Not Exactly Quick, But We're Making Progress...

So according to my previous post, things were moving along quickly, and that is still true for the most part. Ninety percent of the key pieces for this bedroom makeover have been sourced, orders have been placed and furniture has been picked up. I'm still stuck on finding the ceiling light fixture and mirror, but other than that, we're chugging along.

The sloooowest part of the process has been the "elbow grease" pieces. The thrifted dresser ($29.99!) underwent a makeover, and since I could only work on it intermittently, it took about 10 days from start to finish. Sand, prime, dry, sand, prime, dry, sand, paint, dry, sand, paint, dry, sand, paint, dry...you get the picture.

Done at last!! Updated from scratched & dented 1960's veneer to a crisp, modern white (Para Paints Whitewash White, 2089-00):

Without missing a beat, I'm onto the next project. I submitted a max bid of $100 through an online estate auction, and the hammer came down at 95 bucks for this pair of bedside tables. I was completely sold when I saw the hardware. The drawers were a bit sticky, but some candle wax easily along the runners quickly sorted that out. After a good wipe down, it will be time to get back to sanding, priming & painting. Good times!

Thrifted Thursday Feature

Good morning!! I'm just popping in here to let everyone know that today I'm being featured in the Thrifted Thursday series over at Love on Sunday. I recently met blogger Amy, a talented graphic designer and fellow design aficionado, at the Christie Antiques Show. We share a similar love of thrifting, and I was more than happy to share the story of how I discovered & updated my campaign chest. While you're there, check out the rest of Amy's blog, it's a great read!

Click the photo above for a direct link to Amy's Thrifted Thursday post.

Roundup: This Week in Thrifting

Besides the awesome flower painting in my previous post, I found some other cool vintage items while thrifting this week! Here is a roundup of my latest thrift store discoveries:

It wasn't until after washing this assortment of mugs and cups, and placing them upside down to dry that I started to notice a theme - they were all made in Japan.

Isn't this mug cool? I like the footed style,
and the retro colour combination used
in the Tiffany pendant lamps.

This fun retro mug also caught my eye.
For some reason I always fall for the 1970's
colour combination of orange, gold and green.

The artwork on these Japanese tea cups is so pretty,
they need to be on display.
I came up with a few ideas for every day use.

These brass candlesticks bucked the trend -
they were made in Canada!!
They're extremely heavy, and the brass
has a lovely warm glow.

This was definitely a good week for thrifting!

Have you been thrifting lately? Share your finds
by posting a link in the comments!!

Art is Affordable

For all those who believe that art is unaffordable, I'm here to prove you wrong. Always remember that art doesn't have to be expensive to be "good". The only thing that matters is that you enjoy it and appreciate it. I found the piece below while out thrifting yesterday - I love the flowers and the colours in this painting. The bonus is that I like the way it's framed, which means I won't have to spend a bundle to have it redone. What do you think?

Oh, and the price? A sweet $4.99.

Recent Thrift Finds

Lately things have been busy, but I have found a half hour here and there to do some thrifting. These are some of my recent finds:

First is a tiny soap dish made by Limoges for the Hotel Prince de Galles in Paris. I thought maybe it was a sign that I should stay there during my upcoming trip, but unfortunately the hotel is currently in the middle of a year long renovation. This little dish is perfect to corral loose coins or jewellery.



These hexagonal Bavarian plates with gold edging were just too pretty and unique to pass up!! In perfect condition, they would be great as side plates for a casual lunch or for afternoon tea & cookies.

Have you thrifted any cool items lately? Please share!!

Thrifting Tips

I don't think I've mentioned Value Village or Salvation Army Thrift for quite awhile. It's not that I haven't been making routine visits, but I haven't had much luck lately and this type of treasure hunting requires patience. Mind you, I did pass on an entire box full of Enoch Wedgwood Kent china selling for $25.00 at the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Peterborough. Now I see it selling on ebay for a minimum of $5 apiece. Shoulda, woulda, coulda!!

My 3 Thrifing Tips:

1. Have patience and treat each visit to the thrift shop as the next potential jackpot. Visit as often as you can, since the best items will come & go in a day.
   
2. When your instincts tell you that it's worth far more than the ticket price, buy it. Even if you don't really need it, you can always resell it on Ebay or Etsy for a tidy profit.
3. If you're debating over a piece that's tarnished and black, buy it. Tarnished pieces are always undervalued because they just don't look good. A little silver polish and elbow grease will turn your ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.
   

Found this tarnished Salt & Pepper set for $2.99:

Pulled out the Silvo:

And Presto!! Shiny silverplate:


Good luck thrifting!!

Vintage Toronto Sketches

I know I'm constantly going on about all the great deals to be found at Value Village, but I should let you know that The Salvation Army thrift stores can be equally as fruitful. Just last month I found this pair of vintage ink sketches featuring popular Toronto landmarks St. Lawrence Hall and "New" City Hall. Considering the age of the automobiles in the renderings and that fact that "New" City Hall opened in 1965, I estimate these sketches to be about 40 years old.


I had the basic pale wood frames replaced with modern black ones and had the sketches mounted with double mats in charcoal and black. Now these sketches hang proudly in my home, a little bit vintage, a little bit modern, and a lot Toronto.



To find a Value Village near you follow this link and enter your zip or postal code.

To find a Salvation Army Thrift Store near you follow this link and search locations.