A Place for Tea

I've been watching all the talented, creative, and extremely industrious individuals who seem to paint something every week. When I was much younger, I too, would refinish a piece of furniture every now and again. But it's been years since I actually took on a painting project!

Summer before last I came across this little thrifty treasure of a child's set of a table and four chairs. You can see it was rusty and in need of being rescued. As I said, it's been years since I've taken on a project to refinish something, but I was totally charmed by the detail of the rooster and leaves and the fact that both the chairs and table fold up flat. So this little set came home with me with the intention of a make-over.

It wasn't long before Cleo and Mr. Barnaby claimed it for their own. They didn't seem to mind the rust and the fact that I hadn't actually gotten around to spiffing up this little set. You see they enjoy an afternoon tea and were happy to have their own little spot on the terrace. If you like, click here to join them.

It also didn't seem to matter when the

animals gathered for tea on a sunny morning.

But when a sweet little girl was coming to visit her Nana who is one of my dearest friends, I decided it was time to get out the wire brush, clean off the rust, and give the set a fresh coat of paint.

To prevent the rust again,

I used a gray primer as an undercoat.

Using a spray paint made it an easy project,

but it took several sweeps to get at all the angles.

Once each piece was primed . . .

I painted them with Rust-Oleum Strawflower, a soft yellow as close to the original color as I could find. My initial idea was to highlight and enhance the rooster and leaves with a bit of color, but I haven't done that.

So what do you think?

Shall I leave it as it was originally painted,

all yellow, or give the rooster and leaves a hint of color?

What would you do?

Mary Kate wants to remind you to join HFTS

for the Summer Week Long Blog Party

You can click here to join DebbieDoos Summer Paint Party June 20th .

Also Joining:

Metamorphosis Monday @ BNOTP

Mosaic Monday @ Little Red House

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Monday Thrifty Treasures @ Southern Hospitality

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays @ Coastal Charm

Transformation Thursdays @ Shabby Chic Cottage

Treasures on Thursday @ Blue Creek Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Vintage Thingie Thursday @ Coloradolady

Simple Pleasures

~ A Quiet Evening ~

~ Candlelight ~

~ Table for Two ~

~Amber Turkeys ~

~ Layers of Rich Colors ~

~ Autumn Details ~

~ Vintage Accents ~

~ Roast Turkey Breast ~

~ Stuffed with Spinach and Pine Nuts ~

~ Rice ~ Green Beans ~

~ Sweet Endings ~

~ A Heart Full of Gratitude ~

~ I Wish You a Thanksgiving of Joyful Abundance ~

~ Click on the Links to Join ~

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Vintage Thingie Thursday @ The Colorado Lady

Feathered Nest Friday @ The French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

I Won the Silver

I won the silver ~ the silver giveaway gift @ The Lazy Peacock!

The Lazy Peacock drew my name on September 25, 2010, and shortly there after a box of gifts arrived at my door. A box of favorite things that the Lazy Peacock had put together. As you might observe in her beautiful header shown above, the The Lazy Peacock loves silver.

Just look at this awesome assortment of beautiful gifts. With so many lovely silver items, I figured that Silver Sunday would be the perfect time to share this gift.

From the look of the many delights in this gift, I wouldn't call Wendy a Lazy Peacock. She must have been busy finding these treasures.

Yes, Wendy, I adore my prize! Each treasure makes my heart sing with joy.

The open glass salt cellar sparkles like diamonds.

These little tartlet tin hearts will come in handy for my valentine baking.

The rustic, shabby metal cup will hold pens and pencils on my desk.

The silverplate napkin ringedged with a beautiful beading will join my collection of silver napkin rings while the rustic hammered metal ice tongs will find a home on our bar tray.

The elegant Wm Rogers silverplate bowl is edged with this floral border and will soon be full of candy corn for Halloween.

Monogramed linens are a favorite here at HFTS, and this lovely napkin is monogramed with an S. How lucky is that!

I had commented in my entry that the S would be perfect for me. So thoughtful, sweet Wendy included something extra in the package ~ a beautifully engraved butter knife.

It was in addition to the silverplate sugar spoon and jelly server.

Look at the gorgeous details on these two serving pieces.

Back in August, Candy celebrated the 1st Anniversary of The Little Round Table with generous gifts to five lucky followers.

I happened to be the fifth name drawn and the winner of a $100 check. I used my gift to shop for tabletop items when I went to Round Top last week.

The oval silver vegetable server above is holding my gifts from the Lazy Peacock, but it's one of the treasures that followed me home from Warrenton.

Look at the beautiful shell design at each end.

I told Candy that the gift check would be spent on tabletop items. Antique mother of pearl flatware is another of my passions, so I was thrilled to add two serving forks with stunning sterling ferrules. I came home with more wonderful finds, but I'll share those another time.

I'm sending big hugs and a sincere thank you to both Wendy and Candy. I'm most appreciative to be the lucky recipient of these generous gifts.

Treat yourself to a visit @ The Lazy Peacock here where Wendy shares her latest vintage finds and here to join Candy @ The Little Round Table. Candy shares her extensive collection of dishes and linens with stunning tablesettings all through the week.

Click on the links below to see a list of others participating this coming week in the following memes:

Laurie's A Few of My Favorite Things

Beth's Silver Sunday

Mary's Mosaic Monday

Tam's Three or More Tuesday

Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday

Cindy's Show and Tell Friday

Claudia's Friday Finding Beauty

Thank you ladies for hosting!

Shop Till You Drop in Round Top ~ An Autumn Favorite

The days may still be hot, but here in Texas one sure sign of autumn is the October show of the twice annual Texas antique event held the first weekends of April and October.

Thousands of dealers set up in the fields and buildings in and around the rural communities of Fayette County in Texas.

I first attend this event over 30 years ago when it was a single venue produced by Emma Lee Turney and held at the Round Top Rifle Hall. Over the years more venues have been added, and today the event stretches across wide open fields and spills into barns and buildings of several rural communities: Warrenton, Round Top, Shelby, Carmine.

Since many vendors travel long distances to participate, some dealers now arrive weeks before the main weekend and begin selling.

Treasures abound and venues continue to expand with each year. There are literally countless items. With Pink Saturday in mind, I thought you might like to see some of the pinks I encountered during my day exploring this annual autumn antique extravaganza.

Vintage drapery textiles offer the perfect backdrop for this depression glass canister.

Shelves upon shelves offered stacks of pink depression glass in various forms.

Rows of pink tumblers were available to add to one's collection of pink glass.

Pink feather plumes in a frosted pink dish kept a delicate tea cup company.

Many of the dealers displayed their items within lovely vignettes.

How about this fabulous ironstone pitcher with its ribbons of pink or the angular teapot?

This French faience bird cage sitting among a variety of pinks caught my eye.

This looks like a comfy pink spot to take a shopping break.

Rachel Ashwell was among several of the authors available to sign their books.

These pink doors offer a hint as to the treasures of The Junk Gypsy.

You just might want to grab one of these to help cart home all those pink treasures.

For those big items you might need to borrow this.

Linking to

Beverly's Pink Saturday

Laurie's A Few of My Favorite Things

The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays

Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday

Thank you ladies!