The Thrift Shop Romantic

Blogging at Over 10,000 Feet

2009-11-28T02:44:00.001-08:00

Well, this is a Thrift Shop Romantic first, I must say. This would be my premiere post composed at over 10,000 feet in the air!

Yes, I'm heading home to Pittsburgh from Thanksgiving and being the thrifty gal that I am, I couldn't resist taking advantage of the free holiday WiFi on the plane.

It's this WiFi, that allows me to efficiently bring some photos of the Florida Keys to you all today. Then Wednesday I'll be back to our normal treasure-hunting and decorating with a new Treasure Box post.

Here we have some feathered friends hunkered down in the strong breeze following a stormy day...
This is in Islamorada outside the Whale Harbor Inn, a seafood buffet where my father and I enjoyed entirely too much Thanksgiving feast.

Did you know the pelicans in Florida are required by the State Waterbird Aquatic Traffic Bureau to swim in "V" formations?...
Yes, they get licensed to make sure they know the rules of the surf, and they have to have it renewed every five years. They are, of course, billed for this service. :)

Right now you can just hear the trio above saying, "Okay, Peter, Penny, you take flank. I'll take point. Let's triangulate!"

Funny that with so much wind earlier in the day, the water could be so glassy...
And this, this just made me laugh. Originally, I had only wanted a shot of the sign because of "Captain Ron." (Anyone familiar with the film of the same name starring Kirk Russell will know why it's funny.)...All around are largish fishing vessels, which tourists can charter for a day of fishing adventure. However, Dad and I soon realized, Captain Ron's boat for hire was perhaps just a little bit, um, more budget-oriented than the ones around it...Okay, maybe a lot more budget-oriented. It's not easy being a swashbuckling pirate when you're also a little dinghy...Anyway, what trip to the tropics would be complete without a few shots of Mother Nature in all her beachly glory?...
And with this, we dock yet another holiday for the year...
If you missed last Wednesday's post, with some humorous looks at vintage Thanksgiving, click here.

This Wednesday, we'll dive into some Florida thrifting and yard saling. Hope to see you then!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Turkey Temptations

2009-11-25T02:00:00.000-08:00

There was something in the Treasure Box this week-- only I can't show it to you yet!

Yes, the power of Christmas gifting thrifting means the items I bought are for a buddy who happens to read the blog. She's getting a little nifty thrifted basket o' fun for the Christmas season, and I will entirely spoil the surprise by sharing the finds with you.

I promise to do so once the gift's been sent her way.

That said, I certainly don't want to leave you good folks-- who've come all the way over here-- empty-handed today. So since I have so many new readers this year, who probably have not perused past pages of the publication... I offer you two previous T-day posts-- both of which might give you a good holiday chuckle.

The first was last year's entirely made-up tour of my yearly Thanksgiving setting-- the Florida Everglades-- all of it told through vintage postcards and cheerful fibs. Yes, see how I would celebrate the holiday if I actually hung out with Seminole Indians and narrowly avoided being chomped by alligators... and in Technicolor, too! Click here.

The second contains cards from my Victorian Thanksgiving postcard collection. I love the images they used back then, and I believe you will, too. Click here for that.

Oh, and for those who didn't get a chance to check out my somewhat early Christmas decorating so far, you can view that post here.

That said, I will see you all Sunday with a post inspired by my holiday adventures-- where ever they may take me.

Pace yourselves on the turkey, American readers. :) And to folks outside the U.S., I hope you have yourselves a great rest of the week.

Blue Christmas and Tiny Purple Rebellions

2009-11-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

Well, Elvis may have been sad and lonely during his Blue Christmas, but I think he may have just needed a splash of gold and a bit more tinsel. Because popping a few extremely early Christmas decorations around this weekend was entirely too tempting. And the joy it brought was... well...
...it speaks for itself.

Just a few strands of gold and blue tinsel (Martha Stewart, it seems, gives enough in a single pack to wind around all of Graceland), some craft store velvet poinsettias in blue and gold, a couple well-chosen metal words, and some golden mercury-glass styled pieces from Target-- and I was on my way!

The little white flocked Christmas tree was a gift from a friend last year, and it came in very handy for this one!...
Add in a little mood lighting and....

Oh, what's that? You say we have to do Thanksgiving first?

Ah, well... so we do. But...um... it'll take the burden off, post T-day, anyway!Here's the top of the bookcase of the side of the room. It looks like it needs a little something, but I haven't quite figured it all out yet...
And under the painting of the overturned cherub, a nice low bowl full of pine cones has found a place...
So, on a decorating high after the blue room success, I decided to noodle a bit with my dining room display.

Some of you may remember, at the beginning of 2009, post-Christmas, I'd cleaned up on a lot of discontinued silver and purple mercury glass pieces from Target and Michael's, so I was determined to use them this year...
In the afternoon light. the metal took on a golden hue, but it's actually mirrored silver. The white pearly tablecloth was my mother's, and the chargers were ones I got years ago.
Speaking of Mom, every time I use a non-traditional Christmas color, like this purple, I snicker a bit and think how it would have taken some energy to win her over with this display.

Even though the standard Christmas colors of red and green (as well as our interpretation of Santa Claus) had actually come about because of CocaCola marketing at the turn of the 1900s, my mom just didn't feel comfortable with blues, pinks or purples in the Christmas scheme. She was a red-and-green gal, all the way!

I respect that. But I do love incorporating the colors of the room into my Christmas decor. The purple candle there, by the way, was discounted decor from Halloween. Waste not, want not...

And just a close-up of the mercury trees on the mantle. They've been waiting almost a year for their debut...
And here are a few others on the table. The ornaments in the bowl are ones I use every year, somewhere in the house...
Well, that's about the final notes of this song of Christmas decorating!

If you missed Wednesday's post on painting a plethora of pink in the powder room, click here.

And if not, I'd like you thank you for visiting today. Thank ya... thank ya very much!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Treasured Transformations

2009-11-18T02:56:00.000-08:00

To indulge in a little personification for a moment, my house lately must feel a little like Cinderella-- post-fairy-Godmother-makeover. In the last month, two rooms have gotten a very new look, and I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Over the weekend, I painted my bathroom that Baby's Breath Pink I showed you all on Sunday. So here's what it looked like Before...
A fresh aloe green, yes. But I was finding it very hard to match to any green accessories these days. Bathmats were more sage or avocado or mint, and tracking down items that would work was a little frustrating.
Also, I had that rich-colored shower curtain I really wanted to use for the winter. So my brain began plots of painting pinkness.
You can see the gold art nouveau styled mirrors and accessories here. These will mostly remain as part of the decor after...er... Cindy's fairytale makeover.

And here we see it in the pink!
The room now has a whole different feel, I think. Where it had felt rather open and fresh before, it feels a bit more sumptuous somehow now. Which is funny because the drapes, mirrors, and ledge shelves are all exactly the same...
Here you can see I swapped a couple of Alphonse Mucha resin plaques-- in a color too orange to really work for the room, for a mosaic vase I thrifted. The crystal items in the vases are actually Christmas decor from K-Mart from last year's post-season sale.
And here you can see the pink with the black trim and the nifty shower curtain. Everything ties together better now, I believe...
And just another last shot, by the pedestal sink.Now, for those of you asking to see the rest of the blue French room I'd been working on, here's where we are...
Most everything is back in place. I've hung a mirror here at left, which has opened things up a bit more and given it some extra shine. (And yes, I had been sitting on that sofa with a magazine... bliss!)
This lampshade I ordered through Ebay. It has courting couples on it much like the sofa cover...
You'll see it's on my thrifted alabaster lamp from a week or two ago. I wish these types of shades were a little cheaper, but even the cost of fabric would be high for something quality. I'm not currently skilled enough to make something like this myself. So this was a splurge.

