Let's visit my Salvation Macy's !

Warning......this post contains lots of photos and bargians...so be warned, you might need a mid post snack  ;->

Hello friends.......whenever I post about my Salvation Macy's (Army) store, I always get e-mails asking about it. I thought you might like to come along with me since it is Wednesday and you know what happens there on Wednesdays...25% off EVERYTHING!!!!

So hop in the car and come along with me...

My store is located on Balls Ford Road in Manassas, Virgina.

Just like every Wednesday, the parking lot is packed.

When you walk in the front doors, this is what you see. Racks and racks of fabulousness!

 They take the time to arrange all the furniture as if it was in a home. Let me tell you, if I was a young person, this is where I would shop if I needed to fill a new apartment or home.

I love how they set all the tables as if someone was coming for dinner.

Just look at this incredable sofa!! Solid construction and in just like new condition. I loved the pretty pleating at the bottom. If you didn't like the fabric, you could easily pop a slipcover on this beauty.

I think it was less than $120.00 with another 25% off. What a bargain!

                  

I can just  see Miss Mustard Seed turning this coffee table into an painted and glazed piece of lovliness ...$39.00 plus 25% off!

Are you into dolls...they have them in all sizes and all are at a ridiculously low price. Who remembers having a bride doll as a young girl. I had a 3 foot beauty and one year I remember marrying her off to my little brother Ricky.

Sterling silver of every style and all, you guessed it....cheap!

This is where I always find fabulous crystal, porcelain and glassware. I especially love finding beautiful etched crystal. All usually .99 to $1.99 each..plus 25% off

My one stop source for wool and cashmere sweaters for my felting and they always have all colors grouped together...they are soooo good.

Need designer jeans, high dollar clothing labels and like new condition garments..they have it all.

These Chico's ladies jackets still had their $130.00 plus tags hanging. I counted about 8 of them in all different styles. Why wasn't I a size 2??????

This always makes me sad. All these lovely wedding gowns that once were part of someones special day. I always wonder why they ended up here...did the marriage end or did someone get cold feet?

I particularly liked the 1920's style gown with all that gorgeous lace.

These dresses were all around $39.00-$69.00..plus 25%off.

Perfect Halloween costume or theatrical costume.

I wasn't going to go the Salvation Macy's today since I was achy and tired from all my kitchen painting. Something in my head told me to go...so I went.

I am so glad I did because I found this beauty

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Country Living Photo Credit

MY DREAM CHAIR!!

Quick explanation...I have been searching for a year for a livingroom chair that I could sew a fitted slipcover for. Not just any chair...I'm very fussy. The chair had to be of solid construction, have beautiful bones and style, be clean, not smelly, no stains and comfortable to sit in.

Most of all it had to be ...how do I say this....cheap!

This lovely chair has all of the above. I could not believe how sturdy it was and so pristinely clean. I doubt this chair ever had a child sit in it. Even the arm covers were sort of custom fitted in a really cool way.

Best of all it was $54.95 plus 25% off!!!!!!!

Can you belive my luck?

Well I hope you enjoyed your little visit to my favorite shop. Big thanks to store manager Joe and the beautiful Vilma for all their help today.

Until next time...be kind and stay creative

New Shop Addition

Hello friends..hope your  weekend was a good one. Mine was filled with paint, wood corbels and beadboard.

I did however manage to get a new apron listed in my Etsy shop.

 Here she is...a pretty babydoll style full apron.

She is sporting two extra large pockets..

Gorgeous Tina Givens fabric from KellyAnns Quilt Shop

And of course...a full and fabulous bow.

I'm looking forward to completing my kitchen makeover and having more time to play in my studio. I really miss my sewing machine!

And I have all those incredible thrift store finds to mess around with.

Now tell me...what did you manage

 to get done this weekend??

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.

Sharing on Today's Creative Blog...come visit!

Update!!

My favorite Mockingbird

Just had to post this photo..Don't you just want to wrap this guy in a warm blanket..he looks so cold, all plumped up to stay toasty.


Happy to Link up with Tea Rose Home

Fun Friday!

Good Morning World!

