Antiquing in Springfield Oregon

I took these images on vacation at a wonderful antique co-op in Springfield, Oregon. I loved the care the vendors took with their booths and their great displays. I wish I could tell you the name of the store. I will get better at this, especially with the details and photos as I go along, I promise.

It doesn't matter what you love...country and romantic or modern and minimal, something wonderful happens when you gather things together that you enjoy.

As these photos show, just grouping your treasures by color or like items let's us enjoy them in a whole new way.

Time to get out your crystal and polish up your wedding or grandma's silver for holiday entertaining. You can group them together for a shiny new display. You can leave out all through he holidays with just a few added ornaments, ribbons or greenery but that is for a future post.

Melin

The Colors of fall

I love the colors of fall! The soft golden glow in the hushed early morning hours is a spectacular treat and reward for getting up so early in the chill.

Trees are are in their glory as they change from green to yellow, then golds and reds. I notice each tree changes in it's own time. Some are quick to change with the first snap of cold, while others hang on to their green as long as they can. They remind me of us and how unique and perfect we are, each in our own special way.

Did you mature and show your colors early? Or, did you change slowly, revealing layers of new color in your own time?

I took these photos with my iPhone on the way home from church last Sunday in Truckee, CA.

Farmer's Market in Olympia, WA

Melin and Sue enjoying the Farmer's Market on a beautiful day in October!

Last week we were visiting dear friend's from high school at their beautiful new home in Olympia, WA. I was so impressed by all the beauty of nature at the market that I took some photos with my handy i-phone and I wanted to share them with you...enjoy!

Fragrant lavender booth.

Just look at that radishes and the rhubarb...perfection!

Milk Glass

This is a picture of part of my milk glass collection. These are the pieces I use often, or at least when I entertain. I love that we put a glass door on this cupboard, so I can see it anytime I am in the kitchen. Just seeing the gleaming white brings me joy!

I collect milk glass because it reminds me of my Granny. She had several pieces that she displayed and used for special occasions. She never would think to amass a large collection like I have. In her day, people just weren't that indulgent. I was passed on a piece or two from her collection and a few from my mom's and some friends, as well. These are extra special to me.

I love the curvy and lacy edges on some of the pieces and I love the hob-nail, you know, the ones with bumps. My favorite piece is a small vase that is hob-nail and shaped kind of like a V with a ruffly top...perfection! I like this one so much that I actually have seven of them. I will have a party one day and will place one at each place-setting with flowers. You can see these pictured on the bottom shelf nestled under the cake plate stack in the middle.

I think we collect to bring back warm memories of our past. This is so true of my milk glass collection. I love that I can use it year round and think of my Granny!

Please share with us about one of your collections and who or what inspired it in the comment section below.

Melin

Anniversary

This is a shelf in one of our guest rooms. The cake topper is not ours. I picked this one up when I was antiquing years ago. I bought it because I love weddings and marriage.

We had a beautiful one on our cake that had two cherubs reaching for one another and flowers on it. I couldn't find a bride and groom topper that looked like us in 1976. I loved that topper!

It met it's demise when, after about two years of marriage, our naughty dog, Anna Banana broke into the house while we were gone. She chewed up our baby daughter's toys, including her first Madame Alexander doll, and our beloved wedding cake topper was destroyed in the frenzy.

Yesterday was our 35th wedding anniversary. We celebrated at a wedding brunch the morning after our niece's wedding on Saturday.

Sometimes we do a special trip like we did five years ago when we went to Africa. Most years, we just do regular things and it is special either way.

One tradition that we always keep is the exchanging of mushy anniversary cards. My husband is the best at picking out the most loving cards for me for special occasions. This year the sentiments we wrote inside matched one another's almost word for word...so sweet.

I wish everyone could be as blessed in marriage as Mike and I feel we have been.

Melin

Collections

Merriam-Webster.com defines collection as something collected; especially an accumulation of objects gathered for study, comparison or exhibition.

I love to collect! I am surprised there is no mention of the pure pleasure in collecting. I was born into a family of collectors and started collecting when I was very young. First were figurines from Japan from my Granny, then rocks and next everything Barbie. I still have most all of my Barbie stuff and one day, I'll display my favorite retro Barbie treasures. I tease my husband that I will do a whole room in Barbie.