Over here, I'm still working on this area...

The little Shabby Chic bookcase from Target has my Victorian postcard collection albums in it, and some books I enjoy leafing through. I'm still trying to find just the right combination of accessories. Given both of my best friends who I shop with LOVE blue, I've discovered that I don't actually have much in the way of this color. The bright blue glass shoe in the upper right was a thrift store buy yesterday, actually.

So, that about wraps it up for today.

If you didn't get to see Sunday's post on how to choose the right paint for your room, you can check that out here.

And if not-- hey, there'll be new goodies this coming Sunday. Hope to see you then!

Choosing Wall Paint You Won't Regret

2009-11-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

What is it about choosing wall paint that somehow ends up seeming like a deep, painful decision akin to Kennedy's pressures in Cuban Missile Crisis? I mean, it's just paint after all. Color. Something to slap on the walls, right?

And yet anyone who decorates knows it's so much more than that. It's an atmosphere. A mood. It surrounds you. And most of all... it's a commitment.

Oh sure, it's not like deciding to get married, or to move across the country. But these days paint isn't exactly cheap. So when you invest in your half gallon of the stuff, you want it to work.

So how do you choose paint that will really work for your space?

Well, I may not have all the answers. But I've learned a few things over the years that have made choosing a good color easier. And I'm happy to share them with you today.

Don't try to decide on a paint right there in the store. Get paint swatches... and lots of them. The lighting in the paint store is not like your home. And it's the light that makes the difference in how a color appears. So make sure your take some paint swatches home and see what it looks like held up to the wall you'll be painting. This leads to the next point...

See what those swatches look like in all different times of day. A paint swatch that can look terrific in morning light might look washed out at midday and take on a strange glow toward evening. Live with the colors a bit and see how they look and change. This can help you narrow down your choices.

Remember that what looks very pale on the swatch card might look much bolder as paint on your wall. How does it compare to the furnishings you plan to have in the room? Remember the darker the color, the closer a room will feel.

You can get test pots of paint made up in the colors you like. Spreading a sample of the actual paint can help you get a better sense of what it will be like on a grander scale. This won't necessarily tell you how dark or light a room will get from painting. But it will give you a feel for how the paint will look at different times of day.

Think about the color itself. Does it lean toward cooler or warmer tones? For instance, you might say my Baby's Breath Pink above is just pink, right? But it's actually a cooler pink-- a purple pink-- as opposed to a more orange pink. The fact that it's a little more toward the blue spectrum of things instead of the hotter orange reds means it will go better with the eggplant and raspberry rugs I have in the room. By knowing whether your color leans toward cooler or hotter tones, you will have an easier time coordinating it to other colors.

Once you paint, live with the color a few days before passing final judgment. A change of color -- especially if it's drastic-- can take getting used to. The room may seem cozier (or more claustrophobic!) or the color may feel like it's really opened up the room. So give yourself time to get used to the change, and really experience the color in situ itself.

The world's a bright beautiful place-- too beautiful to live without color. So don't be afraid. We all get a little nervous when it comes to making a paint selection. (You can click here to check out the tale of paint panic I had the first time I tried to paint a room!)

Just take your time. Think about your colors...

And then carpé paintbrush!

Wishing you good fortune and great color for all your future painting endeavors.

Treasure Box Wednesday: the Road Less Traveled

2009-11-11T02:40:00.000-08:00

In Sunday's post, we talked about how the Victorian look isn't particularly popular right now, so those of us who love romantic decorating can find some pretty amazing things at thrift stores.

This post will explain where some of that idea came from.

Saturday's thrifting was a late start for me, as I'd met my buddy Scoobie in the Strip District of Pittsburgh (no stripping involved!) for lunch and some wholesale food shopping.

I had thought, given I was hitting the stores in the late afternoon instead of mid-morning, that the thrifts would be as picked clean as road kill in vulture territory.

I have no problem admitting I was wrong.

The first thing I spied at the Red White and Blue thrift store was this small, deep Victorian pickle dish...
Made in Austria and partially handpainted, I had a hard time believing this was just sitting on the shelf with the bakeware and serving bowls, and not nestled somewhere safe on the shelves behind the counter.

Guess our scantily clad nymph was a bit much for the locals...

Anyway, it was a surprise find, and needed to be rescued.

Heading down to the second level of the store, that's when I came across this large alabaster table lamp...

Ones at 2/3s the size of this go for around $100 at antique malls, and here I found this much larger one-- in pearlescently beautiful condition-- in a thrift store. It was the second find to blow the mind just a bit. It was 3:30 in the afternoon. How could it still be there waiting for me?

And then was my "inkling" find at the Goodwill. By now it was about 5:30 in the evening and I was heading home. A shelf of planters revealed this pretty leaf planter which I had a very good feeling about...
It reminded me strongly of two McCoy pieces I have-- taller ones, but a similar glaze, similar style and color. It wasn't marked on the bottom, but at $1.99 I didn't really care whether it was or wasn't McCoy, because I thought it would look terrific with the other two.

I had a sneaking suspicion, though...
Here you can see it with its buddies.

Upon going home, I sat in my favorite chair and reveled in my good fortune. And then I pulled out my McCoy collector's book. Boy, it never hurts to have good reference books for the things you collect!-- And I was rewarded. The unmarked vase was, absolutely, the real McCoy.

Right now it sits on my mantle, looking very much at home with its cousins. Yee-haw!

Oh, and lastly-- just because I'm finally feeling happy about it (largely because the hard work is done), I wanted to show you all the finished mantle in my one spare room...
All the bits of plaster and grouting and the newspapers and painter's tape (and frustrations) have been wiped away, leaving me with a lovely, calm and quite French sitting room. The cute little blue lamps on the mantle came from the L&L Fleatique in Adamsburg/Jeannette, and the mantle mirror was an Ebay find-- it's a new piece, not an antique, but I think it tops everything off pretty nicely. I'd wanted something that was already painted so I wasn't defacing any antique pieces.

Well, that wraps it up for this Treasure Box! So, here's hoping as you choose your path in your treasure hunting travels, you uncover the things no one else wants-- but which you absolutely love.

Sometimes being eccentric has its benefits!

Oh-- if you missed Sunday's post on how the Victorians would have loved thrift shopping, click here.

And maybe I'll see you folks on Sunday. That is, if you aren't out scouting for buried treasure.

The Victorians Might Have Loved Thrift Shopping

2009-11-08T14:35:00.000-08:00

As I came away with a bundle of unique goodies from the Red White and Blue thrift store this weekend, I realized: the Victorians might very well have loved thrift shopping.

I mean think about it: they enjoyed changing up things in their homes regularly, and transforming hard furnishings with layers and layers of textiles...

They were big on mixed and matched furniture-- particularly those in the middle class who couldn't afford full sets, but who still wanted their modest homes to feel elegant...

