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Saturday, September 11, 2010

Seafan Found and Lost

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

I searched high and low
for sea fans
and found them for cheap(ish)
at my fave store in the world
TJ Maxx.

Then, I left them on my table,
in my room
with the door open.

This is now what my sea fans look like:

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Pretty, in my jar
Bitter that they now FIT in said jar.

This is what
3 large, great find
sea fans look like
after your puppy tests out
their chew factor.

Photo (c) b3 home designs

Sigh.
Yes.
A big sigh in sync with
my puppy mutt's big puppy sighs.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Second Hand Christmas in July

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

This July,
I found all sorts of great pieces
for Holiday time that will arrive
not soon enough.

All thrifty, fun finds at that.

I found these super sized ornaments
that I will use for some outdoor decor
off of my back porch
for 17 cents each at a 90% off
Christmas in July sale
at St. Vincent's de Paul

Super sized ornaments | Christmas in July
Salvation Army Find, 8 ornaments at 17 cents each
Photo (c) b3 home designs

This next find
was actually a garage sale
that I almost didn't stop at

I actually kind of felt guilty about this purchase
because the guy seemed like he took a few things
out of his home
to sell
so that he'd have bus fair.

Everything was from his Holiday stash.

I saw this pile of two different kinds
of light up candy canes.

Last year, we were going to make some wooden canes.
Now, we can use these light up ones.

I asked the guy how much
and he told me $2.  I thought he meant for each cane.
I asked "for all of them"
and when he said yes, I was so surprised,
I asked if he meant yes for ALL of them.
And he did.

So about two dozen canes to stake into the ground
and light up.

Awesome.
 $2 Yard Sale Light up Candy Canes
Photo (c) b3 home designs

My last and absolute best find
was this (and the other half).
Aside from yard sales and thrift stores
I also love Freecycle and found on road side.

I don't find much on my road sides.
But I do find much on Freecycle. 
In July, I answered the call for this 9 ft tall
faux tree.
And it was free
and it barely fit in my trunk.

And I can't wait to try to hang it upside down.

Free Roadside 9 ft Faux tree
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Christmas in July was awesome. 
I can't wait for the first snowfall this year.

Okay.
I can.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Thought of the Day

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Carry on as you were.

***  

I knew I was home
when we set foot in this house
and one of the million and one
brochures left in my kitchen drawer
was this one
right on top

Life IS too short to clean your own house
Photo (c) b3 home designs

I really DO need to clean though
so that I can purge and give away more stuff.

i used to collect | Milk Glass

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

if you hit the internets,

then you know that
in the world of "new vintage collectors"
(ie, all of us wannabe vintage collectors
that don't have a CLUE)
milk glass is all the rage.

I get it.


It's (generally) cute
just like my awesome lamp find


$3 milk glass deep lipped lamp
Photo (c) b3 home designs

it is really easy to find
it is a relatively inexpensive collection to start
but it quickly gets pretty pricey
and pretty hard
to sustain

well

maybe that is only "hard"
for those of us not willing
to spend  big
or go on the hunt for
our collections.

I admit it.


I bit the bug
and I went and bought me some milk glass
and because I don't ever just buy 1 of anything
I bought a piece.
or two
or nine


Milk Glass Starter Collection
Photo (c) b3 home designs

not all at once.

it started with a set of three
from the North Bend Senior Thrift Store Sale
Then I picked up a few more pieces
And a piece here
And a piece there

Honestly though?
I'm not really a fan.

I used to collect Milk glass

and I will keep these pieces because I love them
for non milk glass reasons
Thinned out milk glass collection
Photo (c) b3 home designs

I'll also keep the milk glass lamp.

I used to collect milk glass.
Now I don't.

But perhaps you do?
Or you want to?
Or you just love winning stuff?

I'm giving away my milk glass collection in two batches.


One batch will be a follower.
If you scroll over to the right ------------------->
and add yourself to the followers
then leave a comment on this post
telling me that you are a follower
you will be entered into the drawing for that batch.
The second batch is for anyone or their mama
and yes, mama's LOVE these pieces

so call it early Christmas shopping
or even earlier mama's day or Easter shopping
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post

If you are a follower, you can enter both giveaways

just leave separate comments

The giveaway will go on until I hit 50 followers.
I am at 25 last time I checked.

