"One man's trash is another man's treasure"- Fred Sanford



Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Buy buy buy those vintage linens and usem everyday!!

TIP OF THE DAY

EVERY garage sale, thrift store has these old, vintage, sometimes stained linens. BUY THEM! Haggle to get them for a dime. Use them everyday.....so easy to grab and throw them in any load. Linen is a very strong textile. It doesnt matter if they have someones initials on them or if they get wrinkled. This will save you money on paper products, and when they get holes or gross, you have instant rags. It's a 2fer.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Metal wall decor......OR







These metal wall hangings,of all sizes and shapes  (which by the way can be found at ANY garage sale  like these 2 were for about 2-5 bucks each---haggling is the way to go). They are pretty hung indoors, yes. But, hang them outside and during the summer you can keep your pool and backyard area clean and organized because you will always have a place to hang things, from suits to towels to goggles. In the winter, leave em alone, they will patina nicely! I have posted a few samples from my own patio.

Wall sconces are pretty...PRETTY USEFUL




These french wall sconces are quite fancy! With the candles, they glow...but that is all. Now when you take out the candles and add sewing items for a guest, they REALLY serve a purpose. Simply take down that picture in your guest room and hang this, your houseguest will thank you for it, promise!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

A trunk full of joy for your little girl or boy!







I made these for a girlfriends who has twins, a girl and boy. This project was a cinch. One of these trunks was mine from college ( really beat up) and the other was found in a pile of junk on trash day (score). Some cleaning and paint spruced these up. Also, went to Micheals for embellishments and the letters for the names. It was so much fun selecting addons of their favorite things.I also think it is neat how the copper paint on the corners makes them look like "treasure chests".  I then broke the locks and padded the edges for safety. I also placed some carpet remnants on the bottom to keep the toybox noise to a minimum. I think I may make one  for a friend who is having a baby...a baby theme and fill it with diapers and bottles etc. I hope she likes it, and I hope this gives you ideas for some creative things to do with "just an old trunk"!!!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Light it up! Get a little FUNKY!!!









Okay, so after a few failed attempts at making the very large lamp shade look normal, I went through some old linens and found this sheer polyester round tablecloth with leaves painted on it.  I did not paint them, trust me it would not have been pretty if I tried.After a few attempts and some careful cutting with some sharp sewing scissors, careful glue gun application, and pulling the material tight so it would not gather, this is the result.  I love how the sheer material lightens up the old shade and takes away some of the "age".  It is so "summerish" to me.  Think I will keep it...






Wow this lamp shade needs some DESPERATE updating!!
Found these two lamps at Garage sales. Different sales, same neighborhood (something was trendy back in the seventies ya think?)  But I lovem'...they just scream SPRING---so earthy. The green lamp was 8.00 and the copper lamp just 5.00.Quick clean-ups brightened up the glass bulbs. The lamps shades were quite dated so of course I recovered the green lampshade (seen in pic) and the brown  lampshade is a work in progress but I wanted to post some before picures because this lamp shade is very obnoxious and big. I will post when I complete the transformation...stay tuned.

aahhhh...a blank canvas!


I picked up this canvas picture ( you know the ones with the printed photo and glossy finish) at a garage sale for 2.00. The picture was some unattractive Mardis Gras illustration; but the right size. So, I fished into some of the sheets I've purchased for pennies from sales of the past, used one to wrap the canvas, stapled the back and created my own design with stencils and paint I already had  on hand. I also like that I can add or change it out any time...but I will enjoy it for awhile I think!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Bookshelves...yawn.......come on!!!

My bookshelf is an entry table, picture show, book holder and bookshelves (out of books). Stack books all ways and put all your priceless chochkies on top.Change it out when you get bored or seasonally or do what I do and put things out and only move them around when something falls or my dog bumps it off and it breaks.  Time to go to another garage sale. Good times.

Glassware can be boring-put some SPRING into it!


We all have those plain glass containers.Pretty shapes help, but color is better and not just from flowers. Dust off those canisters and display them again with pretty scarves or scrap pieces, then place your candles or flowers. Colored glass is pretty and expensive; so create your OWN with the pieces you already  have on hand!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Tip of the day (or night)

Like a clean smelling house but hate all the actual cleaning? Stick a bounce dryer bar inside the AC vent of a family room or hallway (not a bedroom). Your house willl always have that clean clothes smell and they can't be seen like those plug-in things. Cost is cheaper than a nice candle and it lasts a lot longer...try it and let me know if it works for you too!!

Friday, February 25, 2011

What to do with extra material (that you LOVE)

 This light spring material totally changes the look of this table.
This lampshade was a garage sale find that was dented in one side. The owner said I could take it since no one would buy it anyway because of the damage.....I just smiled and said THANKS!! The project was a cinch with this pretty material and a little hot glue, this lamp has a whole new look.

Summer travel and souvenirs for a STEAL!!


Heading out on vacation and no money for those fancy souvenirs? While traveling abroad, backpack on and barely enough money for a hostel, I still needed those memories from my travels. Seeing posters for museum openings and festivals posted all over town gave me an idea. I simply asked the merchant owner if I could have one that was in his window and BAM instant souvenir. Something light and something that could fit in my pack. Not only did it have the town I was traveling in, but also the month and year so I will never forget my travels as I stare at them on my wall everyday.  Framing is costly, so I  kept with a basic silver frame that I knew would never go out of style. These make EXCELLENTconversation starters as well .This idea can be used whether travelling to Europe, or the local strawbwerry festival....... 

Thursday, February 24, 2011

seashell mirrors are so yesterday....



So, I used Coral on this mirror!!! Several months of collecting random peices of coral (mostly gray and white) from garage sales and friends (and one very fun snorkeling trip) resulted in this mirror. I really scored once when I found someone selling their aquarium and sold me all their coral (really big pieces for only $20.00!)! It is HEAVY but I love it!! Every time I look at it I remember who gave me the pieces and of my vacation...it is a "memory mirror".  Oh and you must use a heavy duty clear contact cement to keep this project together. Keep your glue gun handy too for those small chunks that do not want to stick.

Good night...Sleep in STYLE!!



This was a fun project! Found this head and footboard at a church thrift sale for 10 bucks. I had rails from a previous project. It was covered in black paint so I stripped and stained. I then added these pretty and inexpensive tiles ($4.00) each. TThe tiles not only add the aged look I wanted but also hid some damage to the veneer. End result; a beautiful nights sleep!!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Handbags are decorative too!!

wow did this vintage beaded handbag collection come in handy. A design like this can grow with a little girl from something pretty to something she can really use as she grows (even if just for dress up!!)

Paint and update


This table needed a fresh coat of black, some silver on the pulls, and a vintage silk scarf to replace the "leather with the burnholes" insert that was in there originally. A peice of plexiglass protects your work. this also allows you to change out the textile on a whim, or seasonally...

Fun with tables!

I love textiles!! One of my favorite projects are to find tables with glass or leather inserts, remove them, and add a colorful silk scarf or vintage textile design.

I then place the glass or purchase of peice of plexiglass to fit and protect the design.

vintage record console to updated entertainment unit



I found this at a thrift shop ($15.00).  So I stripped out the equipment,speakers, added doors ($7.00) ,hardware ($6.50)  painted the top (already had the paint) and polished up the natural wood.  Now, I use the interior compartment to store videos, the sides for equipment, and have hung the flat screen TV above for a compact entertainment area. Total cost: $28.50