vintage wooden croquet balls + saw = photo holder

It's possible I have a basement full of carefully collected vintage wooden croquet sets.  Ok, it's probable.  My husband might confirm it.  And it's time for Twist, the coolest craft fair ever, so I'm starting to repurpose all of those gorgeous mallets and balls.  Croquet balls, not schweddy balls.  Incidentally, has anyone actually been able to purchase this ice cream?  Our friend Dave has scoured the Valley ("Hi, good morning, do you have schweddy balls?"), to no avail. 

I was inspired to get going on some photo holders when I found the perfect wooden bases at one of my glorious tag sales yesterday.  I'm quite certain they served another purpose, but it's as if they were meant to hold up a croquet ball.  I recognize that these photo holders are even better if you happen to have a ridiculously cute picture of your baby to stick in it.

does it look rakish and fun, or just crooked?

love the faded orange paint

coat of poly finishes it off beautifully

Stay tuned for some hat and dishtowel racks with the mallets and the awesome wooden handles I scored yesterday.

And let's not forget these fabulous candlesticks that Liz from sticks and bricks helped me create:



why isn't there a tv show about us?

Is it because we would never wear such short shorts in downtown Northampton, much less on national television?

Seriously, we are so much cooler than the sisters.  We don't have a hunky contractor named Alan to do the hard work - we do it ourselves!  So if you happen to be a Lifetime producer, or are the bff of a Lifetime producer, hook us up!

But on to the main event...

I had my best tagging day EVER today.  I credit my friend Kerry.  She usually has the best tagging karma ever, and she didn't find anything today.  The only conclusion I can pull is that I sucked the karma right out of her. 

Check out the goods!

gorgeous old knobs and small wooden handles that may find their way

onto a croquet mallet to make a hat or dishtowel holder

cookbooks!  maps!  cookbooks!  maps!

from the 50's

I'm going to make a recipe a day, blog about it,

and then they will make a blockbuster movie about me

wooden bobbins, tons of 'em

do you know how long I've been searching for these?

Cool vintage dresses (one was still in the drycleaner bag).

When they make a show about us, this is what we will wear.

the tiny daisies are KILLING me

oh.  my.  god.

You can't imagine how I felt when I saw these.

I carefully hid my glee in order to bargain hard.

Candlesticks!  Candlesticks!  Candlesticks!

cute, dorky briefcase from who knows when -

perfect to display items on at Twist

 I know what you're thinking, but you're wrong.

I don't have enough croquet sets.  I don't.