Thrifted Master Bathroom Storage

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I've been working on organizing the master bathroom.  I'm tossing dated products and trying to bring everything we need into one central location, so we don't have to run back downstairs when we need Apple Cider Vinegar, for example.  Whenever I take on a new project around the house, my 2 questions are: 

• How can I solve my problem without spending any money.  
• What do I have around the house some where, which would make a suitable container.

How about my china hutch full of thrift store pillage and sweet vintage scores. 

It turned out lovely.  Better than I had planned.  I found candles, sugar bowls for baking soda, an orphaned gravy boat for Epsom Salts, an old jar with a lid for my Coconut Oil and an oil decanter for my olive & Castor Oil  mix I use on my face every night (which by the way, makes your eye lashes grow LONG).  

Which brings to mind another thought......

Use your stuff!! 

Don't keep your pretty things locked in a cabinet to be used once a year (or never).  Pretty things are meant to be used.  We can't take them with us.  Make your life and your world beautiful TODAY.  Don't wait for Christmas or a birthday to decorate.  PS: If you're not going to use it, or don't like it, get rid of it.  

All of this was thrifted.  I think I might paint this table though.  I'm not sure if it's going to stay here or not, but it works for now.  :)  

I've had an atomic tiered serving piece in the cabinet just taking up space and being useless.  I decided it would hold some make up.  I like lip sticks more than eye shadows.  Can you tell?  I don't own too much makeup these days so it's working just fine for the time being.  I also broke out my grandmother's piece of Fenton to hold some brushes and liners.  

What pretty things do you have around the house which you could use as a container?  Share with me.  :) Tell me what you think in the comments below. 

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you're inspired.  Don't be a stranger.  

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Be blessed and be a blessing.
Choose Joy!

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8

I'm sharing with these SWEET bloggers. Go check them out and make a new friend.
Hope In Every Season ~ Homemaking Party
Stone Cottage Adventures ~ Tuesdays With A Twist
Fluster Buster ~ Flusters Creative Muster Link Party
Someday Crafts ~ Whatever Goes Wednesday
The Style Sisters ~ Center Piece Wednesday Linky Party
Free Pretty Things for You ~ Pretty Wednesday Link Up
Savvy Southern Style ~ Wow Us Wednesday
Family Home and Life ~ Wow Us Wednesday Link Party
Knick of Time Interiors ~ Tuesday Link Party
From My Front Porch To Yours
Have a Daily Cup with Jann ~ Share Your Cup Thursday
A Delightsome Life ~ Home and Garden Thursday
The Shady Porch ~ Organize, Create, Feast and Fix
My Girlish Whims ~ Your Whims Wednesday
Ducks In A Row ~ Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
All Things With Purpose ~ Things Thursday Link
Katherines Corner ~ Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
Lamberts Lately ~ Create it Thursday
A Creative Princess ~ It's a Party
Beyond the Picket Fence ~ Under $100 Link Party
The Dedicated House ~ Before and After Wednesday
A Revisionary Life ~ Angels Among Us Thrifty Life Thursday
Rooted In Thyme ~ Simple and Sweet Fridays
Bacon Time with the Hungry Hypo ~ Anything Goes Linky

Bedroom Garage Sale ~ Vintage "Made In Japan" Lamp

I confessed in my last post here, my mother is moving in with us in 2 months.  We are going room to room, painting baseboards, cleaning carpets and getting rid of ANY and EVERY thing we cannot live without.  

We've lived here almost 4 years and have never done anything nice with our bedroom.  We were stuck in that "all the money goes to the kids for braces and college" rut.  We're down one kid now, so we are trying to fix up our bedroom.  We want it to look as if 2 married adults live in it.  What a concept!

I have a bajillion things to sell.  I prefer to list on Etsy, as I can earn feedback, and you have that safety net, but I don't have the time to SEO it perfectly, yada yada.  I will try to sell some of my stuff here first.  My friends can have first dibs.  :)  

Make an OFFER!!  Boom!  It's yours. 

This little lamp has been used on my dresser forever.  I love these sweet Made In Japan, porcelain/china/ceramic figurine lamps.  I've had a large collection of them in the past.  This one needs to be rewired and I've held on to it for so long, waiting for the time.  I can't do that any more.  It needs to bless someone else.  You can acquire a rewiring kit at Loews or something.  It's real easy.