Along those lines, these were folks who, if they couldn't afford an expensive bronze statue, were able to mass-produce a similar spelter or plaster one, at a fraction of the cost. They tried to evoke a mood in their homes, and did it cleverly within their budgets.
I see careful needlework tablecloths and tablerunners, and imagine them being snapped up by Victorian ladies who loved to layer, blown away that they themselves would not have to spend hours tatting that delicate edgework.
I picture ladies in rustling skirts scoping out the furniture section and wondering whether that tea trolley, with a lick of black lacquer and some careful decoupage, would look Japaned.

Or perhaps standing there considering whether a few souvenir plates from around the country would properly display that famed Victorian love of travel.

I envision silver trays and serving pieces being bought for so-civilized future get-togethers. "Imagine all of this," they would say, "and we don't have to wait for it to arrive from the Sears Catalog!"

And then I see them getting in their carriages and popping off to somewhere like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Tuesday Morning, or even Pier One... Debating on which plaster bust to choose, what mirror, which rug.

I see them pondering things inspired by-- or made in-- countries halfway around the world. The selection! The possibilities! And so much of it so reasonable! You could travel the world and still never leave home!

Of course, today we can evoke the same decorating principles in our homes of our Victorian ancestors and not have to wear corset while we do it. Right now, those tablerunners wait for that one person who loves detail to come and give them new life...

And the silver sits in stacks, hoping someone will someday have the time and inclination to give 'em a good polish and allow them to shine once more on the dinner table.

So many folks prefer streamlined surfaces now. Most of us don't have the time to dust all the things that would go into a a Victorian home.
So for those who love romantic decor of this type, you may just find there's very little competition for the things you adore. And that's funny because given today's economy, thrift stores are busier than ever, with people in every aisle contemplating their treasures-- no matter what those treasures might be.

Even younger people seem less afraid of the stigma of buying used. I heard a couple of teenagers in line behind me yesterday talking excitedly about how they found a particular designer item of clothing that, "you couldn't even touch this in a regular store during a sale... not even during a really good sale...This is crazy!"

So while the economy may be bad, in a way, it's a fortunate time we're in, folks. Those veterans of buying secondhand finally get a chance to openly say, "Hey, I knew about the wonders of thrifting all along!" Dare I say, we might even be on the cusp of being...(gasp!) trendy.

The Victorians would have liked that, too...

Though I imagine the carriage parking would be a serious pain in the bustle.

If you missed last Treasure Box Wednesday, click here for quite a mix of fun finds.

And as for this coming Treasure Box Wednesday, I'll show you why an unusually late start in day's thrifting seems to have made absolutely no difference in my treasure-hunting success!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Hot Cup o' Good Fortune

2009-11-04T02:30:00.000-08:00

After a few errands on Saturday, I set out on that gray, blustery day a-thrifting down Route 30.

Why does it seem when winds do howl and rain does pelt against the windows, there's comfort wandering around a brightly-lit thrift store or quiet antique mall? It's one of those times where, even if I found nothing, it's just fun to look.

But find things, I did! And I managed to hit a couple of really good sales, too. Like the 50% off of these already well-priced Carnival glass pieces at the Ligonier Fleatique...

I'm not sure how old they are, but you can't beat the rainbow of colors on them!

Speaking of colors, how about these excellent lusterware teacups from the Salvation Army? ..

Seeing them there together, I just knew they had to have come from the same lady's collection. Do you ever ponder things like that when you shop? What place the item held in someone's life before it arrived at the store?

At the Good Samaritan thrift store in North Versailles, I uncovered this pink 70s French glass serving bowl to match my set...

I like it because it looks so much like Depression Glass. And this time I was doubly thrilled because I'd missed out on this very style piece once at a different antique mall; they wouldn't sell it to me because it wasn't priced, which I totally understand. But the guy running the desk also didn't want to call and bother the dealer to find out how much it would be. Needless to say, it was a disappointing "No Sale" that day...

But it's all balanced out now!

I also got a great big bag of Shiny Brite ornaments from the Good Samaritan. It's really never too early to pick these bright li'l fellows up!...

At the L&L Fleatique in Adamsburg, I bought a nifty gift for one of my friends (I'll show you all that post-gift-giving, so as not to ruin the surprise for her.) And I got myself a small McCoy planter-- which was also on sale!

And lastly, following the grand tradition of my father's, which involves buying things he doesn't know what they are... I bought...

Um...

Something I don't know what it is.

It's definitely styled like my downstairs light fixtures, so it's probably from the Depression era. And it's done in the same airbrushed colors. But as for its function?...

Here is the back...
So what do you folks think? Did it come from some other light fixture? Or perhaps part of curtain tiebacks or rods?

Any and all suggestions appreciated and ready to be taken for consideration! As the thing was just seventy-cents at the UFO in Greensburg, I figured it was worth that just for us to mull it over.

Anyway, it's pretty, and you all know me-- I probably can make use of it somehow.

So that's it for today's Treasure Box Wednesday!

If you missed Sunday's part two of the fireplace installation, that wraps up here.

Well, it's not precisely wrapped up, but I'll give you something non-fireplacey to read about on Sunday to mix it up more. I imagine that will be a relief to all of us. :)

Have a great week, friends, and I hope to see you Sunday.

Fireplace Fun: Part Two

2009-11-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

When last we left the Great Fireplace Installation of 2009, most of the wooden trim had been attached, and the fireplace was getting an extra coat of paint...

Little did I know the unexpected challenges I would face!

The first one, was the molding which went around the frame itself. Even though the fireplace frame was built to its largest size, the top molding that came with it for some reason was still many inches too large to fit. Yes, I would have to cut it to size.

I cut it to size all right...

An inch size smaller than I needed it to be! So I had to cut an extra inch off to add in there, and putty over the oops. Sigh... and I thought I'd measured carefully, too!

I also puttied in places where the various molding pieces didn't fit together snugly...

Then I attacked the central place where the fire would be. I'd batted around a number of different ideas for this, but eventually decided on a sort of trick-of-the-eye paint job...

You can see it a bit closer here. Using black and brown paints, I painted a "floor" and a "brick" back for our chimney...

It's amusing to me, given the wall is really just plain plaster and concrete.

Well, that went quite well, I thought-- So I admit, I wasn't quite prepared to face the problem with the five-foot mantel shelf. Here it is. It looks nice, doesn't it?

And yes, it looks very nice there on the floor. But up on the fire surround brackets, where it's supposed to live, that was a whole other story. The five feet, apparently, of this five-feet surround is at its very largest part-- the top! Meaning, the slope to the base of it is nowhere near five feet.

As it was in a box-- a bit larger than five feet was that box, I might add-- I didn't even imagine that the base would be way too small for my fireplace. It looked a bit like that old Chris Farley Saturday Night Live skit, "Fat Man in Tiny Coat."

And with the next mantel size up being six feet, I wouldn't have enough room on either side of the mantel to fit that! What was a girl to do?

Well, a girl was to wander around too many stores looking for an answer. And staring at planks of wood. And checking out standard shelving and finding they came in four feet max. And staring at more planks of wood.

Eventually, I came across the only solution that would work...

Stop staring at the planks of wood, buy one, and cut it to size.
So here we are. With a simple mantel shelf and everything else just about in place. I have a few small finishing touches to do, and then I'll show you all photos of the full room once things are back in their places.

Lessons learned from the project?

Always measure twice and don't cut wood when you're tired.

Mantels are sneaky and are not to be trusted.

Ibprophin can be an ambitious fireplace builder's best friend

You can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it! (Also if you start at planks of wood long enough.)

I wish you all the best on your next project, and thank you so much, folks, for joining me on mine.

