Garden Art

Garden Art Projects

I saw these at a craft booth and knew that I could reproduce them. They sell for $25.00 each. My total cost was probably $7.00. They are made out of different size plates and a candle holder in the middle. A flat glass vase glued onto the back holds the stakes on. So far I have had very good luck with the E6000 glue. I did let them dry a week before I put them outside. Now this is my flower plate corner.

I just LOVE red geraniums. I planted them in this floral watering jug with stand that I found at the thrift store.

A close up of the bird feeder. I glued a medium sized plate onto an upside down milk glass vase and then glued a milk glass candle holder and spoon on top of those. Add some birdseed and Viola! Used the same E6000 glue. Another project under $6.00. I love it!

My daughter wanted me to make some pet rocks. She had never seen them before. So simple. Aren't they cute?

Well, this is just some of the stuff that has been keeping me busy. Hope you enjoy and make some for yourself.

I am joining up with:

http://nv-craftenvy.blogspot.com/
and

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Check them out. Great ideas!

Thrifty Finds - August

I can't believe I have not posted since June.  I could blame it on the weather, the kids being home for Summer, but that did not stop my thrifting. Here are a few pictures of some fun finds I have found. The vintage booth is still doing very well. Enough to pay the rent, plus an extra $75.00 to spend on new items. Pays for my habit. I actually like everything I buy, but the special things I keep. So as I see it, I am breaking even AND having fun.

Look at this CUTE set of darling geese or ducks measuring cups. I have never seen anything like these. This is a keeper.

I saw this chalk sketch print at the Spring thrift store, did not buy it, dreamed about it and then went back the next day to purchase it. It was 1/2 off and only $15.00. A bit pricey for me, but it spoke it me....It is of a lady from the 30's or 40's dressed up with a fancy hat on. It takes a bit to focus in on it.

This vintage beaded handbag was a find. Someone priced it at only $1.99. This was a keeper, as I collect vintage purses.

This item was a big mystery until we opened it. I saw it on eBay for $20.00.  I paid $2.50. Another 1/2 off sale. It is called an "Ingrid" picnic tote. Very mod looking. My daughter kept this one.

And....this adorable vintage Hello Kitty suitcase. It is purrfect inside. :) 

This is enough for now to catch up on. I will post some garden art that I made in my next post. Hope you are having as much fun thrifting as I am!

I am hooking up with Flea Market Finds over at Her Library Adventures

http://herlibraryadventures.blogspot.com/2011/08/flea-market-finds_14.html

and

Frugal Friday over at The Shabby Nest

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2011/08/frugal-friday_11.html

Check them out! Fun Finds!

Gilded Girls Stash Society

The "Where Women Create" blog is hosting a giveaway for one of Debbie and Shea's (The Gilded Girls Society) monthly "boxes of beautiful stuff". They will also be teaching at "The Creative Connection" in St.Paul in September. I wish I could go. It will be on my list for next year.

Check it out here:
http://www.wherewomencreate.com/2011/08/fabulous-friday-with-debbie-murray-and-shea-fragoso/#comment-25962
Amazing!

New Thrift Finds

Last week was a very good week for thrifting. :) See below:

I have always wanted one of these Hula lamps and today it was on the back table being priced and I saw it as I was checking out. I asked the owner if it was for sale and he said "Yes, I just brought it in this morning, because I have been working on it to get it dancing again, and now it works. I know these are expensive and I was kind of scared to know how much he wanted for it....$9.95! Can you believe that? Sold! I want to find like a burlap shade and put some fringe on the bottom of it. This is a keeper.

I also found this print. It reminds me of being in a house in the 60's. I looked it up on eBay and it has a sister that goes with it. This one is called "Summer Symphony".

I had never seen one of these before and the cashier told me it was an antique dress measuring ruler. 1/2 off...$3.00. Pretty cool.

These baby Christening dresses I could not leave behind. They were $3.00 each. One of them has the nicest lace all on the front on it.

I also picked up these cute little vintage pictures with Hull vases in them. 1/2 off sale that day....$3.00 for both.

I don't know what is wrong with Blogger, but I am having trouble typing between pictures. I also found another typewriter. $5.00. It sold the first week in my booth at "The Curiousty Shoppe".  I am still looking for my PINK typewriter. That one will be a keeper.

I will be linking up with the link parties on the right side of my blog. Hope you all are having great finds too! Thank you for the comments. I greatly appreciate them. :)

Some Updates....

Can you believe it is June 1st?!?  I have been spending some time getting my booth at "The Curiosity Shop" together. Here are some pics.

Before:

After:

Knock on wood....I have done pretty good. This is my second fill up.  I only buy items that I like and then I won't be out the money if they don't sell.   This is more of a hobby than a money maker for me. It does help support the thrifting bug though for the items I keep. :)

and a little crafting  with my gardening going on...found this wire framed planter for $15.00 at a used furniture store and I saw a vision for it.....

Before:

After:

I added a few plates that I picked up for $4.00 for a  total cost of project $19.00. I love how it came out.

