old style wooden hangers - especially the pants hangers
wooden shoe shoe forms
aprons
old tin bread box (roll top style)
cake stands
tiered basket stand/tiered plate stand
ball fringe & other tassels/trims
old costume jewelry
old wire fence/gates
old keys
old postcards and paper goods
old salt pepper shakers
ornate picture frames
old muffin tins
old, sweet bird figurines
old buckles
interesting old wallpaper
more to come….
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And in case you’re interested, here’s my personal dna report….
What are you?!
Peace -
First, I made out at a new thrift store that I stumbled on to. They have a different section half off each day! I will definitely be making regular stops there. I spent just under $18 (not including the kid’s thing) today and here’s what I hauled home (minus the cat - he already lives here!):
4 white sheer curtain panels (to make a skirt to go around my work table and “hide” some of my stash) - adding white lights and crystal garland to make it pretty & girly (ala Rebecca Sower) .99 cents each, a very pretty mirror cut into an interesting shape - also only .99 cents….some cut crystal items - dessert cup, creamer/pitcher and large pedestal bowl… 3 old bottles, a wood pedestal candlestick, metal filigree picture frame, an Italian white decorative plate, a little brown curio shelf (to be repainted), an old book on etiquette, a pretty pink cup and saucer (English bone china) and 2 spools of ribbon. And yes, I did leave some things to buy next time. When they are half off!
Spent a little time at another thrift store where nothing ever goes on sale and it’s cluttered as all get-up…occassionally you can find a bargain…like one time I found a Longaberger spring basket there for $1.95! Today, I found a set of K’nex blocks/pieces for Adam for $4.95. Not a great price, but not bad either. He loves them and they use them in middle school. and oddly enough, I found a little girl’s baton…a real one (solid, weighted & balanced) for $1.50. Had to buy it, just for nostalgia’s sake. And because it feels good to twirl it between my fingers.
Last night was Bunco night, we get together and play once a month. This is a relatively new activity for me, but I’m really enjoying it. Not just the game itself…though it is fun…but hanging out with the girls. I think I talked about this on my other blog…but having girl friends is a relatively new thing for me. I mean, I’ve had friends, but never any real time to just hang out with them and do things with. That time was usually taken up by the relationship I was in…you know the kind where you spend nearly every waking hour with a guy because he “can’t stand to be without you” (or really he has trust issues because his ex-wife cheated on him anytime she was out of his sight!). Anyway, I’m really loving it and truly appreciate having girlfriends. Bunco is a lot like Bingo in that when you play for money you always hope to win the big pot or at least your money back…but really spending time laughing and sharing good times is what it’s really about! Tonight I was blessed by winning $$ for the most Bunco’s, I won a door prize (Hershey’s Kiss chocolate fondue pot!) and got to hang out with some neat ladies.
Afterwards, I went over to my friend Chryssy’s to see their new house - adorable! They’ve done so much to it to get it how they want it. It has so much personality! Glad to see them in their own place. Love that girl!
Off to the grocery store…though I feel a rant coming on. This time over myspace IM’s where kids think they can say whatever they want regardless of whoever’s on the other end!
Looking for deals on:
milk glass jars/bottles
interesting clear/light colored bottles
wood porch rail turnings
old multi-pane windows
chicken wire or similar old/interesting wire patterns
old enamelware (cups, pots, bowls, etc.)
interesting/old chandelier style light fixtures
wire birdcages
old suitcases (especially the smaller train cases)
dress forms (yes - looking out for you Jenny!)
old/interesting picture frames
old/interesting shaped mirrors
old/interesting dresser/side table/desk on the smallish side
buttons, lace, seam binding/ribbon…especially buttons (my weakness!)
old chandelier crystals (real, not acrylic)
interesting drawer pulls and other hardware
power tools: circular saw (maybe a jigsaw too), sander, drill (boy, won’t my neighbors love me! I live in an apartment!)
Wish me luck!
And the show Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel. Jenny got me hooked on it when I was up in Maine…watched one show, okay that was interesting. Next day there was a marathon - it was on all day…and that reeled me in. Here’s the link: http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/deadliestcatch/deadliestcatch.html And I hear Jonathan from the Time Bandit is single! Umm, yeah…sure Jenny…I’ll just let him know I’m here in FL when he needs a warm weather vacation. Have him ship the Harley down and we’ll cruise the beaches. You know, she did send me the link to his myspace site….
Peace…
Did you hear those brakes? Man…I think I left tire marks on the road. Okay, this one I’m blaming on my sister Diane. Beading, revisited! Yes, oh yes… and fortunately (or not, depends on your view) I have most all of my beading supplies here, not stored out in KC. Gasp. It’s true. And it’s one of the more portable hobbies that I’ve taken up over the years (which is why it’s here - yippee!). And I know, it must not be too consuming of a hobby if I still consider my beading stash “portable”. I just don’t hoard them like my other supplies because they can be expensive…okay, they are expensive. The ones I buy are anyway. I prefer to work mainly with sterling silver and Swavorski crystals or real gemstones. Um, yes, spoiled…but it’s not my fault! Anyway, back to blaming my sister… well, at Father’s Day lunch yesterday she had to show us this really sweet 3D beaded heart pendant she made. Yes, she took a beading class and made it with her own 2 hands (not being mean, she just doesn’t consider herself crafty…I beg to differ and this proves I was right!). It is adorable! She’s going to scan and send me the directions but since I’m not a very patient person (just being honest here - it’s true, I was actually born 8 weeks early or something like that)…I Google’d it. My favorite thing to do…I *heart* Google (and Wikipedia). Found some directions with 35 steps - all written, NO photos! Eeek! That sounds like a lot, but Diane did say it was complicated. I’m going to print it out and play with it…until she sends me her instructions! Here’s what the sample looks like that goes with the directions:
Mine will have a sterling silver bail (the thing that it attaches it to the sterling silver chain rather than the seed beads used here) and it will be made with Tanzanite beads. Here is what that stone looks like:
Lovely, don’t you think?! Ah, one last time out with the puppy (who chewed up an oven mitt today) then I’m off to bed.
