A patched together lifestyle of thrift and charm...

Jan 31, 2013

More Upcycled Clipboards...

I've had fun updating the old clipboards I picked up recently.
 They each received an application of old newspaper
 from the 1950's.
 And then I added a few coats of varnish to seal them for 
everyday use. 
 The classifieds ads are fun to peruse...
 ...and the old automotive advertising is fun too!
I have a few more clipboards to upcycle- but I think they'll 
get a different look.
These will be available in my Etsy Shop.

Jan 28, 2013

Vintage Road Trip...

My sweet vintage post card booklets...
...have been included in a sweet Etsy Treasury called
 This was compiled by a PA gal (my own li'l ol' state!) who
 owns the lovely shop Memory Furniture Finds.
  Check out a few of her awesome vintage goods...

My fav. is this adorable crib with original decals...
...and can anyone ever have enough old wooden boxes? 
...or neat old product cans? (love the red!)
Thanks Lutrell!





Jan 26, 2013

With Old Newspapers And A Clipboard...

This post is hurried - sorry! 
I'm rushing to include it in Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special  
'Junky Hang Ups' Linky Party. I'm not even quite finished with the project!
And surely I can do a photo shoot that better does this justice!
At any rate - I picked up a couple of these old
 industrial looking clip boards this week.
I have some old Philadelphia Enquirer newspapers and 
decided to apply a section to the fronts. (This is just one of the boards.)  
With some newly punched holes - tablet paper works great 
as a memo board.
This newspaper page features an ad for Richard Nixon 
when he was a candidate for vice President.  
Look how young he looks! (It's from the 50's!)
I'll show you more of these next week.



Jan 25, 2013

Another Upcycled Book Project...

This is my 2nd one for the week!  This time - it's a hardback book -
an old elementary school story book - that got a little tweak...

 See - the story remains...
 But the cover was given a coat of black paint...
 ...then I added a title from a sheet music cover and
 gave the whole thing a coat of varnish.  It can stand up - 
making it a wonderful addition for a valentine or any other vignette.
Can't wait for yard sales this summer to find more old books!
linking to The Inspiration Gallery

Jan 24, 2013

Do Good...

A bit of inspiration for you today...



...comment about what you did in the next 24 hours in response.  
Let's put love in action by doing good to all men! 

Jan 23, 2013

Cleaning Up the Laundry Room...

We have a very tiny laundry room and have added
 some old cupboards to help with storage...
Love this wall cupboard with its original paint!
 Everything that is headed out the back door lands here.  
Thus - the basket on the dryer to hold 'stuff' till it leaves.  
The other basket is holding my big jar of homemade laundry soap.  
The bird house is waiting to go in the yard come spring.
The facing wall has another big cupboard that I
 bought at a yard sale some years ago for $25!  
My bargain of a life time I think...
 The sink shows wear - but I'm very OK with that!
 Our humble laundry room...

Jan 22, 2013

Cutest Small Town...

Our nearby Lititz, PA is in the running for Coolest Small Town.  
You can check out the candidates here.  Let me tell you - 
Lititz should win hands down!!  
It's where we locals head for a day out and it's in the
heart of  Lancaster County - a true vacationer's delight.




Lititz is also home to several thrift and consignment shops -  
(the video didn't mention them - what were they thinking?)  
I actually blogged about Lititz in a previous post.

And did I mention the amazing chocolate at Wilbur's Chocolate?  
With free samples for everyone who stops in folks!  

from the video above
 If you come visit - give me a shout! 

Jan 19, 2013

Awesome Free Project Supplies...

Free project supplies can mean free (or almost free) projects!!  
Today - instead of throwing out a 'less than best' 
jean skirt - I did some recycling...
 

I cut off the great silver buttons (gotta keep those!)
 and cut out the awesome pockets too.  
Can't you see them on a future pillow?
Then there was all the great denim fabric to salvage...
I've got piles of patches saved up for blankets, quilt tops, 
table runners - whatever I can think of.
 Yep - some good supplies await for when inspiration strikes...

Jan 18, 2013

Upcycled Valentine Project...

I'm enjoying 'using up' forsaken items from around my home.  
Today - it was time to make use of some old paperback 
books that were once required high school reading.  
I ripped off the covers...
 ...bundled them in tulle and silver cord.   A heart stamp 
outlined in glue and sprinkled with glitter adorns the front and edges.

Have you worked on any projects for Valentine's Day?

Jan 17, 2013

'For Sale' Vignettes...

It's been a while since I showed you some of the little dress rack 
displays I do for the thrift shop where I volunteer.
  Here are this week's gatherings...
 This group has a bit of a family or home theme...
 For this one - I married some neutral and wood tones with mint green coloring...
 
Love this little grouping where I tried to carry the mint green across the room...
And this one is on the 'Antiques Linens' kiosk in a different room.  
My inspiration was the red blanket underneath...
Our donations are 'down' right now - so there wasn't a lot 
to choose from.  But it's still fun to try to come up
 with something each different for these racks.



