Another recycled canvas

I’ve finished another art piece. This work is part of my recycled canvas collection. This piece, as you might have guessed, is a kitchen cupboard, picked up from the Restore for a couple of dollars. I remember the cashier laughing at me for taking so long to pick out just one cabinet door, but I was looking for something that would work well as a canvas – smooth on the back, not a lot of damage caused by existing or removed hardware, and it needed to be something that would offer a nice frame. (I thought the cabinets provided a natural frame for the picture, which is how I got this idea in the first place.)

As always, I prepped the canvas by manually sanding it (with sandpaper, not an electric sander) and laying down a good coat of gesso.  The layers are made with tissue paper (pink and white) and graph paper.  My intention of using the graph paper (which is not very visible in this photo) was to play homage to my inner geekiness, evoking (for me,) images of pencil-drawn diagrams on cheap graph paper. I wanted to contrast this with the femininity of cheerful pink.

It may be of interest that this scene here is made up of entirely recycled or thrifted materials. The vase below is a James Sadler vase that I thrifted at a garage sale for $1 (see “thrifted gems“) and the doily was thrifted at Aberfoyle (see “weekend antiquing: thrifted gems” for more finds). The cabinet used to belong to my nana. I’m still not sure what it was used for. It would appear to hold either vinal records or documents, since it has narrow slots throughout the interior. It’s a unique piece and I shined up the brassware to give it a brighter look.  The flowers were picked up in St.Jacob’s and dried by yours truly - this is their final run as I will likely replace them this spring/summer.

This season I hope to add increasing personal touches to my home with more of my own photography and artwork.

Thrifted silver

I’ve been meaning to write a short post on thrifting for silver. Lately I’ve been thrifting for more silver and brass items and polishing them at home. They are easy to overlook at the thriftstore, because the items are so tarnished and dirty. But if you polish them, up, you can end up with some really pretty pieces at a great price. Try to look beyond the item’s original condition and consider what it would look like with a little TLC.  Just avoid any serious damage – if the item has really coroded or become green, it’s too far gone.

I’ve bought a number of vintage and modern silver pieces recently, my favourite being a set of bracelets.

Here’s the before picture (the one on the left has been partially cleaned, the rest are in their original state):

And the after:

Admittedly, these bracelets are probably just silver plated. They have no markings, and as Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars explains in the clip below, that probably means that they are not real silver. But I don’t mind, because the bracelets look stunning! I purchased this set of five bracelets for $2.99.

I’ve also purchased a beautiful silver plated tray for my candles for $2.99, an antique silver owl-shaped salt cellar for 50¢, and brass egg-shaped salt and pepper shakers for $1.

Here are some tips on how to identify real silver:

As a side note, Pawn Stars is a great show for lovers of antiques, collectibles and memorabilia and for people who like to thrift in general, because in addition to historical insight, the show provides useful information on how to identify quality and identify fakes and reproductions.

Let the garage sales begin!

Spring is here (although it is a little difficult to tell, because it appears to be snowing outside at the moment.) And with spring comes the most eco-and-budget-friendly form of shopping known to woman: garage sale-ing!  Here is my wish list for garage sale-ing, thrifting and antiquing this summer:

Kitchen Stuff

A good frying pan (however, my thrifted cast iron skillet is so well-seasoned that it’s basically like a teflon pan at this point, so it’s done quiet nicely.)

Glass mason jars (especially the real antique ones with glass lids)

A popcorn popper

Copper cookware

Stuff for around the house

Wicker baskets – big ones for laundry or blankets and smaller ones for tea towels, magazines, etc.

Good frames

Furniture:

Small outdoor table

Glass cabinet – something interesting and unique, to show off treasures

Card catalogue and/or apothecary chests and/or wooden filing cabinet(s)

Antique bookshelf

Vintage trunk to hold extra blankets or games

A miniature cabinet in which I could build a mini-wunderkammer

Cute lamps for the bedroom

Weird and decorative stuff

Vintage orinthology and botanical prints & illustrations – found either loose, in books, or already framed

Vintage test tubes, apothecary bottles

Vintage maps

Always on the look-out for:

Craft, card making and gift wrapping supplies

(I know, it’s kind of an odd mix, isn’t it? This summer I have fewer practical items on my list and more items that will help me decorate my apartment to suit my eclectic and vintage tastes.)

What I’ve already purchased

Just two weeks into garage sale season and I’ve already picked up a few items. For example, I got two wooden folding chairs, that are perfect for the balcony:

The chairs are in great shape, and I paid $2 each for them.

