ShareSeaside cottage? Manhattan loft? Suburban two-story? Where ever you live, this abalone shell mirror will look divine hanging on a wall or resting on a coffee table.
For a chance to bring home this mirror from the Chicago boutique Jayson Home & Garden, simply answer this week’s question before 12/11c Monday, Nov. 22.
This week’s question: What’s your best unexpected find while shopping on vacation?
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My best find has to be a woven alligator mask made by the village elder woman in an Embera village deep in the Panamanian rainforest. We were on a Panama Canal cruise and didn't realize there would be a Hallowe'en party while we were sailing, so the mask was the perfect purchase. But even better was the smile on the woman's face when I said I wanted it. Selling their baskets is their only source of income, and while they need very little money to live (they live off the land) they use it to send their children to school. The mask now hangs in our great room where it reminds us of that incredible spent with the Embera tribe.
A pair of milk cans for $5 a piece while visiting family in Bemidgi, Minnisota. A memorable visit and a wonderful find
Not sure how unexpected this is, but I visited Seattle and came home with a figurine of the Space Needle. So why is that special? It is made from ashes from Mt. St. Helens that erupted May 18, 1980. The day of my birth!
The most surprising purchase was a antique silver hand mirror purchased on a girls weekend trip to Eureaka Springs, AR. After finding and purchasing the mirror I learned the previous owner was the women that operated the Bed and Breakfast we were staying at. She provided lots of history on the piece and the area – most memorable trip.
On the highway between Joplin and Kansas City, MO, there is a wonderful antique store. As soon as I walked in the door, my eyes went right to a beautiful hand stitched quilt with a butterfly pattern. The colors were vibrant and fabulous and I knew my granddaughter would love using it when she came to visit me. Someone put a lot of love and care into making it and for only $50.00, I was able to pick up this treasure. My granddaughter does love it and it helps make her visits to see me more wonderful.
I took a vacation to West Virginia last summer and came home with some awesome photographs. Most were of beautiful country roads; but my favorite is of a country store and the authentic sign they had. The owners were so happy that I took a picture of their store!
Of the many small treasures that I found on my various getaways throughout the years, one of my favorites is a string of origami cranes that hangs as a mobile. It's simplicity and hand-made-ness speaks to the heart.
Found a cute seashell picture frame, your mirror would match perfect with it.
On a road trip through the Amish country near Lancaster, PA, several years ago with my sisters, we took " the path less traveled" and srumbled on a tiny antique shop. I discovered two beautiful old art books, (both from the 1930's) in a back corner. One is filled with engravings and etching, the other with beautiful floral prints of frameable quality. I am delighted to own these and look at them often. Please pick me
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I found the perfect painting by a local in Akumal, Mexico. It was just a lone palm tree on the beach with all the gorgeous turquoise waters of the gulf behind it. Perfect for my master bedroom and bath that is done in all those colors! Love the Riveria Maya!
ON vacation in PA. we went shopping, came across a lady , holding a small white Maltise. Of course i stopped to pet this little snowball. With that she said to me do you want her !!!!! Of course are u for real, i said. i followed her home she gave me her food too. Casey is now home with me two years !!!!!!! We Bonded we are so Happy together ……. Best Vacation ever !!!!!!!!!!!
You were really blessed! They are the most precious dogs ever….enjoy! We have three Maltese and don't know what life would be without them. Happy Holidays!
We were in PA> last year, shopping ! Stopped to pet a little white dog, the lady said do u want her, i said r you for real ?? Of course, she said follow me home , I'll give u her dog food…. THE rest is History best Vacation find ever. !!!!!!!! Casey is my best friend ever..
I was in a small beach town after experiencing a great loss; I had a miscarriage. I was wondering through yet another tacky gift shop and came upon this beautiful bracelet. It was a Tibetan Buddhist wooden prayer bracelet for Hope. It was what I needed at that moment.
I went on a summer vacation to Long Branch, NJ i bought a water globe on the boardwalk with the boardwalk scene. Every time I look at that water globe it just reminds me of the wonderful time I had on that trip.
