Rack refurbishment

An antique luggage rack has been on my rummage/yard sale radar for a loooong time. When I spied this one two weeks ago (priced at $4), I grabbed it immediately. Luckily, there were no injuries. I had plans for this rack to live in our guest bedroom so suitcases would also have a nice place to rest.

I didn't even think twice about those worn ribbons.

Instead, I saw a beautiful and functional piece of furniture that was perfect for an easy makeover project.

I happened to have this ribbon in my stash (also purchased at a rummage sale in a box like that one.) It was exactly the right width and had the same charm of the original luggage rack ribbon. I knew it was meant to be.

It took about 30 minutes to transform my find including the ribbon replacement and a good polish. A project that was finished up just in time for our guests over the past weekend. Suitcases are now within arms reach at this hotel. And we don't even charge extra.

The box under the rummage sale table

Over the past weekend, I managed to find time to squeeze in a couple of rummage sales. This is my absolute favorite way to find materials for mixed media paintings and sewing projects. Supplies purchased like this are a mere fraction of the retail price. Besides you can't find trim from the 1940s at your local Michael's.

While wandering the second sale of the morning, I spied a box under the table in the "craft/sewing section." (ALWAYS LOOK UNDER THE TABLE. This is where the really good stuff hides...trust me.) I didn't need to spend much time weeding through to know I had struck gold. I added a few other things to the box and then asked the nice lady if she could give me a price for the whole lot. She looked through my stash and consulted with her coworker. Then she turned back to me, smiled and said, "How's $2.50?" I told her that was more than fair. So are you curious as to what's in that box?! Here's a sampling...


Yards of fabric...

Lace and trims.

Hundreds of buttons...

A rainbow of rick rack, seam binding, bias trim, elastic (most unopened)...

Charming wooden spools of thread, measuring tapes and old sewing notions. The box also contained half yards of colorful fleece (perfect for kid projects), unopened ribbon spools, crochet thread and tulle.

Never underestimate a rummage sale as a source for materials. And you'll probably get a better deal if you collect a box of stuff and ask for a price on the entire lot. Have fun and let me know what treasures you find!

A deal for those of us who didn't win big in Vegas

I'm finally back. My sincerest apologies for being gone so long. Sandwiched between today and valentines day, I was retreating in Vegas for 5 fantastic art-filled days. A retreat that took 5 days prior to prepare and 5 days after to recover. So I agree "retreat" is hardly the word especially when combined with "vegas", but on paper it did say Art and Soul Retreat. More on that coming soon. In the meantime, I thought I'd share this find (If you use cheapy craft paint with as much joy as me) that I stumbled upon over the weekend at Michaels. Americana paints (reg. $1.19) are on sale for 69 cents through March 6th. If that wasn't good enough, there's a rebate out for $5 back on ten (form found hanging on the paint shelf at my store.) This makes paint as low as 19 cents per bottle! What a great excuse to try out some funky new shades (regardless of how the slots and the tables...eh hem...treated you.)

I'm still muddling through catch up work (and unnecessary trips to craft stores), but I'll be back in a day or so *promise* with a complete retreat recap.

Finding JOY

When I entered the scene of a particular yard sale a month or so ago, I almost turned around and walked right back out before doing a thorough investigation of the goods. At first glance, the sale seemed to have an abundance of overpriced Tupperware and plastic novelties. But since I had taken the time to stop the car, I figured I'd at least check out the pile of books on a back table. And that's when I saw it. A small box shoved to the side. I gulped. Vintage scrabble?! My heart skipped a beat. There wasn't a board, but the letters and letter racks were enough for me. With the asking price of 50 cents for the set, I realized that some people value Tupperware, while others prefer vintage letters. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I knew those little blocky letters would be great in a mixed media piece, but I also realized they were cool enough to stand on their own. So I spelled out our name and let them rest on the light switch plate in our entryway. Hubby please stop reading...

(actually they are attached to the wall with a little dab of hot glue. Yes, I was aware that the painter of the house would not be happy with the decision to take a glue gun to the walls, but at least it's not hay or plastic flowers, right? ...anybody see those Trading Spaces episodes??!)

Hubby continue reading...

I also came to the conclusion that my fabric covered studio switch plate could benefit from letter additions so I "attached" more tiles. I love spelling out the obvious.

Less daring I suppose is choosing to display a word on one of those charming, old wooden racks. The X is on its side on purpose. You get it right?!

This also spells what to do when you discover how your wife attached scrabble letters to the walls. XOXO : )

A whole lotta trim

Yards of this...


and yards of that.


Candy ropes...


and fiber goodness.


Every once in awhile the dreams I have of trim and fabric come to life. Last Saturday, I stumbled upon not one, but two interior designer garage sales. The entire box above (filled with yards and yards of eye candy) was happily mine for $12. Whole pieces taller than me. I still can't believe it. And wait until you see the fabric. This means I can conduct my sewing experiments without the stress of ruining trim or fabric that I paid retail price for. No worries if I cut the fabric wrong...it was only $5 total for 8 leftover yards. So if you thought garage sales were all about dusty nicknacks and ugly neckties think again. Your dreams are out there too my friend.

