Sunday, March 27, 2011

A Quirky Goodwill Find

Yesterday I decided that I needed to take a break from writing about vintage finds for awhile so that I could write about other projects and interests. After all, antiquing is not all I do and I started this blog to reflect on all of the crafty things that my sister, Nancy, and I loved doing together. So, yesterday's note-to-self was to start writing more memoir and less "junk".  That sounded like a good blog-improvement plan until...I took a quick detour into Goodwill and found this quirky old piece.

To me, it represents the simple beauty that is so often found in Folk Art. Maine is full of hardy, frugal country people who have learned to "make do" in a hostile climate. Maybe the cracks in the bottom of the old wooden bowl inspired the craftsman's need to alter the piece. Or maybe the maker's wife wanted a way to simplify her day by raising her apple-peeling and other kitchen tasks to chair height. For whatever reason, oak legs were added to the bowl. The legs are beautifully made and pegged into the bottom of the bowl, with no nails or glue.  For $5.00, how could I pass it up?

The finished piece has a quirky utilitarian beauty that I love.


 For now, it will hold an Easter display...

But I have lots of other ideas for filling the bowl in other seasons...flowers or seashells in the summer, apples or guords in the fall, greenery and berries at the holdays. It may someday hold old cookie cutters in a corner of my kitchen, or balls of yarn by the woodstove for winter knitting projects.

Meanwhile, this little bottle-brush rabbit has made it his home.


I hope you will visit these amazing blogs to which this post is linked:
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at House In the Roses
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On the Porch
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm
Second Time Around Tuesday at A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words
Twice Owned Tuesday Party at The House of Grace

18 comments:

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Cheryl this is one of the best finds ever! I love the wood bowl and then on legs! How cute with Easter decor in it and yes I can see it with so many wonderful things in it! hugs, Linda

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

I love your quirky find....so MANY possibilities!!!

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

Cheryl,
I'mdrooling over your $5 treasure...wh cares what it is...it's one AWESOME treasure and I love how you have used it!!!! Don't forget and be sure to show it off at NTT:)

Blessings,
Linda

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Cheryl,
What a fantastic find! you can do so much with this. As i was reading and scrolling down, I was thinking to myself that a bird's nest arrangement would look so pretty in that bowl and there it was!! What do they say about great minds thinking a like!!

LOL!!

Hugs,
Deb

AuntLou said...

Wow! My finds at Goodwill (Friday) were a ukelele and a wooden folding chair, both in need of a small repair! Way to go! may I come shopping with you?? :)

Anonymous said...

Cheryl,

I know this may not be the way to go but I had to drop a line or two to tell you what a wonderful person you are. I found your blog through a linky party (can't remember which one at this point) that was about your rubber stamp collection and storage and then I went on to read the next post that was "Using the Fancy Towels" which in turn led me to click on "Nancy's Story" I just got done reading the whole blog and I feel as though I know you all! I wish I had known about blogging and found you all while Nancy was sick because I would have commented so many times. Not only did you and your sisters bring memories to you families but so many things I relived. I laughed, cried, laughed and cried some more! You are all truly blessed to have each other.

Thank you so much for posting about ovarian cancer and the signs and symptoms. My next GYN visit I will have quite a few questions that I wouldn't have even thought to ask....all thanks to Nancy!

I can assure you that I will be using the "Fancy Towels" and the fancy china, the fancy silverware and the crystal from now on. Life is too short to have everything packed away for a "special day"

Again thank you...that blog has meant so much to me!

Sending love,

Sue

yvette said...

What a treasure! As Confucius said
"Everything has it's beauty, but not everyone see's it"
Your Easter display looks lovely and I can invisage that bowl filled in Autumn colours a real rustic and country feel!Yvette@twistedvines

AntiqueChase said...

I just saw one of these bowls on a stand at an antique store I frequent ... they wanted $150 for it!

Unknown said...

I guess I DID get a bargain!

Susan said...

That is an awesome piece!! What a great bargain!!

Lina - Fancy Frugal Life said...

This is such a great find!! I love Goodwill,,,u really never know what you are going to find.

Lina
Fancy Frugal Life

Unknown said...

That is a great find! I would have snatched it up too!

Thanks for linking to 2nd Time Around!

amber @ barbwired said...

I love how you staged this. It looks beautiful for easter and I can't wait to see what you do with it for future holidays! Great job!

I found you at House of Grace. Please come visit me at http://barbwired0117.blogspot.com/

Amber @ barbwired

Gayle from Vintage Farmhouse said...

Great find! I also live on the Maine coast. I live in a "new" farmhouse, I wish was old. Please check out my site. I have become a follower, I need to see where you find your great stuff!

grammy and papi said...

What a terrific find!! Who would expect a wooden bowl with legs? Thank you for sharing.

Have a God Filled Day
Shirley

KimMalk said...

What an interesting find - it looks like it's been around and has a nice patina.

Trish said...

Love the bowl you are so talented.My sisters cottage is a wonderfull blog makes you smile makes you cry. Keep up the great work you do.
Trish ( England)

NeeNee said...

What a fabulous find. And I love the Easter decor in it. It looks perfect. If I had it, my cats would all be fighting over it. It is perfect for a cat to curl up in for a nap!