curvyandcontent

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Create Your Own Antique Tea Tray with one or two trips to a Thrift Shop, a bit of Imagination and some Spray Painting.

Looking through Pinterest you come across some amazing Home Made Coffee Bars and for some time I had a Mini Coffee Bar with a Pod Machine set up on the the corner of my Kitchen Bench.

It looked really good however it was pointless as we are a family of Tea Drinkers. We never used the Pod Machine  but when it came to Tea, there is always a pot  Brewing in the house. Whether it be your good old English Breakfast, a sweet blend of Lamington, Strawberry & Creams or a calming leaf of chamomile There is always a Teapot full.

COFFEE BAR  A TEA DRINKER’S TREASURE- There is nothing better for a Tea Drinker than drinking Freshly Brewed Tea from a Delicate China Cup

So I removed the Pod Machine, looked through my hoard of Thrift Shop Purchased fine China. Visited the Thrift Shop to purchase a couple of the 80’s Fashionable Timber Cup Trees and a large serving Tray.

Garage Sale Purchased Antique China Cups Resting on a Shabby Chic Version of the Popular 1980’s Timber Tree Cup Holder

Using an All purpose Spray Paint which has the Primer included and adheres to any surface. I Firstly Painted The Taller Cup Tree and Timber Tray in white. I the Distressed Both to give them a Shabby Chic Look. I then used Bees Wax to Seal Them.

Give an old Thrift Store Bought Tray a Spray of Paint add a Doilie and Fine China and your ready to serve HIGH TEA

I was lucky to have found 2 Tree Cup Holders on my Thrift Shop visit. So I then Sprayed the other one a Minty Green colour also distressing for a Shabby Chic Look. On this Holder I placed my Johnson Brothers Coffee Cups from my Dinner set. The colours matched in perfect with my handmade Coffee sign I had previously made from an old frame and my Tin set which I had purchased on sale from a Department Store for $5 a piece.

An Old wooden Frame- Spray Paint- Sand Paper- Computer-Printer-Paper & 30 minutes of your Time, To make yourself your very own sign

  One of the only items I have purchased new, However I did not pay retail a bargain @ $5 each

With some imagination and a trip to a thrift shop or some garage sales, you can change your Kitchen decor’ in a day for under $30 with High End Products 

The Biscuit Jar was also a Fantastic Thrift Shop Purchase for $5 and the cute little China cups were 50cents each. I have an entire wardrobe full of pre-loved linen and doilies and as Shabby Chic is my number One Decor’ Style I use them all the Time.

Browse eBay for any cute little items

Metric Conversion signs are a great gift idea for any cook

I keep all my Tea strainers in a Parfait Ceramic Jar which I paid $1 for. The Tea strainers I purchase from eBay all little cute ones (very cheap) The  Measurement Conversion sign I have had for years and as you can see I used it regularly.

Antique cups purchased from a Garage sale

Not only do I have a beautiful Tea Tray, I have now covered up my ugly stove top

The Antique Cups were a bargain for a $1.50 each from a Garage Sale and the Tea Pot was from the same Garage Sale for $4.oo.

If you enjoy creating new out of old such as I do and would like to share your projects I have a Pinterest Board that promotes such things. I also have a Pinterest Board for Diy Bloggers. Beginners are welcome to both. You are also able to sell your creations on both.

If you are interested in becoming a collaborated the rules are simple -Follow me on Pinterest and Follow my Blog. Contact me with your Pinterest Details curvyandcontent@gmail.com

http://www.pinterest.com.au/scorpio511/

Thank you For Reading Happy DIY

JUDITH SUDULIC

    Create your own ANTIQUE TEA TRAY Looking through Pinterest you come across some amazing Home Made Coffee Bars and for some time I had a Mini Coffee Bar with a Pod Machine set up on the the corner of my Kitchen Bench.

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DIY- SUITCASE UMBRELLA STAND with Curb Side Appeal-shelstring.com (Old Frame Project Challenge)

DIY- SUITCASE UMBRELLA STAND with Curb Side Appeal-shelstring.com (Old Frame Project Challenge)

Our Project Challenge this month through http://www.shelstring.com was to use Old Frames for our project piece. There are so many projects we can complete using old frames, a quick look on Pinterest will show us that.  I myself own 3 boxes of unique and different  Pre-Loved Frames cheaply purchased  from 2nd hand stores. Suitcase Umbrella stand with curb appeal- quick and cheap project that can…

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For any of you who have read any of my previous posts, you would know about my addiction to op/thrift shopping. These DIY Candle Holders was one of those times that shopping at charity shops really paid off.

