came with it!!!

A great vintage World War II era print called "Serving the Nation" by Dean Cornwell which shows Uncle Sam alongside a train carrying military amunition and a steel mill in the background.

I saw this piece of furniture in the trash one afternoon while out walking in my neighborhood. I called my hubby on his cell phone and asked him if he would ride over ASAP and load it into his truck. He was able to leave work and come over and get it for me....how is that for devotion??

You've seen these before. They are sitting on my front porch. The croquet set and the primitive bench were both out in the trash.

This last one I hesitated to include because to show it will reveal to the world my mess of a basement. Oh well - this is life. This piece is super-cool. It is a metal frame of shelves that hold vintage metal wire baskets. Maybe it was once used in an old store? Not sure, but I am keeping it because I know I will always find a use for it somewhere. Right now it hold toys that my kids aren't playing with.

Have you ever found anything cool in the trash? I would love to hear about it. Please leave me a comment and let me know about your treasures.

KayteeJane

Pillow Talk

2011-08-12T12:47:00.000-04:00

I had a burst of creative energy yesterday so I decided to stitch up some pillows that have been on the "to do" list for several years. (yes years!)

Union Jack Pillow -

I have always wanted one of those Union Jack pillows made so beautifully by Shabby Chic. I love all things British so I decided to try and make one myself and I love how it turned out.

I started with the traditional red & blue colors.

Here is the finished pillow. I wanted the stripes to be "ragged" so their edges are frayed. I've had that rhinestone crown pin for years and thought this was the perfect use for it.

I think I may try to make another one of these using muted colors like taupe & white.

I've also collected vintage seed & flour sacks for years with the intention of making pillows out of them. Here are some of the ones I've collected that were finally made into pillows last night.

Here is what they look like as pillows.

I have also saved several vintage embroidered items that I love with the hope of making them into something useful someday. There are only so many doilies you can put on your tabletops.

Here is the embroidered dishtowel I found at the flea market last month made into a cute little pillow. I think this would be cute in a baby's room.

This vintage laundry bag is too small to use for actual laundry. I decided to fill it and stitch it closed. I kept the loop handles on the top for a cute touch. I love how the girl is hanging up cute undies on the line.

I didn't have to spend any money to finish these pillows. All of this was made with materials that I had on hand just waiting to be used. The fiber fill for inside the pillows came from some ugly old couch pillows from a couch that I don't even own any more. I remembered that I had the pillows stored in my attic. I cut them open and used the filling inside. It was in perfect shape. Love when I don't have to give JoAnn any more of my cash!

On a sad note my old Kenmore sewing machine bit the dust last night. It was a Christmas present from my parents one year when I was in college. Now I'm on the look out for one to buy at a yard sale.

Thanks for stopping today to see my projects!

KayteeJane

Lisa's House

2011-08-09T11:24:00.000-04:00

Join me as I take a tour of one of my dearest friend's home - a place filled with beautiful furniture and antiques! I love to come here and stroll through the rooms, taking in all the beautiful vignettes and lovely collections. Lisa and I don't get to see one another often but when we do it feels as though we have just picked up where we left off. Do you have any girlfriends like that? When we met for the first time years ago I think we knew instantly that we were destined to be friends. We affectionatly call each other "kindred spirits" and that is what she is to me.

Lisa's Family Room is home to this awesome antique farm table and tall step-back cupboard.

A lovely powder room for guests with a hand-painted sink bowl from Mexico.

Lisa's home has several antique cupboards, each filled with a different collection.

The Dining Room

The Living Room

Kitchen

Fun touches like beveled mirrors & chandeleirs make this room special.

Lisa has exquisite taste. Around her home she has a collection of beautiful vintage art hanging on every wall. Here are just a few....

Three-Sided Holy picture

Lisa stitched these "Told in a Garden" cross-stitch motif's herself.

The outside of the home is just as pretty as the inside.

Here are some of the beautiful gardens.

Truthfully my photos do not do this home justice. It is so much prettier in person.

Thank you dear Lisa for allowing us to visit. Hoping to come back real soon :)

KayteeJane

Yard Sale Slump

2011-08-01T14:25:00.001-04:00

This weekend we went to 3 Estate Sales and a few Yard Sales and I didn't buy anything - you heard me correctly....not one thing! That has to be a record for me. I guess it is a good thing because finances are tight right now for us so I really don't need to be buying anything anyway. Sales overall this year have been disapointing. I'm not sure what the reason is. Maybe I am getting very discriminating in what I buy or people just aren't parting with things the way they did a few years ago. Or, it might have simply been the heat. Who knows?