The figurine part itself, is about 7 1/2" tall.  

With the lamp part and light bulb added, 

it would probably reach around 12" tall.  

What?  Louis XVI pierced his ear.  It's not damage, 

it was probably a ceramic bubble which burst during firing.  :)  

It has a hair line, but it's so thin, it doesn't go all the way through or around and you can't feel it.  

It's almost like crazing.  I don't think it affects the structure at all and the lamp will be strong for a long time to come.  These lines are almost normal in something this old. There are NO chips at all.  

If you look these up on Etsy or Ebay, they run between $20 and $40 a piece.  If you have a set, they go for around $80+.  I just have this single piece. 

I'm asking $16.00 and I will ship for FREE - DOMESTIC standard SHIPPING.  

If you want priority mail, I would ask you to help pay)  

I'm happy to ship it overseas too, but I would have to charge you shipping. 

If you want more photos, let me know.

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The other Made in Japan item I've had on my dresser for years is this guy:  

He's like a Wolfgang Willie Nelson

(probably just something I picked up junkin' one day)

He is 8" tall.  I've collected these for a long time.  They look nice on a book shelf. 

He is perfectly healthy.  Never had small pox or broke any bones.

I'm asking $8.00 for him and I will cover standard domestic shipping.  

If you want priority, I would ask you to split the cost with me. 

(I can sell to you overseas, but you would have to cover ALL shipping)

It says Handpainted in Japan

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If you want both, I can tweak the price and adjust for shipping both items together.  

Let me know if you have any questions or want extra photos.  

Our PayPal address is tsperkins@verizon.net

Charlie is supervising.  

Lace Covered Window

So we had a little problem.  

This window, which lets in much needed light, is very poor for privacy.  I never could decide on a window treatment.  Plus, my budget at this time in our life is a big fat ZERO.  I kept trying to think of what I could do for free......what do I have around the house that could work???  What could give us some much needed privacy, but still let in the light.  If we could cut down some of the Florida heat coming in with this south facing window, 

that would be a bonus.

Pinterest to the rescue.  I saw this idea over at Annabel Vita where she 'liquid starched' lace to her window.  

Boom!  That will work.  

I have tons of lace curtains left over from the wedding. 

(The bottom half is a very old piece of vintage lace curtain...so pretty)

 I can make my own starch.  

FREE, sort of, or FREE enough!

  I win!   

I used this recipe for my liquid starch.  Took only a few minutes.  Let it cool before you paint windows with simmering glue gravy.  :)  

Here is a before:

I didn't take any pictures of the process, as I was covered in liquid starch, 

but below are pictures of the results. 

I followed Annabel Vita's easy tutorial and here are my tips from my experience.

• Clean your window first, removing any dust.
• It would help if you have an extra set of hands.  I was by myself and it took patients and upper body strength.  
•  Don't be sparse with your liquid starch application.  I used generous amounts.  It dried rather quickly, so you have to keep it wet, or it won't stick.   
• The whole process took about 2 hours. 
• It's been up a few weeks now.  No problems and it still looks good.
• I haven't tried, but I'm pretty sure it could be removed with water and a scraper.  At least I hope it will.                                                          

After:

I went outside at night to see how much more, if any, privacy we had.  Nice!  That will work.  Good enough.  

You can't see up the stairs or the hallway any more.

PERFECT!!!  Success!  Thank you Annabel Vita! 

Lee Lee the Cowdog says hello!  

Hope this post inspires you to creatively solve an issue 

when money is tight.  :) 

 Use what you have and don't be afraid to take risks.  

“Set wide the window. Let me drink the day.” 

Edith Wharton

Be Blessed and be a Blessing.

Sharing with:

Transformation Thursday over at The Shabby Creek Cottage

Time Travel Thursday at Brambleberry Cottage

Rooted in Thyme Simple and Sweet Fridays

Raising Mighty Arrows ~ Proverbs 31 Thursday Link Up

Fundraiser Tea Party

Thought you might like to see a "Tea Party Fundraiser" I worked.

I hosted a table.  People pay money to sit at your table. 

They are served the whole tea party spread, all homemade foods. 

