Thrifting Things & Rusting Things

Greetings lovely friends & readers

I am supposed to be outside planting the box of daffodil bulbs that I found in the woodshed .  .  .  .  .  .

 .  .  .  .   but I am having a few issues with someone sound asleep in the box (!!) She is warming the bulbs up for me before I plant them 😝 And of course, there are no comfy sleeping places in the entire property (!!)

On going through my photos I realised I'd not shared some of my op-shop finds from recent months. I don't frequent the thrift stores as much as I used to, but I have found a few treasures lately. 

Prior to Easter I was delighted to find the rabbit ear jar in St Johns op-shop for $8.  I filled it with tiny eggs which lasted much longer than I thought they would 😵!! 

The wee rabbit egg cup & donkey were found in the SPCA shop & I just adored them.  The donkey & cart is quite vintage & was $5, the egg cup $2.50.

On my trip South to Hawera in late March I went op-shopping with my friend Claire.  I found these items at the SPCA shop - the urn was $8 & the candle sconces were $5 pair.  I set them out on my deck table as I wanted to give them the rust treatment.   Yes I know the Urn was lovely as it was, but I wanted a rusty urn & this one was the perfect size & shape.

All the items turned out really well & I gave them a coat of spray matt varnish to stop any rust coming off them.  I bought some cheap unscented candles to sit in the sconces.

I've not decided what to sit in the urn as yet but I just love the patina on it & am thrilled with how it turned out.  

(I should mention that because the urn was ceramic & shiny I gave it a coat of chalk paint before applying the rust treatment process as it gave the surface something to adhere to)

This little asian looking urn was $2 in the garden department at Hospice, there were several of them & they all looked brand new.  Once again I bought it to rust up.  

And once again, I'm delighted with how it turned out.  I've sat a tiny birds nest in it - (that is a faux egg not a real one)

This mirror was $20 at my local Hospice - it had a few dings & dents in the frame but I was able to touch these up with some Rub-n-buff that I had in Antique gold.  It turned out wonderful & I've hung this in my bathroom above the bath.  

I decoupaged a heart tag with paper serviettes & tied this round it

This large glass jar was $5 at Hospice & I have filled it with Epsom salts, again at the end of my bath.  When I purchase glass or certain china items from thrift stores, I always put them through my dishwasher & they come out so shiny & sparkly. 

A friend popped in the day I was out on my deck doing my rust treatments & asked me "why do you always want to rust these things?"  I told her I loved things that looked as though they'd been found in an old French chateau - my budget doesn't allow for me to buy these authentic items so I try to create them myself. 

 I think this little verse above sums it up perfectly.  💗

Mother's Day last Sunday was a double celebration in our house.  My youngest son Kayne was born on Mother's Day & his birthday often falls on the day itself.  Last Sunday he turned 40 (!!) so it was a special celebration.  I blew up balloons & strung them through the house to make it a bit party-ish.  We had a family lunch together with eldest son & family who travelled from Taupo.  

I made nibbles & dips to begin, then The Mr bought home freshly made pizzas on his way home for lunch & after that we had birthday cake.  I tried to keep it very simple so I wasn't slaving in the kitchen all day long (like I used to be)

The slim candles around the outer edge are sparkler candles - such fun !

My son is not a great sweet eater but he does love chocolate mud cake so I found this recipe online which described itself as the best chocolate mud cake EVER!!  It was my first experience baking a mud cake, it did turn out well but I kept thinking, as I was eating it, there is something missing??

Well dear friends, it would seem that what was missing was the large crystal bowl of whipped cream I had in the fridge which I forgot to put out (!!)  😳

Youngest son Kayne, myself & Grandson Sid

We all had a lovely time together & now tomorrow,  it is another special birthday & I am off to Kinloch to celebrate Alec's 10th birthday.

Thank you as always dear friends, for your welcome visits here today,

Wishing you all a most wonderful weekend,

With much love & friendship to you all,