:: Thrift Store Finds

I love the owl trend going on right now.

Or maybe it's already ended?

Anyway, I love it especially for the rooms of little ones.

I found a few on west elm and then in Kohls.

found at westelm.com

found at kohls

And a few days later, I was at my local thrift store and found these ones here.

I think I will be spray painting them white soon.

Have you found some good thrift store finds, lately?

Sewing: Easter dresses finished!

Here are the finished products! The girl's Easter dresses made from $3 thrift store fabric. Love it.

And I'm very proud to say that I finished them before Easter. {I'm a procrastinator.} I'm also very proud to say that this is the first infant dress I've ever made. I didn't really get into sewing for Ava until she was 1 year old.

I love how they turned out! I'll share all of the details with you next week. But this pattern is my go-to pattern. So easy. Can't wait to share it with you. {Although I did tweak a few things this time.}

Thrift Store Obsession: fabric for cheap

I'm still here. Promise.

Anyway, I'm busy making Easter dresses for my little girls this week.

Why do I always procrastinate?

I don't know.

I shouldn't have.

I've had this material for almost 8 months now.
Don't ya love it?

Guess where I got it at?

Yep, the thrift store.

This bolt of gorgeous fabric was only $3.

Man, I love thrift stores.

Now, I know I always say you'll see the finished product soon and then ya never see it (for example: our kitchen, our coffee table, etc - - need to really work on this)

but, you really will see this finished product by the end of this week.

Easter is on Sunday.

Adios!!!! I need to get sewing!

Thrift Store/Home Decor Obsession: empty frames

So, how do you feel about empty frames?

{easy living magazine/country living}

{apartment therapy}

{lund photo/mimi charmante}

I absolutely love them!

I had this same idea when I found some frames at the thrift store. I don't think I payed more than $3 for each of them.

1. I first painted them white. (the hubby is getting a little sick of everything being white, I think)

2. I then measured them and layed them out on the floor to see how I liked them.

3. With either newspaper, wrapping paper, or with whatever you have on hand, trace the frames and cut them out. Make sure once you cut them, you place the paper on the back of the frame to figure out where the nail hole is and once you do, with your pen, just poke a hole.


4. Then tape them to your wall. (using a level and the correct measurements of the wall)


5. You're almost done. Since you already know where the nails are going, nail them through the paper and then you can rip the paper down. Just have to hang the frames now.

I do plan on eventually putting up pictures in them (but not the exact size of the frame). And maybe a bench underneath it. This wall has been bare for way too long!

Some other ideas: (found on apartmenttherapy.com)

•Use an empty frame to highlight a mantelpiece display.
•Elevate a photo tacked to wall by surrounding it with a larger, empty frame.
•Use a cluster of empty frames to draw attention to a wallpapered area.
•A tall, leaning frame can bring height to a low furniture arrangement.
•Use empty frames to offset sculptural objects on the wall.
•Paint frames to bring color to an arrangement.
•String wire between the edges of an empty frame to hang jewelry or other objects.

Thrift Store / Home Decor Obsession: frames

Come back tomorrow to see what I ended up doing with these frames I found at the thrift store. It's really easy and looks very classy and modern (well, I think so anyway).

Feature and a Giveaway

I'm just a little excited. Today I'm being featured on a new sewing blog: Sew It To Me. Thank you Vanessa for feauturing me as your Sunday Spotlight. I'm very flattered. It's funny. All of those nice things she said about me . . . I was going to say about her! She's awesome. Check out their new blog. So, welcome Sew It To Me readers! I hope you enjoy your stay.

Well for those who have been following my blog, the other day I posted about this pillowcase I found for $1.

I made it into a pillowcase dress and decided to do a giveaway for all of my followers. So . . . if you aren't a follower, just go to the side and sign up!

Rules:

This giveaway starts Sunday, February 28 @ 2:00pm (PST)

and will end on Tuesday, March 9 @ 2:00pm (PST)

the winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 10 on this blog.

One entry per person. One winner will be chosen randomly. (The winner will need to leave their e-mail address in the comment section so that I can contact that person. If not, a new winner will be chosen.)

All you have to do is:

1. become a follower ( just sign up on the side; if you already are, just let me know)

Easy, right?

This can be a dress for a 2T-3T and probably a cute top for the older kiddos.

Home Decor Obsession: orange chair

The other day I was walking through one of my hometown thrift stores when I found this beautiful, orange chair. I hesitated at first cause I really don't like buying used couches or chairs (my slipcover couches were a different story cause they can be taken off and washed). What can I say. I'm a nurse and can't stand germs. Who knows what has been on that chair. But it was $22 and I couldn't pass it up. Well, when my sweet hubby graciously brought it home (he actually likes it, although I'm sure he was rolling his eyes - - in a good way, of course - - cause he has an amazing wife that finds so many wonderful deals and saves him so much dinero at all of those awesome thrift stores. Really, I think that's what he was thinking.), my little girl jumped all over it. Instead of taking her off, I got out my camera and snapped a few pics. I was maybe going to re-upholster it (something I have yet to attempt) but then remembered we have orange accents in our master bedroom. It might look pretty stunning in there once I make my headboard (someday) and once we don't have sheets covering our sliding glass door (yes - - we've lived here for almost 6 months and still have a sheet up).

It might also be nice as a photography prop. Look how adorable she is on it!

Sewing Obsession: pillowcase dresses

The other day I was at a thrift store and found this adorable pillowcase. I love hand sewn, vintage items like this. I have a few emotions: happy cause I found something awesome to use and then I feel a little sad cause this hand-made item that should be passed down from generation to generation . . . is in a thrift store . . . and family pictures in picture frames at thrift stores? That really pulls at my heart strings. Anyway. Enough about my emotions.

So I found this pillowcase and I'm dying to make a cute little pillowcase dress for my little girl out of it. Won't that be cute? And for$1? Come on Spring! Can't you speed it up a little?

A few easy pillowcase tutorials can be found at Freshly Picked by Susan (elastic used) and at A Room Somewhere by Leslie (ribbon used).

**Psst. You don't even have to use a pillowcase. If you have fabric you love use that! I once even made some out of kitchen drapes. (see the pic below)

What else have you made out of a pillowcase?

Home Decor Obsession: frame within a frame

I love the idea of a frame within a frame (very sorry - don't know to who I should credit this photo - I'd saved it awhile ago when I didn't keep track).

I decided to do my own version of a frame within a frame. We have a large wall in our living room that needed some spicing up. We had a few picture frames, but it was just blah. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I have a friend that did something similar to this, to one of her photos and it looks very classy.

I found this cool frame at a thrift store for about $3. The color theme of our living room is tan with white and turqoise accents. I thought this would be perfect. So I taped the turqoise trim off and then spray painted away (first using a few coats of spray paint prime and then a few coats of white spray paint).

And here is the after picture:

Have you done anything cool with a frame, lately?