It’s always quite magical for me to see vintage treasures from the pH Etsy shop fly away to new homes.  Today, let’s take a peek into where a Royal typewriter and birdcage have traveled.

This beloved 1950s turquoise Royal typewriter flew all the way to Dubai to rest amongst beautiful antique books in TheCuriousNomad’s home.  I hope that it will create literary inspirations that could one day match the beautiful artwork she creates and sells in TheCuriousNomad’s Etsy shop!

With a whistle and a tweet, this antique teak birdcage flew to Toledo and found its soul mate in kizzyj’s Asian-inspired home!   Dosen’t it look perfect amongst her lush colors and exotic decor?

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I am deeply enthusiastic to introduce Rachel, from the visually and gastronomically delicious Heart of Light, who will share with us a few of her favorite vintage things.  Beyond the creative projects and fun crafts she creates, many of us have already enjoyed the tremendous tastes of the recipes she graciously shares.   From her beautiful food photography, I am always inspired to instantly run into the kitchen to try her recipes, which she explains in amazingly accessible terms to even inexperienced bakers such as myself.

Rachel, who is currently on a respectable shopping hiatus, shares her treasure hunting philosophy, “My approach to vintage shopping is to only purchase pieces that resonate with me, that fit in my home, and that will be useful. I love that my kitchenwares are functional display pieces, and I use them all the time.”

My mid century Dansk dishes are definitely some of my very favorite vintage pieces. It started with the little blue dish, which I found at my favorite local thrift store for just $3. Later, I found the larger pieces at the Fairfax flea market and snapped them up. They were incredibly dirty, but a really good cleaning restored them. I love the delicate curved handles, and the bright primary colors make me happy. I couldn’t bear to leave them in the cupboard so I display them on my living room wall and just take them down when I need to use them. (pH Note: How can you not admire a lady who can turn dishes into the perfect installation of mid-century modern art?)

I adore cake stands, and this is the piece that started it all. It’s a vintage pressed glass cake stand that I picked up at an antique mall in my
hometown for $9. I was in the midst of designing a dessert buffet for my sister’s wedding, so I was on the lookout for beautiful pieces that would pop on the table. I later found two more at the Rose Bowl flea market in this exact pattern, so I now have a trio. I’ve since bought quite a few cake stands, both vintage and modern, but this is still my sentimental favorite.

My jadite batter bowl was another Fairfax flea market steal. The vendor was asking $20, but when he saw how much I loved it, he quickly lowered the price to $5 – I was shocked! It’s a heavy, Anchor Hocking piece and I love using it when I’m baking.

Vintage tea cups are a relatively recent obsession although I’ve always loved tea. I was out at a Santa Monica flea market and I found a Wedgwood tea cup and saucer that got me started. Recently, I purchased an amazing fortune telling tea cup from Etsy shop ThorwaldHome.  I’ve been keeping the cups in a little stack on my dining room table so that I can enjoy them even when I’m not drinking out of them.

Thank you kindly Rachel for inviting us over for tea, baked goods, and the joy of using cookery as art! Isn’t it such a delight to see how beautifully her favorite vintage things accentuate her gracious cooking and baking?

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Has your green thumb been swept up by revival in terrariums?  I am loving the resurgence in terrariums, as I personally am obsessed with miniature plants and moss.  With a handful of pebbles, a layer of charcoal, and slow growing, moisture-loving plants, you can enjoy your own eco-friendly world.

You know that I love repurposed plant containers, and the possibilities for terrariums are endless, as nearly any container, bottle, and even chandelier can be repurposed into chic terrariums.  Here are some repurposed terrarium ideas for your green pleasure!

Preston Baily prepares for a tea party the only way he can – by creating terrariums from vintage cake stands sprinkled with fresh flowers.  Using fresh flowers is an instant way to temporarily spruce up a terrarium for a special event.

The stylish duo behind Wary Meyers show that even the humblest of pickle jars can be repurposed into a terrarium.  It only takes an ability to see outside of the jar, so to speak.

From a repurposed chandelier (1970s esq, true?), Design Spunk created a very stylish accent to her workspace.  I love the contrast of the vintage metal against the delicate orchids.

In a similar vein of inspiration, Kat Geiger of Design Spunk took a broken lamp and turned it into a lovely upcyled terrarium.   This one is available for purchase in the aptly named GreenUnderGlass Etsy shop!

Madebymavis showcases the beauty of upcycling in the terrariums for sale in her Etsy shop.  From upcycled maple syrup jars to salt and pepper shakers, her repurposed terrariums are the epitome of eco-friendly creativity.

Madebymavis strikes again with an ingenious upcycled terrarium.  I love that this one serves dual purposes, creating an eco-friendly ambiance.

With the holidays well behind us, what shall we do with the remaining ornaments?  Regardless of the time of year, you can always enjoy an ornament terrarium inspired by Charleston Home Magazine.  This would make a lovely holiday gift too!

Artist Robert Quinn shows us that small is beautiful.  These are tiny terrariums beautifully showcased in a frame.  One could even take a petri dish set, turn it on its side, and put it into a frame to create a work of living art.

Not sure what to do with all of those obsolete incandescent lightbulbs now that you’ve switched to the crazy spiral ones?   Turn it into a terrarium, but of course!  While this lightbulb terrarium by JohnKit has not fully propagated, didn’t the idea lighbulb go off in your head?

Are you growing a terrarium in your home?   Please tell us about what type of container you are using to house your eco-sphere!

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Oh the stories vintage pieces could tell!  Vintage treasures have tremendous appeal to me, as I always imagine the adventurous lives each one has enjoyed before arriving to me.  Some treasures are placed into the Poetic Home Etsy shop, where they journey forth to happy new homes.

It makes me incredibly happy to see how Poetic Home’s vintage treasures “live” in their lovely new homes, and how they are styled and incorporated into the decor.  Today, I would like to introduce you to two new homes!

This vintage deer couple made the long journey from California to Glasgow to happily reside in Kim’s home.  I think they look quite quite happy amongst her lovely vintage treasures and other deer friends, don’t you?
These vintage wooden alphabet blocks did not travel far.  In fact, their new home was only 10 miles away from mine!  However, Grace Kim gave new life to these wooden blocks by stylishly incorporating them into her wedding “save the dates” invitations and adorable blog header.

Thank you Kim and Grace for sending me photos of these vintage treasures in your happy, beautiful homes!  And if there are any other readers who have brought home treasures from the Poetic Home Etsy shop, I would love to see photos of the pieces in your home!

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