R Squared

Due to limited space in Sunny (a Taurus), this year I decided to do all of my Wetterling and Firethorn Christmas Gift Exchange shopping online on Amazon.  Not to sound like too much of a commercial: Amazon Prime is one of the best purchases we've ever made.  Free shipping, the option to gift wrap, easy organization.  And I don't have to do anything but click "Purchase".

And, you know...pay for it.

Anyway, I did end up spending quite a bit of money on gift wrapping due to not completing the task myself.  So by the time I started thinking of wrapping the presents under the Clayton Tree, my brain (and wallet) were starting to hurt.

So I gathered some items from the basement: an old dictionary and essays book, glue sticks, some butterfly stickers and paper that I'd purchased last year at Hobby Lobby for a project that never transpired, random blank tags, some cut up fabric from my crochet rug I'd hoarded because I loved it so much, and (this part is my favorite) some butterfly decorations that I'd randomly saved from Step Child's wedding because I have a thing for butterflies.

The road to hoarding is paved with "I could use this some day".

But in this case I was correct.

I then took the plethora paper bags I've had under my sink since birth...or at least since I moved here...including one from a 2007 meeting at the AmericInn in SLC, several TJ's, and some Christmas Bath & Body bags...

 And turned them into this:

 Yes.  That is a bow made of out plastic King Soopers bags.  Go on...appreciate.

The tags say "Meke" and initials for "Love of my Life" because that's how we answer the phone when the other calls.  I had the stamps from this project.

Book page wrapping.  More crochet rug fabric ribbon and yet another KS bow.  And a Mason Jar.  Because really, why the hell not.

Best part: the tissue I already had on hand (or grabbed out of Amazon boxes in some cases) thanks to learning to save every piece of tissue paper from every gift ever given maniacally (love you, Mom!).

So that brings the Total Cost to: zero dollars.

I also emptied out a plastic tub (because really who needs 27 pillows) so I can put all of the wrapping (besides the small square packages wrapped in book pages) accoutrement away and re-use it all next year.

Recycling FTW.

Today's Thrift Store Find

$2 at Goodwill. New mirror for the vintage Ford-themed guest bath!

Case in Point

I made a list and I've been madlly downsizing ever since. It started with my bathroom...and my ridiculous amount of toiletries that are years old and I've just not parted with.  So I filled a Target bag full of new and used goodies, posted it to Freecycle, and by the next day it was picked up.  I still don't know why I get surprised at the stuff people take.  But the woman and her daughters were thrilled - she even e-mailed me specifically to tell me so after she'd picked the items up. Freecycle FTW.  Again.

Step Up to The Bar

It is complete!

 Top Shelf LQ.  Appropriately placed on...the top shelf.

 You'll notice my 10 cent Goodwill glassware from last year's Halloween Party fits oh so perf.

*happy sigh*

Complete

Finally added Keebler to the family portraits in the guest room.

I had the frame in the garage amid the myriad thrift items I bought for no particular reason other than "I could do something with that".  I ripped a canvas in half to fit the frame (also from the same pile against the wall), had some spray paint leftover from other projects, and some black acrylic paint in the basement.  Probably the cheapest project I've ever done.

My favorite part, though, is that the placement of the Keebs is right by the corner that was a bit hoobied from the get-go.  The way it's done makes it look like he's just chewed on it.  I don't know why, but I love it.  Dogs are such huge blessings.  Even in destructo-mode.

Change

Remember these?

New paint, new place.

Welcome Home

I made a Welcome Home kit in a huge Ball jar that I found at a thrift store for $2.00.  It had Mrs. Meyer's handsoap, a spoon holder, sponge, super glue, picture-hanging kit, dish rag, fold-up shopping tote, and a Sharpie, among other things.  Saw this at Target. 

Thrift store FTW.

Pinning

Inspired by this post on Pinterest...this was a horribly ugly frame I've had in the garage forever.  I painted it with chalkboard paint, which I have onhand, and used a pillow cover from a throw pillow I absolutely loved from Target that Kona chewed early on in his introduction to Quivas.  The result?

White board for to-do lists!  This will change our lives.

Pretty Little Liars

Actually, they're quite accurate. Right now my craft biz organization strategy consists of using thrift store vintage luggage of the 1970s and 80s variety. So, in order not to have to open every single one looking for what I need, I made these tags.

