Thrifty Thursday #3 - Vintage Plates!

So obviously I like all things old school. ;) For this Thrifty Thursday I thought I'd share a new love, and a new project, vintage plates!

The biggest kick I get out of op shopping is finding a use for whatever is in abundance at my local stores. I mean, I love maps, globes and gorgeous old frames, but I have never ever seen any at any of my local stores. But what I have seen loads of are plates!

Can you see the plate above? A lovely lady in a yellow dress? I almost fell over when I saw it, and then again when I saw that it was $25!!! The plates from the cake stand at the very top were all $4 to $6. As much as I love it, I just can't justify $25 for a plate I'm going to drill through, and could actually break. I should mention - yes I tried to bargain. They were not in a bargaining mood.

One their own I think these plates are beautiful, (how lovely is the yellow cabbage leaf above?) but together they are really something else!! I made two cake stands for my most recent market stall and sold both early. For me, the key is finding plates that aren't to matchy matchy, but that have a bit of a theme; so colour (yellows, pinks, greens etc) or pattern (flowers, fruit etc).

I'm thinking you could also grab some more modern looking plates from the dollar store that would look just as good - spots, stripes and chevron in the same colour way  would look great together!

I bought my kit on Craftumi, and bought a tile drill bit from Bunnings, though you can also get them from eBay. The most time consuming part is drilling the holes - it's a slow process, and while I have been lucky so far, everything I've read warns about how easy it is to crack or brake a plate.

The drill bit works by slowly scrapping away the china, hence the slow pace. Speeding up the drill means the bit doesn't seem to grip (yes, I'm impatient and got sick of slow, but quickly realised going fast didn't get me anywhere!)

So what about you - do you like vintage plates? Got a stash of your own? Do you have an amazing plate display on your wall?

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I'm sharing at
Scandi Coast Home
Simple Home Life
Sugar Bee Craft
Primitive & Proper 

Little Yellow Table

I've been dying to paint something yellow...

...so when I picked this little table up at my local auction house I thought she would be perfect! Unfortunately I forgot to take a before photo, but essentially she was just brown ;) When I got down to it I decided that I had gotten the wrong yellow, and then I had second thoughts. I'm SO glad I got over them!

These photos were all taken at my market stall over the weekend, so apologies for the lack of styling. She had actually sold when I realised I hadn't taken any photos at all! Lucky for me her new owner was keen to check out the rest of the market and pick her up on the way home, so I could quickly snap a few pictures.

I think the colour makes this perfect for a little girls room, however her new owner was telling me about a very gorgeous sounding sunroom that she will move into. And what made this little table unique (well, I haven't seen it before ;) ) was a little latch underneath that unhooked one side of the table top, so you could lift that side up to be vertical and store her away. So perfect for small spaces!!

And now I'm off to sort through my stuff from the market - I had a great day, but I'm so exhausted!! I think I might be down for a nap when little Harry goes for his after lunch!

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I'm sharing at...
Under the Table and Dreaming
Primitive & Proper
Domestically Speaking
Live Laugh Rowe 
Simple Home Life 
Miss Mustard Seed 
The Shabby Nest

Thrifty Thursday #2 - Roadside Gold Edition

Last week I started a new bloggy tradition - Thrifty Thursday. Every Thursday I'm going to share what I've seen, found or generally lusted after. This week it's roadside finds, and I've got some doozies!

It constantly amazes me the stuff people throw out. Driving around my local suburbs this week I've been amazed at what people have decided is rubbish. Take this girl for example...

There was no way I was leaving her, look at those arms!! And though it took me a while to get her in the back of the car, I did eventually get her home! I think this arm chair could be gorgeous, I've already bought some fabric and piping and now I'm psych-ing myself up to do it. There is an amazingly talented duo in Lismore, NSW who save these chairs all the time, and I'm so inspired by their work. They're called Flourish and Blume and you can find them here.

The ones that got away this week were these chairs. When I did the school drop off I saw four of dining chairs and wanted to go home unload the stuff in the back of the car (pram, picnic blankets, bags etc etc, you know the stuff), then come back to get them. Not an hour later two were broken. :(

Apologies for the terrible phone photo - but hopefully you can see two chairs standing, and two broken. Makes me sad when people do this! BUT, rather than end on that sad note I'll leave you with my best ever roadside find before and after. I found this dresser on the side of the road and am SO glad I stopped for her! You can find out more about this project here.

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Bird on a Wire Telephone Table

I rarely find amazing pieces on eBay, especially in my price range, but I think this piece is an exception!

Her previous owner had originally bought her to makeover but was busy with a house move and decided to pass her on. Lucky for me she was in great condition and just needed an update.

