Frugal Displays for Thrifty Thursday...

I was busy creating displays again this week.  Let's look closer...

This first one is so simple.  The foundation is white candles and

 small wooden boxes and square baskets.  Small baskets and boxes

 abound at thrift shops - for pennies!  Add another white figurine and 

some greenery and 'boom' - you've got a display that can span the seasons.

This wool sweater caught my eye and again - these abound at thrift shops - 

for cheap!  The first scarf I paired with it sold immediately - so this one 

is '2nd choice' - but cozy.   This display is all about nubby texture!  

These big gold plates are easy to find.  And they work great for Fall.  

The pretty scarf acts as a linen with a starting point on a mug tree.  

Vignettes need varying degrees of height.  Just look at what you already have - in the proper heights - and add other things 

in the colors you need to make it work.  

Have fun!  ~Joyce

5 Vignettes - Vessels and Red & White Retro Kitchen...

Behold... some of my thrift shop displays from today...

This 3 tiered piece has been hanging around a while.  

The shelves are a little wobbly (it collapses) - so that may be why.

Do you notice the same vessels in these groupings?  These have

 been in the shop a while too.  They came in with their still new and

very pricey tags on.   And while we repriced them - 

they still seem high-priced to me & probably others.

I keep trying to make them look good so someone can't resist them...

And here's another of those vessels (really cool actually)...

Nothing overly special here in this grouping - just sweet and simple - 

trying to work around that tall bouquet which also isn't selling...

And I had room to do a whole new display today... 

so I pulled together a red and white vintage kitchen theme.  

(There's even more on the back side which I didn't capture.) 

 Red and white kitchen stuff is always a hit and I can't wait 

to see till next week if most of it sold.

Thanks for perusing with me...   ~Joyce

Spring In a Bowl - A 5 Minute Centerpiece...

This trough is most always in the center of my dining room table.

After weeks of ignoring it and the fact that it wasn't looking very 'springy' - 

I finally gave it a little update with things I had laying around...

The faux wild flowers are from Dollar Tree & yard sales.  

The butter pats are Quilted Nest inventory waiting to sell.

You can view them here and here.

After a 5 minute fix - this bowl definitely says 'spring' better than it did!

Seasonal decor needn't take much.  I simply had to stop and actually 

'do' something rather than keep passing by this bowl day after day.

What can you do in 5 minutes to change your world today?  ~Joyce
Linking to Talk of the Town

Lily of the Valley for Thrifty Thursday...

Some flowers it seems - are best enjoyed indoors.

Lily of the Valley is definitely one of them.  

Outdoors - I have several patches that look like this - 

with barely a flower in sight...

You have to look really closely to see the little bells tucked underneath...

Soloman's Seal is a similar flower.  

This one I do like in my flower beds and it also has sweet bells...

But indoors - we get a great up-close look...

See if you can find a free bouquet today.  And the aroma?  

Oh my!  Lily of the valley is one of the best!

Free pretties and free air freshener all in one.  

Certainly from the hand of an awesome Creator God.

Happy Thursday everyone!  ~Joyce

linking to Home Sweet Home

Boho Occasional Barn Sale Near Hershey, PA - Saturday Sightings...

Move over cottage, shabby chic, primitive, farmhouse and

 whatever other current style trend there has been lately.  

There's a new look in town... literally!

  

Today I (w/a sweet friend) did my first garage sale run of the season. (brrrr!!) 

One was advertised as a barn sale - so I made it my first stop.  

I knew the address well - it's a local landmark and the 

family homestead of friends of ours...

But one step inside that door and I was blown away.  

This was obviously not your average 'garage sale'!  Oh my...

This barn was stuffed to the rafters with displays so amazing 

I couldn't begin to take it all in...

I mean - let's put a gorgeous set of pink roses china in a pile 

of straw why don't we?  And throw in a rope while we're at it?  :)

(My favorite display of the day...)

An industrial desk was full of lab currations and more...

Furniture - yes they had furniture - 

very awesome and unique furniture...

See that chunky sea green beauty beside the flags?  

Lots of nifty art too. 

And though not shown here,  some pieces were huge.  

Enough to fill - well - a barn wall!

  

The property has lots of goats and chickens.  

 'Lambie' here was rejected by his mother and is being bottle fed.  

At 1 month old; he ran among the shoppers as the barn sale mascot.

You can be sure I gave him some love.  Here he's with his 

surrogate mother and shop owner... 

