Vintage Christmas on a Budget

I know it's slightly (okay, you caught me...VERY) early for Christmas. Don't be mad! After Halloween ends for some reason I'm always in a crazy rush to get our Christmas stuff out. I promise I'll wait at least until after remembrance day.

Christmas has always been a huge thing in my family. Tonnes of parties and many trees to decorate. Every year we would unpack so many decorations, and every year it would be a total thrill to unveil all these wonderful shiny things you only see for a month or so, before they go back into a box once more. 

I seem to have accumulated my own large mass of decorations as well. After living on our own for only four years or so, we have bumped up to seven or eight bins already! I really don't want to get much further than that to be honest. Most of the things we now have are hand-me-downs or family treasures I could never part with. Last year I bought the silver tree of my dreams and every year I make at least one christmas tree craft to add to the collection. Other than that I'm trying to slow it down to a halt.

I definitely didn't start out with everything I have. When I had my first apartment, all I had was a $10 garage sale tree and a package of ornaments I bought at Sears. I wanted to do this post for anyone who is just starting out. Maybe you're in a new apartment on your own for the first time or maybe you just bought your first house. Also for anyone who's on a budget this year. Are you doing the smart thing and pinching your pennies? Absolutely anyone can enjoy a vintage inspired holiday if you know where to look and how to be a little inventive. 

Step One.

If you don't have the cash to shell out for an actual christmas tree, get a small bottle brush tree. It's fairly easy to find vintage ones, but nowadays it's even easier to find them in stores. It seems like every company is recreating this looks right now. You can even go to a craft store and buy what you'll need to make your own! So whatever your budget allows, go get yourself a mini tree or two.

click for trees

Step Two.

Buying fabric is one of the easiest ways to get festive quickly. You can make tablecloths, throw pillows, a tree skirt (if you have a tree already), anything! You can even cut a doughnut shape out of cardboard and wrap holiday inspired fabric around it for a quick Christmas wreath. I am in love with this new fabric pattern, because it's atomic era inspired and it's versatile enough to work into your home after the holidays. You can use it all year round if you want to!

buy fabric here

Step Three.

Get a few vintage ornaments. It's so easy to keep your eye out at garage sales for these during the summer. It may feel very weird to buy Christmas stuff at this time, but this is generally when people are ready to get rid of these types of things. And for great prices too. You might walk away with a set of old Shiny Brite ornaments for 50 cents! Even if you only have a couple, mix them into your existing ornaments and it'll still give them a good vintage effect. And again, if you don't have a tree, don't worry. Put them in a nice bowl on your coffee table or hang them from string from the curtain rod on your windows.

Get Decorating

Step Four.

Christmas dinnerware can be pricey, so what do you use for holiday get-togethers or parties you might be hosting? Just use what you have and mix in a few pieces here and there. Investing in some cute Christmas glasses might be a better way to go. This small vintage set of four is a good way to start. They'll be much cheaper and easy to mix in with plain glasses and white dishes. Here's where you could make napkins from the fabric above to set at your table too. (Make sure you wash the fabric beforehand, to prevent the red from bleeding at the party if something spills!) I picked these cute glasses because the back and pink details are not typical of what you might find. If you get pink or black Christmas glasses, you may still be able to use them year round. Gold is also another colour you can use all the time, and it's really easy to find! 

Get 'em here

Step Five.

If you have some casserole dishes that have red or green details, use 'em! Even this red and pink floral one can fit into a holiday theme. Even though this would typically be a spring or summer-type pattern, with your table set up, the actual pattern won't matter so much, as the colour palette will. Trust me, it'll blend in just fine! And if you don't have any parties to host, you can use your casserole dish as that "bowl" to put your ornaments in!

click for casserole dishes

I hope this gave you some ideas for this year. I'm sure most of this stuff you can find laying around your home already. Or maybe you can make something similar. I know there are tonnes of crafty people out there!

I'm going to do another blog post on dream Christmas items very soon. Oh yes. Holiday decorations that are just too out of our reach financially. We can all admire them from afar together. 

See ya again soon!

Marissa xo

Favourite Vintage Finds of 2013.

Today I'm counting down my favourite vintage items I found last year in 2013. Some were dirt cheap; others not so much. But hey, all of these keepers were remarkably low in price in relation to what I could have paid! Here we go!

