From DRAB to FAB: A Thrift Store Pot Makeover!

Ok, so all I did was add a new knob. But still…it changes the whole look and makes this boring pot quite FABULOUS!

First, I got this cool little enamel pot at the thrift store for .99 cents, marked “as is” because it was dirty and the top knob was all scratched up and gross. I knew with a good scrub and a little love, I could make this diamond in the rough shine a little!

First I scrubbed it and got it all nice and clean. I didn’t take a “before” picture but it was dull and had a grimy film over the whole thing. Ewwwww. Here’s the ugly, beat-up knob that came on it:

So…I unscrewed this knob and took it off….

And added this AWESOME porcelain knob I picked up at Hobby Lobby for $3. Yes, that’s a lot for one knob I suppose, but for a project like this I think it’s worth it.

And the “AFTER” with the new knob! Isn’t she a beaut?

I LOVE the clean, simple look of black and white!

Hobby Lobby has a HUGE selection of knobs (among other craft supplies and home decor), and I am starting to think of all kinds of neat ideas for these. Re-vamping and old dresser…sprucing up some more old pots…adding them to tops of decorated/painted paper mache boxes perhaps? Hmmmmm….what else could we use these for? Here are a few that I LOVE and would like to eventually use for something (not sure what yet, I just really like ‘em!):

UPDATE! I just found this adorable stocking hanger sign over at http://gingerbreadandcandycanes.blogspot.com/ using the same types of knobs…how freakin awesome is this?! I am DEFINITELY making these for Christmas!!!

So on another fun note, I just finished designing The Carriage Place’s 1st official newsletter! I have taken over the duties of updating the website and doing a lot of online stuff, including e-mailing out a quarterly newsletter with upcoming events, announcements, etc. I wanted it to be eye-catching, but also short and sweet – not too much text that you don’t want to read it. I went for a real “vintage” feel. What do you think??

Yay for a sunny day for a change! After all these April showers…we BETTER have May flowers, and SOON! Have a week everyone!

Folding Ruler Stars and Learning a Bit About “Courting Candles”

Welp…I got my first check and summary of sales since I have opened my booth. I made more than double my rent in a little less than 3 weeks…I couldn’t be  more excited!!! I think I definitely made the right choice of where to set up my space, and I have gotten to know a lot of the vendors and the owner quite well. I can’t wait to see what the future at the co-op brings…I hope the rest of the summer goes as well as my first few weeks!

So lately I have been doing less crafting and a lot more stock piling items from thrift stores and estate sales, trying to make sure I am able to fill my booth as needed. I’ve been in a bit of a crafting “rut” lately. I keep wanting to go outside to do some spray painting but the weather won’t let me. Anyway…I found a bunch of these folding rulers at a garage sale yesterday and remembered an idea I saw somewhere online ages ago, where it was shaped as a star. I decided to give it a try!

Pretty stinkin cute, huh? I love how they turned out. So easy…just bend em! I tied a little piece of homespun to hold it together. The hinges are pretty stiff and there’s not really an issue with the star losing it’s shape, so no need to glue it or anything…it pretty much stays in the shape you fold them!

Here are some other recent thrift store/household sale finds!

Ok, does anyone know what these scissor things are?? I have looked around online and no one knows. I keep thinking something along the lines of candle snuffer, fire tongs, etc. Anyone???

I am always on the look out for things like this little wooden sleigh, for displays at craft shows or in my booth. For .50 cents, I will use this to hold some of my Christmas trinkets at the craft show for sure!

And one of my favorite finds…this “Courting Candle” which I decided to do a little more research on:

In the 1600s to 1800s, fathers, parents or guardians of a marriageable young lady would allow suitors to visit her in her home. The couple were allowed to visit in a sitting room, parlor or on the front porch. The father would prepare a candleholder called a courting candle or suitors candle and set it up in the area where the couple sat. The father would observe the suitor and decide an amount of time that he felt comfortable with for the man to visit and socialize. The candle height would be adjusted to measure out the time. The candle was raised or lowered with a peg or thumb lever. When the candle burned to the metal at the top of the candleholder it was the firm yet polite signal that it was time for the suitor to bid the young woman good evening and leave. (Found this info here).

And lastly, in honor of Easter, I thought I would share a picture of the evil wood bunny that stares at me every time I go up and down the stairs to my craft area. He kinda scares me. Happy Easter everyone!

A Spring Time Walk

Has everyone been enjoying these sunny spring days as much as I have? I love the fresh air, the colors becoming more vibrant, and the flowers poking their pretty little heads up! Greg and I took a walk the other night and I was feeling inspired by all of the new life starting to show through the mud and the weeds. I broke out my camera and started snapping away.  I decided it was a good summary of our Spring time here in upstate New York! Thought I’d share!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

The BEST Estate Sale Ever = A Newly Stocked Booth!

What an AWESOME weekend!! The weather was freakin phenomenal, and I went to the BEST estate sale I have EVER been to and loaded up on all kinds of really great primitive items for my booth! It was the most gorgeous old farm-house just loaded with folk art, pottery, primitives, and all kinds of antiques. I ended up keeping some of what I picked up to decorate my own house with…this stuff was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! I just had to share some of these treasures, but first here are some pictures of my newly stocked up booth at The Carriage Place!

Okay, so here are some of the cool items I got at this estate sale on Saturday. One of my favorites is this very primitive red tool box. The lady had it holding Country Living magazines. Neat idea!

The bobble head is old news, but the rest of these items are new. I already have that exact same green enamelware dipper or else I would have kept it, because as you probably know, I have a mild obsession with enamelware. I love the jar full of marbles…it’s so eye-catching. The heart/arrow piece is a two-piece tea bag holder and has a little dish under strainer part. It would be great to put out at Valentine’s Day but there’s no way I can wait that long!

Some new items here include an antique glove holder, stoneware jug, and this cast iron double-decker bus…

Couldn’t resist this old wooden scooper…and it’s already sold!

Loaded up on old wire rug beaters and many colored glass bottles!

I got about a dozen of these wonderful colored glass Wheaton bottles; the majority of which are part of the commemorative presidential series.

“In 1967, Wheaton Glass, a division of Wheaton Industries began to produce commemorative decanters, flasks, and bottles. In 1969 the first Presidential bottle was issued with John F. Kennedy on it. JFK was followed by series honoring many of our presidents. Each of the presidential decanters were issued  in a limited quantity with accurate images of the presidents. On the reverse side of these canteen shaped bottles was a quotation or slogan in which related to the Chief Executive. Different colors were used on several of the bottles.” ~http://www.wheatonclub.com/history.html

Anyone else hooked on cast iron?

I am so tempted to go back to my booth and take this awesome old egg scale home with me. SO COOL!

The wooden goose decoration is a goodwill find, but of course I had to spruce it up with some pip berries and new homespun tie around the neck. The super rusty 3-tier veggie bin was another estate sale score – as soon as I saw it I thought it would be great for a display piece with the 3 bins! I filled it up with new newly made silicone bulb night lights!

This awesome old bucket wasn’t in my booth 24 hours and has been SOLD! Yippeeee!

Stockin up on crocks!

Here are a few of the items I didn’t get around to bringing over to the Carriage Place. I’m trying to start a stock pile of items to have if things start looking bare in the booth.

These spice tins are reproductions but still pretty cool!

And lastly, a side-of-the-road find…a nifty vintage suitcase. Yes, I am a proud garbage picker!

I am still so excited about that sale and all of my recent finds!!! I have had the booth for almost a month now, and things are going great! It’s been so much fun scouting out items and treasure hunting…and we’ve got the whole summer to go! Thanks for stoppin in and have a fabulous week!

More Silicone Dipped Bulbs: Night Lights and Strands of Lights

It’s been a while since I have made some silicone bulbs so I figured why not make a big batch of night lights to put in my booth. If you’re unfamiliar with dipping your own bulbs, refer to the original tutorial here. It’s a lot of fun and they seem to come out better every time I make them! Again, I used the Walmart brand “Mainstay” clear silicone. I mixed in a fair amount of cinnamon with the silicone because I really love that warm look that the cinnamon creates!

To display them, I used to punch the outlet part into a thick piece of cardboard, and then propped up the cardboard against a crate or box or something. They would always tip forward and fall out easily. This time I decided to package them with my grubby tags stamped with my logo. That way I can put them in a basket or even hang up on a peg board or nail.

I punched the outlet through the tag at the bottom and then secured the base of the bulb to the tag with a piece of twine.

