Craigslist Adventures! or....Preparing for a House of Our Own

I have never used Craigslist in my life before the last couple of months. However, when one is building and furnishing a house on a budget, I'm finding it can come in very handy! I've found many of my treasures there.

The most recent was something we weren't even expecting, and consider it to be a Providential gift.

Jordan had been pricing windows bought new, of various different kinds. We of course both prefered the more old fashioned, wood frame kind, double hung with separate glass panes. Because an old fashioned log home needs windows to match, right? But, windows of any kind, especially what we wanted, were way more expensive that we had been counting on. One place quoted us a price of between $300 and $400 a piece. And we need 16 in all. Yikes!

So, that was somewhat discouraging, we had about decided we'd just have to go with something cheaper and modern for now, and hope to be able to replace them with something more historic in the future.

Well - I got a hunch to do a quick search on (where else..?) Craigslist. I found only one listing that I thought looked really worthwhile. It was for 11 new wooden windows, and they looked 'right' to me, but I hesitated about showing them to Jordan, because they might 'not' be right....lol.

However. I did show him, and he said they were perfect - just the exact style that should go in a 19th century house.

So, the next day we were driving up to Oklahoma city to pick up our windows! They were even better in person. They were brand-new, never installed handmade window reproductions that someone had ordered for a period house restoration, but then changed their mind about at the last minute.

So -  we got 11 windows for roughly $70 a piece. Plus we got 2 more half windows for free that we are planning to use for the bathroom! 

Aren't they great?? I can just imagine looking out of them already!

They are a bit dusty right now, but will clean up nicely. :)

They even use the old-fashioned system of cast iron weights, ropes, and pulleys inside the frame to open and close the window. Sweet! We couldn't have asked for anything more perfect or period-correct.

Here are a coule of examples of old fashioned windows, inside and out:

Back at the beginning of October, I really got to thinking about the 'big' items we still didn't have for the house. I had looked in our area craigslist before for clawfoot tubs, and either hadn't come up with much, or the ones I had seen were really expensive. But, I decided to look again, this time I saw several affordable options, but finally decided to call about this one:

My cast iron bathtub!! The enamel inside is in perfect shape (forgive it being a bit dusty!), not a nick or scratch to be seen. The outside has been painted cream colored, and there is a small scrape in the paint. I may repaint it a brighter color someday, but I'll wait and see. I bought it for $150.00, which considering the other prices I'd seen for tubs in this good of shape, seemed like a deal. The man I bought it from said it was taken from a turn of the century farmhouse in Oklahoma.

I'm envisioning our small bathroom to look something like this:

Or this:

Or this:

...something looking quite simple, clean, and bright.

Since we were going to be driving 2 hours away to pick up my bathtub in one of the bigger towns in our area, I decided to comb through anything that was described by the word 'antique' in the town's craigslist just to make sure I couldn't make the trip more worthwhile. And I found a sure-enough treasure:

I loved this bathroom sink/vanity from the minute I saw the picture. It's absolutely perfect in every way for what I wanted . The hinged mirrors on the side are so cute, and I love how the small sink makes me think of a china bowl-and-pitcher on a cabinet.

The piece isn't actually antique, but a very well made, sturdy modern-made antique style. :)

 Isn't the carving pretty?

The two top drawers hide the plumbing, but the bottom drawer actually works.

Jordan wants to eventually replace the faucet with something a little less shiny. :)


I've been so thankful that over and over the right pieces for the house have fallen into place just at the right time! :)

Of French Bakeries and Antique Shops

It was my birthday a few weeks ago. And, you must know that Mom and I have been talking about and attempting to plan an official 'Mother-Daughter Antiquing Trip' for my birthday since I was 12. So, this year (since I'll be in Tennessee next year) we just decided to DO IT. :)

And, since we waited so long, I actually had a specific purpose in looking for furnishings for my future home! I brought along my inventory list, and added many useful and lovely items...

We got up quite early that day and drove to Amarillo - to visit the historic 6th Street, which we had heard rumored to be full of lovely antique stores. And it was. But we got there a little too early, and they were closed. So - having spied an intriguing looking French bakery a few blocks away, we stopped in for a quick brunch.

We each shared a spinach croissant and a cream-puff. Scrumptious!

There were so many lovely little pastries and things, I wish we could have tried them all...

Before we left town we went back to buy some of the delicious looking fresh baked bread.

By the time we returned to 6th street, the antique shops were open! The first one we went to was housed in a lovely old mansion painted in fanciful colors and held many treasures....

(several of which came home with us...)

I didn't count how many shops we went to, but by the afternoon it felt as if we were out to prove that one could actually 'shop till you drop'! Tiring, but so much fun! :)

A whimsical fabric shop.

Could have spent hours just browsing their special-order fabric sample book  section!

In the window of one little shop...a special piece caught my eye. (and called my name) This antique, but fully restored icebox is now on my backporch, awaiting the move to Tennessee next year where it will be happily installed in my log-house kitchen. Isn't it grand?