Today I picked up a number of items from a church basement garage sale.  The prices were by donation, but I try to give a fair price when it’s by donation. It is a fundraiser, after all. Today I found:

A tray-shaped wicker basket to hold linens or dishtowels

A large glass corona jar with a glass lid (these antiques ones are the best – environmentally sustainable, because even the lids are resuable and will last forever). Good for storing coffee beans or  homemade granola, which incidentally, I think would make a great Mother’s Day gift.

Iron rests (alternatives to hot pads) – one large one and two small ones. All antiques and all very cute.

A cute vintage recipe tin (will either use this myself or will fill it with recipe cards and give as a gift)

Vintage beer glass along with a package of bar coasters, which I think have a certain charm. I love that the print on the Molson glass is in perfect condition. I will have to decide whether these will go towards a gift for my Dad (he enjoys interesting and vintage beer glasses) or whether I’ll keep them for myself. Finding these treasures always carries this dilemma (it would make a great gift for someone, but, ummm…)

Vintage gift wrap (perfect for a man’s gift)

The other thing I bought last week was a brand-new Ikea wok, still in its plastic covering. Unfortunately, once I took it home I realized that it had somehow been exposed to grease (perhaps auto grease from a garage?) which had leaked into the gaps in the plastic. I could not get the grease off no matter how hard I tried.  Just when I thought it was clean I’d rub it with some paper towel and some oil, and black gunk would appear.  Needless to say, the wok was toast.  This is a good lesson, to carefully check out your purchases before you bring them home.  However, even with a few dud purchases, you’ll almost always finish ahead by shopping at garage sales and shopping thrift.

Here are a few of my favourite garage sale steals:

My best garage sale find yet

Summer thrift list

More garage sale goodies

What’s on your list this summer?

For the love of thrifting

One of my favourite things about thrifting is that you can stumble upon completely original and unexpected treasures, and you can splurge on fun items all you want, because they are so affordable.

This week I walked in to St. Vincent de Paul for the first time, and very pleasantly discovered two baking sheets, (a cookie sheet and a jelly roll pan) both new-looking, for 50¢ a piece.  Ever since I lit my good, un-godly expensive jelly roll pan on fire (a long, but hilarious story for another time) I’ve been in need of baking sheets. I’m glad I didn’t buy new when this practically new set cost only $1.

I also found these fantastic vintage faux-snakeskin bracelets for 50¢ each. I have a love affair with faux-snakeskin.

I also made a trip to the local Salvation Army, and found this cute and cuddly vintage sweater with 1% angora rabbit hair, for 99¢. I love everything about it – the bright colour, the pattern, the cut (love those slouchy, 3/4 length sleeves.) It fits perfectly and it is in impeccable condition; the owner must have taken great care of it. In fact, the only reason I know it is vintage is due to the Eaton’s tag. (Remember Eaton’s?)

Last week I had good luck as well.  Findings included a Mexican blanket for $5.  Mexican blankets are great.  In addition to their funky patterns and colours, they are extremely warm and durable – and transferable from snuggling on the couch to lying on the grass during a summer fireworks display or picnic. (Apparently cats are rather fond of them as well.)

I also found this vintage clock for $1.99. I love stylish vintage stuff like this; it makes a great addition to my kitchen.

Something I love about thrift store shopping is that you need to have a creative eye in order to do it successfully.  Maybe something that was dismissed as tacky or out of style by its previous owner, can be re-interpreted as hip and vintage, or kitchsy-chic.  You get to have fun, exploring new ideas about what fashion and interior design mean to you, and come up with a style that is all your own.

So, have you made any great thrift store discoveries lately that you are just itching to share?

Three strategies for a greener, simpler, happier holiday

Revisiting a bustling mall makes me think about the environmental impact of holiday shopping but it also makes me think about human resources that are eaten up by excessive shopping. (And I say “excessive” because I am in no way an extremist, as you all know.) On this blog, a message I hear repeatedly from my readers is how important friends, families and pets are to our happiness and well-being.  Spending time with the people we care about is obviously a crucial component to our happiness and, without a doubt, the best frugal luxury there is.  In a busy world, time with others, and time alone, has become a valuable commodity. Wouldn’t it make more sense to spend less time shopping and more time just being?

In Amber’s post, she asks, “What green holiday traditions are you adopting?” Well, I have a few strategies to reduce environmental and financial costs, and make the holidays more meaningful and special to me:

1. Doin’ it DIY. I love making homemade gifts and homemade cards. There is nothing quite like crafting something that is tailor-made and perfectly suited to the recipient.  Seeing them actually use or consume the gift offers a particular thrill.

*homemade treats*

2. Innovative Packaging. Gifts become instantly more environmentally friendly when you package them yourself, especially when you use what you’ve already got around the house – think reusable glass mason jars, wire or wicker baskets, vintage tins, or – my favourite – “repurposed junk”. (Remember the tea box I made? You can find a tutorial I wrote on how to do it at Organizing Junkie.)

