Tag Archives: vintage

Vintage Estate Sale Find of the Week– Early 1900s Antique Gentleman’s Wardrobe Cabinet that I Refinished and Updated Do It Yourself Style

ichoosehappynow.com34

I love vintage, estate and thrift shopping. On a weekly basis I would like to feature my favorite “find” of the week.

In a previous blog I mentioned my life as a treasure hunter. I crave for my vintage fixes.

This week I am presenting an antique gentleman’s wardrobe made in the early 1900s.   I do not have a before picture, but when I found this cabinet the varnish was faded, discolored and scratched, and the original bronze fixtures were painted black.

This was a weekend do it yourself project where I sanded the wood down to remove the old varnish.  When I got a smooth texture I put 2 layers of cherry stain varnish finish (It is a product that has the stain and varnish combined).

ichoosehappynow.com33

I removed the black paint that covered the bronze fixtures with turpentine so it’s beauty could just be enhanced.ichoosehappynow.com31

This project took about 3 days because I had to wait until the cherry stain varnish dried before I could put a second layer.

I consider this piece to be one of my great finds.

I really believe that if you know what you are looking for you can make someone’s trash into treasure! I feel like that about life too…you can make a challenge into a blessing…it’s all perspective.

I hope you have a wonderful day filled with joy and happiness!

 

Vintage Estate Sale Find of the Week– Early 1900s Antique Chair

ichoosehappynow.com35

I love vintage, estate and thrift shopping. On a weekly basis I would like to feature my favorite “find” of the week.

In a previous blog I mentioned my life as a treasure hunter. I crave for my vintage fixes.

This week I am presenting an antique chair made in the early 1900s.  It is made of a rich cherry stained wood and has vintage wheels on the bottom.

The side is carved simply giving it an elegant yet rustic feel.  It is very comfortable and can fit adults and children alike.  Eventually I would like to reupholster it by myself.  I am now sourcing easy, do it yourself, reupholstering instructions as we speak, and I will write about it in a future post.  If you have any interesting links on home reupholstering please send it my way.

ichoosehappynow.com36

ichoosehappynow.com37

This was another piece that I purchased to sell online, but once again I fell in love with it and decided to keep it.  Pretty soon my house will be covered with all my “treasures” and I will have no choice, but to move to a new house or sell my vintage finds!

I really believe that if you know what you are looking for you can make someone’s trash into treasure! I feel like that about life too…you can make a challenge into a blessing…it’s all perspective.

I hope you have a wonderful day filled with joy and happiness!

 

Halloween Is Around the Corner and Making My Own Costume “Do It Yourself” Style!

When you have kids Halloween is a big deal. It is the one time of year they can knock on every door and ask for treats.

Halloween is the “hall pass” day where our kids are allowed to eat as much candy as they want. They look forward to this day because I am usually a stickler about not eating too many sweets.

We have picked our pumpkins from the farm and carved the “ghoulish” faces.

pumpkin7

pumpkinpumpkin5

Today I am going to share with you my “do it yourself” Halloween costume. I am not much of a crafty sewer, but I decided to give it a swing and modify a vintage 1960s psychedelic moo moo robe. My goal was to make it look more of a hip 1960s dress.

halloween

I did the following: (For this project I used a sewing machine that I have not touched in over 2 years.)

1. I cut the dress to make it into a mini dress.

2. With the fabric that I cut from the hem. I folded it into half and then cut it into 2 seperate pieces.

3. I sewed the hems of each of those separate pieces to give it a finished empty pillow case look.

4. I sewed each of the empty pillow cases on the the under arm of each sleeve.

5. I stitched the hem of the dress.

At the end of my quick project (30 minutes) I got a Japanese Kimono looking 1960s inspired outfit!

craftcraft2craft3craft4

I am so excited about Halloween! I don’t know who wants to go out more, me or my kids! The count down for Halloween begins! I can’t wait to wear my new groovy, foxy outfit!

I hope you have a wonderful and creative day!

Halloween Is Around the Corner and Making My Own Costume "Do It Yourself" Style!

When you have kids Halloween is a big deal.  It is the one time of year they can knock on every door and ask for treats.

Halloween is the “hall pass” day where our kids are allowed to eat as much candy as they want.  They look forward to this day because I am usually a stickler about not eating too many sweets.

We have picked our pumpkins from the farm and carved the “ghoulish” faces.

pumpkin7

pumpkinpumpkin5

Today I am going to share with you my “do it yourself” Halloween costume.  I am not much of a crafty sewer, but I decided to give it a swing and modify a vintage 1960s psychedelic moo moo robe.  My goal was to make it look more of a hip 1960s dress.

halloween

I did the following: (For this project I used a sewing machine that I have not touched in over 2 years.)

1.  I cut the dress to make it into a mini dress.

2.  With the fabric that I cut from the hem.  I folded it into half and then cut it into 2 seperate pieces.

3.  I sewed the hems of each of those separate pieces to give it a finished empty pillow case look.

4.  I sewed each of the empty pillow cases on the the under arm of each sleeve.

5.  I stitched the hem of the dress.

At the end of my quick project (30 minutes) I got a Japanese Kimono looking 1960s inspired outfit!

craftcraft2craft3craft4

I am so excited about Halloween!  I don’t know who wants to go out more, me or my kids!  The count down for Halloween begins!  I can’t wait to wear my new groovy, foxy outfit!

I hope you have a wonderful and creative day!

Vintage Estate Sale Find of the Week–Professionally Framed Original Chinese Watercolor Painting

2011-10-5lopez10

I love vintage, estate and thrift shopping. On a weekly basis I would like to feature my favorite “find” of the week.

In a previous blog I mentioned my life as a treasure hunter. I crave for my vintage fixes.

This week I am presenting an original professionally framed Chinese watercolor painting.  It is quite a large piece and measures 54 x 27 inches.

I love the use of monochromatic colors and the beautiful curves.  I am not sure what the value of the painting is or who painted it.  I still need to get it appraised by an expert on Chinese art.  I know that with Chinese art the signature and symbols are the key.

2011-10-5lopez11

This was another piece that I purchased to sell online, but once again I fell in love with the artwork and I have decided to keep it.  Pretty soon all my walls will be covered with my “treasures” and I will have no choice, but to move to a new house or sell my vintage finds!

I really believe that if you know what you are looking for you can make someone’s trash into treasure! I feel like that about life too…you can make a challenge into a blessing…it’s all perspective.

I hope you have a wonderful day filled with joy and happiness!