Thursday, April 12, 2012

what are the chances?

I found it! And I can't believe it. Have you ever come across a picture, an inspiration, an object out of reach that you just wish you could get your hands on??

Yesterday, I found this!

It's a cast iron Mercury - three dimensional wall bust (not sure if that's actually what you call it, but you know what I mean).

I had come across this amazing wall inspiration picture (below) and used it in my post on random art arrangements. In my post, I mentioned how fabulous the wall bust was and that I had to find one... completely written as a joke.. like I'd ever find one.

And then.. the sky opened up (at the West End Antique Mall in Richmond, Va) and the gods of the vintage hunt shown down upon me and there it was! And got it for a song.

(source)

The tag on my Mercury identified it as such but with a question mark next to it. My son, Walt, the mythology expert, noticed it sitting on the kitchen table when he came home from school. He confidently stated, "That's Mercury, or also known as Hermes.. in Greek Mythology." That's all I needed to confirm the tag id.

So, in looking up Mercury in Wikipedia, I learn that Mercury is the God of Trade. (also the God of thieves and travel.. but we'll ignore that part). How apropos that I found him while on a buying trip for my Etsy shop. The name Mercury comes from the Latin word merx, which means merchant or commerce.

Mercury isn't known so much as a merchant in our world, but is known as an element or a planet, coming from the word mercuria. Mercuria refers to something or someone that is erratic, volatile or unstable. This is where Mercury's little wings come from, giving speed to moving from place to place.

I'm going with the Merchant version. I think I'll hang my Mercury fella in my office next to me. I just love him and can't believe I found him.

What are the chances??

decorating with vintage trophies

I found this amazing, vintage, Swedish Swim Trophy while visiting family in Maryland. My uncle took me to a few antique shops including Klaradal, in Olney, Maryland. It's a great little shop filled with beautiful antiques and vintage finds in a charming old home. Stop by if you're in the area!

Read more about this 1935 trophy at my Etsy Shop where this Trophy is for sale.

Some inspiring uses for decorating with antique and vintage trophies.

(source)

Have a great weekend.....

before and after: foyer

I've been working on my foyer, living room, kitchen (and now office) since January. It started out with a worn hole in the sisal rug in my office. You know how that goes. One is connected to all. So, with a little paint, a few pieces of furniture switched out, and lamps traded from other rooms... I'm finally there.

I've also been collecting vintage wall art for my long, narrow foyer. It's finally edited, arranged, and hung!

Before.....

After....

I was interested in un-coloring. Leaning more on textures, art, and arrangement and editing of objects.. rather than the deliberate, vibrant colors.

Wall color: Benjamin Moore, Titanium.

Inspired by the blog... For the Love of a House.

All the objects below were pulled from antique shops, although not all are actual antiques. The dome clock was actually my grandmother's, given to me a few weeks ago by my Uncle Karl. My son cleaned it and got it working. It's about 60 plus years old and is a wind with a key, 400 day clock. Meaning about 392 days until the next winding! My 16 year old son is already "claiming" the clock for his future house.