Funky Junk Interiors: January 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

My own Blissdom weekend... at home

This past weekend my son went to his dad's, so I was free and clear to roam wherever the wind blew me.

It actually started off a little blue. I was watching twitter and blogland with all the Blissdom updates and I nearly ran to the airport, taking a nosedive into a closing door heading to Nashville! As I knew that wouldn't go over too well, I set out to create a little bliss of my own.

After I dropped my son off, I decided to start things off with a fancy coffee and a stroll through our local Homesense.

I didn't desire a THING, but my coffee wasn't done yet, so I edged my way into the clothes section. As my eyes glazed over with immediate boredom, I glanced at something cute. "Huh... bet I could have worn that at Blissdom." (let it go already! enjoy! go on! you can do it!)

Now know, I rarely if ever clothes shop. If I had been booked for Blissdom, I would have been in mad freak out mode on this very issue.

Well, I had to try that cute thing on. And right on schedule, it didn't fly.

BUT... I had noticed some clearance racks that called my name instead.

Which lead me to a trying on FRENZY. The buggy was heaped like a plaid shirt mountain! KIDDING. I shopped for real women's non plaid things this round. :)

As it turns out, it appears it's more fun to clothes shop if the need isn't MANDATORY. Who knew.

And so I bought some stuff! Me! New clothes!

Now please note, this will NEVER be a clothes blog, deal? This is a once in a blue moon happening here. Which makes this incredibly newsworthy.

So.. wanna see?!?

Check out these deals!!

p.s. I only buy if I LIKE the item, regardless of price, but what sweet prices!

Black fur lined vinyl jacket - $20!

Scarf - $10

Jeans - $10

My gosh... thrift store prices for brand new stuff!!

Cute aviator fur lined vinyl jacket - $45

Roots scarf - $15

A little more $$, but I REALLY LOVED these.

Funkalicious 100% cotton hoodie - $16

Yum!! Love the fun print for something different! Ok ok... ABIT of plaid is ok, right?

Ah yes... let's try it on now shall we?

Sleek black goes with all. Especially my toys. :)

Ohhhhh this one's soooo cozy! I wore it to church today. :)

Here's a lens flare effect from Photoshop Elements. Fun!

Super duper warm scarf! Blue-red tone too. :)

Gotta getta hoodie. It's a Canadian law. :)

I feel like a reel gurl again!

"Ok, I'm ready for Blissdom! See ya down there this upcoming weekend? Anyone?!?"

*weep*

I also took in a romantic comedy at the theatre this weekend all by my lonesome too. So I guess you could say I created my own personal Blissdom right at home. :)

Now, just so you know, I don't endorse shopping when you're in mental anguish! That can get you in alot of trouble. I needed clothes very badly so it was a complete fluke this worked out, for things I liked and at rock bottom prices.

Or was it...seems like it was meant to be to me... been meaning to polish up my act for some time now. Is something in the air I don't yet know about? What's He up to now? Hmm....

Time to build me a closet for my new duds! Stay tuned. :)

The point of this post?

Sometimes we need a little DIY love on ourselves. Take the time next time you're out and about. You're worth it too.

So... clothes shopping.. Love? Hate?

Ever take the time for a ME weekend? What did you do?

Did you pine for Blissdom too? :)

Copy Me will be announced soon!

Watch Facebook updates and changes to the TOP of this post.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Sat Nite Special #67 brings you - centerpieces!

Welcome to Saturday Nite Special #67, the 'centerpiece' edition!

If you're new here, join in! There are three categories to link to. Home Decor as well as Crafts, Sewing, Recipes, plus the 3rd themed link up which stays open indefinitely. Check below for this weekend's theme.

Party starts Fri night and ends Sunday 11pm pacific, so you have all weekend to join!

