Vintage Bottles ~ Two Ways

One thing I love about vintage bottles is they’re extremely versatile when it comes to decorating. They look pretty all on their own, and they make a visual impact when grouped together. I have several types of old bottles … clear, aqua, altered, milk bottles, etc. I change them out from time to time, putting some in storage while displaying others.

After Christmas I pulled out my gray-painted bottles and created a couple of vignettes.

I haven’t displayed my gray bottles for a while now.

 

At one time these bottles were clear. They’ve been painted and altered.

I purchased the two in front from Rosemary at Villabarnes.

 

Rosemary is such an amazing artist. She first gave her bottles an Old World finish with paint and gesso. She then transferred a flowering basket image to this one.

 

A handmade clay tag with a fleur-de-lis completes the altered bottle.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Rosemary at our local flea market. I love her style!

 

The first option I chose for my vintage bottles, is to have them serve as candle holders.

I had creamy white tapers from Christmas that fit perfectly.

 

The darker bottle on the right is one that I altered myself.

After painting it in layers, I decoupaged a vintage label on it.

And now for option two …

 

I’ve always loved pink and gray together.

Delicate roses look perfect in their gray vases.

 

Gray keeps pink from looking too sweet.

 

I grouped them with a few pieces of my white ironstone.

 

After taking the tapers out of the bottles, I decided I liked the haphazard way they looked on the shelf. Roses aren’t too expensive right now, but closer to Valentine’s Day, the prices will rise.

 

So what do you think of these vintage bottles?

Would you choose to use them as candle holders …

 

Or would you use them as vases?

 

I can’t decide, but either way, I like the way they look in my dry sink.

Once the flowers fade I’ll put the candle tapers back in the vintage bottles.