7:08 am sunrise in Virginia

What do you have planned for this weekend? Will you be getting creative? Maybe finishing a sewing project or painting a room you have been wanting to tackle. Much of the country is experiencing some milder weather, so maybe just spending time outside is on the agenda. Whatever your plans, I hope you all have a lovely weekend! 

As for me.....yup, I'm working on my kitchen and it's the home stretch..WooHoo!

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.

Headed towards the finish line!

Hello friends....YES...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This past weekend, I installed the beadboard on the sides of the cabinets and the outside refrigerator wall.

The island got wrapped in beadboard and I sewed the sink curtain.

I'll share a couple of photos of my progress...but not too much. Don't want to spoil the big reveal.

Love the beadboard on the cabinet sides

It gives it such a clean and professional look.

I still have to trim out the corners and paint it to give a more seamless look.

This is the 8 ft wall which faces the family room. Huge difference in presentation when you walk into the room.

This weekend I will be installing beadboard on the back splash and adding a few extra surprise features.

I am hoping to be able to show all of you the fruits of my labor very soon.

I thought I would post some photos of my inspiration kitchens.  Lets see how close I come.

love the open shelves

clean lines

beadboard island and backsplash

more beadboard

kitchen sink skirt..love it!!

love the clock and shelves

Until next time...be kind and stay creative

It's a Wonderful Life--The Phone Scene

   Hello friends....so Monday is Valentines Day. Last year I featured my all-time favorite love letter written by American Civil War soldier, Sullivan Ballou,  to his dear wife Sarah just days before he died fighting the Battle of Bull Run (which happens to be right down the road from me). I still consider that letter to be the most sincere and romantic letter ever written....ever! If you have not heard it yet, please do so here...I promise you will not be disappointed. It will bring tears to your eyes.

This year I present to you as my Valentines gift, my favorite love scene. This lovely scene proves that you don't need to display nudity or use foul language to be sexy or passionate. This scene between Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart is so incredibly sexy and sensual...well it's just Crazy! You can feel the sexual tension building and all with just looks and words....no clothes being removed.

So sit back with your loved one and enjoy!

Here's hoping you were loved like this in the past..are loved like this today...or will be loved like this in the future.

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.

Oh...and don't forget to love and let yourself be loved!

                               HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

How do I know??

You're going to have a fabulous weekend. How do I know that?

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one of many that nest in our bluebird boxes

A little bird told me  ;->

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.

A gal cannot live by paint alone

Hello friends...Happy to have you here again!

So...If you have been visiting me during the last few weeks, you know I have been doing ALOT of painting.

I feel like I haven't been out of my kitchen in ages.

I decided it was time for a field trip and yesterday was Wednesday. You know what that means....a much deserved road trip to my favorite Salvation Macy's (Army). On Wednesdays everything is 25% off....everything!

Everyone in the car!!!!!

 I am always on the lookout for great looking men's dress shirts for my couture aprons. I love this pink and yellow plaid .

I had to chuckle just a little when I pictured my husband in this purple and white stripe....NOT!

Whats with the blanket stitch on the collar and cuffs...slightly goofy, don't you think?

Then I headed to the ladies skirt department. 

BINGO!!

I found some gorgeous beauties. 

Love the worn tan and blue stripe and that very cool smocking.

This salmon pink drop waist skirt screamed "Apron" to me. I like finding these drop waist style skirts because I can incorporate the detail of the waist into my apron...maybe a cute youthful babydoll style.

apron alert!!

I swooned over this very full white embroidered skirt..already trimmed in pink at the waist and just look at that embellished hem!!! Claire, Annette...are you loving this?

pay no attention to the lavender foot at the bottom of the photo

I found this adorable strapless sundress and immediately saw an adorable patchwork full apron in it's future.

Gorgeous..gorgeous!

I can never leave without digging through the linen racks. Again...not disappointed.

I found four beautiful vintage pillowcases. Great additions to my apron stash.

Of course a trip to Salvation Macy's is never complete without a stop at the housewares section.

I giggled with joy when I spotted a Nippon porcelain teacup and saucer set for $2.00. I searched and found five sets...so for $10.00 I think I did ok. The hallmark on the bottom dates them possibly as early as 1911. 

