Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Book Winner & A Great Free Find



Edited to add: Holly (Homebody Holly)invited me to join her Thrifty Thursday party. So I'm linking this post. Please check out her blog for other participants. I'll be back Thursday with a post on my pantry organization.



Hi everyone! I had three people email asking to be entered in the book giveaway so they became the last three people I added to the number of the comments (this was new to me - I've never had anyone email me for a give away before). The person getting the book is..... Cheryl at CopppersWife . Congratulations! I've sent you an email. Please give me your mailing address and I'll ship the book out this week. Thank you to everyone that entered. Next month there will be a special book related give away!





*****************




Look what I found in a neighbors garbage Sunday! You can click to enlarge the photo.






This pretty chandelier! She's doing some remodeling and just threw it out. I couldn't believe it! I didn't think she really was getting rid of it but my husband said it's out on the curb with all her other trash. So he backed up and I ran out and got it!






Sadly it seems to have a broken arm but my husband says that can be easily fixed.






I decided I'm definitely going to paint it (red if I use it inside - white or yellow if I use it outside) and I'll either take the wiring out and use it with candles and put it in my screened porch over the dining table or I'll have it re-wired and swap it out for the light fixture in my foyer. So first I have to see what it would cost to re-wire it (I just wouldn't feel comfortable hanging it until this was done - wouldn't want to start an electrical fire)!





Isn't that so cool! My first choice would be to hang it in my foyer. I've been wanting a chandelier with prisms there but there was no reason to buy one as the fixture that's there is perfectly o.k. I chose it 10 years ago when we moved in. I would have chosen something different now. Tastes change! But we'll see what estimates I get.






I got this black bench at Goodwill last week (isn't that great I don't even have to paint it) . The bench I have on my deck, which sits under my kitchen window seat and has all my plants on it, started to come apart and lean forward with all this rain that we've had. So I got this as a replacement. It's not as long as the one that's there now, but it'll do until I find a longer one.






I also got this basket at Goodwill. I hope to organize my craft/sewing area after the holidays so when I see something I think might help with that - I get it! I'm thinking it could hold my yarn.






I think someone's puppy chewed the ends! Maxie used to love to chew on our shoe basket when he was a puppy! Chewed ends and all it's still pretty and functional! Things certainly don't have to be perfect to be used in my house!




Thanks for stopping by and have a good week!



58 comments:

Linda's Blue Gate said...

GET OUT!!!!! That beauty in the TRASH....... WOW....
Don't cut the wires use it . You could take it apart and pull the wires through.... wish we were close enough and Dave could wire it for you. But if you pull the wire it might not cost too much to have them hooked up. Consider painting it black that black one I did is a show stopper. the black and the prisms are just so elegant..
I have been missing you..... but I am back.... visiting that is..... lol
HUg
Linda

Gumbo Lily said...

Great find! Looking forward to seeing how you use it.

Jody

Sandra said...

Wow! Great finds! Now why can't I find something like that by the trash! hee hee! That would make my day! Oooh! I can't wait to see what you do with it. Have a wonderful day, my friend.
Sandra

Betsy Brock said...

Fun, fun! I have picked up a few beauties over the years in people's trash! ha! It's amazing what people will put out on the curb! Nice find!

Sharon said...

Congratulations Cheryl!!! Enjoy! Thank you Manuela for hosting the giveaway :) Wow, what great finds you got! The chandelier is great and I love the bench and basket too! Have a great day and thanks for sharing :)
Sharon

Love the Decor! said...

It really is true that one man's junk is another man's treasure. I just cant believe your good fortune that is beautiful!!

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

What a great find, Manuela!! Gorgeous chandelier!

I mentioned in my bedroom makeover post, about the puppy tooth marks on the table we redid, for beside the wing chair. Molly teethed on that table...the marks are there, under the new paint. We don't mind a bit.

Jennifer said...

What a lucky find! Fixing up an old chandlier would be wonderful. I love prisims hanging down. They make give a light an elegant appearance. Hope your week is off to a great start!
XO, Jennifer

Kim said...

