Recycling Home Décor Items

 Before I get started on my post today I just wanted to remind everyone of the $50 Wal Mart card give away I'm having go here to enter. This giveaway has ended.


Okay, now that's taken care of I have a couple of small make overs to share with you today.  As I was preparing my pictures for the blog today I was thinking how easy it is to just get rid of items like these because well-- they are just ugly, and old, and don’t match most peoples décor today.

A lot of people would just throw them out, sell them in a yard sale, or give them to a charitable group. I say look at them again. Yes, I know they are still not working for you but just try to imagine them with a little paint and powder (you girls know what a difference a little of that can do) and get out your brush and paint and get to work.  For instance, I picked these two items up in Arkansas at a flea market and boy was that a lot of ugly gold paint!

                           







Now some of you may like the gold paint look and if so I apologize in advance but I think they are really ugly and just plain. Of course from first seeing them I also knew they could be and deserved to be better. So at my first opportunity I got out my chalk paint and transformed them to this.











The vase is plaster and I painted it black and when it was dry I then dried brushed it with old white.  I highlighted the grapes with gold, I didn’t say I didn’t like gold just that much of it, and the leaves with “Versailles” a pale green which brought out the beautiful details.




I love the twisted vine look of the handle.



Now for the lyre magazine holder. I think in a former post I said it was plaster but it’s made of wrought iron.  I also painted it black then dried brushed several layers of “Old White” chalk paint on it to give it an old plastered look that I like much better don’t you?





So before you throw that old décor item out look at it again maybe it just needs updating.  Put your brand on it and make it unique.

Thanks for dropping by ya’ll.





P. S. I just love this little porcelain girl all ready to go to the ball. She’s one of my favorite pieces and is usually in my bedroom. I think I paid $2 for her.  She just makes me smile.  Do you have something similar that you keep around just because every time you see it you smile?





I'm sharing with the following lovely parties.

Free Graphic Wednesday #03

Well, I’ve picked out three more graphics that I hope you will find useful in a few of your crafty projects. 

As you can see I am trying to share a few of my vintage images with you every Wednesday hope you enjoy them and feel free to tell your friends.

Oh yes, if you haven’t entered the $50 Wal Mart gift card giveaway yet go here to place your entry.  Your odds of winning are really good right now.

Here are the blah-blah-blah rules for using these images.

• The following images are free and for personal use only they are not for re-sale.
  
• International viewers please check the copyright laws for your country.
  
• I do research the images to check if they are copyright free to the best of my ability before I share them with you, and because I am providing the graphics for free I am not legally responsible if you use these images and are sued for copyright infringement. It is totally your choice to use or not use the images.

Lovely rose

Pilgrim couple

Christmas Greetings

Mistletoe Bell

Please let me know if you would like me to continue providing copies of my images as I am trying to discern what type of information ya'll  would enjoy reading besides my usual furniture post. Enjoy.

Eye Candy From A “Rare Bird”

As you know from my previous post my husband and I recently took a trip through Arkansas enjoying the beautiful scenery and stopping at every flea market, antique, and resale shop we saw. What fun we had!

Saturday we spent the night just north of Little Rock on Hwy. 65. We planned to get up Sunday morning and start up Hwy. 65 because it is famous for all the flea markets and antique shops lining the way almost to Missouri.

Sunday morning we set out about 8:30 just to realize none of the shops opened until 10:00. LOL
No worries though there were plenty of garage sales going on to keep us busy for awhile. At about ten we pulled back up to Hwy 65 after chasing down another yard sale and while waiting to enter the highway I looked across the road and almost yelled at William  “No, not right! Left! Left!”I had seen a gentleman opening an antique shop across the way and I could tell this was going to be a great shop from just what I could see outside!

The name on the sign was “Rara Avis” The Rare Bird. 



This is what greeted us as we pulled in along with one of the owners Tom Jones. He told me that The Rare Bird was a family business. He repaired damaged furniture and made unique items from salvage while his son Eric, daughter Lisa, and wife Carmelita did all the painting and helped run the business.




We wandered around outside as Tom opened everything up and prepared for business. My mouth was watering at all the lovely painted furniture out front and on the carport I couldn’t wait to get inside.




Just look at all the stacks of lovely painted chairs and beds.  You can’t see half of it in this picture!

On the carport were more goodies.





Like this old door with chicken wire I could just see it in an office for notes, mail, etc…or in a child’s room with all their art hanging on it. Hey, look at that blue and white  cabinet hiding back there. Also, a matching green cupboard or pie safe also with chicken wire! Love it!





I love this pale green don’t you? Check out the matching shutters.
Across from this was a lovely distressed table and chairs. Great for a dining room or eat in kitchen.




And folks we’re still outside! Let’s go in. Want to?








The Rare Bird is situated in what was a former brick home right on Hwy. 65 North across from Jakes Fireworks between Conway and Pickles Gap, Arkansas. Yes, that’s really the name of the town Pickles Gap.
This buffet, at the time, was what greeted you when you entered the front door. Now I’ll just let you enjoy the eye candy as I take you through the shop.








Love this vintage, blue, water fall dresser.




Sigh. I know, I know I’m suppose to be quiet while you enjoy I just can’t help it.



















You’re drooling aren’t you I felt something wet!




Eric Jones is well known artist in the area mostly for his “chard” art he has these examples in front of the shop.




Notice the art panels with the art made with chards of pottery, glass, etc…thus it is called Chard Art.  Eric provided these panels to Chris Olsen, a well known landscaper and gardener,  and helped him win the area gardening/landscaping award. Sorry I did not catch the name of the competition.

Eric has also been on KTHB, Channel 11 Little Rock, not just exhibiting his art but demonstrating how he achieves it. He also has some lovely painted art work to sell.

If you are ever headed up Hwy. 65 in Arkansas be sure to stop in and visit with the Jones family you won’t meet any nicer people and not only will you find gorgeous antiques and vintage painted pieces, but artwork, pottery, recycled pieces, vintage home décor items, and much more.

Can’t wait? Check out their Facebook page here. Tom will be glad to answer any questions you might have or he’ll be glad to just visit. You can e-mail him at tomjones6630@yahoo.com

Well I hope you enjoyed the tour. As soon as I saw this shop I knew I had to share it with ya’ll. ‘Til next time happy painting.



P. S. I was not compensated in any way to share this business with you. Everything I have written is strictly my own opinion and not influenced by anyone else.