Fridays Finest Finds

Once again my weekly favorite Craigslist finds in the DC Metropolitan area...

Striped Camel Back Sofa $150 (i like the stripes and great starter sofa)

Round Coffee Table $45 (there is something about this table that I just love, reminds me of the inside of a seashell and i think it would be lovely in almost any space)

Velvet Wood/Caning Chairs $60/pair (upholstery for sure, looks like it  needs some filling too)

Check out the 2 similar chairs to the ones above in the following image...

And here's a similar fabric from an online discount fabric store, Premier Prints...

Asian Inspired Lamp $25 (ok this girl is a real beaut...i adore her and she would be mine, but my lamp collection is overflowing, so much so that i had to give my friend a few lamps)

She reminds me of this handsome couple from Pieces, but her price tag is infinitely lower, this couple costs $2480...

And here is the owner of Pieces stunning bedroom with the gorgeous lamps...

Faux Bamboo Hollywood Regency Chair $75 (this is screaming pagoda red paint with black and white trellis fabric...great little side chair for a small living room)

Mid-century Teak Lamp $10 (no paint required for this extremely inexpensive bad boy...it's lovely and would look hot in a dude's den)

Chic Gold Mirror $60 (i have posted this beauty before and I am shocked to see it still around with a hugely reduced asking price)

Barcelona Style Coffee Table $50 (sleek, sexy and great price)

Angela Adams 'Betty' Rug $1650  (pricey...i know, but this is a stunning wool rug)

Brand New Zebra Print Bench $150 (lovely piece and zebra is still hot)

Below are some gorgeous inspirational images for the above bench and they were all scouted on Lonny (if you have never been to their site...it's a must for inspiration, just click on Lonny to see it)...

Twin Headboards $60/pair (at this price, how could we resist...and yes i know i know..i'm thinking color..what color would you choose? comment below with just a color)

King Green Velvet Headboard $150

French Provincial Sofa $225 (this is a stunning sofa and if i didn't already have a basement loaded with CL finds that i plan to redo, then this baby would be mine..hahahahaha mine i tell you!...thanks monkey for finding it)

The sofa above reminds me the red sofa I saw on The Way We Are blog (an awesome blog you have to check out...love her green dresser!!), although I do love it in red, I think I would keep the above sofa in blue, so no need for paint or reupholstery...

Yellow Dresser $120 free local delivery (free delivery, already painted, looks fantastic, hmmm...if you like painted pieces, but don't have the time, then this is for you)...

The following image can be used as inspiration for the above yellow dresser, see how lovely yellow looks with a pale grey backround...

Dresser $75 (ummm, paint anyone?)

I mentioned The Way We Are blog above and this is the awesome green dresser that you could use as inspiration for the above dresser..

Hope you all enjoyed and I would love to hear what color you all would choose for the Queen Anne twin headboards way above????

Giveaway Winner and Holiday Cards

Congratulations Lisa in North Carolina!!!! She is the winner of my handmade pottery giveaway. I contacted her last night and this is what she said:


"I'm so excited to win such a beautiful prize! Thank you so much for providing this giveaway."

She won the blue seashell bowl, which I might add is my favorite too:

 

Thanks again to all of the lovely compliments of my pottery! I love to share my pieces with family and friends, so it is wonderful to extend it to all of you!! Thanks!!!!

Holiday Cards: 

My mother has been making cards, books and memory albums for years. Everything she creates is so gorgeous and personal. So I wanted to share the holiday cards she made this year...

A note from my mom:

I have always loved paper.   I like the way it feels in my hand and the sound it makes when I cut it with scissors.  My spinster Aunt Ruth, who was a first grade teacher for over forty years, taught me how to cut up old magazines to make collages and how to make my own paper dolls.  Because I love to create, but can’t even draw a straight line, I find using stamps, stencils, and paints allows me to make greeting cards, books, collages, and to re-purpose found objects.  Another thing I love to do is create memory albums for my grandchildren by chronicling their activities/accomplishments  during  a year and presenting them an album on their birthdays.   The cards shown here were simply made using the wonderful array of paper now available and basic art supplies that I just mentioned.  Some of the decorations on the cards were made during classes at two wonderful stores in Northern Virginia, Angela’s Happy Stamper, and Scrapbooks Plus.  The other embellishments are from my imagination and from my endless supply of scrap paper and ephemera.

Me:

Every year my son and I look forward to his memory album on his birthday. He keeps them on his dresser and we quite frequently flip through them for a stroll down memory lane. And I also look forward to our special holiday card every year...it is always something unique and makes me feel so special that my mom is taking the time to make a personalized card for us. I love you mom!!!  

