Fridays Finest Finds in Raleigh

Once again my Fridays Finest Finds are over at my newly created blog The Queen of Craigslist. Go ahead and click on the link to see what goodies the Queen has uncovered in Raleigh, NC. The first item is fit for royalty...British Royalty that is and perfect timing for a certain royal wedding! Here's a hint ;)...

Source

Also I have created a Facebook page for The Queen of Craigslist. Go ahead and click here to 'like'. Thanks so much for all of your kind words and support. I truly appreciate it and love when someone finds something they want from my Fridays Finest Finds. Last time in Myrtle Beach a woman purchased these chairs from my list...

She has a blog as well called Trois Rois...maybe we'll get to see a transformation of the chairs. Hope so! Regardless it made me so happy that the Queen (teehee) could be of service.

Please let me know where else you would like me to 'travel' to on Craigslist...the more the merrier. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Before & After {an Asian style console}

I am currently wrapping up a design project and wanted to share the console I painted for the living room. As soon as the project is complete, I will definitely share. 

Here is a before of the console found at Josephs Coat, a consignment store whose profits benefit a local shelter for abused women...

And the after...

I had a can of Ben Moore's Natura semi-gloss in soft orange that I didn't like, so for $12 I had them custom make this color from a belt I own. Yes the belt was my inspiration. Inspiration can be found everywhere! Don't you agree? 

A Lamp Makeover

Bought this lamp awhile back at Joseph's Coat, a local thrift store, for $10...

Of course I forgot until last second to take a before picture, so the image above is mid painting with low voc primer. Here's a close-up to show the nasty faux stone finish...

It was ugly, cheap and needed to be rewired. So I bought a rewiring kit for $10, spray painted it bright yellow, added a black shade I already had and now I have a cheerful lamp for my living room...

Come a little closer...

It never ceases to amaze me how paint has the power to transform. The spray paint is H2O by Krylon, their lowest VOC spray paint. It still smells, but I notice the smell doesn't linger like other spray paints do. Regardless I still let whatever I paint off gas for over a week or more until I bring it indoors. Later everyone...

Before & After {a petite dresser}

A friend who knows how much I love to refurbish furniture gave this small dresser to me years ago...

It was so plain that I felt it needed a touch of Morrocan spice and color. Being a Queen (of Craiglist) and all ;), I decided on 'Your Majesty' by Benjamin Moore...

   Actually I was just in the mood for purple after I did a long post about it for Cassie of Primitive and Proper. I then enlisted a loyal subject (my husband ;) to draw an outline that I had in mind...

After that I applied regal gold leaf and transformed the dull dresser into it's current royal state...

My guest room.

I now need your help...I have been searching for small cylindrical brass/gold gilt knobs and can't seem to find exactly what I am looking for. Do any of you know of a source? I would be so thankful if you did.

p.s. A picture to show the importance of always using a large tarp when you paint...

Rabbit

I am sure you all know it is the year of the Rabbit in Chinese Astrology...

My mother was born in the year of the rabbit and oddly enough my father can't get enough of white porcelain rabbits. He has been collecting them for years...

An Easter vignette at my parents home

On the other hand, I have never been interested in them...sorry dad. Because of my lack of interest I decided to search for interiors with rabbits that appealed to me...

Source

I see this in a historic Bed & Breakfast...maybe we'll have rabbit stew for dinner (joke).

Paul Smith

A gold rabbit for good luck or is that a rabbits paw!?!

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I really enjoy the happy vibe this space emanates. 

via Design*Sponge

If the wall color was a pastel it would change the entire look of this chic space. 

Fleur Wood Boutique

Just imagine a little girls room covered in white rabbits running all over the walls...so Alice in Wonderland. If you are interested in doing this why not search your local thrift stores for discarded easter rabbits next week. 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Spring! 

Everyday Should Be Earth Day

Don't you agree? 

For those that haven't seen The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard, I thought today would be a good day to share...

It's a short film about how consumerism affects our earth.  

HAPPY EARTH DAY! 

What to Wear Wednesdays

Upcycled leather purses and totes are the perfect eco-friendly option when vintage is not your thing . There are countless companies re-inventing perfectly worn-in leather jackets or even old leather sofas into new useful handbags. Here are some examples...

