My Salvaged Treasures: February 2012

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Dressed in Jewels

Here's my favorite yard sale find from last weekend after her minor makeover. She still doesn't have any clothes, so her only assignment this week was to model a few necklaces fresh off the assembly line.

She also wanted to show off the rhinestone belt I found at a yard sale on Friday. Her feet and pole were painted black, but I missed getting a full body picture.

Her neck is now firmly glued in place, so no more mishaps. I painted it with Duck Egg Chalk Paint and then added some lace and a vintage rhinestone button.

A mini tart tin was my inspiration here. A faux pearl earring, watch parts, and rhinestones were added for flavor.

A watch face, pink rhinestones and a cherub from an old bracelet were a perfect fit inside the bottom half of this vintage cold cream tin. I attached part of vintage earring to the bottom of the tin.

Not too shabby from the back side.

More watch faces, buttons, and rhinestones. Now I need to get busy on two other trays full of bits and pieces.

Linky Followers reminder: Don't forget that you have to manually update your new posts with the current post date and post title. I've noticed that a large percentage of the blogs I'm following through Linky Followers haven't been updated and I sure don't want to miss anything if this is the only way I'm following you. Just log in to your Dashboard, go to the "Last Posted Date" box and manually enter your last post date and post title. Click "Update It" All done:-)

I'm linking up my jewelry creations with:

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
My 1929 Charmer for Sunday's Best
Knick of Time Interiors for Knick of Time Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Type A Decorating for Anything Goes

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Double Duty Loaf Pans

I finally had a chance to try out my new Silhouette Cameo that I got for Christmas. My idea was to start with something quick and simple, but there was nothing quick about this first attempt. I'm sure a seasoned user would be able to whip up this project in 15 minutes, but for me it was a four hour trial and error adventure.
The four hours included familiarizing myself with the basics by quickly reading over the directions. I spent a lot of time playing with the software, sizing the fonts, and then trying to figure out why it wouldn't load the black adhesive vinyl. Oops, I missed the part about locking the rollers back in place.

I have so many ideas floating around in my head, but will stick to the smaller projects until I get the hang of this. So much fun!

We all need a little extra space for storing junk.

These rusty loaf pans I bought at a flea market a
couple of weeks ago were perfect candidates for my first project.

They're still rusty, but now they have a little more character.

My buttons are happy.

I haven't decided if I'll keep them or sell them, but for now I like them right where they are. Hopefully my next little project will only take two hours.

I'm partying with:

Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thursday,

The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday,

2805 for Potpourri Friday, and

Funky Junk Interiors for Friday Night Special

Sunday, February 19, 2012

She's a Keeper

Would you double park in the middle of the street for her? I'm not ashamed to say I did just that. I spotted her on the lawn just as I was driving up to a yard sale on Saturday. Cars were parked up and down both sides of the street and I just couldn't risk her being carried away in the time it took me to find a legal parking spot.

After a quick chat with her owner, I learned that she's a younger gal estimated to be in her mid 30's.

I'm thinking her blond legs and neck will look much better with a little color, and of course she needs some jewelry and something to wear. Her asking price was much less than my mental estimate, so with these two cooper pots the deal was sealed.

Love the patina.

Oh no, not a broken neck.

I picked her up by the waist after our photo shoot and this is where my foot stopped her neck. (I couldn't resist one more picture). A few more inches and it would have rolled into the deep end of the pool. Fortunately, a little glue will take care of this minor problem.

I'm partying with:
1929 Charmer for Sunday's Best,
Her Library Adventures for Flea Market Finds,
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday,
Boogie Board Cottage for Masterpiece Monday

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Vintage Hair Brush Makeover

When I purchased this vintage brush and mirror set at a flea market recently, I knew the broken brush had some life left in it. The mirror is still in good shape and I love the patina on both pieces, but the poor brush has seen better days.

You can see where the wood part of the handle is missing. I was lucky to be able to push the slightly twisted silver handle back into shape without breaking it.

I pried out the remainder of the brush which didn't come out without a fight; the old glue had turned black and was breaking off like glass. I grabbed a bottle of tacky glue, a piece of vintage lace, and an antique tintype photograph. I already had the tintype and have been waiting for an opportunity to use it in a repurposing project.

I spread some tacky glue inside the handle and started pressing the lace into place. It didn't have to be perfect, just enough to hide the raw edges of the lace and cover the inside.

Then I got a little carried away and didn't pick up my camera until it was finished.....

After gluing the photograph to the lace I filled in around the edges with an old necklace, watch face, rhinestone, filigree, and a flower brooch.

Much better.

I thought it would look better if I could hang it up, so I punched a couple of small holes in the top and added a short chain.

I think she looks real comfortable and right at home inside the brush.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

I purchased a few dozen vintage Valentines at an estate sale in 2010 and this one was my favorite. I love vintage typewriters, so I knew she'd be a keeper.

She's been sitting on my work desk since the beginning of February. When a package arrived all the way from the Philippines a few days ago, I knew she'd be the perfect way to say "thank you."

I was the giveaway winner of this pretty bag from the very talented writer Diane at Diane Writes.

The colors are perfect for Valentine's Day.

Thank you Diane!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Flea Market Junking Fix

My month-long junking dry spell came to an end last weekend. I didn't get a good junking fix while I was on vacation a few weeks ago, so it felt mighty fine to get out there and push my cart around....squeaky wheel and all. The first Saturday of every month is the DeAnza College Flea Market in Cupertino, so off I went with high hopes and a promise to myself to leave all the big stuff behind.

It was a silver kind of day.

I love the patina on this vintage brush and mirror set, but....

I don't love the broken brush. I had a rough idea of how I could repurpose it and the dealer was more than happy to accept my "it's broken" offer.

Rhinestones and pieces of broken earrings. Aren't those fish cute?

It's a good thing keys don't take up much room because I'll never have enough.

The frame was a great deal along with the rusty tins, salt shaker, and silver vase.

Yummy detail.

Switching gears here.....

A vintage pull down school map in great shape.
Marked, Weber Costello Chicago Illinois.

I couldn't find a date on it, but it's probably from the late 50's or early 60's, before zip codes and after Alaska and Hawaii.

I made my way around the entire flea market a couple of times just to ~~get some exercise~~ make sure I didn't miss anything. It wasn't easy leaving some very interesting large items behind, but it was nice to have everything fit in just one cart load.