Rolling in the Monet

You know how people plan out what they would buy if they won the lottery?

Like, if I won the lottery we'd buy a house with a backyard. Nothing fancy, just one where our dogs can run free. Well, as free as you can get with a fenced in yard. And of course we'd buy new cars and give a shitload to our family and to some of our friends. Not all of our friends, just our favorite ones. Basically, if you read my blog then I'm talking about you. You're a top favorite. A top contender for my hypothetical lottery money.

But my splurge? My splurge would be a Monet. Can one even buy an original Monet? I don't know how easy it would be to get my hands on one. I'm guessing it's next to impossible, but if I were to ever hit it big, I'd track down a Monet. I won't even be picky about it. I think any Monet will do just fine.

I went thrifting on Sunday with my parents (over at Davey's Vintage), and bought a Monet coffee table book. It was $4 and quite the splurge. In fact, at one point I talked myself out of it. Instead, I walked up to the register with a $2 famous painters and paintings book. As I stood at the register flipping through it, I said, "screw this!" I didn't even like the paintings in that book. So I talked myself into springing for Monet: A Retrospective.

Sure, it's the equivalent of two bean burritos more than the other book, but Taco Bell should never come between a girl and her love for Monet. They are all so gorgeous and lovely. Here are a few of my favorites:

5. Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt: Winter Effect

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4. Road in the Forest of Fountainbleau

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3. Poplars on the Epte

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2. Water Lilies (1916) (I love all the versions of Water Lilies, though)

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1. Sunset at Etretat

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Until I strike it rich, I'm happy with a print. Heck, I'm just grateful for my coffee table book! 

So do tell, who is your favorite painter, and what's your favorite style?  

Thriftin' Thursday: Lincoln Crossing Sale

It's that time of the year for Lincoln Crossing's semi-annual community garage sale. Lincoln Crossing is a 2,900 home community in Lincoln, CA, and the sale will be held this Saturday, October 2, 2010 from 8am to 3pm. Anyone interested in hitting up the sales can stop by Club Lincoln at 830 Groveland Lane on the corner of Ferrari Ranch Road and Groveland Lane for a map of the participating homes.

My parents and I have always managed to find some great treasures at this event, and I'm sure this year will be no exception. This past spring we found a vintage bedroom set which was divvied between my parents and I. My parents got the headboard and nightstands, and Nick and I scored the dresser. My dad is in the process of refinishing and repurposing the dresser into a TV stand. As soon as it's complete, I will be sure to post pictures. Of course, we also found tons of other goodies including an end table for our living room (which will also be getting a nice coat of new paint), some children's books (I just so happened to be taking a children's materials class at the time), and a few vintage-y tea saucers I used at my best friend's bridal shower. I wonder what Saturday's sale will have in store for us...

Thriftin' Thursday: Yard Sale Tips

I don't know if anyone has managed to see The Nate Burkus Show. If you haven't, I can't say that you're missing anything (no offense, Nate Burkus, if you're reading this), but I did like the idea of the episode: Going Vogue at Home on a Budget. In this episode, Nate and guests explored furnishing homes with Craigslist finds as well as cashing in on vintage goods stashed in the attic. Since this was the only Nate Burkus Show I had seen, I wondered if every episode would revolve around home decor given the area of Nate's expertise. Being the librarian that I am (at heart, anyways), I did a little research and ended up on The Nate Burkus Show website.

While I was able to answer my question (yes and no, the show is about "living beautifully" which involves home design and then some), I also stumbled upon Nate's Guide to Flea Market Shopping. It's filled with juicy tips about hitting flea markets, and it reminded me of Emily Henderson's (HGTV Design Star 2010) 10 Shopping Secrets From a Stylist. I can't say I have much flea market experience (although I hope to someday), but I can see how their tips translate to yard sales (and garage sales and rummage sales) and estate sales. Inspired by Nate and Emily's insider secrets, I am here to share a few tips about having success at those weekend bargain sales.

Image courtesy of Eastlaketimes

Make a List: I agree with Emily when she says to identify your needs. Being organized helps when it comes to hitting up yard sales. Before embarking on your adventure (i.e., the night before, at the very latest), identify what you're looking for. This doesn't mean you have to ignore everything that doesn't fall onto your list; it just helps you to stay focused. On your list, remember to include any pertinent details that will help you to purchase the right items. For example, write down the measurements of the nook you hope to fit a TV stand in or include the dimensions of the print you want to find a frame for. I don't know how many times I've told myself that I would remember measurements, but later drew a blank when stared in the face with a potentially good find. Knowing a ballpark figure only helps if you want to end up with multiples of items that are the wrong size.

Image courtesy of william c hutton jr

Get an Early Start: Every serious thrifter knows this rule, but the casual garage-saler may not. If you start too late, you'll probably be disappointed. Grab a cup of coffee and hit the sales early (read: when the sales open, but not before. You'll probably piss some people off if you show up when they're trying to set up their sale an hour before it's supposed to begin). And if the sale starts on Friday and you can't make it until Saturday morning, don't even bother. You're way too late for whatever it is that you may be looking for. Keep your chin up, though. There are plenty of sales that are Saturday or Saturday and Sunday only.