Ashley Watson Boutique

 

A few handbags from her collection...

Flicker $310 

Small Sora $375

Linnet $410

All of Ashley Watson's handbags are made from recycled leather. Her purses have a timeless, yet fun and hip feel about them. 

Another company...

Poketo

Here is a vignette of their Upcycled Leather Collection...

Poketo re-uses vintage leather sofas and chairs transforming the upholstery into useful wallets, totes and clutches. I hope they re-upholster the furniture for resale on Craigslist perhaps. 

A long time favorite of mine...

reMade USA by Shannon South

A few examples from her collection...

Sonoma $375

Alemeda $120

Ashbury $375

With the leftover scraps she's making ottomans (how brilliant!)...

Cube Ottoman $275

South's one-of-a-kind leather purses are gorgeous and if anyone is interested the Ashbury is calling my name...for Mother's Day perhaps?

 Hope this has inspired you to maybe question buying a new purse. Why buy new when the re-invented, already worn-in leather, re-cycled purses are just as chic...right?

Granny Chic or No?

I am going out on a limb here and admitting that I love needlepoint! I'm not talking about the hip Jonathan Adler needlepoint, although I adore all of his needlepoint pillows too. Here are a  few favorites...

British Flag Pillow $98

Mod Love Pillow $175

Tortoise Needlepoint Pillow $98

Flint Needlepoint Pillow $98

J'accuse Left $98

Thanks Mr. Adler for making needlepoint in vogue again, well at least unexpected needlepoint!

But what I am referring to are the needlepoints that you find in vintage shops...you know the ones that were made by our grandmas or great aunts and then sadly discarded by the next of kin who would have nothing to do with such uncoolness (yes I am aware that is not a word). Well I am here to save these beauties from being forgotten. Here are a few that I saw last week at my local thrift store...

This was a tad over priced as it really needed to be re-framed or made into a large pillow. 

The camera phone photo doesn't do these sweet ones justice. 

I really loved this one, but again it was a little overpriced.

And here are a few that I have around my home...

This is in my living room and a good friend recently teased me that it reminded her of her grandma, as in no way would she put it in her home.

I have been planning to make a pillow out of this.

This is in my entry. I like the fact that it is unfinished...what happened I wonder.

And yes I am blushing as I post this needlepoint that I have in my guest bedroom in a sort of hidden spot...

My other friend (not the same as the one above) could not believe that I purchased this. But for some reason I just had to.

So there it is, I have a weakness for needlepoint! What do you all think? Don't worry I won't be offended as I am already teased so much over my needlepoint madness.

Fridays Finest Finds

For those that don't know I have created another blog called The Queen of Craigslist where my Fridays Finest Finds will be featured each week. So go ahead and click on The Queen of Craigslist title so you can join the Kingdom of Craigslist!

Here's just one inspirational image I used for this weeks finds...

Nabil Nahas apartment via International Elle Decor

Enjoy! 

Oh Spring Where Are YOU?

My hysterical friend told me to call this post "F*&% You Spring", but for obvious reasons I decided against it and besides it's not me.

Anyway, yesterday turned out to be another dud, so what do I do when my son has a half day at school, I can't paint due to the rain, a few other projects are stalled due to unforeseen issues and I'm uninspired to cook or clean? I check out a few favorite second hand stores. And here are a few items I saw...

A vintage Asian lamp with beautiful dragon detailing on the base. 

The lamp above reminded me of the lamps in this chic bedroom and at $40 not a bad price for a unique vintage lamp...

Lee Kleinhelter

I am very drawn to this painting and would love to know its history. Who is that guy in the painting? Did his friend paint it and give it to him as a gift? Were the walls really striped and that vibrant or was that the artists interpretation? It belongs among a sea of other oil paintings blending into the scenery of stories. 

A simple pale blue garden stool. I almost bought it, but it was a tad overpriced for my budget. I'll be back for 1/2 priced Monday because a stool always looks cool...

Image via Sadie + Estella

A simple table that needs some love!

A close up of the table top...

I really like the chic detail. I would somehow keep it intact before I painted it! 

This is a silk batik print stapled to a large canvas. It was about 4ft. x 4ft and I thought it would be hot in the right room above a sofa or even a bench...

Image via Chattafabulous

Have you all been thrifting recently? What treasures have you found?