I did go to a church rummage sale and I found a few things there. My daughters scored some great toys for cheap - which made the trip worthwhile. I bought these two primitive antique tool boxes there. I like them but I must confess, I am listing them right now on ebay. I'm hoping to parlay my small investment into some cash. We will see. If they don't sell I can always find a use for these great containers.

Because I don't have much to show today from this weekend's sales, I thought I would share some more collections on display right now in my house.

Currently on my mantle is an assortment of summer stuff that I've collected over the years. I've mentioned before that I love to collect for holidays and seasons and change out my mantle display accordingly. I store all the off season items in rubber totes in my basement.

Here are some of my beach-themed things:

Shell boxes, an Engish cookie tin & a Room For Rent sign.

Shell box souvenirs are one of my favorite things to look for while I am thrifting.

This lighthouse painting is paint-by-numbers. I think I paid a $1 for it at a sale somewhere. The post card is from Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania. That is one of our family's favorite vacation spots.

I always love to have fresh flowers around the house. I am fortunate to have some hydrangrea bushes which supply lots of flowers for cutting. The vase is an old milk bottle bought at a yard sale for 50 cents. Thrifty Tip - Look for interesting glass containers at yard sales when they are priced very low. When I find these I save them and then later when I want to give someone a bouquet of flowers I always have a pretty vase on hand. These types of containers are much cheaper and more beautiful that those you would buy at the flower shop, grocery store or the dollar store. Look for cut glass vases, milk bottles and old blue/green glass canning jars. The container becomes part of the gift!

My daughter's birthday was this past week. When someone in our family is having a birthday I display these vintage birthday items around the house too.

A few years ago I found an entire bag of vintage greeting cards in someone's garbage. (Yes, I have been known to pick the garbage for something old and unique. I promise to share some good garbage picking stories here sometime in the future :)) Anyway, here are some of the cute children's birthday cards that were in the lot.

This one is interactive. You turn a dial to reveal the message written on the chalkboard.

This one depicts the era - 1950's maybe? Cowboys and Indians ruled the day for little boys.

This is my sweet daughter's birthday cake. She loves mermaids. I made this cake for her and I am very happy with the way it turned out. That cake decorating class I took at JoAnn Fabrics way back when really comes in handy from time to time.

Thanks for stopping today!

KayteeJane

Summer Scenes

2011-07-26T19:37:00.001-04:00

As you know I love to collect things and have many themed collections around the house. Some that I have shared here are my collections of heart shaped rocks, hose nozzles, gardening stuff & vintage school supplies.

Here are some of my favorite things that just say summer to me.

Strawberry table cloth

A berry picking basket

Strawberry jam pot

A soda pop bottle holds the first zinnia cut from my garden this year.
Love that vibrant orange color.

I love my metal porch furniture! Picnic anyone?

Brewing Sun Tea on the side porch

Old paper ice cream carton & some green glass dishes make a cute display in the kitchen.

Porcelein coffee pot decorated with cherries

Stop over at Privet & Holly to see some other great collections from bloggers near & far and to read a great post about collecting.
I joined the collection show & tell party there too.

Enjoy this beautiful summer day!

KayteeJane

Selling Some Treasures

2011-07-23T19:39:00.002-04:00

Hi All!

From time to time I decide to clean out around the house to make room for new treasures. I have decided to add a page to my blog where I will list things for sale. Some of these may be items that I have previously shown on the blog and some not. I hope to update this page often as things sell and I find new things to replace the old.

To see what is for sale click on the tab at the top of the page that says
"Stuff for Sale". That will take you to a new page with items that I am parting with. If you have any questions you can always reach me by email or leave me a comment.

Thanks!

KayteeJane

More Flea Market Fun

2011-07-21T10:18:00.002-04:00

Here are some things that I found at the flea market this weekend.

More Vintage Pyrex. I'm beginning to think I may need an intervention here. Not sure of the pattern name. I already used these to make cucumber salad.

Some cute coffee containers. Since I LOVE my coffee, I buy these when I see them. I love the Sanka jar. It still has coffee in it! It says "Lets You Sleep" - that cracks me up :)

At one of the booths at the flea-tique a vendor had a box of silverware she was selling 2 for $1.00. I dug through the box and came up with this neat baby spoon.