I will announce winners

during the first post after I hit 50 followers
You can check in daily and leave a comment
(on this post) to earn extra entries
for each set of milk glass.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

And if you REALLY want some milk glass

Send your friends here
have them sign up as followers
have them leave a comment that says
"I am now a follower thanks to [insert YOUR name here]"
I will enter the friend and I'll add an extra entry for you.
nice.

just so that you don't have to dump your bff
when she wins the milk glass you really wanted.

let the comments and following begin.


Coming Soon:
Make your own faux milk glass

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

i collect vol. 3: Colorful | Shapely Glass

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 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

I love collecting things.
Primarily because it means spending money.
And preferably, the least of it as possible for most collections.
One of my fave collections lately, is of some shapely and/or colorfull glass.

And it all has to come thrifted.
So even when I see these awesome shapely hourglass hurricanes from West Elm:


I have to practice some serious self restraint.Oy
So here is some of my shapely | colorful glass collection:

6 inch aqua mason jars
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Cloche
Photo (c) b3 home designs

3 inch apple measuring | serving dishes
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Full sized Atlas Mason jars
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Fishing Float glass jar
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Cobalt blue bottle | cobalt blue bubble glass pedestal dish
Photo (c) b3 home designs

flower vases
Photo (c) b3 home designs

quilted glass vases
Photo (c) b3 home designs

italian wine bottles
Photo (c) b3 home designs

vintage spray mister
tall skinny, short and medium squat lipped jars
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Everytime I stop into a thrift store, the first area I hit is the glass wall.
Sometimes I find great stuff among the dishes
Sometimes it is with the vases
But sometimes, you just need to dig for it.

Happy collecting.

This is a pretty easy collection to start and doesn't really require a ton of creativity or patience.
If you have several thrift stores to choose from.
I've only been collecting earnestly for a few weeks.
Just keep your eyes peeled and a bit of cash on hand
My whole collection (including tons of pieces NOT shown)
Has cost about $40 so far. 
All collected a piece (or three) at a time.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Great Plans - A nooky closet

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

Honestly, the walk in closet in my scrap room

is more than enough space
for all the scrapping I do lately
So I am going to take this space

Largest Guest Bedroom walk in closet
Photo (c) b3 home designs

And use these shelves

that I got for 7 drops of blood, 4 tears, a gallon of sweat
and 19 splinters
(aka, free – only if I took them off the wall)
off of Craigslist


Craigslist Shelves
Photo from www.craigslist.org
 
and use some leftover paint
from elsewhere in my home
to coordinate - not matchy matchy
but bring this wall onto the same color spectrum
as the rest of my home

Seriously.
Who DOES THIS to a perfectly good wall?
Scrap room energy suck wall
Photo (c) b3 home designs

With a ton of awesome vintage accessories

and storage
to bring back the artistic creative juices

Crafty space in a clean moment
wishing for some contact
Photo (c) b3 home designs

and finally have some material to update
this blog with.
Wish me luck.

Monday, September 6, 2010

The Pacific Gallery Annual Flea Market

***
 This is a stale post.  Don't you smell the stank?
For fresh ideas and the newest new new stuff 
why don't you head on over to the blog we actually update.

Love to see you there.
Carry on as you were.

***  

If you ever click on those fantastic icons
to the right
in the toolbar,
you might have noticed
in the calendar link
that I went to the Pacific Gallery Annual Flea Market this year

With $50 in my pocket
and my huge camera strapped to my side
I entered the parking lot
of the Pacific Gallery Auction House
and at first, my smiley face did a big old
upside down maneuver.

I was expecting more than this

Pacific Gallery Auction House
Annual Flea Market | Seattle | 2010
Photo (c) b3 home designs

To be fair
it was probably about the hottest day of the summer
and I arrived late in the day
(on purpose, not on CPT)
because I wanted dealers to be hot and bothered
and pissed that no one was venturing out onto
an asphalt baking field
to buy their wares

And it worked. 
That OR
I need to hit Pac Gal auctions 
because these dealers are CHEAP!

