Vintage Kitchen Scales

Hello,

Popping in to share these scales I found at an antique sale. I couldn't believe my luck when I found two in the same day, at the same sale, and even the same type (Chicago made Way-Rite). My vintage lovin' pal Char and I have been on the lookout for scales during our thrifty travels and never come across them.

I found the green one first for $8 and shortly after stumbled across the white one for $22. I was madly texting Char and sending pictures on the iPhone to see if she wanted the white one, but couldn't reach her. I took a chance and grabbed it anyways.

In the end we decided the green one was better suited to her kitchen and the white one to mine, although we were both happy with either. They are a little beat up but my husband tested each with a pound of butter and said they are both spot on. Not that I bought them to actually weigh anything!

Thanks for peeking. I'm linking up to Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Martha-ish Mistint

I bought this little hall table a while ago off Kijiji for $20...which is about $10 more than I would have like to have paid for it. But it was the perfect size for a little niche in our upstairs hall and I had been looking for a while, so $20 it was. Here's the before:

I knew I wanted to paint the table green but couldn't justify buying a quart of paint for a single project so it sat. Last weekend I was at Home Depot with my hubby and found this mistint for $3! (It was unopened, the dribble is courtesy of me).

I'll admit I wasn't *in love* with the colour but for $3 I was happy enough. I was very pleasantly surprised after two coats and am now absolutely smitten. I think it turned out super cute and the sea foam green brings a bit of Martha in my house. I added a little glass knob as a finishing touch.

The total cost of the project was less than $30 and it's exactly what I wanted for the space.

 

I added an ironstone pitcher I found at an antiques and collectible sale this weekend for $6. It has some lovely detail on and around the handle.

I'm linking up my thrifty finds and project to Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures party and will be linking to Cassie's Piece of Work party on Wednesday.

Thanks for peeking!!

Outdoor Bakers Rack

July 31st and the summer is half over already. Just like that. And it's been a great one so far. Lots of time with family and friends, incredible weather, a mountain getaway, lazy weekends at home, thrifting and projects...I couldn't ask for more, really.

But I never seem to find the time to blog what I get up to. However, this recent project of mine is a current favourite so I wanted to be sure to share.

I've really been enjoying my container gardening this summer and even planted a few perennials. Although we have a garden shed in the back yard to house everything, I decided a potting bench would be nice. We have a walk out basement and an under utilized 12 x 18 patio that I decided would be a good place for it. But nothing turned up on kijiji.

What did turn up was this bakers rack. At 3 feet wide and with no glass I knew it would fill the space I had in mind perfectly. And at $35 it was reasonably priced. It's very solid too. I've seen a few of these online used outdoors.

A before shot of the space as a whole, not very pretty and like I said under utilized.

Here is the bakers rack freshly spray painted and ready to hold all my stuff. But before I decorated I decided to spruce up the space a little too. I found some funky Martha Stewart pillows (the smaller ones) on clearance for $8.50 each and an outdoor rug for $14.44 for the seating area.

And here are a few shots with some potting stuff on the bakers rack.

I love how the gardening tools sit nicely on the wine rack.

Some thrifty items on here:

Galvanized tub for my potting soil, $2 garage sale find

Galvanized vases 25 cents each, garage sale find

Terracotta pots 27 cents each at our local greenhouse

(And everything else I had on hand)

Here's the entire space, it's a little more welcoming now.

Do you see that planter? That might be the most thrifty item of all since it was FREE. My office hosted a lunch time gardening session in June where they supplied all the plants and flowers to make a large planter.

Love it.

But I wasn't so sure I loved the bakers rack all junked up with the potting stuff. I think it can also be used as an outdoor space for drinks and snacks (lots of people do this from what I saw online). The tub would be great with ice for canned beverages and there is lots of shelf space for snacks, dishes, etc.

I still think I like it better as a potting bench.

So there's my bakers rack redo. I think I spent about $90 with the spray paint to revive the space. And the best part is we have been using it. It's been incredibly hot this weekend and this seems to be the best outdoor space to keep cool.

Thanks for visiting. I am linking up to Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures party and Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays.



Recent Thrifty Finds & Lamp Revamp

Hello!

