It's a piece of architectural salvage. From what? I have no clue. Ofcourse I asked Mr. Pretties to turn around, and pull over on a main road so that I could take a closer look. Arc. Salvage is huge around here, I think I may save myself the hassle and just sell it right to a dealer. It is heavy as sin, my. god. I lifted it and then started laughing because it was so ridiculously heavy, which made it all the more worse because ofcourse now I'm going to drop it while trying to get it into the Buick and dent Mr. Pretties car, then thinking that made me laugh harder. It did infact get into the trunk though with no major incidences. Who picks this stuff up? Honestly?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
How Does This Stuff Find Me?
Monday, December 29, 2008
My Sweetheart Has A First Name...
Mr. Pretties and I (ahahaha I say Mr. Pretties like he's part of the active search mwahahaha) have been searching for the trunk for years. Literally. I've seen many I liked, believe you me, but none that took my breath away (Seriously, you'd be surprised how many old pieces do that too me... you should hear me searching Kijiji and Ebay it sounds like someone's continuously taking their last breath at the computer). I lied. There was one, it was a puny little thing that was very ornate and adorable. Great shape and we could have got a fantastic deal. Not to mention I'd been checking Aberfoyle all summer to see if it was 'still there'. Alas at purchase time Mr. Pretties and I got in a raucous which lead to me stalking off over dramatically and waiting in the car in true spoiled brat style. Hey, don't you judge me, you don't live with Mr. Pretties. Ofcourse the following weekend when we went up to purchase it it was no longer. Murphey's Law. I'll be honest, a few tears were shed over that one.
But as I was stalking (Yes, that's what you call it when you have RSS feed on Kijiji) Kijiji lastnight I came across that beauty dated between 1880 and 1915, at a fabulous deal, in wicked great condition (only missing the trays). We hopped in the car first thing this morning and picked it up from it's home over an hour away. Love. It. As we were hauling it home Mr. Pretties said the silliest thing: 'You're taking that to Aberfoyle, right? You should be able to make a nice profit off that one!' Rriigghhhtttt... for sure I'm going to sell it... to myself. I'm definitely going to sell it after a life long search for my sole mate in wood. Please. Maybe I'll sell Mr. Pretties. He is an antique after all...
Sunday, December 28, 2008
A New Vice In Life...
I just happened to be junking. Again. And as I was making my way to the pillow case section, to get myself some vintage linens no doubt, I saw a huge bag full of buttons. Now, a normal person is saying 'Yuh huh... so?' and they would have kept on walking. Not me, I snatched up that bag like it was a bag of gold and there was a line of gold diggers standing behind me. The older lady standing there checking out the vintage patterns looked at me like I was nuts. Which, ofcourse, I am. Clearly. I then walked over to Mr. Pretties with a big stupid grin on my face and proudly showed him my loot. I believe he said something along the lines of 'Riiigghhhtttt.... and you're buying that? I'm not even going to ask why. Nope I'm just not going to...' and walked away. Quickly.
I sorted them lastnight and there were 1236 buttons. Some were glass, some ceramic, possibly some bakelite and celluloid. Some were so old they were no longer round, which is so sweet, it's like someone kept sewing those little sweethearts onto blouse after blouse until they were too small for the button holes after years of fingers buttoning them. That makes me feel all warm inside... I spent two hours just sorting them, examining them and totally loving on them. I totally get how people collect them.
I've now won three ebay auctions for some Victorians and some fabulous cameos, I cannot wait to get them. I'll post pictures soon, I don't need Mr. Pretties wary glance as he sees me busting out 'those stupid buttons' to take pictures of them. Especially since I don't take his picture or anything...
Have I shared my need to open an antique shop eventually? I've now decided that I would love to get some antique candy jars from the old sweet shoppes and have the buttons sorted some how (haven't decided yet...) and have them in the big old jars with little metal scoops, customers can then scoop (or pick, lets be realistic, there'll definitely be some picking going on) the buttons into old fashioned paper bags and weigh them on the antique scale (as we'll be selling them by weight ofcourse) like you see in the bulk stores. Wouldn't that be fun? Now I just need some old jars. And a scale. And, well, a shop would be helpful too...
