Dresser Transformation.

Wow, I kind of forgot about this blog, but since its had 2,000 hits this month, I'll do an update. We picked up this dresser at a local thrift store for $100. More than I usually spend, but it is very well made and has great lines. We painted it charcoal grey and put it in our dining room, and I think it is perfect.

Deal Of The Century.

There is a Hospice thrift store here, that gets entire estates in and has a sale one weekend a month. After a while, what ever hasn't sold gets marked to 50% off, which is how we came to get this antique cherry dining table with 3 leaves, and six chairs, for $100. I still can't believe it.

My $150 Sofa.

Because of my MCS, I can't buy new furniture, and even have to be careful of used items that I buy. I have been in desperate need of a, "new," sofa, as my 1988 hand me down, Ethan Allen couch is worn out. I've been searching for something for a couple of years. I wanted to keep a pretty basic shape that I could easily make slipcovers for, and would still look current 5 years from now. Last week my husband took me th the Salvation Army to look at a dining set, and while that didn't work out, I did find a sofa...another Ethan Allen, very similar in shape to my worn out model. Now all I need to do is get some drop cloths from Home Depot to make slipcovers for it.

Bottle Drying Rack.

I've been wanting a vintage french wine bottle drying rack for years and years... way back before they became popular. I always kept my eyes open at thrift stores and garage sales, but never came across one, and at $300+ on ebay, I just figured I'd never own one. Look what I bought at my first auction in N.C. Its a bit larger than a wine bottle drying rack, maybe for milk bottles? I'm thrilled with it, but am still keeping my eyes open for a smaller version.

What a Beauty!

Yes it's been a long time since I posted here. I lived for a year in an area devoid of thrift stores, and garage sales...it was quite depressing. I'm now in beautiful Asheville, NC, which is full of thrift shops. garage sales and auctions. My first foray into garage sale-ing here, led me to this beauty which I didn't buy at first. It was a bit too pricey so I left the sale, but couldn't stop thinking about it. An hour and a half later I went back, and the bird cage was amazingly still there. I offered $20 for it, and the seller accepted.

When I got it home I saw that it had the name, "Hendricks," on it, and after a little research, discovered its quite collectable and sells for over $100 on Etsy!

Goodwill Outfit.

Gray/Brown Talbots linen dress. $5
Silver mesh vintage belt. $1.50
Brand new brown, heeled sandals. $3

Love the details on this dress.

Pier One Bookcase

It had a price tag of $20, my husband offered $15 and the sellers said, "Sure!"
I love it.

Estate Sale Leftovers

I work with a woman who along with her husband have a business buying up entire estates. Every now and then she has a garage sale to clear out her inventory and this past Saturday she had a sale. Look at the beautiful things I purchased!

Score!

A box of hot press type! Now if I just had a letterpress.

Starbucks Christmas Tree

I've been finding lots of great stuff lately, but have been very lazy about blogging it. This awesome Christmas tree was part of a Starbucks seasonal decor a couple of years ago. I picked it up at a garage sale for $5. The part that blows my mind is, it was the second day of the sale and nobody had bought the tree yet.

Drop Leaf Tables.

I love drop leaf tables and their space saving convenience, but they are a rare find at thrift stores and garage sales. Fifteen years ago my husband purchased one for me at an antique mall and I couldn't imagine ever not loving it. Well that day has come. Its too ornate for me now with its turned legs; my style is much more stream lined now.



(My table is very similar to this one.)

I have been looking at getting a new drop leaf table at CSN. They have over 100 options, which could be overwhelming except that they have a great sidebar feature where you can narrow your results by style, finish, material, etc. My two favorites are the Carolina Cottage, and the TMS Cottage Drop Leaf Dining Table. What do yo think?

Christmas Presents.

My granddaughters will be 2 and 4 come Christmas and I think they are going to love these Barbies. I love the price, $15 for both.

Oh. My. Goodness.

I got a call from my mom the other day as she was shopping at her Goodwill store. She had been looking for forks for her neighborhood club house and found a big under the bed bin full of junk and pieces of silverware. She started pulling out all the forks with other shoppers stopping to help her on her search. As she was going to the cashier to pay for the pieces, she looked at the back and saw that they were sterling silver. For .25 a piece. She called to ask me if she should go back and buy all the other pieces. I exclaimed yes! Its a good thing here hearing isn't what it used to be because I'm sure my enthusiasm would have damaged her hearing. She went back and pulled out all the other pieces she could find and came up with 3 complete place settings and some serving pieces, all for under $8. I went to Amazon and found that a four piece place setting sells for $458. This is her pattern, Joan of Ark, by International Silver. Isn't it gorgeous?

Magazines.

I found lots of bargains while out at yard sales this weekend, but still need to photograph my finds. Until then, check out this new, free online magazine, called Pure Green Living. Another online magazine I like is Lonny.
Its taken me awhile to get used to reading a magazine online, I'm a tactile person, but I do like that they are free!

New Shoes!

I have the hardest feet to fit. I'm an 81/2 narrow with a very high arch. Anytime I'm in a store I visit the shoe department and try on nearly every pair in my size, and then leave empty handed. Today while I was out at garage sales i hit the mother load. Two sisters were having a sale and they both wore the same size shoe, which happened to be my size. All the shoes are leather. ( I only wear leather.) They are in GREAT shape; the Talbots loafers have never even been worn. And I got them all for just $18. Wahoo!

Vintage Sheets

This isn't my home, but I wish it were! I'm going to keep a look out for vintage sheets and try to copy this fun look!

My $400 Dining Room Set.

That's what we paid for it second hand, nearly 15 years ago, and the set includes a table with 2 leaves, 6 chairs, a buffet and a china cabinet. As you can see, it looks pretty good, but...its not my style anymore.



I want to change my dining room to something more current and with cleaner lines; and yet I love this Paula Dean Round Pedestal Table, (Who knew Paula Dean had a line of furniture?) that I found on the fabulous CSN shopping site. (I've been searching Craigslist for ages with no luck.) I like the chairs that they've paired with it too, but wonder if these chairs would work as well, even thought they have very straight legs. What do you think?

Now that I'm a grandma, I want to be REALLY careful not to have a grandma looking home. Any suggestions on a dining set?

$5 Birdcage.

I was pretty excited when I found this. The top lifts off and the door opens. I was going to paint it, but the cream has started to grow on me and it works well with the picture frames.

Hot!

Because of the hot muggy weather here in Florida, garage sales are few and far between during the summer months. I was lucky to come across a sale a couple of weeks ago that had clothes in my size, and found this brand new Tommy Hilfiger skirt for $1!!
The shirt isn't garage sale, but I included it in the picture because I bought it on clearance for $8 at Express. I love the two pieces together.

And the Winner is...

Comment #5, Josh.



Email me your address and I'll get your CSN certificate to you.