ONE) Atomic Era Floor Lamp

I got this bad boy off Kijiji this Fall, and had it hidden in our basement as a unique Christmas present to us both. It was so hard to play it cool while this thing was in my house and not being used. I wanted to bring it out so bad! It was definitely my most expensive vintage purchase of the year, but totally worth it in every way! I will never regret shelling out some extra cash for this lamp.

TWO) Retro Pink/Lavender Laundry Bin

This was an estate sale find. I got it this summer along with a sizeable collection of furniture. In total I spent $50 at this sale and got some really stunning large pieces I had been coveting secretly for a long time. The starburst on the side of this beauty makes my heart happy!

THREE) Green Lamp with Splattered Shade

This lamp was my favourite find from my September trip to Wisconsin. It'll forever be a little memento in our home of all the thrifting I got to do outside of Canada this year. I've never done any U.S. vintage hunting before up until this trip, but I'm hooked and I'm really looking forward to bringing home some treasures from Chicago this spring!

FOUR) Plastic Terrarium

I found not one, but TWO terrariums this year! The one pictured is my first find, which I later sold when I found my new one. It's bigger and in much better shape. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would own one of these. It was one of those things I didn't know I needed until I layed my eyes on it. Now, I couldn't do without it.

FIVE) Fibreglass Lampshade with Gold and Black Splattered Pattern

I found this lampshade for $5 at an estate sale, and it still makes me swoon! I added the shade to a vintage bronze lamp I already owned.

SIX) Set of 2 Hanging Lamps

These two beauties are from the Old House Revival here in Winnipeg. We loved them straight away and knew they'd be perfect for our retro living room. I adore their asymmetrical look. The best part is they pair so perfectly with our floor lamp, which is close by, along the same wall!

SEVEN) Teak China Cabinet

This teak cabinet is so beautiful to me. The fact that I got it for my birthday last year was so special. It's a family piece and I'll keep it until I have someone to pass it down to.

EIGHT) Metal Wall Sculpture.

I was so obsessed with my mom's metal wall sculpture, that I was ready to splurge to get one of my own. But just when I least expected it, I came across one at Vlue Village! I love when that happens. It was like it was meant to be. Oddly enough it looks exactly the same, only hers is painted beige on some areas.

NINE) Vintage Couch

After we said goodbye to my grandma's white couch set this summer, I thought I would never find another one I would like as much to replace them with. I was wrong. We stumbled upon this couch along with it's ratty old partner (aka chair) at the Habitat For Humanity Restore, while rainy day shopping for 50s kitchen cabinet pulls. The chair was too far gone, but the couch was perfect and on sale!! I will never regret bringing this big thing home.

TEN) Lefton Poodle Cookie Jar

 This fancy poodle cookie jar is not mine personally. It belonged to me for a couple weeks while I washed it, photographed and listed it in the shop. This Lefton jar was in the shop for one day before it was purchased! Just coming across it was a dream. I love holding these cool things for a bit before they go to their new homes. It's like I run daycare for vintage items. Or better yet an adoption agency. All in all, this was my best find out of the things I didn't keep for myself.

I got so many neat items this year, so it was tough to narrow it down to ten. I thought I'd spare you the long version, because believe me, I could go on forever. 2013 was a thrill of fantastic finds. I keep wondering what things I'll drag home this year. I will have an entire basement to furnish soon enough, and of course a vintage shop to stock!

What were your best finds this year?

Marissa xo

I Love... Retro Wall Hangings and Plaques!

There's just something about 1950s to 1970s wall hangings that set my heart a-flutter. If you are dreaming up ways to get your vintage life in motion, considering some new art additions to your walls is a fantastic, high-impact start! Check out these ones I've been eyeing on Etsy lately:

 one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

DIY - An Easy Fix for Fading Vintage Fonts

I know we've all seen them - glorious retro canisters with little to no label. You can see the indent where the metallic colouring used to sit, but no paint in sight. Seeing this always makes me so sad. Mostly because I want to find one in tact for myself (or for CharmingShopVintage now.) In reality the missing paint is usually attributed to the item being well loved and used often in it's previous home. Sometimes it's neglect or you know, leaving it outside for too long. In a barn perhaps? 

Lustroware Cookie Jar on the right.

I found this gorgeous Yellow Lustroware Cookie Jar at Value Village and after I could't stop thinking about it, and going back weeks later to find it still on the shelf, I brought it home with me. I already have the Kitchen Canister set in White, but my kitchen had some original yellow tiles on it's retro breakfast nook. I felt like I should honour it's original look by bringing in that colour somewhere else in the room. The font was mostly all rubbed off, with just a tiny bit showing here and there. I knew I had to save it. I was keeping it for myself, so why shouldn't I? 

