Roadkill Rescue…

Found in the neighbor’s garbage and dragged home. Took a slipcover class and using material my friend Anita had given me, I made a slipcover. I must say it was painful for me to sew this slipcover.

Blogged for Infarrantly Creative’s Roadkill Rescue party. 

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• 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

Tin freebie and an Interior design contest…

Yes, another freebie. Spotted this out walking the dog on Saturday. Planned to go back for it…but forgot all about it until Sunday. I was thrilled that it was still there. It would make a cool headboard or cut into pieces and framed as art. I don’t have a clue if I will keep it or not.

Shannon over at Old World Charm is hosting an interior design contest in honor of her new ETSY shop. Her web store carries affordable vintage and handcrafted home decor items and the contest will award a total of $600 in shop gift certificates to the top three designers of vignettes in two categories: professional and amateur. The judging criteria will be talent, originality, style and creativity. For more information about the contest, feel free to visit Old World Charm or the shop. 

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• 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

Free ottoman…

Super find…it’s huge. The duck loon fabric would be perfect for a cabin. When I found it I could envision it with a white denim slipcover. However I recently found something else that I will share soon, that may be even better.

Blogged for Homebody's Thrift Store Thursday...stop by.

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds NEW
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• 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

I love dumpster diving…

 

First of all…don’t you just love the graphic above? Tricia Anne from Notes of Sincerity was kind enough to let me use this graphic for an article I am writing for my Thrifty Shopping column on examiner.com. I recently did some dumpster diving while visiting my friend Melinda…I did some poking around in her neighbor’s dumpster and found the white and black/gray iron pieces below. They are now sitting above a bathroom door entrance and bathroom window. I may spray paint them black. I love how they look.  Did you notice my tacky stick in the window. Some day soon I will get the locking handle fixed.

Blogged for 2nd Time Around Tuesday over at A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.

 

Calling Minnesota Bloggers

I have started a group called Minnesota Bloggers on BlogHer.com to connect Minnesota based bloggers. I don’t have a clue how it will all work, but thought I would give it a whirl. If you live in Minnesota or the surrounding states, please consider joining.

Beach House Inspired Watercolor Offer

A consolation offer from Sara Tetley of Beach House Inspired Watercolors for those that missed out on winning a print.
OFFER: 20% discount on an order of up to 2 prints through September 15, 2009. Send an email to Sara Tetley at sara.tetley@pgav.com with the names of the print(s) you wish to purchase as well as any items from her ETSY shop 'sold' page, and be sure to include the discount code COTTAGELIFE. Sara accepts PayPal or cashier's checks. Thank you Sara!

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Repurposing floral frogs NEW
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• 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

Privacy metamorphosis…

Love my neighborhood, however, my home is located off an alley and kitty corner from an apartment building…so I wanted some privacy. A while back I found 4 shabby, white shutters that each measured 20” by 60”. Immediately thought they could be hinged together and placed or hung from the ‘alley’ side of my front porch for privacy! I measured the area I wanted to cover and it measured 82” X 60”…so all four shutters would fit.

Now before you look closely at the shutters…remember that I have 1906 house and nothing is L E V E L! It was a tough time trying get the shutters to look somewhat level at the top and the bottom. And yes, I know there is dirt on the fan…I do clean it monthly but it isn’t often enough.

BEFORE

Now that you have seen the before and after, time to let you know I don’t like the look. The shutters gave me too much privacy and blocked too much sun. So sometime this week I will be selecting 3 of them and plan to hang them vertically horizontally. In the meantime, I spray painted the backside of each shutter as the backside shows publically. Hopefully by next Monday I will have them re-hung…so stop back.

Blogged for Between Naps on the Porch’s Metamorphosis Monday…stop by and see what others have transformed. Also tagging onto Southern Hospitality's Today's Thrifty Treasures.

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• 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

Colorful porch swing…

Found this swing on the street in the neighborhood. It needs some TLC and I don’t have the skills to fix it, nor the room for it…but I couldn’t let the garbage truck crush it. I will either put it in my impending garage sale or donate it. Wouldn’t it be fabulous at a cabin???

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• 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

Neighborhood Watch Redefined...

My neighbors know my love for free finds. On my way back from a doggie play date, I was walking by my neighbor Randi's house just as her husband was getting ready to put this dresser out on the street. Of course I couldn't leave it behind as I have been looking for an affordable dresser for my green guest bedroom. Not having a tape measure with me I measured the depth and length using my arm. Not sure why I even bothered as it wasn't as if I knew what size the space was where it will go. Even though my measuring technique was a bit archaic, I somehow knew would fit. It is going to need some TLC.

Being on foot I couldn't take it with me...but I couldn't leave it...what if it wasn't there by the time I got back.  Fortunately Randi's husband was willing to put it aside for me. Hopefully our weather will level out soon and I can get outside to sand and paint (plan is to paint it white). Love the detailing and knobs.

AsI was on the way to the grocery store my neighbor Linda called to tell me she had spotted an old wood bookcase in the neighborhood. Now, that is neighborhood watch at its finest. So on my way home from the grocery store I headed to the intersection where it was spotted andI have great neighbors it was still there (wahoo!).

Back of book case below.

I have great neighbors. Maybe I should distribute a flyer to all the neighbors letting them know that I am scavenger and always on the lookout for 'junk'.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Missed Opportunity...

Spotted this item curbside in the neighborhood. I wasn't sure what it was but I decided I needed to cross the street and find out.

Do you know what it is? Upon a closer look I learned that it was a lamp. I immediately thought...not a lamp I'd put in my house. My mind jumped to spray painting it and putting beautiful twigs/sticks or pussy willows in it. I wanted it...but I couldn't carry it because my hands were full.

I was walking three dogs. Got them to sit while I lamented over the lamp. I had plans to go back for it, but of course by the time I dropped off two of the dogs at their home, I completely spaced it out.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle