fresh from the flea

I went to the Long Beach Antique Market Sunday morning, and I was really rusty about the whole flea market experience. While it happens once a month, I go maybe once a year, so I forgot how to do it. The unwritten laws of the flea market. The most important being if you see something you like, buy it. You can't walk the aisles while you ponder the cost, where you'll put it, will the husband like it? This was the first time I've gone by myself and it's just not a good idea for me, I need a sounding board. I'd like to think I learned my lesson this time, but just in case, I'm writing it down so that I can come here for a refresher the next time I go.

• If you like it, buy it. 
• Ask yourself: if someone else picked that up right now, would you be heartbroken? If yes, buy it. If not, move along. 
• Most vendors have Square, so if you don't have enough cash, don't worry about it. (I tend to think the money in my pocket is the only money have, so I better not spend it all in one place--what if the next booth has the Best Thing EVER and I don't have enough cash?!)
• If you miss out on an object, like an awesome bar cart that was a great deal and would have been perfect, don't beat yourself up over it. It wasn't meant to be. (Still kicking myself.)
• Your feet will thank you for making up your mind on sight, don't walk the whole thing three times because you can't decide! Make up your mind and get on your way. 

I did end up getting a few things I'm happy with, and this soldered glass planter was my last find of the day. The seller wanted $35, but a piece of glass was missing, so he talked himself down to $15, and then to $10. I really didn't say a thing, my silence seemed to make him keep dropping the price. I walked away unsure, just as I had all day. But I made my way back because I couldn't stop thinking about that dirty little planter.

The seller had wrapped that chain around the top so that it could be hung. But it's heavy with soil and plants and the soldering seems kinda fragile, so I think it will sit tabletop. 

All cleaned up. One piece is on a hinge for ease. Filled it with some cactus potting soil, along with some of the $1 succulents and cacti also from the flea market. You gotta love one dollar succulents. The metal basket is full of succulents that Dixie (our puppy) has torn from my pots.  I just collect them in there and let them dry out for replanting. It's a lovely cycle of pull out, dry, replant. That dog. 

Just quickie pics from my iphone today. Here's to a good week! 

three fifty.

We found this chair shortly after we bought this house, and I love it.  I don't love the dingy brown checkered fabric though.  It's tired and dirty.  I have been looking for a fun fabric for it since we bought it, something really graphic and bold, bright.  But I can't commit to anything big and bold (and expensive) when all the fabrics that I'm drawn to feel trendy, and I fear they will feel dated within a year.  

I want to play with chevron patterns, and ikats, but the pragmatic part of me can't spend the big money on upholstery.  I will save those patterns for accent pillows, and throws, things that can be changed out easily, and go with something more traditional and staid for the base of this great chair. 

We went to Fabric Barn, one of the great treasures of Long Beach, last weekend to get some craft supplies when I came across upholstery fabric for--you may want to sit down for this--$3.50 a yard.  For those of you not from around here, Fabric Barn has never been known for its fabric, it was a place to buy ribbon, this fabric thing is new.  So to find upholstery fabric there was a surprise, and it was even more surprising that I liked it. I found this soft blue that complemented our decor, and while I tried to walk away from it three times, I just couldn't leave it behind.  Three dollars and fifty cents, and I liked it.  It's way more safe than I wanted to go but it's so practical.  I could throw any patterned pillow on it and it would look great.  

It is also appropriate to the era of the chair.  I ended up getting two yards for $3.50 because there was a sticker in an odd spot so I have a lot of extra fabric.  Now I can buy a yard of some expensive Thomas Paul fabric for accent pillows with all the money I saved.  Yipee!

It should be back in a week and a half to pose for its after photos.  Perhaps while it's gone I'll see about refinishing our brass mail slot.  Yikes that thing is an eye sore.  

the office

blue & yellow

Just noticed this color combination happening naturally around the house today. I love it.
Folded bath mats.
A dress of Chloe's and a shirt of mine waiting to be ironed.
A wallpaper sample sitting in a bowl.
Sliced lemon in a water pitcher and a beach towel.
A cookie cutter and dish soap on the kitchen counter.

I am so behind on blogging.  Must catch up!  

A six-minute makeover

My husband had an idea last night, he said "I think those ugly things on the garage windows are just inserts--this weekend we should try and take them out and then maybe put some contact paper on the windows instead."  I agreed it was a brilliant idea, but I couldn't wait till this weekend!  I went out there this morning and tore them all out.  So funny, we both hated the way they looked, but never really looked at them to see if anything could be done about it, short of spending five thousand dollars on a new garage door.

They still don't match my dream garage door, but at least I don't hate it as much as I did yesterday!  

This weekend we'll see see if we need to do the contact paper for privacy or not.  

The Info:  I just gently pushed up on the inserts to pry them out from the edges.  A couple of them broke in the process, but I'm recycling those puppies anyway.  So happy to see them go.  No tools required, just a bit of muscle.  They had a ton of dirt behind them, so I quickly sprayed down and washed the garage door.  The six minutes included me taking before and after photos--I was at the peak of my coffee rush, I guess.  

This is the garage door I really want.  Time to apply for HGTV's Curb Appeal.  A fresh coat of paint and a new garage door would be so dreamy.

Benjamin Moore's Hazelwood 1005 with white trim would make a world of difference.  

Their color gallery is so much fun to play with.