"I've Been Framed"

Large Chalkboard frame

My hubby...always here for me

Found vintage gold frames

Repurposed beautiful for any special occasion

And still a lot more to finish...

     I literally have a wall of vintage frames that I have collected and repurposed to functional chalkboards. So you might ask what do you do with them....well I will answer that question very shortly but not in this post! Whenever I'm out at the flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales or where every I'm looking for them. Fortunately they usually find me and I happily bring them home. 

     I'm thankful for my hubby who always does a great job making sure that they look very beautiful and neat. So until next time and hopefully sooner I'll show you some other things that I'm doing. 

     Until then happy collecting, thrifting and thank you very much for stopping by.:)

     The Blue Farmhouse

"Not Just Another....Mirror"

New find

Sold

Repurposed

A few of them

     If you have followed "The Blue Farmhouse" for any length of time you're well aware of my love for these grand ornamental vintage mirrors. And I have lots of them in different shapes and styles but each one as beautiful as the other. I don't always paint them white but I have developed an affinity for this color... well for some things. I guess you could say it's the new black and with all the other colors surrounding them the white just stands regal.

      Usually I will place a pair of vintage lighting or gold candelabras on either side and it looks great. Recently a few of my very large white mirrors were used by a bride in her dressing room for the bridesmaid and of course the bride. I was more than happy to see them serve a beautiful functional purpose like... a wedding.  

     Thank you to my followers for your support and sweetness and I invite you to check me out on Instagram too. Until next time happy collecting, thrifting and pop on over to see what I'm up to on Instagram.

     The Blue Farmhouse 

"My Vintage Armoire Find"

My Blue Farmhouse Favorite Find 

(after)

Move in day

I love this skeleton key

Stuck drawer...determined guy 

Opened...finally

     This is a story of one of my most favorite finds so far with lots (I mean lots) of pictures. It begins with a weekend trip to a couple of thrift stores. I walk in and my eyes scope out my surrounding quickly. Have you ever heard the saying "You snooze you lose" well that has happened to me a few times. Truthfully most of the times it appears that it's sitting there already mark sold to Miss Blue Farmhouse.

     So as I walk to the back I spot this vintage armoire and my heart is pounding out of my chest. I literally can't believe my eyes and then I think play it cool so you can get a better price. Price!?! Who cares I want this piece even though it requires a rearranging of my house or a bigger one. Thankfully my husband sees my vision (well kinda) and we make the purchase. Needless to say we are very happy and I think he loves it more that I do.

     Thank you for listening to my short story and I do hope that you'll come back for the next one.

  The Blue Farmhouse

"Another...Vintage Mirror"

New location

Vintage mirror find

Beautiful ornamentation

Sold!

     Just in case you've been wondering where is she? Well I'm still here and I'm excited to share my latest Blue Farmhouse find with you. It's an absolutely beautiful, ornate and heavy vintage mirror. Even more so I'm thrilled that I found a new place to look for finds. Totally unexpected and I can hardly wait to return for a few other...mirrors! 

     Thank you for dropping by and I hope you return to see my other amazing finds. Until next time happy collecting and thrifting....

     The Blue Farmhouse

"Splurge A Little"

Rooms & Gardens 

Blue & White Bedroom

Livingroom

Something special out back

     My very first post into this enormous creative world of "blogging" featured a post on this gorgeous shop Rooms & Gardens. There's not one thing in this shop that you wouldn't want to take home but that will depend on your wallet and budget. I've purchased some smaller items and despite most things over my budget it doesn't detour me from drawing inspiration each time I step inside. 

     So what's my philosophy on decorating my home? I mix and match new pieces along with quality thrift store finds. Furniture is one of the largest investments we make in our homes and so choose wisely. You'd be surprised at what you can find at thrift stores, consignment stores, estate sales and even a yard sale. Remember choose quality, mix and match the vintage with the new and then own it. 

     Every home is personal to it's owner and no two are alike. Your home is different from mine and my home is different from yours and I'm positive that both are beautiful. So whatever I may have or can afford there's an abundance of inspiration at our fingertips...just waiting to help us make our houses beautiful.

     Until next time happy decorating, thrifting and go on "Splurge A Little"...if you can. Thank you for dropping by and I hope you will visit again.