I once found a chandelier FULL of crystals in trash & hauled it a few blocks home...my husband was mortified. The chandelier was in bad shape, so I took off the crystals & used them!

Norma Lee @ Norma Lee Good said...

Can you believe what people throw away?? I can't wait to see what you do with it!

~Kathie~ said...

Great treasures!!!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Great find, and you can't beat free! I am looking forward to seeing what you do with it. I took all the plastic prisms and beads off of the one I got, but that is as far as I got with it. I have a few glass prisms, but not enough for the whole chandelier. Loving this sunshine! :)

Darlene said...

I can't wait to see where that chandy ends up!! LOVE the black bench and yes a few of our baskets & a piece of furniture, have chewed parts from puppies! Great finds!

Anonymous said...

You sure have a better class of garbage in your neighborhood than we do! I learned to rewire lamps a long time ago. It's one of those thrifty things that save a lot of money over the long run. It's not difficult. There's probably a tutorial out there in the blogosphere! I think the puppy chew marks gives the basket character.

Jane

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Love that chandelier, Manuela! I hope it turns out within budget for rewiring. Of course, it would look just as nice outside with candles.

matty said...

How wonderful! Paint it red! What other colour could be so lively and welcoming!? Don't home stagers say to have a red door or something red by the door?? (Do you like how I evoke that "someone" kind of statement to support my opinion? LOL) Great find!

Lorrie said...

Free is wonderful! I like the black bench, too.

Lorrie

Holly said...

Love your finds! Can't wait to see the made-over chandy!
This Thursday I'm hosting Thrift Store Thurs., for people to link up with their second hand treasures. I'd love to have you join with this post!

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

Oh my...you're going to have a great time with this one. You lucky, lucky girl. : )
We'll all look forward to the big reveal.
M.L.

Cheryl (Copper's Wife) said...

I won? I mean, I won!! How exciting! I've already sent you an email with my address, Manuela. Thanks for hosting such a great drawing.

That chandelier is quite a find! I'm so pulling for you to paint it red and hang it inside your house. I think it would look wonderful. I'll just bet that your handy husband can re-wire it, too.

Angie said...

I cannot believe she threw that away!!! It is gorgeous and I can't wait to see where you put it!

Kammy said...

Love your new Chandy ! What color will you paint it ?? I love it when I find stuff that is already re-done , like your bench.
Kammy

Ally's Corner said...

Cool find!!!!!
I have come to believe that your Goodwill has the best stuff.
Need to head over there soon.
Hey the sun it out.

Ally

Julie said...

woo hoo! How cool! I love it. Congratulations. You are the Curbside Treasure Find winner of the week! :-) Gets all of us out here excited to watch the curb in our own neighborhoods.

Julie said...

Congrats to Cheryl! What great finds!!!

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

Love the bench and the chandy was such a lucky break to get. I hope it works out for your foyer.

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Girl I would have armed wrestled your DH for that beauty ha ha!! I can't beleive what people will toss out...I also have some of the best things in my home that others were just getting rid of...Hope all is well on your side of the mountain today my friend...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

PCovi said...

Cha-ching!
At first I thought you said "neighbor's GARAGE" hehe that would be bad...
Love the chandy and can't wait to see it!!
(phyllis)

Felicia said...

Yeah know, about a year or so ago I had the exact same experience. A neighbor threw out an awesome chandelier and I drug it home with the stealthy help of my husband. I wanted to do exactly what you want to do with yours but I got lazy and promptly put it in the closet. Hum, maybe I should dig it out again...

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

You find the best stuff! I cant believe that she was just throwing that out! Ohhh, I can't wait to see what you do with it!

XOOX
jen

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Gorgeous finds Manuela, especially the chandelier from your neighbors!! Can't wait to see how you use everything.
xoxTracey

Christina said...

Could this possibly be the best free find in the history of free finds.

Wow, I'm almost speechless. Look forward to see where you use it.

Anonymous said...