If you missed the fireplace tale, part one, click here.
And if you missed the goodies found last weekend, here's last week's Treasure Box Wednesday.

This coming Wednesday, I have some interesting goodies to share with you from some Saturday adventures... Because, really, sometimes a girl needs to get away from the fireplace....

Badly.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Heavenly Finds

2009-10-28T02:48:00.000-07:00

And a-one, and a-two, and everybody sing...

Er, no, better not. Let's just talk about our friend the conducting cherub here, and the other found items for this Treasure Box Wednesday.

The elaborate winged fellows are a lamp discovered at Construction Junction architectural salvage. This has already made it's way into my blue room. I would say it probably was the land-speed record for lamp placement in America.

How the lamp managed to survive in that store amid the big chunks of heavy marble mantles, thick wood planks, and masonry, I can't imagine. It does have some issues, certainly. A chipped wing here, a missing bit there...

And this fellow is completely sans-arm. But I think some clever patching will make it less obvious, and just add to the character. Too much was brilliantly intact for me to care very much...
Sometimes I think it's the imperfections in well-made old pieces like this that make them even more worth rescuing to me. Like I have to save them from further damage!

At the Salvation Army yesterday, there was absolutely nothing wrong with this pink hobnail vase...
I've seen this in white milkglass a bazillion times over the years-- in fact my mother had one-- but never, ever in pink! This was quite a surprise to me. I believe I recall it being an Anchor Hocking piece, but don't hold me to that.

I had also picked up this green Depression glass platter...

Funny, I'd been in line, saying to the friend I was shopping with how there were just a few small chips on the bottom, but how no one would see those. And the woman in front of me in line sniffed, "Well, I can tell you're not an antique dealer, then!"

Er, yes. I probably wouldn't expect people to buy from me something that had chips. But given it was for my own use? Well, you all know how I feel about that. Again, it's another pretty item whose beauty isn't ruined by the little flaws.

And my last second-hand venture of the weekend was attending a flea market at a local synagogue. It was set up almost identically to the church rummage sale I went to just a week or two ago. And there, I set my eyes on this great sandwich-glass and lightly-lustered amethyst dish...
(Here you can see an aerial view)...

And this excellent large, old mirror for a whole $2...

So it's been a pretty heavenly week for fun finds! And a nice respite from working on that fireplace.

Folks who've not yet seen the whole fireplace installation extravaganza can check that out here.

It's going well, by the way. I installed the rest of the trim last night. It still needs a few coats of paint, and then I have some other touches to add. Oh-- and the mantle shelf. But the mantle shelf issue is one I'll share with you later. I think you'll laugh.

Take care, and I hope you'll pop back on Sunday for our next post!

Fireplace Fun: Part One

2009-10-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

I believe I'd mentioned wanting to put a faux fireplace in the blue room I've been working on, on the place where many moons ago, there once really was a chimney breast. I wanted to keep it similar enough to the original fireplace that's in my diningroom downstairs, but make sure it coordinated more toward the blue and cream theme I was using.

Here was what that area of the room looked like without furniture in it...

Because I couldn't fit an architectural salvage wooden fire surround from Construction Junction into my car, I found I could get flat-pack pieces from Lowes and then construct it into place. This meant the baseboard on the chimney wall was going to have to be removed...
That was my project last Sunday, and I was relieved it was easier than I'd thought it would be. I also started using tile glue, to adhere the tiles I'd gotten for inside the wooden surround. I was trying to keep it along the same lines as the fireplace downstairs. That tile is a speckled pale green. I was lucky enough to track down a speckled light blue, also at Lowes...

And at $4 for a square foot, the cost was terrific. I looked into getting repro Victorian tiles, and at $10 for a single six-inch tile, I just couldn't afford it. The Lowes tiles have the same effect and were much more in my budget!

Here you can see the partially tiled wall, and the fire surround accessories I was noodling around with...
Now, time to make Tollhouse cookies...
Or, um, grout the tile. The color of the grout is "vintage white." I liked it because it's not as stark, bright white as some...

Still looks like cookie dough, though. Or maybe I'm just really hungry.

Here's the fully-grouted wall!...

And now on to painting the fire surround and its wooden accessories...

This next part looks like nothing, but it ended up being the rough part. It involved getting the first bracket on the wall, to hook the wooden fire surround to...

Because underneath the wall plaster is the old brick chimney, I had to use a masonry drill bit, in order to drill the holes. This, of course, was not a part of the instructions of my fire surround kit, which assumed I'd be hooking it into drywall. So a consultation from a wonderful, helpful fellow at Home Depot earlier today, and a few of the right tools, set me straight.

And set the bracket straight, as well! I was so excited to have accomplished this, there was actually some dancing involved...
And three more brackets later... would you believe the fire surround actually fit?!

Another musical dance interlude! (Icould tell you I was kidding, but when it comes to home project success sometimes ya just gotta dance)...And before I quit for the day, I got the first two brackets on. These will support the mantle...

The mantle, and all of the fire surround accesories, however, will be for another day. I'm pretty happy with what I've gotten done in just a week, while only really tackling this after work and on the weekend.

So... the project continues! Wish me luck on the rest of it. I'll share with you what happens-- for good or bad!

If you missed last Wednesday's post on Driving Away the Autumn Blues through some little household tricks, click here.

If not, well, perhaps I'll see your smiling faces this Wednesday. I wish I could promise you all Tollhouse Cookies, but the best I can do right now is grout...

Not so tasty.

Driving Away the Autumn Blues

2009-10-21T02:30:00.000-07:00

While the freshness of spring always tends to give my spirits a lift, autumn typically finds them settling like fallen leaves.

The chill in the air, the long hours of darkness, the sense that another seasonal chapter is coming to a close, I admit, it makes me a bit wistful and I work to remain motivated. Or perhaps the ol' brain just seeks to hibernate, and recharge for brighter more active days.

So as a little departure from the traditional Treasure Box Wednesday post here at The Thrift Shop Romantic, I thought I'd share with you a few things that have helped drive the autumn ho-hums away... Little things you also might want to try around the house to make it feel more warm, inviting, soothing and cheerful for those long cold evenings ahead.

Now, naturally, for individuals who believe they may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is something you should discuss with your doctor. My suggestions below are not meant to trivialize the condition, or "cure" it in place of actual medical treatment.

But given our busy lives, sometimes it really is just a small change... a little nicety... and unexpected merry detail that can help make even the longest, darkest day seem just that much brighter.

Fill the house with an inviting scent. Whether you prefer a tart warmer, scented oils, or fragrant candles, a favorite warm autumn scent can temporarily help lift the spirits. While the world outside may be musty with dried leaves, a nice fragrance at home can trigger cheerier, comforting images of baked goods, fond memories, vacations or just warmer days.

Light candles. Separate from the concept of scent, I've found lighting candles, and getting to see that nice warm glow, adds a lot to a room-- even if there's no special occasion-- and can create a cozier atmosphere. Obviously with kids and pets, this may not be ideal-- and would certainly require supervision to be safe. But as fall light wanes, a little flicker of light in the night does a lot to make the evening feel more special.

Change textiles to richer, more vivid colors. Trade usual pastels for juicier colors and suddenly an autumn room takes on more life. I was surprised at the difference, for instance, in my bathroom, as I swapped out the pale greens, light pinks and whites, for this deep plummy purple, eggplant and warm dark pink. The room seems deceptively warmer-- and without ever touching that thermostat.

