Treasure Box Wednesday: Forgotten Furnishings and Painted Putti

The last few days have been full of surprises for me. Things I've put away years ago, to decorate the blue bedroom my friend was using, have suddenly been unearthed and brought to light.

It almost feels like one of those time travel films, where Past Me leaps into the future and plants the seeds of things Present Me might need now.

Let's hear it for Past Me!

One of my favorite finds was this trio of cherubs I'd painted a good long while ago...

No masterpieces by any means, these whimsical and ornery-looking putti (based on the cherubs at the bottom of the throw I'm using on the couch) have certainly made me smile. I have vague memories of giving them irreverent-- yet appropriate-- names...

Like Buster...
Butch...
And, something like Bud...
Perhaps they'll serve my decorating needs yet as I continue to pull that blue room together!

I also have been dusting off some flea marketed lyre furniture. I have two endtables like this, and a coffeetable, all with about the same level of poor finish...

But I'm thinking a lick of off-white paint will both brighten them up and hide all of the dings and scratches in that veneer.
Don't worry, they're not priceless Chippendale or anything. They're probably from the Depression era.

I thought you'd also like to see that framed tapestry now that the frame has been gold-leafed...

It's much cleaner from the chipped dark brown it was, and in the daylight in that room, gives off a nice inviting glow.

Lastly, I forgot all about this thrifted needlepoint stool I got to go with my thrifted chair. This was just a few bucks from the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Monroeville a few years ago...

So, I feel like things are really coming together. I need to make some decisions about what goes where, and I need to invest in a tin of cream paint. But I'm excited about the way it's turning out.

At the very least, it's keeping me out of trouble.

The same, however, cannot necessarily be said for those mischievous cherubs.

• If you missed the first post on decorating the blue room in a day, you can check that out here.

Otherwise, I'll see you Sunday, perhaps, for our next post and hopefully a bit more progress!

Treasure Box Wednesday: Forgotten Furnishings and Painted Putti

The last few days have been full of surprises for me. Things I've put away years ago, to decorate the blue bedroom my friend was using, have suddenly been unearthed and brought to light.

It almost feels like one of those time travel films, where Past Me leaps into the future and plants the seeds of things Present Me might need now.

Let's hear it for Past Me!

One of my favorite finds was this trio of cherubs I'd painted a good long while ago...

No masterpieces by any means, these whimsical and ornery-looking putti (based on the cherubs at the bottom of the throw I'm using on the couch) have certainly made me smile. I have vague memories of giving them irreverent-- yet appropriate-- names...

Like Buster...
Butch...
And, something like Bud...
Perhaps they'll serve my decorating needs yet as I continue to pull that blue room together!

I also have been dusting off some flea marketed lyre furniture. I have two endtables like this, and a coffeetable, all with about the same level of poor finish...

But I'm thinking a lick of off-white paint will both brighten them up and hide all of the dings and scratches in that veneer.
Don't worry, they're not priceless Chippendale or anything. They're probably from the Depression era.

I thought you'd also like to see that framed tapestry now that the frame has been gold-leafed...

It's much cleaner from the chipped dark brown it was, and in the daylight in that room, gives off a nice inviting glow.

Lastly, I forgot all about this thrifted needlepoint stool I got to go with my thrifted chair. This was just a few bucks from the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Monroeville a few years ago...

So, I feel like things are really coming together. I need to make some decisions about what goes where, and I need to invest in a tin of cream paint. But I'm excited about the way it's turning out.

At the very least, it's keeping me out of trouble.

The same, however, cannot necessarily be said for those mischievous cherubs.

• If you missed the first post on decorating the blue room in a day, you can check that out here.

Otherwise, I'll see you Sunday, perhaps, for our next post and hopefully a bit more progress!

From Empty to French and Shabbily Romantic in a Day

Those of us thrifty folks do ourselves a serious service by planning ahead. I knew there would come a day when the friend who was renting from me would be able to purchase a home of her own and the extra bedroom she occupied would be a blank canvas once more.

