Vintage Library Baby Shower

This past November I was fortunate enough to plan and design a baby shower for my Sister-In-Law.  Combining the mom and grandmothers-to-be's love for books and my love for vintage, "Once Upon A Baby" was the shower theme.

It all began with the invitations.  Handmade envelopes from old children's books and a library card style invite set the tone for this gender neutral/ jack-n-jill baby shower!

Tables were set mismatched china from relatives and flea markets and the menu was created with favorite children's stories in mind.

Menu:
Polar Express -  Hot Chocolate Bar
Miss Spider's Tea Party - Tea and Coffee Station
The Giving Tree - Mimosa and Juice Bar
If You Give a Dog a Donut, If You Give a Moose a Muffin & Blueberries for Sal - Pastry Bar
The Hungry Caterpillar - Fruit Salad
Ten Apples Up On Top- Apple Crisp
3 Little Pigs - Bacon and Sausage
Madeline - French Toast
Green Eggs and Ham - Quiche (Spinach and Feta & Ham and Cheese)

Centerpieces were stacks of old books and books covered with craft paper and stamped "Once Upon A Baby" and then topped with milk glass vases and pom pom "flowers". Take away gifts were homemade sugar cookies with nursery rhyme edible paper  (I found those here on Etsy)

Decor was kept simple - using leftover book paper from the envelopes, I created a bunting banner and stenciled on "Once Upon A Baby".  I also strung a clothesline of baby onesies that were then given to each table to create a unique onesie for baby!

Knowing that my sissie loved it and was showered with love made this event one of my absolute favorites!

Holidays at Home

This IS the most wonderful time of the year!  Holiday decorating has always been a love of mine and this year I've added a few new additions to my decor - one of which being a project I've had in my head since finding my grandmother's vintage Christmas ornaments!

Here she is in all her magical glory!  (and she lights up)  After finding this display mannequin at a flea market - I knew I found my "muse".  A bunch of t-pins and all my grandmother's ornaments and this is my new favorite piece!

I am always looking for new ways to use decor items such as this soda crate and glove mold hand (behind the wreath).  More of grandma's goodies complete the look!

I've been waiting for 11 months to put up this Christmas Tree sign and I found it the perfect backdrop to my thermos collection!

Finally, this candle set was marked "as is" at a local Antique store!  "As is" for some is "perfect kitch" to me!!  Adding a bit of holiday humor into my kitchen.

 

I hope you have enjoyed my holiday home!  Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season to you and your families!

a BIG TOP announcement!

 OPENING SOON!

 THE FLEA CIRCUS ONLINE SHOP

"The greatest vintage art,jewelry and handmade goods on Earth!" 

With the ease of wherever you may roam, you can shop Flea Circus Style. 

Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

"Spread the Joy, Share the Whimsy"

How Does Your Garden Grow?

It's that time of year when driving down the street makes me drool over the pristine lawns and lush floral that adorn cute homes.  I think "what do they have that I don't?"... answer:  a green thumb!

So after managing to squeak out some container herbs last year, I thought I'd out do myself and try flowers.  After googling for the 800th time the difference between Annuals and Perennials (which personally I think the terms are backwards but whatever) - I hit the local nursery.  My mission:  COLOR.  

When I got home I set out to do what I know best - look for junk to fill with flowers!  Here is what I did:

I am no where near done as this little arrangement exhausted both me and my wallet.  So while I work on installment 2, head on over to Funky Junk Interiors and see what she's been working on!

If you are feeling overwhelmed with a garden scenario (like myself) - start small... look for containers/vessels/rusty pails and teapots.  If you are using them indoors, simply fit a glass (or I've used recycled yogurt cups) into the item to allow it to hold water.  

Here is a great re-use of a vintage thermos!  Already meant for liquids, this makes a great statement even with the simplest of flowers!

Happy gardening!

 

happy suitcases means happy travelers

"We took the road less traveled, and that made all the difference." -Robert Frost

Well, we really didn't. We took a road that a lot of people have traveled to D.C.

Seeing all of the sites!

The Flea Circus and family saw all of the museums and memorials and honored this great country. So, with travel comes suitcases and...

We collect suitcases. When I say collect, I mean that we really do have a good collection and these items just seem to magnetize towards us. These suitcases are fabulous because they...
1. Have a hard shell
2. Are vintage 
3. Have unique fabrics inside
4. Have many stories and thinking about all of the places they have traveled too is just fun
5. Are inexpensive and make great display pieces

So what can you do with these suitcases?
Make them into a table
Use them to travel
Store magazines in them(my husband has no idea how many I have ;)
Store children's books
Hold dress-up clothes in a playroom
Tie a ribbon around them and display them
Stack them

Share your ideas! 

