It is a long stretch between the Fourth of July to Halloween and the decorations that accompany those holidays. During those summer months I drag out the beachy themed items to decorate with.
You have heard it on this blog more than once that I hope to have a "someday" beach house. This "for sale" sign that accompanies the mantle display is a nod to that dream. You met this school of fish yesterday on my collection challenge post.
Tin tray on coffee table filled with vintage flip flops, glass floats and seaside ephemera. The smallest flip flops are for tiny child's feet. They were found in the basement of an old pharmacy and are rock hard.
Love the vintage fish puzzle on the left.
An assortment of seaside tidbits. There are some vintage chenille "native" figures with their pipe cleaner palm trees. I found the shell sail boat the other day at a garage sale for 50 cents. It had rather tattered weird flags, so I added some made of vintage newspaper.
I found this little shell bird recently and could not pass it by. These are the little tidbits that I love to add to my beachy stash. How could I resist a pipe cleaner neck?
It has this tag attached and is dated 1936.
A collection of old sand-buckets. I did a challenge on them here.
I found a couple of old salt water taffy boxes this summer. They add some beach side interest.
Another friendly fish. I found the plastic flowers at Plucky Maidens and was going to use them for crafting. I think they look sort of seaweed like and I love the pink color so am using them for beachy display.
I somehow got a small collection of seashell shaped ceramic containers.
I made the seashell flowers years ago after seeing some vintage crafted ones.
I picked up the big fish bowl the other day at half price at an estate sale (a whopping fifty cents).
A pair of vintage fish shaped hot water bottles swim in the bowl.
Newly found ceramic snails live under a glass dome. (I removed the dome for the photo..too much glare)
I can almost hear the sounds of the ocean...
Happy day!
Love the salt water taffy boxes! I have a small collection of Christmas candy boxes, and I bet you do, too. When did packaging go from the charming graphics that we love to the blah designs we see on the shelves today? Hmmmph.
Posted by: JoyceG | August 20, 2014 at 11:37 AM
I love your summer display. We need another holiday between the 4th and Halloween (besides Labor Day).I usually do a back to school theme on my mantel, but the kids started back over two weeks ago. With the temperatures scorching lately, it just seemed...wrong. I'm sure inspiration will hit me just as soon as the temps dip below 85.
Posted by: Marla | August 20, 2014 at 01:33 PM
Wow! Nothin' else...just wow!
Posted by: shirley hatfield | August 20, 2014 at 04:16 PM
You'd think I'd be used to all your charming finds by now but no -- I am still constantly surprised and delighted with the whimsy in your world. Everything I see here looks like a perfect practice run in preparation for when that beach house dream comes true. xo
Posted by: Into Vintage | August 20, 2014 at 04:47 PM
Love all the "beachieness"!
Posted by: Kathy | August 20, 2014 at 07:41 PM
Did you hear a big SQUEAL down this way? Oh my Gosh! Your beachy themed decorating is over the top!
Love it all! There is too big of a void between July 4th and Halloween! My brain is all wishy-washy now since I have stuff all over the house from cleaning things and rooms out. Looking at your cute beach displays just made my evening :-) I adore your shell boat display and of course your little guy with the vintage sunglasses LOL. Love, love, love it all Laurie!
Thanks for sharing :-)
Posted by: Doreen | August 20, 2014 at 07:51 PM
Oh there is that funny little boy head Eddie Haskell again--I don't know if you ever named him but to me its Eddie!! I love your beach theme goodies!
Posted by: Judy | August 20, 2014 at 08:52 PM
Someday, you'll have the best decorated beach house EVER! Love your collections of sand-buckets. They are getting harder and harder to find (or afford). That octopus game is pretty cool too!
Posted by: Kim K. | August 21, 2014 at 03:53 AM
So many wonderful items - they look so awesome collected together in your displays. I think my favorites are the seals and buckets! Hope you get that beach house someday. You certainly have all the decor for it!
Posted by: Maureen | August 21, 2014 at 05:48 AM
Brian and I both plan on having a someday house in Arizona. Complete and total opposite of your dream, huh?
Can you imagine if seaweed was really pink? I would definitely visit the beach more often!
~Erica
Posted by: Erica | August 21, 2014 at 06:32 AM
It's all just perfect.
Sheryl
Posted by: Sheryl Remy | August 21, 2014 at 07:53 AM
Wow! I live 100 miles from the Gulf Coast and I don't have nearly as much beach stuff as you. Good luck with buying your beach house one day... You won't have to hire a decorator!!!
Posted by: Sherry@Back2Vintage | August 21, 2014 at 08:03 AM
Your $.50 fishbowl find brings back memories - I used to have the same fishbowl that my yearly goldfish win from the local Children's Fair would reside in. Sadly most dies pretty quickly (being beaned with ping pong balls was probably the cause) but I did have a couple that lasted years and years.
Posted by: Poppy K | August 21, 2014 at 01:51 PM
Love all your beachy decor! Do you put out your vintage swim caps? They would be cute also.
Posted by: Marci | August 22, 2014 at 03:40 AM
oh my goodness.... what a wonderful collection of beachy love! I love that seashell bird.. I have to try to make one now.. Im so glad youre out there in this world collecting all these wonderful things!
thanks for sharing.
xoxo
vivian
Posted by: vivian | August 22, 2014 at 06:06 AM
I love all your posts, Laurie. And want all your stuff, as well. My little spunhead mermaids have spent the summer on display (as well as the spunhead cowboy and cowgirl that I love) but now I'm ready to get out all those Halloween spunheads. And maybe add to my stash .....
Posted by: VintageChristine | August 22, 2014 at 07:06 AM
I hope you have one of those ocean soundtracks playing in the background. So relaxing.
Love the pink fish and that shell bird with the huge feet is a riot. Nobody gonna knock him down!
It's all very charming.
Posted by: janet johnson | August 22, 2014 at 10:23 AM
What a happy little vignette of vintage seaside treasures! I don't know about you, but I'm not ready for summer to end.....
Posted by: mitzi curi | August 23, 2014 at 06:31 AM