Thrift shop lamps now adorable candle holders

Thrift shop lamps now adorable candle holders

The four lamps I purchased to make these Candle Holders were on sale for Half Price, they are made of beautiful timber with lots of detail and in Total cost me $22 for the 4 of them.

The same day same Charity Shop all their Bric-a-Brac was also Half Price. The Vintage Fine Bone China Plates I used to complete these Candle Holders ( a complete score finding pairs which is generally a rarity) cost in Total for the 4 plates $3

china plates from thrift shops can be purchased from as little as 50 cents

china plates from thrift shops can be purchased from as little as 50 cents

china plates from thrift shops can be purchased from as little as 50 cents

Add to this the cost of : Glue(E6000)=$3 – Spray Paint & Wax Sealant= $10.00 – Lace Trim=$2.00 – Sandpaper=$3 The total for all for of my Candle Holders comes to $43. If you were to buy one of these candle holders in a Specialty Shop you would be lucky to get any change at all from $100 Bill.

lace trim to cover the electrical insert hole

sand as much or as little as you like for you personal preference of Shabby Chic

So Simple to Make- Remove all wiring- Clean and spray paint- Once Dry Sand in the crevices and to your preferred look of worn shabby-clean with a damp cloth and allow to dry- seal with bees wax- with a glue gun add Lace trim to cover electrical hole and add Lace to any other areas you like.- Lastly using E6000 adhere China plate level to the top and leave aside to set. 

These Candle Holders can be completed in a day and added to your décor or made for that unique and special gift. Everyone who enters my home always comments on them. Generally I am all for telling people how cheap my projects are to make and how easy to complete however To me my Candle Holders look way to elegant to give away their secret, so when people ask if I made them I just answer yes and thank them for their compliments.

If you decide to use this project as inspiration for making your own Candle Holders or are a Diy Blogger who has projects to share, would you like to join my Pinterest Group Board for Pinterest Inspired Projects contact me curvyandcontent@gmail.com

Happy Blogging

EASY DIY-Old Lamps into Shabby Chic Candle Holders for $11 each For any of you who have read any of my previous posts, you would know about my addiction to op/thrift shopping.

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DESIGNER LABELS WITHOUT THE EXTRAVAGANT PRICE TAGS

I could not believe it when I researched the deigner for this bag and found that it’s original retail price would have been over $3000 and I paid the Thrift Shop Price of $12

A perfect Designer Jacket By “Lavender” Budget price @ $12 and an excellent comfortable fit for a curvy girl

THRIFT SHOP FASHION -LUNCH WITH THE GIRLFRIENDS and the entire outfit from head to toe cost $41 because it was preloved

DO I OWN TO MANY CLOTHES ?

Yes, compared to most people I probably do. I have no idea how many pairs of shoes I own, I can not identify all my dresses and at times I am known 2 overlook a handbag or 2 that I own.

DO I HAVE ANY STORE OR CREDIT CARD DEBT ?

Absolutely Not, none of my clothes, shoes, handbags or accessories have ever placed me in debt or affected my weekly financial budget what so ever

DO I NEED ALL THOSE CLOTHES & FASHION ITEMS ?

Of cause I don’t need them I could live happily and comfortably on a third of the garments I own, However when I am able to purchase a beautiful well fitting dress that I think looks really good on me for $3 which is less than a cup of coffee I am going to buy it.

WHY AM I OBSESSED-ADDICTED WITH THRIFT/OP SHOPPING FASHION ?

Growing Up I would always remember that the feeling I got when I was invited to a party. It was not the excitement that my friends were feeling. Nope I would immediately get this dreaded feeling, a knot in my stomach. It was knowing that I had nothing to wear to the party or that I would have to wear the same outfit that I had already worn to Amanda’s and Megan’s Party’s.

