A Few Pennies

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

My Reds~~

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~~Maya Angelou (American Poet, 1928).

I'm taking a break from home~improvements today~~
I've had these little plates for a long time. Love the pattern and the reds; some vibrant; others faded and discolored; a few nicks and chips.

I love a little red in my kitchen. I'll always treat myself to a few new hand~towels from Walmart, TJ Maxx, thrift shops, etc~~it's another kind of addiction I have!

My favorite little fruit bowls and saucers/bread plates are "Harvest" by Homer Laughlin: my grandmother had lots of these~~someone tell me if this is correct~~I remember her telling me she got these free from the big oatmeal boxes in the 1940's~~a way of selling the product by promotion of these dishes inside the oatmeal boxes. (I wish they still did that!)

My recent little project with an old bottle: added a waterslide decal of cherries~~pretty for simple arrangements for the side~table~~

A tea~towel for 75 cents from a local thrift shop with lovely primary colors.

Have a great Rednesday and look here for some pretty inspiration at these parties:

http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/

http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com/

http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/

http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

http://www.homemakeronadime.com/

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Cart Before the Horse~~Rug Love

Yes, I am known to get way ahead of myself while doing a major project. And I have hundreds of projects in the back of my mind~~that's the part that keeps me excited about my "domestication~nesting~ideas"~~~I have finished these two projects:

Here's the "before" little stool and the chair:

Added the iron scrolly piece to front side of wooden stool~~

(and please notice I also finished painting that little pergola in the background! see~~I can get through my projects~~eventually)~~

And using up some stashed~away vintage '40's fabric for the upholstered seat to my $3.00 chair~~

So, I'm keeping the wooden stool for myself~~taking the chair to my booth. I'm thinking of pricing about $20.00~~do you think that is fair price? This chair is in excellent condition~

And here's that "cart before the horse" story~~

Got this rug for a great deal from Lowe's~~not finished with the wallpaper til Monday~~then do the bottom half with "beadboard" wall paper~~that will take me a few days. But, here's my rug and I love it!

Will post later in week as I progress~~everyday it's lookin' better in this room~~my biggest thrill is the baseboard and transom/trimwork to the doorways~~I can hardly wait! (doesn't take much to excite me;)

Ice tea with lemon, tall glass, walking around the backyard and loving my hostas; this big one is flowering pretty lavender spikes.

Hey; get some projects going! Well, least you sit back and dream about what you want to do~~that's how I'm going to do it today~~I'll hit the bricks tomorrow (rather the wallpapering).

Friday, July 8, 2011

Vision This~~

It's been a few weeks since I could actually use my camera and blog: three major rooms under construction with wood floors being put in~~wallpapering the dining room~~and that's not even close to the rest of the story~~

This is the dining room: next week the beadboard "wallpaper"~~LOVE this stuff~~can't wait to show you my progress~~chair-railing; crown moulding; baseboard~~etc, etc, etc~~it all takes time!

I'm NOT loving my old chandelier~~but, it will have to do for now~~I have plans to change it out soon~~ (forgive the little "curtains"--taped up some muslin for privacy purposes while working in this room)~~

Did get a little break during the week and found some sweet things~~

This cherub vase (complete with dusty silk flowers!)

See that cherub shelf in the backgound? Made of plaster and soooo paintable for $1.25~~

And cast iron little bird votive holders for 50 cents! I love bird~thingies~~

And five heavy~marble~like candle holders (I am using several in the family room as coasters)~~liked the detail on these~~each for 25 cents from CC.

I'll post every week my progress for the rooms downstairs~~we have LOTS to do yet~~

Joining in some fun this week here:

http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com/

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Monday, June 20, 2011

Salt & Pepper Vases ~~ Plus

I love finding junky little things for practically nothing~~that's the thrill of getting those treasures and repurposing them~~creating a vignette that pleases the eye, mind and soul~~doesn't have to cost a bunch to make me happy.

I'm always keeping an eye out for little vintage S & P's; sweet gathered together on a small platter. They make wonderful little vases for the tables on the porch and pergola when cutting/trimming flowers from the garden~~

I found two of these pretty plates for $1.25 each~~loving the aqua floral.

And bought four of these vintage plates~~has all the right pinks in them for me~~

Hope you are having sunshine and lots of bargain hunting this week. I've started some projects with my can of white paint~~hope to post them later in the week. Hugs to all!

I'm joining these fun parties this week:

http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

http://www.homemakeronadime.com/

Friday, June 17, 2011

Curbed~~

Trust me on this one~~these chairs can be saved! These were curbsided a few days ago on the street where I live~~I was on my way to an appointment and whipped out my cell~~called DH~~"please" I begged him~~"it's early in the morning; no one will see you~~"

Oh the things he'll do for me~~

I'll twine up the bad spots and paint them; add some slip covers to the top half~~they'll look just fine for the backyard pergola for my shabby~tea~party~picture~taking days.

And some of my latest finds on the cheap: two pretty cotton sheets for slipcovers or use as outside tablecloths: a half~shaped wooden thingy (I'll use this as trim for a wooden box); and another nice, thick wood picture frame.

Love pretty flowers early in the morning: I took my camera out with me to snap photo of my little rosemary bush which will get much bigger before end of summer: I'll dry sprigs of it and use all fall/winter long: today a fresh sprig for the crock~pot pork roast~~

And found this medium sized apothecary jar on the cheap: perfect to store my rosemary in~~

Something about using my very own herbs pleases my senses (and taste).

And~~these sweet "rag baskets" both for 50 cents: could not resist~~another cute display for collectibles perhaps~~will take these for resale at my booth.

Here's my favorite "past photo~posts"~~please come visit me often and I'll visit you back!

Happy thrifting this weekend~~can't wait to see your bargains!

For Friday Night: I'm joining in here~~

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Bottle Therapy

Inside this morning while the rain subsides~~the promise of sunshine later today. Here's my little projects for some old bottles I've collected and will take to my little booth this week for display; but this is my tray of "potentials"~~~

Last winter I purchased from an ebay seller these awesome decal water slides for wood and glass projects: they work beautifully on metal too. Easy to use and can lightly coat with clear sealer to protect the image. I also cut a piece of "script" paper for a taller jar~~

These decals are beautifully detailed and look vintage~~

I love the muted colors of them~~

This big jar with the cherries would look sweet holding wooden utensils too~~

Here's the taller bottle I used a scrap piece of script paper and darkened the edges with stamping pad ink~~roughed up the "label" a bit to appear as vintage as the bottle~~