Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Town & Village Cleanup Day and The Buzz...



Another beautiful morning in the Adirondacks...
...the sun woke me early and I got up with plans to straighten things up and then spend some time working on my experimental art course assignments...

...but you know how things go...

I looked outside and down the lane...someone had put out an old screen door.
That meant two things...

1. I needed to get a closer look at that door.
2. It must be Town & Village Cleanup Day!



I pulled on my shorts and T shirt, pulled my hair into a pony tail...
...grabbed my car keys and off I went.

Although I looked at the door twice....it was massive...really big...
and I talked myself out of it.



The road around the lake is eleven miles long...
I had to beat the town truck that was moseying along picking up the discards that people had set out in front of their summer homes ...
Now, some of these houses...or camps as we call them, are quite old.
My home for instance was built in the 1920's...
Most summer camps are sold with all the furnishings and household goods intact...
...which means that there is still a lot of old stuff to be had.

Did I tell you that I love Town & Village Cleanup Day?
Once, my sister Mary Beth and I took a drive the evening before...
...hoping that a lot of folks had put stuff out by the road early....
We were driving along when all of a sudden she screams..."WICKER!!!!!"
Needless to say...we came home with a perfectly good old wicker sofa.
That was a good night.

But I digress...



See these sweeeet dishes with the little blue birds?
Score!
OK, so there were only 2 plates, 2 saucers and 3 dishes...
Big deal.
I love them.



Two old green ice picks...
...gotta have those...
...displayed here for you in my favorite green frog.

Did you know that this color green was really popular back in the 30's?




...and while I was at it taking pictures this afternoon...
...this tiny red enamel teapot was found at the rummage sale on Friday...
...it's like the baby...now the red enamel family is complete.



Cherries were a big motif back in the day too...
How could somebody just put this old bowl out at the curb?
Don't they know that life is a bowl of cherries? :)



Yes, I found this old skimmer...
...the buttons are part of a massive collection of buttons that dearest Evi was getting rid of...
Yes, I rescued them...
...or rather I hoarded them.

There's that green again!
Hoarders like me need lots of button therapy.



And here it is!!!!
My heart went pitter pat...
...no...actually it stopped.



After I got it back to the lake house...
I cleaned it up, took off those legs...
...now comes the fun part....

Most of the silver is gone from the mirror....good.
I plan to put some pretty papers behind it...
...make some art and let the remaining silver be part of it.
It would make a good sign too....52 FLEA STUFF
...or something.

What to do about the paint?
The creamy chippy paint is lovely but I am not crazy about the center being unpainted.
Calling all artists, decorators and creative bloggers....
What would you do with this treasure from Town & Village Cleanup Day?
:)



A special thank you to all who left comforting comments and prayers for my Mom.
We appreciate it so much.

24 comments:

decorator to the stars said...

I'D PAINT THE CENTER & USE IT FOR A SIGN OR A WELCOME SIGN FOR THE PORCH OR GARDEN, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A MIRROR REFLECTINGVBACK IN THE GARDEN :) GIO

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

You found some great stuff! I like the idea of some type of art behind the mirror.
xo, Sherry

Gert said...

Wow! Your finds are absolutely lovely!! I know you will figure out just the right thing to do with this last piece and once you do..be sure and share it with us!

Blessings.....
xoxo Gert

Alyssa said...

What a great bunch of fun you found! Can't wait to see what you do with the last treasure ;)Help me figure out what to do with my vintage math flash cards at my blog if you get a chance;)bb

savvycityfarmer said...

wait, stop, whoa, did I say wait .... you found all that 52fleastuff on the curb ????? was I in too big of a hurry(gawking at all the pictures) to go flying thru that I missed it?
My bad!!

Margaret said...

What great finds, perhaps the brown interior rim was added later do you think, is it removable, if not perhaps paint it, what about a faded looking green or something that matches the paper you will put behind it? You would need to tape of the mirror and cream paint.

