Mountain Hunt Finds

Every Memorial and Labor Day weekend, the local San Bernardino Mountain communites have yard sales everywhere. We drive up the mtn, then just follow the signs. It is quite an adventure and we always find more than what was on our "wish list". This trip, we crossed off more than half our wish list. I think that is a record.

 These frames were in a forgotten box off the side of a table. The owner said she forgot to unpack them and seemed unconcerned about price. So when I held them up, she said a quarter each. SOLD!

 But what had caught my attention in the first place... this beautiful gold oval. 1 QUARTER?!! SOLD!!! I have an idea already. Stay tuned!

 This basket was found at an actual flea market shop that was trying to cash in on the tourists on the mountain. Most of their prices were not exactly yard sale prices, but I liked looking anyway. When I saw this basket and the price, I grabbed it. Yes, I am a basket junkie! No idea what I will use it for, but cant pass that up. No siree!!!

 On the wish list, was some sort of trellis, or something that I could make into a trellis. It was fresh on my mind after discovering our Mystery guest. So when I found this piece of wrought iron, I couldnt get hubby to stop the car fast enough. There was no one tending the sale. After a few minutes of drooling over this, a little boy came out and asked "Do you need some help?" Ummm, yes, (as casual as I could be), how much for that? He went into the house to ask someone and came out and said $2. SOLD!!! Couldnt get the $2 out of my hubby's hands fast enough. Quick, get away before the parents come out! As we drove away, my mind was going crazy with idea's. And my hubby was thinking of another solution to the "fence fighting" problem.

Also on the list, were some sort of pillow that I can make a new cover for, and place on the FREE wicker chair set. I found one of these in a pile of clothes. I was telling my husband how sad I was that there was only one, when POOF, another appeared! Stay calm, Stay calm.... (see the Ross tag.. $6.49 each?). The wife was not around, so I asked the husband "how much?". He was hmmming and haawwing (is that how you type that?). As he was doing this, I pointed out a stain on one of the cushions. so he said "how about a quarter each?" SOLD!!! Even my hubby was excited! Now I hope my left over material is enough to cover these to match the patio set!

I have been looking for a shutter for awhile, for a cool Christmas card holder idea I got from Funky Junk Interiors. I have saved the picture forever, but lost the original blog... Sorry. But it was SOLD to me for $1!

 Hubby found work T-shirts and jean shorts for 25cents each. His BEST BEST find a framing nail gun and skill saw, both for $55 total. He was one happy man!
Stay tuned....

My first link:

From This to That!

Last summer a good friend purchased a new patio set for her newly renovated beautiful enclosed patio and she nicely offered us her older chairs. "YES!", so we updgraded from this...

to this...

But if you know me well, I can never leave something as is. So this summer I was itching for an update look. So we went to this...

  

We actually thought we would splurge and buy new cushions. I thought $78 was a deal for four new cushions. But Scott took a seat on them and said they were much flatter than the original ones, so Ms Frugal went hunting and found fabric for $3 a yard. So, for $20, we now have 4 brand new covers for the cushions, so we have the "cush" with the "look".  Now, the decision to paint the chairs green to match the table is up in the air. But until then...

Come on Summer!!

I am linking to:

Date night

WOW-- Can you tell who painted what?

Creative Birthday Party

Thank you everyone for coming out in the rain and fellowshipping together. What fun to be with all my sisters, in our comfy PJ's.

Wow, Look at all the cupcakes. I cant beleive there were any left. Scott enjoyed them girls!

Elizabeth, what is that you are painting there? It matches your phone?

Diane and Kathy look very focused on their project.

Did the mugs eat Me and Marilyn's hands?



Juliann and Val met for the first time tonite. They both wore their sock monkey feeties.

Juliann's are connected to her PJ's. Can you see Val's toes?

I love the hat, Juliann! Scott says it is ME!

Kristin created a special plate for her family to eat on when they deserve a "special day". Is this fitting for her?

Kathy loved the idea of pretty colors on her cupcake box. It looks delicious enough to EAT!

Marilyn... you will be bouncing off walls if you drink this WHOLE cup of coffee!

Elizabeth, now what exactly are you going to use these for?

Dred-- BBBBEEAAUUUTTTFFULLL! I can already see the girls fighting over this antique in 60 years! Glad I wont be around. Better make Samual the executor of THAT will!

Diane, I cant wait to see your next batch of deviled eggs. They will be so pretty on this plate and the pretty swirled filling from your PAMPERED CHEF EASY ACCENT DECORATOR!

(I know... cheap plug for my business...HAH!)

