Whale of a Time - Summer Inspiration - Happy Hump(back whale) Day!

I love whales and in the summer I love seeing new items out there that are inspiring...

 

First up - a beautiful bottle opener!  How cute is this??

 

 

Available at BHDLN

 

There there are these really cool items for kids' rooms:

 

 

Which unfortunately Pottery Barn Kids no longer has in stock, but you could always check out Ebay

 

Then there is some delightful fabric at spoonflower:

 

Simple, but so cute.  Available here.



 

This is more pirate themed, but with cute whales, pirate ships and mermaids - who could resist?  Available here. 

 

And Spoonflower has a lot more whale themed fabric so look there for more!

 

And last, but not least - a great artist that makes really beautiful whale art - here are a few of my favorites:

 



 

 

His name is Greg Pezzoni - google for more great art!!

 

And that's it for this post, but I have another big Etsy update coming up son - plenty of new items in the shop - please check them out!!  ;)

 

Happy Hump(back whale) day!  Sorry, couldn't resist.

Window Shopping at Etsy

I'm stressed, money is super tight and I'm nervous about the future. That signals that it is definitely time to shop. Well, window shop anyway. And since I love it when my fellow bloggers share their favorite finds here's a few of mine.

First up - a cool find from Etsy's main page:

Found HERE

Antlers! How quirky and as soon as I saw it I immediately thought of Black Apple of course, can't you just see her wearing these? I'm not brave enough to pull it off, but she so could. I love the dress, too. Or at least this picture of it - it looks so Jane Austen-y. The other pictures show it a bit too short, but this picture is just beautiful.



And this I found a little while ago and I see now it is sold. Thank goodness or my credit card might be stretched that much thinner just now...

Found HERE

You don't know how long I looked for a letter just like this one - it's perfect. I need it. Except I don't, really. Darn it all. Not like groceries and health insurance.

And this one is stacked really cool and a GREAT collection, but I do have quite a few of these myself...

Found HERE

We found a ton of these letters at a kind of flea market - they were dumped all over a warehouse floor and no one wanted them. I wish I could have bought them all, but we did bring home quite a lot - filled an office trash can full of all our favorite letters and numbers. I have a few displayed, but mostly in a box - I should stack them like this, though - such a great display idea.

And this is just so cute....

Found HERE

Who doesn't need a bit of whimsy and a medieval hut or tower on their finger?

And this? I don't want the actual print that is listed...I want this kitty!!

Found HERE

I need this kitty - not just because he so cute, but because he could do my taxes for me. ;)

That's all for now. I feel much calmer now...retail therapy. And without spending a dime.

200th Post and Giveaway!!

(Drumroll please)

Ta da - the 200th Post!!

Also known as 58 Cherries' Big Fat French Post since I'm here to tell you about my oh so cool new purchases that make my living room seem tres chic, oui?

First up, my brand new train time table - all the places I simply must go to when I visit France some fine fantasy day...

It's a HUGE canvas we bought at TJ Maxx just after Christmas. I loooove it. I was eyeing it and telling myself, No, I do NOT need a huge canvas of fantastic French places. No, I really do not need to buy more art I have nowhere to put... But this was all cast aside when my mother caught sight of it, too, and between the two of us drooling over it we decided that Yes, we DO need it and Yes, we will find a place. Like, over the mantle piece. Still needs to be hung up, but even propped up it is adorable, non??

And the little dueling soldiers are a far earlier purchase from...wait for it - TJ Maxx. Yes, I have seen the same prop piece in the show How I Met Your Mother and squealed - I have one just like that!

And apparently I should just move into that store since I also purchased this from them last week:

Isn't it the cutest chair? I love it - simple, comfy and such a pretty soft green. Perfect. I don't even mind killing my back carrying the chair throughout the store and parking lot it is just right.


And when I was taking pictures of my pretty little purchases I turned around and realized our great room is taking on a decided French feel. Yes, the train time table and chair and even the little bird pictures give it that air, but also this picture above my couch:



And this picture over the kitchen sink...

Oh, and that's another TJ Maxx purchase...
can you tell my favorite place to shop??

Ah well...if you can't live in France you can at least pretend, right?? And here's another random decorating picture...

The nook in my hall right before the living room has our family heirloom secretary in it and I decided to just put that sailboat there temporarily until I figured out where to put it, but it seems content there for now so there it stays.

And last, but certainly not least...the giveaway!! Or rather two. If you commented waaay back on my Halloween post and/or friended this blog you are already eligible for this giveaway, but you may want to add a comment here with which one of these you'd like more if you have a preference.

In honor of my French post...

A silhouette ornament with French text in the background. Gossamer white ribbon and on the back a cute crown.And in honor of my brand new chair... A chair fit for the Empress Josephine.

Complete with a bee and crown, symbols of Napoleon and Josephine!! ;) I love these two ornaments and I hope you do, too. Great for all year round really, I like to hang them on doorknobs or a white tree or branches cut from the yard.