Break out that Crock Pot. What's better than to come home from a long day of work and find dinner already made? A pot roast, soups, stews-- even a whole roast chicken-- are fantastic slow-cooked in a Crock Pot. And you can't beat the smell of home-cooking the moment you step through that door!

Use reflective items-- luster and mirrors-- to bounce light. Those of us with older homes know, getting enough light isn't always easy. But the Victorians used items coated in luster-- a layer of metallic opalescence-- to reflect off the limited light there was, and flicker under the attention of candles. And this trick still works today. Add to that a few mirrors, or other metallic surfaces, and you can brighten up your space easily.

Tackle that long-procrastinated craft. Whether it's sewing, latchhook, crochet, knit, needlepoint, sketching, beadwork, or a thousand different crafts, cooler days and shorter nights are a great time to think creative.

Switch shower gel to a new, heavier scent. I know this seems like such a strange detail to suggest, but a good hot shower is the way so many of us start the day. And for those of us who really respond to scents, changing up the soaps you normally use to something new and fun-- and a bit more fragrant than normal-- is

Take even fifteen minutes to a half hour, if you can, to curl up with a book or magazine. Time to mentally regroup can be extremely helpful when the days feel bleak and busy. So a little quiet time with a book... or my fave, a decorating magazine... is a nice way to settle down a bit and gain a fresh perspective.

Well-- that's all I have for today. But what are the ways you make the colder months warmer and more cheerful? Leave a comment below-- I'd love to hear from you!

If you missed Sunday's post on Halloween decorating-- another fun way to make the house spookily whimsical for Autumn, click here.

If not, perhaps I'll see you Sunday when I hope to show the progress on the faux fireplace I'm installing! Take care, friends!

Decorating As If Henry Tudor Had a Halloween Bash

2009-10-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year. Not only do I pick things up over the course of the year at thrift stores and put it away, I find things at stores like Target and Michaels-- on serious discount-- and enhance my Halloween decorating repertoire when I can.

This year, Target went quite "Henry the Eighth" with their theme, and I selected a few things I thought I could use for multiple years ahead, from their ranks. So, I combined the plastic hobnail pieces and tapestry-style chargers they had, with real hobnail, glass and golden chargers I'd picked up years ago for pennies, to create a black, gold and purple tablescape...

I loved in particular the black damask Target did with dragons, thistle and various otherwordly creatures. They printed the same thing on very inexpensive yet fun plastic plates and bowls. Which is plastic and which is glass?-- it's actually very hard to tell!

This centerpiece is simply a Target candle on a dish. When you light the candle, it will run in a red Halloweeny fearful way. I actually like the skull and medieval heraldry detail so much, I probably won't run it this year in order to retain it...
I put a circular mirror from Pat Catan's craft store under it to reflect the scene. I've used this inexpensive mirror so many times, it's become a staple for centerpieces.

The Bela Legosi animated photo is from-- of all places-- the grocery store after Halloween 2007 for just a few dollars... Here love is in the air with Count Dracula...

And here the Count shows his true colors...

And last, I found a few interesting bottles at Michaels on a BIG sale... Like this organic bat brain (herbal, of course!)..

And here's my feathered friend Roderick, of Poe fame, to skwawk out a seasonal "Nevermore!" He was after-season clearance last year...
Lastly, I had quite forgotten I'd gotten some decor off-season at Tuesday Morning. I love how these creepy jack-o-lanterns catch the eye...

That second item says "Trick" and not "Rick," by the way I have no particular Halloween vendetta against some poor, innocent Rick fellow. :)

In addition to all the Halloween decorating you see here, I will soon be unveiling a brand-new fireplace surrroud in my Blue Room. It's still in-process, so I should be showing this to you soon! Your hostess has been a very busy gal (who has many stories to tell you about the process)!! I think you will all approve once it's been completed.

Click here to read about all the painting that's been going on.

And here to check out the last Treasure Box Wednesday on Rummages and Resale Shops!

And perhaps I'll see you this Wednesday, with more updates!

Cheers!
-Jenn

Treasure Box Wednesday: Rummages and Resale Shops

2009-10-14T02:45:00.000-07:00

A little exploring on the weekend brought me to some Treasure Box opportunities I don't ordinarily have-- and which I'll share with you today!

The first was a local church rummage sale. It was a misty gray morning, drizzle dropping down on us as we queued for the sale to open. Neighbors met neighbors. Kids dangled distractedly on their moms necks. And I felt a sense of anticipation. This sale had yielded goodies for me before, in spring...

And fall was no exception. In fact, as we stepped out of the rain into the warmly lit basement, in the very first row, I found a 1930s-ish art deco print for $3...

It's called "The Viking," I learned, when I took the frame apart to clean the very dirty glass. And while it looks quite a bit like an Atkinson Fox print, no name is on the piece. All there is is the title and this publisher's mark...

"Reliance Picture Frame Company-- NY." Looks like when I get some time, I'm going to have to do a little research!

I also uncovered some 60s cookbooks-- one of which I believe I'll be treating you all with in a future post-- and this vintage pottery planter...

At fifty-cents, I figured I couldn't go wrong!

Later in the day, at a resale shop in Bellevue I hadn't been to before, I found this detailed Made in Japan figurine which, thanks to info from a nice reader, is likely based on the nursery rhyme about the cat off to see the Queen...

Anyway, I loved the bisque look and soft colors. The store benefits a local hospice, the prices were great, and it is definitely one I'll visit again.

(I have to get the details to share with you all. I admit, I was so enamored looking around at the merchandise, I forgot to get the contact info! Ah, the price of being an avid treasure hunter-- we get distracted sometimes.)

The other item I bought was this 1950s style carriage-shaped novelty clock. I thought. given the fairy-tale quality the blue room in my house has been taking on, it might fit in well on the mantle I'm assembling.
Lastly, I stopped by the Ohio River Boulevard Antique Mall and came across additional material for a future post... These "Official Detective Stories" magazines...

I love old pulp fiction, and these dramatic, kitschy covers really caught the eye. Plus, at 50% off, how could I say no?

Anyway, that's the Treasure Box for this week, my friends!

If you missed Sunday's post-- "Painted Lady"-- which talks about how a furniture stash is getting a makeover, click here.

If not, I'll see you on Sunday perhaps, where I should have more progress on some home decorating projects!

Painted Lady

2009-10-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

Apologies that my Sunday post is a little late today compared to some days. But I have an excuse I do believe you'll all understand. You see, I've been painting furniture...

And painting furniture...

And painting furniture.

Yes, folks, at my house it's been one of those marathon "Let's Just Get This Done" sessions filled with excited ambition... and which always somehow manages to take four times longer than you initially expect.

The project? Furniture and accessories to be used in my blue sitting room. If you recall the other day, the endtables started out like this and I was about to give them a touch of off-white paint...

And here's the first coat for comparison!...

Ya just don't realize how many sides and fiddly bits there are to a small endtable like this until you have to cover it in three coats of paint, let me tell you! Just when I'd think I'd gotten it all covered, I'd see it from another angle and realize--- oh, NOOOOOO!--- I missed a section.

One of the endtables is pretty much done with the exception of a clear topcoat. The other still has a way to go yet-- and then there's a matching coffetable to tackle.

So while I was... um.. watching paint dry, I started priming this antique fire surround I got at the Construction Junction architectural salvage store...

Some good ol' Rustoleum should keep that rusty section at bay. Then this will get a coat of the off-white paint I'm using on the furniture. I think it will be pretty in the blue room, as part of a makeshift faux fireplace I'm hoping to add in there.

