Why I do this crazy stuff

I just recently had a yard sale and was so excited to feature some of my Urban Barnyard pieces that I just finished. I set up a section of the sale for the "Boutique". I wanted a section that I could feature some of my pieces, but I needed to get more than yard sale prices for them. So, I figured if I called it a "Boutique" then people wouldn't freak out when they saw that a dresser wasn't marked $5. I had some of my friends put stuff in the yard sale too and it was so much fun! We laughed and ate ridiculous amounts of junk food (with the exception of the veggie tray...that's a whole different story) What a great way to get rid of our junk and make some extra money too!

Why do I do this crazy stuff? I'm not sure if you asked me this question a few days ago, I would have an answer for you, but today I realized I do it because it makes me smile! I love finding old pieces and giving them a new chance at life. Take this old desk for example...
I found it at Good will for $19.99 and I was immediately drawn to the fact that it was a roll top desk, and that it was smaller than the monsters you usually see. I had to have it! After several hours of sanding, painting, sealing and adding some really pretty glass knobs here she is all finished! Isn't it beautiful?



On that same trip to Goodwill, I also found this old birdcage.



It was a little bit more expensive...$29.99, but once again I had to have it. I have seen birdcages like this retail in the $300-$400 range. Do I need a huge birdcage? NO, not really. I don't even like birds, but I love birdcages. This one was in pretty rough shape, so I cleaned it, painted it (several colors) and finally settled on this crazy, wild Aqua color! I LOVE IT!!!
I had so many people at the sale ask me how much it was, and I kept going up in price because I didn't really want to sell it! So now, it is sitting in my living room where it really doesn't match ANYTHING in my house, but I've decided that doesn't really matter. Who wouldn't want a HUGE aqua birdcage RIGHT???

I was also able to finish another french style dresser that I have had in my garage for 6 months.
I love the way this blue color looks,(oops paint $5 a can from Home Depot) I kept the original hardware on it, it really added to the vintage look I was going for.

I was able to sell all these pieces (not the birdcage) and several other pieces that day. And although I was running around like a crazy lady trying to get all these pieces finished before the sale, it was totally worth it when I saw the look on people's faces when they got to take them home.

I'm taking a break now...well until I get up enough energy to finish the numerous pieces still in my garage, but I never stop looking for those perfect pieces that need me to rescue them and give them a new chance at life. Thanks for stopping by.

Love,
Kris

Jackson's Radio Flyer Birthday

It's not everyday that your LAST baby turns one. Did you notice how I put the emphasis on LAST??? Yep, he is going to be our last baby and although that has a sad, final sound to it, it also makes me so happy because it gives a really good reason to make every birthday the best it can be. It is no secret that I love to plan, decorate and pretty much go over the top for all my kids birthdays. It makes Scott go bonkers, but in my mind this is how I justify it....it is the one day a year that it is all about them. No one can take their special day away and if I can do a little something to make them feel extra special, well...them I'm gonna do it.

Case in point. I have been planning Jackson's 1st birthday since he was 6 mo old. I know, crazy many of you may think, but this is how my mind works. I have to come up with a theme in order to start looking for all of my treasures. And a little side note, if you plan ahead, it gives you lots and lots of time to hit all the thrift stores to find even more treasures for a better deal.

Jackson's 1st Birthday theme was Radio Flyer. I fell in love with this theme for several reasons. One, do you remember the Radio Flyer wagon I got at the church yard sale for $3, the one that I fixed up??



Well, I also found this most precious Radio Flyer pair of overalls at "Once upon a Child" in Gilbert for $6...had to have them, ooh I feel a theme coming on. Once I decided that I was going to go with a Radio Flyer theme, I put the word out and my friends and family started looking for things that were Radio Flyer. Amazing how much stuff is actually out there. OK, OK on with all the fun cute little details..

I started with his birthday pictures. I always include a picture in the invites that I send out. I make it so that whoever is receiving the invite can take the picture out and have it to keep. Jackson takes really great pictures, so this part was easy. I dressed him in his over-alls and we just went out into the back yard. I took his wagon with us and it served as the perfect prop.




This theme was perfect for a red & white checkered table cloth and sunflowers for the food table. I found this really cute little wooden wagon at the thrift store, so it became the perfect place to display the cookie favors for everyone to take home when they left. I also had collected several of these little wagons from the thrift stores. They made perfect centerpieces for all of the guest tables.




The rest of the party was pretty straight forward, I just let you glance at some of the pictures. The weather was great, the company was wonderful and we couldn't have asked for a better night to celebrate our "last" baby turning one. We are so very blessed to have such a loving family and great friends.








Sorry about the layout of all the pictures, I'm still trying to learn how this blog thing works.