Dime Store Chic

Estate Sale Adventures: Rack 'Em!

Hello, My Friends!~~

I travelled around the DC beltway today to an estate sale in a wonderful mid-century neighborhood in Hollin Hills in Alexandria, VA.

The house where the sale was held, however, was in need of repair and a paint job.

The house was the home of a crafter and there was an abundance of craft and sewing supplies, but some of the prices were quite steep for what the item was. I found out that the homeowner, a lady of 90, had dictated the prices and was quite firm on them. Well, OK! I did find some crafty goodies but my biggest score was a couple of racks that were so reasonably priced, I couldn't refuse.

Here is the first one. A hardware store display from the 60's and the cost was a mere $12.

This is either going to be in my studio or the greenhouse, however the wonderful imagery might fade in there. I just love this!

The next rack was a perfect score at only $6.

The jadeite green paint is fabulous. This a clothes drying rack but adjusted vertically, it makes fun display rack.

Nifty!

I carried these racks and my others purchases down the longest wooden front door stairs in the world!

At a quick pit stop on the way home I found a hitchhiker on my windshield.

He made it home with me. safe and sound.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!~~~XXOO, Beth

 

Dime Store Christmas: Over-the-Top!

Hello, My Friends!~~

I have recently created three HUGE tabletop Christmas decorations! I have been making Christmas decorations from vintage and new materials with dime store inspiration for years now, but never have I made anything of this size. All are in Dime Store Chic if you would like a closer look, but here they are for a quick peek!

This HUGE tree is nestled in a vitage Miss Cutie container and measure 25 inches tall!

A very vintage Santa and his bag of holiday cheer rests in a red metal sled!

A happy elf decorates a 13 inch tall bottle brush tree tucked inside a metal Radio Flyer wagon!

For a closer look, I invite you to stop by Dime Store Chic! Thanks so much and have a great day!~~~XXOO, Beth

Hey Hey, New Wreaths in Dime Store Chic!

Hello, My Friends!~~

I recently added three over-the-top vintage ornament and MORE wreaths to Dime Store Chic!

Here is a peek...

I am a sucker for a sweet face. Aren't you?

Thanks for stopping by!~~~XXOO, Beth

Vacation Pin Cushions

Hello, My Friends!~~

When I go on vacation I like to take a project to work on OR take nothing and look for items to use in projects, you know, to sort of see which way the day takes me with what ever materials I can find. Here is the result of a recent four day vacation at the water that was coupled with blissful relaxing craft fun...

Mini pin cushions! At an estate sale way out in the country, I found a cache of vintage wooden spools, vintage sweet plastic animal figures, and a wonderful and worn antique dictionary. At a fun rural quilt shop I found a whimsical assortment of fabrics as well as vintage trims, buttons, and millinery.

It was a joy to just sit and create while looking at a wonderful view of a lovely river just off the Chesapeake Bay. These mini cuties are now availble for you in Dime Store Chic. I like how things just came together on vacation. Isn't that the best?!~~Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!~~~XXOO, Beth

Bags O' Holiday JOY!

Hello, My Friends!~~

Just listed in Dime Store Chic! Here are two vintage holiday fabric bags chock full of vintage and retro holiday joy!

I added a fun glittery letter JOY banner to the front too!

Fun to hang on your door for vintage holiday cheer!~~Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!~~XXOO, Beth

The Prettiest Infomercial EVER!

Hello, My Friends!~~

Check this out! This is the prettiest infomercial I have ever seen!

 

A great message and a hauntingly gorgeous animation! Enjoy!~~~XXOO, Beth

Mid-Century Kitty

Hello, My Friends!~~

In the previous post about the District Flea, I said I found only two things. One of which was a fabulous Dream Pet style vintage cat with great mid-century design!

Kitty needed some repair. I fixed him up and gave kitty a new life as part of one humongous pin cushion!

I have some small pieces of this great kitty fabric with great Eames style chairs on it. I thought they would work well with mid-century Kitty.

I loved this kitty the minute I saw him and paid more than I usually would, but I had to rescue him. You would too if you saw him in that box of other stuff and those big almond eyes looking up at you.

Mid-century Kitty is going to a new home! Yay! Thanks, Colleen, for adopting him! Thanks to all of you for stopping by!~~~XXOO, Beth

Visiting The District Flea

Helo, My Friends!~~

Saturday, Sept. 14th, was the first day of the District Flea market on Florida Ave. in Washibngton, DC. This flea market is the concept of the fellows who host the famous Brooklyn Flea in NY. They have extended their prowess down here to Washington, DC with what they claim is a highly juired show (free admission to!). We decided to pay this new flea a visit. The day was gorgeous and it seemed like a good day to venture into DC. Everyone was out and about and driving through the narrow residential streets proved challenging to not hit any joggers who ignore crossing signals or speedy bikers who have no sense of traffic laws. Despite that, we made it to the District Flea without running anyone over and secured a parking spot nearby--BUT the sign reading that it was a permit only spot was obscured and we just didn't look for one in the first place--that cost us a $30 ticket. Sigh...but on to the flea market!