I’m not sure what girlfriends are like now days but back when I was growing up 10 year old girls could be very mean and cruel and for sure it would take no time at all for me to be ostracised. The dancing would start  everyone would make a circle and slowly but surely I felt the hips and arms of the girls on either side nudging me until  I was completely squeezed out of the circle. The whispers about my outfit were loud for me to hear in the snickering groups forming with the bullying rising to being intentionally skipped from  taking a piece of shitty newspaper off the big wrapped messed filled with junky little toys in pass the parcel.

People have bad hair days and I had them too but my issue and what put me in a bad mood from the moment I woke up in the morning, frustrating the hell out of me to the point of giving me a head ache and pangs of pain in my stomach that parents did not recognise as important was the fact that I never had a good selection of nice clothes to wear and it literally, even as I entered adulthood would make me cry with sheer frustration. I’VE GOT NOTHING TO WEAR- WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR TODAY ? I CAN’T GO I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR.

This back then was due to finances I was a tiny framed girl in those days so it was never about finding the correct fit or size

When my parents divorced and I was pregnant with my first child again complaining about having nothing to wear my father told me that he had started shopping at Charity Shops and took me on my first excursion.

At the end of that day I swore to my self that I would never ever feel that knot in my stomach again nor would I ever, ever stress over having nothing to wear again and under no circumstances what so ever no matter how broke I ever became will my children have to experience any of those feelings I had felt growing up and I have stuck to my word and have been happy with my overflowing wardrobes of clothing ever since

WHY AM I SHARING MY STORY WITH YOU ?

I am certain that this morning at least one person woke up with that dreaded knot in their tummy, not because the hair straightener blew up… nope it was because they couldn’t find anything to wear. There will be another lady stressing all week over the wedding she has to attend on the weekend, wondering whether or not she is going to look to good in the outfit she has chosen to wear and another who is going out on Friday night and is sick of dressing in the same outfit in front of the same group of friends but doesn’t believe her budget can afford her to purchase something different.

SO I AM SHARING IN THE HOPE THAT AT LEAST THOSE 3 LADIES WILL BE INSPIRED BY MY POST AND ARE ENCOURAGED BY MY STORY & WITH AN OPEN MIND VISIT A CHARITY/THRIFT/OP SHOP  TO SEE THE ENDLESS FASHION POSSIBILITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM.

This Entire Out Fit was purchased from Thrift Shops-TOTAL= $41

ELASTIC WAIST (SIZE -16) 3 LAYERS AUSTRALIAN DESIGNER SKIRT- $4.00

LAVENDER ROAD (SIZE 20) AUSTRALIAN DESIGN JACKET-$8.00

HEINE (SIZE unknown)  STRETCH SINGLET YARN KNIT LOOK TOP- $3.00

ACCESSORIES- Scarf -$1 Earrings-$2 Necklace-$2 Bag-$12 Boots-$9

Not everyone can wear a scarf and feel comfortable but if you can they are always the perfect accessorie and cheap I only ever pay from between $1-$3

Purchase some Surgical swipes to clean your earrings before wearing them. If I really love a pair I will sometimes pay up to $5 for earrings

These beads were really cheap and I always clean them with baby wipes. I am a huge fan of costume jewellery however you can usually choose from a nice selection of gold and silver plated accessories if the metals are your preference

And then there is the Handbag “THE BIG SUPRISE BUY” now I haven’t yet mentioned that there are at times you will come across an item whilst thrifting that originally held a High Priced Retail Ticket.

It wasn’t until I was writing this post and looked up the Design Label of this Handbag that I realised I had hit the jackpot with this purchase

“LOUIS CARDINI LEATHER BAG SHOP IN THE ROCKS – SYDNEY ESTABLISHED HIS BUSINESS IN 1973 AND HAS BEEN DESIGNING AND HAND-CRAFTING QUALITY LUXURY LEATHER GOODS. LOUIS CARDINI’S PRODUCTS ARE THE ONLY GENUINE LEATHER GOODS THAT ARE FULLY LEATHER LINED USING THE FINEST QUALITY AUSTRALIAN LEATHER INCLUDING OSTRICH & CROCODILE. LOUIS CARDINI IS NOW AN INTERNATIONATIONAL RECOGNISED BRAND.”

The Handbag imaged below is available made to order from Louis Cardini Shop today. It is a Genuine Ostrich Handmade Leather Bag item Number 0929 FO and is the closest to the bag I have purchased and it retails for $3,150. I PURCHASED MY BAG FOR $12.00 FROM A CHARITY SHOP.  The cheapest Bag from Louis Cardini is about $475.

