My best garage sale find EVER…

I found the chandelier in the picture above at a garage sale this weekend. IT WAS ONLY $5.
It was wrapped in plastic (see picture below) and when I asked how much it was…the owner replied: If I don’t have to unwrap it…you can have it for $5. The crystals are worth more than that. I tried not to flip out. I responded SOLD. Handed over my $5 and put it in the car and hurried on to the next sale. It is missing a few crystals…but that was a risk I was willing to take for my $5 investment. Love that I don’t have to paint or rewire it. I bought a chandelier 3-4 years ago at a garage sale that was $30 and I still haven’t painted that one nor rewired it. This new find has inspired me to fix up the other one.

I immediately took off the wrapping when I got home and hung it on my front porch as there was an unused hook out there. Thought about keeping on the front or hanging it on the back porch…but the dust and dirt that ends up on those porches would mean cleaning it too often for my liking. Following pictures show it on the front porch.

Below is the light fixture that was in the house when I bought it seven years ago. I didn’t hate it but knew someday it would be replaced. It will be put in my July 11th garage sale. I personally think it would be great for a cottage or cabin in the woods.

My neighbor Larry was kind enough to come over and hang the chandelier. Now, before you tell me it is hung too high….I know. We are going to add some links and wire to lower it, but I couldn’t wait to show it off. I didn’t even clean it before we hung it and shot these photos. I have wanted a dimmer switch for the dining room forever…my neighbor was nice enough to put that in as well. Love that I can dim the lights on the chandelier.

I attempted to take a night time photo.

Please stop by Southern Hospitality for Today’s Thrifty Treasures and Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday and see what others are sharing.

I truly think my $5 chandelier is my best garage sale find ever. So I am thinking of doing a best thrifty find ever day, where everyone would share their best ever thrifty find. I haven’t used Mr. Linky so if anyone has any tips for me let me know. I would select 10 of my favorites and feature them in one of my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com

BLOG GIVEAWAY over at Seens from the backs of my eyelids…

PJ over at Seens from the backs of my eyelids is having a BLOG GIVEAWAY. Don’t you just love the name of her blog and her blog header? Here are the giveaway details: This Wednesday, June 24, 2009, PJ will post her usual "What's Up For Wednesday". This time it will be subtitled "You Write The Caption." PJ will post a photo and all you need to do to be entered into the giveaway is post a caption for that photo. You don’t have to have a blog to enter, just a valid email address. Anyone interested in entering has until midnight Sunday 6/28 to write their caption for Wednesday's post, but please put the caption on Wednesday's post. The winner will be drawn on Monday, 6/29, by Chef Stu. They will be contacted on or before Tuesday, 6/30. A $50 "e" gift certificate to Amazon.com will be emailed to the winner on or before Wednesday 7/1.

Thrifty Shopping Update

I haven’t been writing many Thrifty Shopping articles lately because I am finding the examiner’s software challenging…I have been doing more event postings than articles. However, I finally have a new article out…called Five Free Cell Phone Features.

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee