Sunday, May 31, 2009

A recap of the after's from thrift store finds

Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick is having a
She wants us to spill the beans on what items we've decorated with from garage sales, thrifts, free, whatever. Yikes. How many days do you have?

Ladder - used goods store. Pedistal sink - free from a friend's barn.
Step ladder from a thrift. Now is a light holder for my island until the real deal light is installed. Then I get to invent a new use for it again!

An old sign scooped up from a local gas station boneyard which is now my headboard. Oh. Free.

$10 worth of matching pillows and / or cases from the thrift.

Lamp is a scoop from a local thrift. It had two strange finial things that stuck out like ears so a friend helped me grind them off. I've yet to paint the lamp. The lamp is too busy to be painted it seems.


Lattice piece from someone's front curb waiting for garbage pickup. I refabbed it to cover a phone cord. The SADY sign is an old original cow sign from my dad's farm.



A couple screens morphed into temporary curtains. But now I like them! So I have visions of painting them white and perhaps burlap in behind. I love how the light penetrates through them now so I don't want to diminish that aspect. But I'd like my boy to stop calling them the Japanese things, so they need a new look. Soon!




The black box is actually a trunk that I got from a closing out sale at a flower place. The woodsy box is from someone's curb. But they actually have a purpose other than adding funk to the room.


The black trunk turned over on it's end holds my stereo and woofer thing. The woodsy box holds two speakers stacked one on top of the other.





This is a little greenhouse I have out back. The wood I'm using to create a character building out of is from someone's fence on the way to a burn pile. I asked him to drop it off in my driveway instead so he did! This is how far I've gotten so far. The gate is from the dump that will hold up trailing flowers one day. (I asked if I could take it from a guy hucking it onto the pile. I have no shame) The small old window is from a friend that he took off an old barn himself, and the bigger window is from a thrift.



The door is made out of the same wood but turned on the other side so you see more greys. Also because on the right side there were vines STUCK to the wood I couldn't remove. It's freaky lookin' inside. Whatever. The door turned out cool...



Canning jar lid wreath for $1 from a garage sale. Yeah, it was already made up like that. All I did was pay the $1 and hang it up.




Metal stuff is cool in a garden. The square one is from a thrift. The can is what I found buried way back in a shed when I bought my place.



This adorable little birdhouse came with a post and was going to be burned. It was buried under all that fence wood that was delivered. I squealed when I saw it!

Oh my gosh. I feel like I should join a Junkaholics Anonymous group or something.

All the progress of these projects are on this blog so feel free to snoop around to spot more info on them.

I'm rather pleased at how I'm supporting the local thrifts which is always a good thing. Decorating on a budget has forced me to be ultra creative with used finds. And honestly, I go into Homesense now and walk right out thinking I can make that. Regular retail is such a thing of the past.

Simply buying isn't fun anymore. But buying to create most certainly is!

36 comments:

  1. Great post! Ha - I love it! Especially the part about retail being a thing of the past! I'd say you have definitely proven that! And by the way, your bathroom is absolutely adorable!! And the lattice to cover the phone cord is, well....genius! :)

    ~Karla @ It's The Little Things...

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  2. Love it all! Man sometimes I feel creative until I run into blogs like yours adn I realize I need some work on being more creative from the strat. I just try to steal other peoples ideas...sad!

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  3. I absolutely can't decide which one is the best. The jar lid wreath is so cute. Thanks for sharing your creative ideas.

    Charla

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  4. You are a genius!!! I love everything that you've featured in this post.

    Isn't it great to just walk out of a retail store, knowing that you can either make it or thrift it? It's an adrenaline rush.

    Great job!

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  5. Wow you really have some terrific stuff ! I love all your finds and how you remade them...Isn't this fun ?
    Hugs ~ Kammy

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  6. Just wanted to say- LOVE all of your fabulous finds! I want that headboard! and your greenhouse! And I love that you have no shame!

    XO
    SHS

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  7. Love love love your greenhouse! And the lattice piece!

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  8. So many great projects! I love the photo of the bed. The headboard is just amazing, and I love the idea of putting a tiny wreath in front of the pillows. A perfect touch!

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  9. I just want to take a tour of your place! You are an inspiration! I love the wreath, the birdhouse, and soon to be flower trellis! You did great!

    Blessings to you!

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  10. Really great showing of fabulous deals. I can't believe you got that Garage sign FREE. It is a dream find.Where ,oh where can I find something like that?!?!

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  11. I THINK YOU HAVE AMAZING TASTE. I WOULD LOVE TO GO THRIFTING WITH YOU ONE DAY!

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  12. Holy. Cow. You have got some good stuff!!! Saw your link over at Sarah's. :)

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  13. I LOVE all your treasures. The headboard is awesome. Creative displaying too.

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  14. You have great junk! I love the lid wreath and the old sign headboard.
    Cathy

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  15. I love the comment about buying to create. I am so down with that. It is so much more fun to create. I love all the wonderful ways you have used your "finds" to decorate. I especially love the ladder as a light holder. Super cool idea! Thanks for sharing all of your finds.
    Blessings.
    Traci

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  16. I do much better at the Flea Markets locally than I do at the thrifts, or garage sales, BUT you my dear have found the best loot ever! I think you could start a business and make loads of cash form those like me who are unlucky in their hunts.

    Love all your great finds, you sure know what to do with them!

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  17. oh my gosh you guys are sooooo lucky, i live in cairns australia and our "op shops" dont have half as good junk as you can get oh how i wish we could find great items like you do, i have found a few goodies over the yearsb but nothing compared to this post.

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  18. I have got to say you need your own show! You are inspiring me to go repurpose. Love all your funky ideas!

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  19. Oh my...what wonderful make-overs you've done and turned old things into function again! Love, love the old sign in the bedroom!
    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  20. I found your blog a few months ago and have just been absolutely obsessed with it. You have such amazing ideas and such a cute home! You have inspired me to change so much around my own home. Thank you for having such a GREAT blog.
    www.artworkbygina.blogspot.com

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  21. Are you KIDDING me with this?? I love that step ladder!! And that SIGN? Holy cow, you got that for free?? Do you know how much people pay for those?? I absolutely love all of it!

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  22. WOW!!!! Such talent and the headboard.... now that is a find!!!! Love how you used it!!! I think I love it all. Great ideas!!!!

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  23. Lots of awesome eye candy to see! Thanks so much. The headboard is amazing.

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  24. Great stuff, Donna! I love the little ladder on your desk that holds the light!

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  25. whoa you are one creative lady! thanks for all the inspiration. . . must bookmark this site.

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  26. Wow! Can I move in! :) I promise not to bring any stuff because I love it just the way it is! :)

    Mere

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  27. What a great post! You are super creative! It's all great but my favorite is the headboard. For free? How cool. And I bet you are the only one that has a headboard like that. Even cooler. Love it.

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  28. Stopped by after visiting Sarah and LOVE your blog. This post made me smile- each picture more than the last!

    Your gift to create is amazing-

    Carolyn

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  29. Love, love , love that sign over your bed!!

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  30. awesome stuff. I love how creative you are. I will be back to check out your projects.

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  31. I love everything! You're so creative and clever!

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  32. We must be kindred spirits!! Love all your finds and the way you used them in your home!!!

    blessings
    mary

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  33. Wonderful creativity! I left a treat on my blog for you.

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  34. You are seriously creative, girl! Rub off on me!

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