Here I go recycling AGAIN and AGAIN..........

Just had to show off this cute contemporary looking photo frame with curved back (it has the easiest access door to the back of the frame). Picked it up at a little flea market just outside of town earlier today. The wood appears to be oak and I thought of using it to display a cute saying regarding dinner (or rather, the lack of it). I loved the way it just sits on the counter - no easel or stand - just the curved shape allows it to stay put. Almost forgot to mention..... it was only $1.50.

Today's small catch of my day. . . . . . . . . .

Quiet in our little town this morning. Not much traffic, so I ventured across town to my favorite thrift shop (DAV) and found these cute items. Not sure if the painting comes out very clear, but it's not signed however, I loved the rich colors of it and will refit this in a larger frame with a mat. The wooden box-cut box is made in the US, so that was a good find at $2. The neatest thing I imagine is the handmade Christmas ornament with hanger from Dillards. Original price on the red box was $15 - I paid only .50. The handiwork on this ornament is unique - I will enjoy seeing this on display. I found two hardback books - both contained Christmas decorating and they were both $2. The cute golf club framed piece is nicely framed and original sticker on the back indicates - you got it - Made in USA. This was $5, but on sale for $2.50. My cousin Patty's husband Al is the only golfer I know and I thought he would enjoy this cute little gem either at home or perhaps at his office. He is such a good sport when I visit and I always like to pick up a special item for him. Of course, he had rather have a container of the roasted nut mixture, but I'll save that for later. Almost forgot the cute handmade piece of pottery displaying a nice beige color with small flecks of brown and tan with cutouts of hearts around the edge for.25 - I would say this was a good little haul.

Never too early to start planning for Christmas

I mentioned the other day that Christmas is only five months away. That is true, but we have to be ready by the first of December and the countdown has begun for me. I have a lot of things on my "punch list" as we used to call incomplete items at my workplace. While visiting a local Goodwill, I spotted these nice needlepoint, handmade Christmas pillows. I do needlepoint (not too good, I might add), but I love the handiwork and claimed these three immediately. I checked the label of the designer but had NEVER heard of her. I sent a photo to my cousin Patty knowing she would love them too and her first response was "did you Google and find out anything about them". NO was my reply, I was just happy to find these Christmas gems. She checked for me and furnished the site for me to check out. Laura Megroz - value of each is a whopping $79.00. Of course, I only paid $2.50 each - what a deal of the month? I could not believe my good fortune. You can be assured that I will Google again and again on future purchases. Can't you just picture these three on a sofa waiting to greet holiday guests?

My recent BEST FIND ......... I think

Don't you just love to locate that cute, extra special thing - you weren't looking for it - so you would not have recognized it, BUT when your eye spots a neat item, suddenly your brain is engaged and the wheels turn fast at first, then really fast. You can not WAIT to get the thing home, clean it; and then figure out another way to use the item. I love to do this and would rather re purpose than most anything. When I saw this neat photo frame on a swivel post with glass - it holds a 4x6 photo, I instantly knew it would never hold a photo - not this cute item. It would be displayed wherever I was holding a brunch, lunch or a hot dog supper or cook-out for any event. It is so neat. I had some card stock index cards that fit great, after trimming to fit. I thought of painting it black, but didn't want to. I would use a black fine point Sharpie to write my menu on anyway. It was done in a few minutes or when I had my mind set on a menu I'll serve next week for Gayle and our friend Debbie who is moving. How cute is this!

Branching out in two places

While visiting my sweet niece Keely at their new home - we HAD to check out the nearby thrift shops. Not too far from her home we found the neatest consignment shop. Two of these jewels were hanging high on the back wall and I spotted them before Keely had the car in PARK. I jumped out first to check and see if they were even open on a Friday afternoon, after 4 pm - no sense in her getting Easton out of his comfortable seat and getting the nice, but difficult to work, stroller, but they were OPEN indeed. The nicest lady greeted us and was so gracious to move items about to allow Keely to stroll through and around things. I purchased these two great pieces for $10 each - they are hand forged and really versatile. Keely found a couple of neat items and Easton was admired and praised by the other shoppers. What fun we had. The match to this little gem is hanging between windows just like these two - in my living room. I think they were made to have clay pots in them, perhaps 4" size, but as gardeners know - you can't grow a good plant in such a small space, so I did the next BEST THING - scouted around the house and found the appropriate size piece to fit in the opening. I will cherish these for quite a while. They are beautiful and most of all, I can think of Keely whenever I see these in my home.

New found treasures - ripe for picking

Had to run an errand this morning, so while I was out, stopped at our local and my FAVORITE thrift shop - DAV to hunt for some neat items. Was I lucky or what? I love the books - if you can't make out the titles, one is BH&G Cottage Style dated 1998 - hard back for a price of $2; another great find is: Katie Brown's Weekends dated 2005. Little more at $5. Ethan Allen's New American Style published in 2001 for $2.50 and the last book was BH&G Small House Big Style published 2000. Picked this one up for $2. All hardback and in great shape. I wonder about the person who owned the books previously. I usually write my name and perhaps something about why I purchased it and usually write down the date. None of these had such a personality attached to them. But they have a home now - notes in all four and they will reside here with me for now. The beautiful water color painting was only $2.50 and the nice green/brown fern fabric runner was only $1. How fortunate I was to be out and about this morning. Oh - almost forgot the wicker sleigh - how cute it will be this Christmas on my window frame exhibit with some deer in front. Of course the nice linen drying towel was a neat find at $1 too.

