Computer desk~

I picked up this black computer desk with a fitted glass top at a yard sale last year for only $40. I had plans of painting it white (as is everything in my home) But I must admit, I liked the black..... My mother gave me this beautiful Ethan Allen hutch-- she knows all to well what a hoarder I am. Thanks Mom for feeding my addiction! Isn't it beautiful? A great quality piece..... and yes, I'm paintin' it--- black! I had to drill two holes in the bottom/back of the hutch to feed my computer wires and any other wires through. You can purchase different size covers at any hardware store. I got two of the 2 inch circle covers for a total cost of under ten bucks. Here is the hutch painted and on top of my computer desk. I also stitched up a little curtain of sorts to hide the computer wires and the white fireplace brick that is under/behind the desk. I used tension rods to keep it in place, easy-peasy~ I wanted to lighten up the desk just a smidge... I adore the shabby chic look and the black I just knew would be a little to much for me. I took a Pottery Barn duvet cover and cut to fit a piece that fits on top of the desk (under the glass top) I've been holding onto this fabric for a long time not knowing what to do with it, just waiting for something perfect. I just love the look of this fabric with the black desk. I used the same fabric to cover the chair...and also the pull out keyboard as well. I covered the fabric on the keyboard pull out shelf with contact paper-- this house is very dusty! Now, I've got to spend some time sewing... you know your going to spend a lot of time behind the sewing machine when you start buying material by the bolt...*sigh*

Thrifted treasures...

I get the neatest things....

I got the two tiered basket for $4, (this is my fourth one!) the HUGE glass jar with the lid for $3 and the shabby chic rose candle ring for $1. I used the roses to make this little swag on my shabby chic armoire. (refurbished pie safe) I used a short piece of ribbon to glue the roses and leaves to, I just love how it turned out.I picked up these two cherubs for $5 for the set. I instantly fell in love with them~Here are the cherubs painted white and aged with stain.I'm currently working on my computer desk make-over... hopefully I'll finish that up this evening!

Arrrrrrrrrrgh~

I picked up these brand new- still in their bags Snoopy's recently. I think I paid around two bucks for all of them. I instantly new what I wanted to do with them.... turn them into pirates of course. I cut off the baseball hats and jerseys and the baseballs and mitts. I added an eye patch, the striped outfit and the gold coin and the "hook" I made using a small brass cup hook. Here is a close up~I also fixed up these three wooden candlesticks. Here they are after I aged them with some black paint....Then I used some Bedazzled thingies that I picked up at a yard sale. I just pushed them into the wood, easy-peasy. I think it adds a little sumthin'-sumthin' doesn't it? Lastly, these two handsome devils. I picked up each one for three dollars each about 5 months apart. Now they are happily dressed and ready to attend a pirate party!
Now, I must go work with something flowery or paint something white... I'm getting the shakes~ :-P

Pirate noise makers~

Its pirate season for me... I've finally set a date for this years yearly pirate party that we host... the last weekend in June. *gasp, thats right around the corner!* I better get crackin'!
I picked up this huge lot of noise makers last summer at a yard sale, I think I paid a dollar for the lot. I had visions of making them into something a little more "piratey".... Sooooooooooo... I bought a book of maps for .50cents and glued-cut-shaped-glued some more until each one was covered. Then I distressed the edges and added some pirate stickers... Taaaaaa daaaaaaa pirate noise makers!I also made-over this ring toss game, it was originally painted in bright colors. I used sisal rope and some Jute.
Now, I've just got to stash these in with the other pirate stuff and get busy working on some more things~

Resin Charms~

Well...I've been fooling around with my resin again. I had bought a silver bracelet for .25cents at a yard sale that had a seashell in each bezel. I pried each shell out of each bezel so I could use it to hold resin. If you've priced bezels... you'd know what a bright-bright girlie I am. *lol* The first layer I added some aged paper to the back and sides... then I added some teeny-tiny berries, added some resin and let that set up overnight. The next day, I added a teeny-tiny fairy and some moss to each one to create a fairy sitting in a nest then another coat of resin. I think they turned out pretty cute.The little one on the right is my favorite~ When you view these in person they are very clear, I don't know why they photographed all funky like they did.These little charms were made using some bezels from a .50cent watch I got at another yard sale. I pried the faux stones out of each bezel... added some vintage German text as the base... added a fairy and the resin and taaaaaa daaaaaaaaa more fairy charms.

These two are my favorites~These silver pieces I picked up at a local bead store. The large was $1.49 the small was .89cents. They are really shallow.... but I thought I would give them a try. I dunno.... I'm not to thrilled with them. I think I'll still play around with these two. Maybe I'll add some glitter and try to add some more resin. Finally, I tried my hand at putting resin in a frame instead of a bezel that has a back on it. I used packing tape to keep the resin from seeping out from the frame. I don't know if the tape will come off-- but I'm thinking it will. *fingers crossed* The silver frame I tried to place a thin-thin coat of resin on it so I could put layers on it--- its still a work in progress. The paper is discolored because the glue I used to seal the paper wasn't completely dry~ Well, I'm off to go work out in the yard-- I'm taking full advantage of this beautiful day and I hope your day is beautiful as well!

Saleing~

Ahhhhhh the winds are blowing wonderful yard sales all over town..... Look at the fun treasures I recently came across. The stack of music books and vintage recipe booklets were fa-reeee. I got the glass shadow box and the glass domed cheese trivet both for a dollar. The Russian stacking dolls were .25cents, the silver frame .50cents.Look at these vintage linens.... dreamy huh? The tablecloth and the 12 matching napkins for only $3. The green flower pot was $1.I also picked up this fabulous glass jar with the lid for $1... the beautiful dusty vintage wicker tray was also $1. The two books from the 1900's were .25cents each, and the silver candlestick was .50cents.I also got some pirate things.... the two matching candlesticks and the candelabra were .25cents each. The huge beautiful tin was only $1.Lastly, my two little fellas that I picked up for .25cents each. I just love the angry face on the gold one.... he is looking at the other guy saying, "Stupid, stop trying to do jazz hands-- you don't have any arms!" lol....

Show and Tell~

I picked up this painted photo with the oval frame for the whopping sum of .50cents at a yard sale recently. Isn't it precious?

It had the original gold paint on it...and someone painted the do-dads with green and pink paint. I felt it wouldn't hurt the .50cent value of it if I painted it white.

I took the whole thing apart and cleaned the glass and the painted photo. I think this piece had dirt on it dating back to the early 1900's-- it was sooooo dusty inside and out! On the backside of the painted photo is information on what colors to paint everything...including rosy cheeks. Ahhhhhhh! I painted the frame with a flat white paint and dirtied it up a bit with some Ralph Lauren stain. I hung it over my grandaughter's changing table in the nursery at my house. It hangs next to a .25cent taffeta christening gown I picked up last year. Next to 2 vintage blue hat boxes that were .25cents each and two robins egg blue wooden shaker boxes that were $.50cents each.... Oh... the gold framed, double-matted botanicals? $1 each..I know! I know! (wooden shelf was $3, dolly was $4, milk glass fluted bowlie was .50, red rose ball-- free. Also, the vintage changing table was free. I got that off of Craigslist)This is why I have so much stuff in my house... I get things so cheaply!!! I've linked this post to: My Romantic Home