Thrifty Monday~Williams Sonoma

Sometimes I really rake in the thrifty treasures. Sometimes I hit all my usual spots and see what I would like already going out in someone else's cart.

The ONLY thing I came up with in the last week is this set. It is a set of 4 luncheon size plates from Williams and Sonoma. They were never used and had the original packaging and cost 2.99 for all 4 at Goodwill. I believe it is from an "Oasis" collection. I have been using more yellow in my decorating, lately, and figured I can work them into a display somewhere.

I'll take another look for the plate hangers I bought approximately 1 year ago, and haven't seen since, and see if I like them on the wall.

Have you ever bought anything you didn't love just because it was a great deal? Ever spend due to fever and frenzy during the thrill of the hunt? These plates may fit into that scenario. I like them. Don't love them. Might love them later.

I have lost out on some items that were a good price but I debated with myself too long and the goods went home with someone else.

Hope you enjoy the Thrifty Finds event hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality. It is always so inspiring to see what everyone is finding for very little $$$$$.

Have a blessed week!

Thrifty Treasures~Easy-Fun-Cheap-Aromatic

Aroma Beads; little roundish, plastic pearls that absorb scented oils and color. I discovered these little gems about a year ago while looking for ingredients to jazz up my potpourri.

I am going to show you how to make inexpensive gifts that you can whip together bunches of, in about 30 minutes.

First of all, find and buy some plain aroma beads. I buy mine at a Denver company called Peak Candle Supply. You can buy a pound at a time and get a price break at 10 lbs. I love this company; their prices are the best I have found and they throw in a random bottle of scented oil with each online order.

I get out all my clear glass bowls, because it is the best way to see what I am doing, but you can use any glass bowl or plastic-ware.

I found these liquid dyes on ebay for cheap. They are intense colors and will last forever. I tried to use food coloring but it didn't work for me.

I, also, get my scented oils from Peak Candle. They have a huge selection and you can order a sample pack of 10 of your choice of scents for 19.99.

I try to match up the color with the scent: Green for Cucumber Melon.

Blue for Ocean.
Red for Pomegranite or Cinnamon

Yellow for Creme Brule or Vanilla

Brown for Latte or Nutmeg and so on...

A tiny bit goes a long way. The more you use, the darker/richer the color.

After you pour in the scented oil, the beads get translucent and shiny.

Here I stirred in orange dye with Pumpkin Spice oil. (Fall is in the air). I use plastic spoons but you can use popcycle sticks.

My daughter, Lilly, loves to make these. She said, " Mom, can I make a surprise combination for you?"

"Sure, remember, mixing too many colors together makes grey..."

She turned her back to block her work from me and revealed her masterpiece after about 2-3 minutes. She grabbed "Country Garden" scented oil and chose colors to make a beautiful floral mixture.

I never would have thought of it! What a great idea!

This shows how I like to make my Ocean blend.

Add a little blue dye.













Add a little green dye and it makes a beautiful "sea glass" or "spa" collection.

I add seashells and sea glass. This is a nice scented display in any dish.

I have many different colors of organza bags. Poor in the aroma beads and cinch closed. I add a little tag to the ribbon with the scent name.

I always end up with some extra that didn't fit in the bags. I put this leftover "Georgia Peach" in this hobnail creamer that I got at Goodwill for $1.

I had a bunch of pink "Pink Sugar Cookie" that I poured into this glass jar; another Goodwill buy for $1. Shall I throw in a couple of shells even though it is not an ocean scent or color? Sure, why not?!

This is just a start at what you can do with these beads. You can sew your own sachets or put in cellophane bags tied shut with pretty silk and organza ribbons.

I add pink rose petals to some blends, lavender to others. Dried orange slices can be mixed with orange scented aroma beads.

These make perfect teacher and co worker gifts and they are a child-friendly project.

They are great party favors, wedding favors, hostess gifts...

Pretty soon I will start making beads with the scents of Christmas: cinnamon (add cinnamon sticks), pear spice, eggnog, Christmas Tree and so on. Let me know if you play with these; I would love to see your projects!

You are invited to the Thrifty Treasures party hosted by Rhoda You will be sure to be amazed and inspired!

Catch Up on Re-Dos

Finally, I have a chance to show the painting redos on my Thrifty Finds. The spice cabinet is now a chippy white.


And the quilt rack is Heirloom white and works really well with my other items. It is amazing what a simple paint job can do!

Thrifty Finds-A Good Day!

Goodwill , as I have learned, has a sketchy reputation in many areas of the country. In fact, I visited one in Portland, Oregon last June and was shocked; sticker-shocked. Although I saw some fine things, they were all "regular-priced". No way, Baby! That is why I am thankful for my local Goodwill in Metro Denver. It truly is a clean store and I always find great deals. The items I am sharing today are all from Goodwill and all were bought on "Half-Price Day"
This large framed print spoke to me and my love of children and animals. It is fine, as is, but I may paint the frame and put it in the kid's bathroom.
This was only 2.49, half price.
I really like this amber glass divided serving plate. I don't know anything about it except it weighs a ton and will be a nice piece to put out for Thanksgiving. It was $4 at half price.

