Construction Junction Adds Function for Artists with Gumption

A weekend visit to Construction Junction, one of the Pittsburgh area's main architectural salvage stores, illuminated more this time than your standard house parts salvage and furnishings.

It seems there is now a second and third floor loft area devoted entirely to offering reused items artists and other creative folks can use for projects.

It's called Creative Reuse Pittsburgh, and according to the nice, informative cashier I spoke with, the place has been in operation for a while but only had been open on Wednesdays until recently.

Me, I got this awesome discontinued Royal Dalton wallpaper sample book filled to the brim with rose patterns and papers I can use for decoupaging, scrapbooking, or what-have-you.
But there was far more among the aisles of this attic treasure trove than that. Think office supplies, fabrics, yarns, paints, modeling clays, various decorative papers, picture matting, unused canvases, CDs, old magazines, prints, novelty items and so much more.
All of the items were donations to this non-profit organization. So if you have some items that might make innovative craft supplies, you might want to consider donating it their way.

Store hours are: Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

And Sunday from noon to 4:00 PM.

One other thing of note, they're cash only. But the prices are good, so even if you only have a few bucks on you, you can still come away with some artistic goodies. While I was there, my brain actually imploded a little over all the possibilities, so once I have a better what I need for my next project, I will definitely be back.

Their contact information is below, and it looks like they're on Facebook, too.

Creative Reuse Pittsburgh

Inside Construction Junction

214 North Lexington Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15208

www.creativereusepittsburgh.org

Facebook/CreativeReusePittsburgh

(412) 202-4036

Happy rummaging!

Construction Junction Adds Function for Artists with Gumption

A weekend visit to Construction Junction, one of the Pittsburgh area's main architectural salvage stores, illuminated more this time than your standard house parts salvage and furnishings.

It seems there is now a second and third floor loft area devoted entirely to offering reused items artists and other creative folks can use for projects.

It's called Creative Reuse Pittsburgh, and according to the nice, informative cashier I spoke with, the place has been in operation for a while but only had been open on Wednesdays until recently.

Me, I got this awesome discontinued Royal Dalton wallpaper sample book filled to the brim with rose patterns and papers I can use for decoupaging, scrapbooking, or what-have-you.
But there was far more among the aisles of this attic treasure trove than that. Think office supplies, fabrics, yarns, paints, modeling clays, various decorative papers, picture matting, unused canvases, CDs, old magazines, prints, novelty items and so much more.
All of the items were donations to this non-profit organization. So if you have some items that might make innovative craft supplies, you might want to consider donating it their way.

Store hours are: Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

And Sunday from noon to 4:00 PM.

One other thing of note, they're cash only. But the prices are good, so even if you only have a few bucks on you, you can still come away with some artistic goodies. While I was there, my brain actually imploded a little over all the possibilities, so once I have a better what I need for my next project, I will definitely be back.

Their contact information is below, and it looks like they're on Facebook, too.

Creative Reuse Pittsburgh

Inside Construction Junction

214 North Lexington Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15208

www.creativereusepittsburgh.org

Facebook/CreativeReusePittsburgh

(412) 202-4036

Happy rummaging!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Never Too Chicken for Thrifty Adventure!

Saturday the rain came down in buckets at times, but the lure of a day out adventuring for this chick was just too strong to deny. And as a result I came up with what I consider pretty nifty, thrifty fortune...

I had popped by Construction Junction just to see what was junkin', and didn't get very far in the store before I spied an unframed 24 inch by 40 inch antique stained glass window with a crest on it...
...For $25.

Let me just write that again: $25.

It's the panel above in the lower center. You can see how it coordinates with the crest windows I already had hanging. So, well, I had that baby in my hands in about three seconds flat and didn't even look around the rest of the store before I was heading to the register.

And it's probably just as well, too, as the window continued to cause a little stir on its way out the store. Folks in line pondered its history, marveled at its price and one lady even called her friend over to see it.

Talk about timing! And with a quick assemble-it-yourself frame I pieced together from Michaels' to sturdy it up, it's very happy in its new home.

