The Beach Cottage sitting room has, for most part of Sunday afternoon been looking like this.
~~~~~
So, Saturday morning dawns windy at the Beach Cottage, all is quiet and it's a rare weekend morning with absolutely no kids' sport – no runs at 6.30am to training, no soccer matches or umpiring. After a long week with mucho of the above Mr BC was zonko, Mr Teenage BC was snoring, Miss BC was out cold and even the little one was snoozing still….but I was for some reason wide awake and up and about early.
And what else can one do on a Saturday morning, Down Under, in Spring? Of course, check the local paper, start plotting a route of garage sales, make some tea, and sneak off into the sun for treasure…
I did just that and set off full of anticipation. First few stops were abysmal – you know those garage sales where you think, errrm, hello, just why did you bother? By the third one of these, full of unwanted dollar-store-gifts from the nineties, I was ready to throw in the towel and so decided on just two more on my way home. So arrived at the last one, just about 5 or so minutes from the cottage, advertised as a 'street sale' but with just one house number – I spied it as I drove along, bustling with balloons and banners and the like.
I had to park a bit further on and as I walked up the pavement on the opposite side of the street, a just-so gentleman was standing on the grass…I smiled as I went to cross over and he waved and pointed away from the one with the balloons and told me "deceased estate, this way" – of course, you can imagine my ears pricked up at 'deceased estate' – vintage things floated in front of my eyes and I followed his lead down a path of newly built houses on a shared drive – the farthest you could get from somewhere you might find a deceased estate.
But oh. Oh. Oh. There were treasures.
And a couple of dealers.
As soon as I saw the dealers stalking, I knew I had to be quick. So I scooted around – picked up an old meat safe/cupboard (I'll show you that soon – mucho eye-rolling from both Mr BC and Mr Teenage BC), a bundle of vintage kitchen things, a white hand-embroidered linen bag for the WC, 1940's bamboo umbrella (lurve) and an old-fasioned towell rail - all for $20.
Too easy.
As I walked back down the newly, perfectly paved driveway with my oh-so-wonderful vintage things, the man at the end smiled and said something along the lines of I had scored… of course I had, that is what this is all about, isn't it, on a Saturday morning without the kids? I took my haul to the car, telling him we'd be back for the meat safe and then I thought 'I can't leave that trunk'.
I'd seen the trunk, covered, squashed in the corner, camaouflaged with bric-a-brac and hand-etched vintage glassware and assumed, mistakenly that it wasn't for sale but I loved it, it was sooooooo what I had been after for such a very long time.
So I shut the boot of the car and went back. I asked him was the trunk for sale. And he said yes.
One hundred bucks.
I swallowed hard. I thought Mr Beach Cotttage may well kill me if I spend that, at the moment, on another trunk (there really is one already in the garage waiting for paint).
But, truly, I just couldn't leave her there…I mean, as I learnt, she came from Hungary (complete with old yellowed photos of the ship she was on) in the 1940's, just after the war, in a migrant ship. I mean, she had real vintage lettering on the side.
She was mine.
And so here we are, Sunday afternoon in the Beach Cottage, re-arranging our tiny sitting room to accommodate our newly found treasure.
I am and she, I think, is, eagerly awaiting her initiation tomorrow with a thorough clean, some serious primping and of course, a crash course in with all things white – stop by to see, of course, I'm blogging it…
Do I even need to tell you how many favours I had to promise to swing this one???
I'll let you guess…and tell me what sorta favours you'd do to get this baby in your cotttage? ;-)
Love ya.
S
xo
blogged for Rhoda's thrift event at Southern Hospitality, the last one for a while ;-(
EDITED TO ADD: sorry I obviously didn't make it clear that I am NOT painting over this one – the whole reason I loved her was the wood and the lettering and the just general already gorgeousness!!!!! and thanks so much to Maria from here who took the time to translate the words for me, I was going to have a go online myself so now I don't have to, the power of the internet eh? So 'Fekete means Black and István means Steven, In Hungary the first name comes after the family name. So it belonged to a man'…I have more of the story on this old trunk to come…it certainly has some history with it! S xo
Sarah it’s just amazing! I would likely have to wager to stop shopping for home decor in order to convince my hubby to budge on that one, but it is SO cool there’s a chance he’d agree with it, all bargaining aside. Can’t wait to see it all cleaned up and with a gorgeous ‘Beach Cottage’ vignette atop.