I thought of you, Annette, when I bought these.

I really liked the design on the rim of this pretty cream plate which I will display on the recycled plate rack I showed you here.

So that was my afternoon excursion and I really enjoyed the little break from painting.

Now back to the kitchen!

Until next time....be kind and stay creative.

PS...on the way home from thrifting, my son texted me "want to meet for dinner tonight?"

Getting excited, I texted back "Sure...where do you want to go?"

He texted back "I was thinking your place"

Guess I'm cooking.....kids you gotta love them  ;-)

The Finest Artist

Hello friends...I took this photo thirty minutes ago. My Virginia sunrise was particularly gorgeous this morning and I wanted to share it with you.

As artists, and I use that term very loosely, we try to create with texture, style and color. Oh, how we struggle with color...trying to perfect it and get it just right. The perfect blue for a bird..the right green for a spring field.

Only to be upstaged by Mother Nature, who simply wakes up and says "Good Morning"  with the most perfect textures and colors you can imagine. 

I'm so jealous!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone.

My color inspiration!

Hello friends...Yes, I am still working on my kitchen. I thought I would show you my progress so far.

 Remember I said I was had plans to paint the island a different color so it would not look like part of the wall cabinetry. Well I painted the front a beautiful glossy black. As soon as my man nails beadboard to the remaining three sides, they will get a coat of black also. So far,, I love the rich look of it. I am still on the look out for some unique knobs for the island. I would love to find some vintage knobs and they do not have to match the cabinet knobs at all.

Look what I found in my basement!! I had purchased it at a thrift shop a few years ago. It has been sitting downstairs ever since...never had a place for it. I do now!!

I have plans to paint it and display some pretty thrift store plates. You can't see them, but their are four wrought iron hooks at the bottom...perfect for keys or my apron.

In my last kitchen post I said I had found the color for inside the open shelf cabinets. I had decided on a soft blush pink color. Well, it's looked great in the can, but on the wall...not so much. Thank god for those sample jars because they make color mistakes not so costly. Just look at the bottom inside wall...YUCK! The color seemed to lose all it's prettiness once applied.

Ok...so let's regroup and think about this. If you look at my window treatment, I went with a soft butter yellow for my grey walls. Soooooooooooo....I started to think about yellows.

I found this darling vintage inspired fabric at KellyAnn's Quilt Shop. I will use this for the curtain under the sink. It looks beautiful with the yellow of the valance and the black. Ok...I'm liking the direction this is taking me.

Mellow and soft...I'm starting to smile  ;-)

Martha Stewart Tahini

And look how nice it shows off my dishes, which by-the-way, I downsized and donated 35 soup bowls of various designs. Why on god's green earth did I think I needed 45 soup bowls?? I love soup, but really...45...really?

Liking it so far...need to trim it out and paint again.

I have been searching for wood corbels for under the cabinets and the ends of the island. I wanted simple lines..no curly Q's or victorian spindles. Remember, I will have beadboard as a back splash and I want to keep the feel of straight lines. I found these at Home Depot...perfect. I painted them the same white as the cabinets.

Look what my man finally bought...after talking about it for 10 years!!!

Installing this trim was a breeze with that baby (I'm in love) Be honest ladies...doesn't the sound of that blast of pressurized air shooting that nail into the wood get you a little...how do I say it..... excited??

Just a peek...still have more to do here, but I'm feeling good so far.

Sorry about the intense white...took this at night with a flash, but I wanted to give you a little idea of how it will look.

As for the title of this post...my color inspiration......

click for closer look

Look who came to visit while I was doing all my color debating.

I believe this little guy is a member of the Warbler family. Isn't he beautiful? Warbler's are known for the pretty splashes of yellow on their bodies.

He was enjoying my water dish.

A last little note...to all of you who have received my Circle of Love scarves from my giveaway. If your scarf has a dropped stitch at the back, it was left there on purpose. It symbolizes that idea that life does not have to be perfect to be beautiful and warm. Ok....to be honest, I don't know how to fix a dropped stitch..but don't you love my philosophy?

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.