I know its been awhile since I have posted, I guess I have been in a slump lately, and super busy. I have found myself not really having time to be creative, and when I do have a small amount I haven't been using it wisely.. but I guess if you love something you have to make the time. I really am going to try and set aside as much time as I can from now on :) SO now on to my first little project in a while..ready?
I have a lot of jewelry, now its mostly costume jewelry not the real expensive stuff, but still have accumulated a lot of it over the years. When I would go into my jewelry box to find something it would take more time and effort than it should ever take, it's a little frustrating, but I fixed that!
I found this lingerie chest on Craigslist for $20, and the fist thing I thought of when I seen it was that it would be perfect for my jewelry debacle. It definitely needed a makeover, but to me that is the fun part, right?
This is the picture from the Craigslist ad, its faux bamboo too, one of my favorites! These are made in the 70's and I personally think these older pieces are made so much better than the "new" stuff.
It was a little adventure getting this home, I got lost, and it started to rain and I didn't bring a tarp, but it survived.. fun times :) I brought it in a cranked the heater to make sure it was good and dried out. I got to work on this the next day, the sun came out all day this Saturday finally, time to get my paint on. These were my weapons of choice...
First it got a good cleaning, and then the primer went on (love this primer) I did two coats. Next after primer was good and dry I used the Rust-oleum spray paint, this stuff is awesome too sticks to just about anything, I did three coats of the paint. After it all dried it looked so much better! But those pulls were not me so they had to go. I had these ring pulls that I got from a yard sale, they were on some old kitchen cabinet doors and the owners said that if I took all the doors they would be just give them to me, so I brought all the doors home and took off each pull, it took a little time but they were free. I gave them all a coat of the gold spray paint, attached them a wallah!
SO much better right? I love how it turned out. I had some plastic organizers not being used so I popped them into the drawers and loaded the jewelry in. I think the next Ikea trip I make I will be looking to get some better organizers but these will do for now.
It is so much easier finding what I am looking for now, and will be even better when I get more organizers, but in the mean time this has made it easier and saved me from some frustration :) For about $30 (that's both the chest and paint) for a HUGE jewelry box customized to me is fantastic!
How about you guys? What little changes has made your everyday life easier? I have another little change up happening in my head that I plan on doing very soon that I think will make life easier, I will be back soon to share! Take Care!
Have you ever found yourself in a store where they are having some outrageously good sales, sales that are so good that your heart races and palpitates with excitement, and walk away with something that you don't need or doesn't serve a purpose or function, but its so beautiful and cheap you cant walk away? This happened to me ( shameful me) a couple weeks ago.
We were in San Fransisco for another one of my little ones doctor appointments, after all of our business was taken care of we ventured around a little with the help of our GPS of course, its crazy in the city, you WILL. Get . Lost.. and I stumbled upon a West Elm, I have NEVER been to this store,(I know crazy right) only browsed online but never physically been to an actual store, I walked in a was in Love! But before actually going inside of the store while I was parking I noticed that at the back of this West Elm in the back parking lot workers were stacking and unloading stuff from what looked like their stock room leaning things against the building and laying rugs, lights, all kinds of things out, then came the sign that said 70% off everything! Jackpot! I parked and noticed other people starting to walk that way, I spotted something while walking (okay speed walking) something shimmering from the sun shining on it. A Capiz Shell Chandelier! It was gorgeous, and had no price tag...I thought this has gotta be pricey, but I will ask anyways, which I did, when the lady said she would let me have it for $20.89 (.89 is code for no returnable I guess) I had a heart palpitation! A few of them!
I didn't NEED it and really didn't know where I could use it, but I just couldn't walk away from it because of the price and it was gorgeous. I love you West Elm! Lets just say I am always going to try my best to hit this store every trip :)
I decided to put her above my coffee table in the living room, I have never tried this idea before but I gotta say I love how it looks. When the sun coming from my window shines on it it makes me happy, $20 for a happy room isn't so shabby.
I am trying to hide those dreadful popcorn ceilings...and I have not figured out how to get rid of that reflection from my mirror, it drives me nuts, but you can see the beauty of those shells!
Are you a sucker for a sale? I guess I am officially a sale sucker these days..
I was out at my local thrift shop last week browsing around, really just wasting a little time before an appointment, no better place to waste time in my opinion, I went to the lighting section looking for a small lamp for my desk, something with a small base to leave as much room as possible for my things and spotted this awesome solid brass pharmacy light! Holy cow I have wanted one of these for a while and who would have thought I would find one at a thrift store? I thought to myself "I have to get over there to that shelf where it is sitting to snatch it before someone else does" (yes this has happened to me more than once, someone snagging something before I could get to it)I walked very fast but not so fast that I drew any attention to myself (at least I hope not). I tried to pick it up all not shalontly and almost dropped it on the floor! This baby is super heavy! This is a good sign, its not a cheapie light weight light,nope it sold and heavy and brass! Woohoo!
It has some tarnish that badly needs to be cleaned but nothing that some brasso and a good scrubbing cant fix.I hope to get this done soon. Maybe that's what deterred other buyers, but I can see the potential in things, some tarnish and dirt I can see through.I found my new desk lamp, and I am in love, its the perfect size and it was crazy cheap!
Any one else find a great deal on something thrift shopping recently? Do you think thrift stores hold some great treasures? I do! See you guys soon!