You have captured my attention -- can't wait to see what you decided to do! I'll be back.. Kristeen from Northern Utah -- kandgough@gmail.com

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

OHMIGOSH! I cannot believe someone was throwing that away! Your neighbors obviously don't know you as well as mine know me. I get offered my neighbor's trash before they take it to the curb!! I can't wait to see where it ends up. laurie

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

OHMIGOSH! I cannot believe someone was throwing that away! Your neighbors obviously don't know you as well as mine know me. I get offered my neighbor's trash before they take it to the curb!! I can't wait to see where it ends up. laurie

Jacki said...

That is absolutely amazing! That's your best find ever - and tops any of mine, ha.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Great find on that chandy!! Woohoo, that is beautiful. Hope you can get it rewired. It will be beautiful in your foyer. Love the bench too.

Camille said...

Wonderful finds! I have that same basket...it came in a set of three from Costco...so i have that same basket and two more...different sizes. About the puppy marks...maybe you could use sandpaper to smooth it and then use a permanent marker to "colour" in the rubbed off part. No worries...it will be just great!

Blessings,
Camille

Lynn said...

It looks like you got some great finds :) I never would have thought to remove the wiring and make the chandelier into a candle holder, but I love that idea. It would be so elegant yet different. Hope you'll update us as you decide what to do with it.

Sue said...

Can't wait to see what magic you work with your great find....a real trash to treasure....paint it red!!!

Brenda Pruitt said...

I look at "chewed ends" and somehow it is endearing to me. Well, you found the chandy free. So whether it's indoors or outdoors, you've got a pretty nice new find to show off! I could have been that person putting things at the curb. I often have. I have next to no storage space. I live on the corner, so first one by gets the prize, whatever it happens to me! One day it was a perfectly good fax machine! Love your black bench!
Brenda

Simple Home said...

You've got some great finds there. How do you do it? I can't wait to see it after you've given it the
"Manuela touch".
Blessings,
Marcia

Rhondi said...

Hi Manuela
WHat a great find in the trash! I'll be interested to see what you do with it! I know it will look good when you're done with it.
Hugs, Rhondi

Debra Howard said...

What serendipity! That is so beautiful. girl those things are really easy to wire. I found a friend who knew how and we rewired mine and since then I have done several light fixtures. It would also be gorgeous with candles.
Blessings to you
Debbie

Eileen said...

Great finds. Isn't it amazing what some people throw away?

Stacey said...

Great find!!! Terrific!! Even if you can't fix it you can use the chandelier glass pieces. I KNOW you could come up with something! I have seen the glass pieces for sale at my local antique store going for $12.50 a piece! So very good FREE find!!!

Melissa Miller said...

What a gorgeous treasure find Manuela! I love it! :)

Anonymous said...

I love it! I just found your blog today and I am enjoying it so much!
Have a great day!

Kathleen Grace said...

Manuela, you hit the trash jackpot! (trashpot?) lol. I am always amazed at the things people will throw out rather than try to find a new home for such a beautiful item. Now you know why I always rubberneck trash piles as I go by!

Anonymous said...

I love how you take the unwanted and make it something special. You have a vision for things that many other people don't have.

Rhondi said...

I was just visiting Mary At Across The Pond and the chandelier in her banner photo looks just like the one you found!

*Ulrike* said...

Isn't it amazing what people will throw away?!!! My hubby has found 2 or 3 like that and has brought them home to me. He's a good hubby!
The black bench is really nice, great plant bench too. You are right about all this rain, thank goodness a few sunny days for now!
Have a wonderful day!
Ulrike

Beth at Aunties said...

Oh, the wonderful things people throw out! I am so glad it is finding a happy home with you. I am looking forward to seeing look spectacular!
I came to hi and get your apple dump cake recipe! So thanks for our wonderful desert...I know we will all love it!
~♥
Come over and share your secrets!:)

Julie Harward said...

You are so cute! So..do you think when your neighbor comes for a visit she'll recognize the light?! Way to go, have fun with it! Come say hi :D

Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top said...

That chandy is beautiful and for free! Woo hoo! I like the black bench too, I wouldn't mind having something like that.

Holly said...

Thanks for linking to TST, Manuela! Still love your finds!

dixymiss said...

Wow, eXcellent treasure hunting! Can't wait to see what you end up doing with the chandy.

Anna said...

looking forward to seeing what you do with the chandelier, free finds are the best!