MAKE: Revived Vintage Screen Garden Wall

This project was inspired by what my family thought was a very odd purchase at an estate sale for $2.  An old mesh screen framed in old wood.  It was love at first sight to me.  As soon as I saw it a hundred ideas flooded my imagination of what could be made with it. 

After a couple weeks of pondering, I settled on the idea of a garden wall.  My aloe plant (that had a bunch of babies last year) was ready to give birth yet again.  Check out my post about separating your aloe plants here.  This little wall piece was going to give me the perfect place to display my new potted baby aloe plants. 

I had seen these little white aluminum pots at Ikea months ago and knew they'd be perfect for this!  A tiny S-hook would fit perfectly in the little holes around the top.  They'll also be great to pull off this wall during the colder months and bring the plants inside where it is safe and warm. 

I love this project because it can be made appropriate for any and all seasons and holidays! 

Check out our Link Party Page to see where we link up each week!

MAKE: Para Cord & Vintage Scarf Ring Necklace

Last month we shared this tutorial over at Whipperberry as our first post as part of the Whipperberry Creative Team.  (so exciting!)  We absolutely love working with Heather and are so grateful for the opportunity she's given us.

Of course, you all know how much we love going to estate sales and finding forgotten treasures. You see our photos on FB almost every weekend!  (We did a whole series about our strategies here.)  So, naturally, many many projects come from our compulsive saling.  Today I'm showing you how to make a necklace using para cord from the hardware store and a vintage scarf ring that I got for 25 cents at an estate sale. Yay!

As you can see, my cord got a little tangled.  It took me a good 15 minutes to even find the ends to begin untangling it. 

For my necklace I used 6 strands that were 6' long each, folded in half, with a tie around the middle.  That gives 12 - 36" strands to braid.

I braided 3 groups of 4 strands to get a thick, sturdy braid.  Once the braid is complete, tie some cord around the end and use a hot glue gun to secure the ends together.

Next, slide your scarf ring on.

The hard part is fixing the 2 ends together.  I used the tie that held the looped ends together and joined the 2 ends.  Use hot glue to secure any pieces you think may come loose.

Slide the scarf ring over the joint to hide it.  I made sure it wouldn't move by putting some glue inside the ring, then wrapping 5 loops of cord on either side of the ring. 

 

I actually love this necklace so much that it gets worn at least once a week. I'm actually wearing it right now!  You could even get fancy and change the shape of the necklace by using some copper piping elbow joints... I whipped one up, but forgot to take photos. I'll have to share those at another time.

Jen and I wish you guys a Happy Independence Day!  Have a blast partying and watching the fireworks! 

Meet Beatrix!

I have a new lady in my life and her name is Beatrix, or Bea for short. She is my new Dritz Twin Fit dress form, courtesy of Shannon and my brother-in-law! I have been hunting for a good dress form at every estate sale we visit and I finally found one this past weekend.

The lady who owned her had an amazing sewing room FULL of fabric, notions, and a giant quilting machine in the middle of the room. I could tell by her collection that she really loved to sew, and must have made a living selling some of her work. She she had a little of everything, and I had to take some deep breaths to keep myself from buying all of it. While I was gleefully digging through all the goodies (I snapped up some denim, sweatshirt fleece, and the unicorn ribbon I posted on Facebook) I spotted her in the corner. An adjustable dress form in really good condition, and a size small. It was meant to be.

Shannon is such a thoughtful SIL and got her for me for Christmas. I was so giddy I don't think I shut up about it the entire way home.

Shannon got to name her since she got her for me, so Beatrix it is! I think it's a pretty appropriate name for a dress form, don't you?

She's completely adjustable, which is great because I'm sure I won't be getting any smaller anytime soon :) We found her at the perfect time becuase I've been trying to sew more things for myself lately which has been a lot trial and error because I don't usually sew anything bigger than a 4T. When making clothes for myself, the pattern peices look disproportionate and HUGE compared to the tiny bodices of a 4T.

I actually went to sew Shannon a Flutter Tee recently and ended up sewing her a muu muu because I added wayyyyy too much width to the pattern. Hopefully Bea will keep that from happening again. Either that, or Shannon needs to start really liking muu muus.

