Perfectly Imperfect - Embracing the Chipped, Worn and Tarnished

Sometimes Imperfect is Pure Perfection

 Chipped, worn, tarnished, and scratched -
think of it as adding character and personality and forget about polishing or repainting.

Here's to embracing our imperfections!

Very worn silver ice bucket - I'll take it.

Does my rusty old fan work - who knows since I'm scared to plug it in - images of fingers flying!

Sit at your own risk -- but it's the perfect plant stand.

Worn antique spoons

Chipped paint doesn't make me love this landscape any less.

When I spotted this cobweb ridden typewriter table in the garage at an estate sale, it said, "Kelly, save me!", so I did!

Glad I rescued this horse from the glue factory!

The original hardware holes add charm to this mirror.

The Rico Suave of gnomes, this little guy spices up my garden. 

So when you spot a broken down and battered treasure, look past the lack of makeup and perfume
 and you'll find it's perfectly perfect just the way it is.

I don't want you to miss out on my witty (in my own mind) posts so I hope you'll consider following me either through Facebook, Google Friend Connect, RSS Feed, Email, Pinterest or the new Linky Follower (see top of sidebar for options).

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Monday

I'll be joining The Nester to flaunt my imperfections!

Get Outta My Head Please - Between Naps on the Porch - The Delectable Home
Tuesday:
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Saturday
Funky Junk Interiors 

Perfectly Imperfect - Embracing the Chipped, Worn and Tarnished

Sometimes Imperfect is Pure Perfection

 Chipped, worn, tarnished, and scratched - think of it as adding character and personality
and forget about polishing or repainting.

Here's to embracing our imperfections!

Very worn silver ice bucket - I'll take it.

Does my rusty old fan work - who knows since I'm scared to plug it in - images of fingers flying!

Sit at your own risk -- but it's the perfect plant stand.

Worn antique spoons

Chipped paint doesn't make me love this landscape any less.

When I spotted this cobweb ridden typewriter table in the garage at an estate sale, it said, "Kelly, save me!", so I did!

Glad I saved this horse from the glue factory!

The original hardware holes add charm to this mirror.

The Rico Suave of gnomes, this little guy spices up my garden. 

So when you spot a broken down and battered treasure, look past the lack of makeup and perfume
 and you'll find it's perfectly perfect just the way it is.

I don't want you to miss out on my witty (in my own mind) posts so I hope you'll consider following me either through Facebook, Google Friend Connect, RSS Feed, Email, Pinterest or the new Linky Follower (see top of sidebar for options).

Follow My Blog!

Click here to follow this blog and view my other followers...

Good Fortune, Repurposed Find and a Festive Cocktail

Symbols of good fortune in the Chinese New Year include oranges and tangerines (good health & long life); tangerines with leaves intact (long lasting relationships; fruitful and multiply as in having children); persimmons (happiness and wealth).

I have a set of twins so obviously I prohibit tangerines in my home!  Instead, I decided to raid my fridge for anything orange and came up with grapefruits and clementines.  

I snagged this huge old paper cutter at a store closing sale (found some other great stuff that I'll share soon).  My first thought was that it would make a great cheese board (don't ask me why I think this way).

First, I tied the slicer down with twine since I don't want to be responsible for anybody losing a digit at my house!  Now it sits proudly on my kitchen counter just waiting to hold the object of the week.

Two milk glass bowls from my collection were taken from their usual home in the dining room hutch and now hold the fruit.  A few sprigs of rosemary add color and smell fab!

The grapefruit are not only great to display - they make one heck of a yummy cocktail!  The Cielo Rosso (Italian for Red Sky) is my cocktail of the moment (but that could change at any time!).  When I read it won the Las Vegas competition called Shake it Up: The Battle of the Mixologists, I had to whip it up!  It has a festive red color which makes it perfect around the holidays (or any time as far as I'm concerned)!  It involves lots of squeezing but it's so worth it!  I will definitely be making this for New Year's Eve!  

Cielo Rosso

1 ounce Campari
2 ounces SKYY Infusions Citrus (I use plain vodka)
2 ounces Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
1 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
1 ounce Simple Syrup (combine equal parts water and sugar, boil until dissolved, cool)
Fresh Basil

Shake ingredients with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and a fresh basil leaf.


I usually quadruple (or more!) the recipe for parties.  Make a batch in advance and get your party started!

