New (Old) Items in My Shop!

The fun part is the treasure hunt, the not as fun part is pricing, photographing and editing the pics, and uploading them on to Etsy. However.... I am so excited to share some of the vintage gooddies that are now listed in my shop! I took these pics a few nights ago, before I started the cataloging madness (sorry the pic quality isn't that great... lighting was bad). I'll draw your attention to the lovable, vintage metal squirrel nutcracker and the funky, fun bouquet of 70's fondue forks!

Thrit Stores = Treasure

There is nothing quite as satisfying to me as uncovering a burried treasure in the bottom of a store bin, finding something ridiculously marked down because most people didn't see its mad potential, and discovering a cache of goods admist the shelves of junk at a local thrift shop or flea market. For this will happily put up with disorganization and funny smells!

I figure I'm not the only one that feels this way, so without further ado, I present my recent thrift store success:

Ladies and gents, this gem of a chair cost me all of $10. Some of you might think it's rather loud and worth less than that, but I love it! It's the perfect chair for our sun room. It was just begging to be used for a cozy reading nook by the window. A big thank you to the individual who dropped this off at the St. James Thrift Store in Marietta. You have made one woman very happy:)

From Spain with Love- Adding Spanish Flare to Your Home

Currently I am in Seville, Spain and have an hour or so to kill before I go pick up my husband from the airport. I thought to pay homage to the country I have had the priviledge of working in, living in, and traveling to for some portion of each of the five past years. Here are some shots of life in beautiful Sevilla.

To add some classic Spanish flare to your home, I suggest the following:

 La Villajoyosa España Clock by Etsy seller LaAlicia, $38

Vintage Linen Curtains, photo courtesy of House to Home

Vintage Spanish Brass and Crystal Chandelier by Etsy seller KellyMcDavid, $150

 

Vintage Orange Tree Citrus Blossom Tablecloth from Etsy seller callmejasper, $74

1939 Vintage Map of Spain from Etsy seller storiesdivinations, $12

 Feria Sevilla 1973 Poster from fotosearch.com 

Señor y Señora Scatter Pillows by Etsy seller idotakeu, $59.99

2 Small Tapas Bowls on Foot by Etsy seller suuskeramiek, $38

 

Flamenco Shower Curtain from Anthropologie

Monday Etsy Feature- Enchanted Forest Decor

D is for Deer Vintage Storybook Print from Etsy Seller MoonParade, $22

 

Vintage Cuckoo Clock from Etsy seller theyearoftherabbit, $60

Little Red Riding Hood Vintage Print from Etsy seller biggirlsdontcry, $18

An Apple a Day Flour Sack Tea Towel by Etsy seller PonyAndPoppy, $12

 

Large Birch Tree Forest Archival Print by Etsy seller lisacongdon, $40

 

1936 Tales from Grimm Book by Wanda Gag from Etsy seller saltsmansoaps, $14

Custom Heart Tree Print Pillow by Etsy seller cozyblue, $30

Decorating with Junk

A while back I was walking down the street and something caught my eye. Stuffed in between the neighbor's yard waste bags, ready to be hauled off, was a weathered piece of diamond garden trellis. It sat on our balcony for a while until inspiration struck. It could be a tea cup rack! Better yet, if I used some cups from my Melmac collection, I wouldn't have to worry about it being too heavy.

The result is a charming, rustic, and playful piece of wall art! String up some bistro lights and voila! You are transported to a mid-century french garden café.

Decorating with Peach

Folks, it's time to bring peach back. It's had a bum rap the past two decades and most likely conjurs up images of bad 80's bridesmaid dresses, but this sunny variation of orange is ready for its comback. I just feel it!

I think I've always subconciously liked the color, but the liking turned into all out love when I lived in Chicago. I paid a visit to my local Salvation Army and found this gem of a chair, in perfect condition, for $25. I imagine it came from the parlour room of a lovely grandma and only saw use when company came calling. This chair became my favorite spot for morning devotions and Bible study and long phone calls with friends back home.