LIVE: An Outfit & Some Shopping!

Let me first start by saying that I spent a good 20 minutes putting this post together before blogger had a brain fart and deleted the entire thing. So now I'm writing this again and I'm annoyed!  But, I'll get over it quickly. No biggie! 

Last weekend it was sooooo warm.  Pittsburgh's had a cold cold winter (not much snow, but lots of cold).  The sunshine and warmth was so welcomed.  We decided to take full advantage of it by waking up early, hitting an estate sale, our favorite antique mall and then onto lunch at our favorite french cafe and some small local shopping.  We ended the day with a movie and then pretty much passing out.  It was so exhausting!  We had a blast, though.  And of course, like any good blogger, I was snapping photos like a crazy tourist so I could share them all with you!  I'm hoping that you all see how awesome Pittsburgh is so you will want to come visit!  (is it working??)

outfit details:
top: Everlane
jacket: XXI
pants: Calvin Klein
scarf: I have no idea who made it, I bought it at a farm. Seriously!
crossbody & sunnies: Marc by Marc Jacobs
We're going out saling again this weekend and I can't wait!  It's the best way to get me out of bed on a Saturday and keep me productive.  I usually come back from saling with so much inspiration and lots of projects in mind!  So stay tuned!



LIVE: My Faux Trophy Wall

So the wall above my couch has been an on going source of torment for me.  I could never quite decide what to put on it... so I just didn't put anything on it.  Then my obsession with faux taxidermy started forming and the answer revealed itself to me... A TROPHY WALL.  Now I love this wall, but I never get to see it because it's behind my head.  You will occassionally find me standing in the doorway to the dining room just gazing at my trophy wall.  No, not really, but I do love it.  We're currently working on redecorating the living room.  At the moment there are lots of bright colors in it and I'm toning it down, going for a more natural look.  The trophy wall is step 1 to accomplishing this look.  Step 2 is shopping for a rug!  (which is a nightmare to me).

Anyway... here's my trophy wall and a little portion of my living room.

The 2 paper mache heads (rhino and zebra) I got on super clearance from Anthro!  The 3 small ones on black plaques were an estate sale find.  They were originally very tacky and colorful, but a little bit of paint went a long way!  I added the fun golden masks to spruce things up a little.  The big porcelain deer head is from a local decor shop that I frequent.  And of course, the dinos tutorial can be found here.

At first the deer and zebra weren't framed, but I felt the wall lacked some cohesion and adding those seemed to pull everything together.

This is just a bonus because they're too cute and were prancing in front of my photo shoot.  I thought they deserved some attention!

I'm so pleased with how this turned out!  And the best part is that there's still room for more!  My husband laughs every time I buy another animal head, but, oh well.  I kinda love them.

I'll be sharing parts of my house sporadically.  Jen has been bugging me to share my closet with you.. it's actually more of a "dressing room" since I took over our spare bedroom to use as my closet.  So, that may be next!



     
Check out our link party page to see where we link up each week!

LIVE: Estate Saling - Knowing What to Buy & How to Buy It

For the finale of this series I’m going to talk about knowing what to buy and how to buy it.  There is much more to buying things at estate sales than simply forking over some cash.  Hopefully, this will help you maximize the investment and/or return on your purchase.

1.       Looking for treasures

I read the descriptions of what is being sold at the sales in the ads.  This gives me an idea of what I should be looking for.  I tend to be more drawn to the tiny treasures as opposed to the big pieces of antique furniture.  Most antique collectors are after that sort of stuff and most times, the companies liquidating the items are FULLY aware that what they have is worth something… and they charge accordingly.  But, when you happen to be digging through a box of miscellaneous “junk” and find an old vintage pocket knife with the makers name and year stamped on it… THAT is a treasure.  No one notices the tiny little things like that.  My husband lives to find things of this nature.  Often, he buys them for about 50 cents, and can turn around and sell them on eBay for $20.  Which brings me to my next point:

