Spindle side table

Remember when I got this old "essex wire corporation" spindle for $5 at a garage sale here?

Well I had been trying to find something to use as a base to turn it into a side table. I liked the look of hairpin legs, but the cheapest I could get 3 for was $12 each plus $12 shipping. $50 was more than I was willing to spend on this project at this time so I waited. And then I found this at Goodwill for $2.25.


A broken wine rack. And I turned it into this...

 

 

 

I love it! Is it the forever solution? Maybe not, but for now I think it is cool. It may not be everyone's look, but I am going for the industrial vibe. Mixed with beach house/farmhouse/midcentury vibe. Got it?

There's a first time for everything...

And this is the first time, as far as I can remember, that I haven't gone Black Friday shopping (since I have been an adult). It really does hurt my heart a little. I decided to skip it this year, because I didn't really have one specific item I wanted and I knew if I went just to go I would end up spending money on stuff that was on sale, but that I didn't really need. I may venture down to Carytown, a cool little shopping district in Richmond for those that don't know, and see what they have got going on for "small business Saturday" though.

I am hoping to live through everyone else. Anyone get an unbelievable deal? If so, please tell me!!

Last night I did the thing I dread each year: I climbed up into our attic and got down the Christmas decorations. Some swearing and a bump on my head was involved, but the tree and decorations have successfully made it to living-level. I swear this year I am finding a new place to store them or else getting rid of the tree and going Au natural next year, as far as the tree is concerned.

This are two quick little decor projects I did to get into the Christmas spirit. First I found these little reindeer at a garage sale and Goodwill for about $1 each.

Then I found this new spray paint at Wal Mart that claimed to be paint and primer so I had to test it out.

Ta da....

I love them! And I love that spray paint. So while I was in the spraying frame of mind, I sprayed down three of these pine cones I found while visiting my mom in Myrtle Beach.

Ta da #2...

Two quick, cheap and easy holiday decor ideas to get you in the spirit!
Happy shopping!

Quick Art Update

So today I walked into Goodwill looking for some items for a living room project I am doing for my friend Lisa. I was determined not to buy anything for myself. Until I saw this 20 seconds in:

 

A quick fact about me is that Gone With the Wind is 100% for sure my favorite book of all time (just barely inching out Harry Potter, or perhaps maybe a tie). It is also one of my top 3 favorite movies. So how could I pass this up for $5.25?! I know what room I am going to put this is (our basement) but not exactly sure where yet. That room currently has too much blue going on so this will be the perfect pop of color. Then I saw this:

Look at the adorable bamboo-esqu frame!! And on papyrus!? And a cute little bird? For $4.25 I couldn't say no to this either. I wasn't really sure where I was going to put this, but this is where I tried it first. And I loved it.

 

I don't know why it looks like a smokey bingo hall in this picture. No one has smoked in here recently. Or ever. Smoking is gross people. It causes strokes, so please quit if you smoke. Anyhow, back to the art. I thought the old-school/ classy look of the two pictures really balances out the homemade/modern feel of my homemade chevron art. This look is not be for everyone,







but I really like how it looks. The Gone With the Wind poster isn't everybody's taste either, but it is mine. As I was thinking, "I am not sure other people with get this" I was reminded of what my good friend Sherry Peterski said the other night at her book talk (disclaimer: I am only friends with Sherry in my own mind). Sherry said, when decorating you should never think, "will my mother-in-law get this?". I literally laughed out loud. Really loud. In the front row, yep I am that cool.  I really think this thought ALL THE TIME! Not about my mother-in-law, I don't have one, but the closet thing I do have to a mother-in- law, Tom's mom, is a amazing, kind and wonderful woman who would never judge me on my wall art. Anyway, the point is that your friends/family/coworkers/mother-in-laws don't have to live in your house, but you do. And if they do have to live with you, they probably have bigger fish to fry than how you are decorating. So while you want them to enjoy your house, they don't have to "get" everything.

And in other art news, my young house love tissue paper art from my last post found a home in the hallway. Well at least 2/3rds of it.

 

I think is a fun pop of color as you come around the corner. Anything you love in your house that you aren't sure that other people "get"?

Celebrity sightings

If you know me, you know that I love the blog Young House Love. If you have never read their blog I suggest you check it out. My friend Chrissy got me hooked on reading this blog a couple of years ago and I have been obsessed ever since. The authors, John and Sherry, wrote a book and Thursday night I got to go to their book signing and meet them. I was star struck!! They were so cool! I felt super cool considering I also randomly met Jesse Jackson at the airport last Friday, so my celebrity meeting total is on the rise!

