I have a favorite antique shop.  I’m telling you, this guy is awesome.  It could be because I’m a stay at home mom that doesn’t get out much to socialize with adults, but I really think Paul, the shop owner, has a special fondness for me.  He always has something that I like and always gives me a price that I can’t resist.  One time, last year, I stopped in with wild abandon to snatch up an iron bed for my mom.  When Paul said he thought of me when he found it, I knew I was part of the inner circle.  Made my whole week.  Really, though, the guy probably thinks I’m nuts.  He must wonder what I do with all my treasures that I drag home.  He rarely asks.  Last week, he had two typewriters stashed in the shop.  I asked how much he wanted for them, but I had to leave them behind.  See, I have a rule that I have to come up with a legitimate use for an item before I drag it home.  Mostly, I need a good story for my husband.  A “this is why I’m stashing another old, dusty thing in the garage” sort of story.  So I came up with a “good use” and went to get one of the typewriters.  I was so excited, this treasure went straight to the top of the project list.  I cleaned the cobwebs out of it with a toothbrush and taped it up good.  A few coats of pink spray paint and I have a great little photo prop.  

It’s funny because Paul actually asked what I was going to do with the typewriter.  I mumbled something about painting it pink.  I don’t think that was the right answer; he seemed to cringe a little.  Oh well.  I think she came out preeeeettty.  That’s a good use, right?  To look pretty?

  What do you think?  Do you like the pink typewriter??  Do you have a favorite antique shop?  Why is it your favorite?  Does anyone else ever pretend they’re part of an inner circle? 

 

I am so SO excited to share with you my little chandelier love project.  Sometime last summer, I drove up to the stop sign in front of my little antique shop.  While the drivers around me scowled, I scanned the storefront for new treasures.  Seeing two shabby chandeliers hanging in the window, I drove on trying to dream up a use for them.  I had none.  But I couldn’t stop thinking about them.  When the objects of my fantasy chandelier makeover were still hanging in the window a couple weeks later, I made my move. 

I lugged home both chandeliers and tried to avoid the rolling eyes and disapproving glare of my dear husband.  They were stashed in storage since, still, I had no use for them.  Recently, I started thinking that a chandelier hanging over our tea party table might not be a bad idea. 

 

So, I got out the big chandelier, which cost just $10 because it was missing some parts, and I started layering coats of spray paint (Rust-o-leum heirloom white).  Then I added some shiny new light bulbs.  When I realized that she was looking pretty good, I did some online hunting and found all the parts I needed to spruce her up (I got the parts here).  I used E6000 to adhere new leaves on the bottom of the arms as several of them were missing.  I drilled holes in the tips of the leaves with the tiniest drill bit I could find; this worked great for adding some extra crystal pendants.  I hung various sizes of crystal pendants and a string of crystal beads. 

What “treasures” have you stashed away?  Why not tackle one today?  There’s an extra long weekend coming up, perfect for a new project…

 

I’m linking up at Tatertots and Jello; come join the party.