As soon as I saw this project idea on Heidi's blog, I knew I had to give it a try: leftover coffee, coffee filters & a string of white lights...what could be easier than that? Well, it wasn't too challenging, BUT my version looks a bit like a second graders when you hold it next to the art teacher's example. As I continually tell my kids: "You (I) tried your (my) best". Heidi, major kudos to you for patiently attaching all of those "flowers". I got tired of it after 7, so a friend did the last 3!!!
I wanted to add some pictures of specific treasures I came across, during my excursion to my basement today. There are two old bicycles, propped in a dark corner, which I swear I've never seen. I found the coffee pot (which wasn't quite as vintage as I'd hoped), as well as a lantern that has, clearly, become the residence of the local arachnids. Think I'll clean this one before the creepy crawlies wake up. I also found a set of wonderful, antique bookends: with illustrations from "Moby Dick". The find of all finds, which were hidden in the recesses of the canning room, a set of yellow dishes with red poppies. There were 6 dinner plates, a large serving platter, a serving bowl, creamer/ sugar bowl & a few saucers. The pattern is lovely and are in amazingly good shape, considering they were shoved behind dozens of mason jars! Oh, I also wanted to share the vintage "machine" that haunts a space next to my washer & dryer. I'm not certain if it's a dishwasher or a washing machine and I don't dare open the lid, for fear of coming face to face with whatever might have claimed it as a residence.
When my kids and I moved into the house we are renting, over a year and a half ago, one of the hidden treasures I quickly discovered was the basement. The owner apologetically explained that I would have to "work around" mountains of "stuff" that was stored down there. The stuff, I soon discovered, was everything the family didn't immediately need/ want when their Aunt Peg (the original home owner) passed away. My landlord gave me carte blanche to use or re-vamp anything that caught my eye. In the first few weeks, after our move, I spent many heavenly hours down in the basement, sorting through Aunt Peg's leftovers. I couldn't believe some of the treasures that were cast aside by the family. I've refinished several pieces of furniture (one table I gave to my landlord & his wife for Christmas last year) and used bits & pieces of this & that in various projects. As time has passed, I assumed I'd found everything I could put to use. One of my fellow bloggers was showing off her recent thrifting finds and it sparked a visual memory of an old coffee pot sitting somewhere down in the crypt....my children's pet name for my haven. Little do they know that part of its appeal is that it is the one place, in the house, where they won't follow me! I went down to see if I could locate the coffee pot and my vision, of the remaining mementos, was rejuvenated. There are still so many abandoned trinkets down there, patiently waiting for the creative lightbulb to go off in my head. I snapped a few pictures to share. Perhaps something will catch the eye of one of you ever-imaginative ladies and you can inspire me.
