Cheery Red and a Giveaway

It may be raining outside, dreary, cold and wet............ but I am keeping warm, surrounded by all my cheery reds. You know I love Red. It is evident in both my closet and my interior design. It makes me warm, cheery and oh so happy. What better way to celebrate a little Red giddiness than with Sue at It's a Very Cherry World for the ever popular and fun Wednesday is Rednesday. (Click here for the party.)

Please pull up a chair, pour yourself some coffee and let's chat. Don't you just love that barber's chair a $3.00 lawnsale find. The table and chairs are from an auction $50.00.


Red painted utensils, tins, potholders, cookie jars and aprons .......... makes a girl giddy!

Curtains made from vintage tablecloths, stainless steel cart, and a very diner feel with plates and ceramic red fork and spoon. The fork and spoon were Goodwill finds for $.99 each. The cashier asked me what on earth I was going to use them for as they were quite "garish". She was a new cashier at the store and didn't know me , yet.

Of course, now that the leaves are falling, thoughts are quickly turning to Christmas, my very favorite time to display my reds ..... angels, stockings and trees.

It was officially a year ago that I had A Conversation at Goodwill with my friend Tiff @ Folded Gingham about blogging. (Hence the title of this blog.) As we were perusing the aisles at our favorite place to be on a Friday night, she told me how easy and rewarding blogging was and suggested that I might like to give it a try. Admittedly, I am not the most computer savvy person, but am proud to say that I have learned so much in a year's time from assembling photo collages, adding text to photos and links to my posts. I couldn't of done it without the support of all the wonderful people that I have met while blogging, too many people to list in one post.


So here is a big thank you coming your way, a One Year Anniversary Giveaway.

1. Please leave a comment here telling me about a favorite thrift store find for one chance to enter.

2. Please post about the Giveaway on your blog for a second chance to win, as well as leaving me another comment that you have done so.

3. If you would like, follow my blogging adventures for another chance. Each follower automatically gets a chance. Thank you.

The prize you ask? Some of my Goodwill treasures. If you have been following along, you will be familiar with my vintage Goodwill scores. I will be showing pieces up through the 10th for your viewing pleasure. Thank you all for a wonderful year.

Please be sure to visit Sue and see all the fun reds at her party.

Got it at Goodwill
Sherrie

Welcome to my shop

My shop officially opened on July 10th. My apologies, I have been trying to post since the 11th. Between life in general and still working 40 hours at my "real job" and then all the hours at the shop, or spent getting things ready for the shop, it has been a bit hectic. I finally have gotten caught up on everything and now can go forward, that is until the holiday season. As tired and busy that I am, I AM HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE!!! Thank you for your patience.

Welcome to my Shop. (Sorry Bad Hair Day, curse this humidity!) Please let me show you around.

Doorway view of the shop. I made the curtains out of scraps of fabric and trim. I wanted them to look like aprons. What can be more vintage fun than red pom poms!

I am so very happy! So very, very, very HAPPY!!! I had customers. I had paying customers. I had paying customers with lovely comments!!!! Can you tell that I am happy? Last Saturday, not even pouring rain or having to walk up a flight of stairs kept people away. Of course I expected friends and family, but was so happy to meet and greet new folks. It was a pleasure to meet fellow blogger Julie of Dog Trot Farm who knew of my open house through A Conversation at Goodwill. Several other local bloggers have commented that they will be stopping by this summer and I so look forward to meeting them all.

It was interesting to see what items sold and was surprised in some cases. My Moose leg lamp (yes a real Moose leg) sold to a college student attending the Maine Maritime Academy. She couldn't wait to take it to her dorm room. After all, nothing says Maine more than a Moose leg lamp. A 10 year old girl bought my old Royal Typewriter. She just loved the sound that the keys made. The jewelry and clothing have been huge sellers along with Pyrex and cookbooks. I never get tired of hearing my customers say "My Nana or Aunt or Mom had that same vase, dish or apron. The shop has generated some happy childhood recollections for the folks that have stopped by to visit. I already feel like a success with just those comments. It means that I am finding desirable pieces for the shop.

Having such a small space 14x15, I wanted to make use of the whole space but did not want it to look too busy or topple heavy. You know what I mean, when you go to shops that have so much stacked that you are afraid to pick something up for fear of causing an avalanche of plates, pottery and assorted glassware, all very breakable. So I created "rooms" cozy little vignettes as if you were visiting someone's home. I used old photos to identify each space. I have Mama's Kitsch'n full of Pyrex and aprons, Aunt Lu-Lu's Closet with jewelry and fashions, Road Trip featuring Vintage Souvenir pieces from Maine and around the country, and Papa's Study with old maps, photos and of course that 1930 Philco Radio I recently found at a lawn sale. In addition to these cornerstone vignettes, I have several displays that will totally change out at the start of each month.

I have created a new blog titled 2nd fl Thriftiques just for the store. It is there that I will be showing detailed photos of each of the displays and when new things hit the shop. Please click here to see detailed photos of Mama's Kitsch'n. I will next be sharing photos of Aunt Lu-Lu's Closet. Please be sure to stop by for a visit.

This is a little step stool that houses some light green pottery pieces. On top is my favorite color green egg basket. Sitting on the floor is a metal tray that I have had for years. Love the color but the center of the tray had a bit too much rust. Problem solved with a little bit of sanding, primer and chalkboard paint.

