Another $5.00 Find & A Bridal Shower Decoration

Summer is the best time for estate sales. On a rainy day several weeks ago, my mom and I went to an estate sale and grabbed this little table for $5.00.



It was dark walnut with lots of scratches and dings just waiting for a brand new look.



We selected Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Louis Blue and Old White. The legs have beautiful spindles and the little circle appliques on the sides add an extra special touch.



Last summer we went to an estate sale of a former teacher. There was an entire bed covered with new vintage hankies. Hankies must have been the Christmas gift for teachers in the 1950's and 1960's. The designs were so beautiful so we snatched up a huge lot of hankies. We are doing Viva's Vintage Market this Saturday in Sister Bay, Wisconsin and I needed a way to display some of the hankies. I used my daughter's iron dressmaker form jewelry hanger as a starting point. The white metal form was purchased at Hobby Lobby. I selected all of the white hankies with pastel tatting or crocheting and pined about thirty of them around the base of the dressmaker form.

Next, I selected the colorful floral hankies and pinned about the same number around the waist of the form. To accent the waist, I folded a pink hankie with tatting as an apron.



The sleeves are made from three hankies pinned to the shoulders. To finish off the look, I added an antique collar.



Besides being a great display, I thought this idea could be used for a bridal shower and each of the guests could select a hankie to take home. Other party decorations could include, buntings made from other vintage hankies hanging from the trees and I have even used hankies as napkins. Recently I saw a picture of a bride who tied her bouquets with vintage floral hankies. How would you decorate with vintage hankies?

Goodwill Transformation

Awhile back, I spotted this tray at Goodwill for $3.99. It was probably a souvenir someone brought home from Mexico or the Southwest. I loved the scalloped edges and the grayish silver patina. The bottom of the tray had a tinwork design that screamed southwestern decor. Not my taste at all. I didn't know if it would work, but I thought I had a plan.


I used scraps of vintage sheet music left over from another project and I used Mod Podge to adhere the sheet music to the tray. Two coats of mod podge were applied over the sheet music. When the Mod Podge dried, I used three coats of wipe on poly to make it durable. Here it is!


I love the combination of the more yellowed sheet music and the sheet music that has a more creamy background.


I decided to stage my new creation for Valentine's Day. A stone cherub, a vintage silver candlestick, some old millinery flowers, and a vintage valentine are the perfect adornments for tea for two. The creamy Wedgewood cups and saucers are the perfect color on the sheet music background. The napkins are vintage Valentine hankies. This is a great way to use hankies and it adds to the eclectic vintage mix. The demitasse spoons are from my flatware. Can you believe I registered for old silverplate for my wedding? I have always loved old things.


The table cloth is truly a vintage treasure. Excuse the wrinkles as I am a bit hesitant to iron it. Does anyone have suggestions? It is a Turkey Red Damask tablecloth that was never used. When Martha Stewart featured her collection of Turkey Red Damask on her show, I used the Internet to search down Claudia Glassman a vintage textile expert who was a guest on the show and a vintage textile collector and seller. After some emails and phone conversations, I had this wonderful tablecloth in my possession. Claudia told me it was museum quality. Unfortunately Claudia died a few years ago. Needless to say, I only use it for display. I don't think Martha has one like this in her collection!


"Tea for Two". Perfectly romantic!

Would you like to join me for tea?