This time of year, I always have weddings on my mind. Between Valentine’s Day and my own wedding anniversary approaching, it’s just in the air. Ah, Internet. Thanks to you, I have already planned my next six weddings (so far). There are so many very, very cool ideas, and the vintage theme is EXPLODING into everything right now. Here are some details for what I am calling the Rustic Barn Vintage Wedding Theme. Enjoy!
Burlap. ‘Nuff said.
Wildflowers in tin cans, vintage outdoor furniture…
Love the rustic old crates. Love this entire setting…
Who says you can’t have chandeliers in a barn?
Or do chandeliers, paper lanterns, and white string lights to set the mood…
These gorgeous flowers feature burlap, twine, and buttons, providing even more rustic charm…
Mixed vintage China in subdued hues…
Here’s why vintage anything is cool, in a nutshell…
I see this as a fairly casual theme revolving around rustic vintage details, burlap, old wood serving and display pieces, mixed vintage china, and wildflowers, with soft hues and lighting (that being said, I’d love to cover the small side table in the second photo with a burlap tablecloth). I like a soft sage green or lavender as a color. Better yet, a slate blue. What design details would you make part of a “rustic barn” wedding theme? Sigh…this is way too fun.
In any case, start collecting pieces now. (Why not?) Even if you’re not getting married, most of these vintage details translate nicely into the home. For example…
So let’s come out with it. Yes, my Christmas tree is still up. But, no, the outside lights have come down. December of 2011 was good to me, but it’s time to move on. It’s 2012, a new year of hope, promise, and redemption. Or the last year of our lives, according to the Mayans. We’ll see, I guess.
Already it’s a time of great change in the Bold Sparrow Household. As of this week, I will be leaving the comfort of my “real” job to do this full-time. By “this” I mean selling my vintage wares on my Etsy site, and by “full-time” I mean as full-time as I can get with two toddlers.
Never in my life have I been in more need of establishing and fulfilling my New Year’s Resolutions. In my Etsy life, they involve being more active in blogging, and more prolific in listing items. That being said, hang in there. I have a LOT of cool stuff yet to come, and I will be getting it all out in the next three months (Resolution #6). In the meantime, enjoy some of my recent(-ish) listings:
So, let’s kick the year off with a little incentive. 10% off any item at Bold Sparrow Vintage with the coupon code: BSVBLOG12. Enjoy, and as always, let me know if you’re looking for a specific vintage or antique item. I will gladly scour various sources to see what I can find…
Look at you. You’re ready for Christmas early this year. Christmas tree up and decorated – CHECK! Christmas cards out – CHECK! Shopping done – CHECK!
For the rest of us doing finger math, trying to figure out how it’s not still October, I bring a little gift. A playlist – my Christmas playlist. I thought of titling it with the year, but this is the playlist I listen to every year. Buy the songs and play them loud. There is no better way to navigate a mall parking lot on Christmas Eve than while blasting Mele Kalikimaka. Trust me, I should know.
It’s quite a mix. Most you’d expect, some you might not, and some that might just make you cock your head at the stereo (for your sake, I did take out “Last Christmas” by Wham!). Regardless, it comes with love. So without further ado…(click on the image below)
Ah…the family dinner. Is there any notion more comforting than the family gathering around the table for a hot, delicious, home-cooked meal?
“Mmm, Mom, this roast is delicious!”
“Glad you like it, Bobby. Now take your baseball hat off at the table, son.”
Then each member of the family would gaily recount the day’s events, wonderful as they were.
“I hit a homerun!”
“I got an A on my spelling test!”
“I got the Henderson account, honey!”
Oh, can’t you just see the gleam in their eyes? No?
Maybe you’re a child of the seventies and eighties, like myself. Most family dinners were fish sticks and canned corn or Happy Meals, between soccer and mom’s Aerobics class. Or maybe when you did sit down to dinner, it was only to glare across the table to your evil older brother or bore everyone with the details of Star Search (the original American Idol).
I’m a mother myself now. And I find myself doing the exact things my mom did, when I’m sure we both hoped for the scenario up top. Is it possible? In this day and age? How? Can we stop and remember that food can be love and life in itself and that our families are so worth it?
In her book, A Homemade Life, Molly Wizenberg shows how to do just that. A beautiful food memoir, Molly demonstrates through recipes how our lives are (or can be) so intertwined with food and meals that some of our best memories are born from experiences with cooking and food. Touching, romantic, funny, beautiful, and sad, this book is a wonderful journey through a life as seen through the kitchen. I found myself wanting to make recipes I would never had given a second thought to because of the life and personality Molly provides them through written word. Braised cabbage? Sounds beautiful. Thanks, Molly.
