springtime in the shop

Spring has sprung and Easter is right around the corner.

This is the perfect time to share a mini tour of the shop...

 

 

You can always find a beautiful blend of blooms

and bounty from the sea...

 

I mix the best of gardens and gulf shores in my shop.

These precious pink dragonflies are also available

in the online shop.

Click HERE...

 

There are flowers in bloom on the hand painted china...

 

...and planters ready for the garden!

 

In case you don't have a green thumb, these low maintenance air plants are an ideal choice.

 

Who can resist these delicate sea urchins.

 

In case you need a thoughtful hostess gift,

these shell coin purses

are only $7.50 in shop or online!

 

I have been making a lot of dresses too...

 

Thanks so much for visiting!

I hope you have a blessed Easter weekend!

rushing the season

April is here and you know what they say...

April showers bring May flowers.

I am really fortunate to live in a place where I can garden all year around. But for many of you, it's far too soon to be digging in the frozen ground. I remember those days and I would be getting garden fever by now. One good cure was gardening indoors. I loved splitting my house plants and dividing the succulents.

 

 

Another way to cure garden fever is to decorate your space with vintage garden inspired treasures like these old hand tools and this handsome cherubic little guy...

 

I adore vintage metal trays like this beauty,

decoupaged with precious bird ephemera...

 

Bird and butterfly prints are also wonderful choices for garden inspired art. This lovely piece is actually framed embroidery. It is available for sale in my online shop...

butterfly print 

 

Surround yourself with garden goodness!

 

 

Oh how I love anything to do with gardening

from digging in the dirt

to seeing each new bloom

to collecting vintage garden wares

to decorating my home with garden inspired treasures.

It's all wonderful!

Happy first day of April...



a little more green

The time has come for me to rework the Surroundings by Melinda online shop. It is going to take some time but it is a labor of love! Since I had such a lovely response to the last post, I thought I would share a few more treasures from the garden shop...

 

Precious bird's nests only $6.50 each

 

 

Vintage inspired metal urn napkin rings $18.00/set

A darling vintage apron $28.00

 

Green transferware platters $16.00/pair

 

 

Vintage handkerchief collection $12.50/set of 4

 

Swedish art glass candle holders $28.00/pair

 

 

A charming decoupage box of egg soaps $10.50/set 

 

 

Handsome wooden nesting baskets $28.00/set

 

 

 

I hope you will visit my online shop and have a peek at all six shopping categories filled with treasures!

 

Surroundings by Melinda

 

Now it's time to get back to work!

Thanks for taking the time to visit...

happy st. patrick's day

It's St. Patrick's Day!

As I have been sharing this month...I love green. I have an affinity for this lovely holiday because of my Irish grandmother. I was surfing the internet recently and came across this charming take on an old Irish blessing...

 

May the road to the flea market

rise up to meet you.

May you never leave a good,

vintage find behind.

May the sun shine warm upon you

while junking.

May your car be loaded down with

roadside finds.

And until we meet again,

may God holds you in His hands

as you go looking for rusty gold.

 

I have seen this fun blessing on several different sites so I'm not sure who to credit but I got such a kick out of it that I wanted to share! It made me laugh and warmed my heart.

 

 

I have filled the garden page of my online shop with green vintage goodies. From old glass bottles (perfect for a fresh shamrock) to darling button collections... 

 

...to linens...

 

...to whimsical salt and pepper sets...

 

...to mint green pottery...

 

...to lovely transferware.

 

Of course I had to add a bit of Irish luck too!

 

Thanks so much for taking time to visit.

If you see a must-have treasure please pop over to my online shop.

 

www.surroundingsbymelinda.com

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 



lace in the sunlight

I have recently been going through old photo files and have noticed a common thread. As soon as I see the sun streaming through tattered and worn lace I need to capture the moment. There is something special about the way light gets filtered through old linens.

I thought I would share a few...

 

I always have vintage linens available in my retail shop,

as well as at

 

surroundingsbymelinda.com

 

It's amazing how sunlight appears to magically mend even the most worn fabric and make it look flawless through the lens of a camera. It's no secret that I adore all things vintage...the color white...sun-filled rooms and tattered worn linens.

I hope you will pull some of your torn treasures out of your cupboards and appreciate their beauty by the light of day...

 

feeling blue...and it's great

I wrote a feature for the winter issue of Victorian Homes called

Winter Blues, Icy Hues

"let your home shimmer with vintage blue and silver all season long"

 

This story was the inspiration for this section of my shop all dressed up for the winter holiday. It may covered in a wash of icy blue hues...but it is certainly not icy cold here on Sanibel Island!

Enjoy the tour...

 

 

Looking for starfish...?

Head to my website for lots of goodies...

CLICK HERE

 

There are a few decoupage tin buckets left...

CLICK HERE

 

Do you love sea glass...?

CLICK HERE

 

I really love the mixing of the seasons!

It's fun to see snowmen and seashells on the table and sleds and starfish next to the front door.

It makes me smile to blend my things from the hills of West Virginia with the treasures I find here on my little island.

This is winter for me...

and I hope you are enjoying winter wherever you may be!