Blog Archives

"Rummage Rage"

4/23/2015

There's a slightly dark side to my business that no one ever talks about; we have to deal with quite a few downright rude people when we're out buying.
Don't misunderstand me, the vast majority of buyers are wonderful, helpful and great friends, but there are times I just wanna cry like a baby....

      Today, while I was waiting outside for a large church sale to open, an older gentleman marched passed me and went to the front of the line.
     O-kaaaay......whatever. Others filed into line behind me and quietly waited. Soon another woman arrived and pushed through to the front of the line.
     People started yelling and cursing at her.
     Cursing.
     She was just as rude in return.
     YIKES! It's a CHURCH rummage sale folks. Get a grip.

      When they opened the doors, the door lady was trying to retrieve the door stopper from the floor but against the flood of people couldn't get it. I bent down and picked it up, but I was pushed from behind and heard, "HURRY! PUSH! SHOVE HER! She can pick it up later!"
     Once inside, it wasn't much better. I was interested in a table and chairs that had no price, so I asked an assistant to check on a price.
     "That's MY table", someone screeched from behind me. "I'm already asking about a price!"
     I don't need any table that badly.
     So I went and made friends with the adorable lady at the bake sale table and bought dessert for the evening.

Happy again, I went back into the fray to find treasure. I was still a bit unnerved by the exchanges that had occurred and it reminded me of other boorish behavior I've encountered.

Like last week at the flea market, when people were using their carts as battering rams. I've had my heels clipped more than once by these! No apologies either.
Ouch.

Or the time I fell in love with this birdcage. As I happily waited in line hugging my treasure, a lady approached me and said, "I was going to buy that".
"Ummm......errr...", I stammered, while clutching the cage ever tighter. "I didn't know....".

     Or, when I purchased these auction paddles and a man approached me. "I was going to bid on those and I missed it, I'll pay you whatever you paid for them, but I want them", he said.
     Awkward, but my answer was still a quiet no. The paddles were why I had gone to the auction. And not used the restroom. Or eaten. And sat on a broken chair for four hours.
     He was SO angry.
     Sigh.

      I, too, must confess to a bit of "Rummage Rage" myself. My personal irritation is short-lived, but materializes as soon as I arrive at a sale. If ANY car is there before me, which of course, there always is, I'm INSTANTLY irritated. Then I get heart palpitations.
     "What are all these stupid people doing here?" I ask my husband (or myself). I really say it! EVERY time. Like I own the place.
     Shameful, I realize (plus mom taught me to never say stupid). Forgive me Lord!
     Happily, this feeling disappears as soon as I start shopping (a delightful perk of having ADD).

     I pray I never allow myself to be a grumpy buyer! What we get to do is really a joy...we sell it all anyway and some days we get to be in the sunshine doing what we love. I also pray I respond kindly to "Rummage Rage" when I encounter it.
     How about you? Am I the only one that's experienced this type of thing? Are you a Rager??

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45 Minute Bedroom Spruce-Up

4/16/2015

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Sprucing up a spare room doesn't have to be expensive or even take a lot of time. To prove this point, I did a guest room make-over in 45 minutes and spent no money.

The room was pretty to start with and had some great furniture pieces, I just did a bit of re-shuffling.

~BEFORE~

BEFORE

I started by moving the gorgeous settee from the corner of the room to the foot of the bed.

BEFORE

The entire settee is now accessible for relaxing or taking your shoes off at the end of the day.

But now there's a vacant spot left where the settee had been. So, I searched for a small table that would fit under the window.

RIDICULOUS! Too small! Off to hunt for a bigger table.

      I found this table that wasn't being used, in another bedroom. So much better, don't you think?
     A floor lamp was used because I couldn't find a spare table lamp; it provides some additional light in that corner as well. I styled it as an occasional table, but it would be a nice little desk for writing letters, doing your make-up, or working on a laptop. A small bench could be tucked under the table for a seat.
     Additional towels and pillows are now close at hand in a basket.

I searched through the house and found some sweet antique opera glasses, a family photo, a couple candles and the dresser was done.

The bedside table was beautiful and so was the lamp. I just wanted to warm it up a bit, so I added a fern, some books, and an alarm clock.

     Yes, I know, the fern would tickle your nose at night! I should have shifted everything to the right a few inches, but keep in mind folks, it's a forty-five minute make-over.
     Onward and upward!
     I finished the room by swapping out pillows from another room.

Then, because of my OCD tendencies, I cut all the tags off the comforters and pillows! "Under penalty of LAW".
I live on the edge. I KNOW!! Sometimes I run with scissors too.

Next time you want to go crazy and update a room, don't wait until you have all new stuff. You can use what you have, move things, re-shuffle and be creative.
You can make a big change with very little! I promise. Just try it.

4 Comments

How To Tell "The Story of Your Home"

4/9/2015

2 Comments

When people visit my home, or even the store, they often say, "I could just live here!". I don't think they really want to live with me, I think they just want the feeling they get in a "collected" home!
You know; the feeling that a home has a story and some history.

Though the look appears to be random, unplanned and almost accidental, it is actually purposeful and well thought out. The "Storied Home" is indeed carefully fine-tuned and re-worked over time.
How does one get that look? Here are 7 tips to help you achieve the look in your home. Grab your coffee!

     1. Incorporate Family Heirlooms
     Family relics are heavy-hitters for adding a sense of who you, and who your people are. These things, when out on display, give visible evidence of your heritage. They can also spark conversations. "Where'd you get that?" "Is this handmade?"
     Family Bibles, the family silver, quilts, grandpa's hat, the trunk your grandparents used when they immigrated...etc., etc. You get the idea.

