Update!

My Dear, Wonderful Friends~

I must apologize to you all for not posting in the past 2 weeks. I have, unfortunately, been having severe back pain and have not been able to finish any of my current projects and have only been able to sit at my computer for short periods of time...So, instead of sharing a prayer with you, I am requesting one from you.

If you are a praying person, I would be ever so grateful if you would ask the Lord to lift this pain from my back, if it be His will. I hope that you have found Shoestring Elegance on Facebook so that you are able to see what short "shares" I have been able to post. If not, now would be a dandy time to come "like" me there so you will know when I am back up and about! I promise you, I will share a new project with you as soon as I am able!

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy these lovely images of the simply elegant Birthday Dinner I recently threw for my mother's 75th!! God Bless you and Thank you!

Anything Can Be an Elegant Centerpiece

Good Morning, Friends. I'm so glad you stopped by! Today, I was compelled to share with you a new project, as well as, a look back at some old favorites, to prove that, in fact, Anything can be made into a Beautiful, Elegant Centerpiece! And still be done on a Shoestring budget (under $5, or less, actually).

This beautiful piece, for example, was a little magazine holder I picked up at a rummage sale last month for $1 Yes, that’s what I said $1. 

It’s wasn't very old or even very pretty. But, it had at the top of it that wonderful Metal lace!! In my mind, I could see it in a beautiful Antique white. There was a small crack in one leg, easy fix, just a little crazy glue. And then, it occurred to me that I still had over a half of can of that wonderful Antique white spray paint I had used for my Rod Iron Candle Redo!! Perfect! Now was just the simple problem of how to make this container a vessel for beautiful blooms. 

With the sides at 6 inches, how simple to put some good old mason jars and an odd vase here or there, that could be filled with water and easily replaced as necessary!! 

This is when I could start to see the end image in my head!! So exciting to transform someone’s cast off’s into a beautiful repurposed, showcasing piece!! I am the very first to tell you, that I am not extremely “crafty” so-to-speak. 

But, I have found that if you look at the shape, dimensions, features, or “bones” of an object, You can truly see an inner beauty in it waiting to come to life in your home!!

Please look at all of the images here. These are all fairly simple things to do, you just need to look beyond what it is now, to see what it can be!! Go create! Enjoy Elegance on a Simple Budget!! I couldn't afford roses for this piece, but I have always loved Baby’s Breath ( which is only $2.99 for a nice large bouquet)!!

What can you afford? Do you have an old piece that you could make your Masterpiece? If you do, have at it!! And please come back here or on Shoestring Elegance's facebook page and share it with me!! It is seeing others creations, that inspires me to look beyond a simple object to its glorious potential!! Have a wonderful weekend all!!

This week I am sharing this post with these great parties!!

This post was kindly featured by:

Kathe with an E, Knick of Time, Rooted in Thyme

Anything Can Be an Elegant Centerpiece

Good Morning, Friends. I'm so glad you stopped by!  Today, I was compelled to share with you a new project, as well as, a look back at some old favorites, to prove that, in fact, Anything can be made into a Beautiful, Elegant Centerpiece! And still be done on a Shoestring budget (under $5, or less, actually).

New Twist On an Old Favorite ~ Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding

Is anybody else really ready for and missing the Fall weather? Or just anxious for it to get here? I sure am!! You know, having soups and stew on the stove top, fresh baked items coming out of the oven. That part of the fall is so wonderful and really something you can’t really do in the hot days of August in California. You have to keep your house open at night to get it cooled down and then close it up in the morning before the sun heats it back up. It’s hardly the time to turn on your oven or have something simmering on the stove top.Well, the couple last nights have cooled off early here and quite nicely, so I took full advantage of it to get my oven on! I wanted a wonderfully warm something from the oven that screamed of comfort food on cold days to me! A-Haa! My version of Bread Pudding!