Surely My Bag Story is enough enticement for you to at least walk into a 2nd Hand Op Shop/ Charity/ Goodwill and take a Peek-a-Boo at the prices and fashions available that may suit your budget and style. Even if all you do is look through the accessories, handbags, scarves & Fashion Jewellery.

Have I sparked anyone’s interest? Are you a likeminded Op/Thrift-shop-A-Holic with your own Fashion Story? Do you want to know and learn more about wearing and buying thrift/op shop fashion? I would love to hear from you. You can either leave a comment below or email me curvyandcontent@gmail.com

Happy Blogging

Judith

    How to BUY & WEAR THRIFT/OP SHOP FASHION DESIGNER LABELS WITHOUT THE EXTRAVAGANT PRICE TAGS DO I OWN TO MANY CLOTHES ? Yes, compared to most people I probably do.

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THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU SAVE THROUGH OP- SHOP DECORATING, BOARDERS ON THE UNBELIEVABLE, This post is my way of showing you that not only is it believable, it is fun and rewarding with positive, achievable outcomes to suit even the tightest of budget.

I am a self confessed Op- Shop-a-holic. (“Thrift Shopping”to those from the United States & UK) I am completely addicted to buying pre-loved and am completely addicted to the styles and trends of yesteryear, choosing an eclectic style of decor from different era’s. Excited knowing that the likelihood of my decor choice being mass produced and on display amoungst my neighbours homes is zero. The inquisitive questions and compliments I receive from visitors really does make me feel good( Happy Like a Child playing -good feeling-) especially when given the opportunity to tell them the story of where and how the item came to be a part of my home and in return the show of  genuine interest shown on their faces about my story.

Decorating my home with pre-loved  Furnishings and Decor allows me to achieve the look and style I want and sometimes for up to a 10th of the price it would of cost a shopper purchasing retail.

Yes it’s true that sometimes it may take me longer to find the perfect cupboard or cushion covers and yes I may then have to get my hands dirty and repaint the cupboard to the exact colour I want, but the challenge of rummaging through op shops, venturing out to Flea Markets & garage sales and scrolling through Face Book Buy & Swap Groups is half the fun and flipping an old cupboard with a coat of paint (with the help of my sons) or decorating an Old Lamp Shade following a tutorial from Pinterest is the other half.

Shabby Chic is one of my all time favourite styling looks and I knew It was the must have look  for my bedroom.  My kids removed all my furniture, that was my entire 4 piece country mahogany timber suite (left over from my marriage which ended 10 years ago, so it was very much passed it’s used by date in more ways than one) and I made 3 new Retail Purchases – A new Bed -New Pillows – New Sheets. Below are the list of  pre-loved items I purchased for my bedroom transformation, which are also my 10 op-shop/thrift shop purchase suggestions for your very own Shabby Chic Sanctuary. 

10 OP-SHOP SHABBY CHIC SANCTUARY SUGGESTIONS

1. A pair of antique lamps and lampshades.  Op shops have all their electrical’s tested prior to sale. I repainted and distressed the lamps. The lampshades were perfect as is. The pair cost me $25 as the store was having a half price sale.

Vintage Lamp repainted and distressed to look Shabby Chic

The perfect Op-Shop Find. I purchased a pair of these lamps and lampshades for $25 the pair. It was 1/2 price day. I was in the right place at the right time. All I did was repaint the dark brown lamps to make them shabby chic

Perfect condition Lampshades $25 for the pair the bases came with them.

One of my first OP-Shop finds to start my bedroom transformation into a Shabby Chic Sanctuary

  2. FURNITURE- antique furniture lasts the distance. My 2 bed side chest of drawers were originally a dressing table purchased for $60 I cut out the middle, added the embellishments to the front which I bought off eBay for under $20, painted and distressed. My dressing table cost $50 and received a new coat of paint and some fine distressing to match in with my Bedside Tables.

  3. DOILIES, you can never have to many. The finer details and layers you add to your decorating is what’s so beautifully unique about shabby chic. You can even go as far as using the larger table cloths as bedspreads or embellish a few cushion with smaller ones if you are craft minded. Pinterest has so many decor ideas for doilies from wall art to making fairy lights and all of these could be beautifully incorporated into your Shabby Chic Sanctuary.