So comment here for a chance to win, add yourself to my followers/friends on the bar on the right for a second chance and as I said those who commented back in October are already signed up, but you might also like to let me know which one you like when commenting here. I'll announce the winners on Friday!

Thanks so much for all of you who read my blog and especially those who take the time to comment and encourage me. Happy 2011!!!

Halloween Shopping and a Party, too.

Yes, the Halloween craze continues...

Good news for Halloween nuts like me - Target is back just about as great as ever for the holiday. They expanded their section - as big as their Christmas display - about time! I drooled over all the new stuff and just couldn't help buying a few new things to add to my collection. (I'm bad...)

First up - a fantastic tablecloth!!

From Target.com here.

Here's a close up detail of mine:

They don't have any available online, but they had them in the store, but very few so if you want one I'd grab it fast! They had other cute tablecloths, but I just love the cool fonts here - it looks even better in person. My only complaint is it doesn't come for a round table, only oblong, oh well.

Also too cute to miss - these salad 'tongs':

Guess I'm making a salad now for Halloween because these are too funny not to use.

And not to be missed - Miss Vanessa's Halloween Party!

I'll be having a little party here, too, of course. :)

Witchy Woman...

I am such a kid when it comes to Halloween. Seeing things up on Etsy and in the stores for Halloween gives me such a thrill!!

I can't wait any longer to show you the latest item I bought for my favorite holiday.

I found these two great old books to add to my witchy decor...

Beautiful aren't they? But no, they were not the greatest antique/vintage score every - they are book boxes from Garden Ridge of all places!

So now I can safely store a few of my Halloween items after the holidays. They are some of the nicest book boxes I've seen - very nice covers that feel pretty real and the smaller book is rather textured and both of these feel like a real book in your hands. I'm over the moon about them. ;)

The other items displayed are: a great dark red bottle I've had for many years - looks like something the Wicked Witch Stepmother from Snow White had. I also have a blue one, my small crystal ball on a stand (I have a big one elsewhere - this one I keep on my bookshelf year round), and finally a fantastic dark red scarf with moons and stars I purchased in Salem, Mass.

Saturday Fun: Historic Main Street St. Charles

Saturday fun - just browsing around historic St. Charles stores. I love their old signs and far older buildings. The coblestone streets and tiny balconies and flowers and trees everywhere as well as horse drawn carriages. It was very hot so we only shopped a litte while. Still I snapped a few pics of my favorite signs. I once blogged a little about St. Charles here shortly before my surgery last year if you want more pics including the Alice Tea Party signs.

Without a doubt my favorite sign - love that button!

Stained glass store - pretty sign displaying their talent.

Someone dressed up this Fox and it got a lot of attention on the sidewalk - cute!



And my other favorite sign - love that silhouette!!

All Keyed Up

I had a theme birthday without ever meaning to...

First it started with a little gift to myself a few days before my birthday. I had a chance to swing by a TJ Maxx and at the jewelry counter they had some key sterling silver key necklaces! Wow, were they stocking them just for me? Too many choices and some so very ornate, but in the end I just picked the most simple and realistic looking key that appealed to me the most.

I liked it so much I bought my mother one, too, different style, larger and gave it to her as an early birthday present. I'd show a pic, but I think she may be wearing it today...

(This pic is on a VERY old lace collar on my mannequin which I got as a present brand new and we've been working on antiqueing it to look like an old mannequin as I can't find one on my own and Romantic Homes showed us a great way to make a new one look old. It's only half done so I'll show it off when done.)

Then this came in the mail:

A giftie from my Fairy Vintage Godmother... You may remember me going on and on in previous blog posts on how much I liked this fabric here.

Well, turns out she didn't even have to buy it at the online store - she just opened her magic fabric cupboard - okay huge room of fabric - and voila - key fabric already purchased and sitting there!! She said she might as well send it to me since I loved key fabric so much and it was going to waste sitting there. Isn't she sweet?? I LOVE it!! If you look close, you see my three ringed key on it, and the other plainer looking one with just an oval head is JUST like the one I bought my mom.

And I thought it so funny to get key fabric right after buying myself a key necklace. Then later that night mom plopped down a few big brass keys down she'd tucked aside for me...

Another sign!! I'm officially calling this my Key Birthday this year. I hope it unlocks my dreams and makes it the best year ever. ;) Already today I finally got the courage to go and buy myself some nice business cards. I hope I made the right choice.

Also a nice surprise on my doorstep after a lovely lunch out at Joe's Crab Shack (Yes, I ate my fill of crab legs - YUM!! Big treat for me!!) and with a big smile already on my face I found that I'd gotten a delivery of flowers from an old friend...

Very pretty and colorful. I had a great birthday. Thanks to those who commented on my earlier post. You'll be happy to know no cats got into my cake this year. LOL Kept it under lock and key...(no pun in tended) in its box and it was delicious. Off I go to get to work... Have a great Thursday!

Nicki

58Cherries

My Fairy Vintage Godmother

Happy 1st of December everyone.