I've been to the Antique gallery before
and they had some good gets
but all were just beyond "good deals"
for me.

Not expensive, so if there was a
"have to have" piece for a collection,
I'd go here and look for it.

But for a browse and especially a flea,
I was not optimistic.

This is what I left with after 45 minutes

Pacific Gallery Annual Flea Stash of Goodies
Seattle | Summer | 2010
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Let's get a little closer shall we?

I picked up this awesome piece for $2.
I used to have one of these, 
and I gave it to my mom 
during her African | Tribal collecting days


This was the last piece of the day I picked up.
The dealer was so hot and flustered,
she almost paid me to take it off her hands.
Tried to tell me how broken and busted it was.
Tried to sell it for $7.
I asked her what her best price was.
She said "how about $5?"
I didn't say a word.
She said "Okay...how about $4?"
I kept pulling out arrows and examining them.
She said "Tell you what, give me $2 and don't make me pack it"
I started putting the arrows back in their holder.
Still have not said a word.
Put my hands in my pockets (actually to get her the cash)
and she said
"Can I pay you a dollar to take it?"
This is where I started laughing with her and said I'd give her $2

Say hello to my lovely bow and arrow set
which goes so very perfectly with this basket
on the opposite wall of my Native Americana postcards
in my downstairs powder room

$2 Bow and Arrow Set
Pac Gal Annual Flea | Seattle | Summer 2010
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Then there was this lady.
Who reminded me a little of my grandmother
who had the BEST stash of goods anytime she went and sold at a flea
but I digress.

This lady was VERY hot and bothered and ready to pack
She professed to have only the finest things
and was disappointed this was advertised as a flea
because only people looking for cheap goods at 
cheap prices were out to shop.

I wanted to say "yeah, what's your point?"
when I spied
(with my REAL eye)
a little box
that was stamped up all over
and a little heavy to lift
I picked it up
knowing what would greet me
from a peek under the lid
and saw a $12 price tag on the handle

I almost (almost)
thought to myself that I would pay that.
before considering if I would really pay half that
to walk away with this beauty.

I asked her what her best price was
She was so delirious she started
to tell me about a cartoon
that I was too young to know about
and how that was a collector piece I was holding.
Then she saw the puzzled look on my face
and the ACTUAL box I was holding
and said "oh. that."

How about you give me $8.
I said, "How about $5?"
She said give me $6 and take it.
I gave her six and announced that I had $4 left
to her partner in crime in the next booth 
who was trying mightily to get this big spender
to come on over.

As she packed it up she asked what price she had on it
and lamented that I got it for "hot off" - similar to "half off"
but all the better with the heat.

All is well in office supply land.

$6 (BIG!) Pullman Numberer 
 Pac Gal Annual Flea Market | Seattle | Summer 2010
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Right after I bought the green metal bin (with key) for $5 from a yard saler
who was moving and just getting rid of stuff,
I went next door and bought 
thank you very much Pottery Barn.

But after the Sand Dollar lady, I crossed the aisle and just about fell out.
I saw the sign that said these beauties were $2 - $4 each.
I gathered up these three small ones
and asked how much.

They were all of the $2 variety.
I didn't even haggle with the dude because I wanted them
That. Much.

$6 for 3, 6 in aqua colored mason jars
Pac Gal Annual Flea Market | Seattle | Summer 2010
Photo (c) b3 home designs

And that was JUST BEFORE
I spied the find of a lifetime.
That I would have returned everything for
and dropped all $50 of my dollars on
because finding these has been that elusive for me
and this one.
she cost me all of $8

$8 sturdy/heavy model sailboat
Pac Gal Annual Flea | Seattle | Summer 2010
Photo (c) b3 home designs

Absolutely.
I will be back next year.
And this year
I will probably even try
attending an auction
or two.
Love me a good flea market.
Wish I was back in El Paso for flea markets there.