Here you can see it all primed up!

And here's a close-up on the detail. Gotta love those elaborate vines and berries climbing along it...And because I hadn't already gotten myself in enough trouble with painting projects, I ended up painting the black base of a bust I want to use in that room. (Don't worry, the bust was from TJ Maxx, not any priceless antique!) You can see here in the lefthand side of the photo below...

And I also worked over this thrifted lamp...

It's a strange little cherub on it-- I'm guessing it's from the 70s. But I think the antique white paint doesn't look too bad...

This was the first coat. I'll need to do at least one more to even it out. But you can get a sense of how it will be.

Anyway, that's where we stand today. As I get things finished and moved into the room, I'll give you all a little update.

And if you missed previous posts and want to know which room I'm talking about, you can check out what's been done to date here.

The next Thrift Shop Romantic post will be Wednesday. Oh, and while I remember, I want to thank everyone who has subscribed to the The Thrift Shop Romantic RSS feed. I'm really delighted to have you all share in the thrifting and decorating adventures.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Forgotten Furnishings and Painted Putti

2009-10-07T02:52:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been full of surprises for me. Things I've put away years ago, to decorate the blue bedroom my friend was using, have suddenly been unearthed and brought to light.

It almost feels like one of those time travel films, where Past Me leaps into the future and plants the seeds of things Present Me might need now.

Let's hear it for Past Me!

One of my favorite finds was this trio of cherubs I'd painted a good long while ago...

No masterpieces by any means, these whimsical and ornery-looking putti (based on the cherubs at the bottom of the throw I'm using on the couch) have certainly made me smile. I have vague memories of giving them irreverent-- yet appropriate-- names...

Like Buster...
Butch...
And, something like Bud...
Perhaps they'll serve my decorating needs yet as I continue to pull that blue room together!

I also have been dusting off some flea marketed lyre furniture. I have two endtables like this, and a coffeetable, all with about the same level of poor finish...

But I'm thinking a lick of off-white paint will both brighten them up and hide all of the dings and scratches in that veneer.
Don't worry, they're not priceless Chippendale or anything. They're probably from the Depression era.

I thought you'd also like to see that framed tapestry now that the frame has been gold-leafed...

It's much cleaner from the chipped dark brown it was, and in the daylight in that room, gives off a nice inviting glow.

Lastly, I forgot all about this thrifted needlepoint stool I got to go with my thrifted chair. This was just a few bucks from the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Monroeville a few years ago...

So, I feel like things are really coming together. I need to make some decisions about what goes where, and I need to invest in a tin of cream paint. But I'm excited about the way it's turning out.

At the very least, it's keeping me out of trouble.

The same, however, cannot necessarily be said for those mischievous cherubs.

If you missed the first post on decorating the blue room in a day, you can check that out here.

Otherwise, I'll see you Sunday, perhaps, for our next post and hopefully a bit more progress!

From Empty to French and Shabbily Romantic in a Day

2009-10-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

Those of us thrifty folks do ourselves a serious service by planning ahead. I knew there would come a day when the friend who was renting from me would be able to purchase a home of her own and the extra bedroom she occupied would be a blank canvas once more.

Well, almost blank, anyway...
With just a few remaining things to pick up and take to her nifty new digs, boy was I glad I had developed a plan for the blue room long ago! And even gladder was I that I'd tucked some things aside as I'd found them, to decorate it.

The theme? A shabby chic old world French feel.. A bit pastoral, a bit faded, soft and lush and relaxing... A place a person could come sit and read a book, play some music, or paint.

Here you see a last framed artwork that needs to find its way to my former housemate, and a ladder waiting for me to hang some drapes...
The stack of prints below are from my own hallway. I'd taken them down so the movers could get through easily. They'll go back to their places shortly. They won't live here.

Here is my old black Ikea couch, brought up from the livingroom when the red velvet vintage-style sofa I'd thrifted recently took its place. This black sofa's going to get cover-up job done to it shortly. (Apologies for the photographed spheres... too much dust there for a second!)
The cover you see below was one I bought from the Salvation Army thrift store years ago and tucked away for just this occasion. It's got an elaborate pastoral scene on it, chock filled with minstrels and courting couples. I hadn't seen anything quite like it, but thought it would come in handy...

You can se the figures up close better here, with this romantic couple...

And here, with these instrumentalists...To cover the arms, I had a vintage pink burnout velvet futon cover I'd also thrifted some time ago...
It looks a lot pinker here in the photos, for some reason. It's actually a rather faded soft pink, like the dresses in the pastoral cover.

Here you can see I put up some curtains. I'd gotten these two years ago from TJ Maxx, at $16.00 a set, valences and tasseled tie-backs included!...

Here you can see the cherub and lady painting, which had been in my entrway downstairs, got moved to an appropriate placement between the windows, against the flow of light...

The music cabinet underneath it had had an unfortunate mishap when I'd moved it. The momentum of the cabinet door swung the door right off its hinges, pulling the screws away from the soft pine piece. A sad thing, naturally, and I cursed myself a bit over it. But I think I can fix it. It's really the right height and size for the area.

This French tapestry chair was a Salvation Army find too, about four years ago. It was just waiting to come into the blue room!

And you can see it coming together so far...
This large Italian tapestry will soon hang over the couch. This was-- probably not surprising to you-- a Salvation Army find, as well!...

The frame is quite scratched, so I think I'll gold leaf it so it will match the other frames in the room.

I also have some small lyre endtables, a desk, and a couple of vintage lamps that will find a home here.

I hope you folks enjoyed the little preliminary tour. Knowing your taste, developing a plan, and having a lot of patience is a great way to decorate a room with interesting items-- and not a lot of money.

If you missed last week's Treasure Box Wednesday, Rainy Days and Roses, click here.

If not, I should have some other goodies to share with you this coming Wednesday. I hope you'll pop by to see what awaits.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Rainy Days and Roses

2009-09-30T02:30:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the sky was a relentless gray and rain fell in a straight, half-hearted drizzle... but the insides of the thrift stores and antique malls were warmly lit and dry.

It would have been pleasure enough just to wander around the various aisles. But it turns out some great sales were on, and Lady Luck was in a giddy mood.

My favorite find for this week was this 1960s still-life rose painting from the L&L Fleatique-- which, in a fortunate half-off sale, was $20, framed...
The painting was originally from a gallery in southern Florida, where I rather doubt the painting sold for 20 clams the first time around!...

I'm particularly pleased the way the artist did the glossiness of that vase.

And speaking of vases, how about a little jadite?

Fans of jadite know it doesn't come especially cheap, given it's popularity. But at $9, I thought I could afford this one.

Speaking of both roses and vases, I found a Victorian transferware jug at the Salvation Army Thrift Store...
Okay, so, yes, they aren't roses printed on there... But you get the gist.

At fifty-cents a piece I got these framed tapestries at the Goodwill...

And last, a couple of collector's books on some American pottery of interest...

What's the price of knowledge? Well, apparently a fiver will do ya. :)

And speaking of American Pottery, if you missed Sunday's post on McCoy pottery and how pricing has changed since the 80s, click here.

For the rest of you, I hope you enjoy a little sunshine this week, even if it's only the warm glow of a pleasant day.

McCoy Pottery: The Price of Popularity

2009-09-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

On my thrifting travels yesterday, I came across a couple of collector's books from the '80s for $5 a piece, and one of them was The Collector's Encyclopedia of McCoy Pottery by Sharon and Bob Huxford.

