Monday, February 1, 2010

Trays As Art

DRflowers
Hi everyone! Hope you all had lovely weekends. I spent some of mine tweaking my dining room.  I had a strange gap between the art that was already hanging on one wall and what I put over that black bureau.
Bureautop

I have a few of these trays (all thrifted). So I thought I’d try them in that gap.

Alltrays

prints
My thought is that as I find more of them (I know some people have one with a bunnies on it) – that I’d take down the other pictures and do a whole wall of trays.

Twotrays
I also have one of lemons and one of some oranges in my kitchen but I like them there.

flowertray
Now I just have to wait to find more trays!

wall


Of course, now I have one wall that's filled and on the other side is one lonely large painting! So I don't know what I'm going to do about that (I feel a dining room makeover coming LOL).

Thanks for stopping by today and don’t forget that this week is the Februrary Book Giveaway post. I'm still deciding on the book!

67 comments:

Angie said...

I may have already told you how much I LOVE your tray collection. I only have two - one with bunnies and one with lemons. I got them both from yard sales and I hope I find more too. Maybe we'll get both get lucky! Your dining room is beautiful!!!

Unknown said...

Love the trays! You'd never find anything like that at MY thrift stores! That's one thing Texas does not seem to have going for it, is decent thrift stores.

Julie said...

Manuela,
You KNOW I love your trays... And yes sometimes the time inbetween trays when thrifting them is Loooooongggg. I just LOVE your chicken tray. I do love my bunny trays. It's funny ..I found a bunny tray like one I already had but it was in hues of blue, and for $4.00 was I gonna let a duplicate stop me??? hah you know better. It's just in a different room. Love your pics. Good luck!

Annie said...

I never see trays like yours out and about...how cool!

I have three vintage tole work trays, a green one, a black one, and a red one. I love how yours look hung all together.

Blessings,

Annie @ The View from 256
http://theviewfrom256.blogspot.com/

Angie said...

Would you believe after I got my bunny tray, I have seen 2 more exactly like it at other yard sales?! My mom got one and now I wish I had bought the other one so I could have one in my kitchen and one in my dining room too!

Patricia said...

hey manuela~ the trays are stunning!

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

I love what you've done with the trays, Manuela! Absolutely beautiful!

southerninspiration said...

Did you get them ALL thrifting??? I've got to come to GA to go thrifting! I love the one with the tureen and the artichokes! I have one that is not an antique; I sure do love yours! About how much do you pay for them?
Thanks for sharing.

Suzanne

Megan said...

Those trays are so beautiful. And all thrifted -- you are so lucky -- or just really good. I've got 6 more weeks until I "retire" and then I hope to start finding some wonderful yard sale, thrift shop discoveries. Until then it's just "work, work, work"!!!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Looks great! You must have the best thrift stores in the South. I saw some pretty trays in a consignment store, but they had a pretty price tag also.

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

I think they are gorgeous! They look beautiful.

I love your walls. My husband has remarked that there is a space on our walls that has nothing hanging on it... one space.

At that smart remark, I told him thanks for pointing it out to me and I'll be sure to hang something there soon. :)

He would enjoy a house with no pictures on the walls and Danish Modern furniture.

Heather said...

wow! they look great on the wall. love that section of the room!

Barb said...

Manuela, I love your trays. I am a tray collector also and have them everywhere. Yours are really beautiful.

Barb

Stacey said...

Your trays are beautiful. I've always loved them too. Of course, I always love to see a little peek of your drapes too. They are adorable.

Julie Harward said...

I love trays like this and they are wonderful pieces of art! These look really nice on your wall...I'm going to look for some too...good idea! Come say hi :D

Unknown said...

Those are very neat trays and I like how you've displayed them!

Nancy

Ann On and On... said...

I have a few walls you could work on.... How does Quebec City sound. (Cold)

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I am just drooling. I have wanted a tole tray forever and I just can't find one. Yours are all just wonderful. I especially love the one with the roosters. I think they are just fantastic on your wall. Love, love, love it. Hugs, Marty

1 Funky Woman said...

Your trays look great, you always find great things!

Salmagundi said...

Love the trays; and there is something that makes them more important by grouping them together. Have a good week. Sally

Unknown said...

Pretty, pretty trays. I would have a new collection if I could find beauties like that.

matty said...

Love love love love the trays! The chickens stole my heart! So pretty!

Sarah said...

Lovely grouping of trays. I agree that beautiful tole trays are definitely art. Lucky you!

Anonymous said...

Love love love those trays. Beautiful.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Very pretty, Manuela! What a great collection! I have one tray like these ~ and it does have bunnies on it. I'd love to find more.

Vee said...

Oh I love the look of a lot of things on a wall. It just looks great and I hope that you find some more trays when you are out thrifting. They just look so rich and elegant in that very fresh room. Love the touches of red, too!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

YES!! That looks amazing Manuela! I love it. You find the most amazing items while thrifting....

Brenda Pruitt said...

I love it, Manuela! You just have the magic touch, because I'm wowed by every arrangement you make. We must be kindred spirits.
Brenda

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Your trays are so pretty! I have a few, but want to find some new ones. I am excited for the yard sales to start up again!

I can't wait to see what book you are giving away! Have a great week Manuela!

XOXO
Jen

Terri Steffes said...

I love the shape of those trays, does it have a specific name?

Anonymous said...

The trays look great...where did you get the hooks to hang them on the wall?

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! If you offered tours of your home, I'd pay to take it! And ... your pictures are excellent quality making your blog so easy to enjoy. Destiny

Mumzie said...

Love your new wall! I can't believe you found the all those trays thrifting. I would love to have a couple myself. Hugs * Best wishes, Mumzie :)

Melissa Miller said...

