Christmas Gift for my Granddaughter

A few months ago, I found some junk belts while thrifting. One of them had the cutest sun medallions. One of my granddaughters (19 years) loves Black and anything a little hippie looking. She is a Vegan, so I wouldn't dare make her anything out of Leather.

I made her a Handbag using Black Denim from a thrifted skirt. My hubby drilled holes all around one of the medallions and I added it to the front. I am super happy with how it turned out and sure hope she will like it.

I used the zipper from the skirt for the pocket on the back and added a jute pull with upcycled beads.

Then for an added personal touch, I created a special label for the inside.

Patchwork Leather Handbag

I just finished a Patchwork Leather Handbag for my shop. I wish I had taken a pic of the Jacket before I de-constructed it. It was so 1980's and had such Huge Shoulder Pads!!!! I do remember adding very large Shoulder Pads to all of my clothes, especially Tee Shirts.........sure hope they never come back in style. I wish I could sew faster, but I am such a perfectionist, that it is always a slow run to the finish line. After much trial and error, I finally think I have perfected adding a top zipper.

Each bag I make is different......My inspiration comes from the Coat or Jacket I am working with. I spend a lot of time just staring at the piece before I start constructing the Bag. The Creative process is what I enjoy and if I can make a little money in the process, that is just the icing on the cake.

I also made the cutest little Black and Red double zipper Clutch. I am going to use it for my first ever "Giveaway"........just have to figure out how to do a "Giveaway".

Cutest Scarecrows Ever!!!!

Pendleton is a small town village of 3000 people in Upstate South Carolina. For a few years, they have had a "Scarecrow" contest. They are all over the place and the creativity is amazing. Here are a few pics of some of my favorites. Seeing all of these certainly made me smile. The "Photo Crow" was the winner. The "Cook" was my favorite.

Recycled Leather Handbag Bucket Hobo in by CarolinaPurses on Etsy

Recycled Leather Handbag Bucket Hobo in by CarolinaPurses on Etsy (clipped to polyvore.com)

Recycled Leather Boho Hobo Handbag Large by CarolinaPurses

Recycled Leather Boho Hobo Handbag Large by CarolinaPurses (clipped to polyvore.com)

Thrifted Goodies and Jewelry Makeover

My sweetie and I went out for breakfast on Saturday and of course, we went to a couple of thrift stores. Our Goodwill is my favorite. I came home with 2 pair of shoes, a Carol Little skirt and a London Fog Bright Green Jacket for me. I bought a Leather Coat and a pair of pants for handbags. I also found some odds an ends pictured below......two necklaces, piece of silver chain, belt with a neat buckle, gold buckle and the neatest belt with 3 metal pieces. I guess they are supposed to be the sun. I have absolutely no idea what to do with them, but just had to have them. I am sure they will sit in my stash for a while.

I have already fixed the dark red corded piece. Some of the knots were too small and the beads would not stay put. I painstakingly took it completely apart and re-strung it. I added silver wood beads to the large beads so they wouldn't slip through.

Next, I took the clasp off the black necklace and added a length of the silver chain to make it longer. My next task was how to make a leather flower. After lots of trial and error, I checked out some You-tube videos and finally made one. It was pretty easy, once I figured out how to do it. I will do a tutorial soon. I used a vintage button from my stash for the center and love how it turned out.

Close-up of my "Rose"

 

 

That was my weekend project. I love being retired, am sort of dis-organized..........but never bored.

Thrifted Frame Before and After

I purchased this frame at a Thrift Store a few weeks ago......

Definitely not my decorating style or color.

 

 

It was priced at $3.00 and as it was Seniors Day, I got 25% off for a grand total of $2.25. There has to be something good about being a Senior.....

 

I dismantled the frame, painted the mat and frame in a Off-White Paint and then lightly distressed the frame. I added graduation photos of my 3 older granddaughters, Lauren, Lyndsay and Alyssa. Three sisters and all are special in their own way.

 

 

 

I rarely buy anything new and have a house full of Thrifted Finds that some would call junk, but are treasures to me.

Buttons Buttons and More Buttons!!!!!

My Buttons

 

I absolutely LOVE Buttons......all types of Buttons......especially Vintage Buttons. I have collected them for years and had them stashed in plastic bins. I finally organized them by color and type. Now, I just sit back and admire them. Here is a look at my treasures.

The revolving jar "thing" underneath the cabinet is a 1940's nail organizer from my Aunt Alice, who passed away in 1996 at the age of 99.

 

 

These boxes go under the Wood Shelf made by my talented Hubby.

