The Ebay Experiment

The Ebay experiment continues..........we have had some hits and misses! The hits so far have been a group of skeleton keys and a set of vintage decorator bird plaques! The misses have been clothes - but we consider it all a learning experience right now. One thing that did not sell -but has been relisted is the plate you see in the background of my Easter decorations. It is really a cute vintage cake plate with an open garden window design by Coors Pottery. We priced ours lower than others listed on ebay, had some watchers, but no bids. I really loved it and said that after relisting it again- if it does not sell- it was meant to stay right where it is!

Also new this week is another thing I would be happy to keep- this Abingdon Pottery Vase. Simple and classic, it looks right at home with my bunnies! Right?!

I am now beginning to bargain with my Hubby- if I want to keep something- I will give him something else in my treasure chest to sell. At least I am decluttering a little that way!

Big Hole in the Kitchen Floor!

I usually leave the house before projects like this begin and return after the coast is clear. I get really anxious when my Hubby cuts big holes in the house. But, he needed my help today so I had to tough it out. We have some water damage in the dining room (not to mention the hole where the piano leg was hanging in the basement!) so we needed some wood to patch with. Since my hope one day is to tile the kitchen floor- we decided to recycle wood from there. It started with a big saw. My job was to hold the hose of the shop vac close to the saw to minimize the dust. I was not prepared for the sparks when he cut through nails!

Then my job was to stack the wood he pulled out. Interesting how there is no sub floor....but the boards are very thick.

That's a quick trip to the basement- Don't worry no Pugs were allowed in the construction zone!

A piece of plywood nailed in place.

My final job was to cover the plywood with some lovely :( peel and stick tiles. Cause some dogs have accidents in the kitchen so I can't cover it with a rug!

Just pretend it isn't there under the table.....

Anyone want to place a bet on how long it will be there.......???????????????????

Sell it!

I may have made a tiny error... I kept bragging to my Hubby about the great treasure I found at thrift stores. He keeps telling me if it is just a great deal then I should sell it! There is the problem- I like my stuff! It is hard to part with my treasure.....

So he gave me $20 and challenged me to buy some things for resale on ebay. I sure have a lot to learn. I have no idea what other people like and buy....only me. So he said start small and buy what I like or know about. Take a risk. Buy something on a hunch....

And I did. And he listed some things. So now we wait and see if my hunches pay off! The good thing is if something does not sell- it was meant to be mine all along!

So what do I hope I get to keep? The Pyrex , Delft tile, and seersucker capri pants

The Boy has his eye on the vintage science fair kit.

Not shown...a bunch of men's Hawaiian shirts that someone else hopes they don't sell!

10 Years

There are many things that I have learned after living in a 105 year old house for 10 years:

1. We still love it, but, it is a more mature realistic love.

2. We overlook things now that I would never think I could.

3. Projects that we think will take 6 months take 3 years.

4. Projects I never imagined might only take a week.

5. Projects that seem impossible can be figured out.

6. Projects that seem simple are tricking you.

7. Projects done 10 years ago now need to be redone. 8. There is never enough storage. 9. It is good to know what is inside your walls. 10. A new house would be a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

Hobby Lobby Near Disaster

Or "The Little Clock That Could!" I went to Hobby Lobby to get lining for the dining room curtains. I cruised the clearance row just to see if anything jumped in my basket. Wouldn't you know that they were in the process of marking things down 90%! So 5 potential projects came home with me. First is this little chipped up clock- it was black- kind of - and I saw it as Heirloom White. I forgot to take a before picture so I staged this shot:
Before I started painting I needed to pop out the clock. It did not pop out -so I applied force- no luck. I pried it with a screw driver and broke the plastic around the face. I tried pushing on the back and broke the plastic on the back. Little pieces of plastic went into the gears. I may have said a few unladylike words. It finally came out...I put a battery in the clock to see if it would run or should just go in the trash....
As you can see- 90% of $29.99 was $2.99- and when the clock did not run I thought about cutting my losses. One more chance...I shook the clock until the little plastic broken pieces fell out and it started running!

So I sprayed it white and popped the clock back in....gently this time! Since the rim of the face was broken in several spots- I glued some buttons around the edge with Gorilla Super Glue...

And the clock lived happily ever after !

Weekend at the Swamp

We hit an estate sale on Friday. I got a few things, the Hubby saw some things that were too high for him to pay. It was advertised as a tool and car sale with a few "girly" things...
My favorite key is the tiny one...love the little birds on the plates...

I always hate to see people sell their ancestors...

The next day we went back- everything was 2/3 off so Hubby found it more to his liking- he bought a huge folding table, a branch shredder, a pressure washer, a box of tools, and a box of assorted junk( including several tubes of glue and caulk- unopened).

And I bought some more things that I didn't take pictures of-milk glass plates, etched glass plates and wine glasses, more keys, tiny wooden rulers and this old school picture...

I also got this large platter that I think looks nice with the dining room fireplace tiles...

Which brings us to the rest of the weekend:

The fireplace is almost done! He just has to finish the poly on the wood and hook up the electricity! This week's goal include getting paint samples for the walls painted and a decision made, starting the curtains, and getting all of the tools out of the room! PROGRESS!

Thrifty Thursday

I do much of my thrifting at stores that are connected with non-profit organizations. While I love a bargain I understand that I am supporting a good cause when I buy something there. Often when I get home and look things up on ebay I have gotten a good deal- sometimes not so much. As long as I love what I buy, it is OK to pay too much. This week I bought 2 different things that I feel a little guilty about! The first I knew was worth more than I paid...the other I had no idea!

First up is Madame Alexander's Wendy Go Braugh. I love dolls, don't need any, but she just made me smile. Someone had donated a doll collection. I saw a little British Bobbie that was priced too high -but my Hubby likes Bobbies so he was coming home with me.
Then I dug down and found her- I just knew she would be way beyond my price limit....but she was only $3.49!!! And she is perfect...she even has her shoes and tag...no box..but really!!!

When I looked on ebay she just sold for $53 . I feel a little guilty. But I love her and I can rationalize that I paid too much for him....

The second thrifty buy was a set of goblets for $4. They were purchased at a yard sale for Bighouse. This organization supports foster children in our county. I just thought I would like them in our new china cabinets. See they look pretty in there-

But they list on ebay for about $30-each!! So now I feel a little guilty. I guess I'll try to make it up this year with more donations!


I'm linking up to Leigh's party here for Thifty Thursday!