Vintage Slipper Chairs and a Wedding

Remember these?

Lovely but worn out slipper chairs from an estate sale for $15 each.

They now have a fresh lease on life in a scrumptiously soft chenille. (Please ignore the floor lamp stuck awkwardly behind them, I had just picked up the little table at another estate sale and wasn't done rearranging when I grabbed my camera!) The pretty, but ripped and dirty turquoise velvet didn't fit my color scheme and the upholstery really need to be redone to keep the padding in shape.  I loved the lines and they seemed really sturdy to me. The manufacturer's tag said "Comfort Chair Co., Inc., Hickory, N.C. I couldn't find anything on the company but I knew North Carolina is associated with quality furniture.

 I took them to Tracy's dad, a professional upholsterer, to see what he thought. The first thing he did was throw them up on some saw horses and try to twist them apart. He seemed surprised they passed the test and said that chairs of this design without arms don't always have the support they need. I think when I called him and asked him to look at some $15 chairs he didn't expect much! He said they were probably made in the 50's judging by the materials used and they were well worth the cost of reupholstering them. The only design change we made was to omit the tufting on the seat. I paid a couple of hundred each to have them done. I know that's not pocket change, and is way over the price of a slipcover, but at a total of about $275 each they were way under anything comparable I could find.

Like the tufted one on the right for $2365... plus fabric!

See, you were thinking I was crazy but I do know thrifty when I find it! And that's why I'm linking up with Leigh for Thrifty Thursday in Bloggeritaville. Please pay her a visit see all the thrifty finds and crafts at her link party.

One last thing before I forget. I'm happy to say that Tracy is, finally, officially my sister-in-law. Congratulations to Tracy and my brother Walter! If you'd like to see photos of their wedding in Carmel a few weeks ago you can check out Erika Jackson Photography. Make sure you scroll all the way to the end. The barefoot on the beach photos are my favorites, although the winery ones are great too. wedding photography has sure come a long way since I got married!

Hugs,

Dawn 



Rednesday and Thrifty Thursday ~ Fruit Stands

Wednesday is REDnesday at Sue's ~ It's a Very Cherry World. Don't forget to visit Sue and see many more fabulous reds! And don't forget Thursday is Thrifty Thursday with Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville. You won't want to miss all the Thrifty finds and crafts!

I picked up this little fruit stand/candle holder at good will for a couple of dollars. It fit the theme and colors of our kitchen perfectly. I know a lot of people don't like theme decorating but I love it. There are so many styles that I like, it's hard to choose one for the whole house. Instead, each room has a different flavor, with similar color schemes. One of my favorite memories is traveling up and down Highway 99 through California's Central Valley. I've always lived in towns off 99 so when we visited family it meant a trip down the long stretch of road surrounded by farmland and little towns. I always loved reading the fruit stand signs as they marked our progress. They often were spread out, one word at a time for miles before you reached the little stands.

Cherries

Ahead

3

miles

2

miles

1 more

mile

You

are

here!

We never stopped though.

Tourist traps, you know! We'd blow by at 50 maybe 55 mph and the signs would start all over again, assuring us the next farm had

FRESH FRUIT.

A few days after finding the fruit stand

I found this little guy for $1 at Strawberry Saturday.

He's not much from the front...

Actually, I guess his backside is his front...

And what a cute little vintage backside it is!

I think he's a Jack looking for his Jill, although his little pail could be for fruit.

So if you spot a one sided Jill during your thrifty travels down the highways and byways, past the fruit stands, I know someone one who'd love to be reunited with her, at a thrifty price of course!

Thrifty China and an Even Better Find

Hello my sweet friends.

I'm afraid I haven't been 'round much this week.

I've been busy gathering,

focusing on details,

and working on the big picture.

Taxes are done. What a relief. Now I can get back to playing.

I got a great deal on this china set at an estate sale last Friday but my thrifty find is nothing compared to Mona's. She spent $10.00 and got...well I let her tell you. Click here to read it in her own words. As her title says, it was "The Yard Sale Find of a Lifetime". You won't want to miss it!

Rednesday and Thrifty Thursday

It's our last Rednesday before Valentine's Day so I'm sure our hostess Sue, at It's a Very Cherry World, and the other Rednesday participants will have lots of Red love to share! I've got a few Valentine decorations on my mantle and they were all thrifty finds so I'm also joining Leigh for Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville.

I picked up a package of 12 vintage style Valentine cards at Ross for a dollar and some change. I'm afraid I was thinking LOVE and not thrifty so I don't remember the exact prices on some of these. The pug love shack was my favorite of the designs. You can just see the edge of the mosaic plaque that I posted about last Rednesday. I have it on a gold scrolly stand, of course! My green rooster from yesterday's post is also on the mantle and was from Big Lots a few years ago.

Here are some tins along with the footed flower bowl I shared on a previous Rednesday. Everything here came from Strawberry Saturday, my favorite thrift store. The small tins have hinged lids. They fit nicely in my kind of English Cottage living room.

I absolutely fell in love with this tin that looks like an open book. The pen and pocket watch are raised off the surface. The watch is scratched but I don't mind. I think I paid 3 or 4 dollars for it.

Finally, here is another romantic little vase with roses, butterflies and cherubs. It also was a few dollars. As often happens at Strawberry Saturday I go up to the counter with an arm load of stuff thinking I may have to put something back and then I'm surprised when the bill is much lower than I figured. Cheryl likes to keep her customers happy and coming back so she will often discount things. I never even try to bargain with her because her prices are so low to start with but she does it anyway! She is such a sweetie. I even saw her offer to deliver items to a lady in a wheel chair who had ridden the bus to the store and had too much to carry home.

