Longaberger...The Name Drops Off Your Tongue Like Honey! Well, At Least Mine Anyway!

I have been fascinated by Longaberger baskets for some time now and was able to buy my first one a few years back at a yard sale.  The prices at this sale were pretty outrageous but I did come across a large Market Basket for $10.00.  I reluctantly paid the price simply because I don't pay $10.00 for baskets...ever..  As far as I can see in the catalogs these are in the $90. range retail.  Steep so steep so I felt good about my deal.  Pictured along with the Market Basket is the Pie Basket w/stationary handle and floral liner.  I just got this one for 50 cents (retail around $100... because it had the fabric liner)  And recently purchased the other small baskets for 30 cents a piece at my FAV thrift store.  I guess it takes patience and A LOT of luck to find these wonderful woven delights. OH! I was just scrambling to photo another I forgot I had! The other one featured is a flower basket with red and white striped ticking and plastic liner. I paid $1.00 for it.  I remember I bought this one at a yard sale.  A young married couple was having their first yard sale and the husband told me that it was a wedding gift and that he and his wife didn't like baskets....haha! This "gift" was over $50.00 retail.  Well, one man's junque...
I have always been in total love with baskets even before I was turned on to Longaberger.  I store much much stuff in them in my humble abode.  I was able to purchase a slew of large black simple willow baskets (not Longaberger) at Walmart for a dollar each ...many of those are in my kitchen cupboards soon to be released on to a bakers shelf  case on the west wall.
God Bless you all that have taken the time to read through all of this..also take the time to look for baskets next time you thrift they are soooo useful for many storage uses...
*NOTE: Longaberger may be an expensive purchase to many...they are a big investment but will last a lifetime! If I had a bottomless flow of cash I might purchase much of their products...but one can afford buying when attending yard sales or thrift stores...just keep your eyes OPEN...luv and smiles, Colleen 

 P.S. The way I display my baskets...great idea for storage wouldn't you say?? The two large baskets on the bottom shelves are Estate Sale finds...one has a formica top...very atomic age. The bottom find is a super old picnic basket that I adore. 

Luv Me Some Rummage Sale!

I went to a local catholic church rummage sale last year...Wasn't expecting to get such a deal at a rummage sale..suspecting because it wasn't your average sale.  The church parking lot was scattered with church vendors that were profiting personally so if one wanted to dinker with the price they could! I was very ill still so getting out for some thrifting therapy helped me immensely...I made it across the huge lot to the people who took refuge from the sun under the parking lot overhang. 

The first family I happened upon was selling a variety of children's clothing...not my cup of tea and decided to move on.  I looked under one of their tables and saw some fabric in a huge Costco bag.  I have an illness for textile and decided to check it out.  I pulled the bag out...super heavy load of stuff...pulling each piece out several yards per...I was shocked at the size of my find. Most people over price their items and was expecting the same in this case.  A young girl was over-watching the sale and I asked what her price was for the bag of fabric..she quickly said "$3.00" I just as quickly said "sold!"  I had no idea at the time what I would use the fabric for but in the photo posted above you can see what I used it for!

I needed a fair amount of yardage for sewing curtains across a long window and for another on the north wall.  I have a special place in my heart for the color orange and although these colors are rust and peach they seem to work in my head. The golds and butters along with the cream background tone everything down...or do they?? Haha! I don't think so...it's a very bold print but I haven't tired of it yet!

Continuing Saga of My Lust For Thrift...

I have to start with my bedroom...mainly because that's the only part of the house that I happened to photograph recently. The other day I whirled around on my old leather office chair peering at all that is in my room and realized with the exception of my bedding everything is thrifted.  My love affair with the cheap unique has been ongoing for years. Posting my wall montages for your pleasure...and if you're not into this then I'm going to post the prices too....maybe you'll re-think your thrift aversion. (wink!)

All is thrifted here except for the rose bouquet in which I crafted myself. 

