chester and donkey

Where in the world ...

2010-03-17T17:47:00.002-05:00

... have I been?

While I could fill this space with the long story, I'd rather just share this photo of a super lovely globe I found while browsing Etsy! I consider myself pretty lucky to have found two vintage globes at really good prices. I consider myself silly and forgetful for not going back to that one booth at the flea market I was at this weekend to pick up #3 for less than $10 ... you know the feeling, don't you?

Plant one on us

2010-02-21T17:49:00.003-06:00

If you've read this blog for any time now, you probably have gathered that I have a short attention span. I also have pretty big ambitions and sometimes my eyes are bigger than my stomach.

Enter succulents.

I have this thing for succulents right now. I've never been a green thumb, but decided its time to update my faux plants for some real ones. And for some reason, I think I can handle some succulents. Plus it's a good excuse to do some browsing on Etsy to find some super cute planters! I'm very drawn to these kitschy animal ones.

What's your latest ambition or obsession?

Etsy Therapy

2010-02-19T18:03:00.002-06:00

I try to be a good girl, I really do. I try to put my money directly from my PayPal account to my checking account.

But sometimes I shop.

Here's a couple things I ordered this week.

I've developed an obsession with donkeys. It's fairly new, so counting the original Donkey this cute lil guy will make number 3. I bought it at kitschandcurious ... the name says it all!

I've been thinking about pillows a lot lately and decided I was in need of some vintage decorative ones. I fell in love with this one from enhabiten. It's the reason I make my bed now.

I'm off to transfer my money before the rest of it is gone!

Today I like ...

2010-02-16T10:05:00.001-06:00

Aprons.

But who doesn't?

Click on the photos to be directed to the Etsy shop!

Vignette-ing

2010-02-15T18:22:00.005-06:00

The other day I decided it sounded fun to use some furniture and pieces from my Etsy inventory to play an interior designer (at heart)'s idea of dress up. Vignette-ing, I called it.

If nothing else, it was a great opportunity to dust. I did have some fun and realized that I really need to get cracking on getting a booth space in a local antique mall.

Here's a couple options I came up with.

This is when I decided Chester and Donkey needed booth space.

And that's when I started decorating for myself. I hung some pictures from my shop in my dining room ...

And add some branches (that I trekked in the snow for) to my pitcher. I liked the look of something rustic in something so elegant and rich looking!

Then I added my $5 chippy table to the mix, along with some more recent finds.

I love these wire baskets! This one is filled with some vintage fruit that belonged to my grandma!

Vignette-ing can be a lot of work, but it sure is fun to have lots of goodies on hand to switch around my decor!

Catchy!

2010-02-09T21:42:00.002-06:00

I daydream more than any adult probably should, but usually they are fairly creative and useful dreams. Today, while watching the snow fall in the Midwest, I played around with my new photos on Photobucket. I'm a big fan of Photobucket if you didn't know by now ... it makes me feel a little bit like a "real" photographer.

I was thinking about Chester and Donkey becoming its very own store, maybe on a Main Street in Somewhere, USA. I decided that I'd need a slogan ... a catch phrase, maybe. So I came up with this!

Though I've never been, I kind of have a thing for the "Virginia is for lovers" slogan. Maybe because Virginia is my grandma's name or maybe because I'm a helpless romantic at heart ... umm, where was I? Oh yeah ... Vintage is for lovers, according to Chester and Donkey.I love my little swans ... I think they're pretty. This one is kind of a play on words, because I think it's funny how we say things like "that was pretty difficult". Pretty = very, I guess, so its pretty vintage and (very) pretty vintage.

I definitely wanted to use these cute little salt and pepper shakers. After much (too much, actually!) thought I decided to tie in the number of pieces with Chester AND Donkey ... two heads are better than one!
Though I won't be adopting a catch phrase any time soon, I do enjoy editing my photos ... and trying to be witty!

I can't get enough ...

2010-02-08T14:23:00.002-06:00

... of art deco. I guess it's the "architect" in me.

I have a big thing for the colors - I always think of turquoise, red, gold, and black specifically. I am enamored with the clean but ornate lines and designs.

My eye is drawn to just about everything that matches my idea of art deco. You might notice while browsing through Chester and Donkey that I have a few items tagged art deco. I decided that it was also worthy of an Etsy search and I was not disappointed!

Like this frame? I'm really thinking about buying it. I wouldn't even put pictures in it, would you? And this stapler? My desk needs this ... I don't even care if it works!
I think McCoy really embodies art deco. See what I mean about clean lines? They are so simple, but they make such an impact.

I couldn't resist the chance to show off this beauty.
What's your favorite architectural style?

