Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Garage Sale Finds, Makevers, and Tea Time Tuesday

I found this delightful little chair at a garage sale a couple of Saturdays ago and was happy to purchase it for $2. My husband was a bit mystified as to why I would want it. He wondered what I would do with a chair that has such a low back on it. I told him not to worry, I would find the perfect spot to use it!


















I knew I didn't want it to remain in its existing state of drabness and when I saw what a lovely makeover Lili over at Fearless Nesting did with a small table recently, I decided I would use her ideas for inspiration in my own makeover project.  

My first step was to give it a good coat of glossy paint in a buttery cream colour.

















Next, I took fine sandpaper and sanded off areas where the chair would normally show some wear.

















Lili recommended a wonderful site where you can download for free some beautiful vintage images, including the lovely tea rose she chose to decoupage to her table. Unfortunately, I don't have a colour printer, so I went looking at Michael's instead and came up with a piece of scrapbooking paper that reminded me of vintage wallpaper. At yet another garage sale, I found a remnant of material that I just knew would go perfectly with the chair and with the scrapbooking paper. I just love the mixture of chocolate brown and soft pink!


















I debated different shapes that would go well for the decoupage and finally cut out a circular shape for the centre of the chair back, along with a few other pieces so it wouldn't look quite so symmetrical.  I glued them into position and then applied two coats of high gloss modge podge. And here's the end result:


















I'm so pleased with the way it turned out and the fact that it is just the perfect size to fit in our bay window as a neat little reading or occasional chair.

And before I go, here's another little garage sale find that I am extremely pleased about.


It's a very tiny little cup, a tea cup?  or perhaps a demitasse?  I haven't had a chance to do any research on it yet, but it's marked R C with a crown symbol and then Versailles Bavaria.  It's absolutely gorgeous and in great condition although there is a small chip on the saucer.  I have a tea cup collection and I'm so pleased whenever I find something unique to add to the collection.


















The funniest thing was they wanted only $1 for it, but were asking $5 for a Hannah Montana key chain that was right beside it!!!  I thought that was just too funny for words.  Nothing against Hannah Montana, or against key chains in general, but I'm guessing my little Bavarian cup and saucer might be worth just a tad more.

And in honour of my new-found tea cup, I am participating today in Tea Time Tuesday at one of the most beautiful blogs I've come across, Rose Chintz Cottage and Inspiration.


Sandy has asked us to include an inspirational saying, quote, or poem.  Here's one I thought would be perfect for such a lovely sunny Tuesday.

The Sun Never Says

Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth,
"You owe Me."

Look what happens with
A love like that, 
It lights the Whole Sky.

From the Gift of Haviz
Translated by D. Ladinsky

17 comments:

  1. What an adorable little chair!! You are so darn creative! Wish I had that talent! Bet your hubby was impressed!!

    That is funny about the tea cup $1 and the Hannah Montanna keychain for $5!! That tea cup really is gorgeous!!

    Beautifully written little poem..thanks for sharing!!

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  2. I have never seen a marking like that on a tea cup. I am curious. If you find anything out please share with us. The teacup is absolutley beautiful!! I would take it over a HM keychain any day.
    Your project turned out beautifully.
    Hope to see you next week. We would love to have you as a follower!
    Blessings, Pam

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  3. Hi Ro Magnolia,
    What a great makeover you performed on that little chair; it's darling!! Love the little teacup too! Wonderful find! Wonderful little verse as well. I've enjoyed my visit very much. Thanks for sharing and for joining me for Tea Time. Have yourself a lovely day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  4. Hey Ro,
    Fantastic job on the chair. Very 'cottage' lovely. What does Hubby think of it now? :-)

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  5. Hello :) Your chair makeover turned out so beautifully! I too love taking things that look to be old and worn out and breathing new life into them. And I must say, I LOVE your sweet cup! It's in my favorite colors to decorate in, pink and green!

    Hope you'll stop by my blog if you get a chance, I've got 2 giveaways going on right now, and they both end this friday. You'll find details to each for entering on my sidebar :)

    Have a lovely "Tea" day :)

    Warmest, Brenda

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  6. You did a beautiful job making over that chair.

    And the cup is lovely...very definitely worth more than the $1 you paid for it.

    Have a lovely, blessed day,
    Patti (Fill My Cup with Beauty)

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  7. What a sweet little chair! You did some great work on it.

    (And to answer your question, yes, those letters were all written by my mother in my first months. She gave them to me a few years ago, and I just couldn't resist sharing them. Thanks for the follow!)

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  8. Fabulous job on the chair. I am amazed at that creative gene you've got going. My grandma collected teacups and saucers, too. I know that she would have snatched that one up in a heartbeat (just like you). Have you tried googling the info on the cup? I google everything.

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  9. what a clever and creative person you are :) and I do love the little teacup and saucer - both are brilliant finds

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  10. Like you, I would take the cup and saucer over the key chain any day! Lovely!

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  11. what a great transformation on the chair! gorgeous!

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  12. Love your little chair. And the teacup is gorgeous! Much better then a key chain.

    Jocelyn
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

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  13. So happy to have found your blog and just became a follower too, Char

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  14. Hello Ro!

    What a cute trash to treasure! Those hubbies just do not have the eye for seeing the potential in a great find!! Your makeover is wonderful and I like the idea with the vintage image on the back!!

    I love the long tall style of your pretty teacup! Eat your heart out Hannah ;-))
    Thanks for sharing your pretty things!!

    Hugs and Smiles,
    Lynn

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  15. Oh Ro, what a great makeover! That chocolate brown and soft pink combo is beautiful. You are so sweet to mention me as your inspiration, your chair is an inspiration to me, as I love the way you sanded it to look worn in all the right places! That teacup and saucer is a real find and is one of my favorite color combinations too. Thanks so much for sharing this, I loved seeing your makeover! ~Lili

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  16. Hi Ro, What a unique idea with scrapbooking paper, the chair looks so sweet. What a great find, the cup and saucer. I have an addiction to garage sales and their so much fun too, looks like you got lucky that day. My Mom has a wonderful collection of vintage tea cup and dishes too. Have a wonderful Wednesday! Sandy:O)

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  17. The chair was a steal at $2!! And I just love what you did with it! So sweet... I also love tea cups (I would have jumped all over it for $1!!). I recently found a sweet one and let my 4-yr old daughter use it as her own. :)

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