Here's the deal - if you find something you really love, but the font has long since passed, you can potentially fix it! Just remember, if you fix something yourself, it's for you to keep. If you're in the vintage business, never sell things you've altered unless you are open and honest about it. Maybe someone else will appreciate your work on restoring a thing of beauty, but usually collector are interested in vintage things untouched and unchanged in any way. Sometimes it's the flaws that count. So before you start, make sure this is something you want to do!

Getting a good soak before we start doing anything with it. 

All you need is a steady hand and a waterproof marker that is the colour of your original paint. Before you start, do some research and find out what colour font you need, unless you're trying to change the font colour altogether of course. I went to Michaels and got a thin paint pen that was skinny enough to get into the little grooves. Remember, to look at the tip of the marker. You don't want a ballpoint pen marker, because the paint won't transfer onto your vintage surface. Only thin felt marker tips will do.

If you don't have lines or grooves to follow, you'll have to attempt this freehand! Good luck to you. I know you can do it. It's just a matter of time and patience. I suggest looking up your item with it's original font in tact. Leave that photo beside you and carefully copy this onto your item. But of course, you could always create a template to trace with if you're unsure of starting right on your piece. It's up to you and what you feel comfortable with.

Let your vintage item dry completely. You may want to do a few layers of paint. And there you have it. A "new to you" font for a restored by you vintage piece! For upkeep I would suggest hand washing if this is something you use every day. The paint will wear with constant use and can be touched up when needed.

After: The lid

...and the front font. This is with one coat.

I hope you enjoy this mini tutorial. Maybe you have something yourself that you've wanted to try fixing up. Of course if it's something expensive, I would always recommend taking it to a professional restorer. You never want to lose the value of your piece. I got my Cookie Jar for $1, and I really felt that giving it a new life was the right thing to do.

Have a great day everyone! 

Happy thrifting and diy-ing!

Marissa xo

I Love...Enamel Brooches!

Hi everyone, I'm back from my vacation - a six day road trip to Wisconsin and back. I'm exhausted and drained, but there's no time for that! I have to get right back into work. If you've been following along with me through Instagram (@marissahowes), you'll know that I was posting daily photos of the goings on of my travels. Where I was, what I was doing, and most definitely, what I was buying. 

We went "free styling", meaning we just went wherever the Interstate took us. We travelled along through the smallest towns you could drive through in a matter of minutes. They were beautiful, breathtaking and quiet. There were dilapidated old barns and tonnes of weathered houses that were clearly lived in with love and heaps of history. Sometimes I truly wished I could stay where I was and settle into my own little home on the edge of the woods along with everyone else in those towns. I have never met such kind and lovely people too. It was the perfect place to search for highway garage sales and slow traffic antique stores by the side of the road. 

We stopped at so many, and probably one of my favourites was a an older couple's garage sale. The husband told me his mother used to collect thousands of salt and pepper shakers and he was trying to sell off some. I think he was thrilled I was interested in his family heirloom collection and he offered to dig out more boxes, so I could go through them. We were on a tight schedule then though, so I had to decline. But he was a very sweet man and was happy to talk about his vintage items and demonstrate some of the more complex mechanical salt and pepper shakers. I was in heaven. Before we parted to get back on the road, I purchased a squirrel and nut salt and pepper shaker and a creamsicle-orange enamel floral brooch I found in a box of jewellery. These pieces were bought for the shop, but the history of them and the memories I made while travelling around this past week were incredible and will stay with me forever. Maybe I don't get to hang onto those items personally, however I won't forget digging through other peoples treasures and learning about parts of their lives. That's what I love about vintage. It connects everyone, no matter who you are. Who doesn't love a good story?

Anyway, I'm telling you this now, because that enamel brooch really inspired me to do a jewellery based I Love... blog post. I was thinking, usually my I Love... posts are about home decor or clothing, and I've never done any about jewellery. I don't know why, because when I first started collecting things, my true interest was in jewellery. I was a real vintage jewellery hoarder back in the day. So I guess this is fitting. Here you go. Ten enamel brooch listings from Etsy, inspired by my sweet enamel Wisconsin find.

