Just Like Martha

Thrifty Thursday

Ooooh I am super excited to share my newest 'thrift share' with you. A while back I was scouring Op shops and the like on the look out for the usual doillies etc when this little treasure took my eye....sitting neglecting in the corner I fell in love with its legs...and for the grand price of $10 it was all mine!!!

Okay so I DID forget to take a proper photo before I cleaned it up and I DID have it in a shady part of the backyeard to paint...but you get the picture...here is what the piece looks like now..

I purchased these cute crystal knobs from Ebay and voilla Lilly now has a new bedside table to match the "French look" in her bedroom..

....Isn't it amazing what a coat of paint and new handles will do...what do you think???

I am playing along with Sophie over at Flea Market Finds this week.

Thrifty Thursday

Not much time for op shopping these days but did manage a quick sneek peek into a favourite recently and I was not disappointed...

Another 'vintage' treasure fo the end of Lilly's bed...perfect!

Playing along this week with Sophie and Apron Thrift Girl xxx

Op Shop Finds

Playing along this week with Sophie and Apron Thrift Girl with my op shop finds for this week. I have been scouring the shops hoping to find some more vintage sheeting, I am taking part in the vintage quilt square swap, its my first ever 'sewing' orientated swap and I am relying on help big time (Mardi has arranged for a tutorial from the wonderful Janelle and I can't wait to get involved).....anyway sadly I only found one to add to me very tiny collection, ahh a girl has gotta start somewhere right!

Also happy to pick up some more vintage sheet music (have lots of ideas swimming around to use that) and a beautiful cup and saucer to add to my collection of china that I make into candles.

On another visit I managed to grab these bargains for $1 each....

The decorations quickly made it on to a 'starry friends' Christmas present and the wire tree has been transformed (inspired by Kim Archer's latest edition of Etzcetera) into this...

And the present....

Op Shop Finds

Not much time for op shopping this week but I did manage a quick visit to a favourite local haunt and 'unearth' a few treasures...

 

A wonderful vintage atlas for my growing 'map' addiction, some music scores, a couple of old books (a girl can never have enough of these in her stash!) and some pretty saucers to add to my growing teacup and saucer candle collection.

I am playing along this week with Sophie and Apron Thrift Girl head on over to see what discoveries have been made this week in the world of "Op Shopping".

My collection of old frames from various thrift shops is coming together nicely. For ages we have wondered what to do with a blank wall in our house...a collection of old and tattered frames in all shapes and sizes was the answer! A few cans of white gloss spray paint and various travel and holiday photos has created a wall of memories...and no more blank wall!

 

Back tomorrow to share some card crafting...bye for now x
 

Map - og - raphy

Recently I found an old dusty atlas in a 'op shop' and of course it had to come home with me. It has been sitting in my creative space taunting me until I made this present!

It has certainly got my creative juices flowing, I am not sure where to start...perhaps I could make these wonderful framed creations...

 
Image source: Google images

Design sponge has a great tutorial on how to recycle map into a workable corkboard...

 

Perhaps a new light fitting is in order????

 
                    Image source: Google images

Love, love this origami flower from Bears & Bunting...hmmm looks a little tricky though.

 

There is always plenty of inspriation to be found over at Made it.

 
 
 

And lets not forget Etsy.........

 
 
 
 

Hope you have enjoyed my little "map-og-raphy" obsession...now if I could only find the time to create???

 

Weekly crafty catch up

Its that time of the week when I reflect on some craftiness. First up a tiny little hat I knitted up in no time to send to a special little premmy bubby doing it tough....hang in there little man!

 

Its the cutiest little beannie BUT it would also double as en 'egg cosy'????

 

I am finding lots of uses for my dyed doillies, not only have they appeared in recent scrapbooking projects, card making and present toppers, but this week I made up some heat packs for the family using some vintage sheeting and an old 'weathered' dressing gown...what do you think?

 
 

There are some great tutorials around on 'how to make' heat packs, some people use rice and others wheat (I used wheat and purchased it at the local pet shop), add a handful of dried lavender and the best tip I can give you...double the fabric if it is lightweight (the vintage sheeting I used was okay but some fabric is too 'thin' and wears away too quickly with use. Simply pop them in the microwave for 2 minutes and enjoy!

NB. the girls like thinner, longer heatpacks, I prefer mine more square, there is no rule.

There is always another Birthday card to create....

 

 

Hmmm...did I mention I am loving' those doillies! LOL

And finally, here is an easy peasy (and super quick) present idea to share.

 

Simply start with a frame and an old map (more op-shopping adventures), trace around a 'meaningful' part of the map depending on the recipient (this girlie LOVES Italy) with a heart shaped template and frame...ta da...pretty cool even if I do say so myself!!

