Instant Ancestors: Ideas for What To Do With Them

Since there was some interest in Instant Ancestors the other day, I thought I would show you some ideas for using these cast-off treasures. In case you've missed earlier posts, an Instant Ancestor is a found photo (from thrift store, flea market, antique store, or even garage sale!) who no one seems to know about and who you decide to "adopt" and take home for your own!

A lot of us have seen photos like this and wonder who would get rid of family pics? Well, the reason is that the pics were never documented with names and dates. Without these things, a person becomes just another face--there's no connection. I HIGHLY recommend that if you scrapbook you ALWAYS write names and dates of each person on each page. What if pages become separated? Or if you always scrapbook journal "Us on vacation...", or "the kids and me..." there is a great chance that future generations aren't going to know who "us", "kids" or "me" are, and your family pictoral history will also end up in the trash pile!!

If you're reading this, you likely have a soft spot for family treasures. Another documenting tip is to take photos of family heirlooms (ie: Grandma's quilt, Aunt Betty's teacup, Great-Grandpa's war items, Mom's cake plate, etc.) and make a little scrapbook with each page having a photo of item, photo of person it came from, known info about item, memories, and journal specific things so that future generations will know where these things came from...stories get lost or forgotten as people age, and this sort of scrapbook could be very sentimental and useful!

Now....back to the Instant Ancestor Ideas....:)

Above is how I currently display my little collection of Instant Ancestors. They are in a multi-clip photo holder. It's an older pic--now I have a cute little birdie up there too :). But the fern is looking a little sad now after my trip, so this pic will have to do! The fern flower pot used to be a chamber pot by the way! hehe!!

Above is my fav Instant Ancestor, Charlie? Remember him?!
I chose to collect "Funny Portrait" I.A.'s. My friend Kailey collects just wedding portraits. You could focus on more formal portraits, candids, just babies or children, gentlemen, family group shots, or larger school or sports group pics. Choose what speaks to you. I like the "Funny Portrait" ones best...I wanted ones that would make me smile or imagine stories about them!

Above is an old tin ceiling tile, and I've used magnets made from vintage Scrabble letters to hold a photo on. A "frame" of sorts!

(Now, for other display/use ideas I'm using some I.A.'s and some copies of ACTUAL family ancestors. Now, I know that none of you would copy any of these pics for your own use without permission (if you would like permission, please let me know!), because I wouldn't want to see crafts floating around out there that used Grandma as a fairy ;0)!! Seriously, if you see something interesting, give me a shout out, and I'll let you know what's ok to use. :) Thanks!!!)

You can pile a bunch of I.A.'s in a pretty bowl, or antique sewing drawer as I've done here. Placed on a coffee table, they could be an interesting conversation piece!

You could get some old crocheted lace or vintage ribbon and clip photos on to form a picture garland. This is on my mantle for the pic, but I may hang it in a hallway with other family pics. Or in the guest bedroom. Hmm...

Below is a closeup of the photo garland. I used some lace found in Great Grandma Tillie's Singer sewing cabinet drawers :) and some curlie-cue clips made for scrapbooking! They are made by "making memories", and could be found in scrapbooking stores.

Put a cute pic in a flower frog! Always good for holding pics.

Place in floral frog and then on a vintage plate. Put a glass cloche on top and voila!

Place I.A. pics under glass, such as on this side table. You know the cheap round ones?! They are protected this way, but displayed in a fun & unique way!

Here's Grandma with her purse and gloves. You can create little "memory" or "imagined memory" vignettes!

Here's a few more ideas for using those Instant Ancestors!:

Piled in a crystal bowl

In a hurricane vase with vintage jewelry, rice, or coffee beans

Photocopy for gift tags or stationary or artsy projects

W/Magnets on a vintage window screen, or "silver" dish, or ceiling tin

Tucked in a birdcage

Behind glass of old window

Propped on a ledge or chair/picture rail

**On a Christmas Tree! This idea was given by Tracy from A Simple Country Life! She shares her darling idea in a post on her blog. Click the link to see. Tracy wrapped thin ribbon like a package around her Instant Ancestor pics and hung in her tree. How cute is that?! Thanks for sharing your idea, Tracy!**

Actually, if anyone else has a neat idea or photo of how you display or use Instant Ancestors, let me know in the comments section and I'll mention in another post and/or put a link over to your blog! :)

Have a fun day, my dear bloggy friends, and next time you see an old photo you can rescue it and have your own "Instant Ancestor"!

Blessings,

Stacey

Thrift Store Finds

Hi, everyone! I'm writing from my parent's place in Indiana--where I grew up! The pic above is taken at the edge of my parent's property, the farmland beyond isn't ours, but the view has always been one of my favorites. There is a little clearing through the trees, and as a girl I would sit in my bedroom and look out the window and daydream about that clearing and the adventures I would have in there!

Below are some great finds from going to the local thrift store today!

I spent all of $21, and got the mirror, glass & silver charger for a pitcher of lemonade or something ( I have matching drink coasters at home ), and -- more glass snack/luncheon sets from the 50's-60's!!! I have posted before about my collection of these, and I hadn't seen this flower pattern before. They were priced at $2.99, and were on sale for only--get this--75 cents each!!! I couldn't believe how inexpensive these were, and went ahead and got the whole set of 20 plates & cups!! I figured whatever I decided I didn't want, I'd sell for a nice little profit!