Thanks Diane!! Love ya…really.
Peace….
Spent time with my family today, celebrating the day. Made some good memories just sitting around the table chatting, eating, laughing.
(Me, my Dad and my sister Diane)
Tried to wish all the “dad’s” in my life….my dad, granddads, brothers-in-law, brother, and my guy friends who are dad’s… a great day. Love catching up with my guy friends. So different that relating with my girlfriends.
Took Copper to the dog park for a couple hours. I’m sure dog parks are a relatively new thing…what a cool idea.
Nice, nice people. And canines. 
I really never thought of myself as a “dog person” until we got Copper. As an adult we’ve always had cats, which are great, but a dog is so different. Copper is always excited to see me…whether I’ve been out of his sight for 8 hours or 8 minutes. Greets me with a wet nose and wagging tale…how can that not make you happy?! He’s not perfect, he is still a puppy - chewed up my 1 gig memory card last night while I was on the phone - but I still adore him. Big brown eyes, velvet soft ears. Love seeing him running around with the other dogs, wagging his tail, tongue hanging out! And sniff, sniff, sniff. Wore him out today though:
And with that, my friends…sweet dreams! Back to work tomorrow…and it starts all over again!!
Shabby Chic…Vintage…Farmhouse. I’m so loving it lately. I’m ready to paint everything white, distress it and add some aqua, pink or red to it! LOL. Seriously. Today, I picked up “Autumn Leaves Presents The Foof-A-Life” - new idea book featuring the Foof-a-la line from Teresa McFayden. Lovely. Not for everybody, and certainly not everything was a must-do, but the elements in each of the projects were hitting me just right today. Old buttons, touches of bling, muted colors, distressing, black & white or sepia toned photos. Pretty stuff - just because. Time to get all that out and use it, display it…stop saving it for “good” or “someday”. Y’know?
Picked up some things for a couple big projects today. Big, meaning it’s going to take many steps and several days of drying time with numerous design decisions. One I can’t share because it’s a gift and the other I can/will because it’s for me. Once I get the kinks ironed out on mine, then I may make more…we’ll see! Okay. Backstory: I’ve wanted a cake stand for some time now. Just wasn’t a priority though and couldn’t find the perfect one. Oh, and it had to be the right price! Which for me means cheap…a bargain…like a yard sale find of the month! (why limit yourself to only having a “find of the year”? what do you get for your effort the rest of the time?!) Anyway…it has to be white, scallopy & on the feminine side. Yes, I plan on serving the boys their birthday cakes with it, but it is mine, so it can be girly if that’s what I want. Still with me? Good. I’ve seen some nice ones, tempting though they were, they missed on one thing or another. So…today while I was out shopping for the elements of the “unmentionable project”, it hit me…use some of the same elements and MAKE one. Oh yeah!! Right up my alley. So, here’s the breakdown on cost:
Wood fence post finial $2.97, 11″ wooded clock face on clearance for $4.99, 5″ wood circle for base, 2 wood screws $1 and a screw sleeve .85 and a .99 coke for my help to drill the pilot hole and put it together according to my directions.
Together, they make a pretty unique cake stand! I have to paint, decopauge and embellish it, but it has “great bones”…and can be modified & changed whenever I want. By the way, the hardware store has 2 other finial designs…so I’ll be making a couple more…to stack and use for cupcakes or treats. Or whatever moves me. Maybe just to put up some of my bottles of glitter, buttons, paints, etc. and keep them handy.
Photo to follow! Wish me luck finding the old camera…and that it still works! Hugs…
All naked & pretty (the base circle in this photo is 4″, I’ve since switched it out for a 5″ circle - more stable & balanced):
Want to guess what I’ve been collecting? Hint: they’re in the background!
…the usual Saturday fare…grocery store, laundry, cleaning and watching the Food Network. Good feeling getting things done and caught up. Chili’s on the stove for later. T is up and on his way out the door. Still trying to get A out of bed. He needs to get his room pulled together - I just got him 2 sets of shelves to help him get organized. And he needs to do his chores. Hoping to get the van cleaned out today, then I’m going to call it good and play the rest of the day.
Stopped at one of the many thrift stores in the area and found a chandelier with possibilities. No idea of it’s working condition, but I’m fairly certain I can rewire it if necessary…and probably will for safety reasons. It has 5 arms, hung from the ceiling style, and is bronze color…has some pretty designs to it and I think it’ll look great painted white with some crystal drops. Shabby chic beauty. I’ll share the before & after. I love projects like this!
Filming today. I didn’t get a confirmation with the SB store owner re: Donna Downey’s visit, so I’ll just do some mini segments from home today. Quick 5 minute how-to’s. Or maybe a full project. I have plenty of tape and the camera until Tuesday.
Time to fetch my whites from the dryer! Catch you later!
S
