Thrifty Thursday #14 - throw your two cents in!

Just a few pics today... I'm exhausted! Things have been so busy the last week or so that I'm really in need of some time out. Or an early night. Or how 'bout a day on the couch with popcorn and movies?? I remember the days...

I haven't decided exactly what to do with these as yet, so if you've got a suggestion throw it in the ring! You can comment here or on Facebook.

If you've been following along you'll know that this isn't the first Queen Anne stool I've made over, but I couldn't help picking this one up too! This time I think I'm doing white.

And how orange is this high chair! It is covered in so much lacquer she's a bit sticky, but she could be lovely. I'm tossing up between fire engine red ('cause it's unisex) or white, with tiny hand painted bunting across the back and maybe on the seat.

In case you're wondering, no I'm not expecting a new little person. Two is enough thank you very much!! I've booked in to do a new market (for me anyway) that tends to have loads of children's things, so I thought this piece would be a great one to take along.

Ok last one...

I shared this one last week, but it's still on my mind. I'm tossing up between a bright colour, like red or yellow (I'm thinking a great pop of colour for your lounge room) OR white, with a white / blue / green map page on the top. I have the perfect pages... Thoughts?

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A Gorgeous Girl - Hall Table come Desk come Dressing Table

This girl came to me via eBay, from a lovely lady who lived on a farm. When I arrived to pick it up I was a little nervous, I had to open a gate and drive down a long drive way that I couldn't see the end of from the road. I reminded myself that I said I wouldn't pick things up on my own - not that I had anything to worry about - but you can't be too careful can you? Anyway, I picked up this girl and was very happy with my find.

I think she was originally made as a hall table, but I can see her as a small writing desk in a bedroom, or even a little dressing table. I think the table top is just wide enough, but not too wide to collect too much stuff! One day I will show you my working table and you will see what I mean!

I gave her a couple of coats of Antique White and distressed just a little for character.

Another orange piece bites the dust!

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I'm sharing at...
TwelveOeight
Savy Southern Style 
Domestically Speaking 
Live Laugh Rowe 
Primp 
Redoux 
Miss Mustard Seed 
Scandi Coast Home
Simple Home Life 

Thrifty Thursday #13 - A few good finds!

After last Thursdays disappointment (you can read about it here) I feel like I'm back on the up-swing. This is one of the reasons I'm smiling!

I'm really happy with these - I wanted ombre but not quite ombre. Does that make sense? Probably not really, but if you've been following along you'd be used to that! I have a pair, though I will sell them separately because I think I want one for Harry! I'll post the pair when it's not so rainy and I'm not photographing them in the garage!!

I also picked up this girl on the side of the road...

This was the pile of junk at the next house along, and I sat in the car staring at it for 10 minutes. Can you see what caught my eye? The dresser was great, but it was the upholstered bedhead lying on the ground that really caught my attention. When I finally decided that there was really no way I was going to get that thing in the car I drove away wondering how I could convince DK that we need a truck. 

I also picked up this lovely coat rack from an op shop - I think this is is perfect for scarves and jewellery, so it's probably going to stay with me for the time being :)

 
AND I got this from Freecycle! I love drinks trolleys; this one has had a coat or two of primer and I just need to decide on colour.

So really I should be smiling!

What have you found this week? Anything interesting?

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Square Side Table - Pacific Lagoon Green

Sometimes I just want to work with a colour - do you ever get that? Painting everything white can be lovely, but not this time. Walking around op shops and antique stores lately I've been obsessed with those beautiful greens you see everywhere, and I really wanted some to use on something myself. Lucky for me I had a square side table that a very lovely friend had found on the side of the road and passed on to me that could use a bit of brightening up.

This table was originally one of those orangy pieces you see everywhere. My dining table is orange; one day I WILL paint it, or get rid of it, but right now there's a long list before I get to it! I actually think just about everyone has or has had one of these pieces in their home at some stage... because op shops are always full of the stuff!  I love this one because it's solid, a good shape with shapely legs.

The colour I chose is British Paints Pacific Lagoon.

I wanted a weathered, worn look, so I used two coats of primer, two coats of paint, then I went crazy with the sander. YES I was nervous - but it turned out just as I had imagined it. The legs were a little harder because of their shape, so these were mostly done by hand... I find sanding a good way to release frustration - say after grocery shopping (which I HATE), or after one or other of the small people have had a huge meltdown over something so minor I can't even remember what it was in the first place!

This girl is destined for the Avoca Beachside Markets this weekend. I have my fingers crossed as it was rained out last month! So far there is no rain predicted so I will just need to keep them crossed!

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I'm sharing at...
Sugar Bee Crafts
Twelve0eight
Domestically Speaking
Redoux Interiors 
Miss Mustard Seed 
Scandi Coast Home 
Too Much Time on My Hands

Thrifty Thursday #12 - What's Going on?