It is inscribed with someone's birthdate I assume.

A great use for these small silver spoons is to attach them to a jar of homemade jelly or preserves. Small butter knives work great for this too. When I see them for sale I usually buy a few and save them to use on a gift later.

My friend Cindy bought me these metal children's cups and saucers at the same flea market. She saw me looking at them and then bought them for me when I walked away. How sweet :) It is so great to have friends who "get you".

This vintage woman's bonnet came from the same vendor. She only charged me a $1.00 for it. I think I will just hang it on a pretty hanger and display it in my bedroom. I can't imagine wearing something like this back in the day. I just love the blue & red patterened fabric. Sometimes you just buy something because you like it and for no other reason or purpose. You can figure that out later :)

This is one of my favorite finds of the day - an old store display sign from a G.C. Murphy store. You may remember the other one that my husband purchased for me on ebay. The possibilities for this are endless - I may use it to display photos, messages or on my table at a special party.

I bought all of these children's hangers for $1.00 too. $1.00 seems to be my lucky number this week! I love vintage children's things - as if you couldn't tell already. I'm in love with the pastel colors and animals - especially the scottie dogs & roosters. These make great baby shower gifts with a new dress or outfit hanging from them.

I like to use these to hang vintage dresses which I display around the house.

This is similar to a dress that I wore when I was a kid. I tried to get my daughter to wear it once but she wasn't impressed with the 1970's design. LOL

I bought this sock stretcher/form this past weekend at a yard sale. Not sure where I will hang it in the house yet. It is made of galvanized metal. It goes well with the hands that I posted about previously. I will probably hang them all together.

Lastly, I bought this sweet embroidered dish towel from the same vendor where I found the silverware, bonnet and tea cups. I am going to sew it into a pillow.

Love the hand-stitching.

Here's to flea marketing! Make a point to go to at least one this summer before they are gone for the year...You never know what treasure you may find.

KayteeJane

Flea Market Fun

2011-07-19T20:33:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite flea markets in Pittsburgh is the Allegheny-Kiski Historical Society's Flea-Tique which is held on the 3rd Sunday of every month at the Tour-Ed Mine in Tarentum, Pennysylvania. This is where I began my collecting adventures over 20 years ago as a teenager.

Here is the family posing for a pic this past Sunday. The two ladies in hats have been coming here every summer for those 20 years and they have both been instrumental in influencing me and teaching me about collecting and antiques. The lady in the hat with sunglasses on is my Mom Diane and the other lady is her friend Beth.

My tastes have changed over the years, but I never leave this place empty handed and this past Sunday was no expection. Here is one of the neat things I bought there and it only cost $1.

This cute little metal toy stove was found at this nice vendor's booth. I had to ask her if I was reading the tag correctly and she said "yes, it is $1". Turns out she didn't think it was worth much because it has some rust and the oven door doesn't close.

I also saw these neat metal signs from an old store for sale at a different booth. I thought they would be great for my kitchen. Hubby said "no!" so I passed. Maybe he will make me a copy of these at work (he works at a sign company). One can hope.

Here is what I decided to do with the cute little stove. It is now my kitchen "message center".

An opening on the stove-top holds pens.

The oven door that won't close is perfect for holding sheets of note paper.

The metal body holds holds messages with a magnet.

To me this is reusing & recycling and its best. This cutie would also work great holding plants on your porch or on your desk holding post-its and other supplies.

I got some other great items at the flea market in addition to the little stove. Stop back tomorrow and I will share them with you :)

KayteeJane

S'mores on the Grill

2011-07-16T20:49:00.000-04:00

Try this easy way to make S'mores on your grill.

I used the large "Jumbo" marshmallows.

Place a piece of foil on your grill. Don't forget this step or you will have a gooey mess.

Put the marshmallows on the foil - leaving about 2 inches between each marshmallow.

Light the grill, close the lid and let the marshmallows get hot. I kept checking the marshmallows to see if they were ready. It took my grill about 10 minutes on medium heat until they were nice and melted.

They are ready!

Lift each marshmallow off the foil carefully.

The bottom of the marshmallow is toasted nice and brown.

Place the hot marshmallow on top of the chocolate and graham cracker.

Yum!