Giveaway!

2010-02-07T20:24:00.003-06:00

We're blushing tonight, really!

We're doing a little advertising over at one of our favorite blogs, The Shabby Chic Cottage. The best part? We're also able to do a GIVEAWAY!

What will you be in the running for? A pretty little plate ... perfect to set a glass dome on top of! A cute little crochet coaster would be a nice accent for a candle or maybe your favorite tea cup. And finally, an ornate gold frame bone - we loooove these! All these items are just what you ned to start a shabby little vignette!

Click on the photo to be taken right over to Gina's post to be entered. And be sure to nose around her great blog and Etsy shop!

Today in history

2010-02-03T09:55:00.002-06:00

I noticed that today, February 3, is Norman Rockwell's birthday. While I've never been a huge fan of him myself - I think there's something that anyone, especially the lover of all things vintage, can appreciate in his work.

I searched through a few pages of his work and found three to share with you ...

My favorite one? The middle ... simply because of the lady in the bottom left with the fancy hat. I love vintage hats! There's something so lady-like and elegant about them.

To celebrate his birthday, what's your take on Mr. Rockwell?

New Directions

2010-02-02T10:41:00.003-06:00

Well hello!

I've been giving this little blog o' mine a lot of thought and decided that it needed to go hand in hand with my Etsy shop. I'm doing updates little by little, so sit back and enjoy the ride!

Since Valentine's Day is coming up, I've been giving some ideas in my item descriptions for some pieces I think could easily be a gift for someone special!

I've been lucky to run across some very well made vintage doilies and I really love this one! The scalloped, layered edge is so fancy, isn't it? I think its perfect to display a pretty milk glass vase on. It could also be framed and hung on the wall for a festive V Day vignette.

This perfume bottle and mirror is so nicely detailed and styled like a vintage piece, although it's not quite at that 20 year old mark. I think it's a perfect piece for a young lady to put on her dresser.
If you love crazed, loved pieces ... this cup and saucer will surely still your heart. It's got so many shabby details - some fading and worn spots, but wow - is it a beauty! Maybe take a special cake over to a friend on V Day on this special plate!
Come back soon, but in the meantime check out the above items and much more at Chester and Donkey on Etsy!

I don't do window(s)

2010-01-20T10:48:00.003-06:00

Treatments, that is. That's right, ladies and gents. I don't have a single curtain on a single window in my home. Unless you count the old shower curtain I threw over my bedroom window.

Am I weird? Yep.

Thinking about my orange kitchen, I decided a good way to add an extra pop of color - and brighten up my mood on these dull wintery days would be to add some curtains.

My idea of curtains? A few years ago, my cousin made her own curtains out of either napkins or placemats - that detail escapes me - but I do recall they were super cute. I decided that I could do the same thing and do a no-sew version.

The plan is to find some pretty orange goodies, like these.

And simply drape them over my windows. Do I think it'll work? Probably not. Ok, so it might but it most likely won't be that easy.

What do you do for window treatments? Got any simple (and I mean SIMPLE) ideas?

I decided that my favorite ...

2010-01-19T11:10:00.002-06:00

... color is orange ...

... for the time being.

I change obsessions like I change clothes. Being on Etsy 22/24 hours (ok, not really) a day doesn't help either! I always find something that I get hooked on ... be it decor, kitchen stuff, the way someone takes pictures, whatever.

I scored an awesome set of Butterfly Pyrex casserole dishes at Goodwill that I just love, Love, LOVE. It's sparked a craze of sorts and now I just want to decorate my kitchen in orange. I realized last night that that'll be easy ... I already have a lot of orange stuff!

I'll post pictures later this week when my decorating is finished, but for now - enjoy this picture (and check out the shop) of the mixing bowls I want so badly to add to my collection!

See you later this week for the Kitchen Reveal!

Dream House

2010-01-13T10:56:00.003-06:00

While catching up on blogs, I made sure to stop by Vintage Junky first and see what Michelle had been up to. She's been on a house hunt, which led me to post about a house I recently drooled over.

I am a wishful thinker ... when I found this on Realtor, my mind immediately went to work. This was going to be THE HOUSE. The house that all my blood, sweat and tears went into. The house that 20, 30, 40 years from now would hold Thanksgiving and Christmas for my kids and grandkids ... yes ... my mind travelled that far into the future.

With a house like this, to me, it was hard not to. It was build in 1870. It has 2 fireplaces, 2 sets of stairs ... character that you just don't find in new homes. But, sadly it won't be mine anytime soon. With the (un)helpfulness of an agent, I found out it went to auction. Excuse the quality of the photos ... I grabbed them off of the listing.