Kitchen Table Makeover

Good Morning, Friends!  I apologize, again, for taking so long in getting this post up, but as I said on Shoestring’s Facebook page, this is a piece a intend to have for a long time and that I use often so I wanted to finish it just right..That being said, It’s DONE!!

I have had this kitchen table for 10+

Rod Iron Candle Redo<$1

99 Cent Candle Do-Over!

Good Morning, Friends!! So glad you had the time to stop by for a visit! 

So, last weekend, one of our local churches, had their “Annual Rummage Sale”!! I’m sure you can imagine it didn’t take me long to get up and ready for this! It started at 9a.m, so, of course, I was there at 8:55 with my tennie's on and ready!! Unfortunately, so were about 300 other people! No matter! I had a tremendously successful trip!! Many future projects will be forthcoming from the $13 I spent that morning! Yes $13, Woohoo!! I love a good rummage sale!

That brings me to today’s little project. No, I didn’t get it from this rummage sale! My sister had a garage sale a couple of years ago, and she knew that my Mom was going to have one, too. So what she didn’t sell she gave to my Mom to let her give it a try! Long story short I had first pickings at what neither of them were able to sell, before they were donated!!

 That’s how I came to own this black, rod iron candle stick holder. Remember when Black rod iron was all the rage? Anyway, it wasn't to my taste anymore either, but I thought I could make it into something I liked! 

2 years later I had a bracelet break, and got a great deal on some antique white accents spray paint within a couple of days and I saw what my little candle holder could be!!

I used a  wire brush to get all the old wax off and then I spray painted it.  About 2-3 coats worked beautifully!  And as I said, I had a cute little pearl and crystal bracelet (costume jewelry). It broke and little pearls and crystals went rolling everywhere. So, I picked them all up and put them in a container for a future project. Isn't that what everyone does when their jewelry breaks? 

So here is my little Candlestick do over which I achieved for 99cents (that was the deal I got on the spray paint!!) I hope you like it.  What was once sitting in the corner back behind the door now makes a beautiful centerpiece on my Dining room table!  Many Blessing you this week, I hope you have enjoyed my “cheap” or “chic” little project!  




Sharing with:

Prayer Request Box

This is actually a post and project I had not planned to do or to write! I was so happily surprised though with the results I decided to share it with you.

What is the saying “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”? Well, I don’t know if that is the case or if we are just lucky or so Blessed that we learn to “make the best” out of what we have.

I just recently experienced this. What a happy surprise!

My Wednesday morning’s “Women’s Power of Prayer” group was held at my house this past week, because our wonderful leader had an opportunity to have a vacation with her husband and their children.  It was not an overwhelming undertaking for me. I love to bake! I always have coffee and Tea @ the ready for all friends and family that pop by in the early hours of the day! So, how happy was I to have this wonderful group of women meeting here this time…It pleased me very much.  

One of the things that our leader has always had available at all of our meetings has been a prayer request box. One with blank cards to be written on & deposited in, (if someone preferred prayer that they weren't comfortable enough to request from the group). As well as, any donations, for some of the special reading materials available. (This has always been something that people could deposit anonymously, as not to provide any undo discomfort. And even though, our leader provided me with everything I would need for our meeting and what sections of our study to focus on. She had, in fact, forgotten this wonderful little (but very important box).   

I thought this was not a problem. Surely,  I should be able to find something I could use. In fact, it wasn't as easy as I thought, to find something visually appealing, as well as, functional.  So I searched my house the night before the group was to meet and stumbled upon this stationary, that someone had given me years before that was never really to my taste, but the hinged box was perfect for my needs. Then there was just the little matter that it was really not as delicate and pretty as I would have liked this important box to be.  So I looked in through my craft supplies and had a couple of sheets of “card stock” scrap-booking paper, that I had saved for whatever.?! Okay, I was just taken with the look of it and thought when I bought it at .59 cents a sheet that it would be beautiful for something! And it was!  I got out my ruler, straight edge and tacky glue and covered, lined and wrapped the lid up with a bow!! Standing back at 12:30 am, I was quite pleased with my little prayer box!!  It wasn't necessary to put all this effort in such a little thing, but I was pleased that I had! By the end of our successful morning meeting the contents were removed, to be handed of to the right person, and my beautiful little prayer box remained my happy little memory of the morning. 