*Sigh*
So that's were we've been at lately. Christmas was lovely, magical, loud, and I'm glad it's over. It's so nice to not have to be rushing around, cursing at Mr. Pretties about things we still have yet to pick up, cleaning the house, cleaning the house, reprimanding the LPs for sabotaging my continuous cleaning efforts, and, my lack of interneting as been unfortunate. Have I mentioned Mr. Pretties is on vacay and is absorbing a lot of my time again? He is, and he has. It's really rather selfish of him, I know, I've told him. He doesn't care. Luckily this coming week is his last one.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Cute Idea...
I just wanted to share that simply sweet (and most importantly, yummy) idea with you all. It wasn't even an original idea, how sad am I? Mr. Pretties is on vacay for the next two weeks though, and we all know how that eats up blogging time. Two words for you Santa. Net. Book. Then I could pretend to be participating in a conversation, family time, whatever, but really be blogging away.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Dearest Santa...
I've been a very good girl this year, well, except for that time... oh, yeah, and then there was that time... okay, okay let's not get into that just now. We all know I was mostly good this year. No Santa, it is not bad to buy an old piece of furniture and tell Mr. Pretties I paid way lots less for it than I actually did. That's called the healthy approach to a happy relationship. Honestly, you should try it! Does Mrs. Clause know how much you paid for that red suede and white mink suit? Huh?! Uh huh, that's what I thought...
1. Sony eBook Reader
2. Sony eBook Store Gift Card - Unlimited Please
3. One Pink NetBook. I'm not picky on brands or anything, so long as it's pink and will surf the net in true WiFi style I'm good to go.
4. An email from someone who'd love nothing more than to adopt a cat that likes to randomly pee everywhere. You know, because I sort of can't deal with this anymore... Help a girl out here!
5. An antidote for the 'Ass Kicking Eeyore' disease Mr. Pretties seems to have caught and can't rid himself of.
6. A straight jacket for LLP. It's for her own safety, obviously.
That is all. Merry Christmas Santa, and keep an eye out for your cookies and beer, I'll leave them beside the fireplace. Oh and sorry about the cheap beer, but you know, Mr. Pretties works at the brewery and that's what we get. I know, I know, slim pickings Santa, but I'll bake the cookies myself ;)
Thanks Santa.
Love, Jenn
Wow...
It comes in pink. It's small, pink, and it can allow me to blog, research, and email. Fantastic. That's all I need. Now from my pitance of knowledge on the PDA horizon, this is really not any different than, say, a Black Berry, but for some reason I just want it 5,000 times more. Maybe it's because it's pink. I just think this is so cool. In two days I've come across two pieces of technology that would improve my life ten fold. I suppose I could read ebooks on my Netbook, but come on, who wants to miss out on the whole eInk experience? Surely not I.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Greatest. Invention. Ever.
I don't do technology for the most part. I don't own an mp3 player, and I don't want to. My cellphone is uncharged and dead somewhere, I wouldn't even know where to begin to look for it. And I don't care. We don't have a GPS. We've debated it, but, we like getting lost. It's sort of our thing. We don't have portable DVD players either. Infact, we don't even have cable *Insert shocked face here* but we usually don't for the summer because we're either never home, or never ever in the house to watch it. In the winter we're just like everyone else and obviously I'm a big fan of HGTV, Antiques Roadshow, and the like. Also, we all know I have an unquenchable need for a pink Dell laptop. Aside from that I thought I'd beaten technology for the most part (A computer is considered technology anymore, is it?)
Until today that is.
Meet my new best friend:
Group, say hello to the Sony eBook Reader.
I'm a huge reader and am forever having to listen to Mr. Pretties complain because there's a 3' stack of books on my bedside table, dresser, on top of the fridge, on the mantel, in his drawers, etc... do you know how much time this would save him?! He'd have to find a whole entire other entity to complain about to fill the void this would create! You also save approx. 10% on your book purchases from the eBook store.