2.       Always have your phone with eBay access on hand!

If you are ever unsure of the value of a particular item, eBay will either tell you it’s crap or confirm your instincts that it’s a treasure.  One particular sale we hit, my eyes immediately were drawn to a stack of leather belts with gigantic gold buckles.  I gasped and said quietly, “Christopher Ross, oh my gosh.”  I knew from reading Sea of Shoes that these belts are collectors’ items and extremely hard to find.  I braced myself for an outrageous price tag, assuming that the company had to know what these were worth.  $18 each.  I thought they were knock offs, of course, $18 was too good to be true.  I checked the back of each buckle and yep, each were stamped with the makers signature and the year of conception.  One was actually by designer Margerita Barrera who worked along side Christopher Ross and emulated his style magnificently.  eBay confirmed the validity of my finds… so I bought them all.  Upon further investigation I found that the net worth of all three belts was upward of $3,000 and each buckle was plated in solid gold.  Let’s just say… I struck gold.  Literally.  So between eBay and my obsession with reading fashion blogs, I was able to actually make an investment with this purchase.

3.       Have a vision for turning junk into treasures.

This is almost always my purpose for estate saling… finding something old that I can make new and awesome.  Like these old brass bookends.  I loved the shape, but couldn’t stand the dirty finish.  Spray paint can work wonders!

4.       Know when Half-Time is.Every estate sale company designates a time in the afternoon when all items are ½ off.  Usually, they just want to get rid of everything by the time the sale is over.  If there is a large item (physically or cost wise) maybe go back at half-time to get it.  There is risk, however, in doing this.  Risk that someone else will buy it in that time.  So evaluate just how badly you want this item.. if it’s desperation you find, don’t wait.  

5.       Pick up what you like and decide later.

One thing to remember about estate saling… PEOPLE ARE VULTURES.  If you find something you like, pick it up!  Carry it around while you look around the house so that no one else gets their hands on it.  Then make your decision once you’re done looking.  I’ve learned this one the hard way!

6.       Don't be afraid to haggle.

The 2 main reasons for having an estate sale is to get rid of everything and make some money doing it.  If it means making the sale, most companies will go down on the price.  I try not to talk them down more than 10%, because frankly, anymore is quite insulting.  If you really feel they're asking too much, that's when you should consider waiting for half-time.  Sometimes if you are buying more than one item.. let's say 2 items marked $15 each, perhaps offer $25 for both.  Again, knowing the companies comes in handy with this.  You become familiar with those that are willing to negotiate with you and those who are not.

I hope this series helps make your saling excursion more productive and less painful.  If it’s not done right, it can be a miserable experience!  But if you take care, it can be so fun and so addictive!  We would love to hear any tips and hints you guys may have to make saling a little more fun.  Share with us!



1.  Vintage doll furniture  2.  Vintage liquor bottles  3.  A musty old room filled with lots of musty old stuff  4.  The most awesome wallpaper I have ever seen!



5.  Vintage beer cans  6.  Hanging flower pots (retail at $10-$15 each... bought for $3 each!)  7.  Creepy blue leather jacket   8.  Box full of vintage stamps for $8



LIVE: Estate Saling - Being Prepared

I’m going to give you some of my helpful hints for making Estate Saling a pleasant experience.  Lord knows, that it definitely has the potential to make a person detest crowds and stinky old houses and possibly develop a severe anxiety disorder when faced with these things.  So these tips might prevent all that fun stuff from happening.  I've learned all of this the hard way and now I pass my wisdom onto you!

1.       Have your GPS ready to go!

Chances are, you won’t know how to get to all the addresses of the sales, so a GPS is a necessity!

2.       Pack a Snack Pack

Take water, pop, something salty and something sweet.  Make sure not to leave without having your coffee first!  My preferred snacks include Smart Water, Chex Mix, something fruity and some Pepsi Next.  If you get too hungry, it will make dealing with crowds and pushy people much more difficult!

3.       Always know where the nearest bathroom is. 

Most estate sales will not let you use the residence restroom.  Most pharmacies with in-house minute clinics or urgent cares have public restrooms to use.  And if you drink a huge cup of coffee early in the a.m., you can bet you’ll need to go a few hours later.