4. A MIRROR, I was fortunate to pick this one up for $30 my dad accidentally dropped it when we were painting. We laughed no broken glass so the cracks of the edging stayed. A white cane mirror would work just as lovely. Wooden mirrors work as well you could easily add your own embellishments of lace, burlap and flowers.

5. MANCHESTER– some people cringe at the thought of buying a quilt cover or pillow cases from the op shops but remember even when staying at the Hilton someone else has slept in those sheets and you can buy some beautiful pillow cases for as little as 50c. Not to mention you can purchase some absolutely exquisite cushion covers for between $1 & $5 such as the lace brocade feature cushion displayed in these photos. Purchased with the insert for $3 ( I actually felt guilty only paying $3 for this once very expensive designer cushion). Curtains can also be a very effective room enhancers with this beautiful curtain, it’s pretty cut-out lace feature in perfect condition for $8. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post dedicated to “Thrift Shop Bed Styling”

6. ARTWORK- I love artwork on walls, it adds so much character to a space. For me it is a decor piece that really transform a house into a home. In a small Charity Shop in the middle of no where I came across these 3 “R Hendricks” framed pieces from his Bathtub Collection. At the time I had no idea of the artist or value of his works. The cost for all 3 pieces was $60. To me that’s  a lot of money however I fell in love with them and bought them immediately ( this very moment on eBay the cost to purchase R. Hendricks 3 Piece framed bathtub collection starts at $99 US) I really did outdo myself with this profitable purchase and they are the perfect Backdrop for my Shabby Chic Bedroom. I have been fortunate through my op shop travels to have purchased 2 more R. Hendricks Framed Pieces for even cheaper. These framed artworks with the addition of some cheaper floral pieces that I bought online for $5 each have given a nice balanced to the grey with a hint of magenta walls with the combination of colour and sepia enhancing the eclectic style that forms the basis of shabby chic.

7. VASES & FLOWERS – To be honest the amount of vases I own is more than I will ever need but it is truly impossibly for me to enter a charity shop without purchasing a vase if it is antique and priced under $3. Vases are the perfect decor item for anyone designing a Shabby Chic Finished Room. Remembering that with the quality of spray paints available today even if it is not your preferred coloured you can change it. In regards to choosing the flowers there are literally thousands of inexpensive yet brilliant looking flowers available to purchase through eBay. Check out my ” I BUY SILK FLOWERS FOR LESS THAN $5 with FREE POSTAGE. They also make terrific gifts for Teachers, Secret Santa, Work Collegues and House Warmings.

8. CANDLES & CANDLE STICK HOLDERS-  Candles obviously serve 2 purposes not only can you buy some that smell amazing, you can also buy some that look amazing. Adding a wonderful scent to your Shabby Chic Sanctuary for me is an absolute must and watching the burning flicker of the flame at night whilst relaxing in bed is such a comforting feeling. When it comes to Candle Holders I create my own using material sourced for thrift shops- From old lamps, wine glasses to china plates at a fraction of the cost if I were to buy new in a store. Check out my tutorials on how to make your own thrifty Candle  Holders- “DIY ROSE PETAL CANDLE HOLDERS & TURN YOUR CHEESE & WINE DISPLAY INTO CANDLE HOLDERS. I will soon be adding another tutorial on how to make  these beautiful wooden/china plate candle holders photographed below so keep an eye out for the post here or on my Pinterest Page ( JUDITH SUDULIC )

9. CRYSTAL & CUT GLASS- It amazes me how inexpensive diamond cut glass and overlooked crystal pieces cost at thrift shops in Australia. I am unsure the cost overseas however here perfect pieces are as little as $2 and there is so much to choose from. I keep my jewellery in them, my hair clips in them, so many things and they look very pretty. Remembering that you can also enhance the glass with paint, lace & handmade flowers. I have a tutorial ” DIY SHABBY CHIC DRESSER SET’ you may wished to look at or for more ideas on how to use these inexpensive cut glass pieces there is also my post “Bathroom Decor on a Budget”

Doilies come in all shapes and sizes from the tiny to runners that cover your entire dressing table and can be picked up for a couple of dollars depending on which Op Shop you visit

