Monday, August 6, 2012

Vintage Wire Crate with Flowers

I have been eyeing off wire baskets for about a year now. I love their industrial feel. Being an engineer, I have always loved industrial things long before it was trendy. (I've always loved factories and production lines, hilarious I know). I have never been one for ornamental trinkets.  I love it when things are practical and useful AND mixed with a good aesthetic. And I love re-purposing things for my home rather than buying mass produced new things. So this latest purchase ticked all my boxes.


Driving home from Eden on Friday I didn't have a timetable. It was just me and my dog, Charlie, and a carload of mum's sewing stuff I have inherited.  I could stop wherever and whenever I liked.  Usually on that long drive I have my two kids and Phil, who all hate it when I want to pull over at every little second-hand shop to check out the furniture or to stop and take photos of the beautiful countryside. This time, I was able to stop at a great antiques shop in Milton and I bought this vintage wire crate.


It's an old beer crate from the Tooth Brewery. I love the worn wooden handles and whitish-grey patina of the metal.  A beautiful patina from years of use. The old Fowler preserving jars fit in it perfectly to make a beautiful vase.  Stock is one of my favourite flowers. These pink ones are just lovely and were a bargain from our local Saturday organic markets.


I'm going to have lots of fun with this basket, I think. It would also look lovely with herbs in it. I think you'll see it in a few more photos on my blog. I am loving my new camera lens I bought a few months ago and taking photos with of flowers especially. 



Spring is in the air and the weekend weather was gorgeous. I have a lot of "spring-cleaning" and organising to do. I'm going to hang the industrial pigeon holes I was given and transform the kids toy room that they never use into a sewing/craft room. It will be good to have a dedicated area for my sewing, and not have to spread out on the dining room table. I also have a few performance reviews for one of my business consulting clients to facilitate. A good mix!

Here's to a happy productive week for you all, also.

Cheers
Fiona

close up of the label

sharing at
Thrifty Decor Chick  The Shabby Creek Cottage , DIY by Design , Primitive&Proper , Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage Redoux Interiors Party , Furniture Friday at Decorating Insanity , Not Just a HousewifeMiss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday , the Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday DIY Project Parade  MasterPiece Monday at BoogieBoardCottage  Craftomanic Monday White Wednesday @ Faded Charm Elizabeth and Co tuesdays treasures

14 comments:

  1. Oh I love it. Looks wonderful with the bottles and the flowers. Great idea. Hugs, Marty

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  2. Oh, it is so fresh and pretty! Wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Homemaker on a Dime. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House which goes live at 8am CST on Monday. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  3. ¡Hola Fiona!. Me ha encantado tu nueva caja. Hace un precioso contraste entre lo industrial y lo romántico. Con tu permiso voy a exponer esas imágenes en mi blog http://almacendeinspiraciones.blogspot.com.es/. Saludos desde España. Blanca

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  4. I love Milton,such a tiny town but always something worthwhile to find.Stock are also one of my favourites too.
    Great find..xx

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  5. I love industrial too. The crate is a great container for your flowers.

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  6. What a great crate! It looks wonderful with your vase of flowers. I like practical as well as pretty also.

    Nice visiting with you.

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  7. Love this!! :) So pretty and simple looking. Have a great day! Hugs, Holly

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  8. What a cool industrial piece...good eye!
    Please come link up, if you like, at my party...http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com

    ♥Linsey

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  9. Hi, I love it. I'm sure you will find many uses for it. I recently purchased 6 old milk crates and I am enjoying finding uses for them...Connie

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  10. Great idea. I think I may copy it for my dining room table. Any idea of what size 'number' the Fowler preserving jars are?

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sorry if you have trouble commenting, you can always email me at lilyfieldlife@bigpond.com