Monday, November 14, 2016

Insourcing and Budgeting...quick fix thrift store buys and beautified treasures...


Thrifting is such good fun. For anyone not yet enamoured with sourcing bargains second hand...you don't know what you're missing!
 
It never fails to amuse me that apparently buying antiques is okay, but buying from the thrift store isn't. Well, in some circles anyway. I've sourced many a treasure that has become antique, in my days of shopping at Charity stores! It's not always about buying what is already a treasure, it's about seeing the potential for treasure!
 
Last week, I found this vintage cake storer, seen above. Now, I've wanted one of these since...well...forever. My Mother-in-Law has one, and every time she sends us home with her baking in her tin, I struggle to return it to her! I've hinted, but alas, she still uses hers daily, and isn't giving it up anytime soon!
 
Now this one was just $4, and if you're 'in the know', you'd be aware that they sell for up to $80 in the upmarket Antique stores. Unfortunately, it was not in original condition, as someone had already had an abortive attempt at painting the lid this shade of aqua. They'd then spilt something on it, staining it permanently, and used sticky tape to hold the lid on at some stage, later peeling off the sticky tape and the paint along with it. So the lid really was a sorry affair, hence the price, I guess. But I saw potential! I cleaned it up, gently sanded the lid smooth, and sprayed it with several coats of Rose Gold metallic spray paint, and I'm pretty happy with the result! I couldn't restore it to 'original' so this was a good option. Certainly it sits well in my French/Retro inspired, white washed wood and sage green kitchen. The rose gold paint tones with my soft sage green + woodgrain, vintage inspired appliances beautifully, and for a grand total of $16, I'm thrilled. Don't feel that you have to retain items in their 'vintage' condition, if that condition is well past it's use-by date. There's a difference between Shabby Chic, and just plain shabby.

 
This little bedroom stool is my project for today. This was gifted to me by my Mother-in-Law (so, see she is generous!), and she'd had it since it was new, about 45 years ago. It came complete with shabby (but not Chic!) faded orange faux fur cushion, which I immediately discarded. This one has lots of rust, so todays project is to clean and sand it, and use the same rose gold metallic paint to restore it's beauty. It's then getting a brand new cushion, covered in this divine rose gold sequinned fabric...
 

This was a remnant, sourced for just $4. Not enough for a garment or a throw rug, or even a cushion of a decent size. But it caught my eye, and I knew I'd find a good use for it.
 
Again, it's not about keeping this little vanity stool the same. It's about loving it back to beautiful. Thanks to my Mother-in-Law, that project has a total price tag $6, if you include the Rose Gold paint I'd already purchased for the cake storer.
 
I've posted recently about renewing and embellishing thrifted lingerie too. Just a gentle hand wash and a bit of embroidery, and I now have a pile of pretties to gift or to donate to Womens shelters for the Christmas period....


 
Pay attention to packaging too! It makes all the difference! See my post on packaging for a luxury feel here.


Consider that the silk camisole above, started off life from the thrift store looking like this and set me back just $2...
 


 
...it's quite a transformation!
 
Try to develop an eye for what things can be, rather than discarding them for what they are now.
 
I did a quick tally over the weekend. I looked on Etsy, eBay, and Pinterest, and found similar items to the ones I've gently restored over the last month.
 
My cake storer, would sell for anything from $30-$120, so I'll call that one somewhere in the middle, and say $55.
 
The glamorous little vanity stool, would easily fetch upwards of $150, so I'll just call that $150.
 
My lingerie items...well, the price of those would blow your mind. My silk camisole alone would be up around the $100-$200 mark, and the robes, pyjama sets, and other rescued silk items, lavished with love and embroidery, would set you back in the hundreds. I estimate I've rescued, cleaned, pressed and embroidered my way to at least $800 worth of silk lingerie in the last 4 weeks. If you doubt that figure, go to Etsy here, where you will see the prices of vintage silk lingerie, and much of it hand embroidered. It will blow your mind! $800 is a very conservative estimate!
 
Over the last decade, I've established myself amongst family and friends, as the go-to person for unusual gifts, and the person whose unusual gifts are most anticipated. Nobody hesitates to ponder on how my gifts started their journey to loveliness. It's just accepted that they are lovely. From hand crafted candles in sugar bowls bought for mere cents, to hand embroidered silk lingerie finds that started off rescued life, crushed and forgotten, to re-beautified vintage kitchen and décor items that nobody would have given a second glance before I rescued them, they're all welcomed and loved.
 
Skip the big retailers for Christmas shopping this check out your local thrift stores and kerbside collections, to see what you might find to restore to gorgeousness. Having beautiful things for your own home, or to gift to others, doesn't have to cost much. You just need a good eye, a bit of patience and a few basic skills.
 
You can do it!
 
In the last four weeks, I've outlaid around $110 for my neglected pretties from the thrift store. I've spent a further $40 on materials to restore them.
 
My initial investment of $150, has yielded me gifts that would have a retail value of over $1000. None of them have taken a lot of time to beautify, and each has been a pleasure to rescue.
 
I'll be back tomorrow with my completed Vanity stool, and progress on some other projects too, including my garment embellishing ones! I'll see you then!
 
Five Star Frou-Frou is now a neverending linkup, with a featured blogger each and every time I post.
 
Todays featured blogger is....
 
Debbie at Debbie-Dabble Blog. Debbie has shared some of her own rescued pretties, and these are just gorgeous! Please visit Debbie and soak up more of her lovely blog and sweet treasures.
 
 http://debbie-dabbleblog.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/some-new-found-treasures.html
 
 
...Mimi...