I love the blue grey colour - it's Class Blue by Dulux. I was originally going yellow, and I bought both colours home, but once I started I knew I'd made the right choice. And the yellow is destined for another project ;) Then she sat for another few days before I decided I'd add some birds, I think they're a cute detail that add a bit of character.

While I think she'd be lovely as a telephone table, or a hall table, I also think she'd be great for this...

Is getting shoes on a nightmare at any one elses house?!?! This would make a perfect little station for the kids to get their shoes on on the way out the door ;)

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I'm sharing at...
Under the Table and Dreaming
Tip Junkie
Not Just a Housewife
Primitive & Proper
Domestically Speaking
The Shabby Nest 
Scandi Coast Home 
Live Laugh Rowe 
Miss Mustard Seed

Thrifty Thursday

I'm trying to get myself into a regular routine of blogging, exercising both my writing and photography skills, so I'm introducing...

Every Thursday I'll share what I've seen, found or just generally lusted after! Some big pieces some small, but hopefully inspiration!

If you follow me on Facebook you will have seen this picture. I walked away very sadly, having promised I would not bring any more furniture into our home with getting rid of its predecessor first. So my orange dining table stays in place, but take a look at this beauty!

Can't you imagine her reupholstered in chevron or grain sacks or drop cloths? She was in perfect condition, all the chairs were comfy (yes I tried them all) and no wobbles. I'm not saying that I won't go back and look at it again next week, or look lovingly at my husband in an attempt to convincing him...

This one may actually end up in our home sooner rather than later. Harry needs a set of drawers, the poor little man has a set of melamine drawers that have been handed round till they are falling apart. Now I'm getting to the 'just get something else' point, these could be great. And at $30...

This piece has been at my local op shop for a while now. I think it's beautiful, but at $200 I doubt anyone will pounce on it any time soon. It could be lovely though...

So what did I actually buy? A little side table, and she's going to be yellow!

So what about you - what have you seen, bought or lusted after this week? I'd love to hear about what you've found.

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That Chair - A Makeover Drama

Good lord. This project almost ended badly. VERY BADLY.

When I saw this chair at my local auction house I was desperate. I really wanted her and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. It was not this.

Orange tapestry. Unfortunately the budget didn't stretch to all 6, so I bid on and won two. (Remind me to tell you about the day my husband saw that their reserve had been reduced to $0, but forgot to tell me).

I wanted bold. Dramatic. A bit fun. But then trying to re-upholster her was a nightmare. First up I used glue that stained the fabric. Then I cut my fabric the wrong size. Then there were my children... I take responsibility, I did after all give them food. What was I thinking!

But we got there eventually! I know she's not to everyone's taste but I love her just the same. I love having something that has so much character... I can't decide whether to have her in the main bedroom, and design around her, or use her in the spare room / craft room. Wherever she goes, I'm sure she'll be the centre of attention!

Her mate is still in the garage awaiting her fate. I'm thinking I'll go the total opposite with her and go white or very pale grey and neutral fabric. My tastes are a little eclectic!

So, what about you - do you have something that's bold and dramatic at your place? How do you work it in to your home?

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I'm sharing at...
Sugar Bee Crafts
Not Just a Housewife
Primitive & Proper
Live Laugh Rowe
Miss Mustard Seed 
Scandi Coast Home 

Retro Book Shelf Makeover

I love stripes...

I picked this book shelf up at an op shop after the lady working there said to me, 'who doesn't need a book shelf?'...  She's right though isn't she? Small book shelves are so useful, so I agreed, picked her up and brought her home.

I didn't exactly need a whole lot of convincing - I loved the wood grain on the back of the shelves, but wanted to brighten up the whole piece and keep it's retro feel. So I thought stripes would be perfect.

If you're considering stripes I definitely recommended Courts from The Apprentice Extrovert tip for touching up after any bleeding. You can check it out here.

Right now I'm using the bookcase to display some of my old books, though I'm thinking it might find a permanent home in Harry's room... maybe! And while I'm talking stripes I thought I'd show off the stripe rug I painted a little while ago for my entry. I'm STILL loving it.

I remember setting home makeover goals at the beginning of the year and thinking I'd knock them over in no time! How wrong I was! But the entry is nearly finished; just lighting and odds and ends to go. I think it'll be ready for Christmas...

Thanks for stopping by...






I'm sharing at...
Live Laugh Rowe
Simple Home Life
Scandi Coast Home
Under the Table and Dreaming
Miss Mustard Seed
Sugar Bee Crafts
Not Just a Housewife 
Primitive & Proper