I went out garage saling Saturday morning and must have hit 8 or 10 houses without finding anything good. All I bought were these three books from one seller for $3. Believe me, the last thing I need are any more books. I must have 50 stacked up beside the bed. For real.

I decided to call it a day but on my way home I stopped at another sale where I found some good stuff! This canner was only 50 cents!

These turquoise glasses were also 50 cents (for 8 of them!) And are my favourite find of the day.

Some vintage linens, also 50 cents each. I will use the table cloth and brown and white pillow cases. I think I will make linen napkins with the other set of pillow cases.

I also grabbed this watering container for 25 cents. These always come in handy.

 

Here's another favourite from the week. A vintage waste paper basket I found at Value Village for $4. Our son had a lacrosse practice nearby and I *introduced* my husband to VV on Friday night ;).

Oh, and a couple of frames picked up last weekend. $2 for a large frame still in it's package and $3 for a shadow box.

And finally, my lamps. I saw these guys for $5 each and looked them over. As I was driving away I thought they might work for our bedside tables, if painted. I've been looking for lamps for a while. However, I want something silver or glass, and definitely not want wicker shades, but I haven't been able to find anything I really *love*. Remembering that I have metallic spray paint I turned around and went back to get them.

Here they are after meeting a can of Krylon Brushed Metallic in Aluminum, and with a couple of new shades to top them off before heading to our bedroom. (And here's one more peek of my blue cabinet I recently finished tee hee).

Here's the before again:

And in their new home:

(check out my 50 cent pillow cases!)

I'm pleased with how they turned out, a big improvement over what we had before and these will work great until I can find the perfect lamps. Or, maybe I will just keep them! (Oh, and I told you I had a few books stacked up!) Anyone else have that problem...buying them faster than you can read them?

Thanks for visiting. I'm linking up to Rhoda and Linda's parties!

Little Blue Cabinet

eta: also linking up to Debbie Doos Summer Colour Paint Party

 

I picked up this little cabinet off Kijiji in February. It was my first Kijiji purchase ever and the guy was creepy and a bit of a hoarder. I was happy to have my hubby with me,  I seriously could have disappeared forever in that place.

Anyways, 4 months later and I finally painted it and changed out the hardware. It took me THAT long to build up the energy to paint again after this experience. I don't know how the furniture bloggers do it so frequently and so well.

I also spray painted the hinges. I intended to distress it (and still might) but for now am happy with it as is. It fits perfectly on a little staircase wall and we will use it to store our platters and serving ware, stuff we don't use every day. It will also be nice to have a little display space on the top, although I am not sure what to put there yet. I'll have to be on the lookout at the garage sales!!

Thanks for peeking! I'm linking up to Primitive and Proper's Piece of Work Wednesday party. Such amazing inspiration over there.

This Week's Thrifty Finds

 Hello!

I finally got to go garage sale-n with my friend Char yesterday, and we had a great day. We hit up some neighbourhoods in the south part of the city.  My first finds of the day were these cool frames at 25 cents each. They are 11 x 13. I can't wait to spray paint them.

I also picked up some unopened Avon bubble bath for my mom for $1 each.

Here's some odds and ends I picked up throughout the day: 

The blue vase was $1, unopened case of Bernardin canning jars $3, retro table cloth $1, coaster sized doilies $2 in all, and an old set of wedding cake pans ($2) that I will use for storage in the craft room.

Next up is this decorative (and heavy) iron grate that I may spray paint and distress. It was $3.

And here's my FAVOURITE find of the day. A cute wrought iron plant stand for $3. I already have a plant in it! :)

I also found these wire baskets for $1 each. Not sure what I will do with them yet but I am sure they will come in handy. Maybe for fabric in the craft room.

This box of 12 permanent markers was $1 and the date stamps were 25 cents each. If I ever get around to scrap booking I plan to date the page or the photo.

And finally....I found some Pyrex!! And a pattern I don't normally come across, Horizon! These were actually from an estate sale and were $23 total...my splurge of the day. They are in mint condition too.

I'm linking my finds to my two favourite thrifty parties. So nice to know there are other crazy thrifters out there like Char and I to share our finds with. We were saying yesterday that shopping retail isn't even fun anymore and we would much rather thrift!

Thanks for visiting!!