What $30 Can buy You These Days!

Sorry, I've been absent a few weeks..First my dream of a lifetime trip to Israel(which I wish to share once I sort out my photos),..then my kids came for a visit from Boston..so life has been busy but pleasurable.
Still fitting in some time for my treasure hunting hobby, I drove past one of my fave thrift stores "The Collectibles  Store, across the street from my favorite Goodwill, and sitting in  front was a small Eastlake sofa. The upholstery looked old and worn but the wood frame was in good condition
and it seemed solid enough.I could just envision that sofa for one of my guest rooms.
So ,just out of curiosity,I entered the store and inquired from the elderly entrepreneur what he would ask for that sofa outside. Imagine my amazement when he answered $30.
Now I had a problem, how to get that sucker home..no problem..for one who has tied things on top of cars etc. to transport treasures. So..we loaded it into my Camry trunk (don't ask me how) and secured it with that great modern invention ,a bungi cord.
After tearing  off the old upholstery it was discovered that parts of the frame needed reinforcing so with the help of my husband we were able to bring it back to pretty much it's original stable condition.
After a few hours of staplegunning upholstery and hot gluing braid  I was rewarded with the finished product shown above.
Now my husband feels so invested in the sofa's reformation ,he insists it should remain in the living room,not  out of sight in one of the bedrooms..we'll see....p.s. one of my favorite things about this sofa is that it has it's original brass and ceramic coasters.

Wouldn't You Just Love to See a Close up of My back yard Moon?

Praise ye him,sun and moon:praise him all ye stars of light.Psalm 148:3

In case you haven't read my earlier post I created this lunar spectacle for my back yard. Such fun!





Stained Glass windows and How to Mount Them Without Using Screws,Nails, or Carpentry..Great For Renters

What is a victorian home without stained glass windows. Unless you are one that is blessed with one of these sources of great beauty already installed, you will have to scour various shops and thrift stores until you find one. I have friends who create beautiful stained glass windows to order but I am unable to pay the price.
I have a challenge of mounting these windows without making holes in the wall or window frame per my husbands request.

This is a fire screen ,I added 4 stained wood pieces with liqid nails to form a frame to attach the screw eyes,also cup hooks work well.

This method of installing is quick, simple and quite secure. First you must purchase 3  spring loaded curtain rods tension rods) that will fit the window. Screw screw eyes on each side of the stained galss window eqidistant on the top, middle and bottom of the frame. Place tension rods securely in window and secure them to the sained glass window through the screw eyes with zip ties and shazaaam your stained glass is in place to the enjoyment of all.
the middle window was a $30purchase from Salvation Army and the bottom one was $100 from Tuesday Morning.

Another addition to my dining room was this beautiful folding etched glass screens. I mounted  small wheels on the bottom so they could be opened or closed.There were 2 bifold sections so I secured the section closest to the frame of the window in the same manner that I secured the Stained glass,allowing the 2 center panels to be free for opening or closing. My dining room windows are paneled so I try to align the tension rods along the panel frames so as to not be too noticeable when the screen is open.I really enjoy this window! The really benefit for renters is that you can take them with you when you move.

  I really need to include one more window created by my  son and daughter inlaw and hung in the traditional manner.