*once a tea box, now a gift box*

2. Thrift. I must admit, I owe a lot to Shopping GoLightly at The Thrifty Chicks.  This woman has opened my eyes to a whole new world.  And although I know that I’m preaching to the converted, I must just reiterate that thrift stores are not just full of fondue sets, massaging foot baths and harlequin romance novels.  You can find great vintage pieces for collectors, one-of-a-kind items and plenty of brand spanking new in-the-box items, sometimes with the tags still on.  You get to decide whether your favourite part of thrifting is that it is environmentally friendly, saving you gobs of money, supporting local charities, or providing you with the thrill of the hunt.

*a vintage find for my table – pretty, embroidered napkins*

Shopping GoLightly also reminds us that to be known and understood is the true gift – in this post, Ms. GoLightly responds to a comment I made on her blog, and reminds me (and all of us) that a gift, whether homemade, thrifted, or bought retail, means the most when it is meant to enhance a person’s authentic self:

The act of taking time to truly listen to me, observe me and truly know me is, in essence the gift, not necessarily the object. That’s the part that sets tears in my eyes. To feel, in this wide world, there is someone who has taken the time to truly know me and wants me to continue on as myself and not be swayed.

*life in the beach, last December; expectations for a different kind of year ahead*

Thrifting delights

Above is a picture of a pretty antique class bowl that I discovered at a Salvation Army store in Guelph a few weeks ago.  The reason it caught my eye is that it is very similar to one that I already have in pale, translucent pink, which was passed down to me from my Nana.   I’m guessing this piece is from the 40s or 50s.  For now, it’s storing a small collection of jewelry that also belonged to my Nana. I paid $1.99 for this piece, but recently found the identical item on sale at an antiques store in Toronto for $10 (the same store also sold hobnail milk glass vases for $10, which pass for $1 at any thrift store.) The store was absolutely beautiful, and provided me with plenty of inspiration on how to better arrange and display my own antiques and collectibles.  However, it also made me realize that thrift store shopping really requires a great deal creativity.  Modern and trendy consignment, vintage and antiques stores often display thrift items that shoppers might otherwise easily miss.  When items are paired together, set under the proper backdrop and under flattering lighting, it’s much easier to imagine the item in your own home.  But you often pay a heftier price at such boutiques.  I prefer to use these stores for inspiration, and then dig through the racks and shelves of thrift stores to find my own treasures. Thrift store shopping requires us to think differently, and employ some imagination to figure out what could be done to enhance an object’s hidden beauty or value.  I adore this creative element so much that regular shopping has become completely uninteresting to me.  Coupled with the consideration for environmental impact, not to mention the difference in price, regular retail shopping has become a chore, whereas thrift store shopping – or should I say, hunting – remains a delight.

Thrifted gems

I haven’t had a whole lot of time to go thrifting or garage sale-ing lately, but I do keep an eye out for bargains. This summer I’ve managed to pop into a few garage sales here or there, snagging a great little item at a fabulous price.  My strategy is to look out for items that either have a practical purpose, or offer a collectable value, and are made of sound quality. 

When buying china or porcelain, be sure to turn it around to check the stamp on the bottom.  You may recognize the name or stamp. If not, you will still be able to venture a guess of its quality by where it was made.  England is a safe bet when looking for quality.

Above, on the left, I scored this beautiful, yet simple, James Sadler vase for $1. I thought it would look beautiful filled with flowers on my kitchen table. Sadlerware dates back to 1882, and is best known for collectable tea pots.  I could not find a trace of this vase anywhere on the internet, but it has the James Sadler stamp on the bottom.  I have no idea whether or not it has value, but it is obviously of good quality and has aesthetic appeal that suits my taste. The two milk glass vases you see there were purchased at $1 each.  They do sell for higher on eBay, but these standard milk glass bud vases are of little value, even though they are vintage (milk glass was made between the early 1900s and 1930s) because it is so common.  There are, however, many milk glass collectables that will fetch a high price.  I just think it’s pretty, and had been hoping to snag a couple of pieces.  Mission accomplished!

I visited a thrift store yesterday and managed to buy exactly what I needed – a pair of denim shorts, a simple black cotton-stretch shirt, and a light sweater, which has a nautical theme – very cute!  They were $6 each, which may be considered on the high end, but all three items were in such great condition, they seemed like new.  

I also broke my rules and took a risk by purchasing a couple of items I didn’t have a lot of personal interest in, but thought they might re-sell profitably. 

This Charles and Diana plate was one of them.

I keep finding pieces that I think might be collectible and I have been considering starting up my own eBay store, so I grabbed this plate just in case.  The store will exchange items up to 7-days after purchase, so I decided to grab it and then think it over.  Think I should keep it, or return it?