What to Wear Wednesdays: Holiday Helpers

For the past 4 years I have been involved in my son's school program called Holiday Helpers. For the 1st 2 years we would ask for donations gently used or new for families in need in his school. Then we would have a wrapping party to wrap all that we received. After 2 years of seeing 'stuff' that was unfortunately not needed by these families, I decided to say something. Now we only collect money and gift cards. We divide the money/gift cards evenly among the family members, then we have our crew of Holiday Helper Shoppers to buy exactly what each family member needs. And since I don't have a girl I beg the coordinators, Carson and Jackie, to let me shop for a girl and they happily comply.

So yesterday with my envelope filled with $155 cash in hand, I went to the mall to get new clothes. My girl is 10 years old and this is what I got for her...

Can you believe I got all of that for $155.75!!!????!!! I hope she likes all that I picked out! Doing this every year brings me so much joy...now time for wrapping!

Tips for Navigating Craigslist

After a disappointing morning in an attempt to get a Craigslist find yesterday, I thought it would be a good idea to share my story and give some helpful hints that I have learned along the way. I traveled an hour to get what I believed was the perfect entry table for my home. When I finally arrived and saw the item, it was not the correct size and was extremely wobbly. The owner was not there and I had to negotiate with the room mate. Since I was already there, I offered way below what she was asking. The room mate called the owner and the owner said no, so I left. I understand you always have to see a piece in person, but if she had been upfront with me and said the demilune table was wobbly and given the correct size, then I would have saved my time.

So here is my updated checklist:

1. Ask as many questions as you can think of before picking it up, especially if they are not close by. Examples:

• Is this item sturdy? 
• Does it come from a smoke-free and if you have allergies pet-free home? 
• How old is it and does it need any repair? 
• Has it been in storage for a long time? 
• Are there any defects?
• If it is an upholstered item and you don't want to re-upholster, then ask...Could you send me a close-up of the fabric?
• I ask this every time...Has it been sprayed with a stain repellent? (but that may not be important to you)
• Ask if they could send the exact dimensions?  

2. If they are far, then it never hurts to ask if they can meet you half way.

3. Don't have some one else pick up the item before you have a chance to see it. My father picked up a chair for me and it was not at all what I was expecting, so it is best to see it for yourself. 

4. It never hurts to ask if the seller will accept less for the item. I am on a tight budget and most sellers are understanding because they just want to get rid of the item to free up their home. But, remember to ask politely and state your case. 

5. Don't feel obligated to buy it if you are in front of the seller. My friend ended up with a kitchen table and 4 chairs that she has never liked.

6. If you are not handy, nor have the time and the item needs a lot of work, then don't get it and think some day you will get to it. 

7. Be positive and be friendly!!!! I always approach my inquiries with  kindness. I was selling a really expensive door (it came with my home) a year ago and the woman that was inquiring about it was so rude and abrupt that I was uncomfortable having her come to my home, so she missed out on a deal and I ended up giving it away to my super friendly contractor.

But alas all's well that ends well!! At the end of the day I did get an incredible deal on CL and with the help of a good friend and my son (he provided entertainment in the way of holiday Carols). With lots of laughs on the way I got these beauties (which my friend who reads my blog asked me right away..."so what color are you going to paint them?"...heehee)...

Image from the CL posting

        

Image from the CL posting

And the color is going to be...

image via: roomservicestore online

White!!!!

It is going in my family room to store my sons mountain of Lego's and the room is already painted fun sunshine yellow...don't worry I will show the before and after asap!!

I have been navigating Craigslist for many years and have gotten many lovely items from it and plan to get many more. Hope my tips have been helpful and good luck!

A Holiday Pianist and Design

My son recently started piano lessons and loves it! After 3 classes he learned 2 holiday tunes and wanted to share...

My husband bought the keyboard on (you guessed it) Craigslist! Now that it is apparent music will be apart of my sons life, I am interested in getting a piano and of course it will be used. That means I will have to fit it into my decor, so I canvassed the net for pianos in interiors. This is just a handful of images I found...

Scripps Howard

Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac Home 

Traditional Home

Rothswchild Sargeant

Robert Hadley

Jeffrey P. Elliot

Martin Lawrence Bullard

All of these designs are gorgeous! But alas I don't have the space yet even for a stand up piano. When I do the addition on my home eventually (yes I know not the greenest, but as my parents age they look to me to step into their hosting shoes and I have a large family), I will add a piano and probably a stand up because my addition will not be huge and I am thinking paint...

source unknown

source unknown

So my plan is do an addition, keep my son in piano lessons (thanks goodness he loves it), purchase a second hand stand up piano and paint it a fun color! I can't help it, but I love color and lots of it!!!

P.S. My giveaway is still going on, if you wish to win a piece of my hand built pottery, then go here.