Pin This: Doable Design

via country living

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Hi gang.  If you haven't jumped on the pinterest bandwagon yet, might I suggest that you do. It's a seriously fun way to find all sorts of things across the web, and organize them as you see fit on your very own 'internet bulletin boards' so to speak. It's hard not to love it. I mean really love it. If you're already on Pinterest, than you know I speak the truth. 

It's also one more way for us to connect with each other and get the most out of this social media thing. Social media is all about connecting after all. Even on this world wide web, it all comes down to people connecting with each other. Funny how that works.

Back to Pinterest.  I have boards with titles like 'craft it' for things I might want to try making, 'food glorious food' for things I want to cook, 'say what?' for quotes that are worth remembering, and today's topic, 'do-able design', among others.  Narrow it down even further. I'm going to share with you some upcycled do-able design I've found via Pinterest.  I am so inspired by the projects people come up with that turns one thing, into something even more fabulous.

It makes me hit my forehed with my hand and proclaim, 'Why didn't I think of that?'

Just check this stuff out. Go ahead, guess what that gorgeous chandelier is made out of? Go on. I'll wait (seconds pass while she taps her foot). Give up? Sunglasses. Just like the lamp next to it. Can you stand it? Talk about fabulous. It catches the light just beautifully.

1. door shelving with light via bulb to blossom ; 2. pallet shelving via domesticdoozie 

(Here's two for ya! check out the price tags)

3. pallet chair 10,000 kr or $1,500 via gen by design 

& 4. scrub brush pencil holder $65!!!! (really? I want to find everyone who has bought that because I have a bridge to sell them) via anthropologie

5. shutter organizer ($2.....more my style) via life as a thrifter

6. pallet sign (love that quote) via blooming homestead

7. mini paint chip organizing pockets & tumbler cloches via country living

8. drink station (though I would think you could use this for storing things in a fun way too, and even go bigger on the cabinet) via country living

9. lighting with glasses via the optical visionite  

So many awesome ideas...how will I ever find the time to try them all?

Are you on Pinterest? If you are I'd love it if you shared one of your recent pins, and also if you connected with me there. There is a little button with a 'P' in my sidebar (under my profile) that will bring you to my Pinterest page. And, if you like this post or any others on the Muse, you can pin them easily via the little Pinterest button directly under each post.

Have you repurposed anything lately? Was it a hard project or an easy one? I have a stack of shoe boxes behind me that are just itching to reinvented.  Hmmm, what to do....what to do......

Safe Pallets

Since a few of these projects are made from pallets, I want you to know that not all pallets are safe to use as they have been treated with various chemicals. This article I found via Domestic Doozie, gives you some good guidelines to go by. 

NEWS FLASH

There is less than one week to enter the September giveaway for more than $180 in handmade and vintage prizes. Don't miss your chance to win. That would be a bummer.

Ouch

You know that thrift score I told you about? You know...this one.  Yup, the behemoth of a blanket chest that currently sits in the middle of my kitchen for lack of a better place? Remind me not to turn all the lights out before I head to the bed. It might be big, but it is invisible in the dark. My toe can attest to that fact.

Ciao for now,

Thrift Score Sunday



The Big Thing

I was off and about for a little bit yesterday. Wanted to check out my usual thrift spots....Salvation Army and Goodwill. Well, I never made it to Goodwill because Salvation Army had me at hello.  I'll start with the best score first.

I was really looking for some small pieces of furniture I could repaint for our upcoming craft fair. However, the universe had something else in mind. I scoped the furniture section out back and wasn't really finding anything so I headed up front, where there are usually have a few other pieces to catch peoples attention. It worked. Everyone else was walking past this, but I knew better.

Hello gorgeous.

I sat right down on the couch next to it and started researching it on my smart phone. Yay for smart phones.  This was no antique 'toy chest' as Sally had it marked. I knew it was a hope chest of sorts, what they called a dower or blanket chest and the smart phone confirmed. 

I knew it was old from the dovetailed construction and the forged hardware along with the hand-carved areas that the hardware was set into. If I had to hazard a guess I'd say it was made in the early 1800's. I reserve the right to be wrong though, but all clues seem to be leading to that time period.

It's got beautiful handpainting on it, and I thought perhaps Pennsylvania Dutch. I haven't confirmed anything yet. I've found one European blanket chest and one American online, that are the closest to this design.  From what I gather, these handpainted pieces are becoming harder and harder to come by as they are sought out by collectors and museums.  It really is a fine example of folk art.

It has some minor damage, to be expected with something of this age, but all it in all it's in pretty great condition.  It's really a wonderful piece.  Needless to say, the painting is very beautiful. Vases of flowers on the top, more flower panels on the front and then wreaths of leaves on the side.

Inside is what they call a 'till box', which held smaller items. The till box even has a second hidden compartment. I was of course hoping to find at least a little letter or note, but no such luck. 

We found a pencilled inscription in cursive that we simply can't make out. We think it may not be in English. There seems to be a name...perhaps Angelina, or Angelic and the number 16 among other words.

Suffice it to say, this chest is huge at almost 4 feet long, 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. This baby could surely fit a lot of blankets.

This score alone made me pretty darn happy. Gar, perhaps not, but he humored me and drove up with the truck to bring it home. What really makes me happy is that we were able to save this historic beauty from an unknown and perhaps toy filled, coffee table fate.  It deserves much better.

It now sits in the middle of the kitchen for the moment. I'm hoping it fits through the bedroom door so it can stay in there until we do more research to figure out pricing. I did say it was big, right?

If you happen to know anything about these dower/blanket chests, I'd be so happy if you shared.  Feel free to contact me if you're interested in this piece.

The Little Things

This is what I had in my basket before I laid my eyes on the blanket chest.

Four little ironstone 'bone dishes'. These were used as a recepticle for bones when dining. Good idea, huh?

Three vintage atlas jars, one with the rubber still intact.

Sweet needlpoint of a little church and blooming tree and flowers.

A lovely sampler of the Lord's Prayer which is professional framed and sealed.

Not a bad haul.

We did enjoy a campfire last night and it was one gorgeous night.  Today the sun is shining and the sky is blue. Gar is off on errands and I'm trying to get some things done at my desk. 

Hope you're having a great weekend,