R&R Design Vintage Game Collection

As you well know by now I love shopping at second hand stores, yard sales, thrift stores and anywhere there's a good bargain. I started finding and collecting fun old games from when I was kid and realized what fun jewelry the old game pieces would make. I now have a popular collection of jewelry made of vintage game pieces including monopoly, jacks, scrabble tile, dominoes, checkers, and poker chips. A select number of these pieces are available online at R&R Design and at my consignment locations including Atown and Sanctuary; all of them can be found in person at upcoming shows.

Because I don't want to be wasteful I'm also working on new ideas to do with all the game boards, cards and extra pieces I don't use to make jewelry. Some ideas include: sketch books and coasters made from the game boards and boxes, party packs with streamers and cupcake toppers, and wall art.

Thrify Thursday: Vintage Luggage

I LOVE vintage luggage! I have at least eight pieces in my current collection and I always have my eye open for more. I use them in my shop for displays, I use them to store quilts, supplies, and more all over my home. This fun set came to me as a gift all the way from Idaho and like most thrifty finds they were a little dirty and in need of some loving care.


I usually try and keep the integrity of the original piece in tack but in the case of the small travel case I thought it necessary to replace the lining. I would normally replace it with a vintage fabric in a fun pattern but I decided I'd try a little mod podge with old maps. After I removed the old lining and cleaned up the piece I simply tore out familiar sections from different maps of the northwest (seemed suitable since the luggage came from my home in Idaho) and layered them with glue along the bottom and sides of the interior. After everything dried I went back and put a layer of mod podge over all the maps for a nice finish.


I can't be more pleased with how it turned out! I enjoyed the look of the old maps so much that I took one of the larger pieces of luggage that had the silk coming apart in the lid and replaced it with a map collage as well. I now use the matching set as displays for my products at markets and shows.


Thrifty Tip: I have never paid more than $12 for a piece of vintage luggage including my HUGE leather Samsonite that's in great condition. You can find lots of beautiful pieces in antique stores on a regular basis but I recommend sticking to second hand stores and flea markets. It may take a little longer to find what your looking for but its way more fun and gratifying when you find that perfect piece for under $20.

Thrifty Thursday

As you know I went thrift shopping in Wimberly, TX on Tuesday. Well here are a few things that I found...

My first find was a huge piece of Samsonite luggage for $10! A little dirty on the outside but the inside is in great shape. I use my vintage luggage to store my fabrics and quilts in because they lay nice and flat.

A piece of antique glass turned lavender from sun exposure for $0.50. This one was a steal! I'm not very good at dating antique bottles, I just enjoy them, but according to the tips in my Martha Stewart bottle collecting articles this is a hand blown piece (no seams, the lines you see are actually hairline cracks) from the early 1800's. I just thought it was pretty and our bedroom is purple, teal and chocolate so it looks great on the window seal with my other finds!

This is a ceiling light I got for $1.50. Not sure if it works yet or not but I know how to re-wire lights so for $1.50 I couldn't pass this one up, its almost brand new! We are going to hang it in our dinning room to replace the hideous gold and cheap plastic one.

I also found four old hymn books for $0.50 a piece, filled with beautiful pages of music notes. I intend to make jewelry, paper garland and note cards (among other things) out of the pages. I always feel bad buying books I know I am going to cut up but I only buy the ones that are falling apart and leave the nicer ones for everyone else. These may look nice in the photo but they are literally in pieces. :)

I also came home with a huge bag of wine corks, some men's silk ties to make a clutch purse, another silver tray for $1, a glass spice jar for $.25 (I use them to store beads), and a handmade cotton scarf and soap from a local shop. Minus the scarf and soap all my thrifty finds were under $20 combined. It was a good day!