 

 

My favorites - Lots of Metal Buttons

This plastic drawer "thing" also came from my Aunt Alice.

 

 

 

More Buttons in Jars and Plastic Drawers.

I love when I can see them.

 

Vintage Toy Ironing Board

Jars of Plastic Shirt Buttons and Plastic Gold and Silver Buttons

 

 

This revolving Jar "thing", also from the 1940's came from my Dad. The little Flower Pot in the middle was done by my daughter in the 3rd Grade. She is now 43 and a High School Teacher. Check out the little Bunny.....I love it!!!

 

 

I created this Recycled Leather Clutch as a gift last week.

I had a hard time parting with some of my "Babies".

I do love how it turned out.

 

 

Sold this little Clutch in my Etsy Shop earlier this year.

 

Click here to see ways to use Buttons on Pinterest.

My Button Board on Pinterest

 

These are my Buttons.......Let me know how you store yours.

 



Kitchen Chair Makeover

Amazing Kitchen Chair Makeover

 

We have had these chairs for about 30 years and hated to think of replacing them. I think we paid about $10.00 each when we bought them. One of our cats loved to sharpen his claws on them and they were getting very shabby. We came up with the idea of replacing the seats with wood. After a little bit (actually a lot) of "Trial and Error", my husband came up with using 3 pieces of tapered wood. I am so blessed to have such a talented man, who can do just about anything. He hates to paint, so I did the painting and distressing. 

 

Before and After

 

 

Shabby Seats

 

Complete

 

 
 I am in love with the finished look. My kitchen is done in Red and Blue with a little Yellow thrown in. I have Black Applicances, so the Black Chairs are a nice addition. I absolutely hate to cook, but love spending time in my kitchen.

 

Thrifting Scores Yesterday

Thrifting Scores Yesterday

 

Yesterday was very rainy and a terrible day to stay cooped up in the house.My hubby and I went out for lunch and then on to our favorite Thrift Stores. We have some amazing ones here. The best thing is that it helps the community.

 

Leather Jackets for Handbags

 

 

More Leather Goodies

 

I am so in love with the Dark Brown Bomber on the left.

It has the most amazing pebbled leather.

This will make a great Commuter Bag!!!! 

 

 

Handbags and Belts for the Hardware

 

 

Skirt in Wonderful Fall Colors

 

Loving this and it was only $2.25..............needs a little TLC.....

 

 

Now, I just need to get busy......

 

Finished a Fall Bag Yesterday.....

 

 



Chest of Drawers Makeover - Before and After

We bought this 4 Drawer Chest when our first child was first born. It was unfinished and as I remember cost about $30.00. I saved a little every week for about 2 months to be able to buy it. Originally, it had 4 legs about 8" high. When our son and his little brother were a little older, we were finally to buy them nicer furniture. We relegated the chest to a utility room and later to my husband's workshop. In the 1970's, I covered it with the tackiest of Contact  paper........ seemed very stylish to me, at that time. This is what it looked like for the past 35 years. Tacky might be the understatement.

We needed a "new" piece of furniture for the side of the bed in the guest room. First of all, we stripped all of the contact paper off. My husband cut the bottom drawer off and added short legs. He also added molding to each drawer. Then I painted it a dark rust and distressed it. Finally, we added the little knobs from Hobby Lobby. This is how it turned out.................pretty cool, I think.

The lamp was repainted in Silver...........Lampshade was recovered in Burlap. The clock was a Thrift Store Find............. I just love how this turned out.

My "New" Favorite "Thing"

I can't seem to get organized enough to have time to blog, but am so excited about this......I just had to share. I have been making Leather Bags to put in my Etsy Shop for over a year. My sewing machine was not happy about this and kept complaining. I went to our local Singer store to see about buying a Heavy Duty Machine like I had 20 years ago, when I was making Denim Handbags to sell at Craft Shows......wonder why I ever let it go. I guess hind-sight is 20-20. The owner of the Singer store said he didn't carry any Industrial Machines, as they were just too heavy for hime to handle. He suggested I try and find an old Black Head 201 0r 15-91 Series Singer from the 1940's or the 1950's. After two weeks of searching, I found a 15-91 on Craigslist for $60.00.....including the cute cabinet. I do not think it had hardly been used, as the Gold on the base is just like new. The funny thing is that I learned to sew on a machine just like this. It makes the most amazing straight stitch (doesn't do anything else)......and it sews through Heavy Leather without any of the complaining that my Viking Designer E does...........and it was way more than $60.00.

I think I should paint the desk white to match the cabinets in the back, but hubby think it should stay the way it came. Perhaps, he just doesn't want to help.

What do you think????