Obsessed with Mason Jars

I am totally completely and utterly obsessed with mason jars.  I have them everywhere. In my living room, on my back deck, bathroom, office, bedroom, there is probably even one rolling around in my car somewhere.  They are just so useful and the old blue ones look great too!

Here are my 10 favorite uses for mason jars:

1. Vase for Flowers.  Pick some flowers, stick them in a jar and you have an instant country inspired centerpiece (or you can even give them as a gift).


(picture from blissfullydomestic.com)

2. Corral your Collections.  All of those little collections of things you love but have no idea where to put...try a mason jar.  I have my little collecton of wooden spools in one that looks great in my craft room:


(www.uscountryfolk.etsy.com)
Another great collection...Seashells.  Kids bring them home by the pocketfull, display them in a mason jar.  A great way to help you remember your vacation, tie a ribbon around the neck with a tag saying at what beach you collected your shells!

3. Pens and Pencils.  I love to keep my pens and pencils (markers and even scissors) in a mason jar on my desk.  It makes my workspace look so much more homey.


(www.uscountryfolk.etsy.com)
4.  Bathroom Supplies.  Q-Tips and cottonballs are dust free and handy when stored in a mason jar.  They will look so nice you won't even have to hide them in the medicine cabinet.


(picture from hoosierhomemade.com)

5. Solar Lights.  One of my favorite items on Etsy.com are these solar lids for mason jars from http://www.etsy.com/shop/treasureagain

Buy a few and put them around your deck or on your patio table to add a little light to your summer nights!

6.  Odds and Ends.  Small nails or tacks in the garage can be difficult to keep track of.  Spare change or small craft supplies as well...keep them on hand in a mason jar.  The jar is clear so you can quickly see what is inside and it has a lid so if it gets tipped over by accident, you will not be picking up small items for days.



7. Candle Luminary.  I love to put some sand in the bottom of a jar, add a votive or tea light and gain some ambiance!



8. The Perfect Candy Jar.  Fill a jar with your facorite seasonal candy.  Coversation hearts for Valentines day, Red and green M&M's for Christmas, candy corn for Halloween, jelly beans for Easter...you get the idea!



9.  Pendant Lights.  Another one of my favorite Etsy.com items are these pendant lights from http://www.etsy.com/shop/BootsNGus. These will definately add some country style to your home!



10. Drinking Glasses.  Serve up some southern charm along with your sweet tea or lemonade.  No need to break out the fine stemware on a hot summer day!



Hope this has helped inspire you to add a few mason jars into your daily decor...in the crazy times we live in, they make me think of simpler times and remind me to stop and slow down every now and then.

My Favorite Places

There are so many places that inspire me daily.  Places where you walk in and think to yourself "I need this...and this...and this...and this would look great here...I know who would love this!".  I want to make my first few blog posts about these places.  They have inspired my personal shop: http://www.uscountryfolk.etsy.com/  and I think they will inspire you too. 

First on my list of favorite places (and a place I can't leave without buying something) is Scranberry Coop in Andover New Jersey.  You can't miss their bright yellow building right off of Rte 206. 
You never know what you will find when you walk in the door.  They have over 150 dealers with a huge array of vintage and antique items.




Among some of my favorite items I have purchased there are a vintage Barnum Animal Cracker Tin:


Tons of great Ball Mason Jars (Sometimes filled with really fun things):


And my favorite item to collect...


Antique railroad lanterns.  I think I found a big part of my 30+ piece collection here.

One of the things that makes Scranberry Coop a great place to shop is the fantastic turnover they have.  This also means that if you find something you like, snatch it up...it may not be there when you come back. 
Everytime I go, I find new things that I just have to have.
My husband enjoys Scranberry Coop as well.  They always have a great variety of baseball cards, comics and childhood collectables.  It is so much fun to stroll through and say "remember this, I had one of these when I was little". 

When you go to The Coop, don't forget to say "hi" to Bailey.



Check it out next time you are in the area or take a day trip (it's worth it)...see what treasures you can go home with!

For more information on Scranberry Coop you can visit their blog page:
http://scranberrycoop.blogspot.com/
or search Scranberry Coop on Facebook!