extras

I've run out of room.
These are either duplicates or extras--small white pitchers and creamers from my collection. 

Interested in acquiring them?  Leave a note; make an offer!
Or just admire them with me.
I have SO many more...See some on an earlier post of mine.

There are 10 here.  None alike.
Do you like WHITE as much as I do?  See more at White Wednesdays here.

shock and awe

So excited was I this morning to find SOMETHING beside my black velvet skirt that still fit me that "SHOCK and AWE" are the only words to describe my reaction!

It was exciting enough to don the silver shoes to match the buttons (not so visible)
that run from top to bottom of this comfortable dress.

(Now if only I can find pantyhose that fit me, too!)

Yes, I'm going to church this morning.
In the background is a framed piece of needlepoint.
I loved it the minute I saw it in a thrift store.
It has lived with us for at least  8-10 years in two different houses.

 ...these will work...

 ...the jewelry...
I chose the stretchy bracelet because I'm playing the piano this morning.
It won't interfere, dangle, or fall off...
Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is thrifted.

organizing

"Organizing is what you do before you do something, 

so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up."  (A. A. Milne)

 We're definitely ahead of our game here!  We haven't even received our 2010 tax forms yet!

But it was slow and snowy afternoon, so we took the hanging folder 
in which all the year's receipts were deposited (hopefully).

These were sorted, stacked and placed on our tabletop.

Then, pile by pile the receipts were sorted further and stapled together.

Next came the calculator...

Now we've DONE something so that when we DO it, it is not all mixed up!

THRIFTY NOTES:

We "do" our own taxes.  So far, so good.

The stapler is one of many office supplies I've purchased in thrift stores.

storing

 I just KNEW if I let this shopping cart set out in view for awhile I'd come up with a grand idea for its use!  The idea came during the night...and this morning my husband cut out a piece of wood to fit the bottom.  It prevents the rolls of wrapping paper from falling through.

ALL the wrapping paper I own fits into this contraption which in turn fits perfectly into the back of our laundry closet.  The wheels make it easy to pull out when I need to use it.
A bag over the handle will store ribbons and bows.

It was another thrift store buy (as is a lot of the wrapping paper and wallpaper).

To my clothing fashion followers:  Please be patient.  Very soon, I'll be fitting back into my existing thrifted wardrobe.  At that time, I'll be a little more enthusiastic to post the clothing aspect of thrifty style.  Thanks for hanging in with me!

stylin'

Personal style is like playing the piano.

First you must learn to play by the rules,

then you must forget the rules 

and play from your heart.

(copied from somewhere; no source cited)

 These are a few pieces from my "piano collection"--many found at garage sales and thrift stores.;
one a gift...and my treasured piano and small keyboard that works like a charm!

my christmas/birthday gifts

After the furniture was moved back into our kitchen/dining room, I told my husband that I'd love to have the mirror over the mantel painted white for my birthday present.   He went out to the garage and primed it, painted it before he went to bed, and hung it this morning.  I am SO blessed!  The floors for Christmas and this beautiful vignette for my birthday!

If you want to see a few more photos of the (mostly) finished room, they are HERE!

Merry Christmas, Friends!

It's been a highly unusual season for us.  Yesterday, THIS was our pre-Christmas scenery...

By the end of today we will be admiring our new laminate floors and possibly will have moved our appliances, kitchen island, and dining room furniture back into the room.

After seeing the process, I'm VERY thankful we weren't SO "thrifty" as to decide to do this job ourselves.  We really appreciate the professionals who have been courteous and have cleaned up after themselves so well.  Our floors were quite unlevel - as much as 2".  With the leveling, we won't have to use shims under every piece of furniture as we did before!  Stay tuned for our new, improved thrifty kitchen style update!

christmas bling

...and so many more pieces. My favorites are on coats and jackets!
I DO need a better way or organizing them!  Such fun to wear.

"all is calm..." - NOT!

Go HERE for the whole story!

I DO want to say I've been having success with Craig's List lately...

We sold these four large items in a matter of days!
The $$ sure will help pay for our project!

merry christmas

 

After I comb my hair, I'll be ready to go to church! 

Christmas colors in "separates" - all thrifted before LAST Christmas!

See another Christmas tree pin?

This week I added 5 (or maybe 6) red bulbs to the tree. It made ALL the difference in its appearance!

A close up of one of the brass ornaments scattered around the tree...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

christmas accessories

When I saw the beautiful Christmas apron 

that Darla  received from a friend,

I remembered that I had purchased one

last summer at my favorite thrift store.  

Here it is! 

I think I'll wear it all day!
(Be sure to click on the green above to see Darla's!)

A transparent piece of fabric covers the pocket. 

It puts me in the baking mood! 

I'm wearing a shiny, gold snowman pin, too...

What Christmas accessories are YOU donning this season?

the stockings were hung...

This smallest one is for our youngest grandchild, added to our family this year...

I only hung seven this year.  Our two oldest grandsons will be at their home getting acquainted with their new sister who will join their family a few days before Christmas (God-willing).  Our son and daughter-in-law will leave Friday and travel to Ethiopia to pick her up and return her to their home.  Looks like I'll need ten next year!

I've picked the stockings up at thrift stores over the years...all are simple and VERY inexpensive.  I've been picking up small items to stuff them with throughout the year.

Speaking of stockings, what do you think?  These are some knee highs that I've worn recently with my black velvet skirt and black boots.  A stranger at the grocery store the other day asked me where I got them!  I couldn't remember.  I've had them for a long time!

a doll house christmas

After seeing Susan's dollhouse all decked out for Christmas, I decided it was time to get the trees up in ours.  My husband did the finish work on this one during the past year.  So....the trees are up, but there is a lot of decorating to do.  I think I'll fashion some curtains in time for Christmas Day.  Santa has set up his workshop in one of the attic areas (top right).  The octuplets even have their own little tree (bottom middle). The wreath in the bottom left photo is the same one above the fireplace in the picture directly above it - just to give you an idea of the scale of the nativity set.

In a few days, I'll photograph the rooms up closer - with a few more decorations thrown in!
Everything in this doll house has been re-purposed or purchased in thrift stores.
It's not FANCY, but it's FUN and soon will be very FESTIVE!