Plate It Up...

This week I've been trying to finish up some projects before I have to go back to work on Friday (what kind of sadistic school district plans the first day of inservice on the last Friday of summer vacation?). We're going to work on that mystery project in the kitchen tonight, so while Hubby is at work this morning, I tried something new.

While the Megster was cleaning out her closet last night (hard to believe, I know!), she found a platter (don't ask-who knows why there was a platter in a 10-year-old's closet). Now this wasn't sporting the prettiest of patterns, in fact, it was downright ugly. I would show you how ugly, but as usual, I was too intent on starting my project that I forgot to take the "before" picture. You'll just have to take my word for it. I wasted no time in spray painting it "sand" (Do It Best brand), which is a creamy off-white.

Then, I tried a new trick I learned last night. I was trying to figure out how I was going to transfer an "S" to my plate, and not 10 minutes later, I find this gal's blog, in which she explains exactly how to transfer patterns without carbon paper. So I tried it, and it worked perfectly. Thanks Lindsay!

I didn't have any black craft paint, so I had to use spray paint that I sprayed out in a little puddle on a foam tray. I'm not the steadiest painter in the world, and I just noticed a rough place I need to fix (I think I can fix it with a Sharpie), but I think its not too bad. I have no idea yet where I'm going to put it, but I'll think of something!

Platter, platter, on the wall...

Well its finally done! I got the idea from a few different blogs. It seems plates on walls are everywhere these days. Being the dish lover that I am, there was no way I could be left out! I had most of them up last weekend, but I had to wait until I got a couple more plate hangers to finish it up. I think it turned out very nice. All but one of them were thrift store/yard sale finds. Its definitely one of the cheapest decorating projects I've done. Now, if I could just get that hardwood down...

Yard sale-ing...

Meghann and I went yard sale-ing and thrifting Saturday morning. We had a great time together. We visited a few yard sales, the Goodwill store, our local Vendor's Mall flea market, and even had breakfast out at our favorite breakfast spot, Dairy Queen. I didn't find too many treasures, but I did find a few pieces of Milkglass. And I only spent $7.50.

I found the plate at a yard sale (I sorta wish I 'd gotten the matching, bigger plate to go with it), and the urn at Vendor's Mall.

This compote dish also came from Vendor's Mall.
I'm excited about next weekend. Its the once-a-month antique sale downtown. Maybe I'll find some treasures there!

Let's Dish...

I have always loved dishes. When Derek and I married, I already had two complete sets of dishes (and I still lived at home with my parents!). These weren't dishes we'd registered for; I'd had purchased them before Derek and I had even met. I knew that sooner or later I'd get married or move out on my own and need them. After we got engaged, we didn't even register for china since I already had a set of my favorite pattern, Blue Willow. We did, however, register for Corellware to use for everyday dishes. If I had my wish, I'd have a room in my house full of place settings and china cabinets!

I especially love old dishes. I've had these since I was a little girl. My mom found them at yard sales and I've had them on display ever since.

This cup and saucer was a gift from my cousin Lori. She got it on a trip she took with her mom (my aunt JoAnn) and my mom when they went to New York a few years ago to visit our other aunt, Frances. Everyone came back with a set and she brought me this one. It reminds me of another one of my favorite patterns, Old Country Roses by Royal Daulton. So when I started noticing plates on the walls of bedrooms on some of my favorite blogs (Nester, Shannon at Bless Our Nest), the wheels started turning. This would look great in my master bedroom, the one with the toile. All I had to do was find some solid white dishes (or some I could paint, a la Kimba). I took off to my newest favorite store, Goodwill. I'm fortunate to have two nearby, plus a couple other thrift stores as well. And after checking at two thrift stores and a Big Lots, here's what I got, all for the whopping price of $4.25:

That one is my favorite one. It was only 50 cents! They'll go up with a couple of larger plates that I already had. I do want a pretty tray for the center, but I haven't found one yet. I'm going yard sale-ing in the morning. Maybe I'll find one then.

The funny thing is, the plate hangers cost me more than the dishes did! I had Derek get them from the hardware store where he works, so we did get a discount. I could have gotten cheaper ones at the dollar store, but Derek's store has white hangers, so they won't show up as much. The only bad thing is that his store doesn't carry the white ones in stock; they had to be ordered, so I'll have to wait until the Tuesday truck comes in a few days. I'll post a picture as soon as I get them all up!