It may be hard to tell but this is a HUGE white basket; marked $4, but, half price!
Heirloom-chippy-White is the transformation awaiting this funny-blue spice cabinet that was $2.
Click here to see the redo on the spice cabinet and quilt rack.
Maybe these books will help me be a proper lady. For .25 each, it is worth a try.
What dainty little plates I found for .50 each. I got 4 of them and they have a lovely green design.I will be using these for Fall decor; which is quickly approaching.
This brown wicker quilt rack was $20 but it was half price day and only $10, That is usually more than I spend but it is in perfect condition. You can see that I have already started roughing up the shiny finish with sandpaper.I have a feeling it will end up painted with Heirloom White spray paint. I will post the redo tomorrow.

Be sure to check out the other Thrifty Finds by visiting our great hostess, Rhoda at Southern Hospitality. Click here to join in the fun!

Carl Larsson Print~My Happy Thrifty Find

I have always loved the whimsical, colorful style of painting by Swedish artist Carl Larsson.
I stopped into a Goodwill that is not in my neighborhood, looked around a bit at the "way expensive" collectibles, then startled my 22 year old son by screeching " it's a Carl Larsson print!". I plucked it from the pile, saw the $6 tag and did a happy dance. To the counter I went to pay and stared at the sales lady like she was out of her mind when she told me that all the framed prints were 1/2 off. Three puny bucks for my first print by Carl Larsson. Crazy happy dance!
There was a plain light brown frame around it. I just bought a can of Strawflower spray paint and decided to use it for this frame redo. I took the print out of the frame and took the frame out side and sprayed it completely in no more than 2 mins. I left for an appointment and then came the storm. It rained and hailed and thundered with lightening.
When the storm ceased and the sun dried everything off, I check out my frame. It is accidentally perfect! The Strawflower paint chipped off in places and the frame is, indeed weathered. And I love it! By the way, this Strawflower spray paint from Home Depot is the perfect soft/wheaty yellow and I plan to find more things to hit with it.


Here are some of Carl's other work; pieces I hope to add to my collection.






CARL LARSSON

28 May 1853 - 22 January 1919
SHORT BIOGRAPHY

The Swedish artist Carl Larsson was born in 'Gamla stan', the old town in Stockholm, on May 28, 1853. His parents were extremely poor and his childhood sad and miserable. However, at the age of thirteen his teacher at the school for poor children urged him to seek entry into the 'principskola' of the Stockholm Academy of Fine Arts where he also got accepted. The first years at the 'principskola' he felt socially inferior, confused and shy. In 1869, sixteen years old, he got promoted to the 'antique school' of the same academy. There Carl Larsson became more sure of him self and he even became a central figure in student life. After several years as illustrator for books, magazines and newspapers Carl Larsson also spent several rather frustrating years in Paris as a hardworking artist without any success.

The turning point in Carl Larsson´s life came the year 1882 when he in Grez, a Scandinavian artist colony outside Paris, met Karin Bergöö (1859-1928), who soon should be his wife. One could almost call it a metamorphose in Carl Larsson´s life. In Grez Carl Larsson painted some of his most important works - now in water-colour and very different from the more pretentious oilpainting technique.

Carl and Karin Larsson reared eight children and Karin and the children became Carl Larsson´s favourite models and many of those watercolours are now loved and cherished all over the world.

.Don't forget to visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for all kinds of Thrifty Finds!

Sea Glass ~Beach Glass

Be sure to visit Rhoda's Party for all kinds of Thrifty Treasures!




I have never met a piece of sea glass that I don't like. Such beautiful transparent bits that originally started out as trash. Years, even centuries ago, some sort of glass bottle or vessel was thrown into the sea. Sand, rocks and pounding tides thrash the glass shards into smooth jewels. How lucky is the finder of these gems that finally wash ashore.
I found a large glass container at Goodwill for $3. Solid and heavy, it won't break easily. I shopped my house and came up with my sea glass collection and an overly loved candle, that will do for now, until I find a nice sea blue one. Now I need a couple of sun bleached starfish to fill the rest of the space.

Thrifty Finds, Hobby Lobby & Spray Paint

It's that favorite time of the week again: Today's Thrifty Treasures hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality. You will find the most fabulous things ever at super-duper prices. The participants really know how to spot the deals.


Hobby Lobby is having an irresistable 80% off sale. Some things were even more than 80% off. I am featuring the great buys that I found there yesterday.


Why are frames always so expensive? Probably because the manufacturers know that everyone needs them. When I find a good deal I snatch them up. I like this French Postcard design.

Emmett likes to watch me spray paint from his favorite observation rock in the backyard. Not bad! I like the French theme.

Tres jolie toothbrush holder was only $1! The original price was 9.99. I needed one of these for the kid's bathroom.

Fleur de Lis shelves for $2 each at Hobby Lobby look much better in Heirloom White. I have a new love and admiration for Heirloom White Spray Paint by Krylon. Pretty much every thrifty find from the last couple of weeks are now Heirloom White.
Ewwww, reminds me of smoky mirror decor

I wouldn't have paid 18.00 each for these; no way. For 1.80 each, I will figure out a place for them; I'm thinking a black and white vignette...

I bought 2 of these for this price and they are nice as is, but, I am a spray painting maniac. I can't be stopped!

2 minutes after I got them home,they looked like this.

The Princess House Crystal Candle Holders that I bought for $2 each at the Habitat for Humanity thrift store, have left the 90's behind and now look like this.

I forgot to grab some candles. Pink or Mint will look pretty.