So start rummaging through your house and find something orange to bring good fortune to your New Year!  

Cheers & Happy New Year!

I am lonely and would love for you to follow me!  Either through Facebook (where we party like it's 1999) or Google Friend Connect, a reader or email (check the right sidebar).  I promise it won't hurt!

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Up in Grandma's Attic!

Having to spend six nights at my mom-in-law's house was an experience in too much family togetherness!  No, but really I am thankful that we had somewhere to go when our power was out.  The girls had a great time playing Monopoly (they found a very old one in the attic) and hanging with their Grandma and great aunt.  They live across the street from each other in houses built by hand by their father (The Hubs grandfather) in the late 20's/early '30's and The Hubs grew up on that street.

One thing is for sure, those gals don't seem to get rid of much.  It was like Christmas morn for me as I dug around this treasure trove of old stuff (junk?!) in the attic and basement. Old school desks, galvanized tubs, sleds, metal beds, trunks, deco chests, ornaments, tools, lamps, toys, family photos (including my wedding pic-gee, thanks for shoving me up in the attic Grandma!)... you name it, Grandma saved it.  I even found WWII ration stamps on her kitchen table complete with family names and signatures!  

I want this amazing trunk and these sleds would be great Christmas decorations (although I already have my old one)

Huge galvanized tub was one of two (I already have one!) and industrial light was found by The Hubs when he worked as an Electrician in the summers with his dad back in the day (my hand looks like E.T.!!)

Love the old metal bed (but the legs sticking out from that bag scare me!!). An old school desk and a great winter snow scene shovel.

A great Cosco stepstool (like the blue one I just found!!) and check out this vintage Florida tablecloth.

Loving that elf playing the accordian! Check out the pic of The Hubs in his 70's tennis whites!

I'm not judging - but just sayin'!! Check out the last thing I found! (these are bottles gifted over the last 40 years)!  May have to have a par-tay!

Grandma!! It isn't prohibition anymore. Why are you hiding the booze in your basement?!

I plan to sneak back without The Hubs so I can smuggle all the loot into my house.  He thinks it's junk but I know better (or I'm crazy-haven't quite figured that one out)! 

Favorite Find - Felix the Cat Bottle

Vintage Felix the Cat yarn wrapped bottle - $5. This reminds me of the craft I used to do in girl scouts plus I love Felix (I even had a cat named Felix long before I owned this).  

I will also reluctantly admit that I had a pair of jeans with Felix airbrushed on the front thigh! Well, it was the 80's - ok, early 90's (big hair and all)!!

This Felix sits proudly on my kitchen windowsill.

Do you have a favorite find?  Email us here with a pic, what you paid and why you love.  Let's share the love of all things vintage!

Estate Sale Bargains on Last Day

It's a contradiction.  If you want the best selection, you should go to flea markets and estate sales on the first day.  But if you wait until the last day, there are great bargains to be had. 

My partner in crime, Lisa, told me about an estate sale on Saturday morning but she said she couldn't go.  I ran over there and saw a cool set of vintage bamboo furniture.  We had just found her a bamboo sofa at a yard sale about a month ago and I knew she would love the chairs and ottoman.  I saw some things I liked but left without buying anything. 

Lisa (check out her favorite find) decided to go the next day to see the furniture and I tagged along because there were a few things that were still calling to me (yes, sometimes I hear voices in my head - doesn't everyone?).  While looking at the furniture, a man said, "$50 takes everything".  Yesterday, the sofa, chairs and ottoman alone were four times that!  He even threw in two end tables and a great 1950's kitchen table.  We decided to leave the cushions as they were quite repulsive (think they were filled with heavy horsehair)! 

There was a huge dumpster on the driveway and lots of things that were in the house the day before were now sitting on the front lawn.  I knew if things didn't sell today, they were headed for that dumpster.  In fact, I asked the guy working the sale if they were going to donate the leftovers and he said it was easier to dump everything!  What a waste. 

So, like Sanford and Son, we crammed Lisa's van to nearly bursting and headed home.

Lisa's finds - some new cushions and the furniture will look great on that huge porch!

Usually I say, if you see something you like, grab it immediately.  But in this case, waiting definitely paid off for me too as I got a great 1950's blue metal Cosco chair/stepstool (which I need for reaching my super high kitchen cabinets), a blue metal basket, six old Japanese glass fishing buoys, a wooden shoe last and an old Ouija board for the kids. 

