How To Make a Table Decoration for Christmas

Pine Tree Paper Sculptures

It's the time of year I begin to think about setting the perfect table for Christmas on a budget! You can create a set of paper Christmas trees just like the ones shown above in 8 easy steps. Just follow my directions below and you'll end up with a fab table for a fab time of the year!!

I enjoy scouring flea markets, garage sales, and thrift shops to find just the right set of dinnerware for the season.  Starring on our table this year is a set of J&G Meakin dinnerware in the Renaissance pattern. J&G Meakin was one of the companies from the Staffordshire collective of shops in England. This village in England was comprised primarily of potters who produced dishes for well over 200 years. J&G Meakin was founded in 1851 by James Meakin and his two sons, James and George. I was able to pair this great dinnerware set with gold tone flatware from Korea and a set of stunning set of star cut crystal glassware. The little paper Christmas pine trees finished the table off for a festive look.

J&G Meakin Renaissance Dinnerware

Wishing you all a happy and wonderful Christmas!

Stetson China Company Marcrest Pine Cone Dinnerware Service for 8

This isn't exactly a "rare" set but it is difficult to come by so I was delighted to locate a service for 8 minus one coffee cup saucer. Perfect for any time of year and available for sale HERE! SOLD

Holt Howard Tall Santa Libbey Glasses

HO, HO, HO with Holt Howard skinny Tom Collins Glassware made by Libbey in the 1960s! They're available for sale HERE! SOLD

Noritake Namiki 108 Dinnerware Set

Ok whoever said there wasn't nice Mid-century Modern Fine China never saw Noritake's Namiki 108! This pattern was made from 1960-1971. It's a must have for elegant Mid-century dining! Available for sale HERE & HERE!

Dishes are SOLD. :)

Thanksgiving After Glow

There's nothing better then a piece of Cranberry and Eggnog tart for Thanksgiving desert followed by a great game of "High Bid" by 3M in 1965! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Ken Cook Co. 1958 by Murph

We picked up this great set of airplane prints over the weekend but have yet to find anything out about them. The only Ken Cook Co. information I have found so far is printed material on boat motors. Each print is signed with the name Murph. Maybe someday I will find the answer but it may take a while. Gotta love the classic Mid-century styling to these prints and they're in mint condition.

Franciscan Ware Woodlore Coffee and Desert Set

It's the time of year for the Franciscan Ware Woodlore coffee set to brighten up the coldest fall day! This set was made in 1954 and is part of the Flair Group design. The dishes are surrounded with tiny mushrooms in golden yellow, rust, and grey. This set includes 8 cups and saucers, 8 desert plates, a cream and sugar and a coffee carafe. All you need is a little coffee and some pumpkin spice cake.

Available on Etsy HERE!

Irving Harper's Paper Sculptures!

Thank you Hermanmiller.com

Florence Prolon Melmac Dinnerware designed by Irving Harper

There is nothing better then discovering that one of your favorite Etsy items has been featured on one of Hermanmiller.com's blog under Lifeworks titled Six Ways to Irving Harper! What a nice compliment and thank you Jamie Latendresse.

SOLD

Garage Sale Renoir

How wonderful it must have been for the woman in West Virginia to have paid 7.00 for a box of trinkets at a flea market and came home with a tiny Renoir! We should all be this lucky!

For Sale on Etsy

Musical Liquor Decanter

McCoy Casserole with Warmer Stand

Ecko Eterna Flatware Canoe Muffin

Brass Beethoven Bookends

Large Ceramic Trivet with Carnations

I've been doing so much thrifting and garage sales that I'm just now getting caught up. Check out many new exciting items!!

Paul McCobb Linear Group Full Headboard

Available in my Garage Sale Archeologist Etsy shop is this beautiful Linear Group full size headboard by Calvin furniture. Nothing better then solid walnut. Does it get any better then this?

Where have all the Black & White TV pioneers gone?

Yesterday we lost one of my favorite black and white television celebrities, Andy Griffith. There's just something about those old black and white television shows that was special. We all felt at home in front of the tv when we watched Andy and Opie tackle the problems of a small town. We all connected with the way people coped with their problems and helped each other out.  Those were the days. Maybe that's the reason why I just had to find this old black and white portable television a new home. I wish I could keep it for myself but it's time to downsize and this one has to go. Oh to have the simple life in Mayberry.

Midland International Black and White Portable television available for sale HERE!

Wine & Cheese in The Garden

Wine and Cheese Set by Julie Pomerantz made by Goodwood available for sale HERE!

It's been a little while since I posted here.  I've just had so many things to do in the garden that I'm just now beginning to catch my breath. It's Mother's Day and I can't think of a better way to spend it but in the garden with the love of my life, my husband. He gave me two of the greatest kids and I am happy to spend a little quiet time with him today in the garden. Pictured is a wonderful cheese board with dome, wine carafe with a teak stopper and 2 wine glasses. Great set for a little quiet time with the one you love.

Happy Mother's Day to ALL!

Nautical Beach House Decor

 I have always wanted one of those Cape Cod cottages on the beach but it's just not going to happen here in the Midwest. Considering we are surrounded by the Great Lakes there seems to be a never ending supply of nautical themed items. The ship ashtray, hour glass and amber liquor bottle would just the right touch to an cottage whether the beach is an ocean or lake. the items are available for sale at my The Garage Sale Archeologist Etsy Shop and priced to sell.

Catherineholm Frying Pan in Lotus Pattern

It seems like every garage sale season I find one Catherineholm piece of cookware and this year's find came early. This frying pan does have some slight wear to it so I have priced it very well! Get it while it lasts.

Catherineholm frying pan is available for sale HERE!

Well like I said it was priced to sell and it did just that! SOLD

Moving with Ease Atomic Furniture

This pair of atomic wrought iron end tables is the perfect solution for people who are on the move. they are light weight and easily fit into even a small car. They'd make a great statement in any small space, making them prefect for a fast paced urban setting or even a dorm.

Hairpin two tiered end tables availabe for sale HERE!

It's A Mad Mod World

When I was a little girl in the 60s we had neighbors, Harry and Celeste, whose house inside was the perfect mid-century modern decor. I loved any opportunity to go inside and just look around. Our colonial house and bare walls was a far cry from Celeste and Harry's home. They were the hip couple in the neighborhood. These items remind me of Harry and Celeste's back porch bar area.  The top photo is a Libbey whiskey decanter set made in the 60s and is boldly modern in color and design. The bottom photo is of a rosewood handled bar utensil set made in Japan. Somehow these two sets were just meant to be together.

Libbey Barware set can be purchased HERE!
Rosewood handled Bar Utensil SOLD!

Michael Lax Copco Frying Pan

Michael Lax was a popular industrial designer, whose designs for Copco cast iron enamelware, in the 1960s, transcend well into the 21st century. This lovely frying pan, in vintage mint condition, is a classic example. He graduated from the New York School of Music and Art in 1947 and in 1951 from Alfred University. Lax's designs were also made by Dansk, Rosenthal, Salton, Dunbar Glass and Metaal.  Mr. Lax was born November 8, 1929 and passed away May 28, 1998.

This copco frying pan can be purchased HERE!

SOLD

Mad Men Season 5 Premiere Tea Cups

I sold this great set of Mid-century Modern tea cups to the Prop Master for Season 5 AMC series Mad Men. A prop master purchases the items the actors and actresses will hold in their hands and use. Hopefully they'll be easy to spot. We are looking forward to the premiere in 5 days and will celebrate with a little fondue!!

Kaj Franck Little Red Bird Cups and Friends

These cups was a very fun find and not at all expected, but isn't that what it's all about? Not one or two but three Finel Arabia cups designed by Kaj Franck and made in Finland between 1971-75. Franck was one of the leading Mid-century Modern tableware designers whose influence spanned from 1940-1980. These little red bird cups are not easy to come by. I am happy to say they are for sale HERE! SOLD

This is a great Regent Sheffield Cutlery set made in the USA probably in the late 50's. It was still in the original box and in great condition! Available for sale HERE!

Last but not least is a set of 6 root beer swirl or tortoise shell Bakelite napkin rings. I have a thing for the finishing touches when setting the table and napkin rings can really do the job. These are not easy to come by but make that Mid-century dinnerware service sparkle!!! These napkin rings are available for sale HERE! SOLD

Atomic Jeannette Glassware Set

 

It was a beautiful day in the Midwest yesterday so my husband took some time off from work to take me for a long car ride. He drove me over to Bryan, Ohio. It was great to just to watch the landscape roll by. What a great mental health treatment. It was good to be out of the house and doing what healthy people do. Once we got there we looked for a place to stop and take a break before we returned home. We saw a consignment shop in town and pulled over. This great glassware set with 13 tumblers was in the basement.  The building currently houses a consignment and thrift store called "Sacks Thrift Avenue". Love the name. The stuff in the basement was all the discounted items and this set was calling to me. It was pretty dirty but I could see it was in great condition so I snapped it up. It was a nice 20 minute break and hope to return there when I am up to it. This set is going to be used at dinner party in Ann Arbor tomorrow evening and the amazing thing is that there are going to be exactly 13 people. The set was made by Jeanette Glass Co. and was a gift to customers with a premium gas fill up. 

Great Mid-century Modern Architecture in West Lafayette, Indiana

A look into historical homes of the late 50's and 60's that are still considered architectural icons in West Lafayette. If you are a Mid-century Modern enthusiast you will love these home tours!

Danish Style Flatware for Every Day

 

Winter finds are by far the best finds because they're harder to come by.  This is a wonderful Danish Modern styled flatware set marked "Stainless Japan". The handles seem to be a wood composite in the color of teak. In my opinion this would make a great every day set. The maker and pattern are unknown but there is another partial set available on Etsy along with this one. It would be easy to combine the two for one large set. This set is available for sale HERE! :) SOLD