Okio B Designs

I am definitely not a morning person. But it pays off when you stay awake after dropping the kids off at school and head out for some garage sale shopping. You cannot believe the loot I scored today. I can hardly believe it myself. So hard to contain my excitement! Lookie:

This old sewing box is just what I need for my craft room. I love the old ad and image on the front. I'm not sure if it's a repro or an actual vintage find, but I love it nonetheless.

Could not pass up this old Smith Corona typewriter for $3.

Oodles and oodles of vintage sheet music, oh my! It was marked $7 for all but I got them for $5.

Nice stack of old books - 50 cents each!

This old fan is gorgeous. No spray paint makeover needed here. Although it does remind me why they don't make fans like this anymore. Small hands + fan blades = mother's worst nightmare.

This stamp wheel with stamps was only $1. I also snatched up some star tart tins (in my Etsy shop), old wood bats and the Pilgrim box below.

Definitely in my glory today! I went to 6 different sales and spent about $26 for everything. Woo hoo! And the weekend has only just begun...

Jeanine

9 comments

Ever start a project and end up scratching your head halfway through? That's what happened to me with these fleur de lis candlesticks. I picked them up from a thrift store last week. They were originally white but a little grungy. I thought they would look good with a chocolate brown makeover but...

They went back to white. I did indeed paint them brown but it was a flat brown and they looked, well, icky. So I gave them a fresh coat of gloss white over the brown. I did just one coat because I did want some of the brown to show through for an aged look.

Not sure if you can see remnants of the brown peeking through in my photos.

I added some French script candles to them. The ones from my Etsy shop fit quite nicely. I may have to use these for props when photographing them!

So three coats of spray paint later and I'm back to white. At least it's not the original grungy white.

Jeanine

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We had the perfect weather here this weekend to get a little spray painting done. I immediately got to work on the cloche stand I got from the Unique Thrift Stores. You can see the before in the post preceding this one. Here is the after:

I used pink for a soft, spring look.

I added a vintage lace doily on the bottom and this little nest with eggs.

I thought it was still missing a little something so I added the Paris fabric tag as a finishing touch.

Linking to Between Naps on the Porch: Met Monday.

Jeanine

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Have you heard of Unique Thrift Stores? They are like one giant indoor garage sale. I know they are scattered throughout the country. This morning we headed over to one in Levittown that I probably drove past a thousand times and never took note of.

I was like a kid in a candy store there and the prices were pretty reasonable - $5 and under depending upon the item. The glass cloche with stand was only $2.92. I can't wait to clean up the salt and pepper shakers, and the little tray.

I'm thinking of doing these fleur de lis candlesticks in black. The little bottles will be perfect for my Etsy shop...once I French them up.

I also got some vintage sheet music and goodies for the boys. Yup, I'm sure I'll be heading back there soon. We didn't even get a chance to rifle through the clothing and accessories.

Jeanine

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The boys are off from school this week so I haven't had much time to blog, much less craft. I managed to steal a little time earlier today to make these cute, mini sheet music envelopes:

I found a great template here. I just printed off the size I wanted (4x6) onto cardstock. Then I traced the pattern onto my sheet music and cut each one out. Glue along where a store-bought envelope would be sealed.

I couldn't resist adding some French stamps.

And some bees. I even added a little pink button and a small French thank you card inside.

Super easy and I can already feel like these are going to be addictive!

Linking to: The Shabby Creek Cottage: Transformation Thursday.

Jeanine

10 comments

I was just about to toss this pinstriped Old Navy button down shirt that has seen better days. Then I remembered an issue of Martha Stewart Living where they used an old men's shirt to make a bunny, Xmas stocking, etc. So instead of adding it to the donation pile, I decided to make this cute, little pin cushion:

I hand-stamped some starfish onto the fabric to give it a beachy feel. Then, I added it to this vintage cup.

Another view. And that is authentic beach glass, hand-plucked by myself, the hubby and two boys right from the good ol' beaches of Long Island! =)

I have a lot left over shirt and I'm trying to decide what to use it for next!

Jeanine