Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Michigan's Longest Garage Sale!

Did any of you ladies brave the heat an humidity to venture out to any yard sales this weekend?  I did!  Even though I had to work, and my nephew got married, I managed to go to quite a few, as this was Michigan's Longest Garage Sale weekend.  It was billed as being 180 miles long!  Since I had so many other things going on, I didn't venture far from home, but I did hit the jackpot at the ones I went to!

I just love this plaster cherub!  It was only $1, and still had the original $9.99 Michael's price tag on it! I'm no sure what color I will paint it, but I want to give it an aged Old World look.

At the same sale, I got this paper mache angel "thingy", again for just a buck!  It is much bigger than it appears in the photo, and I thought it would be fun to decoupage the entire thing either with vintage sheet music, or pages from a vintage French book.
Speaking of vintage sheet music, I was so excited to find this book of it, which will be perfect for papercrafting!  And I really love this frame, I thought it was so neat with the 3 opening.  Not sure what I will do with it, but I'm sure I'll think of something!  I also found a brand new pack of these pretty notecards featuring a Trillium wildflower, done by a well known Michigan artist.
Here's a closer look.  So pretty!

I know what you are thinking:  "Has she lost her mind?!  That heat sure must be getting to her!"  Don't worry!  The fabric inserts are going "buh-bye"!  I plan on painting the frames Heirloom white, then adding some of my blue & white toile fabric to the inserts, so they will get a tres chic makeover!
Ok, here are more makeover possiblities!  I plan on painting and decoupaging the box on the right.  And I just can't resist wooden candlesticks!  I will probably paint this a nice antiqued aqua color.  On the left is a cigar box, and the woman I bought it from painted the top.  With all due respect to her painting, I plan on decoupaging over it!  I thought I would hop on over to the Graphics Fairy and see if I can find a vintage cigar box label that I can use.  Here is a closer look at the box:

I was thrilled to find this pair of mirrors still in their original Home Interiors box!  A week or so ago I showed you the same exact mirrors that I had found at a church rummage sale (except they were brown).  Anyway, I painted those mirrors a pretty coastal blue color and put themin my Etsy shop, and they sold the very next day!  I was thrilled!  So I plan on doing the same with these mirrors!

I can hardly wait to transform this chalkboard!  Have no fear!  The "love me, love my cat" cross stitch heart is going to be history!  I plan on giving this a much needed makeover!  I just love the cute little ledge at the bottom for chalk!


I know these wooden wall sconces look oh so borning right now, but wait til you see them with some paint and the addition of some pretty wooden appliques!

I was so excited to find a yard sale with tons of beautiful stickers and scrapbook paper!  Heaven!

Ok, I hope you're not getting tired of looking at all of my loot yet!  Since here in Michigan we only have garage sales thru early-mid fall, I thought I had better stock up on junk treasures now so that I'll have a good stockpile of things to transform this winter!  I can't pass up a cute birdhouse! This one will probably be painted Heirloom white (shocking, I know!).

I really love unique candlesticks, and these have the prettiest acorn and oak leaf design.  Thought they would be so pretty for fall!

This last piecs is one of my favorite finds. It's a large (much larger than it appears)  new but vintage looking wooden scoop.  Of course I just have to paint it!  Don't you think it would look neat painted either coastal blue or heirlomm white, and filled with seashells?!  I think this is going to be one of my first projects I will tackle.  Guess I need to get busy!

Oh, I got everything you see here for under $20!

What treasures did you find this weekend?

I am linking up to Debbie Doos Garage Salen Partay.  Be sure to check it out!

13 comments:

Karen said...

Great finds, Donna! I didn't go to the sales because of the heat...I know, I'm wimpy, but I didn't want to "wilt" again, like we did Fri. PM.

Have fun rejuvenating these finds!

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

You picked up a lot of great things Donna. You will sure stock up your shop with all sorts of treasures.

Christine said...

Holy cow! You had an amazing weekend! I am so looking forward to seeing what you do with it all. Love the chalkboard and the wooden scoop especially!

mizdarlin said...

I will shed a few silent tears for that wonderful birdhouse..because a) it isn't mine, and b)..well, you're gonna paint it.. :)

Debbiedoos said...

I can hardly wait to see all your transformations! You had a great day out there. I just did Goodwill...way toooooo hot:) Thanks for joining in . Debbie

Shabby Cottage Studio said...

Wow you scored! I know your transformations will make everything gorgeous and I'll look forward to seeing everything done. Now, get to work. LOL

Prior said...

I'm glad you made it, even with your busy week. You found some neat stuff! Lezlee

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Donna,
You found some great stuff which should keep you busy for awhile. I cannot wait to see what you do with the wooden boxes. You are right about the candlesticks looking good in a fall vingette.
I like your idea of painting the wooden scoop and adding shells. Can't wait to see it.

hugs
Sissie

Cheryl ~ ZanyMayd said...

My Daughter & I hit the Trail ~ US 12 that is with 3 Grands in tow, on Friday... Man it was Hot, I Agree, The Temp being 88 but That 90% Humidity (That's Our Michigan) I live in Dearborn, so we hit I-94 to Saline and drove to Allen & then started back ~ My Last 2 Blog posts are of Michigan's Longest, I Only bought a Few Treasures spending just $6.50.... I thought I did great, You really did Wonderful on Your Treasures. This was my first year & plan on doing the weekend next year, but will go all the way to Lake Michigan ~ Traveling & Stopping to Shop on the Way back Home ! Great seeing your post & all your fun stuff, Have a Wonderful week....
Cheryl

Ms Bingles Vintage Christmas said...

Love it! I cant wait to see what you do with all of your treasures!
Have a good night~
Leticia

DeeAnna said...

I love the wooden scoop! That is my favorite, I think it would look great in a glass canister of anything!!

kim said...

You got some great things there lady! 180 miles of yard sale! I live in the wrong state!!!! I love your vision Donna and can't wait to see how all of your makeovers turn out. Don't forget to show us pictures!
xoxo,
Kim

Leo said...

Great stuff. I love the round (not sure what they are) frames with the fabric inserts, the chalkboard, the birdhouses and the big wooden scoop. Can't wait to see what you do with them. I guess this is what you call stock piling for the winter!! Should keep you busy. I agree with you on the scoop -I think this would be perfect for displaying shells.