Another favorite item of recent finds was this colorful vintage print of a cherubic little girl, chicks and her beloved St. Bernard in a farmyard...

The print was just so incredibly cheerful, I was unable to resist. It's hanging in my hallway now, so I can enjoy the scene as I pass through daily.

And lastly, I uncovered this cool old playbill from a performance of Richard III...
Long-time readers might remember I have Edwin Austin Abbey and Millais prints in my livingroom related to the Richard III tale, so I thought this play information, in its very medieval-looking frame, would be a nice addition. It's a bit worse for wear, but then Richard III didn't exactly have a cakewalk reign, either.

Anyway, that puts the lid back on today's Treasure Box. If you missed Sunday's post on eccentric knitwear modeling in "The Spinnerin Wives" click here.

Otherwise, perhaps I'll see you for our next post. Just as an FYI, I may move it to Monday, as I have a friend visiting this weekend and I doubt there's going to be a whole lot of blogging time. But I'll see you soon!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Never Too Chicken for Thrifty Adventure!

Saturday the rain came down in buckets at times, but the lure of a day out adventuring for this chick was just too strong to deny. And as a result I came up with what I consider pretty nifty, thrifty fortune...

I had popped by Construction Junction just to see what was junkin', and didn't get very far in the store before I spied an unframed 24 inch by 40 inch antique stained glass window with a crest on it...
...For $25.

Let me just write that again: $25.

It's the panel above in the lower center. You can see how it coordinates with the crest windows I already had hanging. So, well, I had that baby in my hands in about three seconds flat and didn't even look around the rest of the store before I was heading to the register.

And it's probably just as well, too, as the window continued to cause a little stir on its way out the store. Folks in line pondered its history, marveled at its price and one lady even called her friend over to see it.

Talk about timing! And with a quick assemble-it-yourself frame I pieced together from Michaels' to sturdy it up, it's very happy in its new home.

Another favorite item of recent finds was this colorful vintage print of a cherubic little girl, chicks and her beloved St. Bernard in a farmyard...

The print was just so incredibly cheerful, I was unable to resist. It's hanging in my hallway now, so I can enjoy the scene as I pass through daily.

And lastly, I uncovered this cool old playbill from a performance of Richard III...
Long-time readers might remember I have Edwin Austin Abbey and Millais prints in my livingroom related to the Richard III tale, so I thought this play information, in its very medieval-looking frame, would be a nice addition. It's a bit worse for wear, but then Richard III didn't exactly have a cakewalk reign, either.

Anyway, that puts the lid back on today's Treasure Box. If you missed Sunday's post on eccentric knitwear modeling in "The Spinnerin Wives" click here.

Otherwise, perhaps I'll see you for our next post. Just as an FYI, I may move it to Monday, as I have a friend visiting this weekend and I doubt there's going to be a whole lot of blogging time. But I'll see you soon!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Heavenly Finds

And a-one, and a-two, and everybody sing...

Er, no, better not. Let's just talk about our friend the conducting cherub here, and the other found items for this Treasure Box Wednesday.

The elaborate winged fellows are a lamp discovered at Construction Junction architectural salvage. This has already made it's way into my blue room. I would say it probably was the land-speed record for lamp placement in America.

How the lamp managed to survive in that store amid the big chunks of heavy marble mantles, thick wood planks, and masonry, I can't imagine. It does have some issues, certainly. A chipped wing here, a missing bit there...

And this fellow is completely sans-arm. But I think some clever patching will make it less obvious, and just add to the character. Too much was brilliantly intact for me to care very much...
Sometimes I think it's the imperfections in well-made old pieces like this that make them even more worth rescuing to me. Like I have to save them from further damage!

At the Salvation Army yesterday, there was absolutely nothing wrong with this pink hobnail vase...
I've seen this in white milkglass a bazillion times over the years-- in fact my mother had one-- but never, ever in pink! This was quite a surprise to me. I believe I recall it being an Anchor Hocking piece, but don't hold me to that.

I had also picked up this green Depression glass platter...

