I was shopping the other day, looking for a smallish vintage bookcase for the hallway upstairs. We need to build bookcases in the den – have needed to build them since we moved in – and still haven’t. We have boxes of books out in the shed, books in the bedroom, books everywhere. This doesn’t include the boxes of books I sent home from San Diego, many of which are work-related. The point is: I have too many books and no place to put them! I wanted a cute little narrow bookshelf that would hold a huge volume of Shakespeare’s plays, all sorts of textbooks, etc.
I found a lot of bookshelves, but none of them were the right size. I know this happens to you, dear readers; you go in the shop for one thing but come out with 3 things that have nothing to do with your original intention. That happened to me the other day. Here is what I bought:
This is a vintage laundry bag. Hand embroidered on gorgeous, soft linen. I fell in love with it. Look at that fringe! I had no idea at the time where I was going to put it, I just knew I had to have it.
I also fell in love with this chippy bench.
I originally thought I would put it in the upstairs hallway and stack some books on the lower shelf. As often happens in this house, my husband had another idea and it was a better one. We placed it in front of the always-closed-french-door-on-the-left leading into the den. I had already decided that the laundry bag would look wonderful hanging from that same french door. The light filters through the linen beautifully.
I bought the large frog in San Diego. The bricks have their own story – they are from the theater-in-the-round in San Diego where both my husband and I worked. It is our favorite of the 3 theaters in the complex and last year it was razed in order to build a bigger theater. That made us sad. A friend of mine passed along the bricks so that we might have a little piece of this much-loved place.
Still need a bookcase. And bookshelves in the den. But we love these new additions to our home, found by chance while looking for something else.
What lovely treasures you found! Hugs, Marsha
That hand embroidered laundy bag is so sweet. I absolutely love it. Also, the chipped paint blue bench. It is so rustic and interesting. I love hearing about all you books. I think they multiple in hiding! Have a fun day. I always enjoy reading your blog posts!
Well, somebody knew how to make even Laundry pleasant!
And Somebody ELSE knows how to use the cute bag to show it off!
Great finds! I thought you said you found 3 things?
I love it all, but I really love the laundry bag- it is gorgeous!
Isn’t that always the way??? Great finds! Good eye!
Yes, Claudia, I do that all the time! LOL! Never find what I’m looking for, but always find something else to take home with me!
I love your vintage linen. It looks so pretty hanging above your new bench. What a pretty vignette!
Thanks for sharing and I hope you get those book shelves soon!
Hugs,
Teresa
Looks awesome! Well done!
Hugs, Lisa
Hi Claudia,
I have a little table/bench just like yours. Mine is red and about 15 years ago my little boy found it floating in the ocean at Redondo Beach! I’ll never forget that day. He shouted out to me, “mom, there’s furniture floating out here! We grabbed it, it must have been a bench on a fishing boat, and have loved it ever since.
Janet
I really, really want your chippy bench! Wow, what an amazing find! I wish I had shops like that near me. I have to drive at least 65 miles. Life is tough.
claudia,
i love this post from head to toe.
first of all GASP over the laundry bag and chippy bench! GASP over glimpses of your beautiful home! GASP over your eloquent writing (found by chance while looking for something else).
beautiful. awesome. you rock!
xo
Hello Claudia,
Well, eventhough you didn’t find the right bookcase, you sure went home with still wonderful pieces to add to your home :-) Like very much the embroidery. Makes you smile doing the actual laundry, I think :-)
I also like the story of the bricks. How cool is that. Good thing your friend took some as a remembrance.
Li
Love, love, love the embroidered laundry bag and chippy bench!!! That bench looks perfect by that french door– your home is so pretty!
I’m glad to know there’s another house out in blogland that is inundated with books. My hubby just finished building a whole wall of bookshelves, but hasn’t painted them yet. It will take care of some of our errant piles of books, but not all. (We are both voracious readers.)
How is it that we make the best finds, unexpectedly? I’m drooling over your laundry bag, and your idea of displaying the bench and bag together is brilliant. Don’t you just love having beautiful things around you? Makes me smile!
Best Wishes,
Kay
I love it all Claudia….and I remember that precious basket!
The blue is perfect.
I’ve never seen a laundry bag like that. Cool
Love Ya
Claudie
xoxo
Hi Claudia
I love the fringed laundry bag. Isn’t it wonderful how even the most mundane items from the past were beautiful Our laundry gets brought the the basement in plastic laundry baskets. I have one wicker one that I use personally, but the guys use the plastic ones. sigh…
I love everything…you have a good eye for finding lovely treasures…that laundy bad hung on your glass door is amazing! Good luck with finding a bookcase! Happy Wed. to you!
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
Love your finds, Claudia. The rustic blue bench/table is just perfect – and one of my favorite colors!!… Donna
love the chippy bench!!!!!
Dawn
P.S. And thank you so much for the birthday wishes!
Claudia, Your vintage finds look absolutely great there! I just love chippy old things. xo rachel