OOOOOOO MY GOSH, YOU FIND THE COOLEST STUFF…EVER.
I found some old silver iced tea spoons that i’m quite happy about…but that’s not nearly as cool as an old trunk !
Hi, I have been following your blog, you are creating amazing things.
I am Hungarian and was surprised when I saw your new treasure. I love your makeovers but my heart is beating harder now as I really wouldn’t want to see that Hungarian historical touch to disappear. It really is a great treasure and congrats for finding it. I am sure she will be beautiful though.
Fekete means Black and István means Steven, In Hungary the first name comes after the family name. So it belonged to a man.
Congrats on the find again and have fun with the transformation.
Maria
That is a one of a kind find! You HAD to have it. And it needs to be in a home that appreciates its history. Think of how much stuff you have salvaged for free (like your window). If you added up what you might have paid for all that, it would be WAY more than $100. (I’m really good at this!)
I’m malaysian residing in Hungary and when I saw the trunk i said “wow” out loud! Like Maria, I wish you wouldn’t paint it but it may not fit the look of your living room …
You know there are not many sources for vintage garage sale in Hungary, this is indeed a great score!
I bet it will look great after you give it your beach cottage treatment. Can’t wait to see it!
Too funny – you struck gold on your saleing yesterday, and I only spent $1! I found an adorable antique jewelry chest/table that’s going to be sanded down today and painted in teal and brown. Of course it won’t match anything, but I’m obsessing over the color combo and this is just the item to try it on!
How neat is that Sarah, having a blogger who was able to translate the name of the owner!!!!
I just know you won’t paint it and cover up the writing……right? Perhaps it needs nothing more than a clean and light polish – how fortuitous that it has casters as it looks like a heavy trunk to move around on your beautiful floors.
Great find dear – and I agree with Sue above, the price makes up for the freebies you’ve found. We have to train the men to understand this, lol!
Oh Sarah, what a beauty! You’re surely not going to cover that lettering, are you? I know I sound like your mother, but are you going to COVER that phenomenal lettering? I should sign this Ms. Nosy Busy-body who’s business it is truly not!
Brenda
I’m not Hungarian or Australian. I live in Idaho, USA, but I agree–don’t paint it. This coming from one who has fallen in love with everything white thanks to you. To think of that history gone from a few strokes of a paint brush makes me sad.
I love love love what you do. I’ve been inspired in such a way as never before. I feel as though I’ve finally found my decorating style thanks to your blog–and abundance of talent.
Thank you for sharing it.
As much as I *love* your white beach cottage Sarah, I have to agree with everyone else. Painting the trunk would erase her history. This is a piece to sit back and enjoy as it is, and think about how far she has traveled to finally find you.
DeAna I so agree with you! I too have been inspired by you and your blog Sarah. For a long time I wasn’t clear on what my “style” was. Then I found your blog and felt as though I’d come home. My interest in beach/coastal decorating has blossomed and opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Thank you!
Sarah this was such a great find. I would be hard pressed to pay the $100. also but it will be such a signature piece. I can’t wait to see it in place. It seems that my favor “juju” doesn’t work very well with my husband these days. You’re going to have to disclose what favors you promised! ha ha he he
woah. seriously woah. I am so jealous, but she is in good hands now that you have her! I also could not have paid the 100 bucks, even with favors! have fun decorating her and loving her!
Well, Sarah you out did yourself once again. I can’t wait to see it in it’s final show place in your beautiful cottage. I’m ashamed to even think about the “goodies” I would promise my husband so that I could buy that trunk. LOL
Have a happy day.