My Thrify Trip to Wimberly, TX

I loved Wimberly, Texas! I have driven through there before but didn't have the opportunity to stop anywhere. So yesterday me and one of my girlfriends went on a thrift store shopping spree through "the quarter" downtown. We stopped at three great thrift stores and a few little shops. Prices were great and although the selection was limited we walked away with some great finds. I guess we picked the wrong day to visit because most of the shops were closed, including two very cool antique stores; Star Antiques and By the Bridge Antiques. But that didn't stop us from taking a peak around at all the great stuff they had displayed outside!

We hope to make another trip soon since there is a lot we didn't get to see. On the way home we stopped at the Kyle Library Thrift Store and to our surprise everything in the store was 50% off. I made off with a great ceiling light for $1.50, an antique purple jar for $0.50 and a few other great deals I'll share with you tomorrow. I hope to make visiting a new small town in Texas a frequent event!

To see more fun pictures from my trip visit my Flickr by clicking HERE.

Apartment Therapy Showcase

I was catching up with one of my favorite blogs, Apartment Therapy, when I came across this girly, colorful, flea market filled house. I just love it! As a designer I like many different styles and therefore have a very eclectic taste. Also, I'm definitely not scared of color. The problem is I feel like I can never get my own house put together as beautifully as they have done here. I am constantly wanting to change things as I find new ideas or exciting flea market finds. I guess I need to take my own advise and pull image(s) out of my favorite magazine, stick them on the wall and use them for inspiration in completing a finished space. One at a time if I have to. First, I need to finish my office space.

As for this space, I'm in love with the tall fabric headboards (very easy to make), the bright colors and the mixed use of pattern. You can see more images, Alicia's interview and resources HERE. Also while you are there check out Mike & Maddie's Sweet Nothings.

THRIFTY THURSDAY: VINTAGE TINS

As Martha Stewart would say, “It’s a good thing”. Vintage tins and trays are a very good thing for office storage, or any kind of storage for that matter. They are colorful, fun and easy to find at any yard sale, thrift store or second hand shop. You can store just about anything in a tin container and tin trays can be hung on the wall as decoration or used as a message board with magnets. I have a couple newer Swedish cookie tins, English tea tins and some old trays that I use in my office. I love the bright colors and details.










Thrifty Tip: Do your research. If you are looking for something specific like vintage English or Swedish tins get online and do your research ahead of time so you know what to expect for price. Also, know what the signatures and symbols are for originals verses replicas. For example, Daher English tea and biscuit tins are stamped on the bottom with the company name and ‘made in England’. That way if you come across a great vintage tin at a yard sale for cheap you’ll know it’s a steal!

THURSDAYS THRIFY FIND

The little beauty on the left is my thrifty find of the week. I picked it up at Goodwill for $3 and when I find a a way to make an equally thrifty base I'm going to fill it with mini terracotta pots, terrarium plants, and moss.

Terrariums can be made from just about anything....even light bulbs! The image on the right is a terrarium made out of picture frames from Country Living. I thought it was a fun project for this week since we've been talking about spring and spring colors; and there's no better color to add to a room then some greenery!

You can find the step-by-step instructions for this project below...


Picture Frame Terrarium
Supplies & Tools:
* Picture frames: four 5" x 7", two 8" x 10", and two 11" x 14"
* Drill with a 3/32" bit
* Fine weight sandpaper
* Plywood or plexi glass scraps and a means to cut into triangles
* #6 x ½" wood screws
* Four 2" mending plates
* Two corner brackets
* Two 1” utility hinges
* Paint & brush

Step 1: Remove the backs and glass from eight frames (four 5" x 7", two 8" x 10", and two 11" x 14"). Lightly sand each frame's surface.
Note: You can find used picture frames at any thrift store, yard sale or second hand store for not a lot of money. Since you need specific sizes for this project you may have to shop around a little bit. Make sure they are solid wood with a simple narrow frame. Don’t worry if they match because you’re going to paint them later.

Step 2: Align an 11" x 14" with an 8" x 10" frame as shown. Drill one hole near the top and one near the bottom, through the larger frame and halfway into the smaller; screw together. (The screws you use should correspond with your drill bit. We suggest a 3/32" bit and #6 x ½" wood screws.) Repeat with other 11" x 14" and 8" x 10" frames.

