When we moved from New York to South Dakota, there were many items that we left behind. One of those items that made the trek was my Mom's antique enamelware lobster pot. It is a beautiful hue of turquoise and it makes the perfect lobster every time. Enamelware screams summer, the patterns, the colors all lend themself to a sweet, summer night. Last week, I shared a few different ways to style enamelware, so this week I'm going to share a few favorite pieces that you can incorporate into your home! Vintage enamelware can be easy to find, but if you are looking for something a little less expensive there are so many wonderful vintage inspired enamelware pieces on the market. As we plan for ...
Chicken Jadeite
Can you all hear that glorious sound in the distance? It's that of a quirky rooster sounding his alarm for you to start the day! It is the quintessential sound of a farm. Two years ago we became chicken owners and it has been a fun experience for our entire family. At The Vettel Farm we not only have chickens outside, but I love to incorporate them into our decor for the summer months, especially in the form of jadeite! Most jadeite chickens are reproduction in nature, meaning they were not made by the big three vintage jadeite production companies; McKee, Jeanette, & Anchor Hocking Fireking. "Vintage" Jadeite Chickens Most antique dealers define vintage as an item that is at ...
Vintage Inspired Spice Drawer
The New Year is that special time when we all have the urge to ORGANIZE, or at least I do! Each year I break down areas in our house and tackle small spaces with quick organizational projects. A few years ago I took on this spice drawer and I can not tell you how happy it makes me feel every time I open that drawer. I can easily see every spice and the jar labeling I used is so darn cute. Now I know that everything in our house can not be vintage, but if I can incorporate some vintage inspired style I am going to try. These mini Ball canning spice jars are so adorable and the perfect size for all your spices. I love the look of the embossed labels too. The Dymo label maker uses all ...
Pantry Organization Tips
Our pantry is really the heart of our kitchen. We have a tiny kitchen, so having an organized pantry is essential! It seems like after the holidays our pantry is quite used and abused, so a reset in January is always a must. Here are a few of my favorite tips to keep your pantry organized, while also adding in some fun, funky vintage flair! 1. Invest in quality storage containers I can not tell you how helpful these containers are to keep a tidy pantry. They are an initial investment, but they truly do last a lifetime. I am partial to the OXO brand to keep everything fresh with their lock top.I linked up my favorite styles and sizes at the bottom of this blog post. 2. Label in ...
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 ...
Retro Recipes – Strawberry Loaf
Who doesn't love a little J-E-L-L-O? Its colorful, its sweet, and most importantly its got a great jiggle! I was so surprised to learn that Jello has been around since 1897! This sweet little cookbook titled" Today....what salad...what dessert? JELLO brings DOZENS of answers....." is from 1928. Let me tell you, there are some interesting recipes in this little paper cookbook! The best one (and most disgusting) was Tuna Fish Salad - just the thought of Jello and Tuna - yuck! Thankfully this recipe has all the right ingredients - sugar, cream, jello, marshmallows and strawberries! It was super easy and I would highly recommend for any beginner jello chef. It was also super ...
Retro Recipes – Creole Shrimp in Rice Ring
I looooove cookbooks, like I have way too many for any one person. I have recently started collecting vintage cookbooks too and I thought it would be fun to start sharing a few retro recipes from the tattered pages of these cookbooks. It is so very interesting to see all the unique combinations that were the norm back in the day. Even the type of ingredients used is very fascinating. I will be sharing lots of interesting tidbits with each recipe too. This first recipe hails from the Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook. It is located on page 174 in the casserole and one dish meals tab. The interesting note that I took from this specific chapter is that back in the day everything ...
My Favorite Jadeite Reproductions
Don't get me wrong I looooove me some vintage and I especially love me some vintage jadeite. But I often get a little anxiety when I use my vintage jadeite in the kitchen. Behold the magic of reproduction jadeite! There are so many great options for reproduction jadeite that have that same minty green color and are super affordable. Notables like Martha Stewart, Ree Drummond from the Pioneer Woman and the fixer upper guru herself, Joanna Gaines have all dabbled in the jadeite reproduction field. Pioneer Woman Let's start with The Pioneer Woman timeless jade collection. This collection is available at Walmart and I have to say it is truly beautiful. All of the patterns have a ...
