Bargain Shoe Shopping - My Version...

 I've been wanting some new 'fun' shoes. (When don't I want some new shoes?)  

I had a certain style tan sneaker in mind.  But I couldn't find them...

not online (and not paying $70) and not at any shopping malls.

So - enter 'the next best thing'... Or 'I may have to compromise here'...

I happened to swing past a certain 'discount big box store' and my car turned in...

Oh my - they had some cute and super cheap shoes...

 

And the quality was just fine for what I wanted them for.

And look - tan casuals... and still some left in my size!

 Not sneakers - but they'll work - I'll take a pair of those... 

And... for just $6.97 they had these sneakers with the cutest lace detailing...
(I'm thinking with maxi skirts!)

I miss having red sneakers... so why not?

And at that price - may as well get a gray pair - I can use them too. 

So three pair  - plus a bar of dark chocolate (a kitchen staple)

for less than $30...  And all of them new and not thrifted... 

Woo Hoo!

I'm wearing my new tan casuals as I type.

Yep - it's gonna be a good summer!

 

Do your shopping trips ever go anything like this?  ~Joyce

My First Dumpster Dive...

I've done my share of scavenging at free piles and roadside finds...

 and have even pulled a goodie or 2 right out of a stranger's trash can.   

But hadn't ever taken all these antics to the 'dumpster diving' level.

  Can't say that anymore...

While taking a walk in my summer cottage neighborhood - 

I discovered a house that is newly 'for sale' (at least there are

 homemade signs at the windows) and being emptied...

On the far side of the cottage is sitting this innocent looking dumpster.  

 Of course I wandered over to take a peek...

 We've had lots of rain - so there is standing water in the bottom

 and piles of yuck and rust. See anything?
(there are several things - but I try to be sensitive to My Love's garage space...)

This is not quite how I spied it originally - but my interest was the blue can.  

It had been laying on its side with the lid slightly askew and I could see

 a bit of the contents.  It was those contents that intrigued me.  

So nervous as all get-out -  I drove back with my little step ladder

 and a long stick and climbed in...

Turns out the contents included some old feedsack fabric.   

It will need washing and I see some storage and age marks.

 Don't know if it was worth it or not - 

but I made the rescue and we'll see how they clean up.

I have a feeling that dumpster will be sitting there for a while.  

And I just may be revisiting.

Definitely my thrill for the day!

Have you ever actually 'dumpster dived' (dove)?  ~Joyce

 

Placemats or Tablecloth...

In setting my table today for a small gathering of 4... 

I was contemplating using placemats in lieu of a tablecloth.

But it looked too crowded and busy for such a small table.  

Then it hit me - 

  

...one placemat in the center would be perfect! 

And it complemented a jar of irises and lilacs nicely.

The lilacs are not quite in full bloom - 

so they should get prettier as the week goes on.

And those would be 'ants on a log' hiding underneath - 

also known as celery with peanut butter and raisins.

This was my first fresh flower cutting of the season.  

 Soon we'll enjoy some picnic table dining and placemats will work there.  
Welcome warm weather!  ~Joyce 
Linking to Monday Funday

Finally - A Project... A Chalkboard Project...

 Feels like it's been a long winter and I just haven't gotten to projects 

 like I've wanted.  But this week I pulled out this nifty find and got to work.  

  

It's a clipboard/easel type artist's board.  
Also perfect for holding papers in a seminar

 or drafters may use it - not sure of all it's uses.

I think I found it curbside - abandoned...

I figured it would make a great chalk board. 

 But believe it or not - this was my first time using chalkboard paint!  

I'm very behind... just didn't get to it before...

So after quickly measuring & marking on all sides - 

laying down some painters tape - and filling in with paint - 

it was pretty much done.  

Some of the board patina was a little 'yucky' for my taste - so...

 

 I gave the edges a quick coat of beeswax furniture oil to darken it...

And as always with chalkboard paint - remember to season the whole painted area by
coloring in solid with chalk - then wiping off - before actually using it.
And now we have this...
 (on brick)

Or this...(on lace)

With great little fingers to hold whatever your heart desires...

 (cause they are strong!) 

 Hello chalkboard friend.  

Thanks for getting me back in the project groove

and allowing me to play 'artist' with you a bit.

 

This board is available in my Etsy shop here

cause everyone needs a chalkboard (or 2 or 3...)!  

 Thanks for stopping by today!  ~Joyce
Linking to Home Sweet Home
and DIY Salvaged Junk

Filling a Jar...

A few weeks ago - I picked up a bag of unused potpourri 

for $1 at an indoor sale.

I had a certain container I planned to fill in my living room - 

but there wasn't quite enough potpourri to do it justice.  

So they both just waited....

...until this weekend when another sale yielded another find.  

How about a bag of raffia balls for 50 cents?    That'll work!

  Potpourri + balls + a few seashells I found lying around = 

not a bad looking jar of goods.

And my living room smells amazing!

I think yard sales are the bestest things ever!  ~Joyce