Pottery Shed: Thrifty but Beautiful

Long Grumpy Weekend

2009-07-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I only had time (and companionship) to scour two thrift stores this weekend, and I found nothing of interest. However, I discovered something about my moodiness while I laid about scowling this weekend.
I need, yes need, constant projects going to keep me happy. I need something to focus on, spend my energy on. I get such immense joy of creating something from nothing, or a re do.
Maybe that makes me an artist. I'd like to think so. It makes me happy.
I spent the entire weekend bored moping and grumpier than a bear fresh from hibernation. Until 9pm Sunday night when I started a new project!!

I can't wait to show it off, so in the mean time I will share one of my other most fave completed projects, my craigslist china cabinet.

I paid 100$ for this pink pickled monstrosity. I love how simple it is.
Whew, look at those outside hinges!! Lucky for me I married a handy man and he knew he would be replacing them. I'm thinking the owners bought this at an unfinished wood shop and pickled it themselves back when that was popular? (The early 90's maybe?)
Still though, you can see the potential here. I did.
I went through a lot with this piece, I had to sand it completely down at my in laws. In laws who were constantly watching over my shoulder, thinking their 20something daughter in law had no idea what she was doing refinishing furniture.
In truth, it was the first piece of furniture I've refinished. I had it my head I could do it, and I jumped in full force with my beloved hand sander.
I don't they sell the mega mouse anymore, or it's called the cyclone now, but this is the best hand sander!! It's so easy to use, the sandpaper is only 1.72$ for 5 sheets!! The is one the best gifts the husband has bought me, in fact I'm considering one as a wedding gift for a friend. ;)

Anyway, for two weeks, I sanded whenever I saw the in laws leave the house, hahaha. I love this stripper, it's not cheap but it works well, Minwax's Antique furniture re finisher.It's about 11$ a can at Home Depot, but it's worth it, It makes stripping a breeze. (no pole required)

Next came stain. I mixed up my own color in an attempt to match my dining room table. It came out pretty close. I prefer to use Minwax products, they always come out great.
It killed me to take so long on a project but it taught me some patience. I've since forgotten the lesson however.
It was worth it, sanding, stripping, and staining completed. New hinges, new hardware courtesy of the husband. Project complete.

I love it still. Amazing.
Ahem, now I believe Kim owes us some finished projects. Magazine rack re do, bedroom wall art....

Thrifty Finds on 7/3/07

2009-07-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

Here are a few finds from last weeks search at the local thrifty stores. I was feeling patriotic and got this cute little wooden decoration. Something cute to look at on the 4th. Of course there was a sticker on the back that stated
"Made in China." lol.

I used to have birds when I was a kid and lately I have been interested in having birds again. I found this great little cage at the Goodwill. It will do good two little finches.

And finally, I was so stoked to find this magazine rack at the salvation army t.s., I have been wanting one for a while, but my gosh! I can't believe how much retail wants for these. I am going to paint it white and put it in the bathroom.

Hope you like my thrifty finds and thanks for stopping by. Hopefully I will find some more treasure this weekend. ~K

Spray Paint is your Friend!

2009-07-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

I've said it once and I'll say it again, paint is your friend, don't be afraid to paint!
I am so thrilled how this cabinet came out, it was 99$ at salvation army thrift store, on sale for 70$.

Instantly, though it looked like below, I saw the potential.

How could you not see the potential in this piece! The second I saw it, I knew it was mine.(cue seagulls....mine! Mine!) Look at the trim, isn't it adorable!

The next day I was off in search of supplies, breathing mask, sandpaper, spray paint and primer.
Luckily I loved the hardware on it already, so it wouldn't need replaced, only painted.

Oh yes people, I painted the hardware.

First it needed lightly sanded. Doors removed, sanding begun:
Rough it up a little with sandpaper and sanding cube.
The spray primer in white.
I sprayed it lightly and as evenly as I could with primer.

The the fun part! Color!!
Now I intended this to be black or white maybe, but when Hubby and I got to the store he insisted on color! I was nervous, but agreed to Krylons Ocean Blue.

With the first coat on, I knew I was in love. Potential found!!
I did the hardware glossy white, with clear sealer on top to protect it.

Finally it was finished, and reassembly could occur.
Amazing. Don't be afraid of risk, I am so happy with how this turned out that I have completely changed my kitchen remodel plans to center around this piece of furniture!

Please join everyone over at Southern Hospitality for the rummage party today!

Check out my etsy shop for my free shipping event! Happy 4th!!

Great Finds

2009-07-01T22:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some awesome finds from thrifting this past weekend. A few weeks ago I saw a horseshoe bitters bottle and became very interested in what I could find at the stores. After some research I found this bottle at the local t.s. for Hubbard House. I bought it for 4 dollars and I will most likely make more than 75 dollars for it on ebay.

