garage sale girly: cottage

Outdoorsy: adj. informal
1. Associated with the outdoors.
2. Showing a liking for the outdoors.
3. A word that should never be used to describe this girly.

Antique book, Honey Bunch: Her first days in camp. 1923-1934 book from Saltsman Soap's etsy shop.

I love this because my Grandpa Bob used to call all of us little girlys, "Honey Bunch". I wonder if he was an avid reader of this series.

It's not that I don't love taking a walk in the woods, swimming in the lake, eating outside, or sitting around a camp fire. All of those things are great. I even think it can be fun just sitting for a spell in a little tent in the afternoon, when the sun gets a bit too intense.

I love these little decorative hand made wood tents from woodmouse claymouse by Amber Dusick on etsy.

Call me a snob but, I just prefer to have a real indoor toilet (that flushes) and sleep in some sort of structure that a growly bear cannot easily sink his teeth into.

Photo of our family's little cottage. Address is #1 Awesome Street.

This is where I come the closest to camping. Our little Cottage. This little wonder is something of a structural marvel, having withstood many harsh western New York winters since the 1930's. It is rustic, yet charming. It maintains many of its original features. We lovingly describe our stays here as a form of "indoor camping". It meets my two requirements for camping though, it has a toilet that flushes (fingers crossed) and is a solid enough structure that the growly bears would have to really put some hip into busting through the door (because the doors tend to stick a bit).

Not really my idea of a happy camp site, but this is an amazing antique Victorian cabinet card photo from Happy Steiler's etsy shop.

All of this being said, I really love all of the special gadgets, tools, accessories and necessities associated with achieving a well rounded camping experience.

Whether you are camping indoors in a sweet little cabin...

Charming original ink illustration titled, "We Can Stay Here", by O'Reilly ink in Toxicguineapigs' etsy shop.

Rolling down the back roads from camp site to camp site in a motorhome...
That there is an R.V.

vintage 1970's wind up toy from GRACEFULPAST's etsy shop.

Hop into a sweet teardrop camper after a long day on the road...

You could be just like a turtle and carry your own little house on your back, (on the back of your car- I know duh. Did I really have to elaborate?) with this awesome homemade teardrop camper from jcmillard on etsy.

Or if you choose to pitch a tent...

The perfectly adorable clothes line play tent from missprettypretty's etsy shop.

This week's Unique Picks from great etsy sellers are geared to (or you may also say, it is gear to) make you a happy camper.

"Let's Kick it", Gocco screen printed greeting card from Two Guitars' etsy shop.

So let's kick it off with some great seating for around the camp fire.

These rustic handmade, log benches made from Wisconsin cedar, can be found in RusticLiving's etsy shop, are the perfect size for cozying up to the one you love by the fire.

If a modern aesthetic is what you crave, these handmade camping chairs from Lexington's Lakeshore Designs, fit the bill for function as well as form. It would give you a rather chic appearance while swatting away the mosquitoes.

P.S. look even more chic when you don't have to swat the mosquitoes away because you used this citronella soap from Gifted Chicken Soap's etsy shop.

If you are all about light weight pack and go, from place to place, you can never go wrong with a folding stool. This fantastic vintage folding stool can be found in Hello Victory's etsy shop.

But don't forget, if you are bringing the kids along you may need a portable "time out" chair. Why not make it a vintage beauty like this one, from Mouse Trap Vintage?

Creating fine camping cuisine

Love the image on this illustrated Letterpress card from Old School Stationers.

If you find it a bit precarious to cook your grub over the camp fire these picks may come in handy.

Vintage cooking Sterno from GardenAngel's etsy shop.This burner is compact and comes with it's original directions, for those like me who don't typically cook with an actual flame.
I am electric.

The crowd pleaser. Cook up some beans and a pot of coffee, on this vintage camp stove from the daily vintage.

Here's the pot.
Yes, the coffee pot, Mr. Hophead.

An absolute hot 1940's vintage coffee pot from forrestina vintage's etsy shop.