Got to drink my coffee with my new mug this morning. The colors match the house perfectly! Cant wait to go back and make a princess one now!

Val, what pretty flowers will you grow in this? I think it would be a perfect bowl to make the that yummy mud pie creation. just leave out the wormies! YUCK!

Thank you everyone for coming out in the rain and sharing a special night together. Scott and I went back last night, and he is now painting a TOW-MATER bank. We need to go back next week to finish. $1 on Friday's in March... dont have to wear PJ's. It will become our date night.

Love you-- Mindy

Pretty Lady Update

Do you remember her? The Pretty Lady How I cried when she was left out in the rain? Well, after many months of kicking my vehicle out of the garage, many heated discussions with my husband, and many cold days spent working on her. She has improved...

Drum Roll please.....

Now for the tough decision. Where will she reside? She has been relocated to my kitchen for the time being.

Any suggestions?

Boo-ti-ful!

DH went away on a men's retreat last weekend. Crafty Mac-y got busy. I pulled out all the wicker (which, by the way, our patio is starting to look like a horder) and put it in the grass and spray painted it brown (side note... be prepared for the looks your going to get when you go in to a store and buy 5 cans of spray paint!). The brown paint was almost identical to the original painted color. As I turned over, I realized the wicker was originally white, and so agreed with the previous owners about leaving it white and unpainted... it doesnt show when sitting upright.

There was a possiblity of rain that night, so instead of dragging all the wicker back over the fence back to the patio, I set it all inside the spa gazeebo, hoping it would be safe from any rain. Fortunatly, the rain never came. And to my pleasant surprise, DH noticed the newly painted wicker soon after he arrived home. A+ for observance!

Last week I found a discount home deocor fabric store and browsed their selection. I guess it isnt only printed paper that I am addicted to. I felt like a kid in a candy store. Ok, just one fabric, missy! I bought this fabric for $2 a yard! Can you beleive it? Enough fabric to make ALL the cushions, cost $6! Granted, it is not outdoor material, but I will risk washing it and having to get more for THAT price! Today I sat down and sewed a long cover for the bench chair. I used a body pillow cover for the pattern and then filled it with two standard pillows (which I also received FREE from a previous organizing job!). What do you think of the finished look?
Im pretty excited about it. It is not professional, but it still looks nice enough to sit on a front porch. Not bad for $6!!

FREE-GAL MAKE-DO-GAL

I have to share the funny story first. One day while driving along the freeway, I spot a beautiful wicker patio chair off to the side. Look like it had fallen off a vehicle. So I shout to my Dear Hubby (DH) "DID YOU SEE THAT!". "What?" (as he hits his brakes due to my shouting, scaring him, and almost starting another conversation about my "reactions" when he drives... but that is a different story). I tell him to get off the freeway, and then start sharing what I just saw. He thinks I am joking, as I continue to shout..."GET OFF THE FREEWAY". So, being a DH, he listens and exits the freeway and we drive back along the surface road that we had just passed. As we pass the chair, I point it out. He says "Are you kidding?!" "NO, lets check it out". He laughes, but again, follows my suggestion. We re-enter the freeway, then pull off to the side. He safely exits the vehicle and brings the chair to my side for my inspection. It looks brand new, of course with a little road rash and some mis-alignment, probably due to the fall off the truck. I see her beauty! (Are you surprised?!) "Put it in the back. I just know you can re-align it somehow. It's free, how can we pass it up". My DH is shocked. "Your kidding, right?" "Nope, put it in the back." So he does. Then the rest of the drive looked for some road kill for me to dine on. Our "FREEWAY FIND" has sat on the front porch for the past 3 years now, and no, it was never fixed enough to sit straight (darn strong wrought iron- I say!), but it works well to sit on and rock and read the mail or just enjoy the warmth of the sun, on a chilly day. Even DH sits on it to take off his dirty boots and (no laughing here...) to clip his toe nails.
Since then, it has been a running joke, if I see something along the freeway, or hear about something stopping traffic on the news, I will call DH and tell him he must go pick it up. That just gets me laughter of course.

Well, I have trained him well. Today I get a passionate call from him. "Hey, I am at this job, and the neighbors have some FREE wicker on their driveway"
ME: "Free? Really? What color and shape?"
DH: "Yes, totally FREE! Giving it away! Painted brown, good shape, for the yard"
ME: "Load it up!"

So here is our next great find:

It was white and someone painted it brown. Needs a little TLC, and some nice pretty cushions, but looks like it will work well in that OUTSIDE ROOM, I am begging DH for! Next step, start thinking of making some pretty cushions for it.

Welcome to your new home ladies!