Here are a few extra garden pictures that I took this morning. Everything is just now starting to bloom. Late Spring for us here in Florida.

Well that is all for now on this beautiful day....June 1st.  I have to take my daughter to some appointments today over in St.Petersburg and fortunately, one of them is on "THRIFTING ALLEY"! There must be 8 shops in the area. So....even though she waits in the car while I go in with her deep SIGH...I will hit a few. Do you get the SIGH from your peeps?

I will be linking up with some of the link parties over to the right on my blog. Have a happy week! :)

Busy Bee Buzz

This is a picture of my oldest daughter Amy.

The past two days, I have had to help her move in to a new house with 4 other girls. Ugh! Not that it is a bad thing, but it is over the bridge in St.Petersburg. About a 45 minute drive each way. I am tired.  However.....I did scope some thrift shops while over there. No pictures yet. She totaled her new car and until she can save enough for another car, I am toting her around. Get my drift?

Other News:

 I found this fun blog that hosts a Thrifters Anonymous party every Monday. Here is the link: http://shanaandadam.blogspot.com/

You can also see her button on the side of my blog. Isn't it cute?

I did not think to add clothing to my blog. I have been wearing vintage and thrifted clothing since I was in my early 20's. I am going to start taking some pics of the outfits and add to her blog and mine. My best buy once was 3 FULL garbage bags of cloths for $80.00!  Good shopping day I might say.

So....that is what is to come.

Have a GREAT 3 day weekend!

Time Flies....

I can't believe the month of May is almost gone. I started off really dedicated to this blog and have gotten just a little too busy. Now for the catch up.  My camera had died and luckily it was still under warrenty. I mailed it in and it was back within 1 week. That is what I call service...and a brand new camera at that. Canon. Remember the name.

Let's see....I have only thrifted once in 3 weeks and I found a WONDERFUL item. See below...

A turquoise typewriter! I have been wanting a pink one too. Now for a closeup....

Ahhhh Oooooooo and it was ONLY $12.50!

 I was cleaning out the garage this past weekend and found this box of craft items that I had picked up at an estate sale a few months back. I forgot it was out there. One can never have too many craft items. The sequins....I just want to roll around in them. :) $3.00 for the entire box. It also had a few Christmas items in it. It  also had this little deck of bird cards below: I guess I am to memorize the bird names (????).

Now for some crafting:

 I made a few of these chicken wire note frames. This one is still in progress. The one I made for my house is made with an old antique frame with lots of details on it. I am having to putty a corner of it where some of the detail fell off. Picture later to come.

                               ....and some decorating.

I ordered the birdcage on the right off of eBay. I've been looking for a metal vintage one for over a year and could not find one to finish this up. I am happy with it. This big blue cabinet is one of my craft supply cabinets. It is happily waiting in part of the living room until my daughter goes away to college next year. Then I will finally make myself a personal craft room. But then again....she will need somewhere to sleep on holidays. Maybe I will put a daybed in there also.

Well that is my update. Hope all of you are having fun in whatever you are doing.

Also....a BIG thank you to my new followers. Yeaaaaa! 

I will be linking up this week with a few of the link parties on the right side of my page. Check them out!

Making a Nest....

Here are a few newbies I found a few weeks ago that I have not added yet. These black iron owls were in a bag for $2.00. I figure I can hang them outside on the wood fence and hang flower baskets from them. Owls seem to be all the rage now and these look old.

I found this birdcage at my first stop and it was $5.00. A little high, but it is like $60.00 for a new one like it at Steinmart. It is pretty big too. I have it next to my blue craft cabinet and the colors match well together.

Found a few jewels. The lady said this plastic flower necklace was bakelight, but I don't think so, since it was only $1.00. :)  Still cute and it has PINK flowers!

That is it for this weeks gems. I love looking at yours!

I will be linking up with:

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ for "Frugal Friday"

http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/ for "Thrifty Things Friday"

http://apronthriftgirl.typepad.com/apron_thrift_girl/2011/05/thrift-share-monday-may-9.html for

"Thrift Share Monday"

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ for "Nifty Thrifty Tuesday"

I Won the Burlap Coffee Bags....

Thank you so much Patti. I will get real creative with these and do a follow up blog with the results. :)

Check out Patti's blog:

http://ppandorasbox.blogspot.com/2011/05/burlap-coffee-bag-winner.html

Burlap Coffee Bag Winner

Congrats to Amber Victorias Cottage - the winner of the Burlap Coffee Bags!

Thrifty Finds - Vintage

The title amuses me, since these are from January of this year. This being because my camera is broken right now and I recently found some REALLY nice finds that have been on my list for quite awhile that I would love to share, but will have to wait for now.

Anyway....these were from a VERY fun trip too. I will just pinpoint some of my favs...

