Thrift Thursday (I mean Friday).

A day late, but I have some amazing thrifting finds to share with you! After a week that saw a lot of randomness including hours of spreadsheets at work, a towed car, a storage shed that I can't get into, awkward conversations with coworkers and other fun, I figured that this afternoon I deserved a bit of thrifting fun.

In just under two hours I was able to hit-up six shops and half of the city. Though everything kind of looked picked over (which is usually the case around this time of the year), I snagged a couple of great find to share with you -

First up, two maize storage baskets from Goodwill. At $3.99 each I couldn't pass them up; they'll be perfect for DVDs, gym clothes or whatever else I find laying around the house. They're like the ultimate storage solution...you can never have enough!

The best part - the original tags were still in-tact! Complete with retail! I've been eyeing these baskets up at the Real Canadian Superstore for awhile now, but have been two cheap to pick any up...I like to buy stuff like this in quantity and had somehow previously convinced myself that I needed five or six of them....I'll settle for my two snagged at less than a quarter of original retail (insert evil laugh here)!

Next up, I've been on the hunt for some funky new prints for awhile now, and really haven't come across anything that's caught my eye - that is until today. I found the English riding print in a black plastic frame for $2.99, the gold frame for .25 and the scenery print & frame for $1.99. I haven't figured out if I'm going to paint the gold frame yet (black obviously....), but I'm thinking that I'm going to find a white or ivory matting to use with the print. Where either piece is going to hang has yet to be determined....eventually I'll figure it out. Oh yah, and I found a couple of galvanized tins for a dime each. They'll also probably end-up in my storage room until I figure out a use for them, but they were to cute to pass up (I feel sorry for stuff sometimes....and feel that it's my duty to bring it home and make it feel relevant).

And last but not least, not one, but two never used decanters! I'm still on a secret mission to outfit a vintage bar cart....a la any classic MGM movie. I've got more stemware than any boy will ever require in a lifetime (but nearly picked up a set of cobalt blue glasses this evening....), have gadgets and gizmos falling out of my bar cupboard, but still haven't found the right cart, and decent looking decanters up until this point.

These French made pieces were a steal at $1.99 each. They were a bit dusty and grimy when I first saw them, but I jumped at them (I saw another lady eyeing them up). A bit of scrubbing and soaking and they look amazing! Rum? Scotch? Brandy? Hmm.....

And though this evening was supposed to be my 'great thrift adventure' for the week, I've got two shops that I still hope to checkout this weekend (don't tell mister....he rolls his eyes anytime he sees something new).

Here's what I'm on the hunt for this summer -

-A couple more decanters (two isn't enough....I have a friend that has a collection and they look amazing when grouped together!)

-A large mirror to go over my fireplace....something with potential that I can either paint or silver leaf (regardless of the fact that I had a horrible experience the last time I tried to silver leaf a piece)

-A second nightstand / small chest that can could be re-purposed for the other side of the bed

-I've been considering options for a coffee table, at one point ruling out the idea in favour or Asian ceramic stools, but I haven't seen any on sale (that were nice looking....) and was thinking that a small table or desk cut down could look cool....hmm.

-Further trophy cups

-Neat looking vintage fabrics in reds, yellows, black & white or blue to make some toss cushions out of

-Random fun!

What are you on the hunt for this summer?!

D-

Thrift Thursday.

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted any of my thrifting finds with you and figured that it was about time to show you a couple of my most recent treasures! I've been pleasantly surprised over the past couple of weeks....apparently half of Winnipeg is cleaning their closets and cabinets, which means good finds for me! 

First up, I found this cute little paint-by-number at my neighbourhood Goodwill store for a couple of dollars. I have a soft spot for paint-by-numbers. I like knowing that someone spent time and energy trying to create a piece that they felt was worthy of hanging on their walls at home. It amuses me that you never see signatures on these pieces. Were the artists too embarrassed to put their John Hancock on them, or could they just not find the number and right paint colour?

My rental doesn't have a lot of charm and character so it's pieces like this that add that extra bit of spark. I've hung this guy in my kitchen for the time being and would love to find some similar pieces to create a grouping. The only question that I have left is whether or not I go ahead and paint the frame. What do you think?

While cleaning my storage room I came across this handcrafted juice pitcher that I came across a few years ago. After I purchased it I had a bit of buyer's remorse and wasn't really sure how I felt about it. At the time the yellow seemed a bit too bold for my space, so I tucked it away and forgot about it until now. I'm glad that I've uncovered it - it matches my PC Home cushions almost spot-on! I love it and can't wait to use it this summer!

Mister and I are headed up to my family's farm for the weekend and I'm hoping that we come across a couple of treasures during our adventure! Who knows what we'll find! Small towns always have the best treasures....maybe it's a good thing I have Mister to keep me from potentially coming home with an Alero filled to the brim with new finds.

What are you up to during this long weekend?

D-

Come dine with me.

