It’s here! One of my favorite events…
Today is the kick off for a week of amazing thrift store transformations. A bunch of thrift lovers got together (thanks to Charlotte at Ciburbanity), exchanged addresses and mailed each totally rando items to reinvent and re-imagine. I got my goods from Karen at Dogs Don’t Eat Pizza. She actually lives within driving distance, so I think I got some bonus items since she saved some money on shipping. That’s cool with me ’cause I’ve already gotten two projects out of it and still have extra stuff for my stash. She sent a welcome candle holder thing, two paper fans, a … doorknob charm(?), some lovely vintage playbills and a little crate.
The fans went directly in my purse. Georgia is hot and I sweat like Matt Foley. I’m hanging on to the playbills for some future crafting adventure and the “you’re amazing” door hanger is gonna find a spot on the wall near my workbench. So that leaves the candle holder and the small crate…
I’ll start with this guy and leave the other one for next week. This one is my fav anyway.
When I pulled this thing out of the box, I pulled it out upside down and backwards and thought it was a flower holder. I said to myself, “Dang, how am I gonna make this flower holder into something else?” But then I turned it over and saw that it was a whole different kind of holder all together. So, boom, that was easy.
Shout out to the hubs for doing the labor on this project since I’ve hurt my arm. He even spray painted. I’m so proud of him.
This is what it looks like face down. Already an improvement.
Hubs flipped it over and pulled out the little crossbar that was supposed to hold a tea light…
… and then sprayed it with satin white spray paint.
Then he mounted it to a stained board using self driving screws and we dropped a small mason jar down in there.
And now its the coolest flower thingy ever.
I’m calling it a bouquet holder because… what is this thing?
I have no idea what these flowers are but they are all over our side yard. Love, love them.
You can’t beat fresh blooms for free. Mother Nature for the win.
Thank you for the goodies, Karen!
I’ll show ya the wooden crate next week. In the meantime, make sure to check out all of the swappy goodness this week! I sent my package to Colleen at 58 Water Street and I can’t wait to see what she made outta the junk I sent her. (Sorry Col)
58 Water Street || I Am a Homemaker || Prim and Propah || Create & Babble || Windgate Lane || Gourley Girl and Guy || Dogs Don’t Eat Pizza
Check out the rest of the swaps below!
TUESDAY
Confetti Style / Blue i Style / Polished Habitat / Two Purple Couches / Run to Radiance
Restoration Redoux / Confessions of a Serial Do-It-Yourselfer / Our Southern Home
WEDNESDAY
Erin Spain / Prodigal Pieces / That’s My Letter / Southern State of Mind / Roadkill Rescue
Always Never Done / Year of Serendipity / Casa Watkins
THURSDAY
Two Thirty-Five Designs / Finding Silver Pennies / Ciburbanity
The House of Wood / Decor Adventures / Bright Green Door
FRIDAY
While They Snooze / The Charming Farmer / Primitive and Proper / A Designer At Home
BrePurposed / Home Made By Carmona / Domicile 37 / Evey’s Creations
dena@heartsandsharts.com
I mean the before version was…. an acquired taste. I kinda want to see the before in action in someone else’s house. That would be an experience. The after is SO cool though?! LIke something you would totally SEE and BUY at a store! Not just a makeover, but a legit-ly cool thing. LOVE. Can’t wait to see your other makeover also! xx
Thank you, Char!!! Thank you for putting this together, a blast as usual!
Wow Dena what a clever way to bring the thing-a-magic into a beautiful wall vase.
Hey Trisha!!! Thank you!
Alrighty, let’s start with how much better your end product is. Thank you for that. Country cute just isn’t in my love language, and the only thing missing on the original item for the full “country” effect was a goose with a bonnet on it. (This is a reference you wouldn’t remember at your tender age, but it needed to be said regardless.) Next, by now you already know that your lovely blooms were from an azalea – a staple shrub in the South, much like a magnolia tree and blue hydrangeas. It’s required that at least one of these plants be growing in your yard in order to be accepted into the fold by your Southern neighbors. Ha! I kid. But, seriously, I was once ostracized for not planting at least one of them. Southerners can be a tough crowd!
Thank you, Sarah! As soon as someone told me they were azaleas, I felt so Southern! I DO remember the geese in bonnets!!! I think we had some in our house when I was little, on pillows and on wooden wall things. I JUST planted some climbing hydrangeas so I think I might develop an accent soon. 🙂
Transforming that thing took some big balls, girl. That is so dang impressive. Love your flowers, too- especially against that dark wall! Great work. 🙂
Thank you, boo!
I love it! Very creative as usual! Azaleas are one of the best things about living here in the South, baby! They love our acidic soil and bloom their shrubbiness off for weeks on end every Spring! Just don’t make the mistake of pruning/trimming them much past when they’ve just bloomed or you’ll cut off what would be next year’s flowers.
Oh no. I’ve been haphazardly pruning them to bring them inside! I totally butchered one of them last year and it’s bloomed like crazy this year. Uhm, hopefully I didn’t screw myself out of some flowers for next year! Hubs just planted me some climbing hydrangeas (didn’t even know those existed!) over by the azaleas. Hope they like this Georgia soil, too! Thank you, Katherine!
New to your blog. That is so cool! I would have never thought to make it into a vase. Personally, I prefer it that way.
Thanks, Jess! That’s what I thought it was when I took it out of the box and couldn’t get it out of my head.
Looks really neat. love ya darlee
Thank you, Darlee! Love you!
OH MY GOSH! This is gorgeous!!! Such a great transformation. 🙂
Thank you, Stephanie!
poor one armed dena, good thing you have trained hubs, hope you get better soon and congrats on the mag spread i always knew you were a super star xx
You leave the BEST comments, Chris. Thank you so much!