If are ever in the Merced area make sure you stop by Strawberry Saturday on Yosemite Parkway and Marthella Ave. Along with her "gently used" items Cheryl also stocks items that follow the latest trends at cost to "class the place up" as she says. I didn't set out to do an ad here but most of these items came from S.S. and it really is a great place to dig for treasures. I mean that literally, she has a lot of stuff! Sorry for being so wordy today, didn't plan that either!

It's a Gold Scrolly Thing

It's a mixed bag here today and I'm linking up with Sue for REDnesday,

and Leigh for Thrifty Thursday.

Please visit these lovely ladies to see more fabulous Red and/or Thrifty things!

I couldn't resist this mosaic "Love and Romance" plaque. It made my heart go pitter patter at a mere $1.50. Okay, so it's really Home Interior, no one knows but me...and all of you!

Now here's some silver scrolly things. This Frenchy shell platter for $2 was the first silver piece I've bought. I didn't have any silver till this came along and although I've always loved scrolly things, I think this purchase was highly influenced by fellow bloggers sharing all their beautiful silver.

So I had no alternative but to buy more scrolly silver things. The details on these spoons are just so pretty, even the backs look good.

Ah, here's the gold scrolly things. $2 for the pair. I know, I know, they're that awful gaudy gold but...

I like scrolly gaudy gold things.

But if gold's not your thing, by all means, paint them!

Just don't get suckered in by someone else who paints them then tries to pass them off as antiques! These are the exact same as mine. I know because I checked the back for the markings. Not so thrifty at $32! Don't buy something like this just because you don't think you can find it and do it yourself. It's being dumped into the thrift stores by the barrels. Whether you like it old and gold or want to freshen it up with paint, it's out there! Just ask Kammy!

Thrifty Thursday ~ Puppy Love

Yeah! It's Thursday, that means it's time to show off our thrifty finds or ideas. Leigh has a great thrifty idea today so make sure you stop over in Bloggeritaville to see what she's up to.

I couldn't pass up this adorable little country print at Goodwill and I'm sure you know why. It reminded me so much of Sunny when he was little. Personally, I think Labbie pups are the cutest pups in the world but I'm sure a few of you will disagree. This print with the double matting and frame was $5.00. Now don't laugh when you scroll down to the next photo. Sunny really did look just like these little pups,

but for about a month...

he looked like a pup on steroids!

He quickly grew into a nicely proportioned Lab and is the sweetest dog around. If anyone ever comes across some vintage looking Labrador Retriever art or classic style figurines, I'd love to hear about it. Most of what I find is from the 70's on and involves a lot of dead ducks or are very modern. Of course if you spot something with a thrifty price tag that would be even better!

Thanks for letting me indulge in a little puppy love!

Dawn

Thrifty Thursday ~ A Tale of Two Angels

I have always placed a star at the top of my tree but this year I fell in love with the Angels at Michael's. I was looking them over, admiring all the different colors available when an employee came over and said, "They're on sale today". As she quickly changed the sign she added, "But just the traditional ones," and promptly grabbed all the purple angels and whisked them away to a new, pricier display!

Still $ 19.99

Now $14.99

I was okay with that, red's my color anyway. But I lost a little Christmas spirit for the moment. I mean, it's just a color, otherwise they were exactly the same. One more trendy, one more traditional. It seemed a little greedy to me, not at all in the spirit of Christmas.

So whatever your style, whatever your color...

I hope that your heart is filled with true Christmas spirit.

Please take a moment to visit Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville for some great thrifty Christmas finds and also read her Dec. 8th post, "Simplifying Christmas". She knows what Christmas spirit is all about.

A Gift, Some Reds, and a Few Thrifty Finds Too!

Today I'm linking up with Sue at It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday and Leigh in Bloggeritaville. I'm a bit early for Thrifty Thursday but you can check out all the great finds there tomorrow.

Monday I received a great little package in the mail from my dear friend and fellow blogger, Carol at Old Glory Cottage.

Inside I found this adorable Christmas card with a sweet sentiment inside. Click to enlarge and you'll see a little mouse by the cat. We decided it's probably really a hamster so all our pets are represented. I think Carole did it on purpose, she's pretty smart that way!

All the other items here are thrifty finds from either Strawberry Saturday or Goodwill. I love the plate because it has touch of lilac in it which is unusual for Christmas decor, although I have seen a lot of it this year! The vintage style tin has some great postcard graphics and touches of red. I got the pitcher for $3.00. It has such a lovely shape.

On this side of the mantle I have some more thrifty treasures and the gifts from Carol. The green vase is from Ross and matches my green Rooster from Big Lots. The sweet little Teddy Bear is from Strawberry Saturday, my favorite thrift store! You may remember the sweet cottage painting from Jen's Candlelit Cottage. I bought it from her Etsy shop. Now for the great gifts I received!

This miniature red tray is just adorable. I've never seen one so tiny! The red with gold flourishes makes my heart flutter and I always love roses!

Little Miss Corduroy is watching after this sparkly red Christmas ornament until I get my tree up. I wonder how Carol knows I like red so much?

I think this Cardinal is the most creative use of a pine cone I've ever seen. It will be right at home on my woodsy, country, french, vintage tree. LOL! You all know I can't stick to one style!

This last little guy even got a "wow!" out of hubby. Hmm...I think I see a Mary Poppins moment here.

Wouldn't you just love to follow him into that painting? He'd be right at home in that meadow don't you think?

Thank you, Carol. You made my Monday!

I also want to Thank all of you who left comments recently. I'm hoping to spend some time over the next couple of days catching up with what you've all been up to. That, and start decorating, and Christmas shopping...good thing I don't bake, I don't know how some of you do it all!

Sunny hugs from California

Dawn