     The Blue Farmhouse

Goodbye Old- Hello New

Vintage yellow hutch 

Time to unload

New thrift store find...Antique cabinet

It's huge and beautiful

Still some work to do

     It was in July 2012 when I first laid eyes on my first vintage hutch. I wouldn't necessarily choose the color yellow however this one was reminiscent of ones you'd find in Tuscany or Provence. In fact it reminded me of something you'd find in a home of the 1960's. As you can see I've had it for 3 years now and frankly I don't ever see myself parting with it.

     And recently I came across what I lovingly refer to as "the beast"...this beautiful antique cabinet. I was immediately smitten with its' intricate detail on the top and the feet.  You know that feeling that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you contemplate it and go back and look at it. Well I did that a couple of time and fortunately was able to get it for a "song and a dance". That means cheap! 

     I will admit that I miss the yellow hutch (it's in the garage) but I'm having fun decorating my latest find. I think all I want to add it an big white tassel on the skeleton key and that's it. 

     Thank you dropping by and until next time happy collecting and thrifting...

     The Blue Farmhouse

"Cinderella"

"She spins...

...and she sways

Another BFF (Blue Farmhouse Find)

Thank you for dropping by....

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays/Without a care in the world

And I'm sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day and there's still work to do/She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!

There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited/And I need to practice my dancin'

Oh please, Daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella/While she is here in my arms

'Cause I know something the prince never knew

Oh I will dance with Cinderella/I don't want to miss even one song

"Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone

(Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman)

     I just happened to drop into a store just to wind down after a long day at work...and the rest of course is history! As I head to the back of the store I notice a backroom door opened and saw this mirror. I wasn't sure if this was a place allowed for customers so, I politely inquire from the owner if it where possible to take a look at something that "caught my eye". She cordially responded, "Sure honey, for you." 

     I knew immediately I had found another treasure in this ornate old vintage mirror.  There's just one thing...as much as I love it I know that I'm planning to sell it here at "The Remnants of The Past Vintage Show" in beautiful Santa Barbara.

     If you're an interested buyer let me know and I hope to see you at the show in November...I can hardly wait!

     The Blue Farmhouse  

"Painting and More Painting"

Any clues?

Latest finds

See more on my Instagram

All done

Before picture

After pictures

     It took me a couple of days to transform this gorgeous mirror from gold to white and I'm very happy with the results. I was very anxious to get started and finish because of two reason...I like instant gratification and I was painting in the living room. Thankfully I have a big living space and it didn't matter but I still wanted to finish sooner rather than later. Do you ever wonder what home your finds come from? I wonder all the time who just gives this good stuff away? Either way I'm glad that I have been the recent recipient of some great finds.

     I thought of several places to put this mirror while keeping in mind that it's a beast (very heavy) but I certainly wanted to make it a focal point. I believe that I've found a good spot and you can check it out on my Instagram. Who knows how long I'll keep it there and that's the fun part of thrifting and collecting because you can rearrange things whenever you want. Who knows what I might find next but you'll have to come here to see....thank you for your visit.

     Until next time happy collecting, thrifting and painting your treasured finds...

     The Blue Farmhouse

"A Quick Glimpse"

A beautiful process taking place

No turning back

All cleaned and taped off

A work in progress...stay tuned

     Well as you can see I have been busy over the last 48 hours. The weather has been hot so I'm painting in my living room. Thankfully it's a big open space without the possibilities of someone bumping into it. All of the above images I posted on my Instagram and you can check out some other beautiful finds too. 

     Hopefully, I'll be done painting and aging this mirror by next week and I do hope you'll return for the big reveal.

The Blue Farmhouse

"Not Just Another Day"

Today's finds

A beautiful floor length mirror

Ornate details

Thank you for dropping by

     I don't believe that this saying..."just another day at the office" will ever be synonymous when it comes to treasure hunting at thrift stores. I always leave with high hopes and a fist full of dreams...but you just never know what awaits you. So, I'm very happy to share with you my beautiful, tall and ornate mirror. Isn't it beautiful? The last time I found a mirror of this size was a couple of years ago at a thrift store.

      Then I stumbled across this basket and although the straps need some work (or not) that was the immediate appeal. Lastly I found a really nice lampshade that I'm sure to use or change out to freshen up things around the house.

      I appreciate you dropping by and I hope that your day was "not just another one" at the office for you. Until next time happy collecting, decorating and thrifting....

     The Blue Farmhouse