I found 2 pieces of old luggage on this day. The red one was kind of pricey, but I talked the lady down to $12.00. It is in great condition and the inside is really pretty. The brown one was only $4.00. I had ordered some vintage "Florida" luggage decals and put those all over it. (There is a finished picture of it in my garage picture in one of my "A Photo a Day" pictures.) I also found this sweet lime green vintage clothes hamper. It matches the kids bathroom perfectly! It was only $4.00 at the Salvation Army.  I also bought the gold rimmed glasses. I forgot if it was 4 or 6, but they were only $1.99 for the set.  (It is late at night, not thinking clearly.)

Then I found this WONDERFUL frame. It just needed some love and wood glue. .50 cents! I also fell in love with this red framed mirror. I do not have anywhere to put it, but one day I will. It was only $5.00.  Living in Florida by the beach, you need at least 10 beach bags, right? This pink and orange plastic one was only $1.00. Too cute for the picture.

 I found these old prints at an antique store in N. Florida when I was on a scrapbook camping trip. A vintage tablecloth, other misc. linens and this item that gets the most questions asked about is the old red brick with 3 holes in it. I was buying it and the man asked why I wanted a red brick? It was .25 cents! I knew that I had these tiny candles at home that would fit into the holes and now I use it on my back porch at nighttime. He was so thrilled with that idea, that he ran over and got the last two. lol I should have snagged them. I have it on my list to look at Home Depot and see if they carry them.

Well those are my vintage finds I wanted to share with you.

I will be linking up with:

http://herlibraryadventures.blogspot.com/2011/05/flea-market-finds.html 

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/

http://apronthriftgirl.typepad.com/

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

This and That

I have been under the weather this week. Not accomplishing much of anything. Clothes are piling up....you know the story.

Also.....my camera broke yesterday! How can I blog and put pretty pictures in it?  I called Canon and they said I just need to mail it back to them and they will send me a brand new camera, since it is under 1 year old. Hurray! Great news!

So...I will be back soon with more crafts and thrift shop finds. Now I have time to get more items priced for the thrift booth. I need to learn to make it fun and not like work. Maybe I will skip while I do this. :)

Tales of having a Thrift Booth

This will be a new edition to my blog. I signed a month to month contract on Friday for a cute little booth at a place called "The Curiosity Shoppe", located here in Brandon, Florida. They are just opening up and only have about 1/4 of the booths rented. I have always wanted to do this, so why am I fretting over it now?

Questions to ponder: (I always overthink.)

1. Will this take the joy out of thrifting?
2. Will I be able to get rid of every item I buy, since I want everything I buy? you know the feeling....
3. Will I be able to make my $100 booth rental without losing money?
4. Will I price items correctly to sell? Not just to take up booth space.
5. Will larger items like furniture sell better?

....these are my concerns at the moment. I have boxes in my garge ready for me to start pricing the items. Here are a couple of pictures of my garage at the moment....

I will post some pictures later of my before and after booth. I have lots of ideas stirring....

Wish me luck. Let me know if you also have a booth and any words of wisdom. Thank you.

Things I Make

I was in one creative mood today. Which is a good thing. That is one of the reasons I thrift....to buy fun stuff to refab. So anyways.....I got out my spray paints and went to town.

First Project:  "Easter Tree"


First I went picking up sticks in the backyard. Spray painted them white and let them dry.


I purchased these tags off of eBay. If anyone is interested in purchasing any from the seller, let me know and I can find her store. They are soooo adorable!  Everything was purchased from a thrift store, accept for the tags.

I put some styrofoam....25 cents
in to the yellow pot that I had out back...free
Stuck the sticks in ....free
Added purple paper grass....50 cents
Added a bag of hanging glitter eggs... $1.00,
and lastly... I added the tags above...$4.00, but switched out the string for fibers and ribbon.
Total Cost: ....priceless......no, really  $5.75

This is the finished project.

 It makes me smile.

Second Project: "Paris Tealight Candle Lamp"

I spray painted this bronze tealight holder black.... thrift shop find....$1.00.  (Ignore red paint and cup holder for now.)

Let dry. I then added a tealight candle and this "Paris" light dome which was also a TF (Thrift Find)....$1.00.

Total project cost: $2.00!

Going in daughters black/white and pink bedroom.

Third Project: Cup/Bracelet "Whatever Holder"

See picture above for spray painting this wood cup holder red.....TF $2.00.

Add these vintage decals around the bottom of the cup holder....I have been collecting these decals for a few years. I would say they were .25 cents each.

Finished project.

Total project cost: $2.75.

Forth Project: "Cake Platter/Misc.Platter"

I used one of these egg cups....TF .25 cents and

this plate .....$1.00. (photo from Thrifty Finds from last weeks post.)

Centered the egg cup onto the bottom of the plate with "E600" glue. (The best glue!)

I have seen this project on another blog but I cannot think of the name at this moment....

Total Cost of Project: $1.25!

Going on shelf in china cabinet for now.

There you have it. My "Things I Make" for this week.

Hope you like them. :)

I will be linking up with the following: http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com/ for "It's a hodgepodge Friday"

and over at http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ for "Frugal Friday". Also on Saturday, check out http://nv-craftenvy.blogspot.com/ for "Saturday Spotlight Craft Envy".