projects jar

Last time I went to mom’s she gave me a treasure.  She said she had some OLD pictures of relatives and she wasn’t sure exactly who the people were, so she didn’t didn’t need to keep them.  She asked if I would like them and I though if nothing else, I would stick them in a glass jar and just have it look like a cute little collection of old photos.  So I took them home.

Here are my favorites…

Some of those pictures are priceless!!!  Mom, no taking them back now!  I love these all, but the swimming or camping one must be my favorites.  There are a bunch more, too.

When I got home, I saw my cute glass jar filled with ugly little bits and pieces of projects that needed to be done.  I had stashed little random supplies purchased for projects I need to do in the jar so when I need a quick crafting fix, I can go to the jar and grab a little something and get it done.

But the contents of the jar weren’t very pretty themselves…

It’s okay, I knew how to fix this.  I tucked the photos all around the outside edges of the jar, facing out…

To add a little pretty, I made a plaque out of a stiff cardboard backing of a notepad (I always keep those!) and finished it off with some cotton string and an opaque white marker…

I simply penciled the shape by hand, cut it out, added the outline and text with the opaque white marker.  Then I punched a small hole in each side, threaded the string through as shown above, and put it around the jar, tying a square knot in the back.

Done!

 

 

It is a welcome addition to my new desk space! 

In the background you can see that my last little corner is cleaned up!  The dress form was supposed to arrive next Monday but it came early yesterday and I promptly added it to my room and tidied everything around it. 

I know I keep saying this, but now I “just need” a more efficient lamp and a laptop, so I can get rid of the maze of cords!  Then all will be nice and neat and I will share the whole entire room!   Oh, yeah, and as my mom reminded me last week, I still need to finish my quilt.  It is actually written on the list now, so we will see.  I won’t make you wait THAT long to see the room though.  =)

thrifted goodies and new shoes

Okay, so if you have trouble thrift store shopping and don’t know what you would do with the little goodies you find there, I have a few examples for you.  Here is what I did with some of those goodies from my last thrifting trip…

 

The little white dish became…

A sweet catchall for items on my nightstand atop a stack of books I never read. 

 

The little wooden bowl became…

A much needed larger home for my growing collection of bracelets.

 

The floral teacup became…

 

A scoop for my laundry detergent!  Who does that!!??  Crazy thrifters like me.

 

See, easy.  Just pick up pieces that you love and take them home and walk around and find a purpose for them.

 

Completely non-related… The other day I bought these…

So fun.  This is my favorite color right now.  I like to call it dark teal.  Probably because it is, in fact, dark teal.  These shoes are Target’s version of the old Keds.  The Keds aspect appeals to the nerd in me.  But the lack of laces?  That’s my trouble maker streak, right there.  Lack of shoelaces is pure rebellion.  Anyone with me on this?  They also have blinding neon colors, but I’m not that bad.  Just no shoelaces bad.

wiww

Wow, I actually have a fair amount of outfits to share this week.  The quality of those outfits, I am not so sure about, but, it is what it is.

 

I think this was a work outfit (it is freezing at work, so the ugg-type boots help!)…

Shirt:  thrifted Wet Seal

Jeans:  thrifted Citizens (I added patches)

Boots: Bear Paws, from Fred Meyer

Earrings: made myself

 

Next up, I wore this to a little family reunion with my cousins and all of our families and kiddos (haha my 5-year-old took this shot)…

Shirt: Old Navy last summer

Leggings: Wet Seal

Boots: Target last fall (Steve Madden Gimbals are sold out!)  =(

Messenger bag: H&M last summer

Belt: came with another dress

 

This is what I put on to go shopping with my mom one day…

  

Jeans: Gap outlet

Top: thrifted Wet Seal

Jean Jacket: GAP Outlet

Boots: Target last fall

 

Which brings us to date night.  Date night this week was hubby’s company night at a hockey game, so it wasn’t too formal, and I had to dress warm!