I knew you could download books, but sitting at the computer trying to read totally didn't appeal to me at. all. But, the Kindle and the Reader have 'paper technology' so that looking at the screen is almost identical to looking at a page and not a screen at all. I'm sorry, but how amazing is that? If you see the pictures online of the screen you'll see what I mean. It's seriously like looking at a piece of paper. I get migraines from reading too much on a screen and I think I could totally handle this. You can also adjust the size of the text so that it's just right for you (or me. Obviously). Fabbity fab I tell you!
This is truly what I want for this Christmas, Easter, my Anniversary, my Birthday, etc... Now if they could throw in a Black Berry so that I could blog during the night, that would be even better. I'm sure they can arrange that....
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
*Big Sigh*
This one is really cute, it's sheer organza with a vintage apple print. So cute.
There's just something about this one that I really like. It's so crisp and neat, and the colours are really relaxing. Can't you picture someone's mom or grandma in the kitchen baking a pie in this?
I was going to share my vintage linen pillowcases too, but they sort of need to be ironed. A lot. Especially after sitting in the dryer all night, and, I'm not really in the ironing kind of mood... that really only happens once a year and it's already happened for this current fiscal year thanks.
I'm Just Not Funny Today...
Monday, December 15, 2008
Ahh... Sweet Sweet Remedy...
Infact, so remedied is my situation that we went junking this morning and picked up some embroidered vintage linens, tables runners, and some really cute vintage aprons. Love them. Once I have them all cleaned up I'll be posting pictures.
Just so you can see how nuts I really am.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Locked In...
*Snort*
*Turn, turn, turn-turn-turn-turn *
So, we had the following discussion through the door.
About 30 minutes later a knob, accompanied by a broken door knob, emerged from the bathroom prison. I have to say I was more than a little disappointed... Kidding... Mostly...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
My Name Is Jenn...
*Hi Jenn...*
*Jenn, is there anything you'd like to share with the group today?*
'You know Pam, I think there is. My husband sent me to this group to seek out the support of people with the same type problems as me an-'
*Jenn, old furniture hording is not a problem, it's simply a personality quirk that you have to work to control*
Antique Hutch/Server w/peeling veneer. Bowed front glass. I think it would be fabulous stripped, painted antique white w/glass knobs ($55):
And atleast 10 other items that there are no longer pictures of. Notice the prices are quite reasonable. Also notice that I am not a driver. If I were I would not be discussing these purchases with Mr. Pretties prior to bringing them home. As it stands though, Mr. Pretties must consent to go with me to pick these items up, and, well, if he thinks we have too much furniture, no room, or something entirely ridiculous like that, then I lose.
Part of our problem is, say, take the server. Our conversation mostly goes like this:
Me: Mr. Pretties, check out this server, isn't it fabulous?!
MP: Uh... it's all chipped and it's that veneer that you don't like...
Me: *Dramatic sigh* I know that, it would need to be stripp-
MP: When do you have time to strip it?! Where are you going to put it while it's being done?! Do you know how to strip furniture because I don't!
Me: Ofcourse I know how (I could look it up, ask the landman, sand it all off... whatever) and I'd find time, it could go in the basement for now.
MP: Uh... Jenn? WE CAN'T MOVE IN THE BASEMENT AS IT IS!
Me: So?
MP: I'm going outside to have a smoke. Please don't talk to me about servers anymore.
Me: Whatever (We will be discussing this later my friend... you just wait...)
Is it my fault we have ten pieces of antique furniture in our 10x10 dining room and can't walk in it? Okay, it probably is, but I plan to have a big house one day, so it's totally acceptable. If only Mr. Pretties could 'see' things the way I do before we purchase them then he could see how that server would make a marvelous shabby chic piece and would be all over it for a mere $55. He lacks imagination though. Now if I told him I could buy it, strip it, paint it, flip it and profit $100 - $150 he'd be all over it. Men.
By the way, the black desk/vanity (I think we decided it was a vanity) has now found it's forever home :) I know someone would love it, that's exactly why I rescued it from the thrift shop and slapped on a new coat of paint and performed sticker removal, so it could be all purdy for it's new owners.