Well, almost blank, anyway...
With just a few remaining things to pick up and take to her nifty new digs, boy was I glad I had developed a plan for the blue room long ago! And even gladder was I that I'd tucked some things aside as I'd found them, to decorate it.

The theme? A shabby chic old world French feel.. A bit pastoral, a bit faded, soft and lush and relaxing... A place a person could come sit and read a book, play some music, or paint.

Here you see a last framed artwork that needs to find its way to my former housemate, and a ladder waiting for me to hang some drapes...
The stack of prints below are from my own hallway. I'd taken them down so the movers could get through easily. They'll go back to their places shortly. They won't live here.

Here is my old black Ikea couch, brought up from the livingroom when the red velvet vintage-style sofa I'd thrifted recently took its place. This black sofa's going to get cover-up job done to it shortly. (Apologies for the photographed spheres... too much dust there for a second!)
The cover you see below was one I bought from the Salvation Army thrift store years ago and tucked away for just this occasion. It's got an elaborate pastoral scene on it, chock filled with minstrels and courting couples. I hadn't seen anything quite like it, but thought it would come in handy...

You can se the figures up close better here, with this romantic couple...

And here, with these instrumentalists...To cover the arms, I had a vintage pink burnout velvet futon cover I'd also thrifted some time ago...
It looks a lot pinker here in the photos, for some reason. It's actually a rather faded soft pink, like the dresses in the pastoral cover.

Here you can see I put up some curtains. I'd gotten these two years ago from TJ Maxx, at $16.00 a set, valences and tasseled tie-backs included!...

Here you can see the cherub and lady painting, which had been in my entrway downstairs, got moved to an appropriate placement between the windows, against the flow of light...

The music cabinet underneath it had had an unfortunate mishap when I'd moved it. The momentum of the cabinet door swung the door right off its hinges, pulling the screws away from the soft pine piece. A sad thing, naturally, and I cursed myself a bit over it. But I think I can fix it. It's really the right height and size for the area.

This French tapestry chair was a Salvation Army find too, about four years ago. It was just waiting to come into the blue room!

And you can see it coming together so far...
This large Italian tapestry will soon hang over the couch. This was-- probably not surprising to you-- a Salvation Army find, as well!...

The frame is quite scratched, so I think I'll gold leaf it so it will match the other frames in the room.

I also have some small lyre endtables, a desk, and a couple of vintage lamps that will find a home here.

I hope you folks enjoyed the little preliminary tour. Knowing your taste, developing a plan, and having a lot of patience is a great way to decorate a room with interesting items-- and not a lot of money.

• If you missed last week's Treasure Box Wednesday, Rainy Days and Roses, click here.

If not, I should have some other goodies to share with you this coming Wednesday. I hope you'll pop by to see what awaits.

From Empty to French and Shabbily Romantic in a Day

Those of us thrifty folks do ourselves a serious service by planning ahead. I knew there would come a day when the friend who was renting from me would be able to purchase a home of her own and the extra bedroom she occupied would be a blank canvas once more.

Well, almost blank, anyway...
With just a few remaining things to pick up and take to her nifty new digs, boy was I glad I had developed a plan for the blue room long ago! And even gladder was I that I'd tucked some things aside as I'd found them, to decorate it.

The theme? A shabby chic old world French feel.. A bit pastoral, a bit faded, soft and lush and relaxing... A place a person could come sit and read a book, play some music, or paint.

Here you see a last framed artwork that needs to find its way to my former housemate, and a ladder waiting for me to hang some drapes...
The stack of prints below are from my own hallway. I'd taken them down so the movers could get through easily. They'll go back to their places shortly. They won't live here.