  

They plan to be open every 6 weeks or so and call themselves

 'BohemiAntiques'.  Did you catch that?  They're all about

  Bohemian style... just the look that's been catching my heart lately.

Boho has cropped up in this post and this post and this post and even way back in this post.

Look out Anthropologie... there are are few local gals giving you a

 run for your money - and MUCH, much more affordably.  

Be sure to check out their website right here for the address and 

any upcoming sale dates.

And yes, I found stuff... here and at another great stop. 

But this post is long enough - so keep checking the shop.   They'll be new listings this week.

This overflowing creek on the property was our view as we left...

What a great start to the season.  Thanks for joining me!  ~Joyce

Thrifty Thursday - Decorating with Open Books...

Here's a simple and thrifty decor idea for you... 

If you saw my post from yesterday on my china closet turned

 display case... you'll remember this little gem.  Sometimes it

 pays to open an old book and see what treasure awaits inside.

When I opened this old little school booklet I was struck 

by the pretty type fonts and chose to display it open.

How easy is that?

Same could go for any number of books.  Check out this 

pretty page on the inside of this old recipe book

Recipe booklet available here in my Etsy shop

Old school books are easy to come by.  Open to an illustrated page - 

add a few treasures and you're good to go.  

A wooden ruler would have worked well here too - maybe even some dried flowers... 

just something to draw the eye.

And my favorite open book to display - how about an old bible.  

And while I'm partial to old books - new books would also work.

  How about a charmingly illustrated children's book for in a nursery?

So pull out a book and get creative!

Stay thrifty my friends  ~Joyce 

Ordinary Objects Become Christmas Decor...

If you follow my Etsy shop or Facebook page - this post may be a repeat.   

But wanted to show you some fun I am having taking 

ordinary finds and transforming them into Christmas decor.  

It's a delightful Thrifty Thursday idea as well.  

Sometimes my Thrifty Thursday tips are on my FB page only - so don't miss them!  

Let's begin...

Boxes of all types make great Christmas display pieces.  

Think crates, baskets, old store boxes, etc.  This one is a tackle box...

 in rusty red.  So why not?  Just add greens and other Christmas goodies...

Tackle Box available here

Horns and antlers are fun to use too.  If they're already on your wall - 

hang ornaments or wreaths from them.  

If they're loose - add them to a bowl arrangement...

These spike antlers are available here

Old baby shoes are perfect to fill with sprigs of greenery.  

You could fill adult shoes too - but somehow they don't seem as cute.  (smile)...

These baby blues are available here

Both baby and adult socks can work for Christmas.  It just depends on their 'look'.  

Here - I've used all white toddler socks and created a garland on a ladder...

These very socks & more are available here

 And houseplants aren't necessarily 'Christmas'.  

But add some twinkle lights and garland...

...or put a Christmas decor piece in their midst - and you're good to go!

Stay tuned for more 'ordinary objects' ideas in the days ahead.

What a fun time of year.  So thankful to know the One came 

to earth so long ago - for me and for you...  ~Joyce

Linking to the Home Sweet Home Linky Party

Simple Fall Decor - 8 Ideas...

I've had fall in my  home for a number of weeks.   It's all really 

simple with just small additions here and there.  Let's take a peek...

We'll start with my favorite.  

It's simply an ironstone pitcher plopped with faux foliage that rests

 beside a new candle gift I received at the end of summer...

This grouping rests on my coffee table...

Across the room - this duo sits on my piano.  Some more 

winding foliage brings them into fall...

Moving into another room - a few fall additions to my plant table...

An urn vase with more plopped fall foliage...

A grapevine wreath from a previous year...

One little faux orange pumpkin makes this grouping say 'fall' 

with no other changes...

And finally - out to the porch where my sprinkling can and 

black wicker rocker move from summer to fall.

I told you it was simple!  

Thanks for joining me.  And Happy Fall!  ~Joyce

Domino Sugar and A Toy Stove Display...

Recently - I sold a little sample box of Domino Sugar...

The happy buyer was Kim in North Carolina.  Her plan?  

To include it in her child's vintage stove display in her kitchen .

It fits right in!  That's one sweet 'Little Lady'!

I love it when customers follow up regarding a purchase.  

Makes my day!

And there's still one more little sample box left...

Gerber Oatmeal Sample sized box available here

Anybody have a kitchen display that needs a box of baby cereal?

Hope you're having an awesome day!  ~Joyce