I LOVE to highlight inspiring posts during the event on the sidebar, so make sure you check in several times over the weekend. You may be next. :)

this weekend's theme

~ centerpieces ~

I don't have a kitchen table, so it was abit of a challenge for me to sell you on the topic of centerpieces. :)

So, I set up shop in office #1. My farm table is finally in place and I was able to play with all my stuff nearby! Yay!

It's my belief ANYTHING can work in a centerpiece. I especially like those that have trays, dishes, handles, or any kind of platform underneath so they're easily removed when you need the entire table.

I wouldn't hesitate to display my favorite treasures on my own table. :)

Have a pretty table you don't wish to hide?

How about defining your area with an empty picture frame?

Nothing shouts spring like snowdrops and clay pots! Simple, pretty, and super easy to remove at a moment's notice.

Since I don't have that kitchen table, this is where mine sits.

Here are a few others I've done not long ago...

A simple tool tote makes an awesome centerpiece.

And my coke crate sat on my kitchen island during Christmas. Cute AND handy!

And then there's my tray which can go virtually anywhere with anything on it.

So there's my off the wall take on centerpieces. Can't wait to see your variations in this weekend's 3rd themed linkup!

What's your fav thing to use in centerpieces?

~ next up ~

chandeliers

then...

bulletin boards
slip covers

Be sure to check the themed linkups master list to add your newest creations anytime. They're always open. List HERE.

~ SNS blah blah linkup rules ~

1. Please link up your intended post, NOT your blog homepage url. (post, then click the title of your post, then cut and paste that url) If your post has been deleted, please try again.

2. Please put a link in your post (button or text) that leads back to the party so others can see what's up. (see BUTTONS label under main blog header)

3. This party is geared for DIY type projects we can all attempt to make ourselves. Items for sale may be linked up IF your entry is posted on your blog and in tutorial style.

4. For Home Decor and Crafts, Sewing, Cooking, please link projects up that are new to SNS and/or within 1 month old. This helps keep content fresh.

The 3rd weekly themed link may have older posts and not brand new to SNS and will remain open for your new additions at any time. Click HERE for the main list.

If you can't decide which category to enter yours in, please just pick ONE and go with it. It's all good!

Giving away GOOD stuff to good folks

I had a goofy experience with Craigslist.

I had an armoire for sale and had some folks come to take a peek. I spent the entire day before cleaning my house for the viewing.

Did they take it? No.

And then the email requests for viewing grew. BUT most wanted to just take a peek first round, then come back at a later date.

Um... do you know how much work it is to clean your house at just the right time? And set up appointments to be home for all these viewings?!? I therefore ignored the requests and resolved to just FIND someone that wanted it. End the grief of selling.

Which leads to my next point.

If you're wondering where all my new creation reveals have gone lately, I made myself a deal.

First I had to get rid of stuff to make room for new cool stuff. You see, collectors accumulate...

GONE.

Yesterday, I gave away this awesome 'as new' entire desk set to a local organization that really needed it. They picked it up in one fell swoop in a big 'ol truck nearly instantly! My kinda purging. :) Craiglisting this lot would have created a fiasco. Breaking up the lot... umpteen visits.. forget that!

They also took a brand new bristile board dart board I still had in the box. Apparently theirs was badly water damaged and they play darts daily and were at abit of a loss as they rely on donations. I LOVE stories like that!

Know what absolutely stunned me the most? Apparently they aren't use to getting 'good' stuff as donations. Much of what they get goes straight into the dumpster. I hope I set a new trend. Give some good stuff away, not just your junk. The goodwill gesture WILL come back to you. You just wait.

You see, these fellas helped paint my exterior house trim. For free. I was thrilled to finally have found a helpful way to give back.

GOING.

And they're willing to take this armoire currently located in my son's room next, as soon as I get it ready! YESyesyes!!

First I have to undo that tray I just made out of one of the doors. Whoops... I knew I didn't paint it for a good reason. :)

GONE.

This armoire went to some neighbors that desired something larger to house a TV in. I'm soooo glad I didn't sell it and gave it to them instead.