Anonymous said...

We will make room for you when you are ready! Enjoy the lake and relax. I will save some goodies for you before heading out to Brimfield :)

lifespassion said...

I would have thought I'd died and gone to heaven with these finds! Can you say....green with envy????

Andy's Attic said...

First, we don't have "Clean UP Days", and if we did I can't imagine anyone putting such treasures out on the street....for free....gosh I envy you and am happy for you at the same time. Wish I could go to Brimfield. Sounds great. (someone has to hoard those buttons)
Annette

Anji Johnston said...

I would silver leaf and then distress it with some thinned down glaze in a grey tone. Or I would paint the inner frame cream, distress, and then write a poem in calligraphy around it. Sorry - I sound a bit bossy there but I get so excited when I seen new/old stuff! What ever you do I'm sure it will be just perfect!

joanne said...

I can't believe the treasures people just put out at the curb...obviously they are not as sophisticated as we are!! Love it all and can't wait to see what you do with the mirror.

Amanda (Small Acorns) said...

Your evident excitement so comes through in this post Laura. I'd be the same - it would be hard to leave things behind, and you found some amazing treasures! The old mirror is gorgeous. I love them when they're losing the silver.

Marieanne said...

great finds but what's got me swooning are your vintage linens.

jacklynn4 said...

You are going to be at brimfield? YIPPEE!!!! I CANNOT WAIT!!!! My booth is P2-right in front in the pavillion-ACROSS FROM THERESA OF TIME WORN INTERIORS!

Anonymous said...

Lauren, is the little bluebird saucer a Homer Laughlin? They are getting so hard to find!!! I wish I hadn't sold mine about 10 years ago! They're one of my favorites. So lucky and chancy that you found one! You go! Sounds like a great "tour around the lake" for goodies!
Did you beat the heat? Whew! 90+ degrees even north of the Mason Dixon line!

Diane

Anonymous said...

PS: For the mirrored treasure...how about attaching a bench to the front of it and coat hooks along the sides? It would make a great hall-tree!
Diane

Unknown said...

Your finds are fabulous. I love it all, and am partial to the blue bird dishes. I have a few.
Sorry you are unable to make the sale, but I know your mother appreciates your loving care.

sweetpea said...

Laura, thanks so much for your get well wish. I wish we had a clean up day here. What fun. Your reaction to the mirror was identical to mine when I found the mirror frame that became the huge chalkboard that was in my shop and now in my studio. Maybe cover the unpainted part in old sheet music or book pages? I know whatever you do will be wonderful. Great finds!

Hugs,

Shelley

Vicki K. said...

So many wonderful treasures! I have exactly One blue bird saucer like the one you pictured - I use it for a soap dish. Will you show the cups sometime?

Prayers for and blessings on your mother!

Unknown said...

we never find anything that good by the side of the road in South Texas. However two of my rescue shih-tzu's were found running along the highway. Pop over to my blog and take a look at their pictures and my little antique collection.
Laraine

Rustique Gal said...

Laura, I'm so glad you made it out there before the truck! What lovely finds--that mirror piece is sooo pretty! I'd have to paint the center piece distressed white too. I love your idea of having pretty paper and things behind the chipped silvering! Your pictures are simply beautiful...Sherry

Sherrie said...

That mirror...those bird dishes...A Definite Score!

jabreb said...

Lovely, lovely finds - all they need is some TLC and someone to love them. For the mirror piece, what about doing the crackle method with fine lines allowing the dark to show through. Recently I saw an idea of taking pieces of furniture this this and installing them over door openings - don't know the size of the mirror but it would take a large space over a door to do this. Could put it over a bathroom vanity as the mirror.

Sending prayers and good thoughts to you and your Mom - may God bless the both of you.

oldgreymare said...

Anji and I agree silver leaf for sure! Then go over with that rub and buff stuff to darken just a smidge. Perfection!

Suzan