Given my only resources on the McCoy I collect were from a guide that contained other collectibles too, I thought it would be handy to have a whole book dedicated to these unique vases, planters, cookie jars and other pottery items.

It was terrific to see the wide range of products and styles McCoy did since its beginnings in the early 1900s. But the thing that surprised me most was not the diversity-- but the 1980s prices for these now sometimes pricey and sought-after pieces!

Any McCoy fan in possession of a time machine would be wise to leap into it now, head to the time of MTV's heyday, big hair, and parachute pants. And there, get thee to an antique mall and snatch up what McCoy you can find to bring back to 2009!

I wouldn't say you could retire on the investment. But you'd definitely have done well for yourself. Money for Nothin', even. :)

I mean, here is a favorite piece in my collection-- this McCoy shell planting dish from 1941...

In 1983, the price was listed as $7-$10. Nowadays a nice McCoy piece in perfect condition of this size tends to average around $30-$40 from what I've seen in my area. Fans of McCoy, I'd love to hear from you about the prices in your neck of the woods!

A cornucopia similar to this one, but be-tasseled, can be found in the encyclopedia...

The 1983 encyclopedia listed it as $5-$8. I'll have to check, but I think I paid about $10, and that, for today, was on the low side.

And this swan vase, listed the same price as above, was from 1946...

I've seen these swans in other colors-- cream being one of them. Usually they run around $20-$30.

This vase in "wheat" from 1953 was listed as $5-$8...

I think I paid $20 for it because I really liked the organic yet streamlined design to it, as well as its soft, blended harvest colors. I haven't seen another one like it to know what they're running around here.

This geometric/deco style vase is from 1941...

In 83, it was list as $5-$8 as well. I paid $11, and I recall feeling I got quite a steal. I've seen it in other colors, and it's been about $25-$45.

This pot and saucer from 1961 was listed a $4-&7...
While I got mine from the Salvation Army, I've seen pots like this at antique malls charging $12 for a highly-damaged and considerably smaller piece.

This little jobbie here I got for $4 yesterday....

It needs a good cleaning, but is otherwise in great condition. But in 1983, it was worth $1.50-$2.50. I would have greatly overpaid!

Anyway, I thought you all just might appreciate getting to see how at least one collectible item has appreciated over time. And it hasn't just happened with McCoy. I mean, collectors of jadite will attest to how what once was a common yet lovely Depression era glass got some attention from Martha Stewart and suddenly prices went through the roof. Only now am I starting to find jadite at more reasonable prices.

And what collectible will be next, do you think?

I'd love to hear from you all about how you've seen collecting change over the years, and where you think it's headed!

Until our next post on Wednesday, folks! Happy hunting!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Thrifted and Wired

2009-09-23T02:00:00.000-07:00

No, no, no... Don't worry-- the lamps above aren't mine. They'll be heading off with my bud Scoobie, as she moves into her new house early next month!

Ah, but they needed rewiring first and a bit of TLC. And, since you all probably know by now how I have Lamp Addiction, I was more than happy to take a little time to help them work and look their best.

The green luster lamp with the courting couple scene was something Scoobie had gotten at Construction Junction for $5. Structurally, it was in pretty good condition, but the more I got to looking at it, I didn't care for how mottled and rusted its base was...

So after rewiring it, I busted out a nice shade of gold leaf paint, and gave it a careful coating! Looks much cleaner and fresher, no?...

Normally, I don't mess with the metal bases unless they're really looking poorly. Generally, I like the more worn, vintage patina to them. But in this case, I think the gold leaf was the right decision. Here you can see the full lamp...

And here you can see the lamp trio I rewired that day. Now all Scoobie will need to complete the look is a couple of cheerful shades! (Oh, and to close on her house next week. Y'know, those piddly things...)

At the Salvation Army thrift store this week, speaking of these courting couple items, I'd uncovered this red tin bowl. This'll be headed off to Scoobie's new place, too-- possibly to hang out with the lamps...

Sort of an early housewarming!

And then this, this is for me...
Just a cute little vintage Valentine's Day figurine I'll use in my holiday display in February. Hey, when you thrift, it's always good to think ahead!

And that about wraps up this week's Treasure Box.

If you didn't get to check out all the drama, the sweaters, and the angry, angry 60s skiiers of Sunday's "Slope Opera" post, click here for a bit of a chuckle.

And if you already did or you simply have to run, well, perhaps I'll see you on Sunday for something new! Take care!

Slope Opera with Spinnerin Knits

2009-09-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to today's exciting episode of The Sliding White, the world's first thrifted soap-opera in skiwear knitting booklet form-- sponsored by 1960s Spinnerin Knits...

Watch as simple fisherman's sweaters and ski pullovers tell a complex tale of love... hate... jealousy... snow-blindness... and men in stretch pants!

Today's episode of treachery and stitchery begins in Switzerland at the Piz Corvatsch at Silverplana. Says the book:

"2000 years ago the Romans came here, but did not ski,
... because they had no skis
...because they did not know the Corvatsch"

Also, probably because armor and leather skirts don't fare particularly well in cold, wet conditions.

But I digress.

Let's meet our cast of characters, shall we?...

Ah, here we have the tortured Chad Fingering and the fickle but beautiful Vivien Worsted... Chad has always loved Vivien, but has not been able to truly express his love for her because of his marriage to the cold, calculating Carlotta Featherlon.

Vivien, as we see, is a tease. What else could one say about a woman who is supposed to be modeling a sweater you can knit, but instead seems to be saying:

"Look at my crotch! See my fine skier's body in these leggings that are not even knitted!"

Yes, Chad and Vivien had had some fine times together... Like the day Vivien, who had been snowblinded at an early age and now must ski using her other heightened senses, playfully decided to start a snowball fight with someone who wasn't actually there...

Ah, how Chad and she laughed!

Unfortunately, getting a divorce from Carlotta isn't the only barrier to Chad's happiness with Vivien. There is the handsome Hunter Twist, Vivien's fiancee and Chad's best friend... and greatest rival.

Ah, Hunter always seemed to be so good at everything, always giving Chad unsolicited advice on skiing and never noticing how it made Chad grit his teeth in rage...

The oblivious fool!

Still, Chad could at least spend some time with Vivien... even if it meant bringing Carlotta along. He would ask her to wear a hat just like Vivien's... to dress just like Vivien... to wear her hair just like Vivien... And maybe then, she would be enough like Vivien that he could almost love Carlotta...

Kisses, stolen behind Hunter's back, were so easy when you were duping a guy with the attention span of a gnat, and putting the moves on a blind woman.

"Hunter, is that you? You smell... different."

Sure, Chad had tried to make it work with Carlotta. Showed her his big telescope. Tried to find something in common...
She even seemed almost happy for a moment, like her joy could melt the ice and her cold, cold heart. But to Chad, the only thing that really worked were their matching ski outfits in red, white and blue. Yes, knitwear was the only thing that tied them together, largely with a cable stitch.

Of course, when Hunter started paying attention to Carlotta, too-- well, that was it! Couldn't Hunter see their matching sweaters with hip and swanky belt buckles stitched right into them? Was there any greater sign that Chad and Carlotta were a commited couple?

What man in his right mind would wear something like this, if his beloved didn't make him?
So Chad decided: something had to be done about Hunter.

Yes, while four may go to the slopes this day, only three would return...

