Thursday, January 29, 2015

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Snow Day

It was predicted we'd get 1 to 3 inches of snow.  I woke up to 8" of the nasty stuff!


Wasn't sure if the newspaper was delivered or not and if it was, it might be Spring until we find it.  Um, hubby found it with the snowblower!  So much for the coupons this weekend!


This is a mid-century house a block over.


It can be pretty on the trees!


More expected on the way!  Oh, happy days!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Thrift shopping

Ever go thrift shopping and come home with items for re-sale but the more you look at them, the more you want to keep them?
 
That's the case with some of these items!  I thought I was SO lucky to find these, it's unusual to come home with 4 items for re-sale that I got at fantastic prices and such fun stuff.  I clean them up, research them and then photograph them and as I do, think about keeping them!
 
I found this stitchery kit that just looks so fun and funky, I couldn't resist it but I won't have any trouble selling this!

 Another item to sell is this bright red desk caddy.

 Here is where it becomes difficult!  I just love this casserole by Pyrex called 'Designs'.  Not an easy item to find and in such great condition.

 Now, would you know what this is? 

 Not me, thankfully, it has part of the original cover with it.

 Now I want to keep it but know I shouldn't.

 

Karen

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

DIY Christmas Wreath

This is a quick and easy wreath to make for the holidays!

Items needed:

12" Styrofoam wreath
Tinsel garland (approx. 3 feet)
Med. size plastic bulbs (used for ceramic Christmas trees.  I bought a bag of 150 bulbs and had leftovers)
Awl
Hot glue gun


Wrap wreath with garland until full looking.  Use the awl to start holes and randomly stick the colored bulbs into the hole using the hot glue to secure them.  Continue until you like the looks of it and that is it!

This is one of those things that really does look cuter in person but you can get the idea.


It has the look of the vintage tinsel trees and is suitable for hanging in the door because it won't fade.  I want to try a second one with a smaller size garland so the bulbs aren't so "hidden".

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Cluster Trees

For years, my friend kept telling me about these trees her mother made from ball ornaments and she kept saying she wanted to make one.  Finally, I said to her, just do it!  While out antique shopping, we were lucky enough to come across a vendor that had a huge box of ornaments for only $5.00 so she knew it was the right time to do it.
 
I just could not image what she was talking about and couldn't picture what she was going to do.  A few days after we got back from shopping, she sent me a photo of her ornament tree and I was immediately in love with it! 
 
This year, while at my house, we got out a box of ornaments I had and she made one for me!  I'm totally in love with it.  I made a tiny version from antique mercury glass balls and now need to find more to make her one.
 

 
One day, I came across a web site that had scanned Sears catalogs from way back when.  While going through a Wish Book from the early 60's, I found out these used to come in kits and are called Cluster Trees.
 
I never saw a kit before but recently, there were two on eBay, both by Shiny Brite! 
 
The first one sold for $40.00 plus shipping:

 
The second one is a BIN for $229.00!!!!!
 

 
Will be on the look out for these at the flea markets this year!!
 

Karen