Here is my old black Ikea couch, brought up from the livingroom when the red velvet vintage-style sofa I'd thrifted recently took its place. This black sofa's going to get cover-up job done to it shortly. (Apologies for the photographed spheres... too much dust there for a second!)
The cover you see below was one I bought from the Salvation Army thrift store years ago and tucked away for just this occasion. It's got an elaborate pastoral scene on it, chock filled with minstrels and courting couples. I hadn't seen anything quite like it, but thought it would come in handy...

You can se the figures up close better here, with this romantic couple...

And here, with these instrumentalists...To cover the arms, I had a vintage pink burnout velvet futon cover I'd also thrifted some time ago...
It looks a lot pinker here in the photos, for some reason. It's actually a rather faded soft pink, like the dresses in the pastoral cover.

Here you can see I put up some curtains. I'd gotten these two years ago from TJ Maxx, at $16.00 a set, valences and tasseled tie-backs included!...

Here you can see the cherub and lady painting, which had been in my entrway downstairs, got moved to an appropriate placement between the windows, against the flow of light...

The music cabinet underneath it had had an unfortunate mishap when I'd moved it. The momentum of the cabinet door swung the door right off its hinges, pulling the screws away from the soft pine piece. A sad thing, naturally, and I cursed myself a bit over it. But I think I can fix it. It's really the right height and size for the area.

This French tapestry chair was a Salvation Army find too, about four years ago. It was just waiting to come into the blue room!

And you can see it coming together so far...
This large Italian tapestry will soon hang over the couch. This was-- probably not surprising to you-- a Salvation Army find, as well!...

The frame is quite scratched, so I think I'll gold leaf it so it will match the other frames in the room.

I also have some small lyre endtables, a desk, and a couple of vintage lamps that will find a home here.

I hope you folks enjoyed the little preliminary tour. Knowing your taste, developing a plan, and having a lot of patience is a great way to decorate a room with interesting items-- and not a lot of money.

• If you missed last week's Treasure Box Wednesday, Rainy Days and Roses, click here.

If not, I should have some other goodies to share with you this coming Wednesday. I hope you'll pop by to see what awaits.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Signs of Spring with Thrift Store Decor

Spring! I tend to approach Spring like Tigger on a caffeine high-- I love it, and my enthusiasm cannot be contained. So it's not any wonder I've been having some fun noodling around with my dining table and mantle again, giving it the ol' Spring Treatment.

Each year, I try to do something different, and wouldn't you know it?-- It was some thrift store finds that inspired me this go-around!

I mean, gosh, here almost everything you see is from one of my beloved thrift stores...


From the pretty vintage tablecloth in pink, aqua, green and blue, to the McCoy pot, and the swirly pink glass cups...


(I'm not done setting the table yet, but was just trying to get a feel for how things might be. Consider these just Coming Attractions... Hopefully, it'll get a little better).

Then on the mantle, I believe you're familiar with the $4 Goodwill candlestick lamps...


This cheery cottagey birdcage seemed so perfect for spring. This was a Red White and Blue Thrift Store purchase around Christmastime...


And inside? Two fluffy bluebirds. They're actually Christmas ornaments I got on sale at Michael's. So no-- not thrift store avians, exactly, but discount tweets at least...


I don't know what they talk about during the day, but they seem happy. Hopefully, if they start covering films, they get into things like Song of the South or Snow White and not, say, any Hitchcock Tippy Hedren films or anything.

Here on the mantle, you can also see the thrifted glass candy dish from just a week or so ago. Yep, I just had to try to work it into the theme...


And here, there's a very similar bowl on the other side of the mantle. I've had that a while-- I think that was from the Salvation Army on the South Side.


All in all, though, I'm liking the feel of it. This is just some interim decor until I break out the Easter sheep.


For anyone who wants to check out the Big Easter Lambie Whammy from last year, and get a laugh, you can catch that here.

And if you missed Sunday's post, where we took a peek inside a 1935 knitting magazine, click here.

Hope you're having a warm and wonderful week so far!