Thrifty Finds

Hi! Sorry things have been kinda silent around here lately but we are back!!!


If you know me personally you know that I am a thrift store loving gal!! No lie I'm usually in one at least 3 times a week. I don't always find anything super awesome but lately I've hit the jackpot!

I found these vintage aluminum cookie cutters at Goodwill last week for $3.

They were in a GIANT bag of plastic cookie stamps and I just couldn't pass them up. Plus I spotted these 2 guys in there as well. To cool! 

Now to share the find that I am most excited about! When we moved back to Charleston I promised myself that I would save my pennies and purchase some beautiful art pieces by local artist. If you live here you know the options are endless!! Charleston is full of talented photographers, painters, sculptors and their work can be found in the open air market or their private galleries in the historical streets. But, while out at the local thrifts the last couple of weeks I came across these two beauties........

Both by local Charleston artist and I only payed $18.95 for both prints!!!!!
The first is by local artist Anne Worsham Richardson. She does natural prints and this on is titled "Carolina Wren and Yellow Jasmine."( which is the SC state bird and flower...fitting...no?)  Even better...It's signed!!

The second piece is by Julia Homer Wilson. I have to do some more research on the print as I'm not sure what house is it and most of her things are only available through the Charleston Preservation Society.  All I know is it a beautiful piece! It came with the frame pictured and matched our Master Bedroom PERFECTLY!!

Thanks for stopping by today and checking out my goodies! Are you thrifting Momma? Found anything great lately?! Please share!!!

Simple Things

A child will teach you many things if you let them. How to love unconditionally. How to find joy in the smallest things. How to get goldfish crumbs in the tiniest car seat cracks.

During playtime today Holden taught me a lesson I seem to have forgotten in the last few years. He has tons of toys! Toys inside, toys outside, toys in the car and yet we always find him playing with something random. Like today. You'd never think that 2 sticks could make a child so happy.  He played in the back yard for a solid 45 minutes with just 2 sticks. Making me realize it really is the simple things in life that bring the most joy. In a world filled with social media, t.v. programs for everything from cooking to reality shows about Teen Mothers you tend to get wrapped up in the craziness that is life today.

So, while cooking dinner tonight I took out two of my favorite cookbooks (Farm House Cookbook / With Heart & Hand) and realized that it was the first time they had been out of the cabinet in over 6 months. I didn't need all these fancy websites to give me ideas for dinner. I had my cabinet of cookbooks from my Mother, my Mother in Law, Grandmother and Daddy. They bring me joy. It may just be a simple cookbook but to me it means more. The recipes are tried and true. Cookbooks from family vacation destinations, cookbooks showcasing true home-style recipes and cookbooks put together with love by countless little, old ladies of Hallsboro Baptist Church. And if your Southern you know NO ONE cooks better then a Baptist! So I vow to take a step back and look at the simpler things in life, slow down a little and make  Mama's Molasses Crumb Cake on page 332. It's screaming my name!!  How about you? What are your simple joys in life?

Master Bedroom Chair Unveiling....

Hello! The time has finally come to unveil my first REAL re-upholstery project!!

Upon deciding to find and re-vamp a chair instead of buying a new one I was SUPER excited to get started. Upon getting said chair in my garage ready to re-vamp I felt like I had gotten in a little over my head.

I came across this chair at a yard-sale while home visiting my Momma last Oct.. We had already hit up an estate sale and were heading back home and spotted a tee-tiny, little yard sale sign. I'm telling you people...Don't overlook those back out of the way yard sales ( as long as it's safe. ) They are were you will find some of your best treasures. I payed a WHOOPING $3 for this chair! Nothing wrong with it, it was a custom order from a NC furniture manufacturer ( that has sadly since gone under ) and was obviously the right price.

