Thrifty Finds

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I've been making a few changes round here.  After my bathroom do over I decided I hated my living room curtains.  The light comes in so strong in this room that we can't see the t.v.  Off to Home Depot for painters drop cloth!  I washed  and dried them with about 10 bounce sheets.  They came out perfect!  Since they are SUPER long I just folded them over and clipped them with my curtain rings.  I even moved the curtain rod by myself and used a drill!  I'm not much with power tools but I'm determined that I'll know how to use an electric saw before it's over.  I also bought these stick on blinds that actually have a cord that you can raise and lower.  The window size is huge and I don't want  to invest in a custom blind.  Now it's nice and dark if we're watching t.v, or nice and light if we're bird watching.

I found this beautiful lamp at the thrift store a few weeks back.  

 It's a metal milk jug.  The wiring is in good shape so I was able to plop a shade on it immediately.  When I saw this lamp on "The Lettered Cottage" I just loved it.  I did some pricing and these babies are expensive!  I actually found one that was over $200.00.  So when I spotted this from across the room at the thrift store....I made a mad dash for it.  It happened to be 50% off day so I dropped $2.50 for it!  

Or I could have bought this one  that Layla found from Bellacor for $524.00 (on SALE)

Maybe I should just paint a big gold "20" on mine and I'll be good to go!

A few other fun thrifted things I've found:

a pottery barn tea light lantern

a really ugly brown lamp that looks like a pillar candle.  I painted it and it's not so bad now.  I like soft light in the bathroom but I usually forget when I have a candle burning....so this is much safer!

A new resident found a home with us too..

My daughter insisted on buying this pink beta fish.  Then promptly forgot that she's supposed to take care of it.  So I put the "tank" in the bathroom, thinking it went with my "coastal" theme.

So I thought it was so cute and clever, then after about a week it dawned on me that this fish never sees natural light.  We have global warming, floods, oil spills and earthquakes and I'm worried about a 99 cent fish not getting natural daylight.  I kept yammering about it wondering if it was cruel and my husband finally said "It's a FISH!"  "I don't think it really cares!"  but I couldn't sleep at night thinking It was destined to a life in a dark bathroom.  So now "it" happily swims in daylight all day long in the living room.  And I have one more smelly pet to be responsible for.

More fun things I've found recently and not so recently

Jewelry Box and rhinestone jewelry

when I found the jewelry (all at the same place) I about fainted.  I've never found stuff like this in my area.  I ended up sitting down and sorting through a LOAD of vintage jewelry that took me over an hour.  I'd just texted my husband prior to the discovery and told him I was on my way home.  So he almost sent out a search party looking for me.  

      

 

I was so excited driving home thinking about all this bling!  But in reality....it really won't go with my "scrubs" I wear to work, and I don't dress up nearly enough to justify hoarding all this pretty.  It's going in my Etsy shop with major reluctance.

Another thing I've clutched to my chest for almost TWO YEARS is this vintage Bates Pink Bedspread

As you can see, this picture was taken in the Winter, almost two years ago.  I bought it with the intention of selling it, but I've NEVER seen another like it and believe me I've done some intensive searching.  It became harder and harder to part with it.  It's in wonderful condition and I just love it.  Other than taking it out every few months and smelling it, and feeling it, I have NO USE FOR IT WHAT SO EVER.  So I'm releasing it from my grip and letting it go to a new home.

 

 

Ok....I'm done.....goodbye Pretty Pink Vintage Bates bedspread........

You can see all my pretties listed here!

Comments

[mary]

you and I like the same things! It's good I don't have to share thrift stores with you ;) ;) just kidding! I'm loving all the bling, though!!
And I like what you did with the chandelier in the above post. Very creative!

[Rosa]

It's always so much fun catching up with all your doings. You always have so many great ideas and you put use to everything you find! Igot the latest Flea Market Style magazine and thought of you each page I turned.

[jenna]

thanks for moving your beta. Yes, it is just a fish, and yes it was cheap, but the way most people keep them is cruel. There is even a group that is trying to stop the marketing of these fish in the way they are sold, the Be-Nice-to-Betas organization or whatever. Regardless of how small a creature's brain is, they still deserve our compassion, and should be kept in the largest and most environmentally healthy container possible, with decent food and all that. Just imagine the life of these fish, I don't think I would want to live in such a small container, nothing to do all day but swim in circles in the same stagnant water. No wonder they don't live long.

Anyway, thanks for putting yours in a place where he will at least get some sunlight.

[big sis les]

haha...now I know what you did on your day "off".

[Michelle]

You found some great things! You have me itching to run to the thrift store today. :)
I drool whenever I look at that mirror of yours. I keep trying to find one in a curved shape like that but no luck so far. One of these days. :)
Your home looks beautiful, great pics!
~Michelle

[natalea]

good finds Robin!
have a great week my friend! xo natalea