Wednesday, April 28, 2010

~Basement Challenge #1 - Metal Shelf~




A few weeks ago I began cleaning out my pantry.  I had waay too much stuff in there. I kept buying things I already had just because I could not see it.  So when I made the menu for the next couple of weeks, I used at least one thing in the pantry for each meal and before I knew it, the pantry was very empty. 

So what does this have to do with my basement?  My basement is overflowing with "stuff".  Good stuff - architectural pieces, furniture bits and pieces, shelves, etc.  So to clean it out, I decided to bring up one piece at a time and challenge myself to put it somewhere, make something out of it, or get rid of it.  I was going to give myself a time limit, but that was just too much pressure.  So I'm going to try to do it in about a week.

So this is my challenge piece.


It's a cute shelf, and the color is ok too, but it just seemed a little more shabby than chic.  So I sprayed it with Rustoleum American Heirloom white and hung it in my powder room.




More chic than shabby?








So now I have decoration on a bare wall and a little extra storage for the cost of a can of spray paint.





Basement Challenge #2 - worn out footstool.  Let's see what I can do with this.


I'll be joining some parties~

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

Rescue Crew Review at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home

Frugal Friday  at The Shabby Nest
 


Janet

Sunday, April 25, 2010

~Friday Thrifting~

I don't get to do a lot of yardsale-ing because I work a lot of weekends, but I did manage to hit the thrift stores on Friday after work.  I think I hit the jackpot this time.





I found some great pieces to add to my kitchen shelves.






These cute glass dishes.







A few pieces of red and white dinnerware.




And this colorful planter.





I added them to my shelves right away.  I displayed two of the plates on the top shelf.





The pictures don't show it well, but the color of the glass is a perfect match to the plates.





And I added the planter underneath to hold extra towels.




And these sweet birds are new from Pier 1.  Only $3.00.






A freshened up look with some thrifty finds.


Parties I'll be joining...

Todays Thrifty Treasures
Show Off Your Cottage Monday
Metamorphosis Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays


Janet

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

~Love At First Sight~

You see something from a distance. A little gasp - oh!  You move in a little closer.  Your heart goes pitter-pat. Yep, you're in love - with a hat.



I never know when true love will strike, or why.





Is it the perfect shade of natural "tea-staining"?





Is it the beautifully tattered roses?




Or is it simply the remembrance of times past?





Whatever the reason, the hat came home with me.

I will be joining 2nd Time Around Tuesday and Vintage Thingies Thursday. I hope you do, too.


Janet

Sunday, April 11, 2010

~Thrifty Finds Find A Home~

Well, I have been very busy trying to catch up on cleaning and yard work, so I have no big project to share.  Of course, while I was cleaning, I had to re-arrange and do a little fluffing. Some of my thrifty finds from the last few weeks were just sitting around looking messy, so they had to find homes.


I found this cheerful tablecloth for five dollars.



See the sweet birds?



I topped it with a white pitcher filled with branches from the flowering trees in my yard.



Sweet, sweet Spring!



The tea cart in my dining room got a new look, too.




Of course I had to have this tea cart with what else? Roses.



Anyway, the chippy drawer was also found for five dollars.  I used it for more plate storage.





On the bottom of the cart I placed a floral tray that belonged to my Grandmother and a bowl of cups.




The silver also belonged to my Grandmother.



And finally, I found these aprons for just a couple of dollars each.  I was hooked- apron collection now in progress.





To display them, I decided to use a simple peg rack for three (or four?) dollars from Hobby Lobby and painted it green.




So there you have it.  A little bit of this, and a little bit of that, that turned out to be a whole lotta of fun.

Janet

Oh! I can't forget the parties this week-


Sunday, April 4, 2010

~Color Me Happy~



I really do love color.  It just makes me happy.




This was my foyer before.  I liked it, but it did not feel fresh or Spring-y.



I've had a love/hate thing with this table for a while.  I love its curves and the price was right, but the paint treatment was just not doing it for me.  I had it next to my bed and the shape was just too awkward for the space.


And then an idea come to me.  It was as clear as if I had seen it on the cover of a magazine!  The table needed color.



So I painted it Emerald green by Valspar.




Lots of sanding for age.




And Ralph Lauren Tobacco glaze to show off all the details.



And I finally brought some Spring into the house with this simple arrangement. A cute springtime bunny (I'm not calling it an Easter bunny because I just put it out and I want to leave it for a while).




A bird's nest ...




And a cloche with a little creamer.



Now the hate part of the relationship is gone.

Janet

I will be sharing this at: