Enough is Enough Plate Collection

When do you say, “Enough is enough?”   I am asking myself that question.  You see I have a few plates, blue and white ones. I guess I should call it a plate collection

 The first place I  hung some plates in this house was in our sunroom above the windows.

My plate collection began quite unintentionally the first time I used plates for decor on our walls.  That was in our family room in the early 90’s.   I think I had about 5 or 6 plates, a couple of which I stole from our everyday Blue Willow china. Then we moved to Pennsylvania, which was garage sale heaven and I began to find blue and white plates everywhere that were so cheap, sometimes only 25 cents.  And so my collection began.

After the sunroom I hung smaller ones in the kitchen above the cabinets, just the perfect size for bread and butter or salad plates.

                                   
                          They don’t go all the way around yet, but they’re getting there.

                                               
                                             Then I put some on the dining room walls.

 As I began to get more plates I went back to the kitchen and started to hang them in other places: the wall where the phone used to be.  The blue willow plate on the left side hides the phone connection.

When I removed the top of the hutch it gave me an extra wall in my kitchen, so I began to hang them in a random way. As you can see there is still room for more.

The other day I was wondering how many plates I have hanging on the wall, so I counted them. What is your guess?  30?  40?   If you guessed any of those numbers you would be wrong. I am embarrassed to say I have 81 plates hanging on my walls!!

I guess I have to say “enough is enough”

Do you have something you have collected that maybe it’s time to say, “Enough is enough?”

                                                                     Rhondi xo

Today's Thrifty Treasures

I just love Rhoda's blog, Southern Hospitality and this week I decided to join in with her "thrifty treasures" post. I love wicker! I especially love it painted white!
I found this table at Goodwill for $4. All it needs is a coat of white paint. I don't need it. I don't really have any place to put it, but who could resist for $4? Not me!! So I'll buy some white spray paint and figure out someplace to put it :)

Make sure you visit Rhoda and see all the other thrifty treasures this week.

Next time I will tell you how I acquired my first wicker chairs.

Rhondi xo

Amaryllis

There are lots of new plants in my garden that began blooming while I was away. Two years ago, Ellen Guerrant, a very talented quilting friend gave me a few amaryllis bulbs and they have really multiplied this year. I love the bright red and just had to bring a stem inside.

And make a grouping of things to keep it company!

The plate with the lovely blue flowers was only $1 at a thrift shop. This huge blue platter was a great find at Goodwill for $3 with a tiny chip in it.
The amaryllis looks right at home on the table in my studio.

I'll see you tomorrow for Pink Saturday with Beverly.

Rhondi xo

The Ugly Duckling Becomes A Swan

In the last post I showed you the bench I got at Goodwill. Here it is now. I'm not sure if this is the final version. My plan was to paint some stripes or something on the legs, but I decided to just leave the legs white for now. The fabric is one of my UFOs. For you non quilters that is an unfinished object. Every quilter has lots of them! It was made with men's shirts that I picked up at Goodwill. I already had all those blocks sewn together with the border of stripes, so I just took it apart and used only what I needed for this project. There is enough left over to make a couple of cushion covers or something. The border just happened to be the exact size for the footstool!

I just happened to have this fringe here too. It came off some old curtains that I got at a thrift shop. This definitely is a thrifted project! Unfortunately I don't have enough trim to go all the way around. The sides you can see in the photo have trim but the ones you can't see don't! So since this has been such a low budget project so far, I am going to keep my eyes open for some trim that is similar and just have 2 different trims on it!

I am very happy with how it turned out.On Friday 2 books that I ordered from Amazon arrived in the mail. I only had a time for a brief glance at them so I have made myself a cup of tea and I am going to put my feet up on my new footstool and get inspired for my next project.

Hope that you are having a restful Sunday. That's what I intend to do.