Faith Wreath

2011-07-10T11:56:00.000-04:00

I arrived home yesterday to find this lovely wreath waiting for me on my front porch.

A completely unexpected surprise.

It was made by my friend Alexis.

It perfectly matches my house and porch - which are yellow.

She lovingly cut hundreds of squares of yellow fabric and attached them to a wreath base.

The word Faith - a perfect adornment for my wreath.

Something I couldn't live without.

Thank you so much Alexis. I love my wreath and I love you too :)

May YOU be blessed with wonderful friends and unexpected surprises!

KayteeJane

Charming Chinese Planters

2011-07-07T15:19:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to go to a flea market. My husband spied these planters on the ground on a blanket as we were passing through the aisles. I have never seen vintage planters in this theme before. I love the muted greens, yellows and pinks - which point to their vintage age.

There are 4 different designs.

Sometimes I ask the seller where they found the items that they are selling so that I can learn something about the history or origin. In this case the seller told me that these planters had belonged to her Mother-in-Law who had collected asian-themed items all of her life. Often family and friends had given her gifts, like these planters, to add to her collection. This explains why there was a group of 4 different designs.

These planters are useful in other occupations besides holding plants. They would be cute on your desk as a container for pens or business cards, or in your craft room to hold buttons or other small items.

I'm not sure if I will keep all of these or not. If you are interested in any of them, let me know as I would consider parting with a few.

Thanks for stopping today!
KayteeJane

Vintage Pins

2011-07-06T08:54:00.001-04:00

I was looking through my jewelry box and began thinking about new ways to wear the vintage pins I've collected over the years.

How about pinning them to your flip flops? These pins elevate my Old Navy flips a few notches.

My kids got in the action too.

Pins are a beautiful embellishment to an updo hairstyle. After the style is complete, just fasten the pin to the hair and lock the clasp.

Vintage pins can be found in antique stores and at flea markets for very reasonable prices. They make great gifts too.

KayteeJane

10 Yard Sale Tips

2011-07-05T10:08:00.000-04:00

Are you thinking of having a yard sale this summer?

Here are 10 of my tips for hosting a successful yard sale...from someone who is a yard sale junkie!

1. ADVERTISE - to generate good traffic to your sale you definitely need to advertise. If you are going to advertise your sale in print - like in a local newspaper or in the Pennysaver - you will need to do this about 2 weeks in advance due to printing lead times. My favorite way to advertise for a yard sale is on Craigslist. It is free and it attracts a large audience. About a week before the sale date begin posting ads. Take some pictures of some of the things you will be selling and include these in the ad. If you have some antiques to sell, mention these in your description. If you have toys and baby clothes, mention it. This helps the buyer to know if your sale is for them. Don't forget to include your complete address so that people can program it into their GPS. I can't tell you how many ads I've seen on line where the address was incomplete or missing. Treat your yard sale like a business and list it accordingly. You may also want to include your phone number or email address so that potential shoppers can contact you with questions.

2. PRICE THINGS - I know this seems like a lot of work, but I truly believe that this helps your bottom line. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I go to a sale and nothing is priced. If I am interested in an item I have to find the seller and then inquire as to how much an item costs. Sometimes I will pass on buying something because the seller is busy with other customers and I don't want to wait around. Take the work from the buyer and put a price on things. This gives the buyer a general idea how much you want for something and then they can decide if they want to buy it or make an offer. Another reason this is good for you is that you are prepared when buyers come. You don't want to be put on the spot about a price and then sell a $30 item for a dollar because you weren't prepared. Buyers will bargain with you. Be prepared for that. It is expected behavior at this type of sale. Don't be offended or take it personally when they low-ball you. Price your items in advance and be prepared. When they come at you with an offer you will be ready by knowing in advance how much you were expecting to get. It is ok to counteroffer or to just say "no" if you think a buyer's offer is too low.

3. START EARLY - Have you ever heard the saying "The early bird gets the worm"? Well it applies to yard sales too. Serious collectors and yard salers start early. A reasonable time to start a yard sale is 8:00 a.m. If you start later than that you may miss potential customers who have moved on to other sales in the area that begin before yours did. Remember that people only have so much money and time to devote to shopping so be available to them when they are ready to buy.