Dreamy hardwood, plantation shudders, brick .... ahhhhhhh, this truly is my dream home.

Its about TIME!

2010-01-06T09:35:00.004-06:00

Can you believe I haven't blogged since last year?! Ok, since the beginning of December ... but it does feel like 365 days ago since my last post.

I did not do as many Christmas projects and decorating as I anticipated. I slowly started to realize I needed more prep time. A handmade Christmas can't happen over night. And with that, I'll quickly turn this into a Resolution post!

I've realized that I have a lot to work on in 2010 to truly make it "my" year. I have lots of goals ... big ones, small ones, some that will take a day, some might take the entire year to accomplish. I've got my work cut out for me but I'm attempting to not get ahead of myself.

One of my focuses is my Etsy shop, Chester and Donkey. The entire month of December, I did a lot of window shopping on Etsy to see what's out there. I got lots of ideas, lots of info, and created many an obsession for myself.

I'm experimenting with taking better photos. By now, I think we all know that lots of natural light = lots of good pictures. To get creative juices flowing, I've also been taking photos with props so you can get ideas on how to display my lovely items in your own home. Here are a few of my favorites, which all have the same little tarnished silver creamer (not for sale - sorry, I like it too much!!!).

For the rest of January, I'll post more snippets like this with my resolutions. Hope you're having a good start to your New Year!

What to do with free Part 2

2009-12-03T10:11:00.002-06:00

I really can't say enough about how thrilled I was to get some free ornaments from a coworker. Sure, they're just cheap plastic but but I've been able to use them in about 6 different spots in my home!

The shelf above my kitchen sink is always changing. I couldn't wait to make it a little holiday-ish. After lots of decorating and re-decorating, I think I finally have a winning look. These are cute little sundae cups that happen to be heirlooms. They were the perfect size to hold these little guys.
A little vignette of Christmas colors ... you can't go wrong with milk glass and I added my little Willow Angel for an extra touch of holiday charm.

The third vignette in more Christmas colors. I'll be able to leave this up past Christmas, it's a little more "wintery" to me.

Hello, you! Anyone remember this little guy? I decided to buy him after I posted about him here. His cheeks match the ornaments perfectly.
On another note ... have you ever Google'd yourself? I did, well my blog name at least. I wasn't surprised to find my blog and Etsy shop but I did find this. Its a little write up picturing a set of mugs that are currently for sale in my shop. Thank you for the free advertising! Google yourself and see what's out there. It's kind of fun. And scary.

What to do with free

2009-12-02T13:34:00.002-06:00

A coworker of mine gave me some cute little plastic ornaments in very bright colors. I loved them! And free is always good! I knew exactly what I would use them for ...

More to come.

How do I love thee ...

2009-12-01T12:12:00.005-06:00

I took a break from thinking about Christmas and discovered my new true love ... vintage paint by numbers paintings. I found all of these on Etsy, of course, and if money wasn't an option believe me when I say I would have a wall full of these.

I don't know what it is about them. They're charming, artistic, colorful. And it took a lot of patience, I'm sure, to create these masterpieces. Its hard to pick a favorite, as they all have a characteristic about them that I adore. I did manage to choose 5 that I would gladly take for the start of my Multiple Paint by Numbers Wall.

Now I'm curious ... do they sell Etsy gift cards?! What a great gift that would be!

Inspiration in unlikely places

2009-11-24T09:13:00.003-06:00

Keeping up with my last posts, I have one more post about my holiday decor inspirations ... at least until I actually do some of these projects!

I didn't blog myself last year, but I kept up with a few. One of the projects I saw was this wreath, inspired by the decor at Starbucks - who'd a thunk it? I saw the first tutorial here and today, I found a couple more! I like this project because you can really make it to fit your own decor and color scheme. You can opt to use ornaments or not ... imagination is key!

My to do list is really filling up here ... luckily, I've got the feeling that I'm easily going to be able to coordinate all my decor from room to room! Wish me luck!

Beauty on a budget

2009-11-21T16:30:00.002-06:00

I hope someone can relate to me ... I'm completely consumed with diy and budget holiday decor. I am trying to spend as little as possible, but come up with some festive goodness for my home. Luckily, a brainstorming session through email with my mom has produced a good sized list for things to do!

Something I found to add to it ... these beauties made out of simple, simple twine. I don't know about you, but I'm dying to recreate those trees! So organic and rustic ... and so simple. Do you love it?

What are some of your budget decor ideas this year?

Giveaways!

2009-11-20T09:33:00.002-06:00

I love these vintage scales ... what's not to love, right? As much as I don't want to let you know about this I'm dying to get a leg up on the competition! This can be yours, given graciously by Michelle at Vintage Junky. Click on me for the link!

