One Man's Junk Is Another Man's Treasure was just a fun old saying, until I got my own home and started thrifting and upcycling.
Now it's my crafty DIY decorating mantra.
All thanks to my mom.
She was a Depression Era baby, brought up in a time when things were hard to come by and nothing went to waste.
So every single time I wanted to throw something away, she would say, Absolutely not! We can sell it or donate it to someone...remember, just because we're done with it, doesn't mean that someone else won't find value in it.
And I've held onto that thought over the years.
For better or worse.
It means that I've found myself storing items, in tiny cottages, rathering than tossing them, in case. In case of what I'm never quite sure.
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| An 20 Year Old Muffin Tin I Turned Into Decor |
But it's something I can't shake.
It actually made it very difficult for me to toss a few stained tablecloths a couple of weeks ago, but I finally overcame and freed myself of them.
Well, not more than a day later, I received a text, from a girlfriend, asking if said tablecloths had been picked up by the sanitation workers yet.
If not, she was hosting a party for her daughter's birthday and would love to use them. She'd already purchased purple overlays, so the stains would be camouflaged and they would really dress up the tables.
Those old cloths were actually still in my garage, in a bag, neat and tidy. I gave them to my friend and she used them at her absolutely fabulous party ~ the dessert table alone was post worthy!
There was so much food, so artfully displayed that the stains on the tablecloths were not detectable.
At all.
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| A Battered Cookie Sheet Made Over For Christmas |
No one would've ever guessed that those white tablecloths were less than perfect and with one hundred people milling around dropping food and making new stains, it was probably best that they weren't!
So thanks to my little blog, those old cloths were pulled from the trash and recycled one more time.
I have no idea if my friend kept them, but I'm glad to know that for at least one day, they became treasure again.
Of course, since that day, just about a decade ago, this saying has become even more meaningful to me.
I've since become an avid thrift store shopper. The ultimate place to find someone else's junk and turn it into your very own treasure.
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| See My Most Recent Finds Here |
What started off as a need based practice when I was first married has turned into an all out obsession.
Now, 90% of my home decor purchases are second hand.
I regularly paint, upcycle, makeover and reimagine pieces to fit my decor.
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| See All Ten Upcycles Here |
Creating items I could never find in retail shops.
Plus, I get to do it on a shoestring budget.
Even better, while they may not be trash, when I'm done with items I have around here, I donate them or give them away.
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| See One Of My Most Favorite Thrifted Makeovers Here |
And I think that would make my mother very, very proud.
Which always makes me smile.
♡
Do you have a favorite trash to treasure piece?
Happy Day, Friends!
Boy, you just never know what will appeal to someone else. So glad that turned out well for both of you.
ReplyDeleteSo funny, isn't it Carol? They say that life is all about timing! If I had tossed them a week earlier or later, they really would've ended up in the landfill!
DeleteGreat story, I do understand, I have a hard time with getting rid of things, I do take a ton to goodwill though.
ReplyDeleteSo funny, Marty, you just never know what will strike a chord with people! :)
DeleteSo glad that your tablecloths were utilized for such a happy occasion. I picture them, packed and waiting their fate, in the garage, only to be picked up by loving hands, who depended on them. Lovely story of second chances. Thanks for sharing, Kim!
ReplyDeletePoppy
Poppy, you have a true talent, creating magic with your words! Only you could romanticize my tablecloths in such a way! Love it!! You need to write a novel my friend!! :)
DeleteHi Kim,
ReplyDeleteSo glad that your friend was able to use the tablecloths - one mans junk is another mans treasure, is so true.
Also loved your nails in the previous post - what fun and thanks for sharing.
Have a lovely week
hugs
Carolyn
Thanks Carolyn! My girlfriend told me that she plans on making pillow shams out of them now. How great...and I still love my nails! I am sporting a Jamberry French manicure now! Thanks for commenting! :)
DeleteI have a teddy bear that I have had since i was three years old. His arms have been re-seen on several times, and he is battered and scruffy, and I could never part with him.
ReplyDeleteConstance, I have a tiger that fits that bill, too. My kids have him now and I love that!
DeleteHi Kim, so glad that your friend was able to use the tablecloths for her party! Wow that must of made you feel good! Take care and enjoy the week.
ReplyDeleteJulie
It made me feel really good, Julie...both for the tablecloths and to know someone was reading my post!! ;)
DeleteHow great those tablecloths had another life! I love finding treasures like that! xo Jen
ReplyDeleteMe too, Jen! It made me feel better about tossing them! :)
DeleteI'm glad those tablecloths got a party out of the deal, Kim. :) I don't have a favorite trash to treasure story, but I do have a rather ironic one. A couple of years ago when we lived in Colorado I bought 2 quilted pillow shams at a thrift store for 50 cents each. I had absolutely no use for them, but they were in great shape, and I thought they were just so pretty and well made that I figured I'd find some way to use them. For awhile I used one as a table topper. Fast forward to recent history; we now live in Oregon. We just started attending a home Bible study, and a couple of weeks ago Candy (the wife) asked me if I'd like a tour of their home. Well, when we got to the master bedroom I stared in unbelief at their bed. For there was the quilt that matched my shams! Candy had found the bedspread on sale at Penneys, but there were not shams. Well, of course I went home and dug out the shams from a packing box and gifted them to her. She's thrilled to have matching shams, and now I know why I was supposed to buy those crazy shams that I "absolutely had no use for". Don't you love it? xxx ~ Nancy
ReplyDeleteThat is a crazy story, Nancy and yes, I do love it!! That is really amazing!! I love those kind of coincidences! I think it's even extra special that you met through a Bible study! :) xxoo
DeleteIt is so tough for me to purge and toss and I am well overdo to get it done. My challenge has been that as soon as I toss something I think of a use for it. Happy to hear that your tablecloths found a new home.
ReplyDeleteI feel the exact same way, Sandra, so hard for me to let go of anything. I was happy to hear someone could use them....and apparently plans to cut them up and make pillow shams and table runners out of the non-stained parts!! :)
DeleteLOL ! What a perfect example of that old saying! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Deb! My mom would be so proud! :)
DeleteLoL, isn't that the way it goes everytime. I can hold on to things for a while but after a year if I don't use it then I do sell it or ask around if someone what's it. Then I don't ever feel bad that I got rid of something.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has the same rule, Vanessa...one year...use it or lose it! :)
DeleteThat's wonderful! I love stories like that! I prefer it used too for the same reason. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Su! Thanks so much for the comment. It was a really funny story. You never know what people are going to be into!! ;)
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