     2. Add whimsical touches
     Don't be afraid to add touches of whimsy and humor to your home. They show that you can laugh and don't take yourself too seriously.
     I, of course, take this to another level........

Look closely at that second picture......

3. Keep and display gifts that aren't necessarily your "style"
You may be tempted to hide or toss some gifts. Don't do it! These pieces can help make your home unique. Only you know the story behind it. Everyone else just sees the unusual item that adds an eclectic pop to an otherwise fairly predictable theme in your home.

     4. Buy souvenirs
     NOT a plastic alligator back scratcher! Something that will rekindle a vacation or travel memory - even if only for you and your family. Especially if it only means something to you and your family! Put it out on a coffee table where it begs to be asked about.
     It doesn't have to cost money. A framed menu, a snapshot, or a large seashell (but don't go to jail for said souvenir),

     5.Hide your UGLY in your PRETTY
     We've all got non-pretty things that we have to use, store, or keep. Put your mess in pretty containers! I'm a bit fanatical about this but won't expound because I already wrote an entire blog post on the subject.   http://www.fadedvelvetshop.com/blog/pretty-organized
     This serves another purpose as well. All that clutter would otherwise catch a person's eye and distract them from the beautiful things that you actually want people to see.

6. Incorporate Antiques
Old things give a sense of history to any home....the older the better! Some people prefer their antiques to be pristine. I prefer my antiques to look tattered and torn, further adding to my home's sense of having been there forever. With untold stories throughout.

7. Don't compare
The temptation is great, but don't do it. Remember the goal is for your home to reflect YOU and YOUR family. Not your neighbors, not your friends, and certainly not magazine or home decorating books (though they are fun to get ideas from).

Don't be surprised that the "Storied Home":

1. Takes time
Beautiful, unique items (treasures) are usually found one item at a time. Collections aren't garnered overnight, and frankly very few people can afford to buy everything they want whenever they see it.

2. Constantly changes
Your story isn't finished yet, you will to pick up items as you continue to travel, shop, receive gifts and live!
.
3. Does not look like anyone else's home
THAT'S the whole point.

4. Takes confidence to "pull off"
Since your home doesn't look cookie-cutter, not everyone will love your home. That's ok, because it's YOUR home! If you walk in the door at the end of the day and your home makes you smile and feel welcome, that's all that matters.

Faded Velvet

How about you and your home? What story does it tell about you? Do share!!

2 Comments

Memories of Easters Past

4/2/2015

3 Comments

     Preparing for Easter this year, I'm finding myself a bit nostalgic. A lot nostalgic actually. It seems all of a sudden, I'm the Grandma they're all coming to visit. The GRANDMA for heaven's sake! Me! I'm the one baking pies, planning the menu, and getting extra quilts and pillows out.
     In my mind, I'm still the squinty, permed-hair girl in the picture-looking just a bit frazzled from readying herself and three little ones in their Easter finery for Sunday church (I have no idea where my son's tie is).
     I actually think this is the only Easter picture that I'm in...I was usually the one taking pictures. I know I'm not the only mom missing from the Family Album.

Truth be told, it doesn't seem that long ago that I was the child! When we were young, Easter traditions seemed very straightforward and easy.
We always got a new Easter outfit that included, but was not limited to, new shoes, dress, hat, purse and gloves. Just RIDICULOUS amounts of lace, dotted swiss and white patent leather.

We dyed Easter eggs (no plastic eggs back then) using the same PAAS Easter egg dye tablets that I buy now http://www.paaseastereggs.com/egg-decorating-tips.php To this day, just the smell of distilled vinegar takes me back to my childhood.

     We hid the eggs over and over again, occupying ourselves for hours. For some reason, my normally fastidious mother allowed us to hide them in our formal living room?!
     Between sofa cushions, inside crystal vases, on top of piano keys...I can clearly recall many of my favorite hiding spots. We would even unscrew light bulbs in lamps and replace them with eggs. On more that one occasion, the egg carton went back into the refrigerator missing an egg or two, as we would invariably lose an egg or two.
     Candy baskets were a tradition as well. I had my favorite candies

and my least favorites!!

image from pinterest

There was always awful green grass that stuck to your candy, but that same grass would magically produce just one more jelly bean when you thought all the candy was gone!

We'd got to church where there was usually some graphic re-enactment of the crucifixion that never seemed to disturb us and always stayed in our minds.
Then we came home and had our big ham dinner and my favorite; Paska, a sweet Easter bread that was made by my best friend's mom.

My poor re-enactment of Paska

Pickled red beet eggs finished out the menu.

My favorite part of the day was at the end of the day when we all watched "The Ten Commandments" - still one of my top five movies.

     I hope this stirs up some of your favorite Easter memories; I'd love to hear some of your family traditions and cherished family memories.
     May you and your family have a blessed Easter!

                                                       HE IS RISEN!

3 Comments

"Rummage Rage"

45 Minute Bedroom Spruce-Up

How To Tell "The Story of Your Home"

Memories of Easters Past

Author: Donna

Archives

Categories:
Faded Velvet
Our Home
Before & After
Holidays
Entertaining
Our Neighborhood

"Rummage Rage"

45 Minute Bedroom Spruce-Up

How To Tell "The Story of Your Home"

Memories of Easters Past

Author: Donna

Archives

Categories:Faded VelvetOur HomeBefore & AfterHolidaysEntertainingOur Neighborhood

Categories:
Faded Velvet
Our Home
Before & After
Holidays
Entertaining
Our Neighborhood