So after spending the past couple of weeks teasing you with promises of pictures and details, I figured that it was finally time to share the story of my dining room with you. So sit back, critique and enjoy.

In the beginning there was nothing, well, okay. That's a lie. There was carpet stained by the previous tenant, an air conditioner that hadn't been cleaned since installed and the sexiest of brass chandeliers.

Being on a budget, the room has been furnished as I've had the funds to do so. First up, this walnut finish dining table - snagged for the princely sum of $49.00. Each fall Superstore brings in an assortment of ready to assemble furniture and hawks it like crazy until they begin bringing in Christmas merchandise. And when they blow it out, there's no telling how cheap it will go! At the time, I had a truck and was able to easily lug it home and up the stairs. And the folding chair you ask? A whopping $6.94.

Next up came a fresh coat of paint. Okay, so it's a rental and you're asking "why would you invest time, energy and coin into this place?" Well, without rambling - basically I need wherever I'm living to feel like home. For me, that includes paint (even if not technically allowed)....

Throw in my favourite thrift find of all time - my Soviet era school map, which I cleverly picked up for $10 on the coldest day of winter at an indoor flea market. Apparently you can snag a great deal when it's -36 and you're the only one wandering through the market. I love this piece for the vintage appeal, the bright colours and for how it has become an awesome dinner party conversation starter.

I lucked out the following spring.  Once again, my friends at Superstore were offering a select assortment of furniture. Almost as good as the deal on the table, I snagged four gray parson chairs for $19.00...down from $49.99 each. I love this chairs! They've held up well and were stupidly easy to put back together. They're not the lucite Stark chairs that I dream of, but hey, a guy has to start somewhere!

Not to bad huh? Throw in a piece of President's Choice white ware and some strategically places fruit and you've got a scene.

Throw in a few more accents, like my vintage eight ball, some Value Village finds, an accent shelf from Winners, some of my fave pictures and my Mr. Peanut salt & pepper shakers....it's all about being around stuff you love. 

So there you have it! It's still kind of a work in progress (I don't think that I'll ever finish decorating a space before beginning to rethink it)....but I love it none the less! It's mine, it feels homey and it's where I enjoy entertaining friends the most. What do yah think?

D-

Around the house.

At some point I plan on giving you guys a snazzy photo tour of my humble abode - complete with before and after pictures.  However, that takes time and requires me to dust and vacuum each and every crevice of my place...which I really don't feel like doing right now (it's the weekend...can you blame a guy for wanting to be lazy?).

That said, I figured that I'd give you a sneak peek of sorts in showing you one of the favourite things in my place - the inside of my dinner and glassware cabinet.

You're probably thinking "he's nuts...on to the next blog."  But no, wait!  I promise you I'm not nuts....perhaps a bit eccentric, but not nuts.  Take a second to think about it though - I love entertaining, whether it be group of people or just one special guy.  Also, food and drink are two of my favourite things, so why not enjoy them with some nifty pieces.  That and I've got a small fetish when it comes to glassware and shiny things.  The cabinet might be full, but I'm still on the lookout for new pieces and sets to add to the mix....maybe a set of Mexican blue glass tumblers?  Or something in crystal?  Some beer glasses?  Hmmm....

D-

Black wine glasses / shakers / martini glasses - Value Village (I know!)

White ware - Canadian Tire

Wine glasses - Liquidation World ('The Cellar' line....originally from Macy's)

Carafe - The Bay (Gluckstein Home....on clearance for $4.00!)

Shot glasses - The Bay (House & Home collection)

Italian coffee glasses / lowball glasses - Real Canadian Superstore 

Thrift Thursday

Mister and I decided to make the long weekend extra long by taking today off to just kickback and relax. Obviously, this included a bit of thrifting fun with a stop at my favourite thrifting hot stop.  Yup, that's right, Value Village.  Sometimes I score, sometimes I don't.  Sometimes I'll come away with a book or plate or random trinket that makes me smile but today I hit the jackpot!

First, up this snazzy shell vase in a pale blue-green tone.  Canadian made, and kind of cool looking, this guy will look nifty perched atop a pile of books or holding small-goods on my desk.

Next up, yet another bag of shells.  What can I say?  When it comes to bags of shells I'm a complete sucker.  I've got them scattered around my place....I love the way that a couple of vases filled with them look, or how a fishbowl filled with them can help bring a guy back to Mexico....le sigh.

Lastly, we've got the piece de resistance of my haul - an AMAZING enamel fondue set!  A couple weeks ago, a group of us were out for fondue and we kept coming back to how much we loved the restaurant's vivid enamel pots.  I've seen them on Etsy and in a couple of vintage shops but wasn't ready to fork out the big bucks to buy one.  I never dreamed of stumbling across an unused set - original stickers intact, for get this - $3.99!  I can't wait to put this bad boy to use!  Drool away friends!

Not a scratch to be seen; this set is mint!  Be jealous!

Can you believe it?!?  $3.99!  

The only question left to answer is - chocolate or cheese?

D-