4. SIGNS - Make sure your yard sale is easy to find by placing signs on major roadways leading people to your sale. Use arrows and make your signs easy to read. I love those signs printed on bright paper that I can see from a distance down the road. You don't need to do anything fancy. Buy some bright or florescent poster board and a black marker from the dollar store. Make it easy on the driver by thinking like they think and post arrow signs as if you are from out of town and don't know where you are going. I have followed arrow signs for miles looking for a potential yard sale. When your sale is over, be a good neighbor and go back and remove your old signs :)

5. OFFER A "FREE" BOX. If you have "dead" merchandise or small items that aren't worth any money, put them in a box marked "free". You can get rid of a lot of unwanted stuff this way and you will make people happy in the process. Everyone loves a good deal or getting something for free. At my sales I like to put out a box of old magazines for free. People love rummaging through the box and I get rid of clutter in the process. If you are hosting a sale where you are selling a lot of kid's merchandise, consider putting out a "free" box for the kids to look through while the parents are shopping. This gives the moms and dads some time to look and it makes the kids happy in the process. As a mom I know my kids have a ton of fast-food toys and dollar store items sitting around that could easily fill a box. Also, I think that when you are generous and kind to people it always comes back to you in some form or another!

6. CHOOSE A WEEKEND CLOSE TO PAYDAY - when deciding which weekend to host your sale consider one after a payday. It is common sense that people will spend more when they have more to spend. Many people get paid the 1st and 15th of the month so consider having your yard sale on the Friday or Saturday following these days. Holidays are also good times to host yard sales. Memorial Day is one of the best yard sale weekends of the year. Also consider events happening in your town. If lots of people are expected in your area for an event and you live on the road leading there, you may consider having your sale on this day when you will get lots of out-of-town traffic.

7. INVITE YOUR NEIGHBORS - If you are considering having a yard sale think about making it a "neighborhood sale". The more sales there are, the more people will come. Yard sale junkies like myself look for a group of sales in one area. This will sometimes be the deciding factor for me as to whether or not I will make the drive to a particular area. As a buyer I figure I will have more of a chance to find something I like if there are more sales to hit. This can also be a great way to save advertising money. If a group of people on your street do a sale together you can share the cost of advertising. Your advertising budget will go farther when more people participate.

8. NO EBAY TALK - This is one of my husband Mark's biggest pet peeves...people who think they are going to get the same price for their item that they would possibly get on ebay. Be realistic in your expectations about how much you can charge for your items. A yard sale is a place to sell things reasonably and inexpensive, not to get rich selling your Grandma's rare antiques. If you have something rare and valuable, don't sell it at your yard sale! You will not get the price you want. Yard sale shoppers are looking for a deal and typically won't pay retail for anything. I have been to several yard sales lately where people go to ebay and print out a copy of an auction for the same thing they are selling at their yard sale. They place the paper copy on top of the item for sale to show the buyer what price this item is selling for online. This is tacky in my opinion and when I see this I keep walking - no matter how much I may want to buy an item. Ebay is a global market place with millions of shoppers daily. When selling online sellers can command a higher price. If your item can sell for that much on ebay, why not sell it there! Enough said.

9. NICE DISPLAYS - Think like a customer. If you would buy it, then they will too. You will get more money for an item that is clean and displayed nicely than you will if your items look like they are headed for the trash heap. Set up your sale like a department store and watch people spend money. Would you want to buy something if it was dirty and stained? If your items are dirty, you will need to mark them very cheap - so that people won't mind cleaning them up when they get home. Think like a shopper and put things out that have been wiped clean, priced and are easy to look at. Group like items together. Putting a group of linens or purses in a box and then pricing the box - $1.00 each - is a great way to sell. I also like to use tables with table cloths covering them to display breakables and other items. Some funeral homes and churches will lend out tables, so consider contacting these businesses in your area to borrow tables for a day if you don't own any. If you just can't use tables, spread a blanket or sheet on the ground and put your items on display this way.

10. BE FRIENDLY - You won't get rich from having a yard sale, but you can make some extra cash, so have a good attitude or stay home! When people come to your sale, say "hello" and greet them. Don't be grumpy or you should just pack up your items and donate them to charity. Hosting a yard sale is a great way to meet people and have fun. Make it a social event by selling coffee and cookies too. When I host a sale I always enjoy talking with people and observing what they buy and what they are interested in. Have fun with it! If it isn't fun for you, don't do it.

Hope you enjoyed all of my tips. Let me know your personal tips and thoughts by leaving me a comment.

Happy Yard Saleing!

KayteeJane