Apparently, I'm not the only one impressed. Trimmed up projects coming soon.

No charge Color Splash

If you haven't heard the news, Glidden is giving away a free quart of paint in your choice of color until July 2! But be quick as it's a while-supplies-last offer. I could have stared at those choices all day, but I knew exactly what I wanted. On my long list of summer things to do is to paint an accent wall in our master bedroom. Just about this shade a.k.a. my choice...


I can't begin to tell you how happy it makes me that I can take the plunge without spending a cent or worse yet standing in line at the paint counter. Who among us doesn't have a quart-of-paint-kinda-project on the list?! And PROMISE me you won't request anything in the white, cream or taupe color palettes. No worries, it's free color!

'tis the season for Inexpensive and Inspirational stockpiling

Things aren't exactly organized by aisle and there are no guarantees that you'll find exactly what you think you are looking for, but the prices and the fun are worth it. Yard sale season has returned in my corner of the world. Actually it has already been around for several weeks, but track season prohibited me from doing anything other than watching my kids gloriously race to the finish line. This weekend brought my first free Saturday. And the sun was shining. I do have a list somewhere in the back of my head of things I'm hoping to score at yard sale prices, but other finds aren't even on my radar. Take the 35 cent grouping above. Not on the radar, but those little pieces have already sparked new ideas for future projects. And if the future projects don't materialize, I'm out 35 cents? Not a big deal (but I know I'll use the bits for something.)

Here's something I'm always in the market for (if the price is right). Not only do I use "pricey" ribbon for gift packages (all presents deserve to look fabulous), but it creeps into my collages and projects consistently. I have ribbon organized by color in my studio closet...just looking at that brings me a feeling that all is right with the world.

Yes peeps that's right. The entire container with practically full (and some never used) ribbon rolls was mine for $10 tOtaL (That $10 included the under-the-bed storage container which alone carries a retail price of $20+.) Did I mention that some of the full ribbon was marked at $14.99 and higher? It is a rare day indeed when I buy ribbon at retail price.

Here's something that was on the list. Storage drawer bins for my out-of-control collage pieces. Buying plastic at the store seems silly when it's hanging around in yards on Saturdays for a fraction of the price.

Pillowcase projects seem to be all the rage these days. I've seen crafters turn them into dresses, skirts, blouses, aprons and more. My problem was that sometimes I thought the end result looked a bit too pillowcasey. When I found these unpillowcase gems...let's just say I had a moment. AND then when the granny of the house came up to me and told me her mother hand smocked and embroidered them??? And she wanted 50 cents each?! I thanked her and promised they were going to a good home (pillowcase projects coming soon...can hardly wait.)

I wasn't looking to buy 12 yards of burlap fabric, but felt the deal was too good to pass up. I don't have burlap in my stash and though I'm not exactly sure what I'll use it for I like the alternative texture=creative sparks.

I didn't photograph less artsy/crafty finds like summer reading (25 cents per book) for kids and adults, a like-new wheelbarrow ($4), a flowery nostalgic vase ($1) and a princess memory game (50 cents). But I came home with those too.

Go out and hit 10 or so sales on a Saturday morn. If you're not already a convert, you will be AmaZeD at the new or likenew supplies being unloaded for projects that never happened (note: I do practice some restraint so that I can actually walk into my studio.) If there's a craft that you might want to give a whirl, yard sales are a great way to pick up materials without the investment. Veterans, what did you find so far this season?

Making a list

I bet you've been wondering if I've been thinking about the clipboard that I would transform to match my booth that would hold my mailing list sign-up sheet? No? Well actually, it happens to be bullet point #15 on my "100 Things to Prep for Art Show" list. The scary thing is I'm not kidding. After digging into my closet of waiting-to-be-fabulous thrift store/yard sale treasures, I picked out this particular clipboard purchased for a quarter some time ago. Beat up and abused, but with the coolest metal clip in perfect working condition. I primed the board and threw a palette of paint at it (quite literally really) to make over into this...

tah dah! Now a much happier clipboard which also got a few coats of sealer.

This sign up opportunity will be out for those interested in hearing about my latest work, show schedule, studio happenings and promos including specials just for "the list." And BTW if you can't be at this show, notice the new little sign up button over there at the right (i'm pointing to screen.) Just enter your e-mail and presto you'll too be on "the list." And don't think you'll be bombarded with e-mail. It's a no-share, no-more-than-once-a-month update. Did I mention the specials?

Now in case you think I've gone over the top and become waaaaay too serious about all of this prepping, not to worry...

...here's the sign-up pen. Who says the pencils should have all the fun?