Very pretty trays Manuela!

They look great hanging up in your dining room and really fill up the wall space so well. Maybe someone has aleady asked but how do you hang them up like that?

~Blessings, ~Melissa :)

Jo said...

Your collection is wonderful ~ I've always wanted one with lemon to go with my pottery from Italy.

Jo

arkie said...

I love your trays! Beautiful dining space. Love all the colors!

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

That rooster tray is fabulous - I love them all, but roosters are my favs! Linda

Donna said...

Manuela,
What gorgeous trays you have! I would never find anything like that in a thrift store here.
Your dining room is gorgeous!! I love the yellow, red and black colors you have used.
Blessings,
Donna

Recycled Rita said...

Your tray's are really pretty. I have one that I made into a magnet board and used old earrings for the magnet, I love it!
I had fun shopping at Ikea with you. We have one not far away but I don't get there much, now I HAVE to go for the mercury glass...I love mercury glass! hugs! karen....

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Manuela- Your home looks SO lovely! Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos! I love your tray collection- I collect trays, too! They are wonderful art pieces!

Anonymous said...

I love it, Manuella! Just love how you decorate.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Indian Thoughts said...

awesome :)

Jenni said...

Your dining room is so gorgeous! And I think this is such a great idea, to use decorative trays as wall art! I especially love the tray with the chicken~ it's so cute! :)

By the way, I love your dining room chairs and have been watching for ones like them ever seeing them! Do you know what store they came from, or were they thrifted? The thought also occurred to me that they may be vintage and not made anymore. :) Just curious...

Marianne said...

Be careful! Once you start on the dining room the rest of the house is next.
But I must agree your wall is looking very nice. Good luck on finding more trays.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I LOVE the trays on that beautiful golden yellow wall! You are like me when it comes to wall space -- not much left. Everyone tells me I'll have to start hanging things from the ceiling. :) Your dining space is so beautiful! The trays are fabulous. I just love it all. Have a blessed day. Tammy :)

Beth said...

Wonderful trays....I love how you have done them!!
Beth

Secondhand Blessings said...

Wow! I never thought about using trays as a piece of art. I didn't realize that there were so many pretty ones out there. I think my favorite one is the tray with the chickens.

Kathleen Grace said...

I have never seen a tray like these at my thrift stores! I love them all but the one with chickens and the one with the blue and white tureen are my favorites. These look gorgeous on your wall:>)

Julie said...

The trays are just so beautiful. I have never seen any here in Utah but I will start keeping my eyes out for some! I just love the one with the roosters!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Lovely!

Maybe the paintings that you will move, when you find more trays, could move over and join your one lonely painting on the other wall.

Anonymous said...

I love your blog but I wanted to let you know that it is now taking forever to load because of all the pictures in nearly every post. I don't intend to be a killjoy and you do have a talent for photo-taking. Perhaps, you could post in smaller posts it's just a suggestion and i'm not trying to hurt your feelings. Kim

Lisa @celebrate CREATIVITY said...

You always know how to arrange things in the most beautiful vignettes.

Everything is beautiful and I especially love the corner walls near the draperies. Lovely!

Debra said...

I love your home. I used to have a thrift store in Upper MI and we would get tons of them in. I can't begin to tell you how many we got rid of when we closed the store. I loved them then and I love what you are doing with them. Good luck on your hunting for more, sometimes thats what makes them more special.

Rita said...

hi Manuela,
just found your lovely blog thru a comment you left over at Tammy's.
O MY your tray collection is stunning beyond words and is adding that special charming touch to your dining room. never thought of hanging trays before seeing your post. Great idea!
Will take some more time to scroll down your older posts to get to know you and your wonderful bloggy world better.
Fondly
rita

Shan said...

Dearest Manuela,

I have never commented before, so I thought I would peek out from the shadows and say "Hello"!

I love your blog and find inspiration with each post. You have such wonderful ideas and the love for your home and family is always evident in all that you do.

I very much love the trays and will be on the lookout as I go about thrifting for such a treasure...they would be so at home in my old-fashioned kitchen.

I know you get a large number of comments, so I don't know if you have much time to "visit" but if you have a moment please stop by:
http://homesteadblogger.com/HoneyHillFarm/

I would love your company...

Yours so kindredly,
Shan
Honey Hill Farm

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

I love trays and love when people hang them for all to see. I just think they are appreciated that way. I've only got a couple but only have "1" that is up on the wall.
Hope all is well and have a great day!

susan said...

I can't believe these are thrifted trays--beautiful! I love the arrangement!

brokeintrovert said...

Just beautiful!

Melissa Miller said...

Manuela did you get the new Pier 1 catalog ad in the mail? It has a white shabby chic tray that you would love. It's really beautiful!

Thanks for checking out my newest table...yet again. I must stop with the tables. He!

~Blessings, ~Melissa :)

Simple Home said...

Your trays look wonderful on your wall. You've got some great treasures. I missed commenting on the IKEA post, but loved it. Thanks for sharing. The closest store to us is over an hour away.
Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Blessings,
Marcia

Myra Campbell Phillips said...

I love everything about how you decorate your home. Your blog inspires me and encourages me. Thanks so much for the lovely pictures!

Melanie said...

Where in the world do you find all those great trays? I want all of them! They are so YUMMY!

Carey said...

This is my first time visiting. I love your blog and how you decorate. I am signing up to follow, hope you don't mind.
Carey

Cynthia said...

I love your decorating ideas. I have christmas trays, I'll hang them next year! Thanks :)

Angela said...

I have the same place mats as you..lol.

Donna said...

You have a beautiful tray collection, and I love how you placed them on the wall. Great idea.

Pet Mom 1 said...

I LOVE those tray! Lynda from No. Calif.