Christmas Tree Farm Trunk With Old Hinge Decor

The whole project began with the unearthing of these great green hinges.

With a little help from spraypaint I thought they would look like

Christmas trees.

I taped off the areas that I wanted to stay green,

and used a nice brown spraypaint for the rest.

Then what to do with them?

 

I dug this trunk out of my "antiques shed".

It was already green and had the license plate attached.

I added the handle (which had such great chippy paint!)

My husband painted the Kringles name.

I stenciled "TREE FARM".

I added the chain to keep it open,

and attached the hinge "trees".

So, for the holidays it can be left open for trees,

birch logs, etc. ...

and after the holidays it could be closed and

used for decorative storage.

Had about $10 in it, sold for $40 in 2017.

Vintage Patriotic Wooden Storage Chests

I'm at an auction where there is a transition in physical location going on.  People are migrating to Spot B.  No one is paying attention to the last few items being sold in Spot A.  Do I really want the huge old wooden storage chest?  No, but no one else is bidding at $2.  OK, whatever.  What about the medium old wooden storage chest?  Sure, I'll give $2 for it too.  Now they've identified me as a sucker, and even the auction staff is migrating.  Only Mr. Auctioneer and I.  Yes, I will give $2 for the baby one as well.

They aren't easy to store.  I can't leave them outdoors.  They aren't easy to sell.  And truthfully I am already sitting on one or two others.  But home with me they go.

I left the small and medium boxes blue.  Even though I am not a blue kind of gal.  This is the smallest one, it already had great handles and was painted white inside.  All I had to do was a little distressing and painting the lid. Of course I had to add license plates, which I am totally into for decoration.

It seemed like an appropriate time of year for some red, white and blue. 

I purchased the background gauzy cotton patriotic buntings at an auction a couple weeks ago, they are the coolest Americana items I have going.  Probably from WWII.  They will be on ebay soon.

This is the medium chest.

 

The baby has great rusty rollers.

 

It was a rainy morning,

so I also managed to produce several of these terra cotta pots as well.

 

FYI: According to several dictionaries, a "trunk" is a large case or box that can be used when travelling or for storage, whereas a "chest" is used only for storage.

 

 The huge wooden box I painted green, I won't go into the various reasons why.  Painted 1876 on the lid -- it was a fun centennial year (and won't look awkward if I still haven't sold it in August). 

I added rollers to make it a little more versatile, and handles on the sides.  We'll see how this small family of patriotic chests do in my booth.

4.11.15 Saturdays Swap Meet Vintage Finds

This is kind of part two of the Fur & Feathers blog post, click here to read it.  We came home with about half of a load, which is pretty good.  But last year was great pickings, click here to see that post.  Still, we managed to snag a good assortment.

Lots of nice metal items which will do great in my

outdoor space by the Rusty Chandelier.

 

The little blue striped oil can on the right is darling

In addition to the metal loot, I also purchased three

old yellow wooden boxes and an ancient trunk:

 

I painted one of the two larger wood boxes for contrast,

and to cover some "magic marker markings".

 

They still looked a little plain,

so I added these old license plates which I had laying around.

 

I loved the primitive old trunk with original chipping green paint.

It needs a little cleaning, and maybe some clear wax.

 

On the front of it you can barely make out a name --

"Rottermann".  Hopefully the cleaning and wax will

help highlight it.

First Junking Road Trip Of 2015

I was so primed for a junking road trip.  No junking possibilities around this frozen tundra, so we decided to head off to the promised land...Nebraska.  Friend Cindy (click here for background) allowed us to come shop her outbuildings.  

Cold and snowy?  Oh yeah.

Our husbands posing with the dogs,

and showing off her husband's newest creation...

the harvest table.  I wish you could see more of the

gorgeous rough-hewn top.

Bottom of one of her cabinet's I was drooling over.

Cindy was in the middle of rearranging some things in the house,

but I felt it was serendipitous how the yo-yo quilt

 ended up looking so beautiful stacked behind the glass.

 

It wasn't packed,

but it was a good maiden voyage.

Sunday Morning Barn Sale 8.10.14

Sunday morning sales are not very common in this area.  This family was getting ready to move after 30+ years in the same location.  They had cleaned out their barn and sheds.  We were glad we got up early and braved a little rain to shop the results of their efforts.

Lots of tables that looked like this.

 

Glider I bought that needs a little TLC.

Bikes my husband bought.  Classic 1970s.

Top of a carved trunk that said "BABY".

Sad story.

Front of BABY trunk.

Fun little dog that followed her people around everywhere.

You can see the sale in the background.