Thrifted Thursday (my sporadic feature!)

Err... Wednesday? I found these last night.

I might just eat my strawberries straight from the basket...

I'll need to try this recipe...

These were only $3.99 each! And they're in better shape than the one I already had. When we have a house of our own I think I'll display them somehow in the kitchen.

This recipe is pretty good.

I bought this Apple Pie plate last Sept ($6) since it matched the one my mom has. It's not perfect, but I still like it. And I really like having the set! I'll still be on the lookout for the Cherry Pie and Pecan Pie plates. I've also seen a Cheese Cake plate in the same style, but that one perplexes me. Who makes cheese cake in a pie plate?

Thrifted Thursday

Here's a Christmas present that didn't get made:

These two 100% wool sweaters cost me $5.70.

I meant to use them to try out a pattern (or several) from Countryside Softies. I got the book out of the library, but I like so many of the animals I should probably just buy it.

My niece received a sewing kit last year from my sister-in-law complete with lots of notions and I thought it would be brilliant to give her all the pieces and directions to make her own little animal this year! The problem was I ran out of time to assemble the parts, let alone test the pattern to be sure the directions would make sense to her... Perhaps it will work out as a birthday present.

Instead we gave her an origami flower set. And a flock of cranes I made as hanging decor for my college apartment. I felt bad throwing them away at the end of school so they waited in a paper bag until now. I think it was quite a hit as I spent at least an hour Monday afternoon assisting as all three kids made various types of birds, a frog and several sleds with the extra pile of origami paper also found in the bag.


Isn't this little emblem cute?

Finished!

Well, I'm posting this a bit later than I had intended. Truthfully, the table has been finished for a couple weeks now. It was the surroundings for the photo that weren't... Anyway, I've been working really hard to get the apartment ready for the holidays and apparently it's down to the last minute. All the relatives will be arriving tomorrow evening!

Here is the side table installed in my sewing room the guest room:

A chronicle of my process:

As purchased, dirty and stained.

Sanded and primed.

Even the back.

Epilogue:
In January, I plan to reconfigure our furniture again.

The futon will return to the living room while the large (ugly) dining table will be moved to the sewing room since it is the best available surface to sew large items on. (You can expect to see my first attempts at quilting!)

And this lovely little side table will be moved into my room. I can't wait to snuggle under my blankets with a cup of tea and a good book!

Thrifted Thursday

Does luck at thrift stores come in spurts? It sure seems like it. I've been searching for furniture for our (sparce) apartment since we got married over a year ago and only in the past few weeks have I actually been finding things I like. (Of course this only adds to my list of things to do before company arrives.)


On my last trip I found a small side table. $5.66, including tax!

Second find in about as many weeks!

I like the legs and the fact that the drawers have tracks on the underside so they stay flat when you pull them out (at least to a certain point). It seems to have some water marks here and there; I'm not sure how they came to be on a vertical surface... I think the worst part is a sticky fake wood grain print protective thing over the top. I'm guessing its mylar, but it could be plastic. Either way, I am removing it. I'd hoped it would peel off in just a couple pieces, however it is old and brittle so I am scraping it off with a carving tool left over from my architecture student days.

Finished!

Finished!

This was some pretty quick turn around, if I do say so myself.

This morning I put the final coat of paint on. Luckily, the weather has been cooperative for the painting phase. It was above 50 degrees and the predicted rain showers were not scattered in our neighborhood.

Yesterday I spent several hours sanding down wood filler (smoothing out the front where fake drawers and doors had been scored) and putting on a coat of primer.

Here I am!

My balcony - aka workspace.

In preparation for moving the chest into the bedroom, I reorganized my casual clothes. All my tshirts, jeans and sweatshirts had been on shelves in the very spot the chest now sits, while blankets were jammed to the ceiling on the closet shelf. In the process of swapping storage areas, I purged 3 bags of clothing I no longer care to wear! This feels great except for making it painfully obvious that I wear nearly the same outfits every week. (Not on the same day every week at least.) Anyway, I plan to get some new things soon.

All settled in.

Thrifted Thursday



Cedar Chest





















The total was $20 including an old blanket to cushion it in the back of the truck.

Anyway, I plan to take off all the ugly bits, apply some new paneling and repaint it black, probably satin finish.

The interior looks so much nicer!

Then I just need to finish some quilts to fill it right?