Monday, June 25, 2018

Thrifting Junking Searching Preparing For Resale

Thrifting Junking Searching and Preparing For Resale. Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Gonna cover something simple today. I hope it will be helpful, and will give you a little something to think about as well. 

We spend time with thrifting, junking, estate sales, second hand stores, garage sales, and actually anywhere that we can think of to find the next treasure for our homes, or our stores. When we do these special treasure hunts we take pride in the search, have fun with it, and are always anxious to get back home with all the goodies we have found for the day too. So, once we get them home what is is that we all do with these new finds? All of us have our own way of doing things that we have found to work for us. The biggest decision is do we keep it, or do we sell it? 

Once I get all of the treasures home that I have found for the day I am no longer tired. I am excited to unwrap items, set them out to view closer, take inventory, make notes, and etc. I do the best I can to keep record of things that will help with decisions that should be made later about pieces too. For now I have a simple form I use that I will record the item found, price I paid for it, is it a resale as is or will I be repurposing altering it in some way. I like to make notes of any flaws that I see with the pieces as well. Then note the overall condition of the piece that I have found. 

Once I get this part done I might take a break...something to revive myself to continue doing a few more things with the treasures found. Once I have done all the notes, documenting of things, and what I feel is necessary to complete with all the items I then start preparing for cleaning of the items. Yes, everything that I find I will do some kind of a cleaning with it. Nothing harsh, but a gentle clean to better show the beauty of all the things I have found. Once I have done this I can see if maybe there are more visible flaws to note, and I can better decide if I will sell the piece as is, or if I will repurpose it in some way. The urge is always strong to want to keep things found, and I have to remind myself that I do not have the room to house these wonderful treasures for myself. I hopefully can make someone else happy with offering things that I have found, and that they may take pleasures with their finds too. 

After completing these few steps the research will generally be done with all the pieces you have found. Researching for the value of vintage collectibles, searching to see if others are selling the same items and making notes of their prices along with successes of sold pieces, you are learning a little more about the treasures found with all of your researches. Another assistance to consider with your searches is to use collectors books that better describe items, their age, their value with their conditions, and some of the history for it too. 

I know that doing these few steps I have shared with you does not seem like much of a procedure. Yes, it can be time consuming doing some of this. I enjoy doing this as I better learn and familiarize myself with the pieces. I feel I can better connect with them by viewing them in a different way from their purchase, and that I can better assist my customers as well too. 

Hope you found your visit to be helpful, maybe consider a few things not thought of before, and remember it's always good to hear suggestions from you visiting as well. Thanks for visiting with LilacsNDreams! See you again soon. Toodles . . . 



Monday, June 18, 2018

Vintage Pyrex Collectible Bowls and Patterns Guide or Library


Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Vintage Pyrex Collectible Bowls and Patterns Guide or Library. Pyrex has been a long time collectible for many people. Many are either on the hunt for these pieces to resell them, or some are collectors who are adding to their collections too. 

I myself like looking at the collectible pieces of pyrex bowls, I have sold some myself, and I own a few pieces of these treasures too. Not as many as I would like to, but it's enough to have for show around in the kitchen. 



This is a picture of the Colonial Mist patterned Pyrex bowl. I use to have a set of these, and at some point decided to downsize. So, I sold them. Of course I regret it now, but I will add to my collection again at some point. 


This is a picture of the Pyrex Cinderella bowl set that I do have. Very very happy with them as the coloring is great with all of them. The insides are a very shiny white milk glass coloring that look much like new yet, or show very little signs of use. 

Over the years Pyrex has made many different patterns, and had different colors with each piece that they made and distributed. There are many patterns and colors to learn with the names given to them. Along with the names you kind of like to know the years that they came out too. For information like this you can buy collectors books to have on hand that you can look things up. Another way to look for some of the information is to research online like many of us do. I would like to share a few links with you that I am aware of. With these places you can find pictures with the pattern, the name, the year for them, and when you click on some of the pictures it will open to a new page describing that particular piece to you. Again, telling you the bowl print name, the year of its distribution, and some may offer an idea of its value as well. 

Pyrex Pattern Reference

Pattern Library Pyrex

Pyrex Vintage Pattern Guide

So, if you're looking for a little bit of help with identifying a piece, maybe want to know a little bit more, or if you want to expand with some of your knowledge check on those links I have listed for you. No, I get no kind of a commission with you clicking, and it is not an affiliate link either. I just enjoy helping where I can, and sharing with others who have some of the same interests. 

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you again soon. Till the next time...Toodles!


Monday, June 11, 2018

Treasures Await, Old, Vintage, Repurposed, DIY, Plate Stand, Dish Stand



Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Treasures Await! Old, Vintage, Repurposed, DIY, Restyled Plate Stand, Dish Stand, Glass Stand, Vintage Inspired. In this posting I am sharing a few pieces that I had made from vintage plates, decorative plates, candle holders, and a compote candy dish. As you can see I used different sized plates for these stands shown. Most of them were glass while one I did use a dinner plate for the stand. 

Generally when you think of these stands you thought of them standing upright which is the normal shown way for them. Time to be a little more creative with these pieces, and believe me I had fun when I was displaying these pieces for pictures. I enjoyed showing, and giving ideas of how to use these plate stands I made for your homes. I tried to show how the pieces could be versatile for different uses. They could be used for serving, used as decor in the home, maybe used for a little organizing of things, and etc. Use them in the living room, in the kitchen, in your bathroom, or in your bedrooms too. 