Have you seen this type of bookend?

Just wondering if any of our followers have seen bookends like this pair? They were spotted in our local DAV thrift shop, priced at $2.50 but were half off. Each one must weigh more than five pounds and are made of glass. I loved them at first glance, paid the $1.25 and could not wait to get the pair home to wash them and find a place among my bookshelves to display them. I chose to display them alone in order to show them off - aren't they neat? Would they be Art Deco or what?

Recent finds - lucky me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

While out earlier this morning, I decided to take a quick run through our local DAV thrift store. I can't recall EVER stopping in and not finding something that perks my interest. When I spotted the worn and tarnished toast holder - it was $1 (I think it is English - not sure), I scratched it and figured it would come clean and shiny while using Soft Scrub with Lemon. This is a great product and it smells good. Took a little while to clean all the areas, but it is well worth my efforts. I can see toast awaiting a simple and tasty brunch. I was hoping that some of my small, dessert plates would fit in the slots, but they failed to make the grade. I had spotted the little, handmade pottery piece months ago and it was only .50. Today it was only a quarter and I felt it needed a home. It will be cute to use on the porch with a small, votive candle. Someone made it in 2004 and gave it to someone and it ended up in a thrift shop. Such a cute piece - I will enjoy it a lot. Loved the small needlework piece, depicting rabbit and several carrots. I like to take small pieces out of the frame, wash and dry them and make small door hanging pillows to greet guests. Such a cute addition to an entrance or to mask an ugly door knob. The cute, green trimmed plate with rose colored painted flower is by Homer Laughton - got this for $1.00. Last, but the best of all is the hand painted cute wall hanger from Italy for $2.50. What a haul - if you don't thrift shop - you should.

Creating a new look for candles

Candles come in many styles, shapes, color and sizes. Jar candles hit the scene some years ago and will always be favorites. Recently my cousin Patty pulled out two clear glass votives which belonged to an old family friend who has passed away now. Needing to enhance two wall sconces, Patty recalled having the votives and retrieved them from her arsenal of candles and accessories. You would have to see her collection to believe it. I loved the effect of the clear glass votives and set out to locate a pair. Naturally I checked out the Goodwill thrift shop first and there they were, sitting idly on the shelf, trying to be noticed and they were. I snatched them up for .50 each, washed them and looked around to use them some place. Then I spotted these two old, HEAVY gears from old machine parts and you guess it - they fit perfectly and the look is modern and best of all - you know me - Made in the USA.

Latest haul from local DAV (lucky me)

Visited our local DAV thrift shop this morning and wow - I found the neatest items - all things that I have been looking for to work with another project, etc. Can't wait to redo the neat spring hat - this will look great on my front door AFTER I add plenty of accessories - it will be dashing, to say the least. You might not see them too well, but I picked up four almost new leather looking chargers - and I've been looking for some table accessories in yellow to do a small table scape for spring fling. The best book on sewing projects, etc. was available for $1.40 and a great book our fine state - Virginia was picked up for $1.25. Too many items but my mind has been whirling all afternoon as I ponder on what to do first - but you can bet - I will post my finished project upon completion. If you are not shopping at your local thrift shops - you are missing out - it's your best option yet and the money spent stays in the community.

Trunkful (or Boot as Sharon would say) of Goodies

Like Bettie was saying in yesterday's post, we took off early Saturday morning for a day of thrifting...thought I would share my "loot" with you gals too...I was primarily on the hunt for items to use on the outdoor tree I'm putting on the patio this year especially bird or woodland themed items...won't this birdfeeder look cute nestled in the branches?

Notice the flannel backed tablecloth? I'll use that for a weather resistant tree skirt..... the North Pole ornie in the bag? thought I would attach to a birdhouse I already own and add to the tree? the little red boots could hold goodies for the birds as well...the elf was a real steal...I plan to use that in the kitchen to hold snacks/goodies..the photo folding screen? Stay tuned for a cute holiday idea I plan to try this year.....if you've never tried thrifting...you really need to give it a try...you can find some amazing deals at times plus it's the ultimate way to "go green" and save some green at the same time.

What to do - what to do with all these new finds???

Took a short drive with sister Gayle to a small town south of where we live and came across five neat thrift shops. Lots of goodies were found among loads of stuff, placed there for thrift shop seekers and we were at the top of the list. If you live near Roxboro, NC - google thrift shops or consignment shops and you can venture out to this type of treasure hunt. It's fun, really affordable and you can always plan on picking up something different. As Gayle mentioned in an earlier post - think OUTSIDE the box - Check back later for a post to introduce some of these finds - used in another setting.