Thursday Thrifting

Starting a new series entitled "Thrifting Thursday" where I will post pics of some of my recent thrifting treasures. Treasure hunting is one of my favorite things of all time! My mom and I were avid yard salers back in the day. We planned out our route the night before and hit the road by 7am Saturday mornings. You gotta start early and go to where you think the best sales will be first. 

 

Church yard sales, neighborhood yard sales, and estate sales are where you will be exposed to a lot all in one spot.  Yard sales are definitely where you will get the most bang for your buck. Most people are practically giving stuff away! But they are also hit or miss. 

 

Estate sales can be a gold mine too. They are most often run by a company who takes around 30% of the profit of all sales.  These sales will take credit cards and checks most of the time too.  Usually running Friday thru Sunday and Sunday being 50% off!

 

Another good thrifting spot is your local Goodwill or other local thrift store.

 

Here are some recent weekly finds...

 

I found this woven basket at an estate sale for 15 bucks. I didn't even see it the first time I went thru the house, but locked eyes with it on my second time scanning.  That's another tip... Go thru an estate sale quickly, scanning each room for treasures and scooping them up, before someone else takes them home.  Then go back thru each room slower a second and even third time. You will always see things you didn't see before.

I loved the authentic look of the basket and the handle detailing. I plan on keeping it by the fireplace filled with some cozy blankets.

I found this blue pottery at the same estate sale. I loved the color and handles and size but didn't want to take home something that I could purchase at Homegoods or Target so I flipped that bad boy over and found this....



Handmade in Hungary! So now I know it's a little more special. $18

 

I also hit up my local Goodwill on the hunt for accessories for my bar cart as well as some good hardback books.

Ta da! Equestrian pieces are "in" right now and I loved the dark green glass color with brass detailing. My mom did some research and thinks this is an old AVON bottle. I can totally picture this guy on my barcart, maybe even with a flower in it!

 

And I'll wrap up this post with the rest of my Goodwill treasures. I found that awesome black and white tray for 65 cents! The glass horse head was $1. The three books were $3 each. I try to find books that have a great color, are sleek, simple, and of varying sizes. Two of these had the cover sleeves on them, so when you're looking for books make sure to check underneath those covers!

Happy Hunting!

 

 

Bridal Brunch

One of my sister's good friends is getting married and she and the other bridesmaids needed a place to throw a bridal shower.  Of course I offered up my place! I love a hand in a good party. A lot of the girls were from out of town, so they were combining the shower and bachelorette party into one day. Therefore they decided a Saturday brunch would be ideal.

Let's get this party started!!

 

The girls set up a cute mimosa bar and iced coffee bar on the hallway sideboard.

There was cranberry, orange, and pineapple juice available and fresh frozen fruit to drop in your mimosa as well.  The frozen fruit was perfect because it served as a creative and yet tasty ice cube.

The iced coffee was from Starbucks and in a cute pitcher from Crate and Barrel. Extra milk in a vintage glass and a little sugar were the supporting actresses of the display.  And a simple ivory tablecloth and card stock signs from Pottery Barn completed the look.

 

 The food was truly the main event and the girls did a wonderful job of planning the spread.

Hope you've eaten, b/c if not, prepare to get really hungry...

 

My favorite dish was the Sriracha Maple Bacon on a stick! This is hands down the best way to eat bacon. You can find various recipes online or at Pinterest but here is one we used.

Displaying the bacon in an upright position really took the display to another level. It's always good to have varying heights.  Simple flowers in reusable glass salad dressing containers lined the center of the table.

A cheese platter, grapes and blueberries, and crackers were easy go-to finger foods to have.  A sprig of fresh purple basil was a complement aesthetically to the plate.

Tomato & mozzarella crostinis, country ham biscuits, and various quiches filled the other platters. The quiches were on the far side in the three tiered display.  This was good use of height on the end of the table. In the middle on the elevated platter was 3 mini pancakes on a toothpick. Fresh maple syrup was nearby in a crystal pitcher.

 

The bride-to-be had a wonderful and delicious shower and it appears Tessa enjoyed herself as well...

Brimfield Finds

I planned a trip to see my BFF, Lauren, who lives in Boston, and it just so happened to be around the time of the huge Brimfield Antiques Show! So of course we planned our visit around that weekend of events.  She had already been prior in the springtime, so she knew the ropes. If you don't know what Brimfield is click here to be filled in and jealous! Don't worry, its 3 times a year, so you can catch it the next go round though.



(pictures from Brimfield.com)

 

Unfortunately, Lauren and I were overcome with awesomeness at every turn that neither one of us took too many pictures.  It truly is overwhelming. Do you see that first picture of the aerial shot?? Over 5000 vendors from all over the country come and set up during the week long event.  It is held in May, July, and September.  Designers come to Brimfield to find items for their stores like Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren.  You will totally see why.  Gorgeous pieces everywhere! Also set producers from movies have been known to frequent Brimfield looking for one of a kinds as well.  Most everyone you meet is very friendly and welcoming and we talked to quite a few vendors who offered up some tips. 

 

1) If you go in May, DRESS IN LAYERS! The temperatures in Boston may not be what it is where you are traveling from (i.e. Me from VA!!) 

 

2) Some fields charge $5 to gain access. This is up to you if you want to pay this extra fee. The fee is usually not all day, or every day, just depends.  And there probably isn't any better treasure on the field that charges anyways... But what is $5 extra dollars if it leads you to a goldmine?

