Repurposing vintage finds...

A quick post today, leaving for sunny Florida for ten days, so I shall be absent from blogging for a little while....
Since my obsession with china has taken over a few spaces in my home, I have resolved to being more creative with its uses....I think that is the secret to making vintage collections, fresh and new, by assigning them repurposed duties in the household...
In the past, I was especially drawn to the large, beautiful wash basins, which often accompanied the pitchers of the same designs...above you can see one in green transferware.

I have relegated it to the guest bath as a towel receptacle...I have also used it at Christmas for holding my eggnog, circled with a fresh green wreath at its base, with a silver ladle for dispensing the nog.  It makes a great centerpiece for the festive table.
It is one of my favourite pieces of transferware. I love the colour green!

Here a small pitcher, of the same wonderful green colour is holding several wash cloths...

This green depression glass biscuit jar is holding scented soaps, which I purchased in Florence at la Farmacia Santa Maria Novella, a fitting receptacle for such a special and luxurious soap.

I love the fresh green colour of this glass and it brings this bathroom a soft country feeling....

The depression glass and green transferware together bring a fresh sense of style to a collectible which could otherwise look a little staid and dated on their own.

Another depression glass collectible, a cake plate, which I have again employed to service in the guest bath....

Holding French hand soap and creams, it elevates these simple little luxuries to a different level....

Another repurposed collectible is the lowly silver chest, here painted and distressed and given a new interior with anaglypta paper...but any material may be used, a wonderful rose imprinted fabric or toile....

It has gone from this, to this....holding jewellery, and other personal feminine items...

Here you can see the interior of the chest, now recovered and repurposed into a new life.....

When looking for these silver chests, I try to purchase the ones with interesting drop handles, then, painted, antiqued and distressed they acquire a wonderful new patina....

And best of all today, our woods are yielding the first sign of Spring...the first of the wildflowers are peeking through the brown layer of fall leaves....
Wishing everyone a most happy weekend.....and Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

I will be back soon!

N.xo