Simple Summer Mantel {Vintage Style}

My mantel this summer has been plain and simple. My chippy window, a small wreath, 2 stacks of old books (turned backwards to minimize the color of the jackets and play up the beautiful pale pages) and a set of vintage silver candleabras.

The candleabras were picked up for a few dollars each the last day of an estate sale. When I brought them home, I simply added them to the mantel, figuring I would find some candlesticks later to add to them. But guess what? I actually like them without the candles. I think adding the candles would have made the mantel a bit more cluttered. So, they will stay empty. I enjoy the beautiful patina of the tarnished silver on it's own.



That was easy! Have a great weekend. Click here to join my weekly link party!

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Jennifer Rizzo... Creative Friday
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Lavender Garden Cottage

Painting Vintage Books {Why Not?}

Once I have the paintbrush out and in use, everything is fair game. I'm currently painting a dining room set and as I was working on yet another curvy leg of a dining chair my thoughts drifted to a a small stack of books I picked up at the library's used book store.

I have a lot of vintage books... my favorite are the textured cloth covers. Some are pretty, some are not. Some I buy for the color, some for the title, some for their yellowed pages, some for the illustrations.

I picked up this particular book just because it was bound in cloth and cheap, and the pages were kind of yellow. It was my chance to experiment with painting books! Since I had the creamy white paint out and the brush and roller wet, I went to work.

I did put a coat of primer/sealer on it, only because I had it out for my other project and thought it might speed things along. I followed with two coats of paint (applied with a foam roller). Easy project!

I shopped my bin of Valentine bits and bobs to find something to top this project off with...

A sweet glittered garland will do!



LINKED UP TO

 

White Pottery & Vintage Books {Share the Love #45!}

I've grouped all my white vases on top of my hutch and decided that my stacks of vintage books needed to go a bit more neutral. Clean and simple for the new year!

 Easy enough... I just turned them all around so only the yellowed pages show, not the bindings. I really like the variations in color of the aged pages.

 

Before the party begins, I have to mention my troubles with Blogger lately. Although I have been posting several times a week, my blog is showing up on reader's sites saying the last post was over a month ago. I'm not quite sure why it's not updating on these blog rolls, but I'm here and posting!

I bet your eye is already wandering to these pretty bottles... the first of my features from last week's links!

Love these bottles from Pondered, Primed, Perfect! Aren't they gorgeous? Thrift store finds that remind me of something I'd see in a Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware catalog.

This subway style art project is just one of the top ten projects highlighted in this post at Superfluous! The colors are great and it was made with stencils and scraps. Check out the full how to and all her other great projects.

I have a weakness for vintage paintings... my collection is small compared to The Cranky Queen's. She picks them up for a song and they are extra beautiful because of the magnificent vintage frames holding them.

Thanks to all of you who linked up during this busy season! If you've been featured, grab a button!

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Link up the best of your blog and be sure to link back to the party with a button or text link. If your post has been removed because there wasn't a link back, add the button below or a text link and link up again. Most importantly... mingle... click around the other links and find yourself some fabulous new blogs to visit!

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Sweet Vintage Kitten Images & Share the Love Wednesday #20!

I visited a few of my favorite thrift shops over the holiday weekend and only came away with a few treasures. 
Considering that I am trying to pare down my various collections to only keep those things I truly enjoy this is probably not a bad thing!

I still have a thing for vintage children's book illustrations. I can't help but smile when I see the sweet images.

Here's a few of the images from a book entitled The Seven Wonderful Cats. It's a Rand McNally storybook retold by Wallace C. Wadsworth and illustrated by Elizabeth Webbe. This last one is my favorite! They are all high resolution so you should be able to use them in your craft projects.

Last week's highlights...
I was able to visit each and every link from last week and leave comments on just about all of them. I love to see all the creative beauty that links up! If you've been featured, please grab this feature button and shout out the news that your blog is something special!






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Chipping with Charm

This link from chipping with charm is only the beginning of inspiration you'll find on this sweet blog! Laurel incorporates vintage finds in new ways all around her kitchen. If you click on over to Chipping with Charm you'll find a great use for an old pew rack and more!

 

Clustres

I have a thing for chairs, and so this makeover at Clustres caught my eye very quickly. I love the color she painted it, and the addition of a seat pillow from a drop cloth with her own painted design is really creative.

 Bees Knees Bungalow

 Wouldn't it be nice if you could enjoy your jewelry collection every day? The contrast of the sparkle and bling against the matte finish of a vintage window screen is really beautiful. I love how this Jeanne at the Bees Knees Bungalow has made jewelry storage into a piece of art!

Thanks so much to each of you who linked up last week. I truly enjoy visiting each and every one of you to see what you've been up to! I'm ready for another week of fun, so let's get the party started...

Two easy requests...
Link back to the party with a party or blog button or a text link & limit to one link per blog! Let's party!

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Vintage Valentine Decorations {Books of Love}

I had these pretties on hand, but you can find similar books at the thrift store, flea market, antique store or used book store at the library. They make a unique vintage style Valentine's Day decoration.

I don't worry about the titles. I bought these just because they were red. I love the ones with textured or cloth covers. I suppose if you could find some with romantic titles, that would be especially sweet.

Frayed, shabby edges and yellowed pages always catch my eye.



Add a yard of creamy white ribbon and wrap them up tightly with a bow.

They're pretty and subtle, and I had everything on hand. Even though the titles may not convey it, to me they are most definitely, books of  love--at least in for the month of February!

LINKING THIS POST UP TO FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE    & 

Really? Puppies Making Pancakes in a Pink Book {Children's Book Illustrations}

I always check out the old books when I'm antiquing or hitting the flea market. They take up less room than a shabby piece of furniture {my most favorite find}, and they are easy to store. But the main reason I pick them up is that I enjoy looking at the illustrations, especially in books for children. This book had me at "hello."

First of all, it's pink. Secondly, it's about puppies. Thirdly, these are some really interesting looking puppies.
I think you'll agree. The story is pretty cute, too.

This is probably my favorite picture.The sign on the left reads "more bones," and the sign on the right reads "more meat."  I didn't realize I didn't get the whole sign in the picture until I processed the photos. If I get a chance I'll fix this picture in the next week or so in case you would like to use these little guys in your craft projects. I know I would.

This one below would be cute for Valentine's Day, perhaps a little heart where that red stamp is?

These puppies not only help kitties reach mailboxes, they make pancakes and take baby kitties for walks in beautiful carriages..

Hope you found these illustrations as irresistible as I did! The books is a Rand McNally Elf Book called Four Little Puppies. My copy was published in 1957. The author is Ruth Dixon and the photographs {yes, it says photographs} are by Harry Whittier Frees. There's a notation on the inside cover that reads "These unusual photographs of real puppies were made possible only by patient, unfailing kindness on the part of the photographer at all times." Photographs.... really?

Once again, if you make a craft or card with these images and blog about it, I would love to see it! Please let me know so I can link up!

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