Friday Finds

Hit one good sale today where I found most of this lot.

Some fun things in there

Need any 70s green drawer pulls???? I've got 20

I have a plan for those beads, hope it turns out.

And since we are using old soda bottles as wedding decor, I could not pass these 2 up. :)

Have a great weekend

Paris Trip Milestone

Today I picked up my Euros

Arent they pretty? They even match my new bag
Woo Hoo!!!! I wonder what fabulous junk they will buy????

20 days and counting

Time to Focus on Happier Events Coming Up

Goodbye Sweet Baby Girl

It's a sad but sure part of pet ownership. Saying goodbye.
Today I choose to remember when she was healthy, not the last few years of decline.
See you on the rainbow bridge...

Just stand at the gate and keep barking like you do, and St Peter is sure to let you in.

Thank you to everyone who has left comments. In my confusion, I accidentally deleted a couple of them, but I did read them first, I just hit the wrong button.

I appreciate your thoughts, it's hard to say goodbye but it was the right decision.
Margo

A Can of Spraypaint makes a Groovy Transformation

There once was a sad little lamp who's hayday was days past, and she was banished to a box in a garage. One day she was unpacked and put outside for awhile, and a nice lady picked her up. The nice lady tried to sell her, but nobody wanted her. So one day the nice lady decided to paint her shades a groovy mod green, and voila...

What was once old is new again.
*******************
Before

Here's hoping all your joys can be found as easily as a can of spray paint.

Getting ready for International Travel,

As my loyal readers know, I'm about to head to Paris in less than a month, for my first ever, out of the country trip. It's been almost a year in the planning and during that time, I've made lists, and plotted strategy for traveling. My first goal, load myself down with as little as possible.

Above you see part of my travel strategy. The converters are a must, and the luggage scale is, from what I hear, very very helpful, since there are luggage weight limits and I'll be loaded down with treasures coming home. But those are just the tools of the trade.

Do you see that notebook in the center next to the passport?

This is my secret weapon. Inspired by my Future DIL and her wedding lists. I've taken all my lists, itineraries, maps etc. Shrunk them down and glued them to the pages inside that little notebook
There will be no searching for the right sheet of paper while I'm out and about, It'll all be there in that notebook. And there is still plenty of room for notes etc.

It all fits in my super small travel purse designed for cross body protection from pick pockets.
My other secret weapon is my fab money bag apron that Karla made for me. I talk more about this fab bag here.

So that is my light weight organizational strategy, tune in next for my luggage/packing strategy.

Recent Finds

Folks are finally opening up their garage doors again and I was able to find a few fun things this past weekend. Above is an old dresser mirror frame, and a 3 part mirror (not part of the frame), Vintage Iron grate, Industrial letter tray and scale, retro cups and condiment set and some old paintbrushes.

Looks Like I went shopping in 1972 doesn't it. I love the colors in that afghan, The pattern on the pyrex and the top of the nut crusher (hard to see) and that little condiment set has the sweetest yellow pieces in it.

Love these 2 wool throws and they will be nice and cozy if it chills up again, or for next winter.
And another globe.



One Month till Paris!!!!!!!

Fun Project with old Photo Film Holders

Have you ever seen these before. They are old photo film holders. Each one is a wooden frame and these things slide in and out. When I got these at Last Year's junk bonanza I had an idea in mind, but it's only now that I'm actually getting to it.

I painted one side of the slide thing with chalk board paint to make it a chalk board and on another one I turned it into a photo frame. They have cute little stenciled numbers on them as well, which appeals to the typography buff in me. The wooden frames have a great patina that I just can't capture with my camera.

I played with the idea of selling them, but not any more. This was a fun and very very simple project. I love chalk board paint. I think we might find a use for these in the wedding decor, but I have to run that by the bride first;)

Speaking of Wedding, it's only a few weeks away and the projects are starting to come together. Can't wait to share it all with you.

Changing up the bed without breaking the bank

Lets talk about beds and bedding. I love a made bed and I love bedding, but it can be expensive to change it often... so my solution is this.

