This is The Way We Wash Our Clothes

I've been washing things at the kitchen sink-not dishes but linens.

Usually I do laundry on Sunday.
But today I'm washing vintage linens in Biz and Oxyclean. I've read about this on other blogs and it really does work. Last Friday my good friend and I visited a small town north of Gainsville called Whitesboro. Sorry I didn't take any pictures.It has a tiny main street and not too much there except a wonderful scrapbook store, quilt store. and 2 antique stores. We also hit an estate sale. I ended up buying mostly linens. Then I came home and tried the soaking technique and it works! Some of the towels below had brown stains on them and after soaking I can't see any on there. Now I want to go into my stash and see if I can get them all clean. It does take awhile but persistence pays off!
Next I need to iron-haven't gotten to that yet. For some reason when I'm washing old linens or washing old dishes by hand it's kind of fun. I would never say that on new stuff, but you kind of appreciate handling the vintage things. Anyway below is a nice piece of fabric that will soon become a tablecloth. I even got the yellow napkins at the same estate sale.
Off to the kitchen sink and than onward to the ironing board! I need to get a life! The first pic is from an old book-it's quite large about 12' by 20'. Bought it at one of the antique stores. Couldn't pass it up-the colors are perfect for my kitchen and I love that sink!
Getting ready to send my Graduate off to Europe tomorrow-many last minute details to take care of for him.
Have a great Monday!
Leslie

Thrifty Tropical Vintage Table for Two

Please join the party at Tablescape Thursday. to see many more wonderful tablescapes.
Tonight Hubby and I will be alone, so I thought I'd set a casual table for two.
The idea came from the thrifted salad plates. I snagged a set of 8. Something just drew me to them-kind of retro vintage. Found out the pattern is Homer Laughlin-Desert Lily. I thought they kind of looked tropical. The chargers were also thrifted-I only have 2, so I'll be on the lookout for something similar. Green plates-Good Will.
Wooden plates I've had for ages-I got them at a garage sale.
The flatware is Bakelite. I bid on a silent auction years ago at my local thrift store and won these.
The day I bought the Homer Laughlin plates I saw this. I'm not sure what it is-if anybody knows, please let me know. I thought the colors went perfect with the plates. It opens and there is a small accent piece on the other side of the flowers. I cut some oleander because I think it kind of ties in with the look.
Later I found this plate at a thrift store. I've seen the pattern out there, but don't know what it's called. I just got the one bowl.
The pineapple was made by my Aunt Ruth. I think it's a fun addition and will use it for our salad tonight. I made the placemats and napkins-fabric from Hancock Fabrics. Wooden napkin rings-thrift store found yesterday.
Thanks for all the bloggy love last week on my first scape. You guys are awesome! My goal is to use mostly what I have and supplement things from GW or thrift stores. So far so good.
Have a great weekend!
Leslie

Small Reds

Hi All,
It's Rednesday ! You can link on to other Reds at A Very Cherry World.
Thanks Sue!
This is an Apron tag that I made for Cindy at Rick Rack and Gingham- Mary Englebreit Apron Tag Swap. I put them in the mail today. My first swap and my first tag. It was fun to make. Thanks Cindy.
This is a red vignette in my craft room. The little dress form pin cushion was my Mom's. She was quite a sewer. The little girl figure I picked up at an antiques store-I love her polka
dot dress and red shoes.
I found this at a thrift store and added the yummy gum balls-great when you need a pick me up!
Last Red for today is also in my craft room. A little doll coat and hat and the little chubby girl in the pic is Yours Truly. I only had the best clothes for Easter-I' was all decked out! It looks like I'm wearing a paper plate on my head! hope you enjoyed my Reds.