27 comments:

  1. Beautiful work, Mimi!
    I'm looking forward to seeing how your chair looks with the gorgeous gold sequins :) I have the same chair (and matching stool) and covered their cushions with blue faux fur. I just love their shape and their funkiness, and that they are perfect to jazz up with eyecatching cushions!
    xx Fiona

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    1. Thanks Fiona! Blue faux fur would be pretty cute too. They are a gorgeous little thing, aren't they! Mimi xxx

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  2. Mimi, great eye! I'm impressed with the before and after pictures! What a great way to save money and give great gifts!

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    1. Dear Patsy, thankyou! I love a good challenge, and it's interesting to go to the thrift store not seeking anything for myself, but rather with an eye to restoring and gifting. It gives you a whole new outlook! Mimi xxx

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  3. Beautiful Mimi! This is right up my alley. I love your cake storer. Nan had one that was several tiers high and I have always wanted one like hers. Partly the good memories but partly they are brilliant!
    I love everything. If we keep our eyes open the possibilities are endless. My most recent is my side of the road shelving which is now part of my pantry. My daughter commented how amazing it is today. Cost me hardly anything to do up a bit.
    We are surrounded by possibilities! Well done it is all a joy to see! xxx

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    1. Annabel my mother in law gifted me her 3 tier high cake/biscuit and scone storer earlier this year. It was originally a gift from her mother on her wedding which I didn't know about until she told me. My mother in law doesn't like blue and this set is blue. I am sure that my husband remembers when he would come home and the tins would be full. With 5 children I don't suppose they were for very long.
      Mimi I love the chair - it will be very pretty.

      Lynette
      XXXX

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    2. Dear Annabel, yes I know those ones with several tiers. I love them too! I'm keeping a lookout for one, but they are very hard to come by. They're such a great way to save pantry and refrigerator space when you're baking. Your shelving was a brilliant find, and I'm just not quick enough with those things. Look at what you did with just a lick of paint...just gorgeous! I did have a win this week though, with a stunning Colonial double bed on Gumtree for just $50. It's for my daughter, who has grown out of her single bed (she's so tall!), and we'd been looking at ensembles for over $500, when we dived into Gumtree for a quick look 'just in case'. This one had literally been listed 7 minutes before we looked, so I think it was meant to be for us! It's glossy pine, and all curves and posts and prettiness. My daughter is SO excited that she spent 3 hours cleaning her room, culling excess 'stuff', and vacuuming yesterday...if only that was a regular occurrence...lol! I'll share photos when it's all set up. It's going to be beautiful! Yes, we are surrounded to possibilities if we just open our eyes to them. Mimi xxx

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    3. Dear Lynette, how lovely of your mother-in-law. That sounds so pretty. I can just imagine the blue! Mimi xxx

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  4. Great finds! Love the cake carrier. I have a great affinity for those also. Have a wonderful week.

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    1. Thanks Lynn. Did your Mum or Nanna have one as well? My Aunty Myrtle used to fill hers with Rock Cakes, and her Rock Cakes remain a firm favourite in our home to this day :) Mimi xxx

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    2. Oh yes, my mom sure did! We would always use it to take to family gatherings with mom's angel food cake!

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  5. Beautiful finds! Happy Monday ♥

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    1. Thankyou Summer. I hope you're having a lovely week. Mimi xxx

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  6. Bravo on all the beautiful refurbishing you've done. You are such an inspiration!

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    1. What a lovely thing to say c. Thankyou so much. Mimi xxx

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  7. Thanks so much for the feature!! I am sorry it took me a little bit to get back to you but I worked this weekend!! I gave you a Shout Out on Google + and in my next post! Thanks again!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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    1. Dear Debbie...no problem. I know how busy we all get. I'm glad to have the shout out too. Many thanks. Mimi xxx

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  8. One of my favorite thrift store ideas was using larger colored vases to store the toilet brushes in! I hated the plastic holders that easily tip over...ick! One day I was looking at small vases for my regular gift stash and there were a line of thick, sturdy vases in different glass colors. About a foot tall. Ding! I bought 3 for $1 ea. In colors that match each loo. One red, one green , and one blue! I love the way they look, they hide the brush, and no tipping!

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  9. Wow...how much fun! :)

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  10. Dear Mimi,

    All those finds are so lovely. I remember mum having a pink shabby stool like the one you showed except it had no back. I often wonder where it went to. I cant wait to see what you have done with yours ~smiles

    I love what you did with the cake tin. Once again my mum had a three tiered tin with a red lid. I asked her recently where it was and sadly it was long gone. I do keep my eye out for another but like you say they are expensive!

    The idea to up do pretty nighties is a great one. I saw some older nighties in the op shop today but they were past their best. I love the fabric of the older style pretties.

    Love Tania xx



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    1. Tania, it's worth preserving all these lovelies. After all, someone might them preserve our precious finds one day :) Mimi xxx

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  11. You never fail to amaze me with your talent! I would never have thought to upcycle in such a pretty way. Love these ideas!

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    1. Nawwww....thanks Jenna. That's high praise coming from you! Mimi xxx

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  12. Faux fur on metal seats was all the rage 45 years ago. My mother still has one with pink faux fur. My sister made a footstool in different shades of purple and mauve faux fur for our bedroom, too.

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    1. I had a purple one Pam! Too cute :) Mimi xxx

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I love hearing from you! I always respond to comments, so don't be shy! Mimi xxx