Many of my collections (yes, I have many) are nostalgic for me in some way. They say we buy things from our past to nourish favorite memories and I do just that.

I love that you can begin a collection display by just putting together items that are similar...in color, theme (like holidays or seasons) or by what they are made of. The photo above shows a variety of goodies from my shop that are in the same color family and have a birdie theme too.

What do you collect? Tell us where you find them and how your collection moves you. I would love for you to share your treasures and ideas.

Melin

Beach room shelf

This is a shelf in my "beach" guest room. I have had a great time collecting retro beach items to display. Some are old and some are new but they are all fun to me and none of them were costly.

I have hung a lei and old postcard souvenirs from the shelves to add length. In the middle is a bulletin board where I have retro cards and some old family photos. I even slipped in a white starfish.

I live in the mountains but was raised at the beach. It is fun to retreat here and remember the good times by the shore.

No Sew Valance

I do not sew! But, I have that side of me that wants to create things from fabric. I usually bug my daughter and try to get her to sew things for me.

I have a guest room that is decorated in a retro beach motif. I wanted a valance on the window that would speak to the theme. I saw these tea towels at the hardware store in Carmel, years ago. They reminded me of the colors of old fashioned beach tents that I had seen in photos.

Wow, this was going to be easy! I ironed the towels and hung and gathered them over a tension rod...voila! It brightened the room right up and was easy, peazy!

Do you have a no sew easy decorating tip to share with us? Please post it to share in the comment section just below this post. Also, I would love it if you would subscribe to my Blog in the area on the right.

Melin

Just Beachy!

The Fourth of July is past, now what do we feature in our decorating? I say, "Let's go beachy". I use these little shelves in my hall for the current decorating themes. I just took down my Independence Day decor and put up beachy things.

Most of us have shells from a trip or purchased, start with those. We also have pictures of our families on the beach. The little one shown is of my father, as a boy, on top his grand-father's shoulders with his younger brother on the right. This photo was taken on Muscle Beach, CA. I love the retro suits of the by-standers.

The rest of the goodies can be purchased at my store, www.wrenelizabethgifts.com. Check around your home and see what you can find hidden away to bring a beachy warmth to your home.

Please share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comment section and subscribe to my Blog.

Melin

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day, a bit early!

This is a picture of my old funky red wagon on my porch. It was an awesome flea market find a few years ago and it has been parked on our porch even since. I change it seasonal and enjoy it year round. This basket of faux geraniums grow beautifully in the shade of our covered porch when nothing else will.

I have had a thing for red geraniums long before they became the rage again. They are so cheery and bright! They are festive all summer long with our patriotic holidays, especially when a few flags are inserted.

I have three hanging baskets of real geraniums that hang from my porch, one is pictured above. They just make me happy everytime they catch my eye. What do you do to get ready to celebrate our freedom?

I will be enjoying the holiday with dear, old friends and family in our small mountain town. We will wave flags at our parade and enjoy the best fireworks ever over the lake with a barbecue in-between.

Make your day memorable.

Melin

Fourth of July Tree

What a fun way to show your red, white and blue colors! I started with a moda Liberty tablecloth and topped with a wrought iron tree. A tree in any of the colors of the fourth would do. I wrapped the tree with battery operated star lights and wrapped the bottom of the tree with a dishtowel of the season from TAG.
I decorated the tree with ornaments of the season and even used "firework pics" from Target's dollar section. I have to admit, I love these! The laterns are from a set from TAG and the figure is Star Spangle Sam from ESC.
You can find these and other holiday delights at my store, www.wrenelizabethgifts.com.
Have fun making your Fourth of July tree and enjoy your holiday!

Remembering dad on Father's Day

I am thinking about my dear old dad this Father's Day. I inherited of lot of good qualities from my dad and a few that I need to work on.

I got my name from Mel, his faith, sense of adventure and his love of travel. We both make fast friends of strangers and cherish long time friends.

He was a loving father but strict! I always felt his special love and pride in me. What a gift!
Mel passed away five years ago. He was a life long soldier in the Army National Guard and an electrician. His greatest and bravest battle was with cancer. Cancer won but his spirit lives on in me.