Features from the First Thrifty Life Thursday Gathering

A note about my Thrifty Life Thursday image:

This piece is circa 1979 plaster of Paris. My sister-in-law bought it new at a craft festival, I think. She tired of it, and brought it to a garage sale I hosted. 

I had always liked it, so I bought it and hung it in my house. It was originally stained a sort of antique terra cotta color. I painted it patina green at some point, and most recently, light gray. I loved it way back when, and I still love it.

I would like to thank all 12 thrifty-lifers for making it a real party! I don't know about anyone else out there who already has a well-established blog and party, but when I hit the publish button, I wondered if anyone would come...

You have to start somewhere, right? 

Thanks for being there with me, for showing up, and for having such great style!

I was impressed by a nice variety of thrifty finds - the kind that made me want to jump up from the computer and run to the nearest thrift store. You know what I mean...else you would not be here! 

It was like torture to pick, but I promised I would have features, so here goes:

Audrey from Timeless Treasures shared some beautiful handmade wooden tool boxes. Other than some polish and elbow grease, she kept them original. I LOVE the juxtaposition of the silver candlestick next to the primitive tool boxes... 

Here's another one that is unexpected, ingenious in its simplicity, and yet totally gorgeous:

Mary Alice of Chateau Chic used some iron brackets to add a creative bit of the unexpected to her WINDOWS! Brilliant! 
"Borrowing" ideas is another reason I love blogging.

The next feature pretty much knocked my socks off. 

Bliss from Bliss Ranch shared a long-term project that turned some nice but ho-hum dining chairs into true statement pieces. She stripped and stained and waxed and painted fabric and did transfers and hand hammered over 100 vintage tacks into each chair!!! Whew. No wonder it took her a while to finish. Perseverance really paid off!

This feature showed not only creativity in re-purposing an item, but we got to see it change with the seasons. 

A vintage lantern became a cloche of sorts, or a mini theater for various props and vignettes. To see more seasons, visit Tina at What We Keep. We're glad you chose to keep this one, Tina!

Word for the Day:
Proverbs 15:16

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.

Click back over tomorrow to share your treasures with us!

A gathering place for 

thrift store shoppers, garage salers, 

flea marketeers, and curbside junkers!

Gathering Guidelines:

• This is a gathering for people who enjoy using previously owned items. Please share your pre-owned treasures only. Home decor, furniture, collectibles and even wearables are welcome.
• Items may be listed as you found them, or with your updates, tweaks, and new purposes.
• Hand-me-downs and curbside finds are welcome, as are items found in thrift stores, garage sales, antique shops, flea markets and other places.
• Items need not be "vintage" but must be pre-owned.
• You may list items that are for sale in your Etsy shop, etc., but please link to your blog post, not directly to your shop.
• Please follow somewhere - via blogger, subscribe via email, Pinterest or Facebook. Please introduce yourself if we've never met before. :)

Last week, the gathering opened at midnight on Thursday. I might see if I can back the time up to 9 p.m. central on Wednesday...