Hope you have a great day!
Leslie

Hammered Aluminum and Decal

I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July. We are getting ready to watch fireworks tonight after we have a hotdog cookout. Hubby's already eating the cherry pie! Above is a wood paper holder that I found at GW. It used to be painted with cherries and was yellow, but I decided to redo. I used a decal from Sandy at 521 Lake Street to transform this. It was fun and easy to do and looks vintage now, don't you think?
I saw a hammered aluminum tray on Tablescape Thursdays and thought I'd share my collection. Hammered aluminum was called poor mans silver and was made during the war years when silver was not available. There are many serving pieces and trays as shown above.
This ice bucket is what started it for me. I picked this up at a thrift store years ago and got hooked. I love the look and feel of these pieces.
I do use these pieces especially when entertaining. I really don't have any silver, but I pull out the old aluminum when I need big trays or tiered servers.
Some pieces are marked on the bottom and numbered. Two of the most common markings are Everlast and Continental. The pieces were stamped out and they look embossed. Many times the edges look as is they were cut with pinking shears.
I love these servers for hors d'oeuvres and desserts.
I also have some cute small trays for snacks. For Christmas my Mom used to give me money and I would buy what I liked. I bought a set of snack trays and wrapped them up to me. Little did I know that she also had bought me a set of trays-same size -different pattern. That was a surprise to me and her on that Christmas! I love these pieces. Let me know what kind of serving stuff you use. Do you use silver, pewter, aluminum or ceramic stuff to serve in? If I missed something let me know.
Thanks for the wonderful comments for Rednesday and Tablescape Thursday. I love reading them and feel like I'm really getting to know some of you. I think that's the great thing about blogging.
Have a great day!
Leslie

Fruit and Flowers Breakfast Table

I'm glad to join my first tablescape party with Between Naps On The Porch. Go check out many other tablescapes HERE. This is my vintage breakfast tablescape.
I had almost everything hiding around my cupboards. I had the 2 vintage tablecloths. The applique tablecloth is placed over a cherry plaid cloth. Vintage strawberry jam jar.
These vintage banded ring plates were my inspiration. I placed them over my everyday white plates.
Vintage painted fruit pitcher for OJ. Red pyrex bowl for fruit. Mary Englebreit vase holding flowers. I bought the fruit glasses a few years ago in an antiques store(they are not antique), but look old.
The red flat ware was from Target a few years ago. Napkins bought at a thrift store. I had so much fun putting this together, I've been checking out everyone 's tablescapes and have been totally inspired by you all. Thanks for coming by! Happy fourth of July!
Leslie

Red Thrifty Finds

Today for Rednesday I wanted to show you some of my thrifted findsthat I got this week and last week. Above is a cute wind up toy that works. Definitely my colors.
This little ceramic tomato is really cute. It's missing a little spoon, but I'll find something to replace it.
I saw this at an antique store and loved the vintage looking bluebirds. I'm so glad I didn't buy it , because there was one at my favorite thrift store. See the little red flowers?
I've been meaning to show you this quilt. I looked for a few years to find an affordable red and white quilt-no luck. So I got out the old sewing machine and made my own. I just hung it in the newly painted family room above the couch. I won't show you the couch-cuz it looks really bad. I'm working on that issue.
Last is a tablescape that I made up using my vintage plates. I will be joining a Tablescape party tomorrow for the first time. More about this later. Join Sue at It's a Very Cherry World to see more Reds. Thanks for joining me. Happy Rednesday!
Leslie

Kitchen is Done(Almost)

Monday mornings-I just love them. For some reason I always feel like getting organized on Mondays-paperwork, housework all that good stuff. Above is the after pic of my kitchen table area. I'm thinking of painting the table white(maybe with some red accents on the legs) and we need to get new chairs. These are antiques that aren't holding up to heavy use. I'd love to find some and paint them red. What do you think?
Here are some different views of the kitchen. We had the granite put in, I had already painted the cabinets white. We never had a backsplash, so we tiled it with white subway tiles.
Here's my little desk nook. Sorry about the glaring sun.Love this area!
Here's the before of the floors-Remember we had 6 different floors on our first floor. We now have 3-the new ceramic tile and wood in our living room and laminate in our family room. Much calmer.
Here's the same view-after.
Here work in progress-I was really glad to get rid of the tile counter tops. I don't miss them a bit.
Love the granite-even though I didn't think I would.
This rooster was made by my Aunt Ruth- every animal that she made (and she made tons of ceramics) have eyelashes! Little red toy stove was found in an antique store, on sale. This is in my window over the sink.
What we hired out-granite counters
tile floor install
What we did-painted the cabinets white
ripped out old floor and backsplash
tiled backsplash
painted walls
A few more little things to do, but hey that never ends. I was able to keep my vintage things witch I love, but kind of modernize the overall look.
Thanks for all your positive thougthts about BJ's wisdom teeth. He's coming along just great and will be tooting away on hist trombone soon!
Happy Monday!
Leslie