Vicki
P.S. I really enjoyed the comments from Maria explaining what all the lettering meant. WOW – a real bit of history.
omgosh, Sarah….I can’t even BELIEVE you found this magnificent trunk. It is to die for and couldn’t be prettier ANYwhere than in your beach cottage.
I knew you wouldn’t even THINK about painting over that marvelous lettering…that IS the trunk!!
Beutiful!! And, a $hundred bucks for it is CHEAP!!
LOVING IT! Don’t ya just love a good score? I found a vintagey old pic-a-nic basket the other day and thought “Ohhh this would be so good painted white.” I think you’re rubbing off on me!
Hi Sarah…what a totally AWESOME find…& at just $100 bucks…
Cannot wait to see what else you managed to find..
just makes me think back to my MANY garage sales before me ebay days..jee wiz…you would have LUUVED those!!
hatboxes..trunks..old ice chest…GGRR!!! i was a silly billy!!
Oh you really had me laughing because I so know those sales! Sometimes I follow some signs that say – estate sale – for miles and when I get there it’s not even as good as a yard sale.
Its like they dumped their garbage cans out on the lawn, plus as you said, a smattering of dollar store items.
OK, when I see, “….The BEST Cottage thrift score so far” in your header, my heart skips a beat. And you absolutely delivered! I would have paid a hundred for that…especially given the fabulous haul you got for a mere 20 bucks. Have to say, I’m dying to see the 1940′s bamboo umbrella!!
Congratulations on the trunk! However, your story makes me sad! You see, my mother and her family came overr from Ireland when she was just 3 years old and their whole world was in their trunk. We had the trunk in our house for years but when my parents divorced she had an aunt keep it in her garage (in Ohio) and we lived in CA…so, kinda hard to get to…and, I was still young. Unfortunately, I kept telling my husband that we should make a trip to Ohio to get that trunk…we never did and now the aunt has passed away and who knows whatever happened to that trunk!! Anyway, your trunk is fabulous and it will be great in your home! Thanks for shaing the story!
My name is Maria Fekete and my Dad’s name is Istvan Fekete who came over in the ship called “Skaugum” in 1949. I have one picture of the boat and a picture of my Dad before he left Hungary…and 3 others of him on the boat. My Dad is still alive and in a nursing home, he’s 82.
I think there is a very good chance that it may have been my Dad’s trunk. I would love to chat with you on email and show you the few photos that I have of my Dad and the ship. He passed away in May 2011.
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Well G’day Beach Cottage ladies. Of course some of you guessed correctly, no flies on Beach Cottage gals are there? A Summer House window dressing, beach vintage style. One that I got very wrong. I’ll keep this short and sweet The vintage crochet patchwork curtain? Love. Pure love. But, put it this [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? Â The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
 1. beat the cream cheese  until it is soft
2. Â whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
Â
6. layer on top the cream combo
Â
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
Â
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)Â
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. Â I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.Â
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Â Oh yeah. Â Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. Â C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
Hi!
Your beach cottage is fantastic,I love it!
I like all your white, it’s very relaxing.
Came and see my blog with lots of color!
Sarah it’s just amazing! I would likely have to wager to stop shopping for home decor in order to convince my hubby to budge on that one, but it is SO cool there’s a chance he’d agree with it, all bargaining aside. Can’t wait to see it all cleaned up and with a gorgeous ‘Beach Cottage’ vignette atop.
Great score but don’t you dare paint that trunk.
IT’S PHENOMENAL!!!
I would have found a way to get it too.
You would have thought about that baby for YEARS if you hadn’t!
You have such a good eye!
Layla
I love it. I’d leave it just as it is, but I can’t wait to see what you do to it!
There is no way you could’ve let her go with dealers!! So glad she found her home with you!
SMiles!
Michelle
OOOOOOO MY GOSH, YOU FIND THE COOLEST STUFF…EVER.
I found some old silver iced tea spoons that i’m quite happy about…but that’s not nearly as cool as an old trunk !
WOW! That is fab! I can’t wait for you to work you magic on it! Congrats on the BIG score!
Hi, I have been following your blog, you are creating amazing things.