HANDCRAFTED CRYSTAL CUT GLASS SHABBY CHIC DRESSING TABLE SET

cute handmade vase

painted glass then sanded

Doilies are the perfect addition to your Shabby Chic Make Over

10. TRINKETS – Trinkets are a personal touch of collected items that are unique to your style, maybe they are an assortment of gifts you have received or purchases from overseas travels or crafts you have made for yourself. The lattice heart on my wall is craft project I completed myself. The Trinket boxes are purchases from thrift shops that I fell in love with. The Bird Cage Jewellery Stand was a gift from my children and the crystal pieces and fairy were my mothers before she passed away. Not a necessity however when thrifting for your Shabby Chic Sanctuary there will be items that speak to you and you will have the perfect place for them to sit. Maybe some old photo frames, Ornaments, Vintage Hats, Ginger Jars.

Doilies are the perfect addition to your Shabby Chic Make Over

Vintage Lamp repainted and distressed to look Shabby Chic

Perfect condition Lampshades $25 for the pair the bases came with them.

Your Shabby Chic Sanctuary is your Special Space & I hope my 10 OP/Thrift Shop Purchase Suggestions allow you to achieve Your Perfect Bedroom on a Budget as I was.

I would love to see your Shabby Chic Sanctuary’s. I would also like to share them with my Pinterest Followers. If you would be interested in sharing please either leave your comments below or contact me curvyandcontent@gmail.com

10 OP/THRIFT SHOP ITEMS can transform your Bedroom into a Shabby Chic Sanctuary. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU SAVE THROUGH OP- SHOP DECORATING, BOARDERS ON THE UNBELIEVABLE, This post is my way of showing you that not only is it believable, it is fun and rewarding with positive, achievable outcomes to suit even the tightest of budget.

[curvyandcontent]

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU SAVE THROUGH OP- SHOP DECORATING, BOARDERS ON THE UNBELIEVABLE, This post is my way of showing you that not only is it believable, it is fun and rewarding with positive, achievable outcomes to suit even the tightest of budget.

I am a self confessed Op- Shop-a-holic. (“Thrift Shopping”to those from the United States & UK) I am completely addicted to buying pre-loved and am completely addicted to the styles and trends of yesteryear, choosing an eclectic style of decor from different era’s. Excited knowing that the likelihood of my decor choice being mass produced and on display amoungst my neighbours homes is zero. The inquisitive questions and compliments I receive from visitors really does make me feel good( Happy Like a Child playing -good feeling-) especially when given the opportunity to tell them the story of where and how the item came to be a part of my home and in return the show of  genuine interest shown on their faces about my story.

Decorating my home with pre-loved  Furnishings and Decor allows me to achieve the look and style I want and sometimes for up to a 10th of the price it would of cost a shopper purchasing retail.

Yes it’s true that sometimes it may take me longer to find the perfect cupboard or cushion covers and yes I may then have to get my hands dirty and repaint the cupboard to the exact colour I want, but the challenge of rummaging through op shops, venturing out to Flea Markets & garage sales and scrolling through Face Book Buy & Swap Groups is half the fun and flipping an old cupboard with a coat of paint (with the help of my sons) or decorating an Old Lamp Shade following a tutorial from Pinterest is the other half.

Shabby Chic is one of my all time favourite styling looks and I knew It was the must have look  for my bedroom.  My kids removed all my furniture, that was my entire 4 piece country mahogany timber suite (left over from my marriage which ended 10 years ago, so it was very much passed it’s used by date in more ways than one) and I made 3 new Retail Purchases – A new Bed -New Pillows – New Sheets. Below are the list of  pre-loved items I purchased for my bedroom transformation, which are also my 10 op-shop/thrift shop purchase suggestions for your very own Shabby Chic Sanctuary. 

10 OP-SHOP SHABBY CHIC SANCTUARY SUGGESTIONS

1. A pair of antique lamps and lampshades.  Op shops have all their electrical’s tested prior to sale. I repainted and distressed the lamps. The lampshades were perfect as is. The pair cost me $25 as the store was having a half price sale.

Vintage Lamp repainted and distressed to look Shabby Chic

The perfect Op-Shop Find. I purchased a pair of these lamps and lampshades for $25 the pair. It was 1/2 price day. I was in the right place at the right time. All I did was repaint the dark brown lamps to make them shabby chic

Perfect condition Lampshades $25 for the pair the bases came with them.

