**ViNtaGe SELTZER BOTTLES** not tooooo SHaBBy!!!

Every so often I come across "ViNtaGe Seltzer Bottle Sightings" in magazines, and on some blogs...  My husband has a small "colorful collection" of them...  These bottles date around 1920 ~ 1950's...  I'll be bringing a "Clear Glass Seltzer Bottle" FOR SALE, to the Grayslake Show in January... It's inscription reads HIGHLAND  PARK, ILLINOIS!!!   Get there early for best shot at netting this FiNd!*!*!

Color... Condition... Rarity... Form...

All affect the price with bottles...

The sun was streaming in "just-right" when I snapped this picture yesterday...

Time to Take Down the **ChiPPy! ~ SHaBBy!** HoLIDay Bling...

In the next day or so I'll be taking down my Christmas HoLiDaY Bling...  EVERYTHING will be looking soooo bare...  Simplicity rules the first few weeks of January in our home...  What will I keep up???  Is it tooo soon for just a hint of flowers???  I'll need to change out the "birdcage" display adornments... What will I discover in the cupboards as I put things away??? ~ Creative Fun Awaits and one thing for sure - IT HAS TO HAVE PATINA!*!*!

Just a hint of flowers...  

I've had this darling little "letter-tote" for a long time...  It's imperfections add so much character to the piece - time-worn paint crazing... chippy-edges on the gesso flowers... and great detailed form... This piece is already on my desk ~ THinK SpRiNg!*!*!

Time to "Change-Out" the Birdcage Display...

The darling little paper tree inside the cage is a hand-made find from Judy, of the Iowa Junk Gyspies!!!  Time to change-it-out, and adorn the inside with "Just a hint of Spring"...

More ChiPPy Sightings...

  Another Birdcage - perfectly chippy finial on top... 

ChiPPy Picture Frame...

Picture frames have endless possibilities... ~ Turn into a chalkboard... Line with screen to hang earrings on... Cushion with fabric to display your pins/brooches...  Run wire across to clip pictures/post cards on...  Have a mirror installed... & of course - what about mounting an actual picture!!!

 

New Years Eve Countdown ~ with a hint of "SHaBBy" BliNg!*!*!

CHANGE in many things, especially nature, seems to COME/GO with full intensity...  WINTER ~ creates a strong "white artists canvass"  preparing us for the the beginning of a New Year...   SPRING begins with a burst of "glorious shades of green" emerging... SUMMER, a "paintbox full of flowering plants"... and FALL'S "tree leaves turning magical colors"...  The countdown celebration has now begun ~  "Magical Bling" abounds for the celebration - as we prepare to say good-bye to 2010!*!*! 

A wonderful gift of "SHaBBy-Bling" reminds me that time is moving on...       

***ChiPPy!-SHaBBy! Christmas Joy***

Have yourself a wonderful Christmas Day...

~**~  Jeanine  ~**~

**SHaBBy Christmas Look ~ In PaRiS**

I subscribe to a daily feed - REMODELISTA.COM  I have been soooo inspired by this site...  Here's a Sneak Peek from December 23rd's HoLiDay RoundUp Post ~ Christmas Decorations from around the World...  Enjoy!*!*!

AwEsoMe!*!*!

Merci - Paris

How creative is this!*!*!

Looks a bit like an Anthropologie Display!!!

~**~** M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S **~**~ 

Jeanine

**ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!** Christmas Traveling ViNtaGe Style!*!*!

This AwEsoMe ViNtaGe SuitCase is LONG GONE ~ but I'm still enjoying the pictures!!!  AGAIN - What was I thinking!?!?!  Sooooooo "ViNtaGe Christmas"...

I just LoVe the old traditional colored bulb lights!*!*!

LoVe that plaid at this time of year...

Bakelite Handle... Monarch Luggage, New York...

With Christmas day just around the corner, I hope you can sit back and enjoy your own decorations as well...

  HaPPy HoLiDays to YOU & Yours...

~**~**~**~ Jeanine ~**~**~**~

**Shortest Day of the YEAR** ~ Topped with SHaBBy Snow!*!*!

Cedarburg Wisconsin is "just gorgeous" on this "Shortest Day of the Year" ~ The Winter Solstice...  We just received a light dusting of the prettiest SHaBBy-White Snow!*!*!  I was ready to venture out to the backyard to take this pic, but instead I choose a shot from our window...   I've "LINKED-UP" with A Southern DayDreamers  OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY!!! ~ Be sure to visit ALL the entries...   

** "click" on this one!!! **
 Here's what I'm looking out at as I write this post...  I love BiRdiE Houses in SNoW!*!*!  This is our back-up wood pile ~ that will eventually get routed to a "drier area" before coming in the house...  Wisconsin's looking pretty good to me right now...  PeRfeCt dusting of "SHaBBy-Snow" just in time for Christmas!!!  AND Winter Solstice means the days will be getting lighter longer!!! ~ YES!*!*!

**ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!** ViNtaGe Christmas Vignette...

Like Jan of "Gracie's Cottage"... WHY DID I WAIT SOOOOOO LONG to complete my Christmas Holiday Vignette!?!?!?  I feel sooooo much better now!!!  I ended up putting just a minimal "icing on the cake" ~ if you want to call it that...  I just LoVe how it turned out!*!*!  Almost everything is "ViNtaGe" & a little bit "ChiPPy" ~ of course!!!

I always like to start out a vignette with an

"ANCHOR-PIECE"...

The Architectural Column was it...

With Christmas just days away, I really didn't want to "pull out ALL my ViNtAge Christmas"...

Soooooo ~ I choose "one box full" ~ of my FaVoRiTe GREEN VINTAGE BOTTLE BRUSH TREES...  I had the PeRfeCt Old Green Metal Stand to display them on!*!*!  It has the best wrought iron legs ~ seen in my last photo...

Here's a close-up of "ChiPPy-Santa"...

BeSt!!! ~ Natural time-worn chippy paint patina...  "Sooooo much more interesting than brand new"!!!

I love "birdies" any time of year!!!

Rusty old milk bottle carrier serves as a prop ~ "flipped-over" adorned with greens & holiday twinkle lights...  The bird cage is adorned with a bit of bling & birdies...

A bit of Vintage Garden mixed in a Holiday Vignette ~ makes for such a special look!*!*!

The URN rests on top of the architectural column and supports Tree Branch Cuttings along with a Bird's Nest...

I was lucky enough to net this vintage  "Green Chenille Tree" some years back...  Although it's not as old as my "White Chenille Tree" - that I recently posted, It still has it's own unique look...

 

This ViNtaGe Wreath is soooooo SHaBBy!*!*!  Great focal point hung on the architectural post...

~*~*~  Wishing YOU a Merry Christmas   ~*~*~

Jeanine

**It's Beginning to look a Lot Like ChRiStMaS** ~ ChiPPy!-SHaBBy! Style...

I have say...  "Cold Weather" & "Sunless Days" are just not my thing!!!  Three More Months of This???  Will I make it?????????????  It's almost like someone pulled the plug on me...  Sooooooo I pushed and I pushed ~ to start working on our Christmas Entry Vignette...  Yes, I know Christmas is only days away...  I'm only half way done ~ but here's what I've come up with so far!*!*!

I started out with this AwEsOme Chippy Architectural Post I netted at the 3 French Hens Show in Morris, Illinois - last month...  I hung my "Most Favorite" Vintage Bottle Brush Wreath on it ~ a purchase from "Janice" some years back...  Chippy Santa and Pair of Skis were a given!!!  WHAT NEXT???????  Check back to see what else develops...

** ** **

**FARM GIRL Art & Antiques** Milwaukee, WI

Yesterday Jeff & I spent the day "Antique Hunting" in downtown Milwaukee...  We started off having breakfast at "Honey Pies" in the Bayview area...  I do soooooo love their breakfast potatoes!!!  My friend Lisa Goldner just opened a New Antique Store around 5th and National... FARM GIRL ART & ANTIQUES, @ 803 South 5th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin...   The OLD BUILDING HAS SUCH GREAT BONES ABOUT IT!*!*!  It could have easily housed an Anthropologie Store... 

Lisa's Store has such great window exposure!!!  The Space is just Huge!!!  The window display area wraps along 2 long sides of the old building...  While inside, you can actually "walk inside the window area to shop"...

Here's a wide angled view from the upper staircase... Do double click on this pic to see the amazing chippy tin ceiling and architectural columns with ornate tops!!! For just moving in a couple weeks ago,~ Farm Girl was well stocked, with quite a few dealers renting a spot...  There was a mix of real antiques... industrial... retro... vintage garden... & creative artist crafts... 

Here's Lisa Goldner, the owner...  

Is that a FAB INDUSTRIAL CABINET OR WHAT!*!*!  Lisa netted this find from the "Jockey" Company ~ they were going to toss it out!!!  Her large space shows off great pieces like this very well...

I loved this "perfectly chippy box" that was perched on the check-out counter...  YES, it was for sale ~ and I would have snatched it up if only it were W H I T E...

I'm already on the look-out for a few valentine related items for my 2 upcoming shows in January and February (see side bar...)  I netted this sweet vintage glass adorned with birds & garlands at Farm Girl...

 Now that I've displayed this on one of my shelves ~  I'm having second thoughts about parting with it!*!*!  Maybe this lovely beauty will be for sale at Grayslake in January???   I could just see it resting on the bathroom sink filled with flowers/vintage millinery -OR- perhaps filled with pink heart candies???

** ** **

Best of Luck to Lisa

@ FARM GIRL ART & ANTIQUES...

Open Thursday - Saturday

**ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!** Cherubs... Birdies... Christmas Bling!*!*!

The Winter Weather is already keeping me way toooooo house bound!!!  Way toooo much time on the computer...  Way toooo much time in my Pj's...  Way toooo much "sweet treat" eating...   I have a million and one things I could be doing, but instead ~ I'm re-arranging vignettes!*!*!

 Just Dreamy...  I love Candelabras!*!*!

A hint of Christmas bling with the Cherub Statue now holding a silver glitter-tipped "vintage bottle brush tree"...