Rhondi xo

An Ugly Duckling

Every once in awhile I find something good at Goodwill. This was my latest find, only $10 but it was seniors day so I got it for $7.50. It's a good size, 32" x 45" and nice and sturdy. I can picture it as a coffee table piled with books, or holding a big tray filled with goodies for tea, or wine and cheese, or as a footstool or even extra seating in our living room. I have some left over fabric to use and I'm thinking of painting the legs in Mackenzie Childs style. Stay tuned.... Have you got an ugly duckling at your house just waiting to be transformed into a swan?

Rhondi xo

A Thrifting We Will Go

Who doesn't like to get a bargain especially these days when the economy is so uncertain! Over the past couple of weeks, I've picked up a few things at my local Goodwill. It's not a great one at all but every once in awhile I find something that follows me home.
I couldn't resist these little dessert plates at 50 cents each.
Each one has a different picture and words around the rim.

Aren't they cute? Wouldn't they be fun at a party with this cake?
This is a silhouette cut out of a thin 1/8" piece of wood. On the bottom it says "handcraft collectibles by Barb & John" and it has "Geathering" written by hand, so I think it is a handmade one of a kind piece. I love the way it stands out against the plain wall. It's small, about 8" long and 6" high. It was only $2.

I find it hard to resist Mary Englebreit things. I know some of you think they're too cutsey, but I like them. This is a big cookie jar that I got for $5. For now she is in our guest bedroom, sitting in front of the paint by numbers picture I got earlier this year.
A nice cross stitched towel which will be fun for Christmas. I got 2 of them for 50 cents each.
I saved the best for last. I picked up this little figurine for only $1.99. I noticed it right away and thought it looked like a Bing & Grondahl piece from Denmark. I know they are expensive but thought perhaps it was a copy. It had the markings on the bottom which looked like they could be real. When I got it home I looked up the markings and to my delight found that it is real! There was one on Ebay for sale for $125! Yippee!! I got a deal!! Don't you love it when that happens?

Isn't it a precious piece?

It's found a home on the table beside my bed. I just love it.
Isn't it silly how finding some sweet thrifted thing for your home can give you pleasure? It's fun to find joy in the little things in life. They say the best things in life are free. Maybe the second best things in life are thrifted treasures!

It's quite cool here this morning but the sun shining through the trees in the backyard and it is a glorious day. Just looking out the window brings joy to my heart. Hope you find some joy in your day. Sometimes you have to look hard for it, but it's there to be found.

Rhondi xo

Thrift Shop Finds

Hello my blogging friends. I think it's time for a cup of tea. Have you got time to join me for a few minutes? I am getting out a nice old cup and saucer instead of a mug which is what I usually have. I've got 2 of these so I'll get one for you too. Make yourself comfortable. I'll bring in the teapot. On Tuesday the Goodwill here has senior's day which means 2o% off for seniors. I didn't find a thing! There is this one lady who is always there when I go and as usual her cart was loaded to the top with some great looking stuff. I don't know how she does it, but it appears as if she just gets there at the right time. I must admit it makes me mad that she always gets so much. I think she is probably a dealer. It will give me great satisfaction some day when I am able to snatch a treasure from right under her nose! That's not very nice of me is it?


There is one litle thrift shop near me which seldom has anything but I got a couple of things there today. This metal and glass hanging thing which I hung in the kitchen window. It has a slight tint of blue in the glass which I like and will look very pretty when the sun shines in in the afternoon.

I also got this very nice needlepoint pillow and a cute plate made in Portugal. I spent a total of $4 for the whole lot, so I felt it was a successful outing.
Lots of you commented on how neat my studio was and that the space where that your work space is messy. Just thought I'd show you my studio , not even 24 hours since I took the last photos. Actually it doesn't look too bad yet but the photo doesn't show all the little pieces of fabric all over the floor.
When you leave I'm going to have second cup of tea and read. I just went to the library and got Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon. I've enjoyed the entire Mitford series so I am sure this one will be good too.

Hope your day is going well. Please come back again. I love our visits.

Rhondi xo