Shabby Trash to Chic Treasure, or We loved Vintage, before Vintage was "Cool"

It is SO WONDERFUL that buying Vintage is all the Rage. It is pure, guilt free shopping at it's best. Endulge your inner shopper and save the planet all at the same time! Even when we were in Paris, our shopping guide told us that the designer shops were seeing a huge decline, while the vintage shops were seeing record business! Our mantra: "Recycle, Re-Use, Re-invent, Rejuvenate!". Nothing is more exciting than rescuing a cast off, turning it into something vibrant and beautiful, then sharing it with others.

Sometimes it's really very simple to turn trash to treasure. Just keep your eyes and your mind open to the possibilities. Last week I found these great glass plates at a thrift store. They are a wonderful design with Fleur di Lis and wheat impressions. The same day I found footed desert bowls and some low goblets at a garage sale.

Placed together, the dessert bowls fit just exactly in the bottom bubble ridge of the plate, creating a darling and sturdy riser or cake plate. I thought about using glass glue to permanently attach them, but left unattached, the cup can be filled with anything from decorative buttons, to rock candy or colored M&Ms to match your decor.

Here is one with the taller goblet. It is hard to tell, but this one is filled with vintage white bobbins of thread.
I found these plates the same day. They are white and decorated with gold Fleur di Lis'. For this double decker plate, I did permanently bond the goblet to the plate. Cover it with petit fours at your next garden party, use it in your bath for extra room on your counters, or just add a little additional height in your decorating. If you would rather skip the "make it yourself" part, all three of these fun styles are available right now at the Red Shed for only $14.95 each.

When we found these custom kneeling/prayer benches, that I'm sure were made for a wedding, I knew they would get a lot more use as a shabby plant stand.
At first I thought I would remove the cushions and put some cut glass in, then I realized that all I had to do was remove the foam, and I already had perfectly cut boards, so with a little primer and paint....Ready to go... There are two, so how great would they look side by side and covered with plants, or flanking a great vintage glider.
In the "hold it down, or it will be painted WHITE" department.... I'm sure you remember our antique initial foundry molds. This is how they started....
After lots of sanding, painting and priming, this was how they finished. I think these are the only two we have left. This shows how they are reversible. Convex on one side and concave on the other. If any of you who bought our other initials (especially the LARGE ones), have done something creative with them (or even if they are just on a wall) Please send us a photo to include on the blog! We love "after" photos as much as anyone!I live in a little community with lots of sweet older folks. When ever I take a big piece of wood furniture into my front yard to paint, they will come by on their walks and say "Nooooo!, You are NOT going to paint that WOOD!" I just say "YES!!!" and a whole new generation is going to LOVE it, and USE it, instead of it going to the landfill!".
Case in point....
And after.........I was not wild about these chairs in their original form....The table that went with them is in the back of this photo. There is always lots of wood glue, wood fillers, and sanding involved.....I had a bunch of furniture in my front yard that day...so lot's of visits....
Before seat cushions....
And the final result. This table was absolutely gorgeous, but it went so fast to it's new home with Julie H., that I wasn't even sure if we had a photo of it. Look at the double carved legs on each corner...
A simple pedestal goes from boring....
To BAM! (Just keep saying...."White Paint Is My Friend.....")
I am just sick that I don't have a before photo of this one. Michele J bought this 90 hole cubby in Round Top, and it was just falling apart, straight wood cubbies (literally the sides were falling off, and the dividers were falling out...of course it didn't help that we parked in the wrong parking lot when we went back to fetch it, and we had to throw it over a fence.....wish we had a picture of that one!) I once again digress....MJ took it home and just fabu-lisized it! She added the side and top molding and of course, white paint to make it truly a treasure.....I think I may have shown this one before, but I just loved this table for the short amount of time we had it. It actually was the "black sheep" and got a coat of black...
We can't claim the credit for the next one. A friend of ours bought some great wagon wheels and an axle at a garage sale. He also had an old Duncan Phyfe table, languishing in his garage, so he married the two and made our wonderful Flower Cart. This is the color it was when we got it...
But a little black paint and it became the star or our garden room during the last sale...
Finally, how many of you remember the chair that went with the fabulous French sofa that we had at the last sale? Well the cane-ing had seen it's better day, but our smart client, Sharon G., saw those great bones and grabbed it right up!

She Really Re-Invented this chair! I love the French lines with the Navajo print, and don't ya know that every person who comes to her home asks "Where did you get that Chair?"
At the Red Shed, of course! In a few days I will have a few more fun projects to show you that the glue wasn't quite dry on yet. In the mean time.....don't forget to mark you calendars for our "French Market" Sale on June 27th. We still have all of our vintage Paris purchases under wraps and waiting to come out on that day! We will also have some wonderful new decorative items all with a French Flair....stay tuned for sneak peek previews!