Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Silver Tray Array!

Hi Friends:

Ok... So before I get started I should come clean about something: I absolutely, positively love silver in all shapes and forms.
From silver candelabras and candlestick holders shined to perfection to gleaming vintage ice and champagne buckets, gorgeous antique cutlery, bud vases and more. I mean how can you pass up a flea market tent or antique show booth that overflows with silver? Well I for one can't.  And needless to say, my home has quite a silver collection. Sterling or plated, I have bits and pieces of it all.



While many people prefer perfectly polished silver, I have a not-so-secret love for the tarnished variety as well. Especially when it comes to trays that many people call ruined. I call them fabulous. I mean just look at this collection of trays that I picked up from markets!
The tarnish! The patina! The character! 

You may be thinking, this girl has gone crazy. But, before you succumb to that thought and click the red "X" in the top left corner (yes, I am a PC user as well), first check out what I did with these beauties.

I live in a modern loft with high ceilings and WAY too much empty wall space. So to quell the overwhelming light gray that surrounds me, I arranged the trays into wall art and hung them near my dining room table.
Hanging the trays was a snap, literally. I used 3M Fasteners with Dual Lock technology. You can find these at any local office supply store; Walgreens and CVS stores tend to have them as well. These fasteners made hanging the trays a breeze and the strips won't harm walls.

So here's the finished array, what do you think? 


Friday, January 24, 2014

Lisa and Nikki's Valentine's Day Finds!

Hi Friends:

This week's Friday finds is all about getting ready for Valentine's Day! What has inspired and delighted us? Here they are - the Valentine's Day ideas we loved!
I made this crochet bowl from the same old crochet tablecloth I used to make snowflake ornaments! Just cut out a circle motif, dip in fabric stiffener and drape over a bowl to dry. The table runner was made from a vintage Valentine's Day fabric remnant!
Looking for a great gift for your better half? Why not pick up a "Better Half Bar" from Candy.com. So cute!
Don't forget your girlfriends! Make sachets by filling bouquet garni (cotton muslin) bags, with dried lavender. Get creative and decorate the bags before filling! These bags can be found wherever dried herbal ingredients are sold.
Sets of three from Godiva: solid milk chocolate hug hearts and milk chocolate heart lollipops - $15 to $20!
Creative valentines for school-age children can be a challenge. But we found this Swedish Fish valentine from PBJandJ and just loved it! Click here to purchase the printable for only $5. Then, place the print out in a clear treat bag, add a few Swedish Fish and you're set. Adorbs!
You can crochet this classic heart in 10 minutes! Measuring 2 inches by 3 inches, the heart makes a great pin or add a chain to make a gift tag! Click for the pattern from Crochet Leaf.

If you missed Monday's post, click here to see more Valentine's Day inspirations. Have a great weekend everyone!


Monday, January 20, 2014

Valentine's Day Inspiration!

Hi Friends:

What's not to "love" about Valentine's Day! Here at Georgia's we've been on the look out for inspired ideas to help you spread the love in creative ways. This week we'll have two posts devoted to Valentine's Day card and gift giving. We're getting the word out early so that if something "sparks" your interest, you have plenty of time to make it happen. Take a look!
Valentine match box gift boxes from Fancy Flours! Aren't they perfect for presenting a sweet treat, love note or even a little bling! Each $10 pack contains six 1" x 2" x 2" boxes.
We also "fancy" this heart puzzle cookie cutter  from Fancy Flours! The set of two cutters comes gift boxed with a recipe.
We're coveting this 24 karat gold-plated wishbone keychain from Jayson Home. At $22, it's a great buy! Attach a note with a personal romantic wish!
We love our partners for a myriad of reasons, big and small. Why not create a way to send love notes anytime. Simply print out the phrase "I love you because..." on the paper of your choice, frame and use dry erase markers to add a message. Hang in the kitchen, hall or master bathroom and take turns writing notes!
Sometimes it's a challenge coming up with a  Valentine's gift for the man in your life. Why not pick up a vintage champagne bucket, buy a bottle of the bubbly and surprise him with a romantic toast! These buckets are available at P.O.S.H Chicago. Call to order.
Also at P.O.S.H, we fell for these hinged porcelain heart boxes. Each gold trimmed box has the French words Je t'aime (I love you) inscribed on the inside. A lovely gift at $14.

