The Sweetest Things

I LOVE VALENTINE'S DAY! I think it might be my favorite holiday of them all. Maybe it's just the color scheme, I don't know. I love February too, probably mostly because it contains Valentine's Day. So last night I sought out some lovely things to get me into the red, white, and pink (lavender, orange and turquoise are welcome too) mood.

♡,

Erin 

Growing Gifts

I hope everyone in the States had an excellent Thanksgiving yesterday. We are in Illinois for the long weekend. We had a traditional turkey dinner yesterday with Greg's family and today we're on to a beef roast with mine. Monday I think I will be on to some sort of in-between-holiday detox and workout regimen. As today is Black Friday, tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday will be here before we know it, I wanted to share the paperwhite forcing gift sets I put into Little Green Vintage earlier in the week. 

I have two single bulb sets in these lovely silver goblets. Just the perfect size to snug the bulb in with just a bit of room below for water. They are engraved "Gene & Shirley 10-1-83", probably wedding favors once upon a time, and come tied off with vintage red and blue taffeta bows. 

I also have one three bulb set in this frosted Diamond Point pattern Indiana Glass compote, finished with a big bow of vintage silver ribbon and polished creamy colored river rocks for nestling the bulbs in.

All sets come gift wrapped. (And I'll soon have a gift wrapping option with the same basic materials available for everything else in the shop too, should you want to gift any of the other vintage goodies I've got on offer.) Inside a lidded gift box, vintage dictionary and silver tissue shred keep things padded and safe (compote will be bubbled and wrapped in tissue for extra protection). Bulbs are wrapped in tissue and tied up with twine and forcing instructions.  

Gift then comes wrapped in silver tissue and embellished with jute twine, green and white sparkle-infused baker's twine, a silver chenille stem star, white gift tag, and sprig of fresh cedar. 

All right, it's official, I've got the spirit. Bring on the rest of the holly-days!

♡,

Erin

A Little Tribute

Last night when I should have been getting off to bed, as I got up and went to the gym way to early this morning (for reasons that are still not clear even to me), I made this treasury instead. Still not giving up on the autumnal palette, but getting a bit closer to embracing the big to-do of next month. Making plans!


♡,


Erin

Vintage, Vintage Everywhere

Finally, here are the goodies we scooped up at the estate sale I mentioned oh so long ago. I am up to my ears in finds that I need to scrub up, inventory, photo, and list in The Little Green Vintage Shop.

Isn't this baby beautiful? I'm pretty sure that all it needs is good cleaning and a new ribbon (or two, I think there's a button to switch colors). 

All of the keys seem to work just fine, no sticking at all, and the return too, and it still makes that satisfying ding when you reach the end of the line. 

I think it's early 20s. I've currently got two other typewriters as well that I found at garage sales this summer, both a bit newer than this one by a few decades. One is a script typewriter that works just perfectly (even the ribbon is a-ok) and the other has got a few sticky keys and needs a ribbon. I am debating as to whether or not to sell them as is or find a place to get them all serviced and in working order first. Or do the latter and then just have the start of my own typewriter collection. Hmmmmm.   

This gem had been relegated to the garage, apparently it had long ago become too unfashionable to keep the bread. But I daresay its chrome-plated loveliness has come full circle as far as the looks department goes.

I picked up some polish yesterday and I think with a little elbow grease it would look right at home in today's modern stainless-filled kitchen. Or whatever room one might have things to keep tucked away out of sight inside something shiny.

These coasters are a keeper. I already have a set just like them but with pewter rims. The more the merrier.

I keep picturing this basket with one half full of peaches and the other full of blackberries. In keeping with the season.

Perhaps in a couple of months jammed full of yarn, a couple of needles, and the latest project. And I don't even knit. Yet.

It too was out in the garage, with a couple of odd nuts and bolts in it. Now ready for a new purpose.

Speaking of cooler weather, how's about a little Stewart plaid?

Oh, Scotland. I'll be back soon, I promise. (Our honeymoon destination. Hopefully I'll show you in the near future.)

And finally, one gorgeous chenille bedspread. I know you always see bits cut from these, but this one is in nearly absolutely, if not absolutely, perfect condition, so it will be remaining intact. As I mentioned, I first stopped into the sale Friday, but decided to wait on getting anything and go back Saturday afternoon when everything was half price. The one thing I missed out on that I really wanted was another all-white chenille spread. I don't remember if it was wedding ring pattern too or something different, but it was in equally fabulous condition. It would be adorning our bed now, but alas, I suppose that's the risk one takes in trying to get the best bargain.

Well, I am planning to do some chores, get a little exercise, and then spend the rest of the day working towards getting new things into Little Green Vintage. (While enjoying having the windows open for the first time since I don't remember when, as it seems the heat wave is finally over, hooray!) So watch for those items above I haven't indicated I plan to be selfish with, plus many more, coming soon. I am also still working towards a new line of handmade/upcycled items, hopefully in time for the holiday season, if not sooner.

In other news, we've half gutted the previously finished side of our basement, and my Dad arrives tomorrow to help in beginning its rehabilitation. I will do my best to still be a good blogger though.