This wasn't a difficult project for me, but it certainly was a rewarding one.  I remember thinking at the time, that it may have made God smile! Or laugh!  I hope you enjoy it, too!! 

As always, Many Blessings for a wonderful weekend! 

My Version of an Old Classic Vase!!

Hi all!!! Okay, so I have seen a lot of people making their own milk glass or just spray painting colors on glass vases, lately. While it is nice, I remember knowing that the milk glass vases were glass and I had been wanting to try something for a while... So, I decided to test my theory…(while I love all the other vase projects I had seen) I wanted to see if I could do it the way I was thinking.  I got this vase at our local Hospice Thrift store for $1.25.

Garage Sale Stand <$5, but Free To Me!

Okay, so you know how you have 5+ projects lined up that you have great plans for?  Well, that’s usually how I work. Anyway back to this post.  I have a wonderful new friend that loves that I go garage sailing and Thrift store shopping for my Redo’s She, however, doesn’t know how something speaks to you, I mean you see something and immediately know what you want to make out of it. However, being someone that loves to be supportive she went to a garage sale last week and found and bought this little stand for me. 

This would not have 
been my first pick, 
but I took it on as a 
challenge… So, I got 
my paints out after I cleaned it up and 
started repainting. 

I was so surprised when I stood back and saw what I had done!! I was actually very happy with it and it now fitted in with my style!! 

Serendipity!!

So, what do you all think? Better after, right?

Thank you so much for visiting me here and 

@ Shoestring’s Facebook page…Your 

views, “Likes”, and comments are a such a 

Blessing to me, you can’t even Imagine!! So 

from me to you Many Blessing!!

 If you get the chance try and check out


Metamorphosis Monday 


here:http://betweennapsontheporch.net/metamorphosis-monday/


As well as, these other great parties

My Heart's Desire and a Salute to Beauty

OK, so I must confess that not very long ago I had not seen a Blog or even knew what the blog world was about.   But, a few years back, I was searching for some pictures of the style I wanted to decorate my new home in.  I don't really remember what I searched.  One of my Google search links took me to the most Beautiful place I had seen, and everything that I loved.  It was Cielo’s “House In The Roses”  If you have not been there I highly recommend a visit.

Cielo, had all these beautiful images of flowers and lace and china a nice bit of whimsy all the while being serenaded by beautiful “Fairy music” I was hooked. One of my favorite pictures was a beautiful white chair with a gorgeous vase of roses in it.  So this post and redo is my Salute to Cielo and Thanks for all the Inspiration!

 One of my favorite items in dining rooms, kitchens or just in a nice corner of the room has always been Ladder-back chairs…I don’t know why.  You don’t see true 4 board Ladder back chairs much anymore.  But, being a Thrift store frequenter now, I came across a nice solid wood true one! It had seen some years, but the bones of it were solid, so to speak.    

 When I saw it I instantly thought of it painted white and distressed with a Beautiful vase of Blooms sitting on it.  How Blessed am I that I was able to achieve just that? Maybe not as lovely as Cielo, but I am absolutely in love with this piece and plan to enjoy for many years to come.

I hope you like it too!

