Perfect Picks From Pittsburgh

Tarentum, PA

Fleatique

3rd Sunday of the month

From May to October

Flea Market 

Pittsburgh, PA

Oakmont Antique Mall

Weekend Treasure Hunt

karen

Clowning Around

karen

Queen Ann's Lace

Along the edge of the woods

 the Queen Ann's Lace grows.

Beautiful in brass

 and silver.

karen

Simple Handmade

As some of you may have noticed…I can't decide what to do with the header on my blog, but I'll get it figured out eventually. Anyway…I've been working on a few simple projects this week. I finally got around to making my tote bag from the old bark cloth that I've been collecting. 

For the past year or so I've been finding small pieces of vintage bark cloth at flea markets and the button is one that I bought from an Etsy shop a couple of years ago. I think the shop was Button Boy. Okay I just checked and it's called something else now, but they are still selling the buttons. Just click on www.buttonboy.etsy.com and it will get you there.

 I used some pretty floral linen fabric for the lining that was once a couch slip cover. It's nice and light and has tons of room. I gave my new leather bag to my daughter and I'm using my handmade, BOHO tote now every day.

Yesterday I stopped in at the Dollar Tree and picked up a few things.

I'm not crazy about dollar stores, but sometimes I find crafty type things there and yesterday was one of those times.

I purchased some of their simple tall jar candles and did a little upcycling to them.

 I just used scrap book paper and some Elmer's glue to give them a whole new look.

 I already had the paper and glue, so it cost just $3 to make 3 candles.

They look like the expensive ones that I saw in the gift shop a few weeks ago.

I'll be back soon with some more crafty ideas using Dollar Tree finds.

karen

Happy Flowers

I always think of Sun Flowers as Happy Flowers.

 They make me smile and the bees and birds love them too.

 They're my favorite thing in the garden.

 I love the way they seem to dance in the breeze as they reach for the sky.

Just Happy

karen

Remembering Grandma's Farm House

Every year the month of August brings back special memories of my childhood and time spent visiting Grandma's farm.  

 I loved playing under the great weeping willow tree in her yard and the arbors covered in climbing blooming vines. It felt like such a magical place and I would spend countless hours there breathing in the heavenly fragrance and sharing secrets with my dolls.

Yesterday as I shopped for antiques with my daughter, I found this pretty piece of teal and white transfer ware that reminded me of those days at Grandma's house.

 Her china cabinet was filled with treasures like this that were off limits to everyone but Grandma.

 I'm not sure what happened to all of those special treasures that belonged to my Grandmother, but when I see something that reminds me of those days I bring it home and relive those wonderful days from so long ago.

To me, Grandma's house was the original Shabby Chic Decor, even though it wasn't labeled as such back then. It gives me such a feeling of comfort.

karen

Paper Mache Dolls

The man from the antique shop says these are from the 1930's.

Made of paper mache.

karen

Picky Picking

In summers past my husband and I would go to just about every flea market within driving distance and then some on the weekends. It's something that we enjoy doing together and our daughters love the hunt as well. So far this year we've been to only 2, spending most of our weekends gardening and working on projects here at home. We've become pretty picky when picking because we already have too much stuff. We try to only pick those things that we are positive we can use or things that we really love and feel that we can't live without ; ) Like this bird cage stand that we found on Saturday.

It's the perfect stand for the old birdcage that I've had forever.

 It's hand made and has the same look as our light fixtures in the kitchen.

 Although it would make a nice home for a bird, it makes a wonderful plant stand too.

It was one of those things that I knew we would use.

My husband found this chicken which I wasn't sure about at first, but love it now.

My daughter did this lovely chalk art for me.

The chalk board was one of last years flea market finds.

 It all fits together so well.

It feels great to have the kitchen decluttered.

 Simple and sweet.

karen

The Garden Shed Project

A few years ago we started to build a garden shed for housing all my pots and tools. It was a small building about 10' by 10'. It held my garden supplies, but didn't have a door or siding. Over time, because it was left open to the elements, it started to deteriorate. We considered taking it down, but my awesome husband decided to remove the bad parts and make it bigger and better instead. This is what we have so far.

I've been thinking that it would make the most lovely fiber studio….

I can see myself sitting on the little porch with my spinning wheel, but then where would I put my gardening supplies.

 

 We've ordered a burgundy tin roof for it and the door will be burgundy as well.

The columns have been in my dining room for the past several years as part of my decor, but they are exactly where they need to be now. The old salvaged door and the windows have been stored in our machinery shed and are exactly where they need to be as well. It feels good to use the things we've salvaged and saved for so long.

I love this old door and can't believe that none of the glass was broken over the years of being in storage. I have a beautiful set of crystal knobs for it that I picked up at a flea market last summer.

The little chippy bench sitting on the porch was made of salvaged wood and is a perfect fit under the salvaged window. Even the hinges for the door are salvaged hardware and there are two sets of shelves inside that were rescued from an old building near here that was being torn down.

I love my garden shed and my sweet awesome husband for working so hard to make this special place for me.

karen