Step 3: Arrange the two L's you've created as shown. Attach them to each other using the same method described in Step 2 to form the terrarium's base.

Step 4: Place two 5" x 7" frames facedown. Align a 2" mending plate at each end of the frames, as shown. Drill pilot holes and secure with screws. Repeat with the two remaining frames.

Step 5: Align the two sets of 5" x 7" frames as shown. Attach a corner bracket inside each end of the eave, using the method described in Step 4.

Step 6: Line the resulting roof up with the base, as shown. Place two 1" utility hinges, spaced evenly apart, over the joint where the pieces meet. Drill holes and screw together.

Step 7: Trace the inside of an eave on paper. Cut out, and trace the resulting triangle onto a piece of ½"-thick plywood. Repeat; then cut the wood.

Step 8: Fit the cut wood into each end of the roof. Attach by pre-drilling holes from the outside of the roof into the triangles and securing with screws.

Step 9: Wearing gloves for safety, smooth wood filler over the terrarium's exterior, filling in the joints and covering the screw holes. Let dry for several hours; then lightly sand.

Step 10: Paint the piece white (or turquoise, or red, or any color you choose!). For a distressed finish, apply a dark furniture polish over the paint after it dries. Let sit for a few minutes; then buff off.

Step 11: Replace the glass from the bottom up. Place hot glue in the corners of each frame, pop the pane in, and run glue around each frame's inside edge.

Place in the terrarium your favorite plants and enjoy! For a list of terrarium appropriate plants suitable for low, moderate or bright light visit The Garden Helper.

BOOK REVIEW

Since it is Thrifty Thursday I wanted to present this great book, or I should say series of books, on how to find the best junk for decorating your home. The “Junk Market Girls” give great tips on repurposing or restyling thrifty finds as well as step-by-step project ideas. Their books illustrate various junk market decorating styles including urban industrial, country, cottage, retro and traditional. They showcase various projects with owner’s wishlists then illustrate with beautiful pictures the “Sweat Details” on how they accomplished the look and feel of the space. They present even more project details with their witty side topics including “Junkfo”, “Junkers JuJu” and “Style Tweak”. Although I own both decorating books I am particularly fond of this book for its project how-to’s on making a birdcage lamp, iron gate coffee table, corbel frame holder, and tiny tot storage out of potato crates and iron brackets. You can typically find this book used for under $10, it’s a great buy!

Book Description:
Decorating JunkMarket Style
By Ki Nassauer and Sue Whitney
Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: JunkMarket Girls (March 8, 2005)
Price: under $10 used -$20 new

Other books by Author:
Junk Beautiful: Room by Room Makeovers with Junkmarket Style
Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: Taunton Press; illustrated edition edition (March 25, 2008)
Price: $8 used -$15 new

Junk Beautiful Outdoor Edition
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Taunton Press; illustrated edition edition (March 1, 2009)
Price: $14 used -$15 new

Other great books worth taking a look at:

Flea Market Style
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small; Later Printing edition (September 15, 2005)
Price: $15.50 used -$18.50 new

Recycled Home
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small (February 2009)
Price: $16 used -$19 new

Thrift: How to Have a Stylish Home without Breaking the Bank
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Key Porter Books (April 27, 2007)
Price: $6.50 used -$13.50 new

THURSDAY'S THRIFTY FINDS

I'm seeing RED...and WHITE! Oh, that's just my kitchen. These are a few thrifty finds I picked up at various antique and thrift stores for my kitchen. Each piece was under $20!





TIPS FOR THRIFT SHOPPING: Start by picking out a color pallet and/or a general feel you want to accomplish in your space. Search through books or magazines and find images of spaces your fond of. Make a list of items you would like to find and start looking. Remember to keep and open mind because the best finds may not always appear to you right away.