I found out 24 hours before the event I was to host a table. 

I. Freaked. Out. 

I panicked and ran through the house,

gathering things I had on hand and just winged it. 

I like what I did.  I went with a literary/shabby theme.

Next year, I'll use shorter bud vases, but for 24 hours notice, I thought my table was kinda sweet. 

 

It was a special day.  I saw people I hadn't seen in years. 

People I've known my whole life through church. 

We ended up raising over $4,000 for scholarships for my

Alma Mater, Florida College. 

Over $4,000 just from a tea party is pretty good, eh? 

It was hard work, but it was wonderfully fulfilling. 

I'm already planning next years table. 

I'll have more than 24 hours notice next year.  :) 

 

I wish I had more time to take pictures of other tables. 

Each table had a theme and some were just adorable or especially lovely. 

PS:  I should add, all the books, tea cups, lace, plates and milk glass are mine, thrifted of course. 
And the Green Depression glass is mine, a gift from my mother-in-love.   

 

 

 

This is my sister-in-love and my son's girlfriend in front of my table.

 

Be blessed and be a blessing.

Encourage one another.

Choose Joy!

I'm sharing with these blogs, which I hope you'll go visit:
Savvy Southern Style ~ Wow Us Wednesdays, Rae Gun Ramblings ~ What we wore, read or Made,
Primp Junktion ~ Primp Your Stuff, Fluster Buster ~ Flusters Creative Muster;
Elizabeth And Co ~ Be Inspired, A Diamond in the Stuff ~ Time to Shine;
Pink a Potamus ~ Pink Hippo Party; PJH Designs One Of a Kind ~ Transformed Tuesday,
Knick of Time Interiors ~ Knick of Time Tuesday,
Lavender Garden Cottage ~ Cottage Style Party, The Shady Porch ~ Rock N Share Wednesday,
No Minimalist Here ~ Open House Party

Martha's Favorites ~ Tea Cup Tuesday, Bernideens Tea Time ~ Friends Sharing Tea, Rose Chintz Cottage ~ Tea Time Tuesday, Artful Affirmations ~ Tea Cup Tuesday, Antiques and Teacups ~ Tuesdays Cuppa Tea

 

 

 

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Pooh thinks sewing is much better than tea.  He thought the tea party was lame

because they didn't have tuna sandwiches.  

 

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Trash Find Lamp Makeover

~Finders Keepers~ 

The rake holding the curtain was found at spring clean-up in Kerrville, Texas. 

Someone threw it out.  Mine!

The lamp was in my neighbors trash. 

She was sweet when I showed interest and passed it on to me.  Mine!

Except....it needed a lamp shade.  I had a cheap plastic one left over from a broken Wal-Mart lamp. 

I hate plastic lamp shades.  Blech. 

I love to glue paper on things and got the bright idea to give it a try. 

This paper is almost 200 years old, from some books I inherited.  The books are ruined, but I can't bear to throw the paper out.  I use it for art projects. 

 I tore it up into tiny random pieces and glued it down to the outside shade with Mod Podge. 

I didn't glue the paper to the inside,

as I was worried about heat messing with the paper or glue. 

The outside worked fine. 

It turned out waaaaay prettier than I had imagined.  I had nothing to lose since it was just a plastic piece of junk.  It turned out so beautifully. 

It looks like a piece of Tiffany. 

Mind you, I lost a lot of light covering the shade with paper.  I wouldn't do this on a lamp you are depending on for reading or sewing.  For a nice glow in a dark corner, it's perfect. 

I gave it a quick coat of Mod Podge to seal it.  Done! 

What's your favorite piece of "trash" in your home? 

Need some ideas? This is a fun book for upcycle eye candy:
1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse: Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew (1000 Series)

Sharing with these nice blogs:

(Go check them out and be friendly)

The Shabby Creek Cottage ~ Transformation Thursday

No Minimalist Here ~ Open House Party

A Delightsome Life ~ Home and Garden Thursday

From My Front Porch to Yours ~ Treasure Hunt Thursday

Katherines Corner ~ Thursday Favorite Things

Have a Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson ~ Share Your Cup Thursday

The Brambleberry Cottage ~ Time Travel Tuesday

French Country Cottage ~ Feathered Nest Friday

Kammys Korner ~ Trash 2 Treasure Tuesday

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 Dear Watson, our smiling kitten, wants everyone to know Pooh is fine. 

