Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Fun Thrifting!

Saturday afternoon I had a special treat! I got to go out to a couple of thrift stores by MYSELF! It was so great! And, I found some great treasures - so of course wanted to share. Isn't it always more fun to find goodies when you have someone to share the joy with?!

My first stop was Goodwill where I found:

A vintage pillowcase
Two Shabby Chic pillow shams
A pretty bed skirt that I was instantly inspired to make into a picnic table covering! More on this when I get it done!
A few clothing items for myself

Here's the scoop on the pillow shams. When I bought them I thought I'd make them into cute baby blankets and give them as gifts. But, before I got home I had a new idea! I recently read about mistreatments for window coverings. This was a new word and idea to me - having never heard mention of it before.

Emily and Rachel's window before:

Gathered pillow shams and a couple of other stray things from my fabric pile, some weighted cord and some curtain clips from Ikea:
Utilized my pinking shears, some safety pins and a chair to stand on. Here's the outcome:Professional? Certainly not. But, the girls love it and I'm actually pleased with how it turned out considering I did two windows for less than $5 and in less than 2 hours!

After Goodwill, I headed to Salvation Army where I also found some great treasures:

Some neat old baseballs which I immediately put in a jar I found on clearance at World Market for Samuel's room:I was inspired by this ice ring, not so much for creating artistic ice, but for making centerpieces with it. Something in the ring - something in the middle - oh, the possibilities are endless:

An old cheese grater. Junk Market gals suggest placing a candle inside and making a lantern out of it!

Cheese board and dome ($1!) - not for cheese, my friends - I envision painting the wood, creating something pretty and covering it with the glass jar!

Yes, it was a great afternoon! And - look what came in the mail on the same day?!

28 comments:

Lynn said...

You've given me some great ideas here - thank you! Don't you just love home-making!

More than Survival said...

Congrats on your wonderful finds! And also on some much needed ALONE time! We all need a little R&R!! I was able to go to Goodwill yesterday (by myself!) and found some great clothes deals... now I can take bake the stuff I got at the mall (tags still on). My sister is getting married on Saturday and I got a new outfit at GOODWILL! Now I can return the HIGH price (for me) one from the mall!! LOL!!
Enjoy your finds!
Heather

Wendi said...

Great finds! I love the old baseballs. Very cute! What a treat to be out and about by yourself; although I must admit it always feels strange for the back seat to be empty!

GeonHui's Bakery said...

Thos are great idea! I think I need to snag a trip to Goodwill myself :)

I love the curtains!

Anonymous said...

I'm sure it was even more fun to poke through thrift store goodies without having to take care of little ones, too -- so glad you got to go! And I'm glad you found some fun stuff -- my favorite is the baseballs for Samuel's room. :)
I'm amazed at how quickly you got the window valance done for the little ladies' room! Love you, Mom

*carrie* said...

Monica,

So glad you enjoyed your outing. I love that jar of old baseballs--great idea. I'm excited to see what you come up with for the other items.

It's hard to wait until Friday to talk to you again! =)

Katy said...

The window treatment is such a neat idea!!! :) Glad you were able to find such great things and got to spend some time out by yourself!!! :)

Anonymous said...

I was going to write that you have such good luck finding stuff but I know it is that you have the eye to see things made out of other things. I tend to overlook great things because my mind doesn't work like that. BUT I love to copy GREAT ideas ;) *wink* *wink*

I immediately signed up for a catologue from the one you had listed. Where did you find them? SOOOOO my style as I am sure you know since it is yours too. HAHA!! Love you friend.

Anonymous said...

There must be different degrees of thrift stores, because mine have very few good finds. Or the prices are almost as much as you would pay retail. My mom and I have decided that there is Goodwill, Betterwill, and Bestwill!
I, too, need to train my eyes to look for things that can serve multiple purposes. I think yard sales are easier to do that since the inventory is smaller.
Good finds and GREAT ideas.
Angie

Charlotte Cushman said...

I enjoyed catching up today. I love you M! char

Adelia said...

We're in the process of mistreating our windows too!!! And thanks for the baseballs in the jar idea. I have 3 little boys who will think this is the best decorative touch I've made in a while. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I stumbled across your blog while doing a search for "HomeSpun". It seems we are kindred spirits, though I am probably old enough to be your mother. :) I love the ideas,suggestions and themes that weave your blog together. I will certainly be back to read again,and may even add you to my blog roll. ;)

Blessings!
Athena

~katie~ said...

Thanks for the link to that magazine ~ what lovely things! :-)

Carrie said...

What awesome ideas. I love love love going thrift shopping. And now the garage sales will be starting up soon. I can barely contain my excitement!!
God bless :)

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

I love the window treatment! Great finds!

Mary Ann said...

I love the baseball idea. My husband would love this in his room. LOL!!!

It's so much fun to hunt for unique finds at yard sales and thrift stores. We stopped at a yard sale several weeks ago and hit the jackpot! All kinds of vintage finds-I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! :-)

A small vintage tablecloth, a Foley mill(for making applesauce), a chenille bedspread, 2 small Fire King items, an old clothes drying rack-all in great condition. I paid just over $10 for all of it.

Anonymous said...

Great finds!! I love the window mistreatments-I have been reading Nesting Place for a while now and love her ideas. I joke about Goodwill being my home away from home...I feel like if I'm not home then I am there! Love the idea with the baseballs in the jar for Samuel's room, I will have to pass that idea along to a friend whose son's room is a baseball theme. She made a cute cloth pennant banner for his room, just another idea for you...
Elise

Kaye said...

As the mom of a little man-to-be, I am LOVING the baseball idea! How simple yet brilliant! Thanks for the tips!

Amy said...

I have been loving the window mistreatment posts- so cool. You did such a great job and gave me even more inspirationf or my next round of thrifting. Such great ideas!!

Anonymous said...

do you get the Martha Craft of the Day emails?
there was a hydrangea tray and cherry blossom tree thing that made me think of you. You should check it out!

Anonymous said...

love your blog!
you are smart en creative :-)

greetings from Kansas!

Anonymous said...

Way to go , Monica!

I too, love the baseball idea! Very clever. I never would of thought of such a thing!!

Love you, Grandma

Nerm said...

Hi-i just found your blog from Byebabybunting's. Loved your treasures and your creativity also. What a sweet blog you have-I will definitely be back. Nerm

Anonymous said...

LOVE the idea of a cheese grater turned luminary! If you do that, please post pics...

hugs,

chrissy

What's next said...

love the window treatment! We have a cousin in London that brings me Cath Kidston treats (tea towels, oil cloth bags, etc) and I LOVE them!

Gini (Hallquist) Young said...

loving those very creative decorations, the curtains, the baseballs. Fun thrifting! Good job.

Anonymous said...

I just purchased the exact same cheese board dome thing at my local thrift shop. I would love to see what you come up with!

Anonymous said...

My grandmother had an ice ring just like that. She would use it whenever she made punch. She would put some platic flowers in the ring and after they froze she would turn it over nad put it into the punch bowl. This would be pretty plus keep the punch cool. I don't know how much punch is made anymore but it was always a big hit at weddings, showers, etc...