On the topic of peach, Jennifer Thoden from Decorating With Jen, says:

"When you add white to orange you get a peach. A rich peach to a subtle almost white peach. Using all these colors in this range will create a peaceful, tranquil interior design. It's also ideal for smaller rooms. Use a light peach on the walls. Add simple drapes with the same tint of peach. Have your chairs and couches in the same fabric as your drapes. And your area rug should have a nice range of soft pale peaches to rich peaches. Your room will be exquisite. Ground the entire soft palette with dark stained furniture... stay away from oak and light pine. Also consider using white as a fabric in your room... white pillows... white vases... white chairs."

Below are some shots of rooms that using varrying shades of our friend orange-- peach, salmon, orange sorbet, and apricot.

Photo courtesey of bisbee.co.za

Photo courtesy of Country Living

Photo courtesey of Deluxe Room

In November of 2008, Etsy spolighted a room in its Storque Blog that does a fabulous job of using whites, creams, tans, and a punch of salmon.

Photo courtesy of Canadian House and Home

The thought of thePeach/Salmon/Orange Sorbet or Apricot may seem like risky choices alone, but consider pairing them with some these colors:

Looking for peach accents? I've combed Etsy shops and online retailers for some new and vintage gems.

This salmon Flowerbud Lantern is on sale for $9.99 on PB Teen

Vintage California Double Leaf Dish by Etsy seller eclecticcurio $14

Audrey Hepburn Illustration by Etsy seller lakeillustration $19.00

Apricot Bird Pillow by Etsy seller persnickety home $13.95

Hand Crocheted Salmon Napkin Rings (Set of 6) by Etsy seller BouquetSpecialDesign $18

Peachy Keen Hoop Art Trio by Etsy seller Mostaza Seed (that's me!) $30

Champagne Peony Print by Etsy seller hadleyhutton $22.99

The Anthropologie Festival Rug

So, if you are looking for a new take on an old fashioned color, opt for peach and pair it with cocoa brown, pink, cobalt blue, aqua, or burgundy. You won't be disappointed!

Welcome

Hi there,

I've created this blog as an extension to my Etsy shop-- Mostaza Seed Designs. I sell earring display racks, upcycled home decor, and vintage finds.

Who: I'm a 27 year old girl, living in a 1921 farmhouse in Marietta, Georgia with my handsome and ever-so-patient husband, Nick. We were married in May of 2009 and are loving newlywed life. I enjoy all things vintage, travel, graphic design, Diet Coke, interior design, cheese (the stinkier, the better), photography, painting, Nutella, friends, family, and loooooong conversations over a cup of coffee or 'round the dinner table.

What: Mostaza means mustard in Spanish. The mustard seed is among the smallest of seeds in the whole world. In the Bible the mustard seed is used by Jesus as a model for the kingdom of God which initially starts small but grows to be the biggest of all garden plants. Faith is also spoken about in the context of a mustard seed. In Matthew chapter 17, verse 20, Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." So, out of small things comes greatness and the vintage and seemingly unimportant items I find hold great potential for beauty and usefulness.

When: I don't know if this answers the "when" question, but here's a schedule of what I'll be covering in this blog. Keep in mind, that I may or may not follow the schedule, bu I'll be posting as often as I can:)

Monday's: Featured Etsy Sellers
I'll be highlighting the work of fellow Etsian's. Want to be featured? Contact me and I'll tell you how.
Tuesday's: Do It Yourself Day!
DIY articles are in abundance on the internet. I'll do the work of sifting through the web overload to deliver, cute, tested, AND easy projects.
Wednesday's: Mostaza Seed Originals
This is where I get to toot my own horn and showcase my recent designs, all for sale in my Etsy shop.
Thursday's: Home Decor Inspiration
If it strikes my fancy, it'll be up in my blog.
Friday's: Photography
I have a great deal of photos from my world travels. I'll be dusting them off, sharing their story, and offering them up for sale at a good price.
Saturday's: Vintage Finds
I already do the work of combing flea markets and estate sales for vintage finds. I'll be not only posting them in my Etsy shop, but also sharing them on here!
Sunday's: A Day of Rest

Wildcard Giveaways:
Every once and a while I'll be doing giveaways of items from fabulous Etsy sellers.


Why? For fun!
 
Want to be in the loop? Add yourself as a follower to the Mostaza Seed Blog.
 
Looking forward to great adventures!
 
Steph