Hats Away

I think this post covers all of the Thursday Blog Party topics.

I used thrifty hats, the rack is vintage, I did it myself and I had to transform a pile of hats to a "okay again" hat display.

If you aren't interested in any of that you can just skip to my almost 50th post giveaway at the end....

It was a supposed to be easy "how to". It turned out not to be that easy.




This should be easy. Hats on a rack, right?



These thrift shop hats have been hanging on this thrift shop rack for at least 5 years until someone decided they wanted to try one on...then ALL the hats came tumbling down.



Recently I decided I to put them back up and post about how easy this display is to make. Ha. Don't try it with a camera on a bouncy old bed...



Use wire on the insides of the hats so you have something to keep the hats on the hooks. Don't start this project if you are hungry, tired, cranky, or impatient.




Pretend that they are all neatly lined up like you would do it, and just imagine how cute they would look over your bed, doorway, or on your front porch.

Bringing the Outside Inside

Today I'd like to do something a little different.

For this Outdoor Wednesday I'd like to show you how I bring the OUTSIDE to the INSIDE of my home.



I so love the way they look outside, that I made some permanent arrangements of eggs with nests to have inside. They are all under glass domes with wood bases that I painted black.



The top two were made faux eggs and nests. The last one has a real egg and nest that was abandoned.

The leaves and stems are a combination of real and faux. On the backside of the domes, I attached old bird, nest, and egg prints.

The bird print in the last photo is attached to the backside of a glass microscope slide.



I call them Life Under Glass. Thank you for letting me share them with you.

I'd love to see and hear how you bring the OUTSIDE inside.

Ridiculously Easy: Ruler becomes a Star

Project difficulty: VVE {Very, very easy}



Most of you probably don't have this many folding rulers, but it only takes one to become a STAR!



I only wish I had thought to share this project before the 4th of July. Always a day late and a dollar short (as my mom used to say).




Well, here it is. Fold out the ruler sections to form a 5 pointed star.

You'll have a few sections extra. You could cut the extra off... but why ruin a perfectly good ruler.

Just keep the extra folded. Wire or glue the last section together to finish.



I made about a dozen of these for the flea market last weekend. I hung them from a market umbrella in the center of my booth.



Wouldn't they be fun to decorate with during the Christmas holidays? Or for you Texas girls---everyday of the year!!!

The right words?

Last week I showed you how to make a cabinet door into a chalkboard.

Now I need your help!

I know there are many smart and savvy readers out! You will know the answer!



I am a flea market vendor, and I've started to made these blackboards to sell.



I came up with these items and phrases for my first batch of chalkboards.

Now I am stumped for other phrases to put on more blackboards.

My customers range mostly from their early 20's through their 40's. I need some young and fresh phrases that will appeal to them.


There's where you can help me. What cute and fun phrases would you buy on a chalkboard? I need your ideas!!!!!!!!

I will be endlessly grateful for your suggestions and comments, and I will show you what I pick in a later post. Thank you so much for your assistance!!!!!!

Updated July 13, 2009~ ~ Your response has been overwhelming! Keep making suggestions! I am reading everyone of them. You guys are so creative. And, If you want to vote for your favorites, please do. Also, if anyone is doing a project where you need phrases, read the comments, take any you like!!!!! Thank you! Thank you!

Hem measurers = photo holders.

In a previous post, I showed and talked about how to make a simple photo holder from vintage skirt hem measurer.

I am HOOKED on doing and making things the simple way.



I am taking this group of photo holders to the Grayslake (Illinois) market this weekend to sell....

.

But, I wanted to show you how interesting they look with old photos and displayed in a group.

Look around your home and see what you already have that you could use in a new way. And, have fun with your stuff!!!!!!

Updated July 13, 2009: These all sold at the Grayslake (Il.) Market last weekend. Just letting you know how this project worked out business-wise.

Blue and White and Was Hot!

Welcome! Here are some very BLUE and white things for your viewing pleasure.



Recently I stopped at one of my favorite thrift shops on half price day, and look what I found.
These 7 pieces of old blue and white graniteware.




I had to buy them for old time's sake.



I have been selling antiques for so long that I remember when graniteware was HOT! HOT! HOT!

And now it's NOT! NOT! NOT! {But maybe I can spark a revival among my readers with this post.}

Blue and white was the HOTTEST color combination of all.

And these pieces NOW were so much cheaper than when blue and white graniteware graced the cover of Country Living Magazine! I wonder how long ago that was?

