A Good Goodwill Find!

Today was a good day at Goodwill!

While looking for a desk chair for a client, I spied a MacKenzie-Childs soap pump dispenser.  There was a GW ticket on the bottom so I wasn't actually sure if this was a MacKenzie-Childs item but when I got home, I found the markings.  The dispenser was priced $1.99 but with my senior discount, I paid $1.39.  I checked online and discovered that these sell for $50.00...not too bad!

This is the second MacKenzie-Childs item I have found at Goodwill this year.  I found a beautiful square platter that was marked $9.99 but it was the half off color of the day so I ended up paying around $5.00 for it.  A similar platter sells for $195.00 on the MacKenzie-Childs website - but my platter is no longer produced so could bring a higher price.  I gave it to one of my daughters who treasures it.

I also purchased 4 frames, a darling cup and saucer and a metal container that will hold herbs when I get around to planting them.  I never did find the chair - guess I'll  have to go back to Goodwill another day!

Black Urns

Today in the Studio, I  was asked to paint 4 mis-matched urns that my friend, Missy, at Palm Court Design, wanted to use for a client's party this weekend.  They will be filled with beautiful floral arrangments and make fabulous centerpieces.  It is nice to know that you can have a coordinated look even when you can't find 4 urns all alike - and it makes for a more interesting looking display.

I simply painted the urns black, using a flat latex paint.  When they were dry, I used a watered down white paint and washed that over the urns so the white would catch in the groves and designs.  While this was still wet, I wiped off the excess, leaving the white in the cracks.  They look great and I can't wait to see what flowers Missy puts in them!

This is a good thing to keep in mind...when you find the perfect frame, vase, chair or whatever, and it is not the color you really want, just paint it for the desired look.  Easy-peasy!

Scrapbook Paper Covered Letters

While meeting and getting to know my new granddaughter, Molly Murphy Tracey, these past three weeks, I had plenty of time to decorate letters spelling out "Molly" with scrapbook paper. I usually hand paint letters for my clients, but I didn't have any of my paints or brushes with me on this trip.

Molly's mom and I went to Hobby Lobby to pick out the letters and paper.

Turning the paper over, I traced out the letters before cutting out each letter.

I also used white and black paints, Mod Podge and some brushes.

I painted each letter white and added black stripes on the edges to add a little dimension.

Using the Mod Podge I glued the scrapbook paper to the front of each letter.

I added some bright ribbon with hot glue to the back of each letter and hung them on the wall over Molly's changing table.  She seems to love looking at them while Mommy or Daddy change her!