My post this week focuses on the sweet things I have thrifted for my little girl’s room, and a sweet treat that is inspired by my time in England.
I love creating considered spaces from secondhand items whenever I can. I also love creating pretty treats in the kitchen to celebrate life’s little joys.
Join me, as I walk you through some of our favorite, pretty things.
~The Influence of Color~
God’s world is full of beautiful colors!
Often, colors impact us- whether we are aware of their influence or not. Colors add variety and visual appeal to our environment, and they even influence the way that we feel. In an interior space or a home, the ambiance is often created with the help of color, bold or subtle-the influence is there.
When I was a high school home economics teacher, I really enjoyed teaching a unit on interior design. I always found it fascinating to see all the different styles and creations the students were able to envisage.
Perhaps, that is why I enjoy going into people’s homes and seeing how they express their own individual style through the use of colors, furniture, and unique pieces.
Naturally, we all have different ideas on what makes our homes feel inviting and peaceful. We don’t have to be interior designers to create a home space that feels right for our own individual tastes. What one person adores, another may hate, and vice versa.
~Pink, the Vintage Way~
My favorite color is, and always has been, pink – and for many, that is their worst nightmare.
But I can unapologetically say that I adore pink! In fact, I never grew out of the “pink stage.” Even as a sixteen-year-old girl, when my friends were preferring shades of yellow, blue, and purple, I decided to paint my room a cheerful shade of pink- as it made me feel so happy! To this day, the color pink ignites in me a bit of joyful nostalgia.
These days, I do prefer more of a muted, dusky shade of pink, but nonetheless, pink has been a good friend of mine.
Now, a mother to four precious children, and specifically a mother of two little girls… I am “tickled pink” to be able to share my love of such a lovely color with them.
What fun it is to decorate their room in a dainty, feminine way. (Stay tuned for my post on the boy’s room).
It is safe to say that being a girl’s mom has only made my love for pink grow. Of course, it is not just pink that makes my heart happy, I am also drawn to vintage items (which coincidentally often celebrate the beauty of pink.)
When I am thrifting, I am not always looking for vintage, decorative items. I am looking for many things, and I love the thrill of not knowing what items may catch my eye. I call this, “the thrill of the find!”
So, without further ado, let me introduce the old to new “cast” of thrifted characters to you.
We have a vintage doll cradle, a vintage doll chair, a straw doll hat, a vintage teddy bear mirror, a vintage play oven, and last-but not least- some pretty brass accents.
~A Thrifted Cradle~
Picture this: It was a typical morning out thrifting with the children- when I noticed a very dirty, wooden, doll cradle on the floor. At first, I walked right past, but upon closer inspection- I could tell that the crib was well-made and very sturdy. It was not perfect, but it certainly had a rustic charm.
I knew I could make this into a special piece. I purchased it, and loaded it in the back of the car, excited about what it would become! When we arrived home, I immediately gave it a good bath (just warm soapy water and a cloth.)
I was pleasantly surprised- when I noticed that the dirt from years of storage- was slowly washing away, and the paint was still in good condition. I was pleased with the creamy vintage color of the original finish, and the fact that the paint “told” a story of a little girl that may have owned it years ago.
How sweet to breathe new life into it. How nostalgic to think of a little girl, maybe 30 years before, lovingly rocking her baby dolls to sleep in this very same cradle!
Now that I felt a connection to the piece, I wanted to do it justice. I sewed a new bed for the bottom, a pillow for the top of the bed, and a heart pillow for the middle.
I could not pass up on a chance to make mini bunting flags to decorate each side. (Bunting is very popular in England and this is where I first learned how much I loved bunting for any occasion).
I then painted the heart on the front and back of the cradle with chalk paint and added a few little bows. Before I knew it, a new cradle had emerged, ready to be loved and cherished by a new set of little girls.
How special to have saved it!
~A Thrifted Doll Chair and a Fashionable Hat~
A few months later, I came across a thrifted doll chair, and I immediately knew I could make this a sweet accompaniment to the cradle. It was a dark brown color, and also sturdy and well made.
I took it home and gave it a good bath in the sunshine. I sanded off some of the brown paint, and then after a primer coat, I added pink chalk paint (fittingly called Ballet Slipper). I added a few coats, finely sanded between the coats of paint, and then painted the little heart.
I thought it looked good, but it needed something more. So, I sewed a little pillow for the bottom of the chair (in the same fabric as the cradle). Of course, I had to add some of the sweetest mini bunting to the top- as a nod to England.
I also found a little straw hat at the thrift store at a separate time. As it was just a few cents, I knew I needed to buy it in order to add the accessory to the considered, doll collection. I simply used hot glue to add thrifted ribbon to each side (so the hat could be secured under the doll’s/bear’s neck.) I also used a thrifted, vintage lace to attach to the top of the hat along with some flowers for the side.
A very simple upgrade to a very inexpensive doll’s hat.
~Old Made New~
Not everything I use to decorate is a thrifted find. Sometimes it was inherited, or it was mine when I was a little girl. This nostalgic significance makes pieces very special.
When I was a little girl, my mom made my sisters and I, a play oven.
My husband, Craig, breathed life back into this sweet piece by painting it, and by doing some woodworking that needed to be done after years of use.
Once it was sympathetically revamped, I wanted to give this area a little makeover. I sewed a little tea towel (using my grandmother’s old sewing machine), and I made a pattern using my daughter’s hand, for the oven glove. I also added little hooks to the bottom of the oven shelf top so that I could add mini teacups.
Not long after, my daughter was thrift shopping with me, and she excitedly spotted a full tea set (still in the original packaging). We bought the white and blue floral tea set, in order to give it a new home…and we had just the place.
The top of the oven piece is decorated with a thrifted basket, and a thrifted milk glass vase. It is then layered with a thrifted, framed picture of a little girl, as well as a family print that was given to me.
Now the oven is ready for another life of play.
~A Vintage Nursery Mirror~
I also wanted to share a wooden, thrifted mirror that I purchased. I had to dig for this one, and it was quite dirty, but I knew it would shine up nicely with a bit of TLC. It is heavy and well made- so I am glad I bought it. In my opinion, it gives the girl’s room a sweet, vintage nursery vibe.
~Thrifted, Framed Art with a Vintage Addition~
My last decorative items that I will share in this post, are these thrifted, framed art pieces that I have collected over a few years. I wanted them to look like they went together, when in reality, they were bought at different times. So, I added the pink ribbon to connect them together and then added the sweet, vintage, brass hook (this was an Etsy find). I loved how easy this lovely little project was.
~An English-Inspired Treat~
The English treat I made this week is “my take” on a jam mallow biscuit.
I thought these were the perfect little girl (and baby doll/stuffed bear) finger food. They are a butter biscuit(cookie) base, with a thin layer of jam (I told you the English loved Jam!), and then a topping of marshmallow, mixed with freeze-dried strawberries (blitzed into a powder).
This is a treat Craig can remember having as a little boy.
We thought we should enjoy the cookies on a picnic blanket in the backyard.
Of course, we invited the dolls and the teddy bears too.
I hope you enjoy these thrifted, pink, decorative inspirations.
Remember, do not walk away from a good find just because it needs a good bath.
May we never underestimate… the power of a good bath!
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