Jeans: GAP outlet

Top: Forever 21

Scarf: H&M last summer

Boot Socks: H&M last summer

Boots: Target last fall

Earrings: Target

Necklace: Forever 21

Bangles: thrifted

 

Sunday I wore this to church…

Shirt: Forever 21

Jeans: thrifted Sevens

Shoes: Toms (Nordstrom)

Bracelet: Forever 21

 

But, I digress… when I came home from church… hubby had gone to get a truck in another state, and I put this on!…

Yoga Pants: Old Navy

Tank: Target

Sweatshirt: Forever 21

 

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy’s WIWW!

 

How did I do this week?  What was your favorite pick?

store update and miscellaneous

hello y’all.   …Don’t worry, I don’t ever pretend to be Southern in real life, it just always comes out on the blog.  I’m not crazy or anything.  ;)

Seemed like I was at the computer all day yesterday for hubby’s business and my Etsy…

Been drinking Italian Sodas lately because somebody left a bunch of club soda at my house and I have no self control.  Flavor of the day was Watermelon.  I blogged the recipe last year, but I feel strongly that you need to be reminded.

See that back corner, all the mess against the wall?  That is the last little spot to finish up before I share my room redo.  But I am waiting till something comes in the mail on Monday (I had thought it was this Monday- darn!), so hold your horses. 

Anyway, today I cleaned up a couple items I thrifted and an overlooked camera strap cover and got them photographed and listed in my Etsy shop…

 

Click on the pics to see that item in the shop.

I really really like that lamp, but just don’t have a spot for it right now, so in the shop it sits, waiting.  Just waiting for someone to love it.  

I also had to make myself part with that blue tray… so neat.  Unfortunately I rarely set foot in a thrift store without finding storage pieces, so I already have plenty. 

Tomorrow I will share what I did with a few of the pieces I found last time.

Godbless!

thrift junky chronicles {17}

the thrift store sucked me in, yet again.  I went in to look for one thing: wooden crates.  I should have known, I don’t usually see them at thrift stores.  But I need one more for my bedroom wall and I couldn’t bring myself to buy one from a local gal off Etsy unless I hunted around for one myself, trying to eliminate the middle-woman.  One more place to check then I will have to suck it up and get it from Etsy.

Anyway, this is what I came out with…

Assorted vintage sheets $5/each (one was 50% off)

The top sheet with the coral, beige and turquoise will become my shower curtain.  I just made a shower curtain out of a vintage sheet but can’t sell myself on the colors in it.  Anyone who knows me, just pipe down about me changing my mind, okay?  At least I figured it out this time before the whole room was stuck in the color scheme.

That bit of ruffle you saw in the top picture and a snippet of it above, is a vintage slip!  I actually got it to wear and have it peek out of dresses, but I think it might have too much damage – I might just have to put it on my dress form and have it sit there and look cute.  It was only $5, so I’m okay with that. 

 

A great vintage lamp and a neat navy baking tray which will probably find their way into my Etsy shop. 

Baking sheet ($2) for art display (project to be shared when I find a second baking sheet!), San Fran map ($.99) for a friend, cute wood bowl ($2, and 50% off), and a sweet teacup ($1).

Checkout the freeways in San Fran area where my dear friend moved…

I feel for you, girl.  It is in the mail, it stressed me out just looking at it.  =)  BTW, I live in WA and I couldn’t find a WA map at my own thrift store, but I happened to find a CA one of your nearest big city?  Seriously?  You are spoiled.  =)

 

I missed a couple days this week here on the blog because I was doing this…

Homeschool had seriously suffered while I was working.  Now that I cut back my hours at work, we got back into the full routine every day this week.  I found a great preschool resource and downloaded some worksheets.  We worked on cutting and matching and did lots of reading.  So glad we are back in the swing of things. 

Well off to run some work errands.  Have a great weekend!