A few years ago I was browsing through a new Goodwill near my old home in Virginia. As I snooped through the shelves, I spotted the usual thrift store garb – 1970’s dishes, floral vases, enormous brass lamps with dust-covered shades, you know what I’m talking about. I spotted a bin with some plastic fruit in it and thought I’d see if there were any realistic looking pears or lemons that would be worth buying. To my surprise, I saw this… …an entire collection of stone fruit. For those of you who aren’t familiar with stone fruit, they are hand painted pieces or fruit made out of marble. The are realistic and beautiful. The person pricing for Goodwill that day had no idea what they had. They mixed them in with some hideous plastic fruit for only $.68 a piece. These pieces sell on e-bay for crazy amounts…up to $60-70

A few of you have reminded me that you’re waiting for the happy union of the footstool and burlap feed sack I introduced last week. Well, here it is! As a reminder, this is how it started out. Not too bad, but it was pretty tired. It was purchased for $9.00 at an auction and the feed sack was $4.00 at an antique shop. When I finished upholstering the stool in the burlap sack I thought I was done. I even took a picture of it for this post, but the legs looked dingy and lifeless. Something had to be done! So, I pulled out my Cherry Red acrylic paint, mixed it with burnt umber and painted the legs. Once it dried, I applied a dark walnut stain to tone down the red. Much better! I used twine as a trim to cover the seams where the burlap pieces were

This morning I had to deliver furniture to a client and then head over to a mural job. I couldn’t stop at any yard sales, so I rubber-necked my way past a whole slew of them. It was just killing me. After the work was done, I was able to hit one of my favorite thrift stores. I spotted this little wagon immediately, but knew it had to be outrageously expensive. It didn’t have a tag, so I asked a woman who works there. (I’m not sure if it’s embarrassing or something to brag about, but the people there know me pretty well.) So, she hummed a minute and said, “How about $4.00?” I don’t even think I answered her. I just picked it up and carried it behind the counter to start my pile. I love the silvery blue paint. And this wagon is very petite, so it’s great

Thank you for the great response to my very first Furniture Feature Friday and my new blog design. Isn’t Laura (my designer) so talented? I love it! Anyway, I am in the process of working on a mural (preview below), so I don’t have a new pieces of furniture or any tips & tricks for you today. I do have a few new finds from Goodwill yesterday. OK, hear me out on this lamp. I know it’s brass, but look at the shape! And that shade is just crying out to be tole painted, right? Are you feeling me? It was $6.97. As most lovers of French Country style, I like roosters…in moderation. I don’t want my house to look like a coop, but I like one here and there. I really liked this towel holder. I’m not sure, yet, if I’m going to sell it or use it in

I have A LOT of things in the hopper, so I thought I’d share a few with you. This desk is for my office. I’m doing the same look I did with my furniture stripping tutorial table. I’ve already stained the top dark walnut, which is why it is covered. One more coat of paint… This little table is for the shop. Inspiration hasn’t hit me, yet, but I have this pretty blue/gray color I’m going to use on it. This table was $1.00 at an antique store. It had been sitting outside for so long that the finish had totally flaked off. That made my job easier! Since it was raw wood, I stained the top (dark walnut, of course) and I’m still deciding what color to paint it. This is the current state of my dining room…yikes. Our new shop is opening in a few weeks, so I