This Is Where I Bin

  In my blogs, I often talk about my thrift shop finds. I thought I would share with you one of the shops I love to visit. I went when the store was closed so they wouldn't think I was casing the joint and planning a heist! LOL  Everything there is purchased by the pound. Monday through Saturday things are $1.29 a pound. Books and magazines are sold separately. They are only 25 cents a pound! A few things, TVs, large furniture etc. are individually priced. Sundays, everything is half priced! Shopping here is a whole different experience! It is not for the faint of heart! Here you buy what is light weight, which works perfectly for this miniaturist! Usually the things I want are small and at the bottom of the bins.

This is just one side of the store. 'That lamp will be sold by the pound too. It is just there to keep it from breaking

Most everything they have for sale is dumped into large bins. If you have the patience you dig through the bins. There are bins for toys and housewares, books, clothing, linens and clothing accessories. This could be treacherous though. If you can imagine a cartoon with people plowing through things and throwing them up in the air you have the idea. The bins are rolled out and replace with full ones several times a day.


When the full bins are brought out, everyone must stand back and are not allowed to take anything out until all of them are totally in place. Then, the people converge on them like madmen or women. Lookout and hold your children! After they have gotten all they want, things slow down again and I can pick out the tiny doll clothes or furnishings left behind. I have also gotten quite a few wonderful finds for my 1:1 house. Some things are even new in the package!

This is the same side and you can see the price sign top left

The tall blue rectangular bins on wheels are what you put your things in. They are weighed on a floor scale. The plastic bag is removed with your goodies and off you go!



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Live Wreath Live!

I believe this is the first time I have posted about something that was not mini related.  When I began this blog, I planned to talk about all kinds of crafts, mini stories, interesting mini news...etc. This time I am sharing my live wreath.
                                

 I have been doing this for the past few years. It starts out with the same grape ivy wreath that is up all year long.  Whatever the season, I cut flowers and add them to my wreath. You might find winter berries, azaleas or anything else that looks good. Try to stick in some with a nice fragrance too. I have even added artificial poinsettia pics. The tubes can be purchased in craft stores and many other stores. Fill the tubes with water and quickly put the stem in the hole in the fitted rubber cap before they begin to wilt. 

You may add your favorite cut flower food

This year I simply sprinkled a mix of wild flower seeds on the ground in my backyard then added perennial  and annual plants . It seems before I knew it, I was looking a at wild bouquet garden! The bonus is no more mowing in that area. What you see here are heirloom and knock out roses, cone flowers, a sunflower, baby's breath and I believe zinnias. I added some more seeds a few days ago so, in a few weeks the garden will have a whole new look. As new flowers bloom, and the old ones die, I simply replace them and get a whole new looking wreath too!                                                                                                                                                                            

Flowers in various stages

Use any combination!

 My son, who just started  an organic commercial nursery, is going to thin out that flower below whose name I can't remember. It is growing right next to the heirloom roses.

 

This plant spreads like crazy!

   

You can see the rose bush in the midst of this plant

 
For times when there are no flowers I put in special occasion pics from the dollar tree or whatever I can find.  If you don't have a garden, store bought bouquets work just fine!

My front door

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Taking them for Granite!

 I have decided that this house will be for the transferring couple you met. It is the house with the  Shiny floors. :-)

I recently bought a what I felt were cute kitchen counters. There was something about them that just didn't seem up-to-date. While I was re-arranging my paints and finishes for the upteenth time, I came across something called Granite Stone. I had no idea why I was buying it when I did. But then, do I ever? LOL I also bought two other types of finishes by the same company.

I can't wait to try the others!

 Any hoo, I tried a little on the counters and I like how they turned out. They look a bit rough and most granite counters are somewhat smooth. So, after they dry, I think I will pull out my trusty polyurethane and see how that works. There is also a refrigerator and stove to match. I plan on painting them with the same paint.

The only problem I came across is the paint on the sink. I wanted it to look like stainless steel. Instead it looks gloppy. (thick and sloppy for my friends from outside the US). I used a silver Sharpie and several different paints trying to get the right effect before I ended up with these results.

I plan to put a soap dish or something between the faucets because it looks worse and worse the more
I try to fix it.

Now wouldn't you take them for granite?

Here is what the original finished looked like

I loved the finish before I added the chrome finish on the sink

That white just didn't work with the granite

Yuk! Maybe I will wait till it dries and sand it again then add a better coat

Before and after finish showing the product I used

Another before and after view. The granite color is more accurate in the above photos

This is the final paint I used for the sink. Don't ask. The label is missing lol

Corner section redone

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