Freebies

I went to my favorite place the other day - the swap shop at the dump. No, I'm not destitute or anything. I'm not rich, either. I just like finding stuff I can use or stuff I can fix up and give to others. I usually do a drive-by after work to see if there are any interesting items in there that I could use. I've been doing this for a while and I enjoy it immensely. Especially when someone I give something to really appreciates the item.

OK. Last week I picked up a small plastic rocking horse. I have to give it a good scrub and bleaching. It needs a little refurbishing, but not much. Then I'll give it to a friend of ours who has a small child. I gave them an adjustable walker last year and the baby loved it!

I also picked up a wooden box with one side open. It looks like it had been used as an end table and a coffee table. I'll be recycling this into an item I can use in my bathroom. Pictures later!

Monday or Tuesday of this week, I don't remember which day, I picked up a wooden wine rack and a nice serving platter with no chips. And to think I was in the process of talking myself out of stopping there. Oh boy! I have a good use for that wine rack! It's something I've been looking for for a long time. I think you'll be surprised what I'm going to use it for. Pictures later on that, too!

Here are two websites I frequent for ideas and a good browse. Trash2Treasure is a really great one. This lady has a couple of booths in a couple of different antique malls. She makes really cool things from other things. I've mentioned this site in a post last year or so ago. Check out Miss AJ's site and see what she comes up with!

Here's a really cool site for refurbishing furniture and other things. This is the first time I've mentioned her site on my blog. BetterAfter is the name of the blog. Miss Lindsey is interested in how people reinvent items found in the trash or items that were not loved any more. Lots of the furnishings are painted, which is fun to see. This stuff is far out!!! You MUST check this website out.

Comment below to let me know how you like these blogs. I'll be interested to know if YOU'VE gotten any inspiration from them.

Take care.

Crafty Things

There is a birthday tomorrow for a coworker. Actually, her birthday is today. I've made a couple of things I've been thinking of giving her. First of all, she likes beachy stuff. So I put this thing together.

Beachy Thing

It's kind of OK, but not something I'd like to give as a gift. This kind of has some voodoo feeling going on. Looks more like a creature than a gift. I don't think I like it all that well. However, it doesn't look too bad in my soon-to-be-redone bathroom. Hmmm. Should I get greedy? Well, you can't call it greedy if it ain't that cute. Right?!

Now on to the next creation.

Bird on Nest

Now this I can get really excited about, if it was a gift for me. Of course, this idea came from Miss AJ of the Trash2Treasure blog. If you love recycling/repurposing/redoing/re-anything-ing, then you MUST take a peek at her site. To me, she is the Queen of Repurposing and Decorating Ideas. She makes 'stuff' into really cute items. Here is the link for the bird nest inspiration. Click on the link and scroll down. You'll see different bird nest variations. CUTE!!!

Well. I guess I made up my mind about the gift. The bird nest is it. I hope my co-worker likes it.
I do!

Take care. Happy re-doing!

Michelin Stars?

Look what I found hanging in my kitchen!

My Michelin's

I've got a 5-star kitchen! Who needs Michelin reviews?

This is another idea I got from Trash2Treasure, the site by AJ mentioned in my last post. I got 2 pieces of crappy wood rescued from our burn pile, which my hubby gave me really strange looks for. Then, I dry-brushed on the blue base color, then stenciled the stars and painted 'kitchen'. At first I was going to make some beachy-looking signs for my bathroom revamp. I did the stars first. Hmmm, I thought of Michelin stars and decided to promote my kitchen to a 5-star kitchen without the help of Michelin. My kitchen has earned this distinction, IMHO. ; ) Maybe next time I'll make a sign for the bathroom.

One of my favorite things to do in life is to cook. In fact, I just finished cooking for this week's meals. I do this on Sundays since I don't feel like doing much during the week after work. My lineup today was pork steaks in saurkraut, lentil salad, macaroni salad and macaroni with meat sauce. I'll make a greens salad tomorrow and we'll take a little of this and that to make our meals for the week. I also have potato soup, which I made last Thursday, in sealed containers in the fridge. I think this will hold us for a few days.

Take care.

Stop by again.

Some Crafting Stuff

Hello everyone!

Today is my show-and-tell for all of you. I've been crafting a little and I'd like to show you what I've done.

First, for our little home on wheels...

Wheel Cover

I bought some marine-grade vinyl because the sun in South Carolina is wicked on any kind of plastic. I cut a round and a side band. I sewed them together and made a sleeve on the open end so I could hold it on with a drawstring. It went 1800 miles and is still on the camper wheel. Yay!

Next, a few somethings for our bathroom...

Stuff Before Redo

After Painting

I couldn't stand this little etagere any more. I've had it for nearly 30 years and it had to change or go. The wastebasket above got a fresh coat of paint. The little fishies got a white dry-brushing. I should've done it sooner, but I didn't have the nerve to paint them. Glad I did!

Then...

Refinished Mirrors

I couldn't stand the little brown wooden mirrors anymore. So I painted and distressed them. I LOVE them now.

And a little something more...

Candleholder with Air Freshener

I saw this craft on a website, which I'll mention more of at a later time. This woman, AJ, has a FABULOUS way with repurposing stuff. I ADORE her website!

Anyhow, this is a cheap-o glass candle stick from a dollar store, an old candle holder and a chunk of light blue ribbon. Inside is a white votive that I had in my candle stash and the blue stuff is crystal air freshener from the dollar store. This is put together temporarily with hot glue. I just found some E-6000 to permanently bond stuff together. I'm going to change out the ribbon for some jute and seashells to make it more 'beachy'. I still need to make curtains and a shower curtain. Then I'll show the whole shebang when It's done. I have another project for this room. I'll show you that later.

Take care.
Happy crafting!!!