The statue's birdie is soooo special... 

A wonderful little tag adornment from my friend Debby in Ohio...  Crown... Vintage lace...  Just Sweet!*!*!

Perfectly crusty! rusty! white! & chippy!*!*!

A hint of *~*~BliNg~*~* now adorns the vintage chenille tree...

I just adore the **CROWN BLING** on the Tiara...  I didn't get CraZed over "Crowns" till I shopped Warrenton/Round Top TEXAS!!!

BeSt ViNtaGe Christmas Find of the Season so far!*!*!

~*~*~* Cherub ViNtaGe Christmas Vignette *~*~*

Dreamy... Creamy... Shades of ViNtage White...

** ** ** 

Be sure to hop on over to FADED CHARMS BLOG for more White Wednesday Inspiration!*!*!

**ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!** ViNtaGe Tole Christmas Tree!*!*!

I have one ViNtaGe Christmas Holiday Decoration that I can call "My-Most-Favortie" ~ ViNtaGe Tole Christmas Tree with berries... birdies... candles - BeSt!*!*!

 I can never get enough of vintage clip-on birds!*!*!  I love the ones with a time-worn patina and "2" wire legs...  Birdies like this stay up in our home through February...

Each year I display the tree in a different spot...

We started a traditon ~ lighting it on the table every Christmas Eve...  Soooooo beautiful!*!*!

***  ***  ***

Wisconsin Weather Report

We did not get as much snow here as expected, but the storm took down one of our beautiful old cedar trees - blocking our driveway... Temperatures are Below Zero this morning...  Lots of Ice under the snow...  Definitely a day to wear the UGGS inside -or- Out!*!*!

**ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!** Mink-Trimmed ICE SKATES!*!*!

OMG!*!*!  REAL "MINK-TRIMMED" Ice SKaTes!!!  I've only come across a couple pairs like this in all my years of antique shopping!!!  I've now SOLD both "after" having enjoyed them for a season or two...  This vignette was on our front porch entry a couple years ago...  The real dusting of snow made it "PeRfeCtLy SHaBBy"!!!

  BeSt!*!*!   Mink Trimmed ViNtaGe Ice Skates!*!*!
***  ***  ***  

Our Wisconsin Weekend Winter Storm has begun...  Living so close to Lake Michigan, there's a slim chance it may travel more NORTH of Us...  Time will tell...  In the meantime, fridge is well-stocked & "Pot Roast" on the menu...

**ChiPPy!-SHaBBy! Vintage Christmas Santa!*!*!

I'm still not feeling creative enough to "work on the entry vignette"...  I think I need to go ShoPPing to get inspired/ pick-up some new/old vintage elements to work with!!!   Sooooo here's "more inspiration" from ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!  ViNtaGe Christmas Past!!!  Also ~ Do visit Debra at Common Ground for More VINTAGE INSPIRATION FRIDAY - Featuring "Christmas"...

BeSt "PeRfeCtLy ChiPPy!" ~"PeRfeCtLy SHaBBy!"  Time-worn Wooden Santa Claus!*!*!  ~ Be sure to "double-click" on  this one!!!  I displayed this entry vignette about "4 years ago"...  I just LoVed It!!!    Hoping inspiration will come for "this year" soon...

** ** **

Have a wonderful weekend ~ Wisconsin weekend weather -  snow and ice...  Good time to stay home, bake cookies, & create!*!*!

~  Jeanine  ~

**ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!** ViNtaGe Christmas Past Collections...

It's long over due for me to get my Seasonal Entry Vignette ready for Christmas...  I put the "anchor pieces"  up right after Thanksgiving - but that was it...  I guess I was just so focused on the past 2 shows I had been preparing for...   I usually view pics from "ChRisTmaS Past" to find some inspiration...  Here are a few pics from then...

 I just LoVed This PeRfeCtLy SHaBBy Wooden Box Tote!!!  I must have SOLD it at one time ~ never to be seen again...  What was I thinking????

This is my part of my "Snow Can" Collection...  I'm hoping to pick up another one yet this year...  I love old Ornament Hanger boxes too...

I have a HUGE Collection of Vintage Bottle Brush Trees...  Shown are some of the Green Ones with bling...

I remember having this empty metal planter in the garage for quite a few years...  Finally, last Christmas I filled it with greens, bling, & candles... - PeRfeCtLy SHaBBy!*!*!

**ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!** It's WHITE... ~ It's WEDNESDAY...

OMG!*!*!  Kathleen at FADED CHARM has over "100" Entries for WHITE WEDNESDAY!!!   Grab a cup of coffee ~ sit a spell...  Just click on the link above to enjoy ALL the other entries as well!!!

  I had pulled out this chippy-shabby white folding garden table to use as a prop in a Christmas display...    The Cherub with Urn was sitting next to it on the floor...  Then the GoRgeOuS ViNtaGe White Tree with silver sparkles made it's way to rest on the urn...

I'm already gathering items for JANUARY Shows... (I know it's a bit early...)  The Cherub is a perfect anchor for a VaLenTines Day Theme...

 My folding table is "Perfectly Chippy"...

I just love mixing-in a bit of "Vintage Garden"