Originally brown frames I painted them all with Linen craft paint.  I loved this idea on the creme wall...a super cheepy idea but lovely just the same.  The more ornate the frame the better, wouldn't you think? I paid 50 cents for the larger and 25 cents for the smaller frames.

Fabric covered canvas frames...Some fabric is vintage all thrifted.  The pocket watch clock was copied from a website...wish I could give them props but I have no idea where I got it! The clock was $1.00 and the chain is a belt for 50 cents.  I loved how this turned out and really the possibilities are endless for this wall idea...

I individually attached little flowers from a lace table runner here...really love the 3 dimensional effect.

Embroidery hoop framed quilt squares are adorb...middle one looks like an over easy egg, i think! The quilt top I used for this was only $1.00...gotta luv it!

Love the fabric I got at a church rummage sale...story to come on this.

I think of all my finds this caramel colored leather office chair designed by Charles Pollock has to be the greatest find.  I was at Goodwill here in Bako and found this with his sister and like a goofball didn't realize it's value.  I don't normally pay $20.00 for office chairs but I really loved the chrome and leather combo so I rolled it to the register to pay....Couldn't believe what a find it was after google shmoogling it... Love of my life was there first thing in the morning to snatch the sister but she was GONE...major snif..

I love using various baskets and vintage luggage as storage...when you live in quarters as close as these EVERYTHING is used for storage and the fact that all is unique to itself is wonderful.  I'm currently collecting thrifted Longeberger baskets...they are slim pickins' but it can be done!

Got the idea to use old wooden slacks hangers for art work...got these watercolors at a church rummage sale....25 cents each...phenomenal deal.  They are TOTALLY 70's... they were signed and dated and don't know if I'll frame them.  I had a friends daughter come in my room recently and she "disliked" all the rust, orange and gold in my room...she was very frank about it too...well, to each his/her own.  I find the colors soothing my self.  And the fact that all was so dang cheap is nice too!

For some reason I loved this painting on a very tacky piece of pressed wood.  It is vintage and the floral and little bird makes my heart flutter.  I love paintings but don't buy them very often.  This one was bought at an estate sale and I didn't want to pay 3 dollars for it...Jim picked it up as I was exiting the gate and offered the lady $1.50 for it, she accepted the offer and he handed it to me in the car...bless his soul.  I'm kind of iffy about asking people to go down on their price...I worry about insulting them...if it's at the end of their sale maybe but not when the gates open first thing!

Recently came across this...take foam core bought at any big home improvement cavern and cut to the size of your bookcase...paint it and press the foam in place..to sort of spruce up and change out the color of your bookcase backing...easily changeable if you're so inclined...such a simply "why didn't I think of that" kind of idea.  I'm all kinds of into making a project NOT permanent but easily transitional into something else...
The lady  that emcees the Biggest Loser was interviewed and she had a similar idea.  She would cover one side of the foam core with a beautiful Christmas paper and switch it out for the Holidays.  Okay...now how much is foam core? Maybe scavenge some large pieces of cardboard from a furniture store maybe a refrigerator box?  This is on my bucket list!
smiles luv...
colleen

Going Green!

Wow...my first post on my NEW blog..things that inspire me.  That will encompass so much! God Bless all who enter here!
I LOVE green (lime in particular) and decided to search out sources that would inspire the reader and well...me too!! These aren't rooms I can afford to create but I appreciate the people who can.  If you can only paint a wall or throw a pillow on your bed or couch ...it can be so pleasant to the eye and goodness to the soul!! And as the Dad on that new designing show on Bravo says: "you can bring charm to any 4 walls!"

Designers have introduced us to COLOR and sometimes people are not willing to come out of their comfort zone! A little here...a little there...my senses LOVE it!!

Amy Butler has come out with a line of rugs...you can purchase them at Walmart (if you can believe that!!) Amy is a wizard with design and COLOR.  I love ANYTHING Amy Butler!!

Another Amy rug...to me, there is nothing more soothing that the combination of green and blue...simply heavenly I tell ya!