You guys! Did you know that ferns have magical powers? I didn’t really believe it either until I brought this one home along with a fun new treasure.
I spotted this vintage coal bucket recently in one of my favorite second hand stores and then couldn’t believe it when, in the same store, I turned the corner and discovered to my delight a booth filled with plants.
It was a dark and dreary February day outside but inside, with that booth overflowing with fresh, green life it felt like a ray of hope.
Among the plants were these beautiful ferns and I knew that one would look perfect tucked inside the vintage coal bucket and placed on the chest of drawers in my entry.
As soon as I plunked it down, it was like the whole house gave a sigh of relief. It exuded life and freshness.
Magical.
I absolutely love the patina on the coal bucket and the character it adds. The juxtaposition of old and weathered alongside the new and fresh does my heart good.
I added these vintage books which belonged to my grandmother to the tabletop decor (A Girl of the Limberlost is one of my all-time FAVORITES!) alongside a mercury glass box and just love the simplicity of it all.
We have had such a very long stretch of cold, dreary weather here in Oregon. On Monday it even snowed again which brought with it a few brief, glorious moments of sunshine.
But they were quickly replaced with dark clouds and rain which washed away any remaining snow….along with my hope of a break from the dreariness.
It seems like every year we reach this point where it feels like the winter will never end and yet outside we are definitely seeing little signs of the next season. There are buds on the trees and daffodils bursting through the soil and they serve as a tangible reminder that winter won’t last forever and spring WILL actually get here. And it will be all the sweeter because we have waited so long for it.
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
Until we finally say goodbye to winter and hello to Spring, I’ll just relish the beauty of my magical fern and the fresh life it breathes into our home.
It’s always so fun each month to see what my Thrifty Style Team has to share with you so check out all of these other amazingly thrifty ideas and inspiration!
Thanks so much for meeting me at the fence today,
Leave a Reply
7 Comments on "Vintage Coal Bucket Tabletop Decor"
What a delight to open up my email and have your lovely blog as the first one I opened. The fern truly is magical, and your writing about it brought magic to my dreary day!
I’ve got two coal buckets outside. One is still holding Christmas decorations on the front porch and the other is holding dead plants. You’ve inspired me to give them both a new look!
I love your coal bucket and ferns and your grandmother’s books. I recently acquired some books that were in my father’s family and one of them is a New Testament Bible from the 1860’s. The name in it is of a relative of mine but I’m not sure who exactly she is to me but I treasure that Bible. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful display.
Vanessa, thanks for such a cheery post! As I write, we are in the midst of a two day blizzard! Highways and schools are closed! However, we know that Spring WILL arrive — and are we ever ready for it!
Just love your antique coal scuttle with that lovely green fern in it! It just says S-P-R-I-N-G!
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beautiful idea. I to have one of the old coal buckets. Did not know what I want to do with it, but did not have any plans to get rid of it, because it was what my dad used when cleaning the fireplace, when I was a little girl. Thanks for the wonderful and beautiful idea.
who knew about the magical powers! 🙂 I do love my ferns and always have the best luck growing them.