I use a neutral coverlet as my bed spread and then I dress it up with color through pillows and throws. The bedspread rarely changes, but the look of the bed changes quite a big. Below are some examples of a couple of beds in my house using this formula.

When we first moved into our home, I was in a primitive plaid phase. So in addition to the cream background coverlet I made the plaid shams and added a plaid dust ruffle. A bench with quilts and a basket rounded out this prim country look.


Moving ahead a few years and I had a desire for a change and some color. I first tried orange and multi with the pillow cases and shams, and colorful burlap coffee sack pillows. One of my old quilt projects finishes this look. But I'm still not happy, no problem, as I had not spent a lot of money.
But I was still going for a slightly more vintage modern look...
Then I found this pillow

And used it as my starting point in this direction

As you can see the cream coverlet never changed throughout and so my expense was minimized by changing only pillow covers and throws. Instead of buying expensive European pillow forms for the background pillows, I just put 2 standard sized pillows inside each sham.
I purchased the filler pillows at walmart for $2.50 ea.
So for now It's gray and green and I'm loving it.

*******************

I've done the the same thing in my guest room, which started out like this.

Not bad but lacking in color and I love color.

A couple of colorful pillows and a colorful quilt,
and with or without the grannie square afghan I recently found.
Well there you have it. Margo's formula for changing out the look of a bed without breaking the bank.


Never fear I'm always junking and on the hunt, but pickings have been slim and I've focused on some home projects, and getting read for my Son's wedding and my upcoming trip to Paris.
You can keep up with my new finds by browsing my Etsy store. New things added almost every day.

Orla Kiely coming to Bed Bath & Beyond...mixed feelings.

I read yesterday on Apartment Therapy that my Fav Designer, Orla Kiely, is coming out with a line of bedding that will be available in the states at Bed Bath & Beyond. My first reaction was elation "wow I'll be able to get me some Orla sheets, shams etc." But then I began to wonder...

If Orla's designs become too available at too good a price will it decrease the desirability of her designs? If Orla was a commonplace product on the shelves of say, walmart...would we love her as much?

I know she had a line a few years ago at Target and with the "limited edition, short time only" availability, it did not do her much damage, and even now you can find those Target items on Ebay for a truly "Orla" price.

I'm reminded of Warren Kimble. He is a folk artist who's prints were in high demand back in the 90's

I fell in love with the primitive aspect of all his art and began to use is in my decor. Then suddenly his stuff was everywhere. From greeting cards, to napkins, to wrapping paper. He saturated the market with his fabulous art and it died out in popularity. Now I see his prints at garage sales, and I just pass them by and think "how sad" that something I had loves so much is now passe'. (No offense intended), I just think he over saturated the market. I hope this is not what Orla is doing.

Nevertheless, I will be First in line for some true Orla bedding, and my calendar is marked for May to start looking. I just hope that she knows what she's doing. I'd hate for her beautiful designs to peak and then die out. I want Orla on the job for years to come.

Shoe Crafting

I really should be working on wedding projects, but...

What better to do with a pair of $18 Airwalks from Payless

Some glue and trims

Than to craft a fab pair of new shoes.

This Texan loves them.

I've seen this done to Tom's shoes, but I didn't want an expensive pair of Tom's to be ruined by a crafter who sometimes takes on more than she can chew. I'll see how these wear for awhile before tackling the Tom's.

Been Crafting

I got all creative with an old pair of jeans, and decided to Orla-ize them. Oh do you see that fabulous orla tote beside me??? Picked that up online a few weeks ago.
This is a pretty easy project, stitch witchery, scissors and some embroidery thread. Not to mention colorful fabrics. You could do this with any design.
And while I was at it, I decided to do this technique on an old messenger bag I had hanging around.

• 
• While Mr R was busy taking photos of my legs :) He snapped this one of some of my junk and I just loved it and wanted to share it with you.
  
• 
• Have a happy weekend.