This is a fishes bitter bottle circa 1898.

The following are two used frames from some garage sales (total $3). I am going paint the frames black and hang them as wall art. Check back for the completed project.

Best of luck to you and your thrifting!

Swag Project....Complete.

2009-06-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures for you:

Sconces Before

After

Not too bad, uh? I would love to get rid of the very boring white walls but I live in an apartment and don't care too much to have to paint it white again before we move if we were to paint our walls.

I have a mantle! Finally!

2009-06-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

Our new rental is amazing. It's an older home, but it's had many updates and I just love the place. So much potential.
The landlord has given us free reign as long as my changes are tasteful and don't involve purple paint.
I would never!
Heh.

One of the most thrilling parts of the new rental is the Mantle!! I finally have a mantle. That was the very first part I decorated. A mantle cannot be nekkid. It's just wrong.
As with everything I do , I do it cheap.
Here's the big picture:The screen is old and tarnished, I imagine its brass, which I hate. I may spray it black.
I like the exposed brick, should it be painted?
I am in love with black and white schemes right now. I'm also deeply infatuated with apothecary jars.
Everything on my mantle came from thrift stores,outlets, or heavily clearanced.
3 glossy black candlesticks bought on 3 separate visits to the salvation army thrift store. Yep, those are glade candles on there. Sand dollar on clearance somewhere. Apothecary jar from a recent garage sale for 50 cents! The jar is filled with pearl floral beads.Here is the right side of my black and white mantle. 2$ black finial from Hobby Lobby. 3 apothecary jars from Bells outlet. Ahhh clearance at an outlet, I love it.
French bulldog made in japan. Ive had him for almost 10years now and I love him. He came from a garage sale.
Finally my wall art.

It seems like people struggle with art for above mantles, and too many go with the traditional boring mirror. I hate mirrors, so instead I ... redid my own wall art.
These are wood panels clearanced at Kirklands Home, for 2$ each. I filled in the recessed parts with a peal white, then slopped metallic black paint over the entire panel.
Amazing results.
Never be afraid to paint. Never. When I buy something, theres a 90% chance I am going to paint it.
Heh.

Now, I don't decorate for every single holiday, however I change it up often. I cannot wait for Halloween, its gonna rock your socks.

Thrifty Finds

2009-06-15T07:48:00.000-07:00

Here are a following thrift store finds from the past two weeks.
This platter I bought for $3.99 at Goodwill. It was great for the cookout we had this past weekend.

I spotted these at the Salvation Army a few weeks ago. They were there this past weekend so I bought them for a total of $1.50 for the set. I think I will paint them a glossy black. What do you think?

And for my swag project in bedroom I bought these at another S.A. for $3.99. I am going to spray paint these black for my swag. I was so happy I found these. Brand new in the package.

Not a bad price either!

Fab Swag

2009-06-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

So I have decided to switch up my bed room a bit. For the past two years I have had one of those mosquito net canopy's over my bed. It was annoying so I ended up tacking the side of it to the wall behind the bed. A few weeks ago I came up with this idea to buy something I can use to swag the fabric on the wall behind the bed. Here is an idea I found that is close to what I am going to do.

I think this would look great. More pics to come...sans cat.

This isn't a consignment shop lady!

2009-06-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

So RedAries and I went thrifting this past Saturday. We hit up a few garage sales and experienced something very interesting, and maybe very common. At one house, there was a woman checking out the clothing for sale. On her back, literally speaking, the seller was watching her go through each piece of clothing. This seller was asking $10 for a piece of clothing. I think it was a skirt or something. The seller also said and I quote " I don't buy cheap clothes". After hearing this I looked at RedAries and mouthed "let's go!". I would also like to add that she had no price stickers on anything. Scary huh?

Has anyone ever run into something similar?

Thrifty Decor Chicks Goodwill Party

2009-06-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

There's a Goodwill linky party over at one of my fave reads, Thrifty Decor Chick!

Great deals are NEVER wrong, no matter where they came from! Here's my contribution to the party, my "deskshelf!"
I searched high and low for a book shelf for my many books, with no luck. I personally am not willing to pay 300$ for a bookshelf, even if I have the money or not. (typically not)

I found two pieces of an entertainment center for 5$ at a yard sale, and then resold one piece in my driveway for 5$!

Here is the before piece I kept:

It has a great little desk perfect for my laptop, easily hiding it away when I need too.

I bought matte black paint, matte poly and new hardware, less than 20$ total.

After:The shelf has a small hole, which I keep covered with books, easy solution for an almost free desk with tons of storage space!!

Note: thanks for checking out my brand new bloggity blog, I hope you come back for more decor goodness! Please leave me a comment, Im lookin to fill out my link section today!