Welcome to The Vettel Farm, where I love to share all things cooking, collecting, crafting, and creating. Check out the blog for all kinds of inspiration. Let's have some fun!

Using Vintage Items for Your Thanksgiving Table

One of my favorite pastimes is finding new uses for vintage items. It can range from using an old bundt pan for a wreath (see it here) or making outdoor lights out of antique insulators, (found here) vintage items have so many creative uses. The Thanksgiving table is no exception, let's dive into a few unique vintage pieces that can be used to make your Thanksgiving table a glorious gathering. Kitchen Canisters for Floral Arrangements Retro kitchen canisters are the perfect set of vessels for your Thanksgiving table. Each set is guaranteed to have four of a kind that all coordinate! Most retro kitchen canister sets come in fun, funky colors and offer such wonderful shapes to ...

Continue Reading

The Best Reproduction Santa Mugs

I don't think I've ever met a Santa mug that I didn't like and reproduction Santa mugs are no exception! Christmas reproductions are some of my very favorite. There are so many different options of vintage Christmas and they look so authentic. Here is a roundup of my favorite reproduction Santa mugs on the market this year! ...

Continue Reading

Harvest Wreath DIY

I have always wanted to make a harvest wreath using Indian corn. Our grocery stores always carry this during Fall and the colors are just spectacular. Mr. Vettel said that I can harvest all the corn kernels and grown my own Indian corn next summer too! Supplies needed: - Indian Corn (you can order online here) - Grapevine Wreath (I used this one) - Glue Gun (I have had great success with this one!) Directions With your grapevine wreath on a flat surface, arrange your corn in the desired pattern. I used six large and 24 small ears, with a 1-4-1-4 pattern. With the glue gun put a substantial amount of hot glue on the ear of corn and attach to the wreath. Hold for a few ...

Continue Reading

Vintage Inspired Christmas Trees

The magic of Christmas always begins with the Christmas tree. There is something so special and nostalgic about the Christmas trees of the past. They were bursting with color, sparkle and so much class. Aluminum trees remain my favorite of all vintage Christmas trees. They have such a unique shape and when paired with vintage ornaments, the combination is unbeatable. True vintage trees can be tricky to find and very expensive during the holiday months. Thankfully there are so many wonderful vintage inspired options to choose from in stores today. I love to mix vintage and new for a unique look in our Christmas spaces. Here are a few of my favorite vintage inspired Christmas trees this ...

Continue Reading

Vintage Style Christmas Blow Molds

Santa Blow Mold Candle  Candle (red) Toy Soldier North Pole Sign Frosty the Snowman Angel Wreath But if true vintage blow molds are your jam, you can support the small businesses in the shops below by purchasing a blow mold from their shops! There is nothing more magical than the glow of a blow mold during the starry nights of the Christmas season!     ...

Continue Reading

Kid’s Halloween Bedroom

We ALWAYS use the "if you clean your room, you can decorate" tactic at The Vettel Farm. Most times it's a great excuse to deep clean the girls' bedroom so that we can sprinkle in some holiday fun. This year we tried to stick to a Hocus Pocus theme, all inspired by this fun barn wood sign we purchased. One of my favorite elements of this cute shelving unit is the vintage style die cuts we added. This witch is so cute and it even tells you your fortune. Vintage Halloween die cuts can be very expensive, but this one is such a reasonable price! Each of the girls has a jewelry box that they keep all of their treasures in too. This vintage blow mold was a recent garage sale find and ...

Continue Reading

Quilted Ghost Garland

Vintage quilts carry such a tremendous story and their warmth and comfort is unmatched. I love to create new life with vintage quilts that are in tough shape and sometimes a few scraps remain. This project is the perfect idea for those scraps! Here are the supplies that you will need for this simple project! Supplies Quilt Scraps Rafia Buttons Hot Glue or Sewing Needle and Thread Scissors Cut out your ghost pattern (found here) This task is made easier if you use a card stock for your pattern. Pin your pattern to your quilt scraps and cut them out. I cut out 7 ghosts for this garland but you could do as many or as little as you would like. Choose matching ...

Continue Reading

Hearth & Hand Vintage Inspired Christmas Finds 2021

It's finally that time of year, where all the new holiday decor is coming out! One of my favorite brands comes from the one and only, Joanna Gaines with the Hearth & Hand collection from Target. This year's collection has so many great items that lend a nostalgic, vintage feel. I like to add in new elements each year that pair perfectly with the real deal vintage style Christmas treasures. All of these items are available now (I have my eye on a few that come out later in October too) and you better shop quickly, because these items will go fast this year! I hope you like these vintage inspired items that I chose and that you too will choose a few to add to your home this year for ...

Continue Reading

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Vintage Paper Mache Pumpkins!

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! My great pumpkins Charlie, are all vintage paper mache pumpkins. These pumpkins have the characteristic spooky grin and colorful, charismatic painted insert. They are oh so fragile and worn with years of spooky delight. Here are a few tidbits on the history of these ghastly grins and how to determine if they are real or reproduction. They are one of my most favorite vintage Halloween collectibles! History Fall here at the farm is a time of harvest. This is where jack-o-lanterns originated, as they were often made out of large turnips or other fruits and vegetables. In Scotland and Ireland, neighbors would hang these jack-lanterns to create a path ...

Continue Reading

Favorite Fall & Holiday Sweatshirts

Every year I treat myself to a new Fall sweatshirt and a new holiday sweatshirt. I love nothing more than cozy leggings, fuzzy socks, and a cute new sweatshirt for the season. Add in a little decorating, baking and your favorite holiday movie and you have the most magical day ever. This year I am having a difficult time deciding, because there are just so many to love! Comment below with your favorite and treat yourself to a cozy sweatshirt this year to celebrate the seasons! Fall Sweatshirts Shop below here! Holiday Sweatshirts   ...

Continue Reading