 

3) Always ask for a better deal! I already knew this one, but it's always good to reinforce. It can't hurt to ask right?! The worst they could say is no

 

4) Bring cash!!

 

5) Parking will cost you anywhere from $3 to $10. We rode into the middle of the show and parked smack in the middle. Write down or make a good mental note of where you parked. Find good reference points b/c you will get turned around often.

 

6) Food vendors are in the middle of show area. Lots of options, including some homemade donuts. yum!

 

7) Lastly, if you see something you like, pick it up! or someone else might! If you want to "think about it and come back"...good luck! The place is so massive, you may not ever find that booth again.

 

Okay, on to a few pictures...

Lauren has a nautical theme going on in her room, so we stopped off at this nautical vendor.  He had everything you could imagine from these rings, to decoys, to buoys, nets, etc.  AHOY!

 

There is also a great deal of shall we say "interesting" things for sale... take these zinc alphabet letters complete with a antique doll head!  What room doesn't need one of these? ha

 

I'll finish up with some of the treasures that I scored!

 

 Hats off to Lauren for finding this beautiful brass and glass trinket holder. The top is hinged and opens up. I have this beside my bedside for now.

 

 

 

 

I found the gold faux bamboo display holder at one booth where the vendor wanted $10... I eventually talked him down to $5.

Then later I came across this old brass picture frame... hold the phone! do you see that greek key detailing in the corners?! I had to have it! I paid a little more than I wanted to at $20, but a vintage brass frame with greek key detailing? I couldn't say no.

 

I also found a huge 3 foot faux bamboo metal tray. 

 Here it is on the floor next to Tessa for scale.

I really loved it's size and color and the fact that it was faux bamboo.  Getting this on the plane back home with me proved a tricky feat. Lauren ended up mailing it to me later on which also proved to be a hard task due to its size.  So that is another thing to consider if you are traveling. Can you fit it in your luggage, or are you willing to pay the shipping costs?



 

And finally the "Pièce de résistance" I brought home with me...

 

 

A antique brass globe that... drum roll please... is a vintage cigarette holder! So awesome! I loved the fact that it was a globe and brass but to discover it's real use makes it that much more of a conversational piece on the coffee table.  Only $25!  The vendor was so nice at this booth and really took pride in the pieces that he had collected and it showed.

 

We both had a blast at Brimfield and I would definitely go back. We were exhausted after walking over 6 hours straight that day but it was worth it! Now I get to enjoy my treasures!

 

 



A Jewel of a Stool

I posted earlier about my craft-office-closet transformation here. I needed a place to sit my derriere while I enjoyed my new happy place so I scrounged around the house for something I could repurpose.  I had this rusty stool in the garage that I bought a few years back.

 

 

Nothing a little gold spray paint can't help!

 I used Rustoleum's Gold spray paint.

 I used painter's tape to create a geometric design and then used white paint to fill it in.

 

It was pretty simple!  Once it dried, I took it upstairs and put it in its rightful spot!

 

I think it was a success and didn't cost me a dime either! Now that's a Jewel of a Stool!



Creating my happy place for next to nothing

I have been wanting to have a place that I can call my own.  A happy place that is filled with my wrapping supplies, paint, sewing projects, etc.  I don't need a large space or a room dedicated to it, and I contemplated using part of a room, or even a spot in the master bedroom, and then it dawned on me!  We have a narrow walk-in closet in the back room upstairs that just had some junk thrown in it.  The space is long enough for me to lay down in it, but not wide enough for me to stretch out my arms or anything.  Here are some pictures of the BEFORE...

 

I then decided it would be perfect to add a "countertop" or "desk" in the space and for it to fit on top of the bottom "ledge" that already existed.  This can be cut at any local home depot or Lowe's.

 

I painted the walls with left over paint from my downstairs living room in Benjamin Moore's Owl Gray and the wood trim white.

 

 

I built this simple Martha Stewart bookcase to house all of my miscellaneous items from tissue paper, gift bags, cards, paint supplies, boxes, etc. Oh and I'm loving that window in my new closet-craft-office! Not so claustrophobic after all.

 

Here are a few pics of the AFTER...

 

I wallpapered the back wall with a cute dragonfly print I found on Etsy. The framed print is also from Etsy from Elizabeth Mayville.  I went to Home Depot and had a 3/4" dowel cut to the length I needed to stretch the width of the closet and now my ribbon is very accessible!  I  love that I can store my sewing machine at arms reach and easily grab it when needed.  (I'm still debating what to do with the actual rod at the top. Cover in dragonfly print or paint white? What do you think?)

 

I researched a couple ideas on Pinterest to get my creative juices flowing. I loved the idea of storing my colorful wrapping paper all together where it could be seen and easily accessed.  This was also done by using a pre-cut dowel from Home Depot and old curtain rod brackets.  Homegoods came through with the pretty grayish baskets on the top shelf.  This is where all of my sewing fabric is stored.

 

Here is a view from outside the closet.  It truly is just a closet!! Do you love that gold stool? I worked on that last weekend...you can view that tutorial here.  The whole closet transformation was pretty cheap. $35 for bookcase, $3 for dowels, $15 for wallpaper, $20 for framed print, $25 for baskets, and the rest was leftovers from other projects.

 

One more Before and After recap:

 

 

 

Now I can wrap a present, sketch a picture, dabble in my water colors or just admire the fall weather out my window!  The next closet transformation awaits me....