Thursday, November 6, 2008

Vintage typewriter - Photo display



A Clipper I can be chipper about! I was given this Smith Corona typewriter from a wonderful Craigslister on Election Day. Talk about winning!



It was as easy as changing the font for the text to Batik Regular and printing out a black and white photo of my girls. This will get really fun when I switch out the photos for the different seasons.



As dirty as it was when it was handed to me, I knew it would clean up nicely!





Now if only I can keep my girls' hands off this thing! That will be the challange.

Have a wonderful day and keep on junking!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Craigslist on Election Day

The girls had the day off from school due to Election Day so I packed them up in the van and we were enroute to vote. But first we needed to make a pitstop at a fellow Craigslister's house to purchase a small bookcase they had for $10. It's just over 4' tall.

I read somewhere - I believe it was in a book by a Country Living contributor - to never pass up inexpensive solid wood pieces because you can do so much with them. I've followed that advice ever since.


I thought the feet and scrolled top looked feminine, therefore I will paint and distress it to use it in my two youngest daughters' room. As you can see their current bookcase is a cheap, pressed board mess with no back. And I am so not into pressed board. Their bedroom is vibrant apple green 2/3 of the way up the wall, cotton candy pink on top. Do you suggest I paint the new piece white or is there something out their that could make the piece cute and funky?



Now back to my Craigslist story. I arrive at the home with the bookcase and look what all I brought home with us! I didn't know they would have such great additional items. Thank goodness I brought a little extra cash.



This old luggage stand was owned by the gentleman's mother who would have celebrated her 100th birthday this month if she were still living.



His parents owned a small restaurant and he remembered as a kid seeing his dad write the specials on this real slate chalkboard. I think I would have been hard-pressed to get rid of this beauty but I'm glad he did! ;) I hope he understands it's in good hands now.



This old wood laundry hamper has what appears to be a calendar page decoupaged to the front. It is solid! I have plans to paint it but haven't decided if I want it in my master bath or to keep by the front door as an umbrella holder or something useful like that. We have a laundry chute so it seems rather pointless in the bathroom and I have enough stuff that just sits around. I need items that can be made useful.



And check out this adorable little cutie of a chair. This will definitely get painted and will be used as plant stand or to hold books.



Just a size comparison to show you just how tiny this thing is. So sweet! I bet I could hang it on the wall as a shelf it's so small.



And then finally, the nice man threw in an old typewriter that was used by his parents. I thought it was pretty cool and so did my girls.



He even had a little message in it waiting for the right buyer. I guess some subliminal advertising.



I just wanted to thank you for stopping by and keeping up with my blog. Your comments really mean a lot to me and I enjoy each and every one of them. I can't wait to finish some of my projects and show you.

Keep on junking!

Candy

Saturday, November 1, 2008

The library - free home decor?


Most libraries hold either monthly or quarterly book sales to rid themselves of books no longer being circulated. Oftentimes they accept donated books from the community as well so they can raise funds for the library at these fantastic sales.

I have taken advantage of these sales in the past mainly for my children. I mean, how often can you buy books at $.10/ea. or 12 for $1.00? It's almost unheard of. I recently came upon a section near the entry of the library that has a huge shelving system with a FREE sign hung at the top. It is my understanding these books have remained at the sale month after month without being purchased so they need to weed them out from time to time.



I was then drawn to a small grouping of books with different shades of green on these shelves. They were all vintage gardening books! Some of them have really nice botanical black and white photos inside. I thought why not leaf through them once and a while but display them as part of my budget home decor when not in use? Best of all, they're free!



I also picked up a couple free red-colored old books to be displayed during the holidays. One was dated 1860 and was not a library book! The pages have the greatest time worn look.

Just a cheap and easy home decor tip!

Happy junking to all of you.

Candy
Blog Widget by LinkWithin