Image courtesy of Chiot's Run

Think Outside the Box: Or as Nate puts it, "look for potential." Many things can be changed. If a lamp is the right size, shape, and style, but the wrong color, it does not mean you have to ditch the idea of purchasing it. You may be able to paint it and give it the face lift it needs. Don't be nervous about reinventing or repurposing a find, either. If there is one thing that is true about our society it is that we operate on information overload (thank goodness for librarians). So even though you've never refinished a piece of furniture or reupholstered a chair cushion, there are plenty of DYI tutorials and tips on the Internet and the library. Thinking outside the box also goes for accessories. Maybe you don't have enough room in your kitchen to store a cool, oversized serving bowl, but would that serving bowl look good as a centerpiece on your dining room table? Perhaps you could fill it with pine cones or seashells and use it as an accessory rather than just another serving piece taking space in your kitchen cupboards.

Image courtesy of Peacock Modern

Don't Let a Good Find Get Away: If you like something and it's $2 more than you would like to spend, but the seller won't come down on the price, buy it anyway. Take it from me. And Nate. He says, "everything at the flea market is one of a kind. You won't see it again anytime soon, but you will regret it for a long time if you let a good find get away." Not buying something because the seller won't come down a couple of bucks is not going to teach him or her a lesson. If it's a cool piece someone else will buy it, and the only person who will have been schooled is you. So if it is exactly what you're looking for, be sure to scoop it up.

Image courtesy of william c hutton jr

Bring Equipment: Remember that list you made? Don't forget it, and don't forget your measuring tape either. Also, if you're in it for the long haul, bring a bottle of water with you. You'll be amazed at how quickly rummaging around in other people's belongings works up a thirst. Yes, you can make a pit stop at the store, but then you're losing precious yard sale time! And last, but not least, bring some hand sanitizer with you, for heaven's sake. Maybe I am just a germ-a-phobe, so you can take or leave the hand sanitizer if you want.

Image courtesy of ex.libris

Thriftin' Thursday: Friends in Low Places

I'm sure I've found some pretty funny things at thrift stores and garage sales, but this one really made me chuckle.

And then I had to wonder if this was a gag gift or if someone just enjoyed staring at Britney and Madonna, Arnold and Maria, and the cast of Friends every day.

Thriftin' Thursday: Favorite Summer Finds

I think I've developed some sort of addiction to garage sales and thrift stores. It must be genetic, and now that I am done with school I find myself itching to hit up the sales at Goodwill and Thrift Town. I think I even start salivating whenever I see a garage sale sign. The truth is, I'm ready to tackle the unfinished decorating in our house, and there are certain pieces that I know I can find on the cheap. While I didn't get out to the sales as much as I would have liked this summer (thanks to my records management class), I did score some cool things here and there.

I'm working on a project and managed to collect a few frames to help build my piece de resistance. Don't get too excited about that beautiful flower print, though. While I did find it at a thrift store, I've been hanging on to it for a while so it didn't actually come in that frame.

If that wasn't a big enough clue about what I'm working on, here is another favorite find. I found this floral watercolor in a clear, acrylic frame. I'm ditching the frame and hanging on to the art. I love the beautiful purples and blues and can't wait until I finish my project.

I love looking for old books at garage sales. I think I scored big time with these. If I wanted, I can use the John Kieran book for its artwork inside, and I've definitely gotten a few chuckles out of Eleanor Roosevelt's etiquette book. I especially like this passage which pertains to the good wife, "she will manage to have her husband's well prepared breakfast on the table, and to greet him with neat hair and neat dress and a pleasant smile by the time he has finished shaving. If she has to get up fifteen minutes earlier than she would otherwise in order to manage this she will do so as a matter of course." After I've built up my collection, I plan to ditch the jackets and use the books for decoration.

This find was kind of exciting for me. During my summer internship at a medical library, the librarian that I worked under told me how fabulous Biba is. Biba is the creation of the wife of a physician at the hospital that the library is a part of. When I found this at a garage sale, I knew I had to have it. I haven't made any of the recipes (or attempted to) yet, but I am going to. I swear!

So, those are some fun summer finds. I have to admit that I found this cool cheese platter at a garage sale this summer, and I am kicking myself in the butt for not getting it. I was too cheap, but it is still on my mind. Maybe that will be my next find!

Garage Sale Goodies

I have been keeping my eye out for an inexpensive entry way table to put under the stairs for, oh, I don't know... almost 2 years now. Everything that we have really liked has been super expensive which explains the vacant spot under our stairs. Not that we have been actively looking, but I knew someday we would find something we loved that was in our price range as long as we had patience. Yesterday that day finally came!

Out on a mission at Lincoln Crossing's 1st annual (hopefully) community garage sale, my mom and I had our eyes open for furniture pieces. After about an hour, 20 or so drive-bys, and spring time drizzle we came across the steal of the century. We bought a piece that is normally upwards of $ 1,000 for $ 70. I am not kidding you... 7-0 DOLLARS (negotiated down from $ 75). I can't believe our luck! Thanks to a couple who was moving and had no need for this beautiful butcher block top island two people are now very happy to have one more thing checked off of their list.

By the way, mom found a Gap skirt with a gorgeous print for creating a one-of-a-kind purse and a cool wrought iron plant stand. Yes, we are some bargain hunting gals and we are psyched for next year's sale extravaganza.