Friday, December 9, 2011

Wreath Inspiration

This is from the latest Christmas Ideas Magazine by Better Homes and Gardens, I'm going to try and copy this for this years front door wreath. I like it's simplicity and the silver color.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Completed stained glass project




I started to make a few of these bird seed wreaths. Super easy and inexpensive, I hope the birds enjoy them.


Sunday, October 16, 2011

Yard sale and side of the road find





Finished the neat little table for my brother, and the rest were 1$ each yard sale finds.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

15$ Antique demi-john



Last weekend I went to a yardsale and found 2 antique demi-johns and I only paid 30$ for both of them!! One for me and one to gift to a friend. The bowl of fruit was another yardsale find, only 10 cents for each!


I put this little vignette together with my finds and am excited to link ot Savy Southern Styles Wow us Wednesdays party. I know the demi-jones wowed me!

Monday, October 10, 2011

I love yard sales-this weeks finds..

This throw was only 5$ and in beautiful condition, after a trip to the dry cleaners it will drape on my couch. Orig price tag of 49.99 still on it!

This little 5$ tray will hold old time family photos. My dear friend RJ gave me the beautiful magnifying glass.









This pretty was only 1$, it will be part of a gift to my sister.


My best buy of the week will be posted for Savy Southern Styles Wow us Wednesday, because it certainly wowed me!







Thursday, September 15, 2011

This little piggy came home!




My husband originally bought this pig for Mom's upstate NY cabin that was decorated, "All things pig". She no longer has the cabin and donated this little guy to my nieces yardsale. They had him priced at 2$, a bargain for sure. I retrieved him from the sale and he now his a home with me!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Christmas Tree Shop purchase

Enlarge pictures for a closer look.




A Christmas Tree shop openend up nearby and I went to check it out yesterday. Of course most of their goods are made in China and I have a rule that if it's over 10$ I won't buy it if made in China. Not that I have anything against the Chinese but I'm trying very hard to buy American. Not easy these days.
I digress, I fell in love with these rustic barnyard animals. They were only 3.99 each so that falls within the rules I have set for myself doesn't it?

They are about 9"x12" and I love the french script. They are rustic and made of wood. I think they will find a home in my kitchen along with a pig I stole from my nieces this past weekend. That story tomorrow!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

FREE!!! Be still my heart!





Driving home from town I saw a woman putting something out at the curb, as I approached I saw this, I drove to the next road, made a quick turn hoping it was still there and it was, this beautiful huge mirror! It's 57 Inches high, it's a huge thing made by Carolina Mirror by Crown Fine Arts. I couldn't find one like it on line but the company has been in business for 70 years.

I drive back into town and what is out now with a free sign? A 23 inch flat screen tv!! Of course that went into my car, it will be my tv for workouts in the basement, that's if I can drag away from looking at the mirror!

Linking to Rhoda's Thrifty Treasure Party at http://southernhospitalityblog.com/

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Brimfield and yardsale purchases







This past Saturday was the yearly animal shelter sale. I found a few bargains. Most went home with my brother but I was fortunate to find this cute little vase for 1$. I found 3 while bowls in brand new condition for 2$ each. Two pouring bowls and one large bowl. I kept one of the pourers for myself, brother got the other two.
I also found the crackle glass waterer for 2$ and 3 of these pictures on wood for 1$ each. I thought they had shabby chic potential and knew I would be sorry if I didn't buy them.


Brimfield is a great antique show in Massachusetts, I found the Ironstone tureen for 20$, the pretty music sheet for my sister for 5$ and the fleur planter for 5$ and the flower frog for 15$.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

New chairs and lots to do






The chairs look so different in person, the color is off here and you barely see the design but you get the idea, lots more to do on this room, it seems each new thing I add makes me want to change more in the room, will I ever be satisfied?

The brown chair is the partner chair I made for my brother, side of the road find painted and reupholstered.

A day to Remember




We headed out for a day of hiking, since we were passing a Lowes I ran in to check to see if the outdoor rug I have had my eye on was marked down. It was and only 47$ yippee! It was an import from Belgium. The porch is complete except for some new pillows to be added.