Here's a close up of the plate & cup. It looks like 2 flowers stuck together! Isn't it cute?!

Have a good one, and I'll visit with you again soon!

Blessings,

Stacey :)

Favorite Yard-Sale Find

Rhoda over at the lovely blog Southern Hospitality has invited us to take part in a What's your Favorite Yard Sale/Estate Sale/Thrift Store Find EVER party link-up! Check out her blog and see the others who joined in the fun!

My personal favorite finds are these little vintage luncheon/snack plates, I think from the 1950's. I found a couple sets at yard sales one summer several years ago, and they only cost me a few dollars for the whole set! I've since found more at antiques stores and other sales, and currently have 32 plates and cups!

They work great for milk & cookies!

I've used them for LOTS of parties and get-togethers, they are perfect to hold on your lap. I used them for my sister's baby shower last year.

Below I used the plates only (under the fan) for the goodies at my daughter's birthday tea party!

And we used them for Christmas Day brunch for my side of the family, using the punch/tea cups as fruit cups!

They even have their own cabinet in the kitchen! :)

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings,

Stacey

Vintage Scale Ideas

You can use vintage scales in so many different ways!

Here, my rabbit Mrs. Fern Cottontail (yes, I've named her!) is watching over the scale as it's being used to hold remote controls and a jar of black-eyed susans cut from the garden.

Another idea is to put it by the door to catch keys and mail!

I love this photo/idea! The scale is by the bathtub, holding a towel, fragrant soaps, and seashells!

And this is what I usually use it for! In the kitchen next to the sink, holding scale weights and paper towels! I've used it this way for several years, and just love the vintage touch it gives my kitchen! It also goes well in the kitchen with my other old scales. But maybe it's time for a change?! I'm really lovin' the bath idea!

Other ideas for using vintage scales (of any size) are:

• chips on one side, bowl of dip on the other
• put a pretty plate on top to catch jewelry
• hold a few favorite books
• use when entertaining to hold plates, & jar w/ silverware
• present a delicious dessert on top (use like a cake stand)
• drape a lace handkerchief over & place a framed photo on
• candy dish
• place few pillar candles on
• plant holder

see what else you can come up with!!!

Leave a comment to let me know what YOU do with vintage scales!

Blessings,

Stacey

Funny Instant Ancestor - Charlie

Meet Charlie...the first funny "Instant Ancestor" of mine you'll meet! (For those of you who don't know, an instant ancestor is just an old, cool photo you got somewhere like a flea market, that's no relation to you. You basically rescue these long-forgotten pictures of people for fun, crafts, decorating, feel sorry for them, etc. I got my little collection by choosing who made me smile in a funny way when I saw them. This was my first, and he made me laugh literally out loud. The flea market guy thought I was nuts.)

Charlie is a bit of a rabble-rouser! He likes to round up his friends for a game of poker and smoking cigars. He'll flirt with all the pretty girls, but he's really got his eyes on Clara, a nice & respectable girl who won't give him the time of day. Charlie is good at heart, but always has a mischeivous look in his eye. Oh, that Charlie!

Have a fantastic Saturday, everyone! I know I will--I'm headed off to the flea market!

Stacey

Our Favorite Things

How fun is this? I absolutely adore Cindy's blog My Romantic Home. She always has the most beautiful photos and can make a thrift store find look like it cost a fortune! Cindy is hosting an "Our Favorite Things" weekend, and I thought I'd join the party!


I love birds and nests, and have several in my decor. This one, however, is my current favorite! It's in an old birdcage with the door open and greenery and pretties draped in and around the cage. This little birdie has chosen to build her nest outside the birdcage!

If you want to join in the fun this weekend, check out:
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2008/07/our-favorites.html

Entry & Hall

Here are a few pics from my entryway and downstairs hall. The table above is in my "entry". Talk about a tricky place to decorate! This house (our 3rd) has the entry/living room (we call it the library...books and music) combo. The vintage chest that we'd used in our previous house was too wide. :( The builders put the lightswitch plate in the center of that wall space. What's a girl to do? A trip to a local antique shop and a flea sale proved that where there's a will (and great vintage finds!) there's a way!

It was definitely unique looking, and I filled it with treasures. Architectural & natural elements, silver, & my baby shoes, silver cup and baby brush. The top holds candles in thrift store found glass holders, and a brown transferware vase that's holding pheasant feathers from my hunting trip with dad! I found the mirror above at a flea sale -- perfect size and shape for above the switch plate. For Christmas it was decorated with my Santa collection and vintage ornaments and "snow", and fresh holly from outside was in the vase.
The books are part of a fun collection I started. I am searching for books with titles that reflect our family! I put a pink copy of "The Luckiest Girl" in my kids' room!
The above vignette is one of my favorites! It's silhouettes of my 2 girls done several years ago, and in the center is a gift one of my dear friends gave me...a "sisters" flashcard from 1927! She backed it with soft black velvety fabric and put it in a vintage looking frame. I love it!

I found this frame at the flea market, and originally thought I'd paint it. But when I got it home, it looked perfect with the bronze-brown of some metal scroll-y things hanging in the hall too, so I left the frame as is...for now! I can't decide what to put in it. A mocha colored mat with 4x6 picture (oval shaped), OR a little clip just stuck on the wall to change recent pictures? Leave me a comment and tell me what you would do? :)

Stacey