And here's the goodwill part. They ended up giving something back that I couldn't do myself...

NEARLY ALL GONE.

They helped lug that mammoth TV into the back of my truck to bring it to recycling, brought down a beat up twin bed which I took to the dump just yesterday, (tried to give it away, no one would take it!) AND....

And they helped me move my farm table into it's final resting home, my new craft/photography room! Check it out.. I was playing with 'centerpieces' for SNS this weekend!

Yeah yeah... that floor jumble will be on floor to ceiling shelves in no time. Baby steps here... :)

The point of this post?

Consider giving good stuff away rather than Craiglisting it. Not only is the move instant gratification on your part, you're helping others that may need it, PLUS only good will come your way due to it somewhere along the line.

Trust me. Every time I do a goodwill gesture, I get back 10 fold.

Update: I already received one good deed just a moment ago. The garbage man picked up ALL my garbage I left at the curb. I ran out of overload tickets and decided to try anyway. It's all gone! Bless that man's heart...

What do you do with the stuff you no longer want?

Prefer to throw away or give away?

Have good experiences with Craigslist?

Linkin' up! Moving this stuff was WAY long overdue!

Other stuff:

See you tonite at SNS! And bring your centerpieces along. :)

DINGDINGDINGDING!

As for the Copy Me challenge? Lucky duck Miss Mustard Seed is busy at Blissdom so we will announce the party date once she arrives home.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Old signs are definitely (one of) 'my things'

I told myself I was going to stay off the computer and get some stuff done.

So I made an attempt. I had a stack of new magazines I hadn't yet touched, so when it was reading time for my son, we sat together flipping our own desired pages.

So, I'm going to blame this computer hack sign attack on the magazines.

"Son, did you see this wall?!? Your room needs this wall!"

It was like a reincarnation of Saturday mornings with SNS.

I can only read so much, then I have to get up and DO something.

Vintage sign inspiration drives me absolutely mad. MAD. That's a good mad.

You see, in the magazine, I came across one tiny picture of a sign. And my brain lit up like a Christmas tree on a shorted out blinker. That had me bolting for google.

This one would remind me to not only eat, but to COOK. Eh... EAT is out. But it sure is cool.

I can vision 101 different things to do with these and places to put them. Here's my dream barn storage btw.

furniture source

And things to make out of them.

Miss Mustard Seed, please come sew for me... I'll loan you my nicest farmer jacket to stay warm in and buy you a boatload of Diet Dr. Pepper and promise to NOT sing you show tunes. Trust me, it wouldn't be pretty.

What's that? You're making a slipcover tutorial in my honor? Does it come with someone to show me HOW to follow a slipcover tutorial? Something to think about maybe, eh?

I think this sign needs a sprawling tree underneath it with garbage strewn around. You know.. tornado alley like.

These are house numbers.... I'd wallpaper a table top with them. But my son would be much more creative and flash these at me, giving me limits on how soon he needed to EAT.

Wonder if they're ripping down or putting up? I say, leave them up and keep going! But if you're taking down, sending to Canada isn't THAT big of a deal.

This coke sign needs to be my new office desk top.

One day I'm going to paint a real vintage looking mural on a brick wall. Guess I'd better stock up on a couple bricks...

I'm glad our road signs are all new like because if I lived here, I'd be in daily car accidents.

"I'll take 5 of everything, please. No need for a bag. Just a U-Haul. Do you carry barn storage kits too?"

"I know whatchoo need! I take you!" (name that movie)

Michael Wurm! Here's an egg sign for your chalk wall! :)

Wasn't that a fantastical tour?!?

I didn't capture the sources to most of these. I found them at random on google. If one of them was yours, please let me know which one and I'll link back to you! Sorry, I was just in a flat out frenzy.

So now you know. There's a reason my stairs look the way they do. Vintage signs and beat up labeled crates and such are my passion.

Other sign related posts of mine...