Op Shop Finds and some repurposing to share!

Hello, playing along with Sophie this week with more wonderful Op Shop Finds and as promised a peek at the 'repurposing' that has been happening.

 

A recent trip to Salvos found me some more vintage sheeting, a bag of buttons for 50c (bargain), some vintage lace and a few more doillies (yes I am obsessed!). I recently purchased a BRAND NEW sewing machine (never been out of the box) for an absolute steal for $50 so the sheetng will come in handy for a few projects I have in mind (more on that later). I have been inspired by the wonderful Mardi and her latest creations as well as the cute pillows in the first issue of Etzcetera.

But for now, I have been content making lots of these...

 

I LOVE, LOVE the thought of breathing new life into old china, especially the mish mash of stuff that doesn't match but somehow just goes together (oh and of course it is heaps of fun finding and visiting Op shops)...

 

I have decided to sell my "Vintage candle tea-cups".....hmmm tricky to post, but I have had lots of local orders and will definitely include them in future Christmas Shops at my home.

There has been a lot of dying going on in my home to breathe new life into old and stained doillies...

 

I love the colours don't you?

 

I have been using these wonderful creations on lots of cards but I think my favourite way to use them is to help jazz up a pressie, after all its ALL in the presentation! I am looking forward to including them on my sewing creations...check out another cool idea here Sarah and Lisa have been busy creating...might definitely have to make some of these!

 

 

More to share next week, scored some major finds today in my 'hunting', can't wait to share but its got very chilly all of a sudden think its time to put he heater on and think about dinner! Bye for now, thanks for stopping by xxx

Its been a busy week.....

Where do I start its been a busy week! Somewhere in between work and mum's taxi I managed to sneek into an op shop for a spot of shopping....

Op shop Treasures

 

 
 
 

Promise next week I shall show you what I have done with all these treasures!

There there has been some serious card making...lots of Birthdays and reasons to celebrate coming up!

Cardmaking

 
 
 
 

A Few Presents wrapped

 
 
  

Phew, I told you it had been a busy week...last but certainly not least...this week there was a buzz in the 'blogasphere' for the word had got out that our dear blogging buddy Kim Archer had a very special announcement...she has decided to launch her very own on-line magazine called "ETZCETERA" and I couldn't be more thrilled for her...

 

Do yourself a favour and head on over to visit, and make sure you leave your email address so Kim can keep you up to date with the launch details....oooohhh I am excited!

That is it for me for today, back to work then I am packing my bag and heading down to Melbourne...brrrrrr...(more on that next week) Bye for now, thanks for stopping by x

More 'Op shopping' adventures

Managed a very quick visit to my local "Vinnies" on the way home from work and found some bargains with red tags (50% off - yippee) so they of course just 'had' to come home with me.

 

Now this is not the scrumptious leather old suitcase that I was after, however you can't go past an old "Globite" esepcailly for $6 and it makes a great container for my stash of scrapbooking paper...

 

I also picked up an old wooden frame that I plan to spray with white gloss paint for a bargain $1...

 

Check out Apron Thirft Girl for more op shop finds as well as Sophie for the weekly "Flea market Finds", but beware its not only fun but very addictive!

 
                                                             

A little thrifting.....and a new obsession!

I am hooked! I'll admit it I have become obsessed with finding hidden treasures at "Op shops"....sometimes referred to as "Lifeline stores", "Red Cross", "Salvation Army", "Opportunity shops" or even local second hand markets and garage sales.

Not sure what caused the additction, is it my new best friend (and Oprah's) Nate who's show on tv makes you just want to 'get out there and re-purpose'....or perhaps its the influence of Lea and her project Little bits of pretty that caught my eye....or Mardi and her wonderful new friends (check out those owls....soooo cute!)....anyways it all lead to Sophie and her "Flea Market Finds".

 

Every week 'treasures' from all over are found and shared....beware its catching...oh and its okay to feel just a little jealous of other peoples "Flea Market finds"....isn't it??????

Anyway enough rambling here are my recent finds....

 

I have been buying lots of china cups lately to make beautiful candle sets, I am so thrilled with the way they have turned out (more on that another day), I love getting mis-matched china cups and saucers and bringing them together....

 

Okay so I can't take the credit for this wonderful 'find'..my dear friend Jane is slowly, slowly getting hooked too and we are going to get together very soon for a 'dyeing session'...ooohh I can't wait.

 

We just have to decide what colour??????

 

Now what 'thrifter' can leave a bag of vintage trims behind for just $1??????

 

A vintage sheet (another bargain) not sure why this ended up coming home with me....bet its Mardi and those owls influencing me!

So there you have it, my latest 'hobby' (I can hear my dear hubby crying "nooooooo") LOL