One of my first OP-Shop finds to start my bedroom transformation into a Shabby Chic Sanctuary

  2. FURNITURE- antique furniture lasts the distance. My 2 bed side chest of drawers were originally a dressing table purchased for $60 I cut out the middle, added the embellishments to the front which I bought off eBay for under $20, painted and distressed. My dressing table cost $50 and received a new coat of paint and some fine distressing to match in with my Bedside Tables.

  3. DOILIES, you can never have to many. The finer details and layers you add to your decorating is what’s so beautifully unique about shabby chic. You can even go as far as using the larger table cloths as bedspreads or embellish a few cushion with smaller ones if you are craft minded. Pinterest has so many decor ideas for doilies from wall art to making fairy lights and all of these could be beautifully incorporated into your Shabby Chic Sanctuary.

4. A MIRROR, I was fortunate to pick this one up for $30 my dad accidentally dropped it when we were painting. We laughed no broken glass so the cracks of the edging stayed. A white cane mirror would work just as lovely. Wooden mirrors work as well you could easily add your own embellishments of lace, burlap and flowers.

5. MANCHESTER– some people cringe at the thought of buying a quilt cover or pillow cases from the op shops but remember even when staying at the Hilton someone else has slept in those sheets and you can buy some beautiful pillow cases for as little as 50c. Not to mention you can purchase some absolutely exquisite cushion covers for between $1 & $5 such as the lace brocade feature cushion displayed in these photos. Purchased with the insert for $3 ( I actually felt guilty only paying $3 for this once very expensive designer cushion). Curtains can also be a very effective room enhancers with this beautiful curtain, it’s pretty cut-out lace feature in perfect condition for $8. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post dedicated to “Thrift Shop Bed Styling”

6. ARTWORK- I love artwork on walls, it adds so much character to a space. For me it is a decor piece that really transform a house into a home. In a small Charity Shop in the middle of no where I came across these 3 “R Hendricks” framed pieces from his Bathtub Collection. At the time I had no idea of the artist or value of his works. The cost for all 3 pieces was $60. To me that’s  a lot of money however I fell in love with them and bought them immediately ( this very moment on eBay the cost to purchase R. Hendricks 3 Piece framed bathtub collection starts at $99 US) I really did outdo myself with this profitable purchase and they are the perfect Backdrop for my Shabby Chic Bedroom. I have been fortunate through my op shop travels to have purchased 2 more R. Hendricks Framed Pieces for even cheaper. These framed artworks with the addition of some cheaper floral pieces that I bought online for $5 each have given a nice balanced to the grey with a hint of magenta walls with the combination of colour and sepia enhancing the eclectic style that forms the basis of shabby chic.

7. VASES & FLOWERS – To be honest the amount of vases I own is more than I will ever need but it is truly impossibly for me to enter a charity shop without purchasing a vase if it is antique and priced under $3. Vases are the perfect decor item for anyone designing a Shabby Chic Finished Room. Remembering that with the quality of spray paints available today even if it is not your preferred coloured you can change it. In regards to choosing the flowers there are literally thousands of inexpensive yet brilliant looking flowers available to purchase through eBay. Check out my ” I BUY SILK FLOWERS FOR LESS THAN $5 with FREE POSTAGE. They also make terrific gifts for Teachers, Secret Santa, Work Collegues and House Warmings.

8. CANDLES & CANDLE STICK HOLDERS-  Candles obviously serve 2 purposes not only can you buy some that smell amazing, you can also buy some that look amazing. Adding a wonderful scent to your Shabby Chic Sanctuary for me is an absolute must and watching the burning flicker of the flame at night whilst relaxing in bed is such a comforting feeling. When it comes to Candle Holders I create my own using material sourced for thrift shops- From old lamps, wine glasses to china plates at a fraction of the cost if I were to buy new in a store. Check out my tutorials on how to make your own thrifty Candle  Holders- “DIY ROSE PETAL CANDLE HOLDERS & TURN YOUR CHEESE & WINE DISPLAY INTO CANDLE HOLDERS. I will soon be adding another tutorial on how to make  these beautiful wooden/china plate candle holders photographed below so keep an eye out for the post here or on my Pinterest Page ( JUDITH SUDULIC )

