Repurposing Treasures For Home and For Resale

 

 

Repurposing Treasures For Home and For Resale

Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy you stopped by! So many things that so many of us do when we craft. Some like to do completely handmade, some like to repurpose…upcycle…restyle…reuse…we like to paint, some items need glue, we design by sometimes uniting pieces, sometimes just a light cleaning gives new life to pieces too. These treasures are special because to us they are one-of-a-kind pieces that are special in many ways. I think it is fun, and enjoy seeing the creativity and excellence of so many talented people that is being shared too. I am often in awe of seeing so many things others are sharing from their vintage collectibles to their repurposing crafting styles. Some share through their blogs, their websites, and of course with all the different selling platforms being used too. 

So, what are some of your favorite things you like to share, or offer for sale? What are some of the things that you use to craft with? Are you specific to 1 area, a certain category, or maybe your interests are spread with different things. I love my vintage collectibles, and always will. I also take much joy in repurposing, and restyling different things I find. I love glassware, sometimes different plates bowls pans, I like different wooden pieces I can work with, and I truly enjoy many things with possibilities. Many pieces found are lonely pieces, come from unwanted broken sets, most are gently used, once in awhile new or like new condition, sometimes vintage pieces may be used for crafting, and so on. A lot of these treasures are found in Thrift Stores, Good Wills, Market Place, Junking, Yard Sales, sometimes curbside pieces are found, and pretty much anywhere that someone has something to offer. Sometimes my own treasures are used giving a new life to things, or a change with home decor. 

When I first started repurposing I did a lot of cake plate stands, candle holders, soap dish stands, jewelry holder stands, candy dishes, catch all pedestal stands, cloches, and many things to fit in with home decor. I enjoyed making these pieces because they were quite universal with many uses through out the home. Sometimes I showed how some of the pedestal stands could be flipped over used in another way too. That would determine the base that it had. I often showed different displays with my pictures to give everyone ideas, and maybe help them be creative with pieces too. 

Now with some of these things I did some light sanding, gluing, painting and spray painting, uniting pieces together, doilies, sheet music, ribbon, modpodge, and so many things you can use to create with. 

I enjoy doing this, find it relaxing, I’m at peace when working on things, and take pride in all the treasures I offer for resale, or for those that adorn my own home. I enjoy seeing the work of others who craft, and learning from many who have shared their treasures too. I am by far no expert with this, but do enjoy sharing with you. Even sharing my mistakes so that we all can learn from those too. 

So, what do you like to do? Is it pleasure, fun, business, or a hobby for you? What favorite things have you had the pleasures of making, creating, repurposing, restyling, finding, and etc.?

Below I am sharing just a few things from times past that I have made. 

Cloche Cheese Plate that I painted a pink slipper color. I laid a vintage doilie within it. Very fun piece to use, or mostly to decorate with.

Cheese Plate Cloche which I painted blue. I later found a doilie to lay in it. I also added some little trinkets with small pictures within it too.

Christmas Wall Decor I had made using plastic candy canes from Dollar Tree store, I braided some red and green ribbon to use as a hanger for it, mini green and red ribbons from Dollar Tree, and a Joy ornament I found at Walmart for the center of it. 

Black Cloche Cheese Plate Stand that was fun to make. I attached a wooden candle stick as the pedestal stand. I painted it black along with the cloche base too. I added white ribbon around the neck of the stand. Then, I cut some organ sheet music from a book to put in the center, and in middle of the stand. Used modpodge to seal this. This was really fun to show, display, and do different things with. 

Decorative Couch Chair Bed Pillow I made using 2 cloth placemats from Dollar Tree. I glued the pieces together around the edge, and used poly fill to fill it. These are so soft, and was actually my first one I made. 

White Cloche Cheese Plate was done here. I painted the base a pretty clean white color. In the center of the base I then added a cut from some sheet music I had. This was so adorable in person when it was dressed for displays. 

Blue White Cake Plate Pedestal Stand that I had fun putting together too. I found a pretty soft blue plate that has white snowflake designs through out it. I used a metal scroll candle holder, and painted that white which I later attached to the bottom of the plate. I enjoyed using this new lonely plate I had found, and uniting it with the metal scroll candle holder as its pedestal stand. Looks so much better in person, and it has so many possibilities too! Cake plate for serving, make it a candle holder stand with decoration around it, use it as a jewelry dish, in the bathroom or kitchen with some rolled cloths, set your dish soap and scrub pads on it, use it for organization, and many endless possibilities. 

It’s the beginning of the week, and I wish you all a great week! Take care, Happy Crafting and Treasure Hunting Everyone! Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams! See you next time.

Spring Time Clocks Change Go Forward Saturday Night

 

Spring Time Clocks Change Go Forward Saturday Night

Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone! Been quite a while, and I am guilty of not being here. Sorry, no excuses will be used. Just Holidays, weather, winter blues, and so on.

I haven’t been crafting, and not really much of anything honestly. Spring is coming, I am excited with a few things I’ve gathered to craft with. Have a few ideas, and I hope I can do as I am planning on too.

 I have some doctor appointments I need to take care of. In May we will be in Tennessee for a few days attending my nieces graduation from college. Then, in June our niece gets married. This is a special time for us with her wedding. Her mother (my husbands sister) passed away about 5 days after giving birth to her. So, the aunts got together 1 weekend, and took her dress shopping. Along with her dress she got her veil, her shoes, a hair clip to wear with her veil, and a necklace and earring set. Since my husband, and I live closer to her we have been doing what we can to help her with her wedding preparations. Some of it financially too. No limit set. We want this special time to be fun, and memorable for her. Things are going pretty good, and the time is really coming up quickly too. 

I wanted to put a reminder out to everyone too. This weekend, Saturday night, need to remember that we set our clocks ahead an hour. Yes, that time of year again. We get to spring the clocks forward, and will unfortunately lose an hour of sleep too. Just think spring is soon here. I like this time of year when everything looks fresh, is alive, beautiful colors, getting away from the winter blues, and onto a great spring season. 

It was great having you visit LilacsNDreams, and Thank You so much for stopping by! Take care, be safe, and hope to see you again soon. 

Repurpose Recycle Reuse Restore Reclaim Upcycle With LilacsNDreams

Repurpose Recycle Reuse Restore Reclaim Upcycle With LilacsNDreams

Hello to all visiting today! I deeply apologize for my absence. It was not intended, and unfortunately unavoidable. I had been sick with a really bad head cold for a good 3 weeks. It’s that time of year with weather changing that I normally get this, but usually does not last as long as this one did. Sadly, I had just seen my doctor for regular appointment a few days prior to me becoming sick too. I’m feeling so much better, a lot less of a cough, can breathe again, and eating has come back with my appetite.

Due to the time frame of this happening I was not able to work on any projects that I wanted to do, and then post them with Facebook Marketplace. Instead I am working hard to get our other house in order for our daughter, and family to stay there while visiting us for Christmas. Air mattresses for them all to use, towels and things there to shower, and so on. Most of time will be spent with us, but they cannot bring their dogs to this house with our dog here. He is high strung, and other dogs around does not work well with him.

I have been getting some things to start preparing ahead for everyone being here. We will not be celebrating Christmas Day, but on the following weekend. Works great for hubby to get home, and have time off. Works pretty good for those visiting with other family members, and also for friends to stop in too. As always we have the open door policy…Stop on in for a meal, to visit, for the company, you have no where else to go, etc. So, I have a little time to prepare christmas snacks, get pies put together and made, and etc. Busy busy like many do at this time.

So, right now I have plans for after the first of the year to sit down, work on projects, and get things posted with Facebook Marketplace. I’m hoping to have a website set up which will be easier to visit, and shop. I have something in mind I have been looking into, and hope to have it working in a few months too. Crossing fingers!

So, with a little imagination some of the old items can be like new again, and once conventional things can  become unique. I’m hoping for us all to learn some things, share some things, and be inspired with Repurpose, Recycle, Reuse, Restore, Reclaim, and Upcycle with LilacsNDreams. 

