Won't Stop, Can't Stop

Darlings, you know I can never stop. It isn't the things, but the hunt, that drives me. The thrill of the find! But you all know that, so I am preaching to the hunters. The past week had been pretty long and the week prior I had been traveling, so I was looking forward to some thrift therapy on Saturday. Even though I got a late start, there was still an array of wonderful things. And no matter how full the cupboards are, how stuffed the shelves are or how many things currently live in boxes, there will always be something I can't resist...

Dishes. My weakness. Even though I don't care for the color, I swooned when I spotted these amazing dishes by Ben Seibel for Raymor. I didn't buy them, even though I should have bought them and resold them or something. That just isn't how I thrift, but with the bounty of West Texas thrift, I may have to change my plan.

I loved this chip and dip and candelabra! What a unique, and challenging, serving piece. Late in the evening you would have to be careful not to burn yourself as you reached over the burning candle for some spinach dip.

This Pyrex cheese cracker tray was difficult to pass over, especially with the new cheese knives I recently purchased...

Apparently they always have an array of beautiful glass at Trade-n-Treasures, but Saturday it was even more splendiferous. I found myself thinking of my friend Michael in Chicago and his amazing collection of glass, wondering which of these pieces he would try and carryon if he were visiting? Thoughts?

Faux. You know how much I love faux. And faux shells? Reader, it was so hard not to buy these. I mean, I could find a place for them, of course. And I have been having visions of my a mantle covered in faux shells as my collection grows...but....still...I passed. Sigh.

This punch bowl was more than I want to pay, but a GEORGES BRIARD punch bowl?!? I love Briard and some of us never stopped serving punch, but I would also have to find all new punch cups. And also sell my current bowl, which is quite amazing and on a stand. Having TWO punch bowls is just ridiculous, right? Curiously, the image was printed on the interior, so the signature was reverse.

I did take home this little log planter. We have one or two already, so a small collection. Plus, succulents look very cool planted in them. I couldn't say no.

Lastly, this set of eight owl glasses was hiding on a shelf at Tradarama, covered in dust. Otherwise, the gold was in perfect shape and I couldn't pass them up. I don't really need more glasses that can't go in the dishwasher, but I bought them anyway. Perhaps they'll be a gift for someone else.

After running a few errands, I got home and did few things around the house, including unpacking the finds. After a while, I gathered up my stuff and returned to the store to buy those blasted shells. I couldn't stop thinking about them and was just glad they were still there!

Late Spring/Summer Bar

(A Manic Thrift Store Shopper/bigYELLOWbowl crossover post.)

It's spring, how do you mark that around the house? Some people put different wreaths on their door, others change the clothes on the ducks on the porch, but I mark the changes of the season by changing out the bar ware. I like to think not just about color and motif, but also what kind of drink I might serve and what sort of glasses and accessories I might use.

This bar is my late spring or early summer bar. I have tall glasses for iced drinks, a sailboat themed ice bucket and a blue and white tray. I tried to carry the red and blue throughout the arrangement, balancing it with dark, gray stones and a smoke color drink pitcher. Note the West Virginia blue bird of happiness. This is a family joke I could explain, but it would take all day and probably wouldn't be funny to you. But, to those who play the game, it's worth two points.

I decided I needed something kind of tall and interesting, perhaps white? And what says spring more than a doe and her fawn? These little figurines haven't been out since I set-up house in Terre Haute, so it was nice to bring something new to the bar. The celery dish is Ben Seibel and one of my favorite things. With the exception of the tray, small blue bowls, stir sticks and red olive floaters, this bar is all thrift shopping finds.

So what will I be serving this summer?

Pimm's Cup
Whiskey Sours
Honey Girl Cocktails
Vodka Tonics
Mojitos for a crowd
Dark and Stormy
Something with pineapple and rum

Stop by for a drink...

It's been a while...

...so a whirlwind update. Computer & camera problems (plus life in general) have kept me away from Blogger, but here is a short and sweet update:



In November, we painted the 'front room' (Since I'm living in the South, I enjoy using the phrase to describe the living room/dining room combo which is located at the front of the house.), and in the process had to remove things from the china cabinet. The color we chose is at the edge of the table, and I promise a nice video of the finished product soon. Can you spot Heidi-Anna at the back? And the blue bird of happiness?



As noted before, I love faux and nothing is fauxer than a faux shell. Right? I was delighted to find this smaller ceramic shell which sits nicely next to the giant conch planter I showed you a while back.



Deers, dear! These two lovely deers have a deco feel and a glaze I couldn't resist. It's kind of egg shell and they are part of my latest obsession: white accessories for the front room. I'm not denying it and I don't care what everyone says. I ignored white for a long time, and now I'm making up for it.



Chairs. A simple thing right? Wrong. They are hard to find. Next to impossible. The table is my grandmother's, but she sold the chairs when she moved to Texas. Why? No one knows why. I wanted to use the multicolored plastic Eames chairs in the kitchen, but had to find something to replace them. Something a little more matchy and formal. These are difficult to describe, kind of Asian-ish, but modern too. The upholstery (it's vinyl!) will have to be replaced, but I am loving the black.



Chairs. Sigh.



I tried to resist this Ben Seibel bowl from his Impromptu pattern, but just couldn't. I waited until first markdown at Next-to-New, but then had to snatch it up. Of course, I really needed another bowl. I was running low. You know how that is, right/



Victory! The Nike of Samothrace, to be exact. From the Louvre? Funny Face? It was a treat and looks great on the coffee table. It's made from some sort of resin, but looks pretty close to marble. The little blue object in the foreground is a glass caster in a lovely peacock blue. I found a set of three and they look interesting just piled up one on top of the other.



Cookbooks. More cookbooks. How many do I have? About 230-something. Counting little paperbacks, etc. Old and new. About 230. It could be slightly higher. That's not too many is it? How many do you have? Probably about that many, right?

Keep shopping!