 In honor of them I decided to do a little project from their book this weekend. I wanted some new art to hang in the big wall above my tv. I did this homemade art a while ago and was just bored with it.

 First, I gathered my supplies: tissue paper, modge podge, white acyclic paint and 3 16 x 20 blank canvases.

First I painted each canvas white, I thought it would make the canvas look better, but I am pretty sure this step can be eliminated. I then used a little Tupperware container to trace a circle on the tissue paper and cut out lots and lots of circles. I played with the designs in my head and then just got to work. It was pretty easy- you just brush the canvas with modge podge, lay the tissue paper, then go over it again with modge podge. Then  you have your finished project! They aren't perfect, but according to Sherry, that is what gives it it's "charm". I am not sure if this is 100% perfect for this space but I do love it so it will get some use somewhere.

While I was in the circular mood I whipped these up using acrylic paint and a jar top....



Did anyone out there do any projects this weekend?

I know the comment box still isn't working for most people, so please feel free to comment on the link on the facebook page- thanks for reading!

It's in the box.

I found out an amazing secret, and you all are lucky enough to be let in on it. This is especially useful right before the holidays when you are shipping stuff across the country.

If you go to the Unite States post office's website, www.usps.com, they will send you boxes for free!! My favorite word= free!! It is amazing! My friend Chrissy let me in on this tip when she was moving to Montana. You go to the website, click on order items, then click into boxes and it will give you a variety of different sizes that you can order. As long as the price say $0.00 than they will be at your doorstep for zilch. Unbelievable I know. Who can't use a few extra boxes lying around for when it comes time to package and ship things? Most of them are the flat rate rate boxes.

Do it now!!

RVA Election Day Deals

This is all from Richmond Bargains

Follow her for updates on all bargain happenigns in RVA.

 

Boyer’s Ice Cream & Coffee – Come in tomorrow wearing your “I Voted” sticker and receive 50% off any coffee drink! (5720 Patterson Ave)
Quaker Steak and Lube – Bring your “I voted” sticker in at anytime on Tuesday and recieve $2 OFF AYCE! Just like last week AYCE will be ALL DAY! (All you can eat)(8000 W Broad St)
Sticky ToGoGo – Don’t forget to vote tomorrow! Come in wearing your “I Voted” sticker and we’ll take 25% off your order! (2227 W. Main St)

Update: Einstein Brothers listed an offer for a free bagel and shmear with an I Voted sticker, but the info was removed today – so check with you closest location to see if they will honor the promo

Update: Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant – Free quesadilla for everyone that votes! just show us that sticker (9550 Midlothian Tnpk)
Update: Qdoba Central VA – $6 Election Day Meal Deal – entree and a drink for $6 with coupon
Update: Extreme Pizza Henrico – Show us your “I Voted” sticker and get 10% off your order
Update: Pieces Boutique – It’s Election day! Get 25% off your purchase when you show your I Voted sticker (1301 W Main St)
Update: Rostov’s Coffee & Tea – … if you voted come in and show us your I Voted sticker and we will give you a 1/4 lb of Rostovs!!!
Update: Alternatives Boutique - As an added incentive (as if you needed one other than the tasty delights of democracy) wear your “I voted” sticker for 10% off your purchase today (3320 W Cary St)
Update: Cha Cha’s Cantina – It’s Election Day! Bring your ‘I Voted’ sticker in today and get 20% OFF! $2 off Tacos too!
Update: Dransfield Jewelers – Today only: come in with your I VOTED sticker and you will receive 20% off a purchase from our case
Update: It’s Hip to Be Round – Bring in your “I Voted” sticker on November 6th and receive a free nail polish by Scotch Naturals with any purchase!
Update: Frostings Cupcakes – GO VOTE! Then come show us your “I VOTED” sticker & receive 10% off half & full dozens. Today only; 1 per customer, walk-ins only!
Update: The Dairy Bar – Big Day tomorrow – Wear your I Voted sticker and get a free scoop of ice cream with your lunch (Note: this is tomorrow)
Update: Arby’s RVA – We have an Election Day special – 2 French Dip sandwiches for only $5
Update: Cafe Caturra Midlothian Village Square – We love voting! Drop by today between 11am and 6pm for a free small coffee or tea WHEN you show your “I VOTED” sticker
Update: Pearl’s Cupcake Shoppe – Today, anyone who comes in with their, “I Voted” sticker gets a FREE cupcake

Room Reveal: Amy and Brian's Earthy Eclectic Dining Room

This is definitely the biggest project I have done to date: an entire thrifted/bargain dining room in just a few days! My (newly engaged) friends Amy and Brian gave me a blank slate and full reign to give them a dining room on a budget. The purpose was two fold, 1. give me something to blog about and a body of work that may hopefully turn into some side work 2. Brian is getting ready to put his house on the market  and wanted the rooms to look more defined.

