Time Travel Thursday #13 - Repurposing a Vintage Find

"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories.
Some take us forward, they're called dreams."
~Jeremy Irons~

Welcome to the 13th Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready to share your fondest memories, grandest dreams,

and most creative projects? Great!



Here's some of my latest vintage treasure procured
from local barn sales.  The Yankee liked everything except the antique yarn winder—
the tall slender wooden piece in the right-hand corner. 

I couldn't explain to him why I liked it; I just did!

Sometimes Oftentimes, I buy something with no particular plan
in mind at the time of purchase.  If something appeals to me, I can always
figure out a way to use it.   ; )

The Yankee wanted to just throw it in the fire pit in the back field. 
His line of reasoning—it was missing five of its arms!  Can you imagine that reasoning
coming from a man who himself uses bits and pieces of junk
to make things?! 

I quickly gave it a thorough cleaning, let it air dry, and gave it a good
paste wax job—so I could immediately put it to use.

By the way, have you noticed how often my projects involve
those three steps?

In order to keep the one arm in the postion I wanted it in, an additional peg

had to be added to the front.  Of course, there just happened to be one...

among our jumbles of junk.

I thought, for now, it would make a unique towel rack in the tiny guest bath.

At least that will keep it off the burn pile...

until I think of something better!

Joining Susan's Metamorphosis Monday.

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.

It's the Little Things

Every woman I know loves beauty for the simple sake of beauty. Something need not be practical, logical, nor have a specific purpose—other than to be pleasing to the eyes, of course—to be considered beautiful…or, at the very least, pretty.   ; )

For me, it's the little things I surround myself with—things that make me smile—that make my cottage a haven of beauty…at least to me.

Like the decorative features of this vintage washbasin and pitcher. The dainty, blue forget-me-not blossoms seem to practically dance across the porcelain! Just looking at this vignette transports me to a more genteel time in history.

With the space constraints of this room, I opted to place the washstand in front of the large window. To add a touch of the unexpected, I hung an ornate, vintage mirror on the window frame, just above the bowl and pitcher.

This Victorian brush and mirror set on the dressing table has the most wonderful timeworn patina. I love the way it looks displayed on this old silver plate tray—with the vintage lace sandwiched between.

Speaking of lace…

in my book, you just cannot go wrong by adding vintage linens and lace to...

well, just about anything!

When I discovered this lovely old piece at a local flea market, I had no idea what I would do with it. But, I knew I wanted to find some way to admire its beauty daily.

My solution...attach it to a Victorian metal frame, embellish it with a section from an old rhinestone bracelet, and set it atop a bedroom bureau.

This gorgeous pair of vintage toleware sconces—on the wall just above that same bureau—was also a fabulous flea market find!

One of my favorite things to do is to move things around a room, or from one room to another, to create a fresh, new look.

Can you spot the decorative items on this French chest that used to reside elsewhere?

And even little items, such as this German half doll pincushion, add simple beauty to my everyday work spaces.

She was another flea market treasure that I purchased without a specific purpose in mind.

When I got her home, I took her out of her original sawdust-filled pincushion.

My original thought was to use just the doll—perhaps displayed among a dish of vintage buttons or jewelry.

But, as I pondered just what to do with her, the thought of her original purpose crossed my mind. So, she came to rest on the table in front of my sewing box.

And she even got dressed up for the occasion!

This double-tiered vintage doily made quite a nice ballgown—don't you agree?

Without a doubt, it's the little things that add up to make a home a thing of beauty!

A chip off the old...

If there's one thing the Yankee and I can always  usually occasionally agree on,
 it’s the addition of unique, decorative items to our little cottage and farmstead.

There's just something about rusty, crusty, chipped paint on metal

 or the flaky, timeworn patina of old paint on wood that adds...

such warmth and character to any décor. 

And...aren't those two traits essential to make any home more inviting?

Currently around my home—both inside and out—
there are quite a few relics of the past that have been
drafted into duty for everyday use. 

Oh, I know...that sort of decorative element isn't everyone's cup of tea. 
But, it works quite well here around our cottage farmhouse.

For instance, on one of our porches, we've used a number of items with

a fairly high degree of the chippy factor.

See the cute little table in front of the antique wicker settee above? 

It wears no less than three

different colors of old flaky paint. 

The ornate vintage smoking stand—used purely for its decorative appeal—

is rusty and crusty and sports very little of its originally finish. 

But...

its intricate scrolly design more than makes up for that!

The beadboard boxes, displayed on the table,
model lovely vintage patinas—each with varying degrees of chippyness. 

In this photo, you catch a glimpse of my collection of

vintage mourning baskets beside the settee—

some of them chippy, others near pristine. 

What makes it all work?

The freshly painted porch rails and floor,

coupled with the crisp white linens on the settee—accented by

a cushy, new down-filled pillow—provide a clean backdrop

for the older, weathered and worn elements.

To us, the built-in character a piece develops over time

is well worth the little imperfections it may exhibit.

Our desire at The Brambleberry Cottage is to have something—

even if it's a little thing—tucked here and there, around various areas of our home and farm,

 that makes us smile…

something that reflects who we are and

what we want others to experience when they visit us. 

It's a matter of transforming a tiny cottage farmhouse

into an inviting home that radiates 

comfort, character, and hospitality. 

Shouldn't that be

what home is all about?   ; )