I have had this little grasshopper for years, and am ready, although still sad, to part with it. I must ask, how do you collectors/shop owners part with any treasure? That is the hard part for me.

I have a children's area. This little doll's crib needed a little TLC. I made the mattress from an old curtain and the pillow is from an old pillowcase that had seen better days.

This is my vintage wedding display. I have wedding cake toppers, beautiful hats in white and ivory along with gloves and pearls. I have it all displayed on my ashtray turned display stand that I previously showed. The whole display feels like a 3 tiered wedding cake. Come the start of August, this display will be changed out for a new collection.


This area is Nana's Pantry with crocks and jugs and blue & white dishes. Hanging on the wall above this display are 4 unused Ford 1986 wheel covers. I think they look great as artwork. The license plates are from a World War II London. They also make great artwork.



Above Nana's Pantry are shelves filled with McCoy, Haeger, Shawnee and Hull, all dark green.

This jelly cupboard houses my pastels. I especially love the aqua pieces on top.



A 1960's dress and pillbox hat.

Part of Aunt Lu-Lu's Closet.

In the center of the room, I have this fabulous table with 4 chairs. It may be sold any moment as I have 2 customers vying for it. For the moment it houses barware and glasses. I added a man's tuxedo cummerbund and tie along with ladies hat, gloves and evening bag, to set the tone for a "Night of Cocktails" for this display.

More photos to come, quickly, I promise.

I still can't believe that my dream to own a shop has become a reality. Honestly it was a lot of hard work but at the end of the day, I wouldn't have changed a thing. Thank you , Thank you, Thank You, to all of you who took the time to leave such wonderful comments in showing your support. Whether it was seeing your successful booths or shops for ideas, or just receiving your words of encouragement, you gave me the courage to try. I am grateful for your support.

Sherrie

Wednesday is Rednesday. Welcome to my Kitchen.

Please join Host Sue at It's a Very Cherry World for a very cherry red party!

Wednesday is Rednesday. Welcome to my kitchen. When I decided to re-do my kitchen a few years ago, I went with a retro feel with lots of red accents. My home was built in 1854 and I believe the last kitchen makeover to the cabinets was in the 1940's. I just love the stainless steel hinges on the doors and the handles and would never change them. I designed the kitchen around my vintage table bought years ago at an auction. At that time, the table with leaf and four shiny yellow vinyl chairs cost me $50. Unfortunately the chairs had a few rips and I ended up selling all four at my lawn sale for $45. So come on in , sit down and pour yourself a cup of tea. Let me show you around.


This is one of my favorite pieces of McCoy. It picks up the blue of my wallpaper.


I collect vintage aprons. This one incorporates the red and gray of my table set. I found both the apron and the potholders at Goodwill. It was a very good day.

This wire basket holds plates and napkins. The napkins were $.59 each at Goodwill. The basket was purchased at my local Hannaford Market food store chain. This was somehow considered a Christmas item and I got it for $2.50 when Christmas clearance was at 75%.

I have had these plates for years. I just love the color. Maybe I got the wallpaper just to go with the plates? The kitschy fork and spoon were also Goodwill finds. The cashier, that has now become a good friend, just looked at me and laughed "I was wondering who would want to buy these. I should have thought of you."


Rather than one large picture window, I have four windows. I made 4 valances out of two vintage dishtowels cut down the middle and edged with seam binding tape.


I rarely buy anything on e-bay; however, I knew I wanted to display an old menu that picked up the blue and red of the room. I already owned the pair of deep red vintage frames. So for $6.00, I purchased a set of two menus. The other one will be used for a different project.














This is one of the four new chairs that I purchased at Target to replace the original yellow ones. The name of the chairs is "Lucy". Even at a cost of $20.00 a chair to go with my $5.00 table, my whole kitchen set only cost me $85.00.


This is a chair that I have by the windows. Purchased for $3.00 at a lawn sale, I think it came from a barber shop or hair salon. It is really comfortable.


Just a few more red accents: chicken trivet, red doorknobs, tea pot , and clock.

























You can see in the background of some of the photos, my curtains. They were made with a vintage red/gray tablecloth a few years ago but they have gotten a little faded and they never had the pop of color that I wanted. So I am making new curtains. I pulled together fabric from my sewing room stash and bought some new red fabric at Joann's Fabric for just $3.00 a yard. I am designing some new curtains that will each have the look of a vintage apron , complete with ruffles, trims, and pockets.


When I was describing to a friend my plan for new curtains, she asked if I would like some red pom pom trim. She had used yards and yards of this trim for a Christmas tree garland years ago and it was just sitting around her basement. I don't think I could have said yes, any faster or more eagerly. At $2.99 a yard, this trim is expensive. I am so happy she thought of me.

I will be delighted to show off my new curtains. Who knows, maybe in time for next Wednesday Rednesday. If you would like to see more photos of my kitchen and the old curtains, please click here. Don't forget to check out what everyone else is doing for red. It is such a happy color, don't you agree?

Unless it is red showing on your Fuel Monitor........ meaning 1/4 of a tank or less of oil. Oh bother, I was hoping to make it through the month of March before the next delivery. Oh well, the days are getting longer and warmer, right?

Have a good day.
Sherrie