1. Red/White/Blue Enamel Floral Brooch

2. Purple Brooch with Pearlescent Centre

3. Autumn-toned Floral Brooch

4. Green and White Daisy

5. Holiday Wreath Inspired Brooch

6. Two-toned Yellow Flower with Stem

7. Value Set of Four Retro Brooches

8. Red and White Mod Flower

9. Flowers within a Flower Enamel Brooch

10.Classic Blue Enamel Brooch

Enamel all the way! Perhaps my favourite thing about these pieces are how bright and bold they are. If you want to stand out, wear a colourful enamel pin from the Sixites and you can't go wrong. And since they tend to be on the festive side, they're a perfect accessory going into Fall and Winter. I mean, you can't deny that number five would look incredible paired with a simple black cardigan and a glittering holiday dress! And if you're not a brooch-wearing lady, why not stick your hair up in bun and adorn your locks with a custom enamel brooch hair pin. There's an easy DIY right there! I'm all in for a season of enamel brooches. Are you?

Lots of love, as always!

Marissa 

CharmingShop

I Love... Retro Lamps

One of my favourite obsessions? Retro lamps of course! Whether it's 50's, 60's, 70's or even modern with a vintage twist, I can't get enough of a room with awesome, eye-catching lighting.

Here are a few gorgeous lamps I would love in my own home. Which is your favourite?

1. A truly Mad Men-worthy atomic lamp.

2. A multifaceted retro table lamp.

3. This quintessentially "atomic era" lamp with starburst shade.

4. A bright and fun aqua rocket lamp.

5. So cute for a side table! This Gooseneck-style double lamp with fibreglass shades.

6. A funky and oh so Sixties, mod orange ceiling light fixture.

7. A retro-lovers dream: A Floral Lamp with 2 tier fibreglass shade.

8. The prettiest light I've ever seen. A luxurious Gold/Lucite Starburst Wall Fixture.

9. So dreamy. This Set of 2 Pastel Blue Midcentury Lamps.

10. Picture this above your bed, all lit up for night time! A Vintage Pink Headboard Lamp.

All these finds are from Etsy! 

And believe me, there are so many more styles. 

I could go on and on, but these ones are keepers for sure. 

Have a happy Tuesday my darlings!

Marissa

CharmingShop

I Love... Retro Snack Containers!

It's so hot here in Winnipeg lately. Too hot to cook, so tonight we're just having a vegetable tray and snacks for dinner. Thinking about what to serve tonight really put me in the mood to share a vintage love of mine with you. Can you guess? Oh, I see you already spotted that title at the top. Well yes, it's RETRO CONTAINERS! Oh how they hold a special place in my heart. These are a few gems I stumbled upon recently on Etsy. Pretty amazing, right?

1. The cutest Numbered Snack Bowl.

2. I am totally in love with this bright orange-red Mod Bowl Set.

3. Funky Olive Green Stacked Snack Container. I need this in my life for sure.

4. These sweet Tiki-esque Hawaiian Flower Cup Holders have a snack dish attached!

5. The ultimate Anchor Hocking Chip and Dip Bowl Set. My favourite!

6. A Retro Stacked Snack Container to hold four kinds of treats to nibble on. Yum!

7. These wooden bowls are always a classic staple! 

Too bad these ones are spoken for, but don't worry. Similar styles are easy to find. 

My family always had a set out, filled with assorted nuts and homemade trail mix.

8. This aqua pear-shaped dish would look lovely sitting out for your next party. Don't you think?

9. I'd be one happy camper to have my glass sit in one of these floral personal snack trays. You can rest your snacks around your drink! So smart. 

Alright fancy ladies and gentlemen! Now that you know all about awesome partywear from the 50s through the 70s, you're probably itching to host your own summer-worthy backyard barbeque or poolside picnic. Invest in some cute party dishes to make your get-together the party no one could ever forget! You won't be able to stop people from inviting themselves over this season when you've got a pantry packed with retro containers and summer snacks. 

I hope you enjoyed these finds as much as I do. Have a fabulous weekend, friends!

Marissa xo

CharmingShop

A Fabulous Find - The Prettiest Vintage Dress

The other day I went to Value Village, because they were having their sale the next day. If you don't know about this, they have membership cards you can get, so you can shop the day before sale days. There are also various discount days throughout the year. I have one of those cards of course. I wasn't really expecting to find anything there, but I hadn't been there in a while so it was worth a try. 