More garage sale goodies

In addition to the Oster food processor, I thrifted some fabulous kitchen finds at recent garage sales and scratched several items off my summer thrift list. I thought I would share just how much you can get for so little, when you buy used. 

Here’s what I got last weekend:

1. Ceramic Tea pot (full size) – $2

2. Glass relish tray (looks like crystal but its weight gives it away as glass) – $1

3. Tea & biscuit tins (great for packaging gifts or storing tea or other goodies) – 25¢ each x 2

4. Men’s American Eagle sweater vest (never worn) – $1

5. Complete set of measuring cups – 50¢

6. Set of four ceramic soup bowls – FREE

7. Glass jar, suited for candy or crafts – FREE

8. Roasting rack – FREE

9. Metal frame and mat for 8×10″ photo- FREE

Total cost: $5

My best advice when garage sale-ing is to arrive early to have your best pick and circle around near the end, when people are starting to pack up.  They are usually more than willing to give you stuff for free, or for a reduced price. The freebies I mentioned above all came from “freebie” tables that were left to the whims of passers-by. The near-misses can be frustrating. I saw a man buy a milk glass vase for $2 – seconds before I got to it!

Here’s my updated thrift list:
 

• 9×9 pans
• pie plates
• popcorn popper
• mandolin
• food processor
• apron
• large tea pot
• measuring cups
• rice cooker
• hand blender
• cutting boards
• pizza peel
• canning equipment
• spice jars
• funnel
• patio chairs & table
• vegetable peeler
• toaster oven

Do you have any tips for going garage sale-ing?  Have you made any adjustments to your summer thrift lists?

My best garage sale find yet!

I love garage sales. It just makes so much sense, financially and environmentally speaking, to re-use what is already out there, instead of just assuming we need to go out and buy everything we want at full price.  

During the last two weekends, I have visited garage sales and found some exceptional deals. In particular, I am looking for good quality, useful kitchen items, some of which I mentioned on the thrift list. 

My best find, so far has been this Oster food processor, which retails for around $140 at Home Hardware, after tax.  I was skeptical when I were told that this food processor was “out of the box” and had “never been used,” but after taking it home and carefully inspecting it, I discovered that it was true: this machine was in mint condition.

My Black & Decker food processor broke after a little more than 6 months of use (I’m appalled) and we needed a new one, as we use our food pro regularly. I’m so glad that I held off buying a new one long enough to take a look at other available options.

The best thing about our thrifted food processor? It only cost $10!

What great finds have you discovered this spring?

What are your thrifting rules?

Do you thrift or collect?  I love thrifting and antiquing but I have certain rules.  I don’t know very much about price values, so I stick to items that I really love. Attempting to anticipate the future worth of antiques is just as risky as playing the stock market.  I either buy items that I will actually use or can be displayed prominently and add significant decorative value to my home.  I don’t buy items that are going to sit on a crowded shelf or cupboard and collect dust.  I’m very selective with what I buy.  It’s very easy to get into some bad habits while thrifting, because items are so affordable it’s easy to think you can afford to buy just about everything you want and then find yourself over budget, (not to mention with a house full of clutter.) If you’d like some tips on how to thrift, check out The Thrifty Chicks, one of my favourite thrifting blogs.  

Normally, as I said, I don’t collect, as in I am not a collector of rare or valuable pieces.  I did, however discover this Star Trek collectors item. (Did y’all already realize I was a great big NERD or did I just out myself?)

I found this fantastic Star Trek bowl in my favourite antique store.  It wasn’t in the best shape when I bought it.  There was some old tape on Dr. McCoy’s face, dirt encrusted on the bottom, and some stains.  (The tape was probably there from an unsuccessful garage sale – that hurts.) I got all the tape off, and all the stains off on the bottom and sides of the bowl with baking soda.  I think I can remove most of the stains inside the bowl with a little Comet, although I worry about damaging the plastic.  

This bowl is, according to price books, worth about 4-times what I paid.  However, this was not consistent with the prices I found on Ebay.  I wonder if this is because the present demand (with the poor economy) means there is less interest in collectibles. I also wonder if more people are attempting to sell off their collectibles in order to make a little pocket money.  So the Ebay prices might not reflect it’s future worth.  With that perspective, it’s probably a reasonably good time to buy collectibles.

Anyway, I now am faced with the dilemma – do I use the bowl or protect it?  Light will surely fade the plastic.  But what’s the point of having cute memorabilia like this if I don’t use or display it?  It’s not worth much if it’s hidden in a box somewhere. 

Do you thrift or collect? What are your thrifting rules? And do you display or keep your cherished items portected?

Linked to: Life as Mom