Must Shine...: This Makes My House My Home

What makes your house your home? For some it's the architecture, others the setting, and a few might say it's the place they've always lived. For me, home is a place where I keep my treasures. They are the things that have history, a sense of being around forever. The things my grandparents used and handed down, the special gift from a friend, or the found item that strikes a cord, these are what make my house my home.

The yellow and green needle work on this cotton muslin tea towel is bright and cheery. A few years back my Grandma Valdine gave me this and several other handmade treasures sewn by my great-grandmother. Every time I put it on my table, I sense how much both women loved beauty in their homes.

I love popcorn and eat it by the bowl full! I found this colorful 16" enamel ware bowl in the backyard of a junky house by my old office. It was being used to feed several huge dogs. Goodness! I cleaned it up and now love watching movies while munching popcorn from it (of course I share some with Eddie).

Now, this is a mermaid! Isn't she wonderful? Her high ponytail is typical for the era, which is somewhere in the late 60's or early 70's. This lovely ceramic planter sits on my file cabinet, looking feminine and perky, the perfect inspiration!

Last Christmas, Debbie gave me this gorgeous panel of Mother and Child. We had been junking together when I spied it and told her how much I loved the images. She secretly bought it and saved it for my surprise gift. I love that she does that!

Here's a fun way to use an old suitcase, turn it into a bedside table! This little piece of luggage was my great-grandpa's. I've hauled it around for years. On the table is a little lamp that was my Grandma Valdine's, a mid-century alarm clock that served my Grandma Erma for years, and an old florist's vase filled with dried rose petals. It's a fun way to welcome guests.

Under my Eddie dog is a wonderful, old wool blanket. I picked it up at an awesome holiday junk and vintage show a few years back. The brown, aqua, and cream colors are unique. They're just perfect for my home.

Many years ago my dad and I were traveling the back roads of the Palouse Hills in Eastern Washington. We came upon an estate sale in the middle of the wheat fields. Dad and I both found treasures that day. This fishing creel is one of my favorites. I've used it as a planter for over 30 years.

This lovely set of Tom Swift adventure books is another treasure I found at the estate sale with dad. What a glorious find! There were 40 books in this series, with copyright dates from 1910-1941. My collection was once owned by a young boy named Paul. Over the years he received 18 volumes, each inscribed with his name and the year he received them. While they are well-used, he kept them in great shape.

I have carted old boxes from place to place, move after move, since I was in college. My sister and I lived on a shoe-string budget when we were in college and together we regularly frequented the local thrift stores. When I found this wonderful hat box at the Goodwill in Yakima, Washington, I latched onto it and haven't let go! The cigar boxes have come in various forms, each holding some crafting treasure.

This collection old bottles with marbles for toppers sits in the window above my kitchen sink. The way the light shines through them makes me happy! Most of the bottles were found in old garbage piles near my childhood home west of Spokane. As kids my siblings and I loved to hunt for treasure. Guess we all still do!

This is a rather random collection of things I have in my master bathroom. Over the tub, I suspended these two selves and placed some of my favorite things on them. The top shelf holds a mid-century aqua candlestick holder. It's from a ceramic shop on Vashon Island, WA. The old sticker is still intact. Next to it is a beautiful vase that's been converted to a candle. My second favorite color of ceramics is butter yellow, so you know I love the big flower-like ceramic vase! It, too, is mid-century. The bottom shelf holds yet another vase (do we have a theme going here?). This one I picked up at the Funky Junk Antique Show a few years back. I filled it with aromatic oil and placed a few sticks in it to make the room smell good. In the middle is a piece of Coronado china by Franciscan. I'd love to have the whole set! The creamer holds a votive candle. And finally, is an original Cori Dantini print. While it's not vintage, it still looks great in the collection!