Jan 14, 2013

Menu Monday - Rice Lasagna & Cookies...

I have a few gluten free (naturally) recipes for you today.

First - my Rice Lasagna from over the weekend...
 
1 lb. gr beef (I use 3/4 lb.)
1 med. onion (chopped)
1/4 c. peppers (chopped)
1 28 oz. spaghetti sauce
2 beaten eggs
2 c. cottage cheese
2 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 c. cooked rice
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Cook beef, onion & peppers till brown.  Drain - stir in spaghetti sauce and heat through.
Stir together eggs, cottage cheese and mozz. cheese.
In 9x13 dish - layer 1/2 meat mixture, 1/2 cooked rice, 1/2 cheese mixture.  Repeat.  Top with parmesan cheese.
Bake uncovered 350 degrees approx. 45 min.  Let stand 10 min. before cutting.

And for dessert...
Chocolate Brownie Cookies 
(I call them 'death by chocolate')
These are amazing!
3 c. confectioner's sugar
2/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 t. salt
3 large egg whites
1 T. vanilla extract
2 c. chocolate chips

Mix 1st 5 ingredients and beat well!!   Then add the chips.  Refrigerate dough about 1/2 hour.  Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees 10-14 min.

NOTE:  I added 2 T. cornstarch to this recipe to help cut the sweetness and it was great!



Jan 12, 2013

10 Frugal Kitchen Tips...

As I was preparing a bit of food today - I thought about 
all the little things I do that fall into the 'frugal' category.   
So let me share some of my 'tips' that were part of
 today's routine as I was making Rice Lasagna...

1.  Shop discount grocery stores - if you're not shopping at these - you're missing out!  We have several in our area - some chains and some privately owned.  (Do a web search!)  My most recent great bargain find was 8 oz. shredded colby jack cheese - 2/$1!  It was the day the truck came (try to find out when that is!) - so they were moving out the old inventory to make way for the new. 


2.  Make frugal recipes.  Regular lasagna is wonderful - but we eat gluten free.  Gluten free pasta is expensive.  Rice is not!  And rice lasagna is delicious.

3.  Use less hamburger (meat) -  I almost always use less than the amount of meat called for.  My habit is to buy hamburger in bulk amounts.  Once at home - I package it into 3/4 lb. portions - placing each portion into a sandwich bags.  I place those bags into a larger ziplock bag and put it in the freezer.  

4.  Shred your own cheese - I buy whole 1 lb. blocks and shred it with my Kitchen Aid shredder attachment.  I measure 1 c. per bag and freeze it the same way I do the hamburger.   Again - you can often use less than a recipe calls for.


5.  Use a warm surface for thawing.  To thaw my frozen mozzarella cheese - I simply sat it in the microwave which was still warm from making my rice.  

6.  Reuse containers - (see the Temp Tee cream cheese container above.)  

7.  Buy larger cans of food when on special.  When it's time to open them - freeze what you don't use into smaller portions.  (that would be my refried beans in the Temp Tee container above.)

8.  Bake several things in the oven at 1 time.  Today I baked some refried bean dip (for weekend snacking)  at the same time my lasagna was baking.

yes, my oven needs cleaned!
 9.  Shop thrift shops and yard sales for kitchen gadgets, dishes, etc.  I paid only $2 or $3 for my 9X13 glass dish!  In fact - I can't remember the last time I paid full price for anything for my kitchen from a 'regular' store.  It's amazing what people get rid of.

10.  Make your own hot pads.  When my daughter was little - she had a pot holder maker (the kind with the loops) and made a bunch of them.  I still use them!

There ya go - 10 thrifty ideas!









Jan 8, 2013

Joy for 2013...

As we embark on a new year - I have not made a list of goals, 
resolutions, joined the local gym, purged my closets
 or started an organizing frenzy.  But I have been inspired 
to find a 'word' for the year and make it a daily part
 of my  life.... a spiritual growth goal so to speak.
This year - I pick 'Joy'.  Joy used to come quite naturally for me 
- in fact my name spells it and imparts its meaning (Joyce!)  
But life has brought changes and disappointments that have been 
extremely difficult for me.  I'm ashamed how elusive this trait has 
become in my spirit.  So for 2013 - I've propped this
 little word on my desk for a daily reminder.

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You (that's me!); Let them ever shout for joy,
 because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. Psalms 5:11

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous (that's me!)
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!  Psalms 32:11

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, 
And uphold me (that's me!) by Your generous Spirit.
Psalms 51:12

 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you,
and that your (that's me) joy may be full." John 15:11

Ask, and you will receive (this means me!), that your joy may be full. John 16:24

  May my Joy cup run over in  2013!
(Feel free to check on me and see how I'm doing.)


Jan 5, 2013

The Perfect Winter Hat...

...and it's vintage and available in my Etsy shop.
 ...just a lovely snowball of fur!
 It's American made - love that!
 More new listings include this sweet collar and cuffs set...
and this gorgeous champagne or blush colored satin
It's a Winter Whites time of year!

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