Vintage Oneida Community Milady Silverplate

I am 55 years old, and I have only had two sets of silverware in my lifetime. The first was marked Northland, Made in Japan, a very ornate pattern. The second by Oneida Deluxe. Both stainless.

I was lucky enough last week to find an 8 piece place setting, almost, of Oneida Community Silverplate Milady Floral Deco pattern. According to what I have learned from the internet, this set dates back to the 1940's.

I found 8 table knives, 8 forks, 8 salad forks, 6 teaspoons, 1 sugar spoon, 1 butter knife, a large serving fork, a ladle, and 3 serving spoons (two are stacked), all for $6 in a large baggy.

I am going to have some special tablescapes with this beautiful set! I think I got a great deal!

Happy thrifting!

Silver and Gold Vintage Button Jar Eggs

Remember my button jar Easter eggs?

I used the colored button eggs in my "Easter Suitcase Vignette" (in a collander) and in my "Little Spring Vignette" in a bowl/soapdish in the bathroom, but I still had the silver and gold button eggs that needed display. A small little sliver of the silver egg was visible in my "Vintage Easter Collectibles and an African Violet" post.

I tried to find a way to display them to show off all the neat old metal buttons used in their creation. I put them on a couple of hand mirrors in my bathroom.

Some really neat old buttons went in to the making of these Button Jar Eggs!

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My Cousin's Etsy Shop - Victorian Aunts

A lot of you have commented on or emailed me about how special my old photo of my Victorian great great aunts or great grand aunts is in my recent post. 

I have a distant cousin that has used this special photograph as well in projects in her Etsy Shop.  One of the ladies is her Grandmother. 




If you would like to have a look, check out my links to her shop Home Town Arts:

Easter Bonnets 1  http://www.etsy.com/listing/94979257/easter-bonnets-1

Easter Bonnets 2 http://www.etsy.com/listing/94980302/easter-bonnets-2

Easter Bonnets 3 http://www.etsy.com/listing/94981075/easter-bonnets-3

Easter Bonnets 4 http://www.etsy.com/listing/94981600/easter-bonnets-4

What would life be like today if we women still wore those hats?

Home Goods and Kirkland's

I just got back last night from a trip to Twin Cities to see my kids and grandkids. I had my ipad along, so I checked in on my blog periodically only to find a DRASTIC drop in daily pageviews. Was that depressing! I know there was a linky tools problem, but does that explain it all? I have only been blogging since December 6th, and I wasn't sure about seasonal drops in pageviews, or if it was my content. Jump in and tell me!

Anyway, my daughter just moved into a new apartment, and so we stopped and shopped at some home decor stores.

I have never been to Home Goods, but I had saw some of Marty's Home Goods' purchases on "A Stroll Thru Life", so I wanted to check it out. Actually, I had never been to Kirkland's either. While most of the items I purchased were for my daughter's new apartment, I did manage to pick up a few things that you will most likely see turn up in my blog vignettes.

This cute little primitive stool was purchased at Home Goods.

It even had some red paint on it! I love red.

This heavy metal pug figurine was also at Home Goods. He will be added to my pug collection. (My daughter thought he was the homliest thing she ever saw, but I've never met a pug I didn't like)

Yep, that's the face only a pug lover could love!

I picked up this oval tray basket at Target. It has possibilities!

These outdoor terra cotta bunnies are also from Target.

I purchased this greenery wreath and viny, rooty thingy at Kirklands.

I'm not working today so I may have time to whip up a vignette featuring some of these items. I also may go on the lookout for some pussywillows. I think that's probably all that's blooming here up north so far!

An Old Weathered Gray Chair

The weather had been unseasonably warm for the last couple of weeks and shorts, capris, and flip flops were seen all over town. AND of course our snow has all melted. (Not to say we won't get more before spring is here to stay.)

I just returned from a weekend in the Twin Cities, where the leaves are popping out everywhere and the grass is green.

But here in northern Minnesota, we still have brown grass and no leaves, and today is actually a little blustery cold.

Sitting out on my deck is an old weathered chair with a lifeless plant still in it from last summer.

This chair is a neat weathered gray from the elements. It actually looked a lot like the chair in the photo below (minus the wood turning), when it started out it's life as an outdoor chair planter.

After removing the woven seat, adding a chicken wire basket, either moss or a pre-shaped basket liner and soil, it was ready to plant.

I certainly didn't invent or create the idea of planting in the seat of a chair, but I have been doing it for a long time.

I love the gray patina of the wood with the beauty and color of the flowers. It's shabby chic, a perfect blend of contrasts.

Not sure what to plant in my chair this year. Two years ago, it was a yellow surfina petunia and raspberry trailing verbena.

And last year a yellow bidens.

Update: This photo was edited using Courtney @ French Country Cottage's recent tips for Picasa.

It is so fun to plan flower pots and beds! (Even if I can't plant until the middle or end of May.)

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A Little Spring Vignette

My Mom gave me this Royal Copley pitcher a while ago. It matches the vintage coral tile in my bathroom.

I recently found these two pieces at a local consignment shop, Second Act. First, this cute little scalloped bowl/soapdish in the same colors as the Royal Copley pitcher. I am not sure of the maker, but it is marked USA 351, and I am sure it's vintage.

It was perfect for my peachy pink button egg.

This was a great little find too at $2. A glass jar with silk peach and yellow tulips and "pretend" water.

A great little corner display for my vintage tiled bathroom.

Thanks for checking out my little spring vignette!

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