I've been re-reading Tracey's wonderful books, Frugal Luxuries
and Frugal Luxuries by the Season
... two of my all time favorite books about combining a frugal lifestyle with elegance and beauty.One of the suggestions Tracey talks about in both books is using common objects in different ways. One way I've been able to do this is to invest time and limited funds (when necessary) to learn what others have done through magazines and books (often found used). Sometimes through TV shows but while cooking shows abound, it is getting harder to find good decorating shows with my taste.
(I must admit that I had to stop watching those househunting shows on HGTV as I was always getting annoyed at whiny people who acted as if houses in general and kitchens in particular were beneath them if they showed a little age. Years ago that channel decided to go after a younger market and dropped their well loved decorating shows... but I digress.)
I thought I'd share a few things I did recently which reflect living a lifestyle of creativity, especially important when one has more ideas than cash. I'll show more in my next post.
I had seen a drawer like this only recently in a magazine. In the article, it was mentioned that they sold for $20.00 to $25.00 apiece. I found this on Saturday for $2.00 at Goodwill.
I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. To better fit my kitchen, I turned the more elegant side of the drawer toward the back and displayed the simpler side.
Perhaps someday it will be used in another room in all its' glory but for now I love having all my most used condiments handy when cooking. I'm so glad I had seen someone using drawers in a creative way in magazines.
Another re-do and re-purpose this week was in the kitchen. I used the filling recipe from my favorite cherry cheesecake pie in a parfait. The story is all found on my recipe blog... here.
I also made lemon verbena vinegar using the same "recipe" as for the basil vinegar... here. The herb was removed this morning (after two weeks) and I could hardly wait to get a spoon and take a tiny sip of the lemon verbena vinegar... oh, yum. I still have another bottle of vinegar in the pantry and lemon verbena in the garden. I can see them coming together soon.
More later...
17 comments:
I miss those old decorating shows on HGTV.
Blessings,
Kim
i often repurpose things in my home. your idea is excellent and what a great price! thank you for the recipe link - i've copied it and will put it to use soon!
jAne
I too use drawers to keep things together. I also use large drawers for storage by putting coosters on the 4 corners so I can push them around. I have alot of fun using things that other people throw out.
Such a lovely use for an old drawer and a bargain, too! Love it!
Hi Brenda,
I too miss those decorating shows on HGTV! I love the idea of using the drawer in your kitchen and you have just given me an idea for my craft supplies which are scattered about the office; thank you! I enjoyed your Sunday tea post also. One of my favourite scripture verses is Jeremiah 6:16 which you have on your sidebar. Nice to 'meet' you, sister! And thank you for stopping by for a visit.
Blessings,
Sandi
You really have an artists eye in your home. When my hubby told me he wanted to retire in 5 years after he had a heart attack at age 50. I made a sign that hung by our front door. It said "SIMPLIFY- DON'T BUY!" I'm not shouting just didn't know how to write it out. It helped us to pay off everything, even though we also sold the house and lived in an RV, and he's been retired since 2001. We're doing very well on very little money and I am blessed.
I love to use things I own in a different way! Such fun, and so cheap! :)
I don't get HGTV anymore but I know what you mean about whiney people..."I don't like the kitchen, it doesn't have granite countertops!" I always want to say, "How much time do you spend in the kitchen anyway?"
Thanks for the recipe, too!
I've seen so many bloggers use that same type sewing machine drawer and put it up tall and have bird nests and ribbons etc in them! So pretty! Speaking of decorating....wonder what Kitty B. is up to now! :) I used to go to a neighbors and mention that she nust have been shopping again. Her home looked so different and fresh. No she would tell me,...she just moved the picture that used to be in the bedroom into the front room and the pillows from the couch onto the bed and so on! The colors in her home were pretty much the same throughout so she could easily move the accessories around all over too! I loved her idea of redecorating her home for 0 money! Thanks for another idea Brenda! Sarah
That little wooden drawer is simply adorable! I love what you're doing with it. Thanks for the inspiration. :)
OH WOW!!! Do I ever agree with people complaining about something being "DATED"!!! We used to watch the shows on HGTV often until my then 11 year old stepson told us that we needed new appliances because the ones we had are dated. (They were just plain white, nice appliances!!!!)I really came under conviction that we are not training the next generation the right way!!
We recently bought new ones (appliances, not KIDS!!) because we want to sell our house (but we kept the "dated" ones to use in our next house!!! Soo...take that, stepson!!) We've been looking at some fixer upper houses and I'm actually really excited to teach the kids to use what we have available and APPRECIATE IT!! One house in particular has really old cabinets and knotty pine walls. (I'd like to buy that house!! )
By the way, I have the same sign in my house. My DH bought it at a garage sale and it is really old! I love it!!
Blessings, Beth
I tell you, you all have awesome finds at your goodwills and Salvy's. So many creative people, how wonderful it is to see the potential come from something used. Thanks for sharing... I love your drawer and what you ended up doing with it.
Mel
You are inspiring me to action Brenda!!! I love how you used that vintage drawer to organize! We use Pilsner glasses (from yard sales, of course :) as vases to hold small bouquets of flowers and/or fresh herbs...but I've not thought to use them as dessert/parfait glasses...so pretty and such a great way to make the ordinary dessert seem extraordinary!
I have to agree with you regarding HGTV. I miss their lifestyle/decorating programs from a while back. (I also agree about the whining...can they really feel that way or do they act like that for television...perhaps to "create drama"...it's a mystery?!)
I'm in the middle of painting my living room this week...but just had to take a peek at your blog...so glad I did!!! Your kind words are like music to my eyes/ears...thank you so much my friend! It makes my day/month/year.
I'm off now to put another coat of paint up! More soon.
Thanks again.
Love and good thoughts to you.
Tracey
x0x
P.S. Wanted to also say that I do a similar prayer(s) while thrift shopping...ohhhh...the treasures I've found because of it...also...LOVE your china...what finds!!!
I always enjoy your posts about how you decorate. It's simple and nice. Two of my favorite qualities in a home, and in a person too. Thank you, always, for your kind words.
I too dislike those shows on tv, and don't watch anymore. I found myself annoyed with people who found fault with the color of a room...one of the easier and least expensive things to change in a home. I really miss the more homely shows they had on that channel, especially the country decorating one.
I just bought an old sewing machine drawer too, only it is very shallow. I'm thinking about using it for some sort of a shadowbox, maybe.
I love the china pictures.... what a find!!! and I agree.... on the whole HGTV thing!!! I so miss some of the realllllly good decorating shows that used to be on!!! I now find that I'm on the "Blog" looking at beautiful homes and getting to know "beautiful" ladies via the internet!!!So much fun.... Blessings, Terri
"living a lifestyle of creativity" - love that! I adore Tracey's books and often re-read them myself. A new book from her would be so lovely wouldn't it?
The title of your posts made me smile as that's what I've been doing a lot of these past two months. Especially the resisting part (can't wait till you write about that)!
Love how you re-purposed that drawer! I also love the idea of using shelf paper on your laundry shelf. Mine's in the garage too and I have pipes and things behind/around the shelves. I wanted to put up some beadboard but it's too complicated to make all those cuts but I do have tons of wallpaper (from projects) that I could use. Too many projects too little time!
I miss the old shows on HGTV. I watched HH the other day and the wife was sooooo whiney and hated everything. It was a wonder they even chose a house since they seemed to hate everything and everything just HAD to be re-done!
Manuela
I wonder how many of the people that bought those big expensive homes they looked at on HGTV still live in them? I sure hope they didn't buy homes that were unaffordable....especially since they allllll seemed to need a total redo! :) I miss the country shows and the ones like Decorating Cents that showed how to redo and use used thing...and the creativity of Kitty!Now we have Manuela, you and other lovely women to show us how to!!! Even better! :) Yea!! Sarah
i love your drawer idea!
jo
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