I love your makeovers but my heart is beating harder now as I really wouldn’t want to see that Hungarian historical touch to disappear. It really is a great treasure and congrats for finding it. I am sure she will be beautiful though.
I am Hungarian and was surprised when I saw your new treasure.
Fekete means Black and István means Steven, In Hungary the first name comes after the family name. So it belonged to a man.
Congrats on the find again and have fun with the transformation.
Maria
Oohhh what a find!
love
Alison
x
That is a one of a kind find! You HAD to have it. And it needs to be in a home that appreciates its history. Think of how much stuff you have salvaged for free (like your window). If you added up what you might have paid for all that, it would be WAY more than $100. (I’m really good at this!)
I’m malaysian residing in Hungary and when I saw the trunk i said “wow” out loud! Like Maria, I wish you wouldn’t paint it but it may not fit the look of your living room …
You know there are not many sources for vintage garage sale in Hungary, this is indeed a great score!
You find the BEST stuff. I’m sitting here in awe. Love it.
What a fantastic find – you certainly have luck and a good eye!
Pomona x
Ooh it’s beautiful!
I bet it will look great after you give it your beach cottage treatment. Can’t wait to see it!
Too funny – you struck gold on your saleing yesterday, and I only spent $1! I found an adorable antique jewelry chest/table that’s going to be sanded down today and painted in teal and brown. Of course it won’t match anything, but I’m obsessing over the color combo and this is just the item to try it on!
Any favor would be well worth it…can’t wait to see it….hurry up would you!!! Chrissy
How neat is that Sarah, having a blogger who was able to translate the name of the owner!!!!
I just know you won’t paint it and cover up the writing……right? Perhaps it needs nothing more than a clean and light polish – how fortuitous that it has casters as it looks like a heavy trunk to move around on your beautiful floors.
Great find dear – and I agree with Sue above, the price makes up for the freebies you’ve found. We have to train the men to understand this, lol!
Oh Sarah, what a beauty! You’re surely not going to cover that lettering, are you? I know I sound like your mother, but are you going to COVER that phenomenal lettering? I should sign this Ms. Nosy Busy-body who’s business it is truly not!
Brenda
Wow! I think it looks quit nice just the way it is in the Beach Cottage…so glad you found her.
I’m not Hungarian or Australian. I live in Idaho, USA, but I agree–don’t paint it. This coming from one who has fallen in love with everything white thanks to you. To think of that history gone from a few strokes of a paint brush makes me sad.
I love love love what you do. I’ve been inspired in such a way as never before. I feel as though I’ve finally found my decorating style thanks to your blog–and abundance of talent.
Thank you for sharing it.
As much as I *love* your white beach cottage Sarah, I have to agree with everyone else. Painting the trunk would erase her history. This is a piece to sit back and enjoy as it is, and think about how far she has traveled to finally find you.
DeAna I so agree with you! I too have been inspired by you and your blog Sarah. For a long time I wasn’t clear on what my “style” was. Then I found your blog and felt as though I’d come home. My interest in beach/coastal decorating has blossomed and opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
Thank you!
Oh so lovely, Sarah! She is definitely a fabulous find….swoon!
Smiles,
Rachel
Oh you are a total legend! Favours????… I’d pull out all stops for that one! A-M xx
Please,please,puh-lease tell me you’re not gonna paint that gem!!!
Clean it,ever so carefully,and leave it as is.
Puh—lease!!!
let me tell you I was NEVER gonna paint it girls…sorry thought I made that clear!
xo
Sarah this was such a great find. I would be hard pressed to pay the $100. also but it will be such a signature piece. I can’t wait to see it in place. It seems that my favor “juju” doesn’t work very well with my husband these days. You’re going to have to disclose what favors you promised! ha ha he he
woah. seriously woah. I am so jealous, but she is in good hands now that you have her! I also could not have paid the 100 bucks, even with favors! have fun decorating her and loving her!
Can’t wait to see it in it’s new home. And I agree, it doesn’t need paint. Some things are just meant to be left the way they are…Perfect!