Funny, I'd been in line, saying to the friend I was shopping with how there were just a few small chips on the bottom, but how no one would see those. And the woman in front of me in line sniffed, "Well, I can tell you're not an antique dealer, then!"

Er, yes. I probably wouldn't expect people to buy from me something that had chips. But given it was for my own use? Well, you all know how I feel about that. Again, it's another pretty item whose beauty isn't ruined by the little flaws.

And my last second-hand venture of the weekend was attending a flea market at a local synagogue. It was set up almost identically to the church rummage sale I went to just a week or two ago. And there, I set my eyes on this great sandwich-glass and lightly-lustered amethyst dish...
(Here you can see an aerial view)...

And this excellent large, old mirror for a whole $2...

So it's been a pretty heavenly week for fun finds! And a nice respite from working on that fireplace.

• Folks who've not yet seen the whole fireplace installation extravaganza can check that out here.

It's going well, by the way. I installed the rest of the trim last night. It still needs a few coats of paint, and then I have some other touches to add. Oh-- and the mantle shelf. But the mantle shelf issue is one I'll share with you later. I think you'll laugh.

Take care, and I hope you'll pop back on Sunday for our next post!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Heavenly Finds

And a-one, and a-two, and everybody sing...

Er, no, better not. Let's just talk about our friend the conducting cherub here, and the other found items for this Treasure Box Wednesday.

The elaborate winged fellows are a lamp discovered at Construction Junction architectural salvage. This has already made it's way into my blue room. I would say it probably was the land-speed record for lamp placement in America.

How the lamp managed to survive in that store amid the big chunks of heavy marble mantles, thick wood planks, and masonry, I can't imagine. It does have some issues, certainly. A chipped wing here, a missing bit there...

And this fellow is completely sans-arm. But I think some clever patching will make it less obvious, and just add to the character. Too much was brilliantly intact for me to care very much...
Sometimes I think it's the imperfections in well-made old pieces like this that make them even more worth rescuing to me. Like I have to save them from further damage!

At the Salvation Army yesterday, there was absolutely nothing wrong with this pink hobnail vase...
I've seen this in white milkglass a bazillion times over the years-- in fact my mother had one-- but never, ever in pink! This was quite a surprise to me. I believe I recall it being an Anchor Hocking piece, but don't hold me to that.

I had also picked up this green Depression glass platter...

Funny, I'd been in line, saying to the friend I was shopping with how there were just a few small chips on the bottom, but how no one would see those. And the woman in front of me in line sniffed, "Well, I can tell you're not an antique dealer, then!"

Er, yes. I probably wouldn't expect people to buy from me something that had chips. But given it was for my own use? Well, you all know how I feel about that. Again, it's another pretty item whose beauty isn't ruined by the little flaws.

And my last second-hand venture of the weekend was attending a flea market at a local synagogue. It was set up almost identically to the church rummage sale I went to just a week or two ago. And there, I set my eyes on this great sandwich-glass and lightly-lustered amethyst dish...
(Here you can see an aerial view)...

And this excellent large, old mirror for a whole $2...

So it's been a pretty heavenly week for fun finds! And a nice respite from working on that fireplace.

• Folks who've not yet seen the whole fireplace installation extravaganza can check that out here.

It's going well, by the way. I installed the rest of the trim last night. It still needs a few coats of paint, and then I have some other touches to add. Oh-- and the mantle shelf. But the mantle shelf issue is one I'll share with you later. I think you'll laugh.

Take care, and I hope you'll pop back on Sunday for our next post!

Painted Lady

Apologies that my Sunday post is a little late today compared to some days. But I have an excuse I do believe you'll all understand. You see, I've been painting furniture...

And painting furniture...

And painting furniture.

Yes, folks, at my house it's been one of those marathon "Let's Just Get This Done" sessions filled with excited ambition... and which always somehow manages to take four times longer than you initially expect.

The project? Furniture and accessories to be used in my blue sitting room. If you recall the other day, the endtables started out like this and I was about to give them a touch of off-white paint...

And here's the first coat for comparison!...

