Time Travel Thursday #21 - Praising the Power of Paint

CHECK OUT ALL THE DETAILS FOR THE LINKY PARTY HERE!

Welcome to the 21st Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready for our next trip back in time and into the future?

Well, climb aboard!

This beauty was a piece I won at auction–for a mere pittance–several years ago. 

Okay, so maybe it's not much of a beauty as you see it here.  But stay with me, and you'll see how it became one.

Actually, I didn't have a "before" picture, so I did a bit of photo editing to give you some idea of what it looked like when I first got it.

It dated to the late 50s or early 60s, and it had the traditional stained finish from that period to prove it.

You know the one—maple wood with a stain turned ORANGE with the patina of years! 

Yuck!

This was another purchase of mine that gave the Yankee cause to roll his eyes and shake his head in disbelief.

But, I had a plan.  ; )

I felt sure it had been a planter of some sort—because of the metal insert in the top.

The Yankee thought it looked like funeral-home décor 

...hence his distaste for it!

The first course of action was to sand the less-than-appealing old finish off and spray paint the whole thing a soft, cottage white.

Those steps alone were a grave improvement and...

 enough to encourage the Yankee that there might be hope for this piece after all.

A pretty floral swag appliqué, for the top panel...

and an ever-so-light sanding–in a few key areas–were the only embellishments needed to bring out the hidden beauty.

The resurrection of this dated dame now makes her worthy to bear a bevy of books at bedside, a tumble of towels in the powder room,

or even...

a flourish of flowers (or pine branches and holly) in the family room.

Here's to the power of paint!

Linking to Maryann's for the Power of Paint Party, Leigh's for Thrifty Thursday, Suzanne's for Vintage Thingie Thursday, Gina's for Transformation Thursday, Becky's for 100 Ideas Under $100.00, Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday,  Betty Bee's Buzz for Buzz, Brag, and Bee Happy Friday, Marian's for Furniture Feature Friday, A little Lovely's for Saturday Soiree, Stephanie Lynn's for Sunday Showcase Party, Susan's for Metamorphosis Monday and Sarah's for the Before and After Party. 

 

Shades of White

Though many things have changed about my decorating style over the years, one thing has remained constant...

my infatuation with shades of white.

Joining Kathleen for White Wednesday.

Timeless Treasures

Over the years, many of my home décor items have come and gone–as I've moved from one style house to another.

Others–those with a more timeless appeal–have remained and have found their special places in each new dwelling.

For instance, I've had this French buffet and hutch for almost twenty years. 

It has worked beautifully in my last four homes–an English Tudor, an English Cottage, a 50s ranch, and, at present, my tiny cottage farmhouse. 

Though the piece itself has looked the same over the years, the items displayed upon it have been in a constant state of flux.

These are the treasures it currently holds.

This vintage bakelite flatware is known as Butterscotch to collectors.

I've placed it in a large, vintage pressed glass piece–set atop an old restaurant china dessert plate, with an even older pie pan underneath.

Displayed in this old platter is part of my vintage silverplate creamer collection.

When I started collecting these beauties some years ago, I set a ceiling purchase price of five dollars per piece.

The most expensive one here is the one in the back–$2.99, from a thrift store.  The least expensive, of the four, was only ninety-nine cents–the one on the right.

I love vintage buttons and have been collecting them for many, many years. 

I think the soft, creamy tones, of those displayed here, create a romantic look when coupled with the various shades of gray of the silverplate.

Behind the platter, I placed an ornate, vintage English ironstone lid.  It's an orphan I adopted, because I admired its sculptural quality.

The unique, octagonal framed print, beside the lid, was another thrift store score from long ago.  At only ninety-nine cents, it was a bargain I couldn't resist.

I actually have a project planned for it...that I hope to get to someday.  ;)

In this image, you can see another of my pretty orphaned English ironstone lids.

It's a complete mystery to the Yankee why I like to collect just lids.  

But then, much of what we women like is a mystery to men.  Am I right?

The thick coffee cups stacked on the shelf above are Buffalo restaurant china.  You just can't beat restaurant dinnerware for its durability.

On this part of the same shelf is another vintage platter, a William Adams and Sons English ironstone teapot, a vintage doily, the base to a miniature, antique oil lamp, a square ironstone dish, and a vintage tin–blackened with age.

This shot gives you a glimpse of all the wonderful vintage and antique items displayed on the two uppermost shelves.

I used the soup tureen–that you see on the upper shelf of this shot–in one of my tablescape posts.

The clear glass piece to the right of it is an old creamer.

On the shelf below is another vintage platter, two more pieces of English ironstone–a William Adams and Sons water pitcher and a Johnson Brothers gravy boat–another vintage doily, and an antique cruet.