So just a quick price break down, It wouldn't be keeping with true Shoestring Elegance style, If I didn’t tell you what a deal I was able to make this for.   Are you ready? You are not going to believe this, I got the chair at the local GW, it was priced only $9.99, but wait, it was half of yellow tag day!!! So yes, I got the chair for $5!  I used less than one sample size of Behr's Chalkpaint to cover it! So add a little under $3 to the tab, the rest was just a pure enjoyment in the painting, sanding, waxing and finishing of it all.  This one was truly a labor of love.  And the final project cost was just under$8.  How is that possible?  As soon as it was done I had to arrange some flowers and go cut some roses from my garden so I could enjoy it the way I had seen it in my minds eye. Hey, psst! If you get a chance go "Like" me on facebook. I have alot more pics and tidbits there.

I’m just following the way I’m lead and loving every minute of it!! Especially, getting to share it with you.  Many Blessing to you all! 

Always linking up with Metamorphosis Monday and Savvy Southern Style!

Goodwill 99cent Planter Redo

Okay now! So as promised, I am back with part two of todays projects!  Oh so much fun!! However, I’m going to keep this one short and simple!!  So I'm sharing another great Thrift store find, lightweight metal’ish, tin kinda, cute bones Pedestal container..99cents!!  Shut your Mouth!

I swear to you,  all I could see when I looked at this was it painted White with some beautiful little pink blooms planted in it!!

Friends, I was so excited, I completely forgot to take a before picture.  As you can see I had already started painting it when I remembered. At least you get an idea of what it was.

So, 2 coats of my Behr sample size chalk paint, under $3.00 now when you order it online through Home Depot!!  A hammer and a nail to put 3 drainholes in the bottom of it. (Otherwise your plant's roots will rott and your plants die) New knowledge to me! 

I grabbed this cute little Carnation and a couple Impatients from a six pack I had and dog gone it doesn’t it just look like that was exactly what it was made for?  I had a blast doing this!! Just sharing the steps with you, so you can pick up a 99 cent special, too, and make it into something special for you!!  If you haven't already, Please take a minute to go over and "Like" my facebook page... Lots more pictures from all the projects there!! Thank you for joining me and Many Blessings to you all!!

No Cost Personalized Tiebacks!!

Hi, Friends!!! I hope you have been having a wonderful week!!  I’ve been out of commission for a little bit with some back issues, but I’m back today with a couple great little projects for you to take and make your own!!

Do you ever have one of those moments when you fix something that’s been driving you nuts forever and then look at it and go, Of Course, That’s exactly how to do it?  I know some people call this serendipitous (a happy accident) I call it a cool new project to share with everyone else that it’s been driving nuts!!

Okay, I know I’m kinda rambling a bit today, but try and stay with me.  I have beautiful sheer curtain panels in my kitchen and in my bedroom. I love them because they provide some privacy while still letting the light in.  

In the Spring, I love to open the windows and watch the breeze blow them up.  However, in the hot days of summer, I just want them out of the way so that any little wisp of air can blow through and help cool down the house! It was like that the other day, and I did what I usually do, grabbed the curtain nearest the back door and tucked over and around the back doorknob, but it kept falling loose.  For some reason, I just opened the back door,  grabbed one of my clothespins and pinned the curtain back to itself. That’s it!! It worked!  Not only did it worked it looked good, really good.  So, I played with the sheers a bit more and loved the way they hung while in the clothes pin. 

Then there was the little issue that the clothes pins were weathered and didn’t look very good on my sheers, so I got about a teaspoon of my white paint and painted them… Then, I couldn’t stop! All the different possibilities!! I wrapped them with ribbon, I 

added a silk flower, I thought," Oh my they could even be bejeweled.. "I went through my jewelry box of broken an unmatched pieces and found an earring, not 2 but 1 that’s why it was in this particular box.. I added that to one and couldn’t believe how basic, simple and beautiful and elegant it all looked!! I hope you enjoy them as much as I am!! Love to see how you would decorate it!  Come back and share if you make some for yourself... I'm telling you, it's just the ticket!!

 I promised you a couple projects, I know!! The other one should be up in a few more hours, so for right now to be continued……. 

This post was featured by the very Lovely Gina @ Random Thoughts!