Well guess what? I found some amazing things! A set of yellow Tupperware canisters, a Tupperware Lettuce Crisper, and two Pyrex Bowls. Pretty exciting! Usually I don't find so many awesome kitchen items all in one thrift store shop. If you know me, vintage kitchen things are my extreme weakness. If I see Pyrex, I have to have it. If I see anything turquoise, my obsession becomes even worse. As you know, the walls of my kitchen are bright turquoise, and just about everything in it is turquoise too. Well I had depleted the housewares area of their best vintage goodies, so I moved onto the clothing. 

I was really hoping for any pretty dress that I could wear this summer for my farmers market "uniform" of sorts. Everything I took to try on was absolutely terrible by the way. But they had a section for Grad dresses. Now we all know I am way past my years of graduation now, but I still had to have a peek to see if any treasures were hanging amongst those fancy dresses. I found this sweet little dress and instantly knew I had to have it. Yes it's a little gaudy and the satin is pretty wild. The bow at the back may have to go. But man, oh man does it look beautiful on. The structure in the top fits like it was made for me. I paid almost nothing for it, so I was totally up for bringing this pretty thing home to add to my closet/collection of clothes. It's not an everyday dress and I can't wear this to the market, but I thought if I need something really crazy and fun to wear (even just for a costume), this will be it. 

It's so easy to bring it up to date with a more modern belt. 

Who could say no to those soft pink and gold scallops? Not me. 

Have you come across any awesome vintage finds lately?

Before I say goodbye for the day, I just wanted to let you all know I will only be posting one to two times a week for now, instead of all week long. It may be temporary. I'm not sure yet. You may have noticed I haven't been doing blog posts as often. It's because I have been having some pretty serious health issues. Nothing to worry about, but it does make it hard for me to blog every day. I figure if I can commit to one or two days, I will have more time to give you some really great posts. Thanks for reading and all your support with my shop. We are having our family garage sale this weekend, and I'm hoping to do farmers markets this summer. There's so much work to do and not a lot of time! 

Have a great day and I'll see you back here soon!

Love,

Marissa xo

CharmingShop

Charming Trends - Matching Up 50s Dresses with CS Necklaces

Hi everyone! It's Saturday and I hope you're out at the beach, having a picnic or out having ice cream with your best buds! I'm inside today preparing for future farmers markets. Boy, is there a lot to do. I'll make sure I at least get out for a walk around the neighborhood. The trees are lovely and filled with blossoms. My lilacs are finally in full bloom, and since that's my favourite scent in the whole entire world, I'm pretty happy right now. I can't bare to miss out on that, being stuck inside. This time of year is perfect. I have a little something for you today. It's the sweetest match-up I ever did see. I found the prettiest 50s silhouette dresses on Etsy and I wanted to share them with you. To make things even more special, I paired them with the CharmingShop necklace I would style with each one. Take a look for yourself! It's a pretty magical pairing. Here you go - Charming Trends for 50s lovers!

1. The daintiest colourful dress paired with the Turquoise Metal Collar Necklace.

2. This pretty bright white sundress paired with the Opalescent Snowflake Collar Necklace

3. The liveliest printed 50s dress around paired with the Elegant Peacock Collar Necklace

4. The sweetest easy-going vintage dress paired with the Beautiful Opal Collar Necklace

5. The Gingham and lace dress of my dreams paired with the Floral Bluebell Collar Necklace

Which pairing is your favourite?

Marissa xo

CharmingShop

I Love... Retro Mid Century Planters!

Hey everyone, hope you're doing well on this fine day! Today I'd like to talk about planters. Yes, of course vintage planters! They were once so lovely, they didn't even need plants inside to treasure their atomic, architectural designs. These are a few I found that I would just love to find at a garage sale or in my favourite antique store to take home for my very own. Which one is your favourite?

This pastel pink beauty is so wonderful. I can't get over those swooping scallops. This is one I'd love to own for sure! Found here.

I have one very similar to this, but it's neither vintage nor pink. I think that I could make room for this long, narrow planter... Think of the things you could put in here! Not just plants, but anything really! I can see some lemons looking really cool hanging out in there. Found here.

The uneven, odd shape of this planter is what makes it so appealing. I love quirkiness and that's what this one is all about! It's pastel lime colour is pretty great too, don't you think?

Found here.

How great is the pattern on this baby?! So typical of the 50s and 60s - the time period I'm so fond of. Mid Century all the way! Amazing, right? I'm in love with this cutie. Found here.