♡,

Erin

Show Time

I am doing my very first show tomorrow and it's just occurred to me that it might be a good idea to let you know. I will be at Treasures on the Green, downtown Worthington from 9-4. If you by chance happen to be in the greater Columbus, OH area, please come by and say hello! The fabulous Worthington Farmer's Market will of course be going on too, from 9-12. I will be on the southeast quadrant of the village green with my back to Dublin-Granville Rd. I've accumulated a lot more goodies than just what's in my Etsy shop at the moment. I'll be taking my shop down here in a bit and will have it back up next week and will be adding new stuff all the time, I promise! In fact I am on the verge of expanding my offerings to include some handmade things with a vintage twist. Thus the slight name-change on my new card (above). 

New cards are the 2x2" square option from UPrinting.com, which I first saw and liked the looks of here over at the Merriweather Council. I do like my results overall, although, as those with the critical eye can see, the cut was a bit off, resulting in my images and text not quite being centered. But I let them know about it and a fresh batch is on the way.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

♡,

Erin

Have you met Mollie?

So I mentioned I am addicted to magazines. Well, I've added another to my must-have-every-issue list. I discovered Mollie Makes at the bookstore a few weeks ago while there picking up my other international must-have-every-issue read (introduce you to it soon). Mollie Makes is published in the UK, so it's a bit pricey here, but if you're into any or all of the below, it's worth every penny. And it seems each issue is to come with a little craft kit. How great is that? 

I managed to come in on the very first issue (which feels really good as I somehow seem to always be late to discover neat things) and then earlier this week I stopped in to check and see if perhaps the next issue of either this or my other bookstore buy was out, and was just in time to snag the last copy of the second issue. And it's as good as the first!

I was delighted to see All the Luck in the World, of which you already know I'm smitten, featured. 

And will you look at that lovely tea towel on the right there! The editors have excellent taste! But seriously, it's great to discover new wonderful things one loves in mags, but it also feels good to see the shops and items one already loves too. Quite validating. 

There are projects galore. I'm in need of a pin cushion as I plan to kick my sewing hobby up a notch (from 0 to at least 1. But I've just done a project! and I'll show you soon).

I hope I get around to learning knitting/crochet before granny squares are granny again. I do like the look quite a lot at the moment. 

And there are inspiring people and interiors too.

Yessiree, that is a full piano cozy. Love the eccentricity of the idea. (And that deer-head light.)

Whatever the topic, pretty well every spread is pure eye candy.

Mollie Makes is available by subscription nearly everywhere. And for us in the US, though it may seem a staggering sum, I did the math, and a subscription is slightly cheaper than the cover price. I am still considering whether or not to bite the bullet. Maybe as a birthday present to myself.

Do try to check it out though, it really captures the Etsy, craft-y, vintage-y, blog-y vibe sweeping around right now. And as someone trying to really embrace that culture and especially work harder on her crafty-ness, I find Mollie quite inspiring.

♡,

Erin  

Of All the Luck

A little while back I ordered a set of six postcards of vintage embroideries from Etsy shop All the Luck in the World to add some color and texture to the walls of our spare bedroom. When I got the outer wrapping off I found the inner one was almost too pretty to open! This might win loveliest Etsy item packaging received to date!

But alas, I had to get at the contents. So very in love with fiber arts right now, old and new.

I initially framed them up, but wasn't liking the look. Then a little lightbulb came on. I remembered I'd picked up this washi tape, and decided to put two and two together.

But before the result, I've been trying to hit the garage sales hard lately, both to find things for Little Green Vintage and to finish furnishing and decorating our own abode (I plan to start sharing my fresh picked finds here very soon), and last week I scored this sweet little table to act as a nightstand for the spare room. The bed sits pretty high and it's just right, just enough taller than your average occasional table. I thought I would paint it, then I strung up the feathers(/inadvertent cat toy) and suddenly I am quite happy with it just the way it is.

So for a little splash of color right above,

up went the postcards. 

Cheery and bright. The postcards and the tape. My first foray into washi taping and I'm pleased as punch. Sticks when you want it to and off it comes cleanly when you want that.

Do check out All the Luck in the World on Etsy. And proprietor Jane has a beautiful blog too: http://blog.alltheluckintheworld.nl/

I'll be sharing more of our house too as I do and add odds and ends, nudging it along to "finished" (ok, we all know never really, but closer to equilibrium).

♡,

Erin

Poms and Peonies

Last fall I ordered a small bunch of tissue paper pom kits from Etsy shop PomLove. Well as it turns out, I just got around to opening the box they came in, fluffing up three of the summerier colors I chose, then hanging them up in the front window about a month ago.

I am really in love with the current trend of incorporating celebratory decor into everyday decor. Buntings, garlands, pompoms, fairy lights, bring them on! In a world that seems to be full of bad news, I think the continuous sense of cheer they bring is much needed.

And the same could be said for flowers, whether growing outdoors or cut and brought inside. I am sooooo excited for the first time in years to have peony bushes in the yard. I always meant to plant a couple at our last house, but never got around to it. These beauties burst into bloom yesterday, and I immediately snipped a few. I took the pic on the left above this morning, and when I came back around a couple of hours later the subject had completely popped open (right). A natural pompom!

Sitting here at the table I keep getting whiffs of them blown on the breeze. ♥

And a couple shots of those left out in the yard (for now!).

♡,

Erin