Thursday, March 28, 2013

Thrifty Thursday

Lately, I have been thrifting a lot more than usual.  Maybe it's the spring weather? If I had a car I would be at   the thrift store everyday.  On days when I do not get the chance to go thrifting, I often wonder what treasures I have missed.  Here are some of the treasures that I have picked up in the last couple of weeks....





There are a few things that I can't part with!  Others will make there way to A2ndlife's shop!
If you haven't entered our first giveaway, you still have a few more weeks! Please tell your friends! Just click the tab at the top of the site that says "giveaways".

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Amazing Spaces

  Pinterest is making my home wishlist a mile long.  Here are a few of the dreamy spaces that make my heart skip a beat...

 I seriously drooled when I saw this room.  It has everything that I want my living room to look like.  This room is perfect! The wall collage! That lamp! The pillows! Just the right amount of mismatched kitsch-i-ness!

 This room looks so warm and artsy.  I especially love the teal wall and all the gold accents. I would never be brave enough to go with that dark brown paint, though! 

 This space looks so comfortable! I really love the chairs and the way they decorated the bookshelf.  I love the controlled clutter!

 All images courtesy of Pinterest.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Houses

I absolutely love houses.  It's kind of an obsession.  When my husband and I were dating we would drive around looking at houses that we wished could someday be ours.  Dream homes.  While our big dreams did not come true, we do have a nice home to call our own.  A little smaller and less extravagant,  but it is ours.   I love my home, not because it has fancy bells and whistles, but because I share it with my favorite people.

Our first home was a MAJOR fixer upper. I mean every inch of that house had to be redone. It was so overwhelming.  We lived there for a little over two years and learned so much from that little house.

This is just before we sold the house.

I still miss this kitchen like CRAZY!

We bought another home and have been here for over two years.  I still miss our old home, but we are making new memories and learning new lessons everyday... in our new nest.


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Hoop Art How to


This past weekend I got a little crafty.  I don't usually get to do this type of crafting with a five year old, two cats and a dog running around.  Although, one of my cats did try to hinder the crafting by trying to lay on all supplies and work area.  But I persevered!

My little TV wall in the living room has been begging me for some new art to fill up all the empty space.  I had been avoiding putting anything up because my husband always nags me when I put up anything to distract his eyes from the TV.  Fishing shows are very important, you know!  Gotta learn some new skills!

 He went fishing on Sunday so while he was gone I made some wall decor on the cheap! I had found three vintage pillow cases with floral print and some wooden embroidery hoops on Saturday's thrifting adventure.  These supplies cost me under $10 to buy.  CHEAP!



You can use any fabric to match any decor!  Such a great inexpensive way to add color to your room as well!  This is the way the TV wall looked after I hung all the hoops and some other thrifted goodies.  


I love how everything turned out! 

 I found the green soldier dudes at a thrift store already painted.  They are so cute!  My husband keeps telling me that they are staring at him!

I found this TV tray stand, globe and fancy little glass dome.  I bought it with the intention to sell, but I think I am gonna keep it!


Monday, March 18, 2013

Monday Treasury Madness

 One of the funnest features on Etsy would have to be treasury making.  I recently joined a treasury making team and have been making treasuries like crazy.  It can be time consuming, but I enjoy promoting other awesome Etsy sellers. In return they feature some of my items.  So it's a full circle kind of deal.  Here are some of my most favorite treasuries that I made this week...

1.2.

3.4.

And here are some of my favorite treasuries that my shop has been featured in...

5.6.


7.8.

Stop by and check out all the unique items. Treasures can be found here...
  1. https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTY3NjAzOTd8MjcyMTU2ODY3NQ/shades-of-pink-coral-peach-and-fuschia?index=3
  2. https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTY3NjAzOTd8MjcyMTU3ODE5NQ/retro-life?ref=pr_treasury
  3. https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTY3NjAzOTd8MjcyMTU2MDk3NQ/lovely-shades-of-white-turquoise-and?index=2
  4. https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTY3NjAzOTd8MjcyMTU3MzY1Mw/i-see-a-red-door-and-i-want-to-paint-it?index=0
  5. https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTY2OTU0NDh8MjcyMTU3Mjg3NQ/golden-saturday-gold-brass-metallics
  6. https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MjA5MDI4MTB8MjcyNDE0Nzk5Ng/hot-hot-hot
  7. https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MjAyMTc4MTl8MjcyNDE0MzA0Mg/apple-blossom
  8. https://www.etsy.com/treasury/NzYyODc2M3wyNzIxNTcxNDgz/through-the-hoop



Saturday, March 16, 2013

Enter A2ndlife's 1st Giveaway!


One lucky winner will win this fabulous orange and brown vintage afghan.  This blanket is in great condition and would be a great addition to any home.  Give away starts this Sunday (March 17) at 12 am and ends April 17th at 12am.  Hurry while you still have time...
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Holy Brass Batman!

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Oh my goodness!  This past weekend my mother-in-law, Sherry, won a Goodwill auction for a butt load of vintage brass knick knacks.  We had seen the lot at Goodwill last Thursday and we decided to go in on it together.  I didn't get to experience the auction myself, but she did say that she had to battle it out with an antique dealer.  I am so excited that we won these fabulous treasures! I am hoping to get them all photographed and posted in my shop by the week's end.  Brass is back people!  My favorites would have to be the little deer and the unicorns.   Here are some of the brass goodies....



Monday, March 11, 2013

So excited!!! Wedding Season!

Something potentially great happened last week!  A fabulous photography company contacted me, requesting some of my coral upcycled vases for a photo shoot that will be featured on The Knot and Style Me Pretty.  These are both pretty awesome wedding websites, full of wedding ideas.  I am stoked!!  I am especially happy that something I love creating will get some recognition and love.  So sometime in the fall I will let ya'll know when A2ndlife is featured.








This picture above is from my sister in law's summer wedding.  Photograph courtesy of  TiffyShea Photography of Wills Point, TX.  These are vintage milk glass vases placed on a vintage mirror.  These centerpieces were so simple, yet beautiful and classy.  I have done quite a few custom orders for painted wedding vases.  It gives me so much joy knowing that something I made is part of someone's special day.  This wedding season I am going to be offering a few new colors.  I really love color!!

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Insta Success

Ok, lets start off by saying that I am new to the world of Instagram.   I have tried selling on Craigslist, Ebay and of course Etsy. My most successful venue being my Etsy shop.   I am beyond amazed that there is yet another way to sell my items.  For the past week or so I have been browsing all the sales and even bought some cute Lucite deer.  I just can't pass up a cute deer!

I am trying to get to 100 followers before I have my first "Insta-Sale". Maybe I will even have a Giveaway!!
If any of my readers have an Instagram, please follow me (@a2ndlifevintage) I am hoping for some "Insta-Success"!