Now Clark, if you go falling in love with this vintage c.1920's-1939 Griswold Dutch Oven, to cook up the beans, you can find it in Rustic Style's shop. I can't believe what great shape this piece is in!

These cool vintage green enamel tin cups from MonkiVintage's etsy shop, are the perfect accessory to have for either sipping coffee, or eating beans. Not both in the same cup though, because that is just gross.

Now I know you are becoming one with nature and all, but you don't have to eat with your hands like a cave man. This handy dandy set of wood cutlery for two, comes complete with its own handmade carrying case. It can be found in Pony Up Design's etsy shop

Tip: Before you consume said goodies, beans and coffee, you may want to locate a toilet that flushes.

OK, so you didn't scope out the facilities before eating.
Grab a canteen.
No you cave man, don't go in there.
In case you have a long walk you will want to have some water.

This vintage canteen from Northern Starry Nights, not only looks great but could be quite useful.

A thermos might also be a good idea. If you get lost you could always eat some more beans.

"I'm Picking Out a Thermos for you..." Navin R. Johnson

Great original watercolor painting from Art By Teresa Sheeley.

Some light reading material for when you reach your destination.

Antique Camp Fire Girls at Hillside c.1913 book, from Mom n Daughter Heart's etsy shop.

If night has fallen, and the moon light is not enough to guide your way,
you will indeed need a flash light.

Flooding your path to the potty with light never looked so good as it would with this fashionable vintage plaid flashlight from 12karri ELEGANT JUNK SHOP.

I am willing to bet though, that those growly bears would be totally dumbfounded if they saw you walking through the woods with this pick.

Is that a vintage camera or a flashlight?
Well it is indeed a vintage camera that has been upcycled into a flash light! It is sold in Bingo Box's etsy shop. How great is that?!

Hope this week's Unique Picks provided you with some great finds to keep you a happy camper.

"Not So Happy Campers" hand cut paper original art from Super Cool Spy Club by Jared Andrew Schorr.

Just remember, I am always happy to help you shop for great camping gear, but I will let you take care of the actual camping part. Especially if it is in a tent.

sorry for the break in the action but i have been away on a fourth of july vaca!!!

pack up the flea mobile aka the silver flea (pet names my hubby has for my car)

for a fabulous trip to the cottage with the fam!!!

this is a painting of the cottage that i had made when i was younger

i think my rendering was pretty accurate

god bless america!! aren't these great! i picked them up at the springfield flea market. they were cigar box liners. i thought the colors were great and loved the subject matter... so i bought the whole lot.

my family & i always celebrate the forth of july at our little cottage in western new york where my father grew up. (now this isn't the house my father grew up in...that was up the road & was slightly larger and was some what insulated)

but never fear garage sale girly was still on the case...on the morning of the 4th we all attended the famous dart field flea market. don't know if you can see the helicopter parked at the end of the row...it was pretty packed!

searching for treasures...i even caught my mom getting into the action

haha! don't you love this little cowboy? if you press his belt he drops his drawers. (i know i totally should have bought it) you never know what you will find!

i picked up this little dairy box. i was told by a few of my family members the these little boxes sat outside your front door for your milk man to put the milk delivery into...hmmmmm

i thought it would make a really cool storage box in my living room!

i found this really great mirror w/ shelf

ohhhh...and i also picked up this awesome selection of holiday greeting cards

please forgive me if i romanticise the cottage & the lake but come on it really is BEAUTIFUL!!!

a few fireworks and a great bonfire to celebrate the 4th

and don't forget to light the flares all around the lake at 10

NO CHEATING!

this little number is something i framed up for the cottage. it is an illustration and poem from a children's book about the 4th that i felt suited our shabby chic vintage decor

"pride of place"

talk about retaining original details...how about these fuse boxes

now here is a picture of my dream kitchen shiny red ikea cabinets (i think they have a bit of a vintage vibe)...i might have been slightly inspired by the white metal cabinets at the cottage