Thrift Thursday--Little BBQ Grill

 

 

$6.00--something of a splurge for the thrift store, but a perfect addition to my little cupboard and chairs from my childhood.  

 

Little Mr. P spotted it on a thrift store outing with his mom, and knew it was just what Grandma needed for the play space.  Thanks, buddy!  It came complete with a tiny wooden steak and a small metal BBQ tool.

The little all-metal red-orange grill is about 14" tall, and is made just like a full-size charcoal grill.  It has no marks at all--it could be an actual table-top grill, I suppose.  I'm thinking it's from the 70's or 80's--any ideas?

Miniatures Monday--Dollhouse Furniture, Part One

I've been hampered  by an ongoing disagreement between Computer and the wireless network--fortunately they have worked out their differences.  Now to bash my dollar store furniture!  For this project I used:

Small hobby miter box and saw
X-acto knife
Wood scraps
Craft glue
Hot glue

Part One--Tables

Dollar Tree has a very cute scallop-trimmed dollhouse dining table right now--sadly, the legs are just too short.  For 1"/12"  scale, table height is 2 1/8"--so, how to  make it higher?  Two ideas! 

I popped off the short legs with my needlenose pliers--I have a plan for them! They popped out nicely, but a little scraping with the X-acto will help if needed.

  Scrounging in my craft scrapwood box, I came up with a square stick just the width of the old table legs, and cut four to length with my trusty little miter box.  I also found four lonely dollhouse bannisters, which just happen to be the same width at the top as the previous legs--so I had to buy another table to try them out.  Their length is adjusted at the top with the miter saw

A little craft glue, and they're sturdy little tables.  I'm painting them white for my dollhouse shelf--more about that later. 

The straight-leg table seemed a bit awkward as it was, so I have since angled the bottoms of the legs to match the original legs above.  The X-acto did a great job, but it would have been simpler before they were glued on!  Photo later!

Dollhouse Shelf--A Bed Project

 Little Ellery found an old crib at a yard sale, and is using its parts to make two beds for 

the dollhouse shelf.  I'm sorry to say she was so excited to get started, she forgot to take a 'before' picture!

We bashed the crib apart--the foot boards are the sawed-off lower sections from the headboards.  The sides of the crib are hot-glued between the head and foot, to support the box springs which Ellery is I am planning to make from scraps of dollar store foam core. 

 The beds were a just little too short for the girls to lie down, so I glued in two pieces of scrap wood to lengthen them.  Mattresses will be sponges from the dollar store!

The little crib was $1.00 at the thrift store, and  another dollar bought enough soft dollar-store  foam sponges to provide for a lot more tiny upholstery. 

And while at the dollar store, we made another great find for the dollhouse. . .

Thrift Store Thursday--Tiny Furniture Restyle

The tiny girls new apartment is slowly coming together!

Little Antonia is putting the finishing touches on the yard-sale hutch and chair--all their used furniture will be painted white, to tie everything together.  They're thinking pink, green, and yellow for the color scheme. . .

(I found this little unfinished hutch at the thrift store some time ago for $.25 and couldn't resist--I made the chair for my dollhouse back in the day.  I'm using acrylic gloss paint.)

Miniatures Monday--A Tiny Yard Sale

It's been a busy spring and summer on the grandma front, and many miles have been logged!  Between grandma gigs:  a new project!

My tiny Littlest Pet Shop Blythe dolls seem to be clamoring for a place of their own, so I've carved out a small apartment for them on one of my sewing room shelves.  In the tradition of first-time renters everywhere, the girls have checked their grandmas' attics and headed out to yard sales--in search of furnishings with potential!

I'll be following their progress!

Thrift Thursday---Orange Cookie Jar

It seems to be much easier to find small ceramic-fruits-and-vegetables for my collection than to find big, juicy ones--so I was thrilled to see this fabulous cookie jar in the shape of an orange on a recent thrift-store foray!

I love the shiny, luscious color of the orange, and the humor of the stem-and-leaf handle. I have to say I think the contrast of the green and orange color is wonderful!

The cookie jar measures 11" to the top of the leaf, it's 8-1/2" wide, and it does have a few dings and chips. The interior is a tasty, slightly deeper orange. All for $3.00--love it!

Thrift Thursday--Cabbage Teapot

A fabulous thrift store find this week--a beautiful green majolica teapot, made in Portugal.

What a great addition to my ceramic-fruit-and-vegetable collection--I love the deep green finish and the satisfying shape. It's marked 'Bordallo Pinheiro, Portugal' and measures 7 inches high and 9 inches wide, with no cracks or chips. The price: $3.00!

The four pretty little harvest-themed place card holders are from the same thrift store outing--their original price tags read $3.99 each, and the thrift store tag was $1.00 each--which seemed a little steep to me, especially compared to the teapot! The cashier thought so too, and charged me $.75 a each.

Now to decide where to display them. . .

Thrift Thursday--Ikea Mirrors, $1.50!

Ikea came to our area several years ago, and it's a delight to wander through the store thinking and dreaming. And stopping at the food shop.

