Never Pay Retail for Picture Frames!

We thrifters have certain "go-to" areas in our favorite haunts. 

One of my always-check-it-out sections is picture frames (which usually includes mirrors.)

I rarely pay more than a buck for a frame...unless it is a really special one. 

The past week, I've had thrift store fever, so I have gone more than usual. I'm collecting items for my September renovation project in my living room and dining room. 

My plan is to pair fancy French items with industrial items. I get excited by contrast, people.

I also will use only rusty metal, bronze and gold. No silver...until Christmas. 

That little silver plate vintage-style frame was .50c - from Lillian Vernon. I love it. But it won't make the cut for fall.

Neither will these 3 matching silver plate frames:

As a mom of 3 children, I nabbed them. Three of the same of anything is rare at thrift stores. They were $1 each. 

I recently shared with you that sometimes I don't notice flaws in a piece I find, and buy it anyway. That was the case with the new frame on the left above. It is made of resin, and today, I noticed cracks in it. I think I was distracted by the rose detail at the top. Oh, well. I have some glue...

The vintage frame above on the right is a style I always buy when I see them - the faux mother of pearl trim is lovely. I gave 3 of different sizes to Hannah recently, so this one might go to her as well. Or I could collect more for me again. 

My fall living room will have some black and mustard mixed in...so I thought the fancy black frame in the center above was fine for $3.

The tall skinny mirror above will be part of a gallery wall...probably behind the sofa. With gilded gold mirrors and industrial things.

The round wood frame in the center above is like two more I found and gave to Hannah, so it might go to her, or it could stay with me. If I keep it, I'll probably make a faux antique mirror in it. (Click HERE to see how.)

My thoughts on thrifted frames: 

• Buy them cheap, so you can paint them and make great gallery walls. 
• Don't pass up a great frame, even if it is missing glass - glass is cheap. (Sometimes standard sizes can be switched out with dollar store frames.)
• Look for vintage wood and metal. It's amazing what a coat of paint or a little touch up with Rub N Buff can do to a vintage frame!
• Even 1950's gold metal frames look great sprayed white or a fun color. 

FYI - the total cost for every frame you have seen in this post was $15.50. 

Only one (the cracked one) is a plastic/resin type material. The others are wood and metal. 

Word for the Day:

James 1:22-25

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://tarnishedroyalty.com/	Drop it or Swap it Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://staceyembracingchange.com/	Creative Inspirations
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.thecottagemarket.com/	Junkin’ Joe
http://melissasantiques.blogspot.com/	Thrifty Things Friday
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk

Industrial Side Table...

I have a new industrial side table.
New...it's all a matter of perspective, right?

I spotted the potential in this piece, and nabbed it for $5 at the thrift store. 

Here is how it looked:

It was just a frame with potential. I needed to adjust the horizontal control. It had probably come with glass inserts at one time.

I considered glass or wood...

Then I decided cool gray galvanized steel would be the best choice.

So last Saturday morning I went to the post office, and saw a steel fabricator that happened to be open. 

I wanted the heavily flecked zinc coating, but the guy said they didn't have that kind - just the small fleck like the piece you see above.

The photo above shows how it looked when I brought it home from the steel fabricators. It was scuffed and scratched and needed something to give it a more pleasing finish. 

Below, you can see how a piece of coarse sandpaper and elbow grease makes the finish nicer.

It took about 15 minutes to sand the three 9" discs front and back to smooth out the sharp edges on the back side.

The photo below shows the steel after sanding.

I really like the contrast with the French chair...

The steel discs cost a bit more than I had hoped, since they had a $25 minimum. Still, a $30 side table that only required 15 minutes of elbow grease is OK in my book.

This is a little sneak preview of a new look I plan to have in my fall living room - a mix of heavy industrial and fancy French pieces. 

Word for the Day:
Jeremiah 24:1
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the metal workers, and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me this vision: behold, two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the Lord.

Possibly Linking With:
Sunday
http://thoughtsfromalice.blogspot.com/	Sundays at Home
Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com	Cottage Style Party
http://tarnishedroyalty.com/	Drop it or Swap it Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://staceyembracingchange.com/	Creative Inspirations
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.thecottagemarket.com/	Junkin’ Joe
http://melissasantiques.blogspot.com/	Thrifty Things Friday
Saturday
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/	Party Junk

http://southernhospitalityblog.com - Monthly Thrifty Treasures

Thrifty Life Thursday #31 with Features from Last Week...

Above is the after white paint version...

Below is how it looked at the thrift store.

Confession time...I sometimes neglect to closely inspect my thrift store finds. I thought this one was a cherub...

But upon closer inspection...as in when I was painting...it appears to be some sort of sea creature thingy.

And I don't have a clue what the big thing it's holding is...that supports a flat surface for a candle or something like that. 

Still, whatever it is, it has a certain amount of vintage charm. I hope someone in Etsyland thinks so, too. 

Speaking of charm...we had plenty of it this week! Thank you to all you faithful party people, and welcome to the new folks. 

This weeks features include...

Dianne from Deanie's Stash usually shows us an amazing variety of interesting vintage small things. This week, she has furniture, too! 
I fell in love with these vintage chairs. She plans to paint them...



She also recounted a strange story about exploding vintage pyrex...inside her car! If anyone knows what might have caused it, please let her know, so she can clue the rest of us in as well. 

Next up is Audrey from Timeless Treasures...she showed a summer mantel revision with some beautiful green treasures and cement pieces...



Some of the cement is vintage birdbath parts, and some she made herself. LOVE the green glass bottles...and the fence part! It looks so great against her limestone fireplace stone.

Sandra from Harrismith De Oude Huize Yard shared a collection of mismatched blue china and glass pieces she uses in their 150 year-old home, which is also a guest house. 



I love the mix array of blues, aquas and white!

It is mid-August...still hot here for a couple of months, but fall is coming. Garage sale season is still strong for now...so get out there and find some good stuff for pocket change, and bring it next week! We can't wait to see your treasures. 

THRIFTY LIFE THURSDAY #31

Gathering Guidelines:

This is a gathering for people who enjoy hunting for treasures 

that may have previous experience or lived a former life elsewhere. 

Please share items that are second-hand or are composed of second-hand materials.

Types of Posts to Share:

• Home decor, furniture, collectibles, garden items and even wearables are welcome, as long as they have a second-hand element.
• Please, no food items, new pieces from "real" stores, or crafts, unless made with upcycled, thrifty finds.

• Hand-me-downs and curbside finds are welcome, as are items found in thrift stores, garage sales, antique shops, flea markets and other interesting places.
• Treasures may be listed as you found them, or with your updates, tweaks, and re-purposes; befores and afters are both welcome.

• Items need not be "vintage" but must be pre-owned or second hand.

• Posts including Etsy and other shop links are welcome! For visitor enjoyment, please link to your blog post, not directly to your Etsy shop. 

Etiquette:

• Though it is not a requirement, it would be lovely if you would follow Revisionary Life  via Blogger, Bloglovin' or subscribe via email. Links are located in my sidebar to the right.

• Please link your post (not your blog address) back to Revisionary Life.             
• Please visit at least one other party friend.

• I'd love for you to comment and introduce yourself if we've never met before. :) Otherwise, don't feel obligated to leave a comment. 

Features:

• Featured items must meet the criteria above. 
• Only posts that link back may be featured.
• I will try to leave a comment or email you and let you know if you were featured!

Word for the Day:
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, 

but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.