Chances are I will have spent way more time making the tags than I ever will actually using the contents. But seeing how I gained enjoyment from the whole process, I think I can live with that. It also reminded me of some thrift store finds I wanted to see if I could repurpose! Here's a hint: sweaters for everyone!

Polish

Keeb's ruined the heel of one of my shoes over a year ago.  Unfortunately, the cobbler said they were beyond normal repair.

We'll see how this works...

Yet another good thing about $2 Goodwill shoes and Dollar Tree nail polish: you don't lose much if it's a DIY Disaster!  Stay tuned...

Blue Jean Baby

Busted out a 99 cent pair of jeans and made some chew toys.  They're Keeb's fav.

Let me take your hat

The latest project at Chez Quivas: redoing the entry-way!  This little project has been in the works for about a month, mainly because: 1. I'm a chicken and 2. I have friends in north Denver now, which apparently takes up a lot more free time than I remember. :-)

This is our "Before" entryway.  I still need to find a place for our lovely dragon hanging, as Dorothy sewed it for Mike in college.  Here's how that conversation went:

Mike: "Hey, so I think I'm getting a tattoo with Chinese symbols."

Dorothy: "If I make you a wall hanging with a dragon and those symbols, will you promise me you won't get a tattoo?"

Aaaaaaand the wall-hanging was born.

But I digress.  I found the gossip bench at ARC last summer (Heidi's birthday no less) for $20. The books I had, and the camera was also an ARC jewel for $2. 

So.  $30 in 3M hooks later (and a preemptive strike with the ancient antique mirror from Goodwill that, for $10, I couldn't pass up), we have this:

With my epic new sewing machine, I sewed the ends of leftover (from this project and this project) ties together to recover the seat on my sweet little bench.  Also the biggest reason why this project took forever.  Why I would take the time on such a fairly insignificant detail, you ask?  I have absolutely no idea.

Well, I do.  If I'm honest, my life is all about the details.  So much so that I miss the big picture a lot of the time.  Even my work evaluation said as much (didn't stop me from getting the Top Achiever, though, just sayin').  So what if my parents, and maybe one friend, are the only ones that notice.  I notice.  To quote my regional manager, "It's your world, we're just living in it."

I believe we've established our love for Goorin Bros Hats.  Combine my love of decorating with things that make me happy and our love of hats?  You've got the best entryway ever.

Today's Ensemble

...was promptly photobombed by the hairy wonder dog.  It was a great outfit though.

Goodwill Find of the Year

This coat is such a deep red velvet that it's almost impossible to take a decent photo of it.  It was smooshed in the coats at Goodwill but the red just popped to me (I heart red).  I inspected further, and the style radiated 1950s chic.  I felt like I needed to be wearing a string of pearls just to be handling it.

 The sleeves are larger, but inside it has fitted inner sleeves to keep out the cold.

Here's why it's the Find of the Year: according to the ILGWU (International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union) tag history: this coat was made between 1955 and 1964 (when the "R" indicating a trademarked logo was added) based on the logo and the lack of "R". 

Which means this coat is epic.  That coupled with the fact that there's no way it has ever been worn makes this THE absolutely best $4.50 find of 2012.  Seriously.  The thing is new, without tags.  Photos of it on my person coming soon.

Pieces of Flare

Tada!

I spray painted it red and painted gold accents where the metal "bamboo" stalks meet.  Luvs it.  And now that it's getting cold it's being put to very good use!

Sick

Having a cold really allowed me some Halloween Party Productivity this weekend. 

 You might remember the ugly early 90s bird cages being painted a couple days ago...

 Dollar tree rat, webs, spider, and filling and BAM: creepy table topper.

I also busted out all my scary books and found two pumpkin candy jars at Goodwill.  Literally of of this came from either the Dollar Tree or Goodwill (except for the paper - on sale at Hob Lob).  I might've gone  a little nuts on the decor when Goodwill introduced their Club Blue card.  70%"?  Yeah, I'm there.

Side Projects

You'll see.

The pen is mightier

There's a bit of theme here...and I don't just mean Halloween.

Must make me one

Where can I find a TV like this?!

No Need

Only at the Cherry Creek Goodwill...