Even more delightful, I found these three small Ikea mirrors at the thrift store for only $.50 each ($2.99 each at Ikea, and a bargain it that). And just the color I've been adding to my living room!

I have hung them in the narrow space next to the front door, above my dearly beloved Craftsman high chair--my maternal grandparents bought the chair for their oldest child in 1915, and it's now holding its fourth generation of children--all of whom are united by the memory of being bumped on the noggin by the hinged tray as it is lowered over their heads.

Being of solid Arts and Crafts construction, the chair is in pretty good condition after all these years. I keep a yard sale mirror on the tray, to hold our letters and keys next to the door.

It pleases me to think how the chair has been a part of daily lives across the generations--hope to see it go on to one more!

Thrift Thursday--Shaker Collection!

I just love odd glass salt and pepper shakers, and always watch for them at the thrift store--I'm forced to admit that I can hardly resist them!

Over several years now, I've accumulated a group--I love their similarities and their contrasts in shape, size, style, and age. It occurs to me I can officially call this a collection. And I'm quite pleased that none of them cost over a dollar!

I like the way the slightly tarnished but shiny silver plate tray ties in with the slightly tarnished and shiny shakers--they add a little sparkle to the day!

Thrift Store Decor #3--Ceramic Fruits and Vegetables!

My favorite thrift store collection, hands down, is my ceramic fruits and vegetables--they make me very happy! I have them displayed all around my kitchen, and lately they seem to be making small inroads into the hall and the living room--but I think I can live with that.

It all started with the yellow pear teapot on the top left shelf--I saw it at Thrift Town years ago and was hooked! The collection has all come from thrift stores and yard sales, except for a few exceptions, mostly gifts--Chris fought hard to win the watermelon bowl (center shelf right) for me in a white elephant game (who could possibly have thought such a lovely item could be a white elephant?)

Of course, now that the collection has grown, I can be a bit more particular! I try to stay with items that are ceramic, are figural, and have a function--they are also at least somewhat realistic and have pleasing color and finish. I generally don't pay more than about a dollar, but I've paid up to $5.00 for some of the larger pieces that I really love.

I keep my small appliances and bulk foods behind the green curtain, which really is a more delightful color than it seems in the picture. And you can check out my Christmas cactus, the only plant that has managed to survive here--you can't tell, but it's about to bloom!

Thrift Store Decor #2--Bamboo Tray Arrangement!

Hmm. . .I think I may have posted this tray and figurine before, but I've been having fun re-arranging things since I painted, so here they are in their new incarnation.

I found the large bamboo tray (24" in diameter) at the thrift store for $3.00. I love this tray! The color and texture make me happy. The plate (9-1/2" in diameter) was $1.50 at the thrift store, and I like the way the color of the robin echoes the color of the tray--the same color is in other places in the room.

I'm enjoying the way the cat and the bird seem to be ignoring each other--the cat figurine (11" tall) was $1.50 at the thrift store, and is marked 'San Pacific International'. My friend Pam says I should put Swedish Fish in his little dish.

Or maybe KitKat bars.

Thrift Store Decor, #1!

I do believe I will feature some of my thrift-store decor for the next little while--welcome to Thrift Store Decor, #1!

While out and about on thrift store outings I generally have several ideas in the back of my mind--things to look for and think about. They're often ideas for small collections or arrangements, and it's fun to see how the different ideas work out over the course of time.

I was captivated last year by a picture in a magazine of an arrangement of three brightly-colored (and quite expensive) glass vases of different sizes and shapes, and (naturally) asked myself what the thrift-store equivalent might be. I added 'colored glass vases' to my mental thrift store list and, with a little seeking over the course of several months, found three I quite like!

I think they work together in several ways--first, there is a pleasing contrast in the shape, the color, and the size, and second, there is a pleasing continuity in the material and the intensity of color. Note how I did raise the green one slightly with a little old thrift-store copy of 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran.

The vases range from 8" to 10" high, and although they are more interesting than most, I suppose they must be florists' vases. I must admit that the inspiration vases in the magazine were somewhat bigger--and so was the price!

Mine averaged $1.00 each, and they look great on my piano!

Thrift Thursday--Recycle Frame!

Just inside our back door are two rows of hooks which have captured jackets, hats, and school bags for many years now. There is a lack of such items around here these days, so I guess I'll consider it an opportunity to change things up a bit!

This lovely, matted apple watercolor came from a yard sale some time ago, and has been needing a frame. I finally found a green-framed, burlap-covered bulletin board at the thrift store for $1.00--the height was exactly right, but the width was much too long. (Sorry I got so excited and forgot the 'before' picture!)

I disassembled the bulletin board, used my trusty miter box to cut the top and bottom to the right size, then tacked it back together--fits the painting just right! I love it!

The step ladder was $2.00 at the thrift store, perfect for reaching in the upper cabinets. The apple hanger was a gift--and you can read about my dollar store picnic bag here.

Thrift Thursday--Still Life with 'Gold' Mirror!

There's been a little interruption in my plans to post my new 'gold' mirror--a new grandbaby, born just a little before expected. Everyone is doing fine, and I'm home.