The design and shape on this amazing green planter are very "atomic era." Imagine how fantastic it would look with a sweet little plant inside! Found here.

Okay, this one is definitely on my list of needs and wants. There is no better planter than the glorious bullet planter. Any shade. If I were to discover this beauty somewhere, it would have to be mine. No questions asked. Found here.

This one is wrapped up in candy-coloured goodness. I'm pretty obsessed with all the buttery pastel colours the 50s and 60s has to offer. I'm totally okay with baby soft colours of the atomic age, and adding this planter to my collection would make any retro-lover proud. 

Did you see any you would love to own? Do you own any of these already or something similar?

I'm pretty in love with the quality and detail in items from eras of the past, and these planters do not fall short or disappoint. I'll be dreaming of putting plants into adorable retro planters all day, won't you?

Okay ladies and gentlemen, I'm off to work on my atomic era art collection! I hope you've checked out my post on those darling drawings from a couple days ago, or have visited my Instagram for further updates. I'm thinking you'll really love this new collection. If you adore the 50s and 60s as much as me, you'll be in heaven.

See ya later, my dears!

Marissa xo

CharmingShop

Jadeite Gems

Now, I don't really collect Jadeite. Lots of people do. But when I opened up a present of two thick, milky green mugs and a bubbly-looking bowl, I was pretty obsessed with them. They are my first three Jadeite pieces I own, and my dad bought them for me. I know what you're thinking - "Good job, dad!"

Yeah, that's what I thought while trying to do some research on them. I have to admit, I didn't really know much about Jadeite until getting these pieces. While looking on the internet for my specific pieces, I stumbled upon some really amazing collections I thought I would share with you today! 

Look at this cabinet full of Jadeite! I love that the colour of the cabinet matches it's contents. The white pieces gives it such a clean balance, don't you think? 

Found here.

This room is filled with some of the sunniest colours I've ever seen! I adore how the Jadeite plates are placed to frame the white mirror. So lovely!

Found here.

This little setup is to die for. I am crazy about the composition of adding in the black telephones. 

It really is incredibly unique! Found here. Original source here.

This collection of Jadeite Restaurant ware is gorgeous. Take a look at that incredible font!

I'm a sucker for vintage fonts. Found here.

 This Jadeite set in use for pretty desserts. Just darling!

I wish I was invited to a party where this was being served!

Found here. Original source unknown.

Do you have a Jadeite collection? I want to know all about it! 

Let's talk Jadeite guys!

Marissa xo

CharmingShop

Vintage Tips - I Found an Old Couch.

Hey everyone, today I'm bringing you some tips on what to do if you've spotted a vintage couch and are entertaining the idea of bringing it home. And I'm also bringing you a hoard of cat pictures too, so be prepared. I warned you. My two little furry friends, Holly and Royal really like the camera. 

So as I mentioned last week, we went out last friday fully intending to buy kitchen knobs and other items we desperately needed for the house. We had an errand list and a tight time frame and we were sticking to it, but the day didn't go exactly as planned. We went to look at second hand knobs at a local store that sells used home fixtures and other items. Our kitchen, not to mention our whole home is mostly original 1950s, so wherever possible, I like to keep with the theme of the house. But here's where we strayed a bit (right in the beginning.) When we walked in the door we both noticed this fabulous old couch sitting there in all it's glory, asking us to take it home. Upon closer inspection we saw that it was in amazing condition. No holes, no tears, no worn or misshapen areas, and from what we could see, no bugs. We had a look around the whole store for what we needed and to see if there were any other interesting things we could salvage, and in the end we came back to the glorious vintage couch. 

We really lucked out with this baby. It was like it was there just for us. It had a matching chair, but it was far too gone and in need of serious repair. I'm sure someone else will give it a good home and reupholster it. We were happy just to get the couch, what with its sleek look and perfect form. The length for extra seating in our mini living room is perfect for us. 

I'm sure this whole time you've been thinking, "Oh my gosh, you brought an old, used couch into your house?!" "What if it's dirty?" Or possibly "I want to do this too. How can I make sure mine is clean and safe to put in my home?" Whatever the case may be. I'm here to tell you what we did, and warning signs we were looking for. You really just have to think smart and use common sense. And if signs say the couch can't be saved, you have to know when to leave it behind - just like all used items.