Here is it plugged in with the lights out…so warm and cozy!

We have clotheslines hanging in the basement which just happen to be right above my craft area. It works great for hanging up bulbs to cure. You could easily tie up your own clothesline for projects like this!

It works great for dipping strands of lights as well! I tied both ends of the strand of lights to the clothesline. That way you can individually dip each bulb and then leave it there to cure.

I mixed up the silicone and cinnamon in a regular cup and then scooped some onto this shallow styrofoam cup I cut. This works well since they bulbs are tiny…you don’t have to reach deep down into a deeper cup and then get it all over your hands. I SHOULD be wearing gloves, but I ran out!

The cinnamon silicone mixture looks almost opaque, but once lit up, it’ll create a nice warm glow!

I use a broken wooden dowel to stir my silicone.

Anti-mess tip: Use a green foam flower block (used in arrangements to stick the stems in) to easily stick your tools in so that you don’t have to lay them down and create a huge mess! You can even get em at the dollar store!

I can’t wait to get over to The Carriage Place and get the new lights displayed. They went over so well at my last few craft shows, I hope that they go over just as well in my booth!

~ Spring Things ~

Spring isn’t my favorite time of year. The dirty, melting snow…the clouds and rain…the longing for summer to get here already…ugh! However, there are some things about Spring that I LOVE! I thought I would share them, because thinking spring makes me H-A-P-P-Y! Here are my FAVORITE Spring things!

~ Spring flowers, especially daffodils ~

~ FLEA MARKETS and GARAGE SALES!!!! ~

~ The smell of rain and worms in morning ~

~ Doing outside things, like hanging up a new bird feeder or buying little garden supplies ~

~ Seeing the first robin! ~

~ Seeing the deer start grazing in the field behind my house ~

~ Breaking out the GRILL ~

~ Things turning from icky brown to vibrant green! ~

~ Easter Candy, especially JELLY BEANS and Cadbury Eggs ~

~ Yummy spring candle scents like hyacinth and lily of the valley ~

~ Loosing the winter jacket and gaining the HOODIE! ~

~ Starting to plan for summer trips and vacations ~

~ Freshly made New York State maple syrup ~

~ Seasonal coffee flavors like Maple and Island Coconut! ~

~ Did I mention flea markets and garage sales??? ~

~ Stores filled with inspiring spring garden decor ~

~ Switching over to your fun Spring/Summer purse ~

and my absolute favorite…

~ SUNSHINE! ~

I hope thinking about these spring things makes you feel happy on this yucky Tuesday! What are some of YOUR favorite springy things???

A Junker’s High

If you are a picker/junker/antiquer/thrifter like me, then you know exactly what I mean. You’re on your way to an estate sale or out perusing the thrift stores, you get SUPER excited and pumped up about what you may find! The best is when you find messy, dusty boxes full of junk that you can dig through, all the while wondering what treasures may be at the bottom!! You never know what someone thought was trash that you can scoop up and re-purpose. Or maybe you’re driving along out in the country and all of a sudden you spot an unexpected barn sale…SCORE! The adrenaline starts pumping and you can’t wait to get in there!!! It’s the best, and that season is upon us people!!!

I was just thinking about this because I zipped out to an estate sale on my lunch break the other day, and scored some awesome items I plan to put in my new booth. I am so stinkin’ excited at what I found!!! I have found myself getting more and more interested in looking for antiques and vintage items to sell,  just as much as my crafts. I just love furnishing my house with that stuff, so I figure other people must love it too! Here are some of the gems I found!

Some wicked cool old bottles…

Love the textured glass!

A heavy cast iron clothes iron

Vintage Santa Doll

Vintage 50′s Griffin Shinemaster shoeshine box

A lovely old tea pot

A friendly little tin froggy toy…

Look at his vibrant colors! He’s awesome!

And this sweet pitcher! For some reason I envision it holding a huge bouquet of wild flowers on someone’s dining room table!

Can you believe I got all of that for just $20?!? Lastly I got this crock off of Craigslist. It’s missing the handle but still pretty cool! Unique too (I think)…I can’t seem to find any other ones online with initial like this. I’m starting to really enjoy collecting and researching stoneware crocks and jugs!

Guess that’s all for tonight! Hope everyone has a fun weekend and enjoyed the sunshine. I know I did!