Well, Sarah you out did yourself once again. I can’t wait to see it in it’s final show place in your beautiful cottage. I’m ashamed to even think about the “goodies” I would promise my husband so that I could buy that trunk. LOL
Have a happy day.
Vicki
P.S. I really enjoyed the comments from Maria explaining what all the lettering meant. WOW – a real bit of history.
That is just waaaaaaaay beyond cool! WOW!
m ^..^
Can’t wait to see a few photos of the inside…..Mr BC sure is getting it easy this month!!!!! Did I tell you about my offer to Mr Scratch? (safe bet!)
Sarah, Mmmm… I probably would have made the same offer and promises as you to get that chest
Alison
Oh gosh Sarah loved going along for the ride with you and what a TREASURE. You will always love this and i do too! Mel xxx
omgosh, Sarah….I can’t even BELIEVE you found this magnificent trunk. It is to die for and couldn’t be prettier ANYwhere than in your beach cottage.
I knew you wouldn’t even THINK about painting over that marvelous lettering…that IS the trunk!!
Beutiful!! And, a $hundred bucks for it is CHEAP!!
You are too funny! It was wise to take the trunk, regardless of the favors. It is absolutely gorgeous!
I’m laughing over everyone’s posts – the outcry! lol
I actually think it would look great with a freshly painted white top, and just spiff up the front and sides, leaving the lettering and patina.
LOVING IT! Don’t ya just love a good score? I found a vintagey old pic-a-nic basket the other day and thought “Ohhh this would be so good painted white.” I think you’re rubbing off on me!
You would have regreted that forever if you didn’t get it! Great find!
you absolutely scored! yes, you would have had remorse had you not gotten it! Good for you!
gorgeous find! perfect just the way it is – I’m jealous.
Hi Sarah…what a totally AWESOME find…& at just $100 bucks…
Cannot wait to see what else you managed to find..
just makes me think back to my MANY garage sales before me ebay days..jee wiz…you would have LUUVED those!!
hatboxes..trunks..old ice chest…GGRR!!! i was a silly billy!!
xx andrea
Oh you really had me laughing because I so know those sales! Sometimes I follow some signs that say – estate sale – for miles and when I get there it’s not even as good as a yard sale.
Its like they dumped their garbage cans out on the lawn, plus as you said, a smattering of dollar store items.
But that chest is spectacular! A magical find!
Tracy
OK, when I see, “….The BEST Cottage thrift score so far” in your header, my heart skips a beat.
And you absolutely delivered! I would have paid a hundred for that…especially given the fabulous haul you got for a mere 20 bucks. Have to say, I’m dying to see the 1940′s bamboo umbrella!!
Some things are just meant to be Sarah – no matter what they cost. I’d say money well spent. She is a beauty.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Congratulations on the trunk! However, your story makes me sad! You see, my mother and her family came overr from Ireland when she was just 3 years old and their whole world was in their trunk. We had the trunk in our house for years but when my parents divorced she had an aunt keep it in her garage (in Ohio) and we lived in CA…so, kinda hard to get to…and, I was still young. Unfortunately, I kept telling my husband that we should make a trip to Ohio to get that trunk…we never did and now the aunt has passed away and who knows whatever happened to that trunk!! Anyway, your trunk is fabulous and it will be great in your home! Thanks for shaing the story!
My name is Maria Fekete and my Dad’s name is Istvan Fekete who came over in the ship called “Skaugum” in 1949. I have one picture of the boat and a picture of my Dad before he left Hungary…and 3 others of him on the boat. My Dad is still alive and in a nursing home, he’s 82.
Maria, Im dying to know… was this your dads trunk originally?
I think there is a very good chance that it may have been my Dad’s trunk. I would love to chat with you on email and show you the few photos that I have of my Dad and the ship. He passed away in May 2011.
it may have been though I bought it from a garage sale and the owner was a woman…
shoot me an email! xo
oooohhhh….I love this trunk! I am soooooo ready to thrift shopping & to garage sales! Your blog is great & the beautiful pictures make me sigh…