It took me a while to decide on such a big purchase! I actually went  home without it that day, and after thinking about it, talking to Jordan, and praying finally made the decision several days later and called back to reserve it. My brothers kindly helped me go pick it up last week. I'm so excited to try it out!

The trip also yielded lots of other (smaller) booty for the future house....

Lots more enamelware!

Yes. I do love antique crocks.

 (well - they are very handy! :)

A slightly used Papmpered Chef baking dish, and a vintage muffin pan!

Two wood framed mirrors, very heavy and in excellent condition.

I'm going to alter the paintjob on both eventually.

Two antique platters.....plus lots more little stuff! :)

 Mom and I ended the day by eating a relaxing supper at Olive Garden, and then ended up walking across the parking lot to an adjoining Michael's craft store.....where I regret to say we got lost in the scrapbooking paper section for several hours. *ahem*....but we finally tore ourselves away and made the drive home, getting home quite late and exhausted.

It was an amazing birthday, one I will never forget! Thanks, Mom!!

Antique Finds (Tennessee Trip)

Jordan is building our log house in the style of the 19th century, I am so very excited, and can't help already beginning to plan what the inside of our house will be like.
Even though the pictures shown below (taken from my pinterest inspiration folder) are by no means exactly what our house will look like, it will give you a good general idea of the look and style we are going for. Since the house will be constructed in a historic style, we'd like the inside furnishings to be old-fashioned as well. Not everything will neccessarily be period for the 1860s exactly, but I'd like to try to use as many antiques and old-style furniture as possible, to keep anything inside from being too glaringly modern. :)

Log houses with roomy porches....

Bright, sunny bedroom. This pic shows what log walls look like on the inside....

No built in kitchen counter tops and cabinets for me. I love the idea of having open shelves to store my antique dishes and big freestanding tables for workspace.

Attic bedroom with antique furniture and quilts.

So, naturally I am always on the lookout for antique stores, where I can add to my hopechest collection!

On the way to Tennessee, we stopped at a charming antique store in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where I purchased several new (old) items....

A large (and heavy!) crock bowl.

White enamel measuring cup

Very large white enamel basin.

Iron or steel roaster - enameled inside.

Heavy duty whisk.

And....set of vintage/antique silverware.

This is part of my collection of white enamelware with blue or black rims. I am trying to collect enough to have these as my 'everyday' dishes, since they are very resistant to breaking. And I just love the clean and simple feel they have.

Part of my kitchen collection. Hand-held beater, grater, measuring spoons, pyrex custard cups, strainer ladle, cast iron griddle, and wooden handled forks and knives.

Occasionally I will buy something larger, such as a piece of furniture. This bench I picked up at an antique store in Texas a few months ago. Hopefully it will accompany a piano in our house one day....

And this....is my much-loved 'hoosier' cabinet. Jordan bought this for us at an auction early in the spring. He sent me pictures over the phone to see if I liked it, and I thought it was just perfect! I've been looking for just the right cabinet for years at antique stores, but he found it! :) 

I *love* the glass and wood 'latice' cabinet doors.

Lots of storage! And the red-rimmed enameled counter top pulls out for a roomy workspace.

Cup hooks! Perfect for hanging antique teacups and coffee mugs....

A sturdy divided drawer.

Metal flour bin.

To keep the cabinet from looking quite so 1950s, I may replace the red papering on the shelves with something printed, and perhaps replace the silver handles as well.

The cabinet is already coming in handy! I stowed my antique finds from the trip up in the cabinet to keep them safe and sound until they will have a place the house next year.

Tennessee adventures.....to be continued....

I hope everyone is having a lovely Monday!

My Sewing Space

If you remember, last December I rearranged my bedroom, and promised to show pictures of my sewing area soon as I got it organized as well. Well - here it is.

My sewing machine, main fabric shelf, and armoire where I hang finished garments.

When I'm sewing, there is usually an iron and ironing board nearby (both vintage, of course :)

Behind my sewing machine used to be a huge piled basket of mending and repairs that had been there for years. It was quite in the way - so I finally decided it was time for it to go, and repaired what needed to be repaired and got rid of the rest.

I also reorangized all my fabric in the shelves behind the machine and in the closet and got it neatly folded, organized and rolled up on bolts. It's still not perfect, but at least I know where everything is! :^)

My Singer Featherweight, c. 1941-45. I have two of these machines, each slightly different in date and design. My other machine is somewhat plainer, and is c. 1954-56.

But the older one is my favorite: 

I can't brag on these vintage machines enough - so reliable and hardworking! I've had this one for about five years. It's very very rare that I have to take it in for repairs, most of the upkeep and fixing you can do yourself.

19thc. Reproduction Cottons

As you can probably tell, it's hard for me to pass up a good deal on fabric.

I'll find a use for it all one of the days!

Costume satins and taffetas

And finally, inside my closet lies more shelves filled with pattern storage boxes (very handy for categorizing!)

And - more fabric. :^)

Each pattern box has a category - costumes, 1860s historical, modern, vintage 40s, vintage 50s, etc.

Some day I'd love to have my own 'studio' room (or rooms....) just for sewing, but for now I'm enjoying my newly organized sewing space.