I'm typing slowly with eleven fingers due to a nasty x-acto knife accident yesterday. I'll spare you the details. Just a little reminder that I need to keep my mind focused instead of thinking (while cutting) about how I could next transform/embellish the boring looking cash box.

FYI: I'm drawing the line at clipboards...at least for this show.

Hiding the Table or more 1st Art Show prep

I've had my eye out for fabric for my upcoming art show table for awhile now. Nothing uglier than your standard 2' x 6' white plastic hotel table...yeah, that baby must be covered. Yesterday on a thrift shop pop-in, I rooted through the fabric/bedding section to find 4 yards of the above for the bargain price of $2 (total). I questioned its busy-ness, but decided that the shade of purple perfectly matched my color scheme. This certainly isn't bed-in-a-bag matchy that I'm going for with this and this and now THIS, but it's all working and "matching" in my colorful, patterned world. I also loved that the funky paisley had a nice sense of movement, and was a non-wrinkly-silky kind of fabric that would look pretty good pulled out of a box if an iron couldn't be located, and ~LOVE~ that it was $2.

After trimming the fabric to size, I decided it needed the other kind of trim. I rationalized that 8 yards of perfect trim probably wouldn't turn up at a thrift store anytime soon...so I purchased the above ribbon from a craft store for a big $4. Bringing my table investment to $6. With all the other show necessities adding up, I'm being cautious. My goal is to at least break even.

I hemmed the edges of the fabric first and then went back and added the trim. Not sure if there's a "right" way. If so, my making a trimmed table cloth by the book would have been purely accidental.

Here's my purple, paisley, polka-dotted table cover all finished taking a test run on our dining table. I'll also have a white cloth under it at the show which will extend to the floor so I can hide stuff like bins and bags and maybe myself depending on how things go... : 0

Another big check off the prep list....I've got the table covered.

Upcycling

upcycling: the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value. --wikipedia

One of my very favorite magazines, Cloth Paper Scissors, included my bottle cap charms in their latest issue and newest column. If you're interested in the step-by-step click here for my original post back in October (...and how great are those paint tube peeps by the Oiseaux Sisters on the cover!)

I'm thinking that if there's anything positive about the recession and current environmental concerns, it's the fact that a whole lot of us are taking a closer look at how we can upcycle. It's an exciting process. Actually at this very moment, I have 10 thrifted wool sweaters in a variety of splashy colors and patterns drying in the basement. I bought this book and can't wait to transform them. Stay tuned for felted wool experiments coming soon.

Speaking of trash, check out some vintage beauties that I've acquired via estate sales in the past year. I paid under a dollar for each of these heavy metal cans that I absolutely adore.

I'll have to say it's hard to put trash in something so charming. That's a good thing. Double thinking what's truly trash and what has the potential for an upcycling. February is almost out and that means yard sale season a.k.a opportunity is right around the corner.

Happy Friday!

a chip off the old block

Congrats to Illustration Friday's newest proud parents Penelope and Colin. To celebrate, I created this party hat out of a...

...wooden children's block and bits of vintage feathers, trims, beads, papers and fabrics. I found these blocks at a yard sale last summer. The nice seller had a very hard time giving them up and hoped that my kids would love the blocks as much as hers had. I felt slightly guilty and didn't mention exactly what I had in mind for those smooth wooden shapes. In addition to the hat above, I'm seeing a plethora of future 3-D mixed media projects. How about you?

The van gets a trunk

Yesterday after dropping my youngest at preschool, my van shifted into auto pilot and took me right to my favorite thrift store. It tends to do this every few weeks or so. I try to act relatively cool at my thrift haunts, but I could feel my mouth making a big WOW when I saw this.

An absolutely gorgeous antique trunk. The best part (besides the price) had to be the shipping labels all over the back and sides. Remember when people shipped their trunks i.e. railroad travel and all of that?? Me neither, but I've seen it on TV. The incredible weathered colors and markings made by time on this gem are simply amazing (and if I could figure out how to make my pix larger than "large" on my blog I'd blow these babies up so you could see even better.)

I love the bits left of the broken handle. Not that an intact handle wouldn't have been nice. It was quite a trick both lugging this awkward, huge thing up to the register and getting it out and into my van.

And then there's the hardware...

Here's a closeup of the inside lined with ghosts from the past.

I want to put this awkward 50lb+ trunk on my scanner and scan every inch. However photos will have to do. Wouldn't the above make a great background/starting point for a collage?
(I left the pix big here so if you click and print you can do just that.)

I know this isn't the best use or place for my Tuesday find, but for now it'll sit here as a printer stand. I'd love the trunk for a coffee table, but I can see my three dears picking at the barely-still-intact mailing labels and therefore causing a mother to yell...LOUD.

The other best part...the price. I even shocked my husband who is used to my bargain hunting prowess. I purchased this trunk for a mere $4.00 (USD). Kid you not. That's why it's just silly to ignore your vehicle when it wants to take a quick jaunt to the thrift store.