9. CRYSTAL & CUT GLASS- It amazes me how inexpensive diamond cut glass and overlooked crystal pieces cost at thrift shops in Australia. I am unsure the cost overseas however here perfect pieces are as little as $2 and there is so much to choose from. I keep my jewellery in them, my hair clips in them, so many things and they look very pretty. Remembering that you can also enhance the glass with paint, lace & handmade flowers. I have a tutorial ” DIY SHABBY CHIC DRESSER SET’ you may wished to look at or for more ideas on how to use these inexpensive cut glass pieces there is also my post “Bathroom Decor on a Budget”

painted glass then sanded

Doilies are the perfect addition to your Shabby Chic Make Over

Doilies come in all shapes and sizes from the tiny to runners that cover your entire dressing table and can be picked up for a couple of dollars depending on which Op Shop you visit

cute handmade vase

HANDCRAFTED CRYSTAL CUT GLASS SHABBY CHIC DRESSING TABLE SET

10. TRINKETS – Trinkets are a personal touch of collected items that are unique to your style, maybe they are an assortment of gifts you have received or purchases from overseas travels or crafts you have made for yourself. The lattice heart on my wall is craft project I completed myself. The Trinket boxes are purchases from thrift shops that I fell in love with. The Bird Cage Jewellery Stand was a gift from my children and the crystal pieces and fairy were my mothers before she passed away. Not a necessity however when thrifting for your Shabby Chic Sanctuary there will be items that speak to you and you will have the perfect place for them to sit. Maybe some old photo frames, Ornaments, Vintage Hats, Ginger Jars.

Doilies are the perfect addition to your Shabby Chic Make Over

Vintage Lamp repainted and distressed to look Shabby Chic

Perfect condition Lampshades $25 for the pair the bases came with them.

Your Shabby Chic Sanctuary is your Special Space & I hope my 10 OP/Thrift Shop Purchase Suggestions allow you to achieve Your Perfect Bedroom on a Budget as I was.

I would love to see your Shabby Chic Sanctuary’s. I would also like to share them with my Pinterest Followers. If you would be interested in sharing please either leave your comments below or contact me curvyandcontent@gmail.com

10 OP/THRIFT SHOP ITEMS can transform your Bedroom into a Shabby Chic Sanctuary. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU SAVE THROUGH OP- SHOP DECORATING, BOARDERS ON THE UNBELIEVABLE, This post is my way of showing you that not only is it believable, it is fun and rewarding with positive, achievable outcomes to suit even the tightest of budget.

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Plus-size fashion hand-picked and measured for a great fit by real plus-size fashionistas! Discover the secret to owning a stunning wardrobe.

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Featuring For a Jenny the launch of JJs-Flattering-Fashions with a wonderful collection of pre-loved evening/party dresses that she is Auctioning through her new eBay account JJS-FLATTERING-FASHION.

 For anyone wanting to earn some extra dollars selling on eBay is an excellent choice. 

Jenny who trades as a Hair Dresser from home has her busy days and quiets days, wanting to increase to a more steady flow of income I suggested that during her low periods when she has no appointments booked, maybe she could  start to sell on eBay ( of cause this is set up in an area away from the salon)

Jenny is fortunate to have a large family of sisters, 2 grown daughters and some generous Long Term Clients, who have all presented Jenny with the most amazing garments for the Launching of JJ’s-Flattering-Fashions.

I have also had many years  experience selling on eBay and have been able to give Jenny some guidance in regards to, offering the best customer service, providing quality garments for Auction and realistic ,inexpensive pricing 

Follow Jenny @ JJs-Flattering-Fashions as she enters into the Auctioning world of eBay. Look to see where she is promoting her Auctions, what are The social Platforms she using, Read her feedback, her garment descriptions and compare her pricing. 

Have you been thinking of selling on eBay? Is it something you have wanted to do for a while but just didn’t really know the best way to do it? Are you not sure whether or not setting up an eBay account and selling is really worth it

Have your questions answered by following Jenny and her progress. Watch from the side lines and make your own decision based on JJ’S- Flattering-Fashions add Jenny to your favourites and watch her progress, it may just be the insight you need to know whether or not becoming an eBay seller is right for you.

Good Luck to Jenny @ JJs-Flattering-Fashions

And Good Luck to any readers who take this as an opportunity to become an eBay Seller

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