From Blah To Ta-Da!

I bought a few of these 18" metal stars at Joann's a couple years ago. They were from one of those seasonal lines that doesn't stick around long and I got them at 75% off... about $1.25 each! How could I not buy what they had left? I started painting one white, but fell asleep half way through. Just kidding :) but I did want to do something more fun with one of them.

{ok... this is actually quite nice, but that doesn't rhyme with ta-da}

I made a wonky-triangle template out of file folder paper. There's only one shape... I just had to flip it for half of the pieces. I arranged some papers out on the floor in a pleasing pattern which I ended up changing completely as I started cutting. I was going for a scrappy quilt look. I quickly discovered that I need more floral paper and I have lots of polka dots! 

Here it is... my new, scrappy star :) I ♥ Mod Podge.

Just for fun, I'm going to try something new and post this over at The Shabby Chic Cottage Transformation Thursday!

Pocket Change Pastime

One of these days, I'll sync up with some specific days of the week blog posting criteria { Oh, such lofty aspirations I have! } but I haven't yet, so... today I feel like sharing some thrifty finds :)

I've been on a window shopping budget lately, but last weekend I was in the mood to indulge a little so I headed to my local thrift store and this is what I found. The little things in life can bring such happiness... I find this to be so true!

First of all... yes, I know that I use this quilt in the background of just about every photo that I post here lately, but I can't help it... I love it! Basically, if I really like something it will 'go' with this sweet, old quilt. Maybe, eventually, something new will come along sweep me off my feet the way this cutie has!

I found an old hobnail chenille bedspread... twin size with just a couple small spots and lots of cute, twisty fringe. It has fun, lollipop style flowers, swirly vines and something that looks sort of like big tulips in tiny pots. :)

I'm not sure how old this chippy, enamel pot is but I love the pretty color! For some reason the color is a little 'Dijon' in the photos though ~ lol  It's a happy, pastel yellow and I can picture it in a garden planted with red geraniums :) When I found it, there were still a few evergreen tree doo-dads in it like had been stored in a shed or a porch. I imagine that it may have been used to put up some beautiful, summer fruit or sweet, bread & butter pickles like my grandpa used to make. Imagined history or real, this one makes me smile :)  

I also found a bright pink, linen skirt with little tulip flare at the bottom that was made by Banana Republic ... so cute and happy. I waffled a bit about the second skirt that I bought because I thought it might be too 'young' for me, but I decided I didn't care. I like it and life is too short to worry about silly things like that  ~ lol  I used this skirt in a photo for a listing in my Etsy shop. I think I love it and I think this outfit would look great with my orange converse! I definitely need to keep one these necklaces for myself :)

Thanks for taking a peek at my thrift store finds! Have your found some treasures lately? I'd love to hear about them if you'd like to share!

Cheers to junkers, thrifters and lovers of vintage everywhere! I hope you have a happy day :)

Happy Easter!

So sweet :)

Mod Podge makeover . . .

I keep a donation box in the house that I add things to as I find them, and when it gets full, I take it to the Goodwill. What comes back with me, well, we'll save that for another post. :) Sooo anyway, I had put these shoes in the box awhile back because they're not all that comfortable, I only wore them a few times last summer and I got them on super-cheapy sale so I was ok with the cost per wear. lol ~ I just made myself laugh because I also can keep a piece of clothing FOREVER. I was recently looking at some old Etsy photographs from about 3 years ago and I looked down at the shirt I had on and, yep, it was the same one I was wearing in the photo. A fashionista I am not ~ lol

Ok, so back to the shoes.

I got this idea while I was trying to fall asleep one night last week. I've been scoping out the trends for this spring and summer and florals are everywhere. I LOVE florals, especially mixed with other patterns. I'm certain that it's for the same reasons that I love scrappy, vintage quilts. It's just such a happpy look :) Anyway, so I thought it would be fun to have flowery shoes and these were a perfect canvas for my experiment. And if they didn't turn out that great... no biggie!

I have a confession to make. I had already started the project when I took this photo. The clouds let a little bit of evening sun peek through so I took a quick 'before' shot. The shoe on the left is actually already Mod Podged to the paper under it... I just added more paper for a consistent background. :)

Here they are after their makeover... I think they turned out really cute! I wanted to use a pattern that was pretty forgiving as far matching the pattern at a seam and I had several pieces of this paper on hand. I completed them while watching a couple hours of tv last night. They're surprisingly sturdy, though I won't be wearing them on a rainy day. :) I might even make a pink flower clip to add on when I wear them with a skirt. Don't be surprised if you see another Mod Podge posted in the near future... it's such a fun and easy way to transform something ordinary. I'm already looking for my next project!

While walking through the forest this morning I happened upon a wee gnome. He was whistling a happy tune as he tapped in time with his cobblers hammer. I imagined that he was doing a repair in exchange for a freshly baked pie or some new striped socks knit by the tiny hands of one of his gnome friends. He hadn't noticed me there and I didn't interrupt his work to ask but simply walked toward home whistling a happy tune to the tap, tap, tap . . .

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Years ago, I found this little fellow while digging in the dirt. For the life of me, I cannot remember where. I wanted to post a simple, happy photo today so I posed him in a flower pot filled with a moss and weed 'forest.' The silly little story just sort of happened. It made me smile . . . I hope you like it too :)