The mission: Furnish an entire dining room in the style of "earthy" and "eclectic", and of course, on a budget.

Since they don't plan on being in this house long term, I didn't waste my time on anything that couldn't be easily transported to a new dwelling. But I did turn this

 

into this

 

 

I love this space, and I think Amy and Brian do too. The easiest part of this room was by far finding the table and corner table from my favorite store in Richmond (and maybe the entire world) Class and Trash. There are no words to describe how much I love that store. You can always find just what you need, and usually for me, way too many things that I love but I don't need.

The hardest part was the chairs. I ain't gonna lie....they were hard work. First it was hard to find a set of chairs that was within the budget. Most chairs that I wouldn't have had to stain or paint were over $50 each. Even most sets were over $150 and I still would have had to stain, reuposlter or paint them. First I found the 4 side chairs on craiglist for $10! Then I found 2 more that I thought would work for end chairs at goodwill for another $11. I am going to to do a more in depth post about the chairs but lets just put it this way, all those spindles= a ton of work.

Budget Breakdown

Dining Room Table- Class and Trash- $81.90 (including tax)
Green Corner Table- Class and Trash- $47.25 (including tax)
1950’s Bar Cart- $8- Hope Thrift
4 Chairs- $10 – Craigslist

2 end chairs - $11- Goodwill
Bamboo Shades- $16.97 each, $35.64 total- Home Depot
Martha Stewart Curtains- on clearance 4 at $10 each, $42 total with tax- Home Depot
Condiment Server- $8- Hope Thrift
3 vintage wooden bowls- $2 each, $6.30 total with tax- Hope Thrift

Amber Pitcher- $3- Goodwill
Green Leaf Pictures- $8 each, $17.28 total with tax- Goodwill
Multi- Colored Leaf Picture- $5- Goodwill
Landscape Picture- $8- Diversity Thrift
Bamboo Wine Rack- $8.50- Diversity Thrift
Bamboo Placements- I already owned- Dollar Store I believe
Glass Wear- $2.50 for four glasses
Old drink mixers- $6- Class and Trash
Zinnser Primer for chairs- $22- Home Depot
Granite Spray Paint 6 cans at $3.87, $24.38 total with tax- Home Depot
$28 spent at Michael's on Rub n’ Buff, Martha Stewart Chalkboard paint, 3 brushes, stencil (failed project)

Frames and Atlas- $1 each for $3.15- Dollar Store
Curtain Rods- $7-wal mart

Total= $384.90



I think I did pretty great considering most new dining room tables cost more than that. The one thing that is never cheap is window treatments. Especially when you want blind and curtains (don't forget curtain rods!), but I did my best.

Now, to thrift or not to thrift? I will be first to admit this way of decorating isn't for everyone. While I did get a lot for my money, I spent 10-12 hours on this room. I went to several different stores, some more than once, to find the best deals and the best stuff. I also had to set up meetings for the craigslist items. I also spend at least 6 hours on redoing various items. I know that many people would rather just walk into one or two stores, pick out what they want and be on their way.

Even though it was  a lot of work, I do think bargain hunting is the way to go, at least for me. I find fun in digging through a bin of dusty junk to find a piece you think is awesome. Some people value brand- names or designer items. I find value in the fact that no one on earth can go into a store and buy the stuff from this dining room!

What do you think, to thrift or not to thrift?

If you know anyone that wants a room redone on a budget, please give them my name and info, I am hoping to turn this into a side business....

Also for some reason that I can't figure out, the ability to write comments on my page isn't working for most people, so feel free to comment on the Silly, Honest and Kind facebook page.

Harry, Andrew and Will

Tonight we depart for an adventure involving a Harry, an Andrew and a Will. Unfortunately I am not dining will the Royal family as it may sound, but I am going to three equally exciting events.

Harry: Tomorrow all my dreams will come true when I go to Island of Adventure's Harry Potter's Wizarding World in Orlando. If you know me, you know that I love the Harry Potter books. I am seriously shaking I am so excited.

Andrew: Tomorrow night, we will attend the Orlando Magic game to see St. Bonaventure University star Andrew Nicholson in action as an NBA Baller.

Will: On Saturday we will be hitting up Gainesville to watch the Will Muschamp's Gators take on Missouri. It will be my first time watching a team coached by Will live. The last game I was at was the National Championship game vs Oklahoma in Miami when Tim Tebow was the quarterback and Urban Meyer was the coach.

I can't wait for the exciting weekend ahead, what do you all have planned? Any cool project?