4.       Prepare yourself mentally for the crowds. If you aren’t prepared, it can get ugly.  There have been many a time when I wanted to deck someone.  People have a habit of finding the smallest hallway that YOU want to walk through and they just stand there staring at the wall for some unknown reason.  Prepare yourself to stay calm.  Because IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.

5.       Get plenty of sleep.  Saling is exhausting! 

6.       Take a large vehicle for any big loot you find.  If you’re taking a truck make sure to have a tarp (in case of rain) and bungee cords for tying

stuff down.

7.       Bring along reusable shopping totes or boxes to stash the little stuff in in your car.  You don’t want everything flying around when you’re racing to the next sale.

8.       Check the weather and dress appropriately!

A lot of early mornings are much chillier than the temp at 11am.  It’s best to wear layers and start peeling them off as the temperature rises.  And wear comfy shoes!

Check back tomorrow for the finale of this series: Estate Saling – What to Buy and How to Buy It. 

LIVE: Estate Saling - The Planning Stage

I’ve been going to Estate/Yard/Garage/Rummage Sales since I was a kid.  My mom always dragged us along and I hated it, but now… I’m an addict.  Every weekend my husband and I hit estate sales.  I’m going to break down our strategy for estate saling for you to help you make your experience as fun and care-free as possible.

The Planning Stage

1.       Know the difference between Garage Sales and Estate Sales.

Garage Sales: great if you have kids.  A lot of people sell lightly worn children’s clothing, toys and various other things at garage/yard sales.  Other than that, the chance finding anything of value is really quite non-existent.  Most people use garage/yard sales as a way to sell their garbage.  Literally.  And that is why we frequent Estate Sales instead.

Estate Sales:  Mostly, estate sales happen after someone passes away.  It’s a way for the family to liquidate whatever items are left from their loved one.  Often, you’ll find antiques, furniture, china, collectibles and clothing at estate sales.  The best part of Estate Sales... they happen ALL YEAR LONG!

2.       Know your source for ads.

Know where to look for the ads showcasing Estate Sales.  Locally, we find them in the Almanac and the Pennysaver.  There are also various iPhone apps available that list and pinpoint the sales on a map.  We use Garage Sale Rover every weekend.  Some sources may list items being sold and may even offer photos of said items.  If using Craigslist, PAY ATTENTION TO DATES.  Unless the user deletes the ad, it will stay on Craigslist until it expires.  More than a few times we've shown up to sales 2 weeks after they happened thanks to Craigslist.

3.       Choose your locations.

When hitting estate sales it is absolutely imperative that you choose a good neighborhood.  Upscale neighborhoods usually offer the most worthwhile items.  But, it depends what you are looking for.  Sometimes we hit the artsy areas of town and find some pretty interesting things.  In the Pittsburgh area we frequent Upper St. Clair, Peters Township, Squirrel Hill, Sewickley and Mt. Lebanon.

4.       Map out your route.

Once you choose which sales you want to hit, list them all out on a piece of paper in the order you want to hit them.  Besides location being considered, you may want to think about the items you were looking to get your hands on and how desirable they would be to others.  This may influence how early you want to arrive at a sale.  Make sure when you make your list to write down the full address!  This way you can use your GPS and not get lost.  Most times, the directions given in the ads are awful.

5.       Know your local Estate Sale Companies.

We have learned from experience that we favor certain companies over others.  Certain companies price higher or vend clients that don’t necessarily have much to offer.  Then there are those that price high, but always host high-end clients with a lot to offer.  Some companies haggle better, others will never budge on a price.  Some take credit cards, others only take cash or check.  This will take time, getting to know the companies, but it helps when choosing the ones you hit once you do get familiar.  We know there are certain companies to completely avoid.  Most companies have lists available at each sale of other sales they are hosting.  Grab one and make sure you’ve got all the ones in your designated area on your route!

6.       Always have cash, checkbook and credit card with you.

I usually always have at least $60 in cash on me, plus a checkbook and credit card.  I try to only use the cash, but sometimes there’s a huge piece that you just CANNOT pass up.  It’s best to get your cash the night before.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting part 2 of this series:  Estate Saling - Being Prepared 

If you guys have any tips or tricks that you want to share with us, let us know!