Thrifty Scores from Thrift Stores

Please don't ask me what this is or what I might have planned for it - since I am clueless. But hey, it was 25c. 

These were a splurge at $2.50, but I'm still looking for things I can use to make finials...so I bought them.

These, on the other hand, were .50c. They had more, and I should probably go back and get them. 

This was .75c - marked half price. While I don't love the fake flowers, the bucket is worth that much...

This was also marked down. I've been so drawn to footed things lately...so for .50c, it came home with me.

Another .50c footed thing. This one will get the faux mercury glass treatment, once I buy another can of Looking Glass.

Oh, yeah, and I need to melt that grungy vintage candle out of it, too. Candles are one item on which vintage just doesn't quite work. 

But vintage candle STICKS are another story! Love 'em.
The glass one was .50c and the heavy silver plate one was a buck. I've got plans to upcycle the glass one...

 

Love that patina! And my daughter so thoughtfully pointed out that it already came with some nice drips of candle wax. She's sweet that way. Seriously - I could use the finger print marks on these to find out who the previous owner was. Why does that give me a measure of satisfaction? I must have watched too many detective shows...but I think they look cool, and I do NOT plan to polish them off. The candle wax will go, though - a little gift to Hannah.

This shelf will get the faux chalk paint treatment:

I saw a really cool way to use these today, which is good, since I have several and I was sort of at a loss for what to do with them.

Last but not least, these cool vintage calendars, with hand beaded sequins, are going into my Etsy shop. They are just so kitch! I know I broke my rule to only buy things I'd use in my house, even if I list them on Etsy, but they are so unique, and I got them for a good price. So, sometimes I break my rules. Then I rationalize. 

Speaking of Etsy, I've sold several things lately.

I was beginning to get a bit discouraged...so it was good.

I also got a check today from the consignment store!

I'm not ready to quit my day job by a VEEERRRRY long 

shot, but every little bit helps, right?

Now, to get crackin' on some jewelry...

Which reminds me of a scripture I've posted before, 

and it is most definitely worth repeating here!

Word for the Day:

Deuteronomy 8:18

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Linking With
Sunday
http://my1929charmerblog.com/	Sunday’s Best
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/	Creative Bloggers Party Hop
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece 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://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/	Tuesday’s Treasures
http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.com/	Be Inspired
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com/	Twice Owned Tuesday
Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/	Penny Pinching Party
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Show Me What Ya Got
Thursday
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://katherinescorner.com/	Thursday Favorite Things
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.savvycityfarmer.com/	thrift’n on a thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/	Inspiration Friday
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday

Winterizing - Transitioning After Christmas

For some of us who love everything about the Christmas Season - from the reason for the season, to the decor, the food, the gatherings, the music...January can be a bit deflating. 

We've just celebrated the arrival of the Light of the World! Maybe the suddenly empty spaces shouldn't make us feel blah, but they do. 

After enjoying fall decor since September or October, and Christmas Decor since after Thanksgiving, things can look a tad bleak. For some reason, we don't want to put it back like it was. We need something fresh and different.

For me, a cold-weather-lover, I choose to celebrate winter!
I love the crisp air, snow (except for the driving on it part), architectural look of naked trees, mono-chromatic neutral landscapes of dried grasses...it's another form of beauty.

When I dismantled my living room Christmas decor, I kept
some branches from outside. I reconfigured some of the items on the mantel, and settled on a symmetrical arrangement.

The pine cones stayed, as did some of the mercury glass.
Other pieces were put away, replaced by bronze and rusty iron objects and deer antlers.

This will probably last until early spring fever hits!

But then again, I seem to have developed a pattern of tweaking my mantels a few times before they feel right.

Winter Mantel:

Christmas Mantel:

Fall Mantel:

Summer Mantel:

A few more vignettes around the living room:

Vintage Steamer Trunk Coffee Table:

A peek inside the gold filigree box I got for High School graduation from a sweet auntie:

Inside: A vintage watch mechanism, a few quartz crystals, a vintage candy making mold, and some tokens from past Easter services.

A shelf vignette:

A small vintage key added to the industrial art piece/French frame vignette:

Small changes.

Now:

Christmas:

Late Summer/Fall:

The firebox:

I would love ideas to transition the OUTSIDE of my house. It looks really blah...please let me know if you are decorating to transition into spring, too!

Word for the Day:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;

3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;

4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;

7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;

8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

Potentially Linking With:
Sunday
http://my1929charmerblog.com/	Sunday’s Best
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/	Creative Bloggers Party Hop
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://howtonestforless.com/	Just a party with my peeps!
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/	Cowgirl Up!
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://www.newhousenewhomenewlife.blogspot.com/	All Star Block Party
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/	Tuesday’s Treasures
http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.com/	Be Inspired
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com/	Twice Owned Tuesday
Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com	Share the Love Wednesday
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/	Primp Your Stuff Wed
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Penny Pinching Party
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://www.the36thavenue.com/	Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com	Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
http://katherinescorner.com/	Thursday Favorite Things
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/	Suzy's House Party
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://redoux.blogspot.com/	Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/	Inspiration Friday
http://sassysites.blogspot.com/	Free For All Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/	Frugalicious Friday
http://www.delicateconstruction.com/	Delicately Constructed Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/	Flaunt it Friday
http://vintageinteriorblogs.blogspot.com/	Weekend
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/	Show and Tell Saturday