Seashells, of course. I love to collect them from the sugary sandy beaches with beautiful aquamarine colored water on the Gulf side of Florida!
A HUGE sea fan I found while on vacation in Mendocino, still have yet to spot one this large since and it has always held a place of prominence in my home, absolutely love my nature inspired decor!
I was in the Dominican Republic and found this beautiful hand carved man from Haiti. After the terrible earthquake I treasure it even more.
The best item I ever bought on vacation was a cathedral window painted a funky shabby chic green. I was on vacation at a small island on Lake Erie when I saw a sign for a garage sale, turns out they were doing a tear down on my favorite cottage. I asked about the windows, which were at the peaks of the roof and the man who owned the house climbed up and pried one of them off for me! It was such a find!
I was rummaging a thrift store in Fulleron, CA and found a beautiful 8 1/2" x 11" hand painting, framed in nautral wood of this beautiful old chapel in New Mexico that I had just visited. I KNEW it was for me, and thanked the Lord!
While I was visiting my EX husband's family in Venezuela for Easter one year, they took me for a boat tour inside a National Park "Restinga" on Margarita Island. We saw beautiful birds in and around the mangroves. Then all of a sudden the boat operater slows and stops the boat….he takes an old empty Mason Canning jar and puts it into the water. This whole time I am thinking to myself……"now that's kind of strange?" After a few attempts on his part he hands to me through about 3 sets of hands a salt water sea horse. It was beautiful!! AND I had never seen one in front of my face before. I thanked him and asked him to put it back into the water so that it would not die. He refused. He told me that since it was almost dead that he wanted this "gringa" as I was known down there…..to take home an unusual and unforgettable gift and memory of his boat ride in Venezuela. SO that sea horse did in fact pass away before we got back to the shore. My sister-in-law layed it out to dry. During the rest of my trip and all the way home that seahorse did not smell pretty bad.
That boat operator was correct though, I NEVER did forget his thoughtful and unusual gift from that trip!! : – )
Our best find was a great piece of artwork we fell in love with on our honeymoon. Now we have a beautiful piece to remind us every day how much we love each other!
An amazing Asian chest in the perfect color for my daughter's new home. Had been looking everywhere and then stopped looking. Went to my favorite store in Aptos, CA, "The Warmth Company", and there it was…not featured on the showroom floor, but in the back storage section, just waiting for me to find it! Loved that surprise, as did my daughter!
I was on my honeymoon and my husband and I stumbled across these little fisherman carved out of wood. They have a beachy , handmade feel to them and whenever my husband or I look at them they always takes us back to our honeymoon <3
We were on vacation in Mexico and I found this broche in a store with matching earrings. They are so pretty. It has many colors of pinks, reds and purples.
A large antique mirror at a Pittsburgh antique store. Carried it home on the plane.
the most unique item I've purchased on vacation was a great "original" lamp made of sticks with a leaf patterned shade I found in Key West – had it shipped home and discovered is a Fitz and Floyd out of Texas! Still love the lamp and think of the keys every time I see it.
In a small town near Oklahoma City my friends introduced me to a wonderful place called Nonas. She has wonderful finds! Things you might see in store for three times what her prices are. She said she began small and now her store is so popular she is able to buy in bulk and shares her great prices with customers. I bought a great shelf that is whitewash stained and ruffed up looking..love it!
My favorite find was when I was on vacation in Smoky Mtns., I run across an arkansas diamond set in a ring. I wore this for years. Beautiful!
In Paris, I found beutiful coffee table books at the bookseller stands for very little. Now when I watch HGTV I see them in front of me and it inspires me.
I found a beautiful antique coffee table at a garage sale several years ago. I think I paid $5 for it. Later a friend who collects antiques saw it and offered me a whole lot more for it, but I liked it too much to sell it. The only thing not original was the glass that fit in the top, but it worked for me.
i found a BEAUTIFUL chandelier in a little gift shop in New Jersey. SOOOOO precious!
A gorgeous painting while on vacation in Michigan!
When we went on vacations to Vegas this year for our anniversary, we were shopping for souvenirs… the kids found this artist who made necklaces and bracelets made out of a tiny little rice where he wrote the name of each kid on tiny little letters. It was so original and pretty! They still haven't lost them
We were shopping while on vacation and I found an old ceramic butter churn, I received a lot of ribbing at the time saying that they didn't sell butter in Wyoming? I carried it on the plane and people I know thought that I was nuts! I still have it in my kitchen and love it, it was purchased in an antique store of course! Beverly
While on vacation my best shopping find was my husband!!!!!!!! Hey you find the strangest and best things out there. Tis shell mirror will love wonderful in my shore home!
I was on vacation in my most favorite place ever…Hawaii. I was sitting on the beach when I recognized someone from my long ago past, a former home town schoolmate. Turned out she was a realtor in Hawaii. I ended up buying a small cottage and moving to my ultimate travel destination! Talk about impulse! That was 1978 and I've not regretted either the purchase or the move for even a minute!
Something I didn't even know I was looking for
Shopping today……I found a pillow with a sea fan motif. I have been looking for just one more pillow to go in the room I just redesigned with a natical look and this one was perfect. I was really excited to find it.
When my husband and I were on our honeymoon, we found some amazing handmade wind chimes in Mexico. They were perfect; they are shaped like little stars have a lovely musical quality that occurs when the wind blows. While they may not have been a huge piece or anything very expensive, they seemed to call to us. They are a wonderfully simple reminder of one of the best times we have had together!
A colorful vase I found while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico about 15 years ago.
While my brother was giving me a tour of an old town in Delaware, I found a two-step stool…hand-painted in all my favorite colours…ducks too. I love it and I use it.
While on a bus trip down to Atlantic City, our bus had to take a detour and got stuck in traffic in a very small town We were stopped on this little street and nowhere to go except to a yard sale that was right next to the bus. My mom and I got out, along with other passengers and we found a picture frame that my mom had broken a couple months prior. The frame originally had her wedding picture and she was broken hearted when it broke. We could not believe our eyes when we found this perfect replica. She has since passed away, but the frame remains hanging in my living room with my parents wedding picture. A truly awesome find!
my best find was a hand carved piece of driftwood from this little shop off of main drag in Panama City Beach, FL – it is beautiful, its a one of a kind, lighthouse with a pelican and dolphin carved into it – great conversation piece!!!
I found the most beautiful and colorful artisan water glasses and appetizer plates made of blown glass on my vacation near Guadalajara, Mexico in a little artisan town named Tonala. Everybody that comes to my house ask me where I got them, they really like them!
My favorite shopping find while on vacation was a unique wreath made of natural cotton balls just bursting with downy soft cotton and surrounded by magnolia leaves. Perfect reminder of my southern beach vacation and I still enjoy hanging it up each year.
My favorite shopping find was a Santos cage doll. I had seen one in a magazine spread and couldn't believe how wonderful it looked in the design. I was so excited when I found it that I took a picture of it and send it to all my friends. When I brought it home from my trip I carried it on the plane by hand and wouldn't allow anyone else to touch it.
A Friendship Plate for my sister-in-law.
Now this is going to sound like I made it up, but I have witnesses, in case you fail to believe me! After attending my great Niece's wedding in Kansas, my aunt, sister, brother and cousin went antiquing! Aunt Mary Lou collects dishes from a certain era so off we went! In on of the shops we were all oooing and aaahing over all the lovely things, when I was drawn to an area that had old Kansas school books and a sweet little rocking chair. I opened a couple of the books which reminded me of the texts we used when I was in early grade school. One in particular was a music book with those lovely old water color illustrations. Really took ME back! (heavy sigh) I put it down and continued looking around. Before we left I decided I should just get the little music book. Bought it, opened the front cover & MY NAME was written in it in my handwriting! BEST PURCHASE ever on a vacation! Sweet.
While in Hawaii, I found a Mother Of Pearl and Coral, necklace, earrings and bracelet, I'd never seen jewelry like that before. I love it.
I bought a chair that had a bunch of morgan silver dollars in the side, under the cushion. I did try to give them back but the chair was a donation to a charity. The people never knew who gave it to them.