Years ago, the Yankee and I actually stood in frigid cold snow–in the mountains of Tennessee–to garner that cruet at auction. 

On the opposite side of the shelf are two other Johnson Brothers ironstone pieces–a plate and a small pitcher holding silverplate flatware–a French creamer, and a vintage bird print. 

The gorgeous, vintage transferware gravy boat is one of my favorites.  It's displayed atop an old doily, set on a vintage cake plate, atop a restaurant china dessert plate.

As you can see above, I'm fortunate to have two of those wonderful old French creamers.

And in this image, you get a better look at the clear glass one.

Behind it–against, yet another, vintage platter–is a chippy old applique.

The bird prints were framed when I found them.   But I removed them from their frames and placed them in the hutch like vintage cabinet cards.

The loving cup trophy was a fortuitous flea market find at only $12.00.

Now, if, after all this, you want to know what vintage goodness I have sitting on the top and tucked away at the very bottom of my buffet and hutch, you can take a look over here.

Linking to these fun parties:

Kathleen's White Wednesday

Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday

Leigh's Thrifty Thursday

Simple Country Pleasures

Aah...the country life. I love everything about it. 

Around our quaint little farmstead, every season serves up its own special delights.

Like the divinely fragrant plum trees scattered near the edge of our forest...

and beside the log barn...

and now—much to my pleasure—in front of the silo, as well.

Whether viewed against the backdrop of the heavenly Carolina blue sky, or the other bucolic settings pictured above, they bring such simple joy.

Not only in their natural environment...

but, as one of the many simple country pleasures inside my charming cottage farmhouse, also.

A Painterly Touch

I'm aware that there are many purists among us, who feel that to paint an antique is a most despicable deed.  And, I respect that there is such diversity of tastes in the world.

When it comes to painting vintage or antique items,

the Yankee and I consider a number of variables, prior to taking that plunge.

For each project we tackle, we determine the steps necessary to enhance the unique features of the individual piece.

Some antiques have suffered such ravages of time that simple refinishing

will not suffice. Those are the very pieces we believe to be

the ideal candidates for a painterly touch.

We jokingly say we're in the rescue business.  It's not uncommon

for us to retrieve items from trash heaps or burn piles

 in an attempt to resuscitate them.

If there is even so much as a single breath of life existent in something,

we feel compelled to revive it.

I wish I had a before picture of the actual Depression era vanity that we delivered

from certain destruction—atop a rather large pile of  trash, about to be burned. 

Just imagine, if you will, a vanity very similar to the one pictured below, but...

IN NOWHERE NEAR THAT CONDITION!

Remember this sneak peek I gave you in the post about the Yankee?

That was a peek at our rescue efforts for the once

abandoned vanity we recovered.

When we found it, the mirror was missing, and the bridge that connected

the two sides was beyond repair.  The Yankee cut the piece apart

and disposed of the irreparable bridge.

Though one of the sides had some nicks and dings

and a few small areas of missing veneer, and two others needed to be replaced altogether, 

we knew we could totally transform the much neglected castoff.

To most observers, the piece had breathed its last breath.

To us, though the breath was shallow, it still existed and was therefore worth reviving.

After the standard thorough cleaning—that was my job—and a good sanding—

that was the Yankee's job—the Yankee set about making the necessary repairs.

We are of the opinion that to totally rework a piece,

eliminating every little imperfection, negates its vintage character. So, more often than not,

 we will leave certain minor flaws.

Being the incredibly creative man that he is,

the Yankee masterfully designed and crafted new backs from vintage wood.

Once those lovely details were added, I knew we had to

adorn the stands with lots of sweet, feminine flourishes!

One of the characteristics I absolutely love about older pieces is 

the quality of construction found in details like dovetailed drawers.

After the draws were sanded and cleaned, and all structural repairs complete, it was time to decide on the decorative touches.

My favorite part!   ; )

We sifted through numerous fabulous appliqués 

in search of the perfect embellishments.

This lovely three-dimensional rose, accented by a

delicate scrolly vine, could not have been more perfect for the backs.

With our creative touches, the frames went through a Cinderella-like transformation. 

They're now dripping with sweet little roses and

wildflowers cascading down from tiny ribbons.

The pretty, scalloped apron fronts were also gussied up a bit with

 the cutest curly ribbon appliqué.  It's knot even resembles a rose!

As if all those sweet details weren't dreamy enough, we then painted everything

the softest, cottagey white we could find.

That was followed by an ever-so-light distressing, from the top right down to the lovely little turned legs. 

 It was the perfect finishing touch to amplify the delicate beauty.

The result...total shabby sweetness!!!

And where there was once one ugly duckling...

there were now, not one, but two beautiful swans.   ; )

Joining

 Diane @ 2nd Time Around Tuesday