My Blog

Repurposed cupboard

01/18/2012 11:43:00

Several years ago we moved from an old house to our new home. In the basement of this old house was a very old, very dirty cupboard that the previous owner used to store nuts and bolts and dirty nails in. There were grease spots on every shelf and it weighed a million pounds. (My husband's estimate.)

Much to my husband's dismay, I had no intention of leaving this cupboard behind. We traded strong opinions about this cupboard....but as you can see....someone lost the argument and it wasn't me. Tee hee.

I have refurbished and repurposed this amazing cupboard into my office....and when I open the doors for the day....I am open for business.

I store all of my office supplies, files, pens etc in it and when I am done for the day, I simply close the doors. Looking at images for kitchen signs, I came across the Crow Hollow Bed & Breakfast sign and instantly fell in love. So instead of painting it on a board to be hung, I painted it on my cupboard. We began an instant love affair.

Never overlook the possibility of transforming an old cupboard into a useful work and storage solution. One day soon I will open the cupboarddoors for you all to see that not only is it my 'office ' but I also have it decorated with things I love to see and that bring me great joy.

Create a Laundry Room that pulls you in.

01/02/2012 15:36:00

All of my adult life I have looked at doing laundry and more specifically ironing, as a necessary evil. I never looked forward to doing laundry and could dream of at least a million better (more fun) ways to spend my time.

But somewhere along the line it dawned on me that if I liked the space I did laundry in I wouldn't mind the task as much.

So I put lime green counter tops on white cabinets for a clean, bright look. Then I started to look for Paint By Number pictures at yard sales and second hand stores. I was especially drawn to the Paint By Number pictures that are of rural life or woodsy scenes.

Now as I fold clothes or iron I enjoy gazing at these works of art and daydreaming of wondering down a country road or through the woods. I am amazed by the meticulous painting of someone long ago who loving spent countless hours to create these pictures.

I have several other paint by number pictures in my laundry room. Even my little sock monkey buddy likes to hang out adding just enough whimsy to tickle my fancy.

Holiday decorating doesn't have to cost alot to make a big impact

12/13/2011 11:18:00

Sock Monkey is here to show you that beautiful Holiday Decorations don't have to be expensive to pack a big punch. I bought the collection of ornament jars at 3 separate tag sales for about $1.00 each.

The decorations on the recycled table top tree are key chains with a games theme. Some of the keychains are: Scrabble, Monopoly, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Battleship, Mouse Trap and Operation...just to name a few. These were also bought at various garage sales for hardly anything. Even the packages were scooped up at garages sales

Our children and grandchildren love to look over all the keychains and remember all of the fun that they have had playing the games.

The total cost for the hallway alcove decorating was just a few dollars but has become a wonderful family tradition that we enjoy every year.

Decorating with retro globes.

12/01/2011 23:23:00

Within the last two years I have developed a LOVE for vintage globes. It didn't happen suddenly...but instead grew slowly each time I found a globe at an estate sale or garage sale. In the beginning, I would buy up a globe and then sell it in my Etsy store. But gradually their beauty began to appeal to me. Now I decorate my husband's office with them by grouping them together on shelves or singly in a little vintage vignette. Sock Monkey loves globes too because he says that make him feel like he is on top of the world. Ha!

I was going to share a picture of a grouping of globes on a tall shelf unit (also rescued from a garage), but realized that I would first need to tidy up the books, etc. that are displayed on the shelves.

Sock Monkey shows you my personal magic cupboard

11/11/2011 11:11:00

Even though I have a magic cupboard for each of my grandchickens, it only recently dawned on me that I too have several magic cupboards of my own. Sock Monkey is here to show you my collection of vintage brass bells. I have been collecting them over the years and keep them in my bedroom on a shelf in an old secretary that belonged to a great aunt.

My grandchildren love to sit at the secretary and open the glass doors to look at all of the bells. Often we take a few down and ring them. The types of bells and decoration of each are varied. My granddaughter loves the Owl Bells. One of my favorites is a bell with a sea horse handle.

We have cow bells, school bells, sleigh bells, and bells of sarna ... all of which are vintage. None of these bells were in and of themselves very expensive. I paid anywhere from 50 cents to a few dollars apiece, but they make such a beautiful vignette on their own shelf in my own magic cupboard.

Vintage Bathroom Decor

11/03/2011 09:54:00

Did you ever wonder what to do with all of those little soaps that you pick up from hotels? My in-laws travel much of the year and always bring me back a shopping bag of goodies filled with soaps, shampoos and lotions. My little sock monkey pal and I put the soaps in a vintage cookie jar in my guest bathroom. My family and guests always have a fresh bar to choose from and then I throw it away once they leave.

Family Room Decor

11/01/2011 21:20:00

My beloved bulldog Emma Marie passed away about a year and a half ago. Shortly after she died I was perusing a garage sale and stumbled upon this needlepoint pillow. The likeness to my Emma Marie was astonishing! Of course I bought it and it has been adorning my chair ever since. The cost: $4.00.

Sock Monkey Ghostie flys in to share this picture perfect idea!

10/31/2011 13:06:00

Sock Monkey Ghostie has flown in to show off this fab old vintage window that was repurposed as a picture frame. My daughter found this at a flea market and attached some family photos with a clear one sided adhesive sheet cut just slightly larger than each photo.

These photos can be easily switched out for updated ones.

Decorating the hallway with vintage finds.

10/26/2011 09:07:00

My long tall hallway was in need of some decorating and one lucky day this past summer I happened upon this large landscape painting by Lee Reynolds of the Vanguard Studios in California. It was most likely painted in the 1960's or 70's. I paid $3.00 for it.

Then I drove to another sale about 4 miles away and found this fabulous vintage wrought iron bench and bought it for $30.00.

Maben Monkey is so thrilled to have another place to jump up to and rest awhile.

Laundry Room Sign

10/24/2011 08:20:00

One morning I was rummaging at a neighbor's garage sale and saw this old wood ironing board standing in the corner. I paid $2.00 for it, took it home and simply stenciled the word Laundry onto the surface. I left the surface just as I found it stains included. Now it serves two purposes: it reminds me what this room is used for in case I forget and this great sign is the perfect place for my little sock monkey pal to sit!