I paid less for all these than one item would have cost back when they were, you know, HOT! HOT! HOT!

A flea under the Flight Path

During the last two weeks I've taken you shopping for my antiques business in a geodesic dome, and sale-ing through the North Shore of Chicago.




Today we are going to a parking lot flea market under the flight path of O'Hare Airport on the northwest side of Chicago.

Many of you have flown in here never knowing what's going on below you on a Sunday morning.



Can you tell from the photo below that the sun isn't up yet? We arrived at about 4 am. last Sunday.

Bikes of all kinds, ages, and conditions are one of the most commonly sold things at this market. I don't exactly know how well they sell. It isn't something I'm interested in personally.




This is more like it. This vendor had recently cleaned out several local estates and had many interesting things to offer.

In this pile there are many things of local Chicago interest. I bought some unusual items from him to sell through my soon to come online business.




The booth below would be considered well-displayed at this market.



Most of them look more like this...or...



even like this. Right on the ground. In fact, this is the most common display technique.



These two items were the most unusual I saw on Sunday. They are PRISON TELEVISIONS!

They are see-through so contraband can't be hidden inside them by prisoners. They are purchased by the prisoners and can be taken home upon release. Interesting home accessory, huh?



One of the things I really enjoy about flea market shopping is talking to the people I meet.. like the couple selling the televisions who assured me that the husband had NOT gotten these while in prison.

Good to know.



Near the end of the morning. Ever helpful husband taking a load of purchase back to the car...while I finish up.



Just before leaving I bought this weird antenna made in Chicago. Why is this guy holding it? He followed me back to my car because he had to have it for his 1940's vintage TV!! Money changed hands. He was happy and I was happy.

We spent our profits at the Lowes on our way home on supplies to finish other projects to sell next weekend.

Cabinet Door to Chalkboard

Project difficulty level: CBE {couldn't Be Easier}



As a flea market vendor, I have seen many picture frame chalkboards. I think this is a very good upcycle use of vintage frames.

But, I always like to come up with something a bit different.




This spring I found a huge pile of discarded cabinet doors...very nice, already painted white and antique glazed!

I didn't know what I was going to do with them, but home they came...waiting for inspiration to hit.




A couple of days ago I bought my first can of blackboard paint and went to work on one of my stash. The knob was already gone, but I took off the hinges. I taped off everything except the raised center panel. I sprayed that with two thin coats of blackboard paint letting it dry in between each coat.

Tip: Tape off tightly because the blackboard paint can get through tiny gaps onto your outside frame. I know from experience.

Then per the paint directions, I broke-in the blackboard surface by rubbing it with the side of chalk, and wiping it off.




That still left me with the hole where the cabinet door handle had been. I thought about putting hooks along the bottom.

Then, I thought about lining the bottom edge with buttons (In fact, I had already glued one on) when I looked around my studio and spied a jar of dominoes. That was it!!! I love the dominoes color with the white paint of the cabinet doors.




Then all that was left to do was to add a hanger on the back. Or I could have used an easel for displaying it like the picture below..





I like to say, "Keep it simple, sister." Use what you have, make something from nothing, and have fun with your stuff!!

White Coral

I was feeling very BEACHY last weekend.



After we went to the FLEA MARKET before dawn




We hit the farmers' market on the way home




And headed to the BEACH!

{These 3 coral are from my collection harvested from local garage and estate sales}

Updated 7/15/09: These coral are now sold and are now living in a lovely new home.

How to: A Picture Easel

PROJECT SKILL LEVEL: CBE {Couldn't be Easier}

Are you looking for a fun and casual new way to display your photos and pictures?

Today I will be showing you how make a picture/photo easel from an vintage hem measurer.



These "flashes from the past" often show up at garage and estate sales, or the thrifts. This one cost 50 cents at a local thrift shop.



That bottom part held a pin cushion which I removed. Its cover was dirty, red and full of holes.




I took the bottom apart easily by unscrewing two small screws. I am lazy, I used a knife blade instead of looking for my little screw driver.



I decided not to recover the pad. I liked how the gray felt underpad looked. I screwed it back into place. I used the knife again.

Don't tell my husband.



I flipped the metal arm part over. I just loosened the wing nut (What a phrase!) and slipped the metal arm over the ruler part upside down. This gave me a way to hold the picture in place.



Now I have an interesting easel to display things I sell at the flea market. I hope you have another idea about how you can have fun with your stuff.