The Flower Crate Strikes Again...

Remember my vintage flower crate that sits in the middle of my kitchen table?  Well...my mom fell in love with it while she was visiting in May and so I shipped it back to Virginia for her birthday.  Then I needed another vintage crate...





Luckily, my friend and neighbor Amber deals in vintage wares and so she had the perfect replacement.  After a stop at Larry's Produce in the "You-Pick" flower fields, my chalk painted jars are now happily refilled in my new crate.  Loving all of the summer colors.

DIY: Spring Centerpiece with a Vintage Crate and Mason Jars!

 A few weeks ago I stumbled upon a neighbors garage sale and brought home this beauty of a box!  Vintage, perfect coloring, and wood in good condition.  Then I grabbed my chalkpaint colored mason jars (I made a dozen for a bridal shower back in February), filled them with purple wildflowers and viola!  A spring centerpiece on our dining room table!

Vintage crates like the one pictured above usually go for between $20-$60 depending on dealer, size, condition.  My neighbor gave me a generous price of $20; you can be sure I will be going back to her post haste :).

DIY: Vintage Bottlecap Magnets

You guys.  These are the easiest things in the world to make.  Like EVER.

Supplies Needed:

Vintage bottlecaps
Small circular magnets
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Step 1 - Find a source for old bottle caps.  Some people collect them, some find them on ebay, some find them in thrift/antique stores.  Me?  I have a guy on ebay that I get them from. Just search on ebay under the term "vintage bottle cap lot".

Step 2 - Go to Michaels or Home Depot and get a pack of small circular magnets to match up with the number of bottle caps you will be using.

Step 3 - with a hot glue gun, attach the small magnets to the back of the bottle caps.

DONE.

I completed my sets (which are sold in stores around the Bay Area as gift items and on my etsy site) by getting metal carpet tacks (I think that's what they are called) at Home Depot and backing with my business card.

So simple.  Great gift.  The end. Now go forth and create some of your own!

My Favorite Vintage Haunt: Napa, CA

I have a confession to make:  I have been keeping a secret.  A BIG secret :)  But now I am prepared to spill the beans about my absolute favorite vintage/antique haunt in Napa.  For those just joining, I live about 20 minutes from downtown Napa and consider the place an extension of my hometown.  I have been visiting the same thrift/vintage/antique stores there for many years now but ONE claimed my heart long ago as my FAVORITE.

It is called...

Antiques on Second.



I know...killer name, right?!  Just kidding.  Hey, they are keeping their location right there in the name of the store.  They are literally located on Second Street in Napa.  Doesn't get easier to find than that.

Treasures abound here.  Prices range from acceptable to a bit out of reach.  Inspiration fills the entire space.  It is a store where I have picked up brilliant vintage dresses that I will keep for the rest of my life, antique tea towels I have refashioned into cafe curtains, enamel earrings, dressers, tables, signs, small children's size chairs for my playroom, dollhouse furniture for my daughter; I could go on and on. 




(I spotted this treasure the other day and the only reason I didn't bring it home was that I have no current need for a dresser.  Which KILLS me.  Check out that amazing French burlap paint treatment.  Swoooooooon)

RUN don't walk to Antiques on Second.  I'll be right over.

Antiques on Second
1370 2nd Street
Napa, CA 94559

(707)  252-6353

P.S. I am not being compensated in any way by Antiques on Second for this glowing post.  I just really love the store and want to see others fall in love with it too.