Not only were these a plate stand, but they could be used with candles and some embellishments. Use them in the kitchen with some dish soap, dish rag, scrubbing pad, etc. Use in the bathroom with some rolled cloths, jewelry holder, bathroom accessories, and so forth. 

Common use was to have them standing as a serving plate stand, but since I used different items for the bases I liked to show how they could be flipped over for different uses too. With some of the plates I had used some goblets. One plate had a blue glass goblet I used. When it stood straight up I liked to put a flicker candle under the goblet, and added some flowers. If it was a holiday season I would decorate with that theme too. 

I sold a few of these pieces over at Etsy which is where I am working on getting some things listed there. Remember, I am in the process of buying a home and moving. So, I have to watch how much I am doing until we get fully moved. Earlier tonight I was working with all my policies, introductions, etc. Doing a lot of updating with things. Anyway, once we get fully settled I have thought about making up some of the plate stands again too. Would be great to have some for the upcoming holidays, given as gifts, and so on.     




                                  Clear Glass Cupcake Stand Dessert Plate Center Piece


Some pictures combined that show a few different uses for this particular plate stand that was made.





Avocado Green Relish Tray Dish Glass Stand Vintage Inspired




This avocado green relish dish stand looked like new when put together. I am selective with the pieces that I partner to make these stands. Many times they look pretty much new, and bought from the store. Something I took pride in doing. 




Cake Cupcake Stand Blue Glass Vintage Inspired





It took a little while before this plate stand came together. This happen to be an extra plate that came from a dish set. When I found the blue glass candy compote...it might have been the base of a fairy light that was missing the top to it too...I just knew before I got it home what I wanted to do with it. My biggest issue was to confirm that the colors in the blue glass would work with the blues in the rim of the dish. They were a match, and I got this together as soon as I could too. 

When I put these pieces together I took my time matching them. I make sure the pieces are clean, and dry. Then, I spend the time marking/noting where the pieces will connect. Once they are connected I use the right things for pressure to make sure they stay connected. Check on them periodically to make sure the glue did not shift pieces, and off center them. Once I was comfortable with the pieces settling the right way then they would sit to dry. This part I never rushed, and I was content when I placed them for sale knowing they had bonded properly, and would make the new owner of them happy. 

Yes, I get excited with some things. There is so much out there that we can use to be creative with. Many things that can be made/created. Part of a piece to a set, a lonely vintage piece that needs a new life, sometimes painting can help a piece along too. I like how there are no rules to do this. What you create can work for you, or maybe someone else too. It might be a copy, or mimic something else made. But, it is still a unique piece because of how you made it, what was all used to make it, etc. 

Ok, I better slow my jets or I'll be carrying on, and bore some of you. Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams everyone! I enjoy your visits, and hope to see you dropping by again. Take care till the next time everyone. Toodles.....


   

Monday, June 4, 2018

Repurpose Restyle Refresh DIY Picture Frames





Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Repurpose Restyle Refresh DIY Farmhouse Picture Frames. Now, this is a project that you can have fun with, be creative, and depending what you all do the cost is low with it too. Cost might be low, but it can also give that wow effect when others see it in your home too. 

So many things you can do with picture frames, and I am sharing just a few ideas with you. Keep in mind there is so much more that you can with them. You can use some old frames you have sitting around. They don't always have to match for some of your projects you create. Find picture frames in thrift stores, garage sales, craft stores, and don't forget to look at your Dollar Tree stores too. Depending on the creation you are making you can leave the frames as is, maybe paint them, cover them in paper, glue them, nail them together, and you got the idea. Many home decor ideas for around the home, for any room in the home, maybe given as a gift to someone too. 


                                         DO IT YOURSELF TIERED TRAYS


                                               From:        What Treasures Await



                                       REPURPOSED FARMHOUSE FRAMES



                                            From:      Raggedy Bits    




                                                       REPURPOSED FRAMES


                                             From:     Kim@coastalstardecor.com


There is sooo much more out there to see with how picture frames are used. If you would like to get more ideas I would google repurposed picture frames, and I would also check out pinterest too. 

This is one project I have supplies at home to work with, I know what my first project is going to be, the weather has been great! Unfortunately, I have to put things on hold for a couple of months. I am disappointed because I had plans for some creations, but I am also excited and staying busy too. My husband got a new job. He drives truck, and his new boss is about 2 1/2 hrs from where we live. Which is fine, but we have been talking about a move for a while, and things have been happening that we will be moving soon. House we are buying will be available then. Soooo, instead of having fun with crafting, repurposing, thrift store shopping, garage sales, and etc. I am packing, and hopefully downsizing a few things as I go along with this. Area will be different. I've scoped a little bit of it out, found some thrift stores, dollar tree, and the city is about an hour away with a Goodwill Outlet store, and I am sure other things to get into as well. This should be a good change, and definitely better for me to work on projects, my site, and to get going online more like I have been planning on. 

Till then I intend to keep coming to my site here, and posting different things for you all to visit, view, and read. I will also stick a note in here, and there about how we are progressing with our move, and when I will be shut down for a bit for the move, and to get things all hooked up again. 

Thank you as always for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Hope you enjoyed the visit, and I hope to see you again soon. Till the next time....Toodles!