My haul

Stay tuned for the sunroom and kitchen tours where I plan to put some of these finds.   

See What I Found at the VNA Rummage Sale!

I went, I shopped, I scored at the VNA Rummage Sale! (October 7, 8 and 9)

Early this morning, I loaded up my car with a big painters drop cloth, my cart (dorky but necessary), tote bag, water and a snack (read my Flea Market Tips and Tricks page for everything you need to know to come prepared).  I was now ready to scavenge!  Crowds were already wrapped around the tents before the opening.

Long lines before the rummage sale even opened!

First stop, the furniture tent.  They had amazing things but alas, I have no place to put big "stuff".  If only I had a lakeside villa to furnish!  My favorite find of the day was a 70's rattan swing.  It's so cool and already hanging from a tree in my backyard.  Think I'll spray it with a sealer and keep it out during nice weather.  I also snagged a huge blue wooden tool box that fits perfectly on my front porch.

I guess I'll have to rearrange my art again as I found three more paintings. 

Vintage paint by numbers bullfighter, pensive old woman folk piece and another landscape (yes, I collect landscapes too!)

I loaded my first batch of loot into my cart (I told you it was dorky but necessary!) and wheeled it back to my car.  I took my now empty cart to the housewares tent next.  Here, I found an art deco ice bucket (read my first post to see another art deco bucket I found), a nice heavy ashtray that has grooves for both cigars and cigarettes (yes, you guessed it, I am collecting those too and like to use them to hold jewelry), and finally an old corkscrew (yes, am guilty of The Collecting Bug here too)!

Finally, I hit the vintage tent which had a great selection (including a huge clothes and accessories assortment).  My finds here were two crusty old wooden buoys and something I gave to my friend Kate (click Kate's blog) since she loves to bake and I knew it would look fab in her kitchen.  She loved the vintage copper paper towel holder with three engraved compartments each labeled for paper towels, aluminum foil and saran wrap.  I forgot to take a pic in my rush to give it to her - hopefully she'll send me a pic of it hanging in her kitchen.

Old wooden buoys look great outside

Some more fun pics to share of the amazing assortment at the sale. 

Whew!  I headed home a happy (but exhausted) gal!

If Loving Junk is Wrong, I Don't Want to be Right!

The first step to overcoming a problem is admitting you have one.  Okay, I admit it, I love old junk!  That may not sound serious to some but when I can't drive down the road to pick up a gallon of milk without screeching to a halt when I spy a garage sale, it's definitely dangerous. Although I admit my problem, I've also come to terms with it.  If loving junk is wrong, then I don't want to be right!

My first conquest of the weekend, the neighborhood estate sale. As luck would have it, the sale was for the entire contents of a huge Dutch Colonial right around the block from my house. I was giddy with anticipation!  I called a fellow junker and we were on our way.  Unfortunately, we missed the first day (went to a Wine Week lunch in NYC so the wine soothed my heartache), but the second day had some pretty cool stuff left (bonus, no long lines!).

A few of my finds include an adorable cow pitcher, a pudding mold which I think will be great for holding my makeup brushes, and a green glass Ball mason jar with zinc lid.  

Cow milk pitcher, pudding mold, Ball mason jar with zinc lid

Rusty pudding mold which would be great for holding makeup brushes

Next up, silver. I don't care it it's got a pedigree; silver plate is just fine by me. I found a couple of great pieces - a fabulous Art Deco ice bucket and a completely tarnished nickled silver cocktail shaker (I won't be cleaning it either as I love the dark patina).  The silver plate pitcher was found at a yard sale the same day - score!  It will make a great vase.

Art Deco ice bucket, tarnished nickeled silver cocktail shaker and silver plated pitcher

I love vintage paintings and have some landscapes hanging in my powder room.  Today, I manged to find a great one to add to my collection.

Another great landscape for my collection

As if all this wasn't enough! On my way out the door, I also managed to nab a huge galvanized tub which has so many uses like holding beers at a barbecue, a shoe bin in the mudroom or filled with water and apples for the kids to bob away on Halloween.

A great old galvanized tub to hold ice cold beers, shoes in a mudroom, apples for bobbing ...

Enjoy and happy junking!