As they prepared to go down the slopes, Chad's plan was in order. He asked the group to pose for one photo, just to remember this day by...

Will the game warden get to Vivien before she catches rabies from the live raccoon she's been wearing on her head instead of her hat?...

Will Hunter stop eyeing up snowbunnies long enough to realize there is murder in Chad's eyes?

And has Carlotta discovered Chad's horrific plan, or does she simply have a bad case of snowfleas from her Yeti costume?...

The answers to these and other nail-biting questions in the next episode of... The Sliding White.

Or, um, you might want to check out last Treasure Box Wednesday's post where we take a trip to the Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival. Click here.

Keep warm and watch out for those treacherous skiers!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Pittsburgh Renaissance Faire Fun

2009-09-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

This Treasure Box Wednesday-- as based on an action-packed weekend, where houseguests took center stage instead of Ye Olde Thrifting-- I thought I'd share with you a few pics of the Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Faire.

Here we have the pre-joust parade...
...Gosh, I knew kings tended to have swelled heads, but this is ridiculous!

The theme this year took a distinctly Tudor track, and so you see the procession of courtly ladies in 15th/16th century gowns...

And this was our fine leader for the first joust... It appears she's been hitting the mead a bit early...Of course, you can hardly blame her. With just five whole peasants to help her cheer on Sir Ian, she didn't have a whole lot to work with.

Here we see the King's court in Ye Royale Pavillion looking merry in pre-joust anticipation...

And here we have our knights for this day: Sir William, Sir Ian and Sir Roderick...

I found myself surprisingly close to where Sir Roderick was hanging out in the arena, and he kindly posed for a few, um, paintings via Mine Canon Powershot...

Thank ye, good sir....

This is Sir Ian. He was supposed to be my region's knight for the day, but he went evil into the second joust and so I ficklely switched my allegiances...
Sorry, dude.

Here we see him in an action shot, tilting...

After the festivities, who wouldn't enjoy some fish, chips and a pint o' mead? (Or, well, Guinness in a plastic cup...)And after a bit of Royal foolishness...

We went on our way.

A story which is equally silly, and you also might enjoy. Find out what happened once I hit the Ren Faire parking lot. You might just get a chuckle here on my humor blog! Click here.

Fare thee well, good people!

Extreme Makeover: Desk Chair Edition

2009-09-13T02:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes things just have too much potential to be thrown away. This 60s desk chair from my friend Scoobie's workplace was about to hit the trashbin....

With its ripped avocado green vinyl seat and a cushion that had broken down over time, her employers were prepared to replace it with a new high-tech number.

Scoobie, however, saw makeover potential and conferred with a consultant.

Or, well, me.

Her total investment was in discount remnant fabric from JoAnn's, a new cushion purchased with a half-off coupon, and some paint and topcoat from Michaels-- also half-off.

Here's Scoobie removing the chair back...

And here's the much-used cushion set which will get reupholstered by the, er, consultant.

To soften the silver-steel look of the chair, Scoobie gave the chair frame a number of coats of a light bronze paint...

After that, she hit it with a few coats of clear topcoat.

Then I went into action. All I used was a pair of shears and my handy-dandy staple gun. I hadn't upholstered a chair with a cushioned back before, so this was a bit new for me. Usually they were standard hard-backed dining chairs.

The key to this particular project was in trying to make sure the stripes were not only evenly distributed on bottom cushion and top cushion, but that they were relatively aligned between the top and bottom cushions themselves.

In retrospect, it could be a little straighter, but considering this was the first time I'd attempted it, I'm pretty happy. I think it's not overly off.

For the bottom cushion, it's a simple case of cutting to fit, and working your way around the seat, ensuring the fabric is pulled taut and each side has at least one staple in it, holding everything in place. Then fill in the rest of the staples, leaving room for the chair screw holes.

For the top cushion, the fabric went over the front, then folded from the bottom over the back. So basically I was working on two sides at once.

And soon.... here we had the finished chair!

Here's a little closer view...

Quite a difference, eh?

Just goes to show, one employer's trash really can become another office jockey's heirloom posh bum-rester. :)

Now before we go today, I wanted to just take a moment to thank you all for reading the Thrift Shop Romantic. This last Friday marked the third bloggiversary of this little place on the Internet. Three whole years have gone by-- can you believe it? In the world of blogging, that means TSR is no spring chicken!

But it couldn't have been done without you all. Over the years, I've appreciated your interest, your notes, your comments, your questions and overall, your kindness.

So I think we have much to celebrate! Have yourself a piece of virtual cake and some sherbet punch and party on, friends!

I hope to see you again Wednesday!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Mini-Thrifting

2009-09-09T02:14:00.000-07:00

What with the picnicing festivities and other weekendly errands which needed attention, I didn't have a whole lot of time for thrifting... but don't worry-- I did squeeze a little in!

And while Autumn is definitely in the air, and the shadows are lengthening, I wasn't precisely expecting to be thinking Christmas this weekend...

But when you find a mercury glass Christmas tree in turquoise blue-- and for $1.99!-- well, suddenly those sleigh bells just seem to ring. Or perhaps that was the cash register as I bought it. What do you think?

My second thrifted find-- this one also at the St. Vincent de Paul in Monroeville-- was this lone bluebird salt or pepper shaker...

You might recall, I have a set of this feathered fellow's buddies. And it seems they're a slightly different style. Now there's a trio. I find it cheery to see bluebirds on my kitchen ledge.

And lastly this week is something that should cheer you folks down the road... The fixin's for what should be a fairly funny post on the tragedies of 60s and 80s knitwear...

The improbable lifestyle shots alone were worth the eighty cents in total I paid for the three!

So before you go-- I hope you'll check out the Sunday/Monday post (I was late posting, folks! Apologies for that) on Labor Day Leisures. We'll take a trip into the country and enjoy the bounty of the harvest.

Hope you got to enjoy some leisure yourselves this last weekend! But can you believe it's Wednesday already? Yep-- another weekend is well on its way!

Labor Day Leisures

2009-09-07T06:26:00.000-07:00

A time to reap, a time to sow... a time to stuff your face with hotdogs roasted over an open fire and spend time with family and friends.

That was what I was doing yesterday. And I got back from it all just a bit too late to post.

We had a beautiful day for the annual Labor Day wienie roast. There was a constant breeze and the sky was filled with blowing clouds...

And vultures!...

My friend Scoobie's little bro gathers monarch caterpillars every year and watches them go through their adolescence into full-grown butterflies. So I got to take some pictures of his elaborate butterfly habitat. The caterpillars were too busy munching milkweed to care about the photo shoot...

Here's one that's already turned into a chrysalis. I'm always amazed by the soft green and gold-trimmed work these worms manage...

The gourds there are doing well this year. And there was a variety like I'd never seen. I've always been fond of these cute little pumpkin-shaped ones...

But check out this type called the Caveman's Club!...

I'd asked the little brother who is in fact not so little to stick his hand in there to help show some perspective. Now that is one hefty gourd!

This sunflower looks weary, ready to call the season to a close...

And the hay is being baled into great round rolls...

Cows rest sleepily in the meadow among the trees and rocks...

The sun hides languidly among the clouds...

And Scout, having begged and devoured entirely too many pork products bearing the "dog" name, has settled down to digest all of this food and added attention from the picnic guests.

I don't blame her. I could use a nap today myself!

Hope you all have a non-laborious Labor Day, if you're celebrating!