The crowd was bustling under the canopy of gorgeous crisp blue sky.

Oh my goodness, there were lots of really nifty interesting things to see and purchase if you had enough cash!

Despite the fact that booth set up was in the middle of an empty lot, the dealers worked at making fun displays.

Bet this cute car didn't get a ticket!

There was an abundance of dealers selling vintage clothes and mid-century furniture and accessories.

These molded chairs and Hawaii travel poster were quite cool.

Hubby liked this huge battery!

We couldn't find his name in these patches, but we did find a patch for "Otto." Do you know an Otto?

Vintage Chinese style chairs with interesting details.

I loved these fire alarm covers, salesmen samples, but could not at the moment decide what to do with them. Quite cool, though.

Food vendors lined the tall wall of the building looming iover the parking lot which offered welcoming shade in the morning.

In conclusion I bought very little, but I love what I did buy. If you are looking to decorate your home in great vintage pieces this is the flea market for you. And if you are looking to decorate yourself in wonderful vintage clothes and jewelry, this is the place for you. Just read those parking restriction signs!

When we were done at the District Flea we heading over to P Street to a fun place called Stoney's for a lunch of their famous grilled cheese.

Nice to end our visit to DC on a delicious tasty note!

XXOO, Beth

Craft Stash Hallway

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I keep the stash of vintage goodies that I use in Dime Store Chic creations in the basement hallway that leads to my studio which is tucked away in the corner of the basement. It's a real room and I do love my creative space so much. But you may (or may not) be interested to see where I store the bulk of the vintage materials I use in my creations. The photos aren't too glamorous but it may give you an idea of how you can use any available space in your home for storage--cheap storage.

First I start with simple wooden storage shelves we found at IKEA. Then I got some fruit/produce boxes from the local warehouse store. Some of them I decorated with a little paper on the end. I have so many little vintage crafty goodies that these boxes are the perfect place to store them AND to see them. The boxes weigh very little when empty and are learge and shallow enough to allow me to search though the goods within to find the right piece for the right project.

Of course, some of the vintage pieces are large and delicate, like these ornaments, which I leave in boxes until use or stack them gently in a large shallow box.

That's about it. Very simple. Cost effective too. I really love those produce/fruit boxes for storage!

Oh and here is a sneak peek at what I am working on...

Have a fabulous weekend!~~~XXOO, Beth

 

Estate Sale Adventures: Grey Gardens

Hello, My Friends!~~~

I recently hit an estate sale right smack inside the beltway here in the Washington, DC area. The strange thing about this sale was not the items within, but it was the location. It is rare to have a house tucked away on property inside the Capitol Beltway that is an acre (and wildly expensive too!), but this property was situated on 5 acres. And these acres are hidden away behind a fresh development of McMansions. You cannot see the house from the road, in fact the paved road dead ends where the gravel and grass driveway of this secluded DC area "Grey Gardens" sits.

The curving driveway passed by a mailbox that had seen better days.

Then around the bend the house revealed itself standing tall on a hillock carved out of a dense forest.

I tried to imagine what this house was like in its prime. It looked like a house built about 1920 and then added onto over the years.

The back of the house was wood siding mixed with vinyl. This is where we entered the sale.

The garage was charming.

So were the stables, long vacated by its former equine occupants.

 

The five-acre wood surrounding the house did not yield Winnie the Pooh or Christopher Robin, but it gave the house a strong sense of deep seclusion and quiet from the interstate not too far away.

The side of the house was painted brick dyed green by moss and algae.

The details of this old place were enchanting.

Just charming.

I heard from one of the folks running the estate sale that the house would be torn down and that the land would be subdivided for more homes. Typical stuff that happens inside the Beltway.

I can understand, though, why the house would be torn down after going inside. It was dank, smelly, and full of mold and mildew. Too far gone. I found nothing there to buy as I draw the line at heavy mildew on things. But I did find value in my morning for visiting a place I would never have known about were it not for the estate sale. I bought nothing but I felt fortunate to have seen this Grey Gardens and taken away the memory and a few pictures.~~~Thanks for taking this estate sale adventure with me!~~~XXOO, Beth