Tart Apple and Cool Breezy Blue Message Centers

Yes, it's all about splashes of color in your home and HAPPINESS and that's what we are bringing you today, Flea Circus Fans.

These message centers were created from pantry doors salvaged from a farm house in Southborough, Massachusetts. These doors have been crisply painted in tart apple and cool breezy blue, with fresh white on the backside. Chalkboard paint has been added to two sections for family notes, "to-do" lists, etc...A vintage Ball jar hangs from the tart apple message board with chalk.One will also be added to the cool breezy blue message center as well. ;)

These centers will add a *POP* of vintage originality to your home. Add some style with these message centers and SPREAD THE JOY; SHARE THE WHIMSY!

think pink and gray! repurposed dresser drawer

A drab brown dresser drawer needed some life, so I took out my brushes and paints and got to it!

I found some 1/2 priced quart sized gray paint in the discount section. The gray color is a perfect match for the bubble gum pink backdrop! 

The drawer will hang this way on the wall-tah dah!

Eye hooks hang on the inside to hang bunting, pictures, quotes, etc...

The deep shelf is perfect for bowls, plants, cookbooks, and ideas of your choice.

Imagine the possibilities of a dresser drawer and yes, this is for sale. ;)

Shop Our Style - Gold Dipped Table

So many wonderful things are happening at The Flea Circus!  And since New England is FINALLY getting some warmer weather - we've been able to get outside and work on projects!

But let's move on to our 2nd installation of Shop Our Style... First check out our newly styled booth at Crompton Collective

That magical cobalt blue table is what we are focused on today.  Styled with gold accents - this stunning piece would be a great pop of color in your foyer or living room!

Check out the before/after pics (and a great shot of the gold dipped legs)

From drab to fab!

Have you tried the color dipped technique?

60's Shrine

Today I am highlighting my amazing husband and his wonderful restoration of a vintage 60's Shriner's Model T car/kart.  

Meet Lizzie:

While I like to say I inspired his creativity - I can't take any credit.  He worked on this for years before I met him. Lizzie is a Shriner's car (typically used in parades).  Hubbie (and family) acquired her in the 1980's.  Once the boys outgrew the car - she sat, unused, gathering dust and rust.  

In late 2009, the restoration was complete!  In 2010, right around the time we began dating, we took her out and about to meet some pretty cool people!

Here she is meeting Wayne Carini of "Chasing Classic Cars"

And when the Pawn Stars came to Worcester... we took her over there for a little show and tell!

And finally, on May 6, 2012 - she finally took to the streets
(with the help of our sons)

Slowly we are learning more about these sweet cars that hold a lot of potential.  We plan to take her out more and show her off how she was meant to - parade style!

Do you have any Shriner car knowledge?  Tell us your story/memories/tidbit!

Vintage Bathroom Storage

No, my bathroom isn't vintage (unless you consider 1980's pre-fab a vintage), but my bathroom does lack storage - especially on the sink top.  That means, with only 1 bathroom in the house (YIKES) and 4 people, odds are the sink area will be cluttered.  And my husband hates clutter.  And his hatred has worn off on me :).  But lately, he has liked my creative ways of storing things - even when they are rusty/chippy/vintage!  BONUS!  

A few weeks ago, I eyed a perfectly chippy side table that would fit just right in between my bathroom sink and toilet.  It also had a shelf at the bottom - so 1 table + 2 shelves = more storage!

Sunday, I bought said chippy table, cleaned it off, slapped on poly to stop the chips from molting and set it in my bathroom.  While buying my new chippy (I am really enjoying this word today) table, I also came across some old coffee/tobacco/lard tins. Then it hit me... put them together - you have whimsical/industrial/vintage storage that makes your pre-fab home unique!

I am really loving how this turned out

Modern Milk Glass

One of my favorite flea market finds is Milk Glass.  There is just something about the multitude of designs and styles that I can't get enough of.  This love started with my grandmother - she had a collection going that was then passed down to me.  I am now addicted and thankfully you can pick up pieces for a few dollars at flea markets, thrift stores and yard sales!  Milk Glass seems to span the decades, reinventing itself and it's clean, simplistic look that works with just about any decor genre.  

Here are a few of the many ways I've used Milk Glass...

My vintage 40's wedding - milk glass was on every table:

At Christmas, vases held my colorful ornaments 

And for an Americana dinner I staged at work, they became pedestals for floral balls (which is also a great look for Valentine's Day centerpieces!)

How do you use Milk Glass?