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Happy to have you visit, and hope to see you again soon. Take care, and be safe! Happy Holidays!

Vendor Craft Fair DIY Handmade Repurpose Upcycle LilacsNDreams

 

Vendor Craft Fair With LilacsNDreams Saturday, November 13 was my very first vendor craft fair that I have participated with. I did this event with my niece, we rented 2 booths, was about 1 1/2 hours away from home, different area/people. I offered repurposed Pizza Pans, I made about 3 pillows, I had some of my cake plates offered, a cutting board that was done simple, my bigger and smaller angels, and etc,.

I’m not sure how I feel about participating with this event. I know my first one, and I guess I was expecting a little more with it. Parking became an issue, no one really greeted us as we set up our booths, there was an admission fee, it seemed like quite a few of the vendors there knew someone from town there, and it was not all handmade either. 

I had quite a few people look at my things, asked some questions, and after they would leave. We did a rush job setting our things up. I felt we should have slowed down just a bit. We had wooden crates to help us a little. Sadly, I had all kinds of pictures I wanted to share with you. Unfortunately with my new phone some pictures went missing. I had 2 pizza pans I repurposed, I did up 2 of the charger plates, I made 3 pillows, I had 4 angels I offered, etc. I wanted to share all my pics with you, but my new phone seems to have eaten some of them . . . . urrr. I thought this was suppose to be a craft fair. Yes, some things offered there were not handmade, and many people after looking at some of my things would ask me the price. Then they would leave. I felt like many of the people were wanting products offered to be cheaper. 

I sold 1 of my bigger angels, and that was my only sale for the day. I know it was my first showing, but things just felt uncomfortable, I didn’t care for the admissions fee, and I was expecting a little more of it I guess you could say.

Below are a few pictures I could find to share with you some of the things I had to offer at the craft fair. 

Thank you everyone for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Take care, be safe, and see you again. Have a great day! Toodles . . . . 

Repurpose Upcycle Handmade DIY Crafts For Vendor Fair

 

Repurpose Upcycle Handmade DIY Crafts For Vendor Fair with LilacsNDreams. Welcome everyone who is visiting today!

This Saturday the 13th is our big day. I’m excited, and getting a bit nervous too. I have so much I want to have done for this vendor fair I am doing with my niece. I have started a few things, have a few items that have been completed, and of course more items I want to have done for this event too. This week is the last week for me to truly work on anything. I need things completed 24-48 hours before we load to leave. Things need to dry, set, and seal properly before they are moved, displayed, and going to their forever homes. 

Below are a few pictures of things started, and now are needing their finishing touches for completion.

Cutting board I found when thrifting

Above, and below shows front and back of what I started with using napkins

             Above, and below shows both napkin sides with words I have added to them also

Below is a pizza pan I lightly sanded, and the process I have done so far with a little painting, some mod Podge, scrapbook paper, and christmas ornament word JOY that will be centered

I luckily found 3 of these glass bottles from the DollarTree. They are being filled with ornament filler in the body area. I could not find angel wings to be used for the angels I am making. At the Dollar Tree I did find a silver, and a gold like pointsettia flower with some glimmer to them. I am using leaves from this to make the wings for the angels. The halos will be made from red, and silver glittered pipe cleaner. I have the little colored bows that I will be adding right at their necklines. 

Once I have completed these, and other projects I will be sure to share more pictures with you. It feels so good to be crafting again! I am really enjoying it! I am so excited to be doing my first vendor fair, and of course I am a little nervous too. I’ve always shopped at these places, and never knew I would be a vendor at one of them. Not only having completed projects to display for sale, but to organize everything else too. The application for acceptance, getting tables, planning how to display and organize things, business cards, and so on. Luckily I am doing this with someone I know. In the spring I am hoping to maybe convince a dear friend of mine that we do one of these craft fairs together too. You know, make it a girls weekend with work, and fun!

Wish me luck everyone, and thanks so much for the support of many too. Thank You for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Take care, be safe, and see you again soon. Toodles . . . . .