While you're giving her blog some much deserved love, check out her Etsy store here. You won't be disappointed.

I'll make a confession. I literally look at Michelle's blog and store everyday for inspiration. I'm sure that once you visit, you'll be hooked too!

Kitschmas

2009-11-19T19:05:00.002-06:00

There's something about vintage Christmas decor that is very appealing to me. I think it's the kitschy charm and the fact that they just don't make things like they used to.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around seasonal decor ... it's an investment, isn't it? But, I just love the warmth of holiday decor. If I do decide to "go all out", I'd love to incorporate some of this vintage kitsch. Check them out at Etsy, along with the other great holiday decor selections!

Are you still trying to wrap your head around your seasonal decor? How much is too much?!

Stranded on an island

2009-11-11T07:00:00.003-06:00

My mom and I have been talking about kitchen gadgets and accessories a lot lately. One of our latest topics of discussion was extra counter space. I'm sure no matter how much you have, it never seems like enough. I have plenty, I suppose ... but an island sure would be lovely!

I found this while perusing bhg. Looks fancy, don't it? Well, it's just an old dresser! I mean, really ... why didn't I think of this? I love the extra storage the drawers offer and that you can add accessories, like the paper towel holder and hangers for utensils on the sides. I think this blue for an accent is absolutely wonderful, too. I can't say it enough ... this is such a good idea. Goodwill, here I come. Please produce the perfect dresser for me. I want an island. I have the perfect space for you.

Etsy Holiday Guide

2009-11-10T09:29:00.008-06:00

I love to cook. I hate to shop for the food to cook. I love to do projects. I hate to shop for all the supplies for the project. I'm creative, but some days ... I just don't have it in me to actually create something new.

Yes, the above statements are all true. Sometimes it's asking way too much to get my butt in the car and on the way to the store. It'll only get worse with each day we get closer to Christmas. Last week, I showed you a few goodies from Etsy to kick of my Buy Handmade (or Vintage)Challenge for the Holiday Season. This week, inspired by the flower kit I showed you, I looked a little further in to the world of "kits".

Any and all of these would make great gifts for your most creative friends. Any and all of these are perfect solutions to "not feeling creative and don't know what to make" and/or "not wanting to fight the crowds for your patterns and supplies". Yup, you can either give these as gifts as is or go ahead and make them ... everything (patterns, supplies, etc) is included, all at very affordable prices. My kind of stuff!!!

First up is a super cute holiday kitchen towel kit. Great gift for a hostess (if you decide DIY) or the chef.Next up, for all the knitters out there - pattern and yarn is included to make this adorable little pear.

This cute little trio of embroidered Christmas trees can be yours ... so many ways to display it and also a fun gift for your artsy friends.For the coffee fanatics, make them their very own cup cozy! I think these are simply adorable and eco friendly, too!
If you've got a fashionista friend who has everything, make her a special hair accessory! You can pick from a few different patterns what you'd like to recreate, so the possibilities are endless.You really can't go wrong with these kits. Take a look for yourself ... there's waaay more where these came from!

You gotta have ...

2009-11-09T12:43:00.003-06:00

Faith.

And, no, I'm not talking George Michael.

"As we grow older, it becomes difficult to just believe. It's not that we don't want to, but too much has happened that we just can't."

I, like so many of you, try to keep my blog about thrifty finds, decor and projects but sometimes you just feel compelled to take your post to another level. It seemed like as soon as I turned 25, something clicked ... like "hey, you're really an adult now!" My ways of thinking have changed tremendously and I find myself trying to better myself daily.

Upon a little reflection, I realized my faith is ... lacking. The quote above sums it up and I'm sure, at more points in our lives than we may realized, we've all felt like that. Now, I don't want to turn this in to a sermon. We all have our own beliefs, we all pray to someone or something, we all need to have faith in someone or something. I've personally chosen to put my faith in God and wanted to share a scripture I found after Google'ing 'faith'.

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ." - Phillipians 4:6-7

See, I worry. And worry. And, yep ... I worry. I tend to think of all the bad that could happen, which usually prevents me from enjoying the present. So today (and probably for the rest of my life!), that's what I'm working on. Inspiration in a different form, if you will.

"The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness" ... Henry David Thoreau.

What do you do when you need a little personal inspiration?

(Un)creative

2009-11-08T18:03:00.004-06:00

Yup, that's me.

So I didn't feel like a complete slacker, I thought I'd at least let you know about some new goodies in my Etsy shop.

Go on over and see if there's anything you need ... ya know, cause we always need something, right?