                                                                              Before

                                                                           After

Even Holden thought it was quite the bee's knees :o)

I bought the fabric at Hancock's on sale for $2.00 a yard. I fell in love with it when I saw it. I love toile and it went perfect with our master bedroom redo ideas! As for paint I used Krylon Glossy in Khaki over a coat of Krylon Gray Primer. It took 2 cans to get the finish I wanted especially on the wicker sides. You have to look at them from every angle to make sure they get covered. The cushions were still in great shape so we just ripped and recovered. I say WE because thankfully my wonderful Mother in Law offered to help me with this one :o)

All in all I'm very happy with the outcome but I'm still trying to decide. Do I need some upholstery tacks lining the back? Or maybe a decorative trim? What do you all think?

Total Price of Chair Overhaul

Chair : $3

Fabric : (2 yds at $2 each) $4

 Primer: $3

Paint: $8

Total: $18.00

Adorable, Chessey, Toddler Smiles...FREE.

~Alison

Just can't wait......

While doing a little 'work'  today I stumbled across this adorable fabric at fabricworm.com

Isn't it awesome!!! I mean.....Bugs and Boys just go together and I knew this was destined for a JonJon for Holden. I know..I know...It's a little early to be thinking summer clothes but with the balmy 70 degree days we've been having here you can't help but start to get into the warm weather mind set. Sewing clothing is still a new thing for me but after searching Prudent Baby I found a tutorial that doesn't look so scary. You can find the DIY JonJon instructions HERE.  As long as the first turn out.... well then I'm sure he will have quite a few in his summer wardrobe! Plus with awesome fabrics like this...

or this....

or this...

I'm sure I won't be able to pass up sewing some toddler cuteness for my little dude!


Don't forget to head over to Fabric Worm and check out there selection. I spotted a few things for me as well but I'll save those for another day :o)

~Alison

31 Days to an Organized Home

Organization is not one of my God given talents. I however strive every day to reach an organized point and always end up failing. So when I stumbled across Kelly's blog the other day she made it seem so easy!! Plus with a title like  The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking it seemed right up my "perfectly cluttered, imperfect alley."
So I decided to commit myself to her 31 Days to an Organized Home.

Today is Day 2: An Organized Coat Closet { Day 1 was admitting you have a problem :o) }

And as you can see ours was in major need of cleaning out. Shoes, backpacks, purses, coats, scarves, gloves, toys and a few other things I'm still trying to figure out why they were in there!?
After 45 minutes of cleaning I had started to make some headway. I didn't want to buy anything to organize so I began scouring the house for things I could use.

For the hats, gloves, scarves, etc. I used a wall hanging spice rack I had stored in the craft room and 2 large Command Hooks. Worked perfectly! 
Jackets, coats and rain gear have there own sections in the closet by who they belong too. Purses are organized on the top shelf along with my yoga mat, our outdoor blanket and shopping cart cover. Visible and accessible!

I decided to also utilize all the space I could by hanging seasonal items like my beach bag from the shelf braces. Easy to find yet out of the way leaving room for other items. Shoes go along with the bottom with a small wicker basket for Holden's shoes. I kept it to a minimum storing only a few pairs here. Best part is keeping the shoes to only a few pairs opened up room for my vacuum! Which has been hanging out in the corner of my craft area for a few months now.
And here is my finished product. 

I am super proud! If you don't count the time it took keeping the toddler and the dog out of the closet it probably only took me around 30 minutes to get the finished product. Whoever thought you could feel so productive and reduce so much stress in such a small amount of time!
Kelly has some awesome tips on her site so go check her out and join me later for Day 3!!!






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Up and Running.......Kinda

So here it is.......My goal for the future. I'm refusing to call is my New Years Resolution because frankly I always fail at those darn things anyway.

I am taking the leap into the blogging world. To share my love for thrifting, DIY projects, sewing, cooking, life's adventures and all the messes that come along with it.

Biggest hiccup right now is figuring out the mapping of this thing. I see it in my head, I know what I want it to look like but actually getting it there is another story.

I hope you will follow me. I want to share the things I love in my life. Things that bring me joy. In hopes that it will do the same for you.

~Alison