When you see a lovely used couch, you have to go into investigatory mode. Don't worry about insulting the sellers. A couch is a big (and potentially dirty) item and you need to get all your facts straight. Where did it come from? Who owned it? Has it spent any time outside? Was it well loved, or something that they didn't care much for? If these answers are unknown it can make your decision harder, but you have to work it out for yourself. 

Taking a good, hard look at it can tell you a lot. Look in all the nooks and crannies. The slits in fabric and the edges are usually were minuscule critters prefer to hang out. I know it can be gross, but you have to get right in there. Bring hand sanitizer or gloves if you need to. You're looking for tiny, little bugs or mouse droppings or anything else unpleasant. You don't want that in your house, do you? The worst thing that can happen is bringing mice or bed bugs into your home. Yuck. Check all the zippers and seams and all sides of the couch. Flip over those cushions. Basically leave no stone left unturned. You're allowed to be picky and judgemental of this couch that is foreign to you. 

If it's an old couch, you should open up the cushion zipper just a bit to take a look at their condition inside. With a lot of older couches, the cushions begin to harden and crumble slightly over time. It's not a huge deal, but if you're planning on keeping it long, long term and possible recovering it, keeping it it's original shape is important. The foam condition will be key in salvaging it's shape if you choose to reupholster. In fact, you may not be able to if the foam is too far gone. 

Once you get it home, it's decontamination time. Even if you don't see anything wrong, clean it like you've never cleaned anything in your whole life. Keep it as far away from your things as you can. Take of your cushions and lay them on a tarp if possible. Put isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. Spray down your couch really well with the isopropyl alcohol, getting into any and all cracks and corners. Pay special attention the the seams in the couches, soaking those areas down the best. Make sure you hit every angle and area. You want to disinfect this baby until it's damp. This worked very well with the fabric of our couch. It's thick and tolerated the alcohol well, with no staining or discolouration. Make sure you check your fabric type because not all couches will respond in the same way. You may end up ruining it, so be careful! After I soaked down the couch I moved onto the cushions getting right into all the small concealed areas like the zipper. Next I vacuumed the couch and the cushions after. I vacuumed for a couple hours. I know that may seem extensive but it's better to be safe than sorry, right?

While I was cleaning, I was inspecting it too and looking at all the tags. I found a little indoor bird seed at one end of the couch and all the tags on the couch were initialled with someone's name. The company tag was also interesting. It's super retro with pink, navy blue, turquoise and of course my fave, starbursts. And what's more interesting was that it was made right here in Canada. I like that it has local country origins. Once my vacuuming ritual and inspecting was done, I got out my spray bottle again, and gave it another good soaking. Spray it enough that you can't sit on it for a few hours. I sprayed it without cushions on and then again when I put them back in their place. Now if you can give it a good steam cleaning that's good to finish off with too. You can pay someone to steam it for you or even rent a machine. Or if you own one, that's fantastic. You're awesome. 

We were really lucky with our couch, it was in an amazing condition and pretty clean. It's hard to find a vintage couch with so much life left in it. Just be smart about the cost, condition and whether or not it fits into your life. For the price (we got a really good deal), I look at it and think we did a good job in not passing up this find. It'll be in our house for many, many years. It's my dream couch and I hope you find yours too. You know, if you're into that sort of thing! 

Thanks for reading, dolls! 

If you have any more tips that I've missed that you think I should add, give me a shout! I'd love to hear from you!

Marissa xo

CharmingShop

Weekend Life

Hey everyone, I hope you're having a great weekend. I sure am. It's been busy of course, but every second is worth it. What have I been up to? Well I'll tell you! Remember a while ago I mentioned I was on the hunt for a china cabinet? Yesterday we spent the day at antique stores, checking out the local furniture selection. I saw tonnes of gorgeous things that I wanted to bring home. Mid century lamps, an adorable wicker laundry hamper, some gorgeous chrome diner-style tables (which I obviously do not need because I have that...My kitchen counter and our nook table are both done in that style!) It's funny how you are still obsessed with things even if you already have some at home. Basically as usual, we wanted to take lots of stuff home, but we were awesome and didn't get anything. I'm proud of that accomplishment. 

In terms of china cabinets, I saw a few nice ones, but not in the style or era I'm interested in. I'm looking for clean modern lines, preferably Teak or Walnut. Something Mid Century Modern to fit in with the house. And we also don't have a whole lot of room to play around with, so we are thinking more of a hutch style. I know that narrows it down, but what can you do. I'm picky! In fact, I might be ending up with my grandmas cabinet after all. One more antiquing day next weekend, and I will decide what we're going to do. 