Dean, That flower vase is great. What a great way to repurpose those items.
Awesome job.
Shelly
Hey thanks, Shelly!!
They’re definitely azaleas! W have them all over the place here in VA. I have no clue what purpose it would’ve served before but it’s so stinkin pretty as a bouquet holder! You genious.
Thank you, Corinna!!!
Genius makeover! And those flowers are gorgeous – I have no idea what they are either, but I’d imagine they smell nice? They look like they should 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you did with the crate!
Thank you, Emily! They actually don’t smell at all, which is pretty disappointing, but they were free. And they’re every where!
Ok seriously too cute and very clever!!!
Thank you so much, Laurie!
What a cool transformation! I love it!
Thank you!!
You consistently have one line in each post that makes me laugh out loud. Matt Foley. OMG. Beautiful job on the actual project too! 🙂
Hhahaha! Thank you, Colleen! I actually wanted to ref a different Farley character but I couldn’t remember his name. “So, maybe I don’t SHOWER VERY OFTEN… and maybe I FART when I WALK.” From the news segments… You know who I’m talking about? Finger quotes…
I know exactly who you’re talking about! Bennett Brauer! “I don’t WIPE PROPERLY or ALLOW MY SCABS TO HEAL” Gawd. He was amazing. Maybe we should bust out the Best Of Chris Farley DVD in August.
Yessssss. Bennett Brauer! I’m totally down for that!
Showering can be so over-rated. I’ve become more and more sensitive to chemicals as I get older. Fuels,, perfumes, even tress and flowers — which I love — can cause some unpleasant side-effects. Drinking tap water makes me physically ill – I can smell and taste the chlorine, and algae in it. Most bottled water has minerals and other chemicals added to improve the flavor — just make it harder for me to drink. Thank goodness I discovered Nestle Pure Life which is not “flavored” or enhanced to the point of toxicity. I but it by the case for drinking. Fortunately cooking with tap water has become easier the farther I get from chemo. Maybe one day I’ll be able to drink tap water again but I’m not counting on it.
I just realized how far of the track I had jumped — showering — to much not good for me. As if the chemicals in the water weren’t bad enough it’s hard to find body wash, shampoo, etc. that are simple enough not to cause some really awful skin eruptions. One guy asked if the cancer had spread to my face. He was also a cancer patient so I wasn’t offended. Cancer free since December 2010 — but learning to live with constantly changing physical and mental issues — such as neuropathy from chemo in hands and feet make simple things a bit more challenging. Then my thyroid threw me under the bus (Hashimoto thyroiditis) — did you know they used to put people in sanitariums because of thyroid issues? I thought I was loosing my mind, then my lovely daughter told me I’ve always been this way. That’s okay she has two little girls just like her — pay back is heading her way. I smile just to think of the double-whammy (we are best friends and she will laugh with me when the time comes). The latest surprise was a diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica -thank my VA Doc for recognizing what it was. I know steroids aren’t a good thing if over done but it’s made all the difference in being able to continue working and enjoying life. Armed with my cane, a panty liner, a few bottles of water, a small arsenal of meds and supplements, a pocket full of tissue, and a bag of dehydrated mango — I can face anything. Showering is optional in my world – once a week sometimes up to three depending on how hot it’s been and whether I’ve actually done anything to break a sweat it’s all relatively simple. If I can smell myself or if the cat that’s been a house guest for about a year starts to avoid me, or my three year-old granddaughter says, “Gramma, I smell something.” I know it’s time.
So I’m learning not to seat the small stuff. Never mind the stress it puts on your system – it makes the next shower that much closer.
Just wanted you to know that there are more people out here who appreciate your unique take on life than most people would believe. My best friend and I would love to meet you in a thrift or craft store someday. We occasionally collect a stranger in our wanderings and make a new friend. Once we were in JoAnn’s talking and laughing about nothing in particular and life in general. A woman in another aisle heard our conversation and asked if she could join us because we sounded like we were having so much fun.
You’d have to have been there… but it was cool that we made one woman’s day brighter by just being real and a bit goofy.
YIKES!!! Just saw the time. Have much to do in the morning so must get off the computer and into bed. This is why Facebook is not my friend.
“Collecting a stranger”, I love that, LaurieAnn! Thank you! So glad you’re cancer free!
Wow, Dena, I’m impressed! I have to admit, I wouldn’t have had the imagination to transform that ugly “thing” into modern wall art! 😉
Hey, thanks, Kimm!
This is SO pretty!! Those look like Azaleas and they are stunning in you new creation! XO
Thank you so much, Christy!!!
Now that’s some creativity! Gorgeous job!
Thank you, Shanna!
Super cute! And a huge improvement! 😀 Can’t wait to see what you do with those playbills – they’re awesome!
Thank you, Brynne! They’re going in the craft-stash for now!
dena, that is fabulous! love it! what a smart and chic idea!
Thanks, Cassie!
I love your pretty bouquet holder – such a cute repurpose!
Thank you so much, Jeanie!
Love it! Such a fun transformation. Are those azaleas maybe? I think we have some in our yard too. Anyway your project turned out great!
I have no idea what they are but they have sprung up every where and I’m loving it. There are flowers in every room! Thank you, Erin!
Very pretty!
Thanks, Bee!
That is awesome!! I love it!! Oh, and I did honestly only spend $10! (It was 40% off day at the thrift store!) Can’t wait to see what you do with the crate, too! I love the bouquet holder.
That’s amazing that you got all that for ten bucks! Thank you, Karen!
Love this!! Super-easy and fun. Pinning!
Thank you, Larissa!!
I absolutely love that! So fun!
Yay! Thank you, Jillian!