Thursday, July 23, 2009

Hooked on Auctions and Adding Beauty to our Home!



A blog post that is linked to both Hooked on Houses Blog Party
and A Beautiful Life with Melissa at The Inspired Room.
I will not be online much on Friday but will do my best to
catch up with the links on these parties as I can.
I appreciate your visit!



What was I supposed to do?
No one else was bidding
and I do love frames...truly!

These had caught my eye as I did
a walkthrough upon arriving
at the auction just down the street.

How sad that this Estate Auction
had to happen as that meant we lost
a gentle and quiet neighbor.

Anyway, I had talked myself out of
these pictures and their frames at
first glance, but all was quiet except
the Auctioneer's sing song voice.

I found my hand flying up and the
Auctioneer yelling, "Sold!".

In two brief transactions, I held
three frames for a total of $3.00.

My dear husband kind of sighed as
he mumbled something about "more
stuff" coming into the house...but
as fate would have it this all happened
shortly after he purchased some tools
that weren't exactly flying out of the
auctioneer's hands....hmmph!

Now, I had three very sizable frames
to work with.
I did the whole debate
in my head...
should I be chic and paint
them white?
Or follow my heart and stain them?
I went with the latter.

These frames were sooo very dirty.
The cleaning cloth came away so very
black. But the details
are gorgeous, in my opinion
so it was worth the time spent.

Before:


After:



Oh Vee, I am so glad you didn't want them
to be white!

Of course, there was the question of what to
put in them...however, having become a recent fan
of Snapfish I knew that poster sized prints
were available.
This would be my plan.
Two 16x20 poster sized photos
taken by yours truly.

By the way, if you click here you will go to their site.
I have nothing to gain from this,
but I have been very pleased with
the speed of their service and the quality
of the work.

Before:


After:



There were those photos of the barn from the
our experience at the surprise barn sale
and gnome home.
What could be better?
Maybe landscapes when I am tired of
these...but at less than $15 per print,
I am willing to change them out occasionally.

Before:


After:


Before:


After:


I am so hooked on auctions.
Going to them.
Bidding.
Getting Bargains.
Refreshing or repurposing tired items...




Putting them on a waiting wall...



The third frame continues to hold
the vintage photo of an infant
but the frame has been revitalized.





I believe I will list it on
eBay...just in case there is interest.
If not, I will find something to put
in it that better suits my existing
decor...


Thanks for stopping by today.
Hope you'll come again.
Photobucket

15 comments:

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

The "new" frames look beautiful!

xo,
cristin

Atticmag said...

Vintage frames always catch my eye. I've used all of mine for old family photos, never thought about putting new pictures in them. Great idea though, will have to try with the next one.

Daly Essentials said...

these are gorgeous! What a great find and redo!

DesignTies said...

It always amazes me how old things can be made to look so much better with a bit of vision and elbow grease :-)

You did a great job refinishing the frames, and love your barn pictures.

Thanks for visiting my summer fun post and entering our giveaway :-) I'm going to remove the space from the name you entered to make it one word so it'll qualify :-)

Kelly @ DesignTies

Claudia said...

Fantastic of you to share these...
If you dont mind me asking??? How did you, or DID you strip the frames then restain them?

Thanks

TTFN~~Claudia ♥

E said...

Those look really great. I like them a lot!

Feel free to check out my brand new craft blog at http://www.oopsicraftmypants.blogspot.com.

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

Those are lovely frames!

Anonymous said...

It's fun to discover the beauty under years of grime (and sometimes paint). I love auctions too. I think about 50% of my home is furnished from them.

Barb said...

Wow, Becky, your frames look wonderful. They are really nice and will add such beauty....great job!

Barb

Vee said...

You're going to get your $3 back because someone will surely be interested in that vintage baby photo for more. Good deal! While I do love some things painted white, it is not my thing to have a completely white palette and it is not my thing to so radically change a vintage item. To me it's almost sacrilege so you earn high marks in my book! Very well done!

Terry said...

A friend trained me to look at frames. Now I have twice as much to enjoy.

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Wow, Becky, those look great!!

Thank you so much for stopping by and your encouragement to take it easy! I will heed your warning, I am definitely the type to try to get things back to normal faster than I should!

Blessings to you Becky!

xo

Ronda said...

Wow Becky,

Those frames turned out fabulously.
They are just gorgeous.

Thanks for the idea....**wink**!!!


Love & Prayers,
Ronda

Kammy said...

Love the "new" frames !
Kammy

Cass @ That Old House said...

Your frames turned out beautifully! It's amazing what you were able to do to them -- did you use just stain? It's incredible -- such depth. LOVELY!
Cass