Thrift Store Score!

So, my sister calls me up and says that she was looking for free boxes on Craigslist and that she ran across a listing for a thrift store that was going out of business and was GIVING everything away. Yeah, you read that right. Well, I was still putzing around the house and she gave me exactly 20 minutes to get ready… Do I need to tell you that I was showered, dressed, and ready when she got here?

Anyway, we drive to the Renton Highlands and it’s two store fronts away from a St. Vincent De Paul (which are my favorite thrift stores on earth) and one away from a smallish JoAnn Fabrics (my favorite fabric and craft store in earth) but I digress…

When we got there half the store had been cleared out but my sis was able to get two carts full of clothes for her and her three youngest kids, including enough name brand and designer jeans for my eleven year old niece to be able to render her recent mall purchase obsolete.

I was not doing as well… I scored a few pairs of shoes and two handfuls of CDs (including HS fave Bros., Recoil, Cesaria Evora, Underworld, 808state, Erasure, Tom Petty & The Heart breakers, The Verve, and Handel’s Messiah) but I wasn’t finding something that said TAKE ME HOME! Until…

This retails for $205 on Artaissance… and I got it for FREE!

I was wandering in the very back of the store and saw a print pinned up to the wall. It was from Artaissance. It said that it was Breakfast Treats II by Carolyn Biggio. It was absolutely gorgeous, vibrant, large (at least 2’x3′), and… FREE! So, I snagged it.

Then, I found this silver or pewter bowl-y thing with a hole in the center. It has Hotel Sorrento engraved into the outside surface. Maybe it was a dome to go over a plate and it’s missing a piece or something? I don’t know. I just think it’ll look good on my desk.

Pretty sure I’d found all that I was going to at the going out of business place, I stepped over to St. Vincent De Paul while my sister shopped for more stuff at the first place and found this:

Found at St. Vincent de Paul: a $5 lamp. You can’t beat that!

Isn’t it sweet? I couldn’t pass up the texture and color. I’m not sure where it will go yet as I kind of love the brown lamp (that still hasn’t been projected) on my desk but I’m thinking that it may end up on the desk at some point. We’ll see!

So, overall today ended up being kind of a good day for me on the thrifting front. I mean I spent five bucks! It doesn’t get much better than that… unless you count the time that I got a vintage Henredon sofa for $35. But that’s another story!

Until next time…

Hey, That’s My Bike!

Sometimes you can get what you want… even when you’re late to the party.

I am slightly bike obsessed. You may have noticed here and here… So ever since I’ve been working at IKEA, I’ve wanted to get a hold of the bike that was given as an Xmas gift (the Christmas right before I started) two years ago.

IKEA coworker bikes.

During a casual conversation with a coworker I was offered two of the IKEA bikes and I jumped at the chance. So now I have them sitting in the living room. One of the bikes needs air in the tires and they both need more comfortable bikes seats so I’m going to have to do some shopping. 🙂

Razor Adult Helmet, $19.99 @ Target.com

Schwinn Soft & Wide Bike Seat @ Target.com

I’m still hoping to get one of the Schwinn Meridian Adult Tricycles but I’m looking forward to spending some of my days off cruising down a couple of local trails like the BPA and King County Interurban on my new to me IKEA bikes!

Totally Inspiring Room(s)

Sometimes when you’re looking at interiors, you come across a space that speaks to your soul. Perhaps that’s a little melodramatic but I was so entranced by Darcy Miller Nussbaum’s home in the February 2012 issue of Architectural Digest that I’m sure woke the dead with all my oohing and aahing. There is loads more of this winning design by MR Architecture + Decor at Architectural Digest.

Soft Touch

Its a soft, gray, rainy day here in Charlotte today. I was planning on putting these pics but the soft, muted colors seem especially appropriate given the melancholy Springs weather.

Here is a serving of rain washed colors for this not so sunny spring day:

Soft pinks, gray, and white dominate this set. (Sources: unknown, Domino, Elle Decor, unknown.)

Washed out bluish gray and Sterling rose lavenders create a moody ambience. (Sources: unknown, Domino, unknown, Champagne & Macarons blog.)

Soft gray-browns, white, and silver. (Sources: Mallory Morrison Photography, Greige blog, unknown, Elle Decoration Australia.)

Have a great Friday and a (hopefully) sunnier weekend!

Digging for gold.

A couple of years ago I spotted my first silk floral arrangement made to look as if the stems are actually in water. I wondered where I could find some that were better looking than the cheesy discount store versions I was looking at. My internet hunt turned up online catalog Inside Avenue. They carry the now ubiquitous silk-flowers-in-faux-water arrangements, home accessories, furniture, fabrics, wallpapers, rugs, and lighting. Pretty much a treasure trove of cool home decor stuff.

Somewhere along the way I lost track of the link. I couldn’t remember the name of the company either. All my attempts to find it again went awry until I remembered what led me there in the first place: faux floral arrangements. That did the trick.

It was fun rolling through the mountain of cool stuff available at there, though there is so much that at times looking through everything takes the patience of Job (especially since their categories aren’t subcategorized in any way). But, like many a brick and mortar store, sometimes half the fun is “unearthing” something amazing… if you’re just willing to go beyond a cursory glance.

Above are a few of my favorite items from my last surf. At the top of the list is the beautiful brass and marble lamp that reminds me of a miniature version of the Arco Lamp (@DWR).

Above:
Brass and marble desk lamp
White Tulips silk flower arrangement
Silver round side table
Raffles Chandelier by Currey & Co.
All – Inside Avenue

Cool Crochet. 08/08/10.

I’ve been browsing Anthropologie for the last little while looking for a mirror that was featured in one of my old magazines. Found the mirror.

Then I found this beautiful, crocheted, gold and silverd plated cuff.

Now THAT is cool crochet.