Here's a picture of us at Easter (Excuse our silly expressions! We're goofs.) And there it is. Our possible future china cabinet is behind us. I know you barely get to see anything... but I wouldn't show you the whole cabinet until its nestled into our own living room! Just a little peek.

Okay, no more thrifting talk for now! Let's get on with our daily sketches! I missed yesterday, so you get two today.

 What do you think of these pretty ladies? Now I know I said I wasn't going to sell any of my daily sketch work, but these are the exception. These are actually a part of a collection I'm doing. They will be available as prints in my shop eventually. There will be a whole bunch of them. I'm very excited about how adorable they all are and each theme I'm doing is ridiculously cute. But you'll have to wait a few months for these ones. Sorry!

*******

1. I'm crazy about lace.

2. I adore Audrey Hepburn. Watching her movies has always been an enjoyment of mine since I was very young.

3. When I was little, I was in a skipping club at school.




Marissa xo
CharmingShopLove

Thrifting Tips Part 3

Do you know what today is? It's the last edition of Vintage/ Antiquing/ Thrifting Tips! I have five more for you. I think I've prepared you for a seriously educated shop. Of course I will still post about my own adventures thrifting, because let's face it, vintage hunting is so fun. I even get a rush seeing what other people have found!

#1 Be Thoughtful - Keep other people in mind. Has a family member or friend been on the search for a specific item? Maybe it's hard to find, and suddenly one day you come across one. Give them a call and see if they would like you to pick it up for them. Or maybe give it to them as a gift on a special occasion. Keep others in mind and they will keep you in mind too. Sometimes the best things come to you when other people find it for you.

#2 Different Tastes - This is such a good one if you live with a roommate or spouse. If you don't live alone please, please keep this in mind. It will save you so much trouble. Just because you love something, maybe your significant other or friend won't. I mean, if it's a gem, definitely don't pass it up, just be aware and take other peoples opinions into account. Since first living with my boyfriend in our apartment and now our house, I've scaled back on my girly things. Where I would normally just go nuts with florals and pinks and lace, I always take time to think about how my decorating decisions will affect him. Now I take time to get more gender neutral finds, that we will both enjoy. I'm not saying you can never get your favourite things ever again. Every now and then I still do. I never pass up an amazing find. Just don't let your items take over your home. There's always a compromise.

#3 Take Your Significant Other - Take them with you! Then you can get a sense of what they like. Even if your partner is resistant, I guarantee they'll get into it once they're there. (I mean, I'm sure they've witnessed you coming home with all those goodies all these years. They should automatically want to go!) They'll be picking up pieces left and right and you can get a sense of their particular style. So if there's ever a time when your spouse is not around, you'll be able to bring home finds for them. Just keep communication open. It's a great bonding experience and not to mention super fun! You'll start to notice this awesome meshing of two worlds that is so unique to you two. It's magical.

And if you're single, take a friend! The extra opinion and extra set of eyes is always great. Maybe they'll notice something you didn't.

#4 Check Before you DIY - I cannot stress this enough. Please never start a diy project before you check your facts on an item. In a world where crafting and updating has become so popular, I have seen some gorgeous, expensive pieces being painted over and essentially ruined. It breaks my heart. If you want to update something, research it first. You could have an expensive piece of furniture on your hands people. You're just defacing it and decreasing it's value. I recommend going out and getting a piece that is worth less to get creative with. Buy it specifically for that project.

#5 Get Vocal - This is the most interesting rule, and it's amazing how well it works. Is there something you really want to find, but you haven't had any luck yet? Get vocal! Post pictures of it on Pinterest or Facebook or anywhere else. Tell anyone and everyone about it. Maybe they have one at home in a box in their basement that they don't care about and will want to get rid of. Maybe they know where to find one. Maybe they will find one for you in the near future. This always, always happens to me. If you make room for it in your life and you think about it and talk about it, it's just a matter of time before you find one. Try it!

Okay ladies and gentlemen, this concludes our Thrifting Tips. I hope you enjoyed them and you will really think about everything I've said. I know they will help you. It's a lot to remember, but it is an ongoing process. If you're new to thrifting, I promise you will get the hang of it quickly and you'll start to develop a style in it. So get out there and start hunting! You're all set! I can only imagine all the cool things you're going to find and I'm super excited for you. Good luck everyone!

Marissa xo
CharmingShop