Does it feel like December yet to you? Not to me. Or at least, I'd like a little more time, but time flies and we must struggle to keep up with it.

I'd like to share just two pics of the many little gifties my Fairy Vintage Godmother bought for me - she's my real godmother, but she's like a Vintage Fairy - she's been at this trade of dumpster diving, thrift store scoring, and garage sale nut long before it became 'in' and all the Indie/Newbies started hopping onto the bandwagon. My parents, too, but nobody surpasses my Auntie when it comes to finding treasures. Anyway, I also call her Mrs. Santa Claus because she so loves to give away anything she thinks another might treasure, too.

Anyway, back to the goodies:

As I prepared for my surgery and as I recovered in the hospital, she kept slipping me little presents to cheer me up. Now first let me say that maybe the most well used and appreciated of them all at the hospital was a stack of brilliant colored, soft and wonderful hand towels she just happened to get at Target. Hand towels you might ask? Yes indeed. Ever go to a motel and use their hand towels all scratchy and goodness knows where they've been and how they've been washed. Think the same of hospitals. And when you recover, or maybe it's just me, but when you recover from a major surgery your body overheats - I had a fan blasting and people grabbing towel after towel and wetting them and putting them on my forehead and even a bit of color that wasn't dirty white was a pleasant sight to the eyes.

But these are just two of oh so many wonderful things she gave me:

It's a beautiful little trinket box of a slightly vintage look - the pink is perfect with what I've fallen in love with. Inside where a few wonderful glass (if I remember correctly) cherries. I failed to take a pic, sorry. The bird handle is so precious and so thoughtful.

And as if it wasn't enough, she bought me this gorgeous gold cherries necklace. Something I certainly haven't seen, pins and earrings yes, a necklace? Oh, no, very rare. I love it.

What else did she give me? Oh so many things, I can't remember them all, but two kimonos come to mind. One was new (I think) and rather modern Japanese style, beautiful. She thought I'd wear it to the hospital, but I knew better - a. what if some awful orangey goup they put to sanitize your wound gets on it? b.What if someone steals it? No, it stays at home, but will be worn with love. But the second kimono was an accident. She loves it to death and I've admired it so many times she's come to visit her mother and she left it in my room the one night she slept there while helping out (she lives in Ohio) and she said, let Nicki keep it. For Reals??? OMG It's one of those amazing finds she got at this like magical thrift store she finds the best stuff at. I was at a loss for words for I know she loves that kimono and it means the world to me that she gave it to me. Thank you Fairy Godmother, you move me to tears with your generosity.

It must run in the family as my mom is just the same and Yiayia (their mother - grandmother in Greek just fyi) - they give and they give sometimes til it hurts. I want to be like them. They are my inspiration.

Green with Envy

If I had a bit more green in my pocket I'd buy these items:

My choices for St. Pat's

Blouse and shorts: Anthropologie

Clutch: Coach

Shoes: natashascafe.com

Necklace: overstock.com

And for dinner we're having the traditional corned beef and cabbage - yum! We cooked it last night as it takes hours to prepare. I'll post a pic and recipe if anyone's interested.

Spring Cleaning Sale!!

Spring Cleaning Sale going on NOW!!

Hurry and grab that canvas, necklace or box you've been eyeing. I'm cleaning my shelves for new Spring Items coming soon!! Everything listed before February is on sale now - and some of those sale items have FREE shipping, too!! Woohoo!

Sale ends 3/1

Field Trip Friday

I'm not really prepared for much of a post, but I just wanted to share a few favorite places to go in St. Louis for those of us who love all things vintage.

First up: The White Rabbit (9030 Manchester Rd. St. Louis)- a cool little boutique full of shabby chic style furniture and decor. I often spot their little van with a rabbit logo on it at estate sales and think , oh no - they've cleaned out all the good stuff already! ;) They buy lots of old furniture and paint it white or light pink and resell them, but they sell super fast so you have to really jump on it. I love their baby room full of vintage children's items and clothing.

Picture from White Rabbit

This is a cute little vintage baby's dress I bought a few years ago:

It looks really cute hanging on my door in the summer.

They just moved as they had a bad flood last year and lost all their inventory - so sad! They are now located across the street from a famous St. Louis eatery now - Carl's Drive In. Famous for their burgers and homemade root beer.






Yum! It's a very small diner and you may have to wait for a spot, but it's worth it just for the root beer.

And if you want antiques in St. Louis you just have to go to Cherokee Street. It's the must-see spot for antique stores and also a great place to see some architecture. Here's one of many several cool buildings there:

Picture from cherokee street

There really is a mix of stores there - antique stores with lots of furniture, vintage clothing boutiques, and really cute cafe's, too, which you'll need to visit to sit down and catch your breath because it's over seven blocks of businesses there. I wish I had some pictures from the last time I visited, but if I get a chance soon I'll post pictures of some of their cute shops and some great vintage clothes.

That's it for today, but there are lots of great St. Louis places I want to show so I'll have to get out my camera this spring and show you!