On the way to the park we passed 3 homes that had stuff out at the curb with free signs, my favorite kind of sign! I have been trying to cut back on bringing things into the house but the tool box will be perfect to decorate for fall with small mums and decorative cabbage plants. And I'll redo the container for Mums.




After climping uphill on rocky terrain we finally get to see some pretty views. Snuggles is taking in the view too!

We start walking again and the next thing I know this creature comes flying up 3 feet from the ground rattling and hissing and scaring the hell out of me and the dog. Joe starts yelling get back, get back!!! Did he really think I was going to stay there? I never moved backwards so fast in my life! What jumped at me?? A poisonous Timber Rattlesnake!!! I was terrified I was bitten, I'm pulling up my pants, pulling down my socks checking for fang marks. Joe got on the phone and called his friend to look online to see if you have pain if your bitten. After I was satisfied that the snake didn't bite me we checked the dog thoroughly. Both ok!
That ended the hike, we had another mile to go to our destination butthere was no way I was going to continue on in rattlesnake territory.








Monday, August 1, 2011

Candlestick and a half!




I bought this candle stick for 1$ at a yard sale and the broken candlestick was thrown in for free. Pretty good deal, of course they were painted bright gold and needed some updating. Out came my samples of Grecian gold and silver mist and a little polyshades mini wax and this is what I came out with...Probably one of the fanciest toilet paper holders around!! Have I lost my mind?

My friend Dee at http://alapinlife.blogspot.com/ made me the pretty candle. Perfect match I would say!

I'm liking up to Rhoda's party at http://southernhospitalityblog.com/

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Mod Podge Candle




Do you know you can decorate your own candles using napkins and mod podge? Easy peasy too. Measure lenght around candle, cut napkin to size. Separate the backing from the napkin, put a thin coat of mod podge on candle, gently press napkin to candle and let dry. Voila, custom candle!!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Roadside chair find reinvented...





I found two chairs on the side of the road, one with the pretty curved arms, one without. The fabric is from Ballards and the paint is spray Expresso in satin finish purchased with a 50% off coupon from Joanne fabrics. For a total of 25$ I have refinished two chairs destined for the landfill, now that makes me feel good.

I'm linking up with Rhoda at http://southernhospitalityblog.com/

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Savvy Southern Style Porch Party Redo





I am linking up to http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/ for Kim's Porch Party. Thank you Kim for hosting this party and inspiring me to get my little porch summer ready. I sanded, painted and stained for the past few weeks. Most everything except the furniture was a garage sale or side of the road find with the exception of the chairs. I spent about 100$ on the total redo including the plants!! It was alot of hard work but I'm so glad you gave me the incentive to have this completed and I'll be able to enjoy it for the rest of the summer. I'm ready for your next challenge!!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Bird house love

























My friend RJ sent me a wonderful package of gifts for my retirement. The beautiful birdhouse she found in Texas and put her own touches on it just for me. Out came her skill saw and she created The Retired Nester sign on it and the music is Amazing Grace, one of my all time favorites! Love the fleurs and the little little beaded entry to the house. It's a gift I'll always cherish.


The other two birdhouses and hat were this weekends purchases at a local crafts fair. The roof of the little birdhouse was made from a wine crate.




Pictures came be enlarged for a better look see!




Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend. Please take time to honor and remember all our servicemen in your thoughts and prayers.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Terra cotta flower pots







My friend Dee at http://alapinlife.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-giveaway.html is giving away these adorable flower pots. She has already gifted me with two of them and I know whoever wins these will love them. She also made me the beautiful candle, I love fleurs. So please enter her giveaway, you won't be disappointed.


The pots in the 2nd picture I took at Pottery Barn, I think these would be so cute for a summer bar-b-que decoration at each place setting. Little flower candles in a small terra cotta pot. I'm going to try to replicate these.









Sunday, May 15, 2011

Bear and Bird Watching in Beautiful New Jersey!















How lucky am I that I live right on the NJ border where there are beautiful parks, scenery and lots of animals to view. I have seen fisher cats, bobcats, fox, bear and all sorts of smaller critters, all in New Jersey! So many people have the wrong idea that because we live close to Metropolitian NYC that we lack wildlife. Not the case!! I think I have the best of both worlds where I live, country and city.