Pooh is just in a very bad mood and not talking to anyone right now.

Choose Joy.

Be Blessed.

~The End~

Spring Stitching and Sewing Links

Pretty much the cutest Easter thing I have seen in a long time are over at Remodelando La Casa.  I have a pink angora sweater I bought in Italy 25 years ago, which was washed, put in the dryer and um...ruined forever.  I think it's time it was cut up and made into bunny rabbits.  If you click on the link, Cristina gives you an easy tutorial to follow on how to make these. 

 

Upcycled Knitted Bunny Bottle Toppers

 



 

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And nevermind my daughter is grown and gone (sniff), I know a dozen little girls at my church who would look precious in this skirt.  It's so cute I could cry.  I have to make these too.  Aren't they precious?  So sweet!!!  Click the link to visit At The Picket Fence for
"A Little Ray of Sunshine" skirt directions, made by JoJo and Eloise. 

My mind is busy with tons of color combinations.  Can't wait!

A Layered Skirt Tutorial at The Picket Fence

 

 

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Over at Centsational Girl, she shows you how she created quick pillows out of runners.  She read my mind regarding our current orange/coral color crush.  Maybe I can find some runners and make my daughter some pillows too.  Soooooooo pretty. 

Censational Girl has excellent taste and a beautiful blog. 

Go visit and see. 

 

Table Runner Pillows and lots of pretty photography

 





Spots and Sprinkles of Orange

Well OF COURSE we thrifted while I was in Texas.  :) 

 

My daughter has a very neutral living room with creams, grays and browns. 

She wanted tiny sprinkles of coralish orange and aqua for accent.  

Neither one of us own anything "orangey" so that was our thrifting goal.   

 

The easiest and cheapest way for us to add "orange" we found, was with books.  These books were .25 cents each.  This arrangement was a grand total of $1.25. 

 

SWEET SCORE!!  Love the James and the Giant Peach first edition hardback,

although it was a library copy. 

 

The owl bookends she and her husband received from his grandma's house. 

 

The hat was his grandpa's. The twig is a piece of mistletoe

 we found in the back yard.  The picture was from their wedding.  

 

 

We found that aqua frame at a thrift store ages ago.

 (Always keep an eye open for frames while thrifting

as they can become any color you want).

 

OK, now y'all know I love art, right?  And it pained me to give this to my daughter, but she needed the orange more than I did at the time.  

 

I absolutely LOVE this $3.50 find. 

 

I grabbed it because it was orange and made me think of birds of paradise, which my mother loves.  Well, actually I grabbed it because it was $3.50.  haha 

I got home and Googled the artist name and it turns out, she was an artist from Denver. 

 

Her name was Thelma F. Poduska

I have found little on her so far, but I plan on researching her some more.

 

When thrifting, do you ever wonder how items migrate all over the world? 

I wonder how this painting ended up in a teeny tiny Texas town in a teeny tiny thrift store. 

It was meant to be!  (Like The Red Violin). 

So glad it's "in the family".  It's found a forever home,

and I pray treasured for generations. 

LOVE this vintage frame too. 

 

Her new orange thrifts totaled $4.75!!!

 

 

Bruiser, my grandson models his corner of the sofa. 

He snorted, "But Nana, you PROMISED." 

 

 

Sigh.  OK young lad, here is your pillow back.  Please be a good boy. 

(I spoiled him with a $12.00 pillow from Wal-Mart for the last of our orange spending spree)

 

Do you have thoughts on Orange? 

I always think I hate it, until I'm pushed to "like" it. 

Hope you're inspired to pick a color and hunt for thrifty treasures too.

 

Life is sooooooooooo good! 

Be grateful!  Be blessed!  

Hope you'll leave a comment. 

I would love to know those who stop in and read.

 

~The End~

 

I am linking and sharing with these nice people

and their weekly link gatherings.

Show them kindness!

Coastal Charm ~ Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Elizabeth & Co. ~ Be Inspired

A Living Space ~ The Nifty Thrifty

Primp Junktion ~ Primp Your Stuff

Free Pretty Things For You ~ Whatever You Want Wednesday