What a week!!! I had posts planned for last weekend, and for the Monday just gone, and they just didn't get done. I have a garage full of stuff that is still stuff and not beautiful pieces of furniture ready for a new home. Some weeks are just like that right?? Can't get too up tight about these things...

Last weekend I visited the Tender Centre (I wrote about it here) and bid on a bunch of things...

...and didn't get a single one! I was seriously disappointed, but that's the challenge with that process. You win some you loose some, and in this case, nine. Would you believe the reserve for the peacock chair was $15?

So to get my fix this week I visited an op shop and found this...

I love coffee tables with a lower shelf, and think this one will be fantastic when repainted. So I ended the week (well almost) feeling much better!

So there you have it. Loads going on and not a whole lot to show for it! Will be more organised next week!

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Thrifty Thursday #10 - A bit of a story...

Over the last week I was feeling a bit down - I was worried about my little business Paisley Vintage and wondering if I was doing the right thing. It came to a head on Monday, and when DK came home from work I headed out for a walk to try to clear my head.

When I walk I just walk as far as I can for 20 - 25 minutes, and the turn around and come back again. I was thinking about the things I've done, the people I've talked to, the pieces I'd completed. As I turned the corner back into my street I thought - I just need a sign to tell me I'm on the right path, something that tells me it's OK. And that's when I saw this...

I could have done a dance there and then. I guess you either believe in this stuff or you don't, but when I saw that wardrobe, in perfectly lovely condition, I just felt better.

The wardrobe was about four houses from mine, so the people must have hauled it out of their house after I'd walked past the first time. It was way too heavy for me to carry back on my own, and even with my husband we couldn't do it. So the next morning we went down and stuck it on the roof of the car and brought her home. And when I saw stuck her on the roof, I mean it literally. No ropes. I closed my eyes. But she got here safely so I guess it was just meant to be :)

It might sound silly but it was the sign I needed. What about you? Do you believe in signs?

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Retro Record Cabinet in Chalk Paint

In my last Thrifty Thursday post I shared a photo of the record cabinet I scored at an op shop. Here she is in all shiny and RED!

I love this piece. Retro style is definitely my cup of tea, but I hardly ever find anything in my price range in my area. And while this girl had some issues (the top had a couple of cracks) I still think she's amazing!

The photos above are from outside my home, just after I'd taken her out of the car. You can see the usual dirt and dust - the guy at the op shop told me that they had only just been unloaded when I walked in. Talk about timing! I also bought a couple of bedsides and a chest of drawers so the car was jam packed - Emma and Harry were slightly squashed in the back seat from all the junk I'd pulled out of the boot. The things we do...

I used the chalk paint recipe I found at The Apprentice Extrovert (1 part water, 1 part plaster of paris, 3 part paint) and I always knew I wanted to paint her red. It just seemed right, and I picked Kimono Red at the paint shop because it was just dark enough not to be fire engine style. I've left the inside original.

I don't actually have any records, or a record player for that matter, though DK has a couple. I think he keeps them for nostalgia, as they're in a bag along with some of his old soccer jerseys from his teenage years. So, this one is destined for my next market, unless she finds a new home sooner :)

What about you - do you like a bit of retro style?

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I'm sharing at...
Under the Table and Dreaming
Twelve0eight 
Not Just a Housewife 
Domestically Speaking 
Live Laugh Rowe 
Miss Mustard Seed 
Scandi Coast Home

Weekend Wanderings - Have you met...

For me, the best thing about blogging by far are the people I've come in contact with. Their support encouragement and feedback make it seriously worth it. In receiving the Leibster Award I needed to pass it on, but I soon found out it is a lot of work. And I know we're all busy (I'm flying by the seat of my pants just quietly). I think the point of the exercise is to share the love, so instead I just want to ask...

Have you met... 

The Apprentice Extrovert - I know Courts has been awarded before, but quite honestly I love her work. Retro cool I'd describe it. And she's a pretty cool chic too.

See what I'm saying? This is one of my favourite pieces, but it's one of many.

Five Brothers and One Sister - Deanne is lovely, and when she shared this dresser I knew I'd found a great blogger.

Her blog is a blend of makeovers and homelife which I love, and her thrifty finds are amazing! I'm mean, look at those clocks!!! I'd love to ride along with her one day ;)

Scandi Coast Home - Tania's photos always make me smile. She has a beautiful style, and she has a white peacock chair for goodness sake!

I often think I could just move straight in to Tania's house, especially since she has just put in a swimming pool and lovely landscaping!


These bloggers are those that have inspired me, and I'd love for you to check them out... If you have a blog you'd like to share, either yours or someone else's, please leave a link in the comments. I always love finding new places to be inspired!

Actually, I love the idea of a series called 'Have you met...' (and I have loads of bloggy friends I'd love to share) so you might see a few more bloggy links coming soon :)

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