If you are like me, searching flea markets for great treasures is a passion. Half the fun of finding all those treasures is thinking of creative ways to use them in projects. One of my favorite things to do with rustic finds is to combine them with a bouquet of flowers for some fresh vintage style. Here are a few of my ideas that you may want to try;
I had been searching for a long metal box to put on my window sill in the farmhouse so I could add seasonal flowers. Kansas City antique dealer Donnie Volkart who always has the best vintage selection, had just the right one for the space. I lined the metal box with four glass jars filled with daffodil bulbs that I bought at the grocery store florist.
Just look what happened.
Galvanized tubs are another favorite and perfect to use with those inexpensive floating candles. I sprinkled a few flower heads beside the candles and placed the tub on top of a table for a evening dinner with friends.
Bottles and unique glass jars are always on my shopping list at flea markets. This is an old mustard jar that I filled with a small handful of flowers then tied with raffia. Total cost under $5.00.
Look for salt and pepper shakers that are usually very cheap when missing the lids. I found a milk glass shaker and filled it with more flowers. This entire display cost about $20. I replicated the same look for a Summer wedding that I was helping at a couple of years ago for a friends daughter.
Milk bottles usually can be found in two different sizes and are great to use as small vases. This was a project I did for a past publication where I took milk bottles and pinned them on a clothesline beside vintage linens.
Often times when I am vintage hunting I look for a certain color or texture. I gathered a bunch of sun kissed vintage bottles and added a $3.00 thrift store basket for a past Easter photo shoot. You don’t really need a ton of flowers to make a big impact especially when using the same color. I snipped the flowers and used them as “bottle toppers” and tinted the water with some purple food dye. Can you guess which color I was after for my project?
This is a photo from a project I created for a Romantic Country photo shoot I did with my buddy, the super talented Karla Nathan. I created a “garden board” for a luncheon theme that we were doing and fashioned a garland using vintage bottles and flowers. Using an old seed catalog, I formed a cone to hold some hydrangea blooms. All hooked to a rusty garden gate to display at our luncheon.
White roses and a vintage quilt, always a classic don’t you think? I wrapped some wire around the top of the bottle so I could hang it off of a peg on the wall.
I used a primitive iron bucket and added some lovely white peonies for a farm table display.
I hope you have fun decorating with your own fresh flower projects using those vintage containers you find at flea markets. Beautiful and rustic.
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Speaking of places to find vintage goods, my friend Gwen of French By Design who sets up at Marburger, Texas and our Frenchie Show will be doing this show~~
February 5 & 6 from 9am-5pm
Opening of the newest monthly antique and vintage market
in the historic Kansas City West Bottoms. Some of KC’s best dealers
will be presenting amazing finds in an 8,000 sq. ft. warehouse setting.
1200 West 12th Street at the corner of 12th and Santa Fe, Kansas City, Missouri
(just north of the 12th street bridge).
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While in KC, check out Deb’s Valentine Art Show at Curious Sofa~
February 5, 6 & 7 Friday and Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-5