Ya just don't realize how many sides and fiddly bits there are to a small endtable like this until you have to cover it in three coats of paint, let me tell you! Just when I'd think I'd gotten it all covered, I'd see it from another angle and realize--- oh, NOOOOOO!--- I missed a section.

One of the endtables is pretty much done with the exception of a clear topcoat. The other still has a way to go yet-- and then there's a matching coffetable to tackle.

So while I was... um.. watching paint dry, I started priming this antique fire surround I got at the Construction Junction architectural salvage store...

Some good ol' Rustoleum should keep that rusty section at bay. Then this will get a coat of the off-white paint I'm using on the furniture. I think it will be pretty in the blue room, as part of a makeshift faux fireplace I'm hoping to add in there.

Here you can see it all primed up!


And here's a close-up on the detail. Gotta love those elaborate vines and berries climbing along it...And because I hadn't already gotten myself in enough trouble with painting projects, I ended up painting the black base of a bust I want to use in that room. (Don't worry, the bust was from TJ Maxx, not any priceless antique!) You can see here in the lefthand side of the photo below...

And I also worked over this thrifted lamp...

It's a strange little cherub on it-- I'm guessing it's from the 70s. But I think the antique white paint doesn't look too bad...

This was the first coat. I'll need to do at least one more to even it out. But you can get a sense of how it will be.

Anyway, that's where we stand today. As I get things finished and moved into the room, I'll give you all a little update.

• And if you missed previous posts and want to know which room I'm talking about, you can check out what's been done to date here.

The next Thrift Shop Romantic post will be Wednesday. Oh, and while I remember, I want to thank everyone who has subscribed to the The Thrift Shop Romantic RSS feed. I'm really delighted to have you all share in the thrifting and decorating adventures.

Painted Lady

Apologies that my Sunday post is a little late today compared to some days. But I have an excuse I do believe you'll all understand. You see, I've been painting furniture...

And painting furniture...

And painting furniture.

Yes, folks, at my house it's been one of those marathon "Let's Just Get This Done" sessions filled with excited ambition... and which always somehow manages to take four times longer than you initially expect.

The project? Furniture and accessories to be used in my blue sitting room. If you recall the other day, the endtables started out like this and I was about to give them a touch of off-white paint...

And here's the first coat for comparison!...

Ya just don't realize how many sides and fiddly bits there are to a small endtable like this until you have to cover it in three coats of paint, let me tell you! Just when I'd think I'd gotten it all covered, I'd see it from another angle and realize--- oh, NOOOOOO!--- I missed a section.

One of the endtables is pretty much done with the exception of a clear topcoat. The other still has a way to go yet-- and then there's a matching coffetable to tackle.

So while I was... um.. watching paint dry, I started priming this antique fire surround I got at the Construction Junction architectural salvage store...

Some good ol' Rustoleum should keep that rusty section at bay. Then this will get a coat of the off-white paint I'm using on the furniture. I think it will be pretty in the blue room, as part of a makeshift faux fireplace I'm hoping to add in there.

Here you can see it all primed up!


And here's a close-up on the detail. Gotta love those elaborate vines and berries climbing along it...And because I hadn't already gotten myself in enough trouble with painting projects, I ended up painting the black base of a bust I want to use in that room. (Don't worry, the bust was from TJ Maxx, not any priceless antique!) You can see here in the lefthand side of the photo below...

And I also worked over this thrifted lamp...

It's a strange little cherub on it-- I'm guessing it's from the 70s. But I think the antique white paint doesn't look too bad...

This was the first coat. I'll need to do at least one more to even it out. But you can get a sense of how it will be.

Anyway, that's where we stand today. As I get things finished and moved into the room, I'll give you all a little update.

• And if you missed previous posts and want to know which room I'm talking about, you can check out what's been done to date here.

The next Thrift Shop Romantic post will be Wednesday. Oh, and while I remember, I want to thank everyone who has subscribed to the The Thrift Shop Romantic RSS feed. I'm really delighted to have you all share in the thrifting and decorating adventures.