Back to my mirror project--I was just a little concerned about the effect of my E6000 on the mirror backing, but the label stated no cautions, and after a week everything looks fine. I like it quite a bit!

Please also note my $.50 orange thrift store tray, holding my fabulous assortment of very realistic ceramic vegetables--a thrift store score of Ibu's. She knows I'm always on the lookout for wonderful ceramic fruits and vegetables, and here we have eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, potato, corn, beet, summer squash, onion, yam, and yes--okra, all very realistic and in lovely colors with a shiny finish, and found in a big plastic bag for a couple of dollars. I love them! Though they puzzle me slightly--I have to wonder who thought of this. And why. They make me very happy!

There was actually one more vegetable, a nice little jalapeno which was loved to death by small hands. It was my least favorite--no loss!

Thrift Store Table--Finished at Last!

I've been laboring away these many days to finish my epic and on-going living room and kitchen remodeling/redecorating project, and I'm happy to report that progress is being made--and I have at last finished updating my thrift store table, last seen here.

I had to stare at it again and think some more--sand? Strip? Paint? Stain? Too much work. Perfect solution: gel stain! Although apparently it's not made for the purpose, my brother tells me that gel stain, being fairly opaque, can be used over other finishes--and when brushed on, it can give the impression of wood grain.

The stain covered the ugly old finish, and brushed easily onto all the turnings. I have to say I love the new rich color!

Thrift Thursday--Little Ceramic Stand!

I've been watching for ceramic plates and trays to use in displaying my ceramic-fruits-and-vegetables collection-- I like to look for colors and shapes that complement the fruit colors.

So, I was delighted to find the above little 4-1/2" green plate at the thrift store for only$.50, and brought it home to put underneath a ceramic apple. Very cute!

Several months later, on a thrift store foray, I found the above 3'' high green ceramic stick candlestick and knew it was meant to go with said little green plate--$.50 again. Even cuter! Sure enough, when I got it home it was a perfect match, and I glued them together with my trusty E6000 before I even thought to take a 'before' photo.

A cupcake-sized cake stand!

Thrift Thursday--Red Sugar and Creamer Tray

When I was small, for everyday dishware my grandma Genevieve used a gray and maroon set of Fiestaware--I'm wondering now if this is where my love of ceramic kitchenware began.

When I saw this reminiscent and retro-style maroon platter for $1.00 at the thrift store, it seemed like a great tray for an arrangement of some of my ceramic kitchenware, so I pulled out some red and green pieces and came up with a tea tray of sorts.

The red cow creamer, with a nod to P.G. Wodehouse, was a $1.00 thrift store find, as was the raspberry sugar bowl and plate. The grape and eggplant sugar and fork are from Salvation Army, and I think the salt cellars and French child's teacup (or toothpick holder!) are both from a yard sale. The chicken salt and pepper set was a gift and seems to round out the arrangement nicely!

Thrift Thursday--Sugar Bowl and Shaker Tray!

I dearly love ceramic kitchenware! The shapes, color, and smooth shiny finish are so satisfying. When I found this shapely green lobed dish at the thrift store, it seemed just the thing to display some of my odd sugar bowls, jam jars, and shakers.

I believe I paid $1.00 for the green dish--it seems quite vintage to me, but it's marked 'microwave safe' on the bottom, so perhaps not. I enjoyed taking some time to group things from my collection, coming up with just the right combination of shapes, sizes, and colors.The banana and the cherry salt shakers make me especially happy!

All these fruits were picked up over the years on thrift store forages, except the tiny watermelon tea pot, which was a special gift. I love them!

Thrift Thursday-Blue -Enamel Colander with Lemons!

Last week I found this great blue enamel colander at the thrift store for $1.00. It's pleasingly worn and looks like it has had an interesting life--I think it will go on contributing at my house!

I picked up the excellent artificial lemons at another thrift store a while back (I think I spent $3.00 for them all) and they've been displayed in a big glass vase, but for now they are looking good in the colander. I love the yellow with the blue, and it's great with my fruit theme!

Thrift Thursday---Carved Shelf!

In truth, I'd have to describe this really cool yard-sale shelf as 'carved', since it is actually molded. I happily paid $2.00 for it several years ago, knowing it would make a great display for a part of my ceramic fruits and vegetable collection, and it's been on view in the hallway ever since.

Except the occasion when there was a disastrous collision, and the whole thing went crashing down. I lost a few, including my beloved eggplant salt shaker. The shelf is now secured safely to the wall!

I don't really suppose most of my many fruit and vegetable items have much value, but they make me happy! My #3 daughter made me the corn, pointy carrot, and yellow squash (sorry about cutting off its head!) as a gift, and I love them.

The eggplant salt and pepper shaker set (it divides in two) are especially dear to me, since my daughters fought hard in an on-line auction to surprise me with a replacement for my lost and beloved-- and they are actually collectible.

The pumpkin is a mug, the lemons are an odd napkin hold that doesn't work at all, and the carrots are a little pitcher which I especially love. All the rest are salt and pepper shakers. The tomato and pepper seem to make a set, even though they didn't start out that way!