Check back Friday for more Valentine's Day inspiration - we'll be focusing on sweets and card ideas for classmates!

Friday, January 17, 2014

Lisa and Nikki's Friday Finds!

Hi Friends:

What has inspired and delighted us this week? Here they are - the sights, sounds, tastes and one-of-a-kinds we loved!
Vintage alabaster lamps! We think they provide sculptural interest and add elegance to any room.
Say it with framed flash cards! We often come across boxes of vintage flash cards and pick through looking for just the right word or words to express a meaningful sentiment. Simply frame and you have a great gift or decor piece. This one from EyeSpyPix on Etsy is just charming.
Another favorite gift from the holiday - a flower (Mum) brooch made from a tie my husband wore back in the day. Klosti reTIEd Blooms hand stitches each petal "to create a lightweight accessory that highlights the beautiful color and fabric of the original necktie. One entire necktie is used for each brooch and the original brand/label is stitched to the back." What a wonderful way to hold close the special man in your life. Find her on Etsy by clicking the link above.
You can buy cacao pods! With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we thought you should know where chocolate comes from. These pods grow on the Theobroma tree and contain the seeds/beans used to make chocolate. Take a look at this explanation from Live Live & Organic and share it with the children in your life.  

This week saw the release of High Hopes, a new album from Bruce Springsteen. The album features original and cover songs that had been recorded live over the years. This fan couldn't be happier to see another album from him. I love his heartland rock and Americana sentiments and am determined to get Nikki to a live concert! What's your favorite song by "the boss"? 

Next week Georgia's is all about Valentine's Day. Until then, have a great weekend everyone!


Monday, January 13, 2014

Drop-Leaf Tables!

Hi Friends:

Recently we've come across several charming drop-leaf tables and it got us thinking about their versatility. A drop-leaf table, as you know, has a fixed center piece and hinged fold down sections (dropped) on either side. If the leaf is supported by a bracket when folded up, it is a standard drop leaf. If the leaf is supported by legs that fold out, the table is known as a gate leg or swing leg table. Variations of these tables have been used in the U.S. since the late 1600's and were and still are perfect for small spaces. It's a classic piece of furniture that can be used as a dining table, night stand, side table, desk or in a hallway. Low, elongated versions could be used as a coffee table or drawn up to a sofa for impromptu dining.

Here's a look at a few tables that we couldn't pass up!
This 1940's maple drop leaf is just gorgeous. It is 48"round when fully open and oblong when the extra leaf is added. 

We love the clean lines of the next two tables; they are so utilitarian!
Vintage cherry drop leaf with just enough leg detail.
This 100 year old walnut drop leaf with square nails is in excellent condition. It is low enough to work well as an end table.
Pembroke drop leaf tables have a drawer at either end making them perfect for use as a desk. We are on the look out for one of these.

Consider a drop-leaf table if you could use an extra surface but need a compact solution. For more information on any one of the tables above, leave a comment or contact us via Facebook or email. Have a great week!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Lisa and Nikki's Friday Finds!

Happy New Year Friends!

Georgia's is ready to get back to work and we are excited to share our finds and inspirations with you. We'll be bringing you vintage trends, holiday ideas, home and craft projects and recipes we love.  So let's get started! What has inspired and delighted us this week? Here they are - the sights, sounds, tastes and one-of-a-kinds we loved!
This frosty door decor from Crate & Barrel suits January. We love the many varieties of grapevine wreaths out there!
Julie, my clever sister, has inspired us with her weights made from vintage lids. This large one is a favorite; it's perfect on a stack of   decorative books or vintage ironstone plates.
Look what we got for Christmas - Shitake and Oyster mushroom logs! These logs, a product of 2FunGuys and available through Williams-Sonoma, are inoculated with mushroom spores and produce a crop of mushrooms every two to three months for up to two to three years!
We love dogs! How about this vintage brass dachshund - you gotta love this short-legged, long-bodied hound!
Cozy up with a quick-to-knit throw from The Purl Bee. This was made using their Knit Collage Sister yarn. Click the link for the pattern and get going; you'll be done in a weekend!

Our favorite message of hope, love and the human spirit from last year comes from the Landfill Harmonic in Paraguay, an orchestra of young musicians that play instruments made out of trash from a landfill. The families who live there survive by picking through the garbage for recyclable items. Please take a few moments to watch this video - it will make your day!