I'm sweet like that.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Could I Order A Dish of Peace...
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Am I A Desk, Or A Vanity...
Okay for those who're emailing asking me what I'm talking about here's the back story:
Mr. Pretties and I went junking this morning :)
BLP went to preschool this morning, LLP went to Aunt Pretties for the morning, and LBP is no problem at all, he's like not having anyone in the car at all. So, in our peaceful and quieted state we (I) decided to go junking at the thrift store.
This desk/vanity is what we (I) came up with, for a mere $5.
I'm not sure as of yet whether I'll flip it (at a reasonable price, clearly) or keep it... Mr. Pretties says flip it for extra Christmas money, I say 'wouldn't this look fabulous in the kitchen under that black shelf thing?!'
And so it goes...
I'll list it and we'll go from there.
Front
Julie - Do you have any idea? I'm thinking vanity because of the 'mirror ledge' but what era?
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Love...
This blog is about a couple who own an antique shop. Need I say more?
I thought not.
Besides living my own personal dream, they have fabulous things like this:
And their shop is adorable like this:
And like this:
And she suggests fantastic books like Cottages by the Sea by Linda Leigh Paul where you can see amazing little cottages like this:
Cordelia's Cottage will now be living on our sidebar, because anyone who reads this blog will love that blog as much as I do. Even though I can't actually buy anything... Hmm... maybe they ship?
Saturday, December 6, 2008
PSA Re: 'The Camel'...
I interrupt our usually pink and fluffy posting for this very important PSA.
Dear Giant Tiger Shopper;
When you're trying on pants, and the viewing mirrors are on the outside of the change rooms please don't loudly broadcast to your mother, sister, and friend that you believe said pants give you a camel toe. Seriously. If you find yourself making this public faux pas please do not further embarrass yourself by asking your mother if she knows what a camel toe is. And, sadly, if all else fails, please do not try to remedy the situation by following it up with 'Well, it's not that big of a camel toe...' while carefully examining your crotchal area in the tri-fold mirrors in the middle of ladies wear.
Honestly.
By the way, this is not the type of camel toe in question, clearly, since this camel toe is cute:
Thursday, December 4, 2008
So Sweet...
So now you're saying 'yeah, totally cute jar... but why is it full of litter...' It's totally not full of litter at all. In fact, it's full of all the hilarious/adorable/unforgettable (until you forget 10 seconds later) things you children say each day. I don't know about you, but the LP's say some pretty jar worthy things each day. Then again they definitely say some UN-jar worthy things too...
However...
Like how about the time... yeah... I'd have to get up and look in my memory jar in order to fill you in on that one... Don't look at me like that, I do remember the LP's saying cute, hilarious, and no doubt embarrassing things, but, they're all being loud right now and my brain can't think under loud circumstances.
That explains a lot doesn't it?
MmmHmm... Oh go get you a memory jar and leave me alone (Don't really, then I'd be talking to myself. I do enough of that already...)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Sunday, Monday, Happy Days...
The Fonz... Aka Fonzie
That's what I thought.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Can Your Brain Be Used As A BlackBerry...
Do you know how fab this blog would be if I had one? For some reason, whether it be alcohol consumpsion, medication, or 30 seconds of complete relaxation and quiet, but before I fall alseep I come up with the most inspired posts you'll never read. Seriously.
I think up these great posts and then I'm like 'Wow... that was an amazing post, if I hadn't just thought I wouldn't think my brain capable of such guiness in it's purest form... I would win the hypathetical Nobel Peace Blog Prize for that... I should get out of bed and go type it... Right now... Am I there yet?
ZzZzZzZzZzZz....'
Yeah I'm awesome like that.
So if you want to blame the blogs recent suckiness on something, blame in on my lack of a BlackBerry. Between that and a Pink Dell I just don't have the completely necessary tools to come up with fabness.
Instead, you'll have to listen to my Kijiji rants, my need for old crap I have absolutely no room for, and the top 50 list of things Mr. Pretties does to annoy me.
Like scratch his chest hair.
I can. not. stand that sound.
*Shudder*
See what I mean?