Thanks for the List, Craig

So it seems that "used" is coming back "in" again.  Maybe it's the struggling economies and tighter budgets, maybe it's the environmental movement, but either way it's a good thing.  Since we have been looking for affordable, but good quality furniture for our new house I have been turning to sites like Craig's List and Kijiji for help.

One thing I have noticed is that some people can really use some help on how to post an ad for sale.  Some ads sit on there forever while some are gone the same day.  Sometimes admittedly it is the quality of the item, obviously the best stuff goes quickly, but then there are some good stuff that lingers.  Here are some tips I have for sellers to help get those unwanted items gone as quickly as possible.

1. Don't lump items together.  If I'm looking for a dresser I probably don't also want to see your couch and ironing board.  I especially don't want a "group price" for all 3 items.  This is just lazy unless the item is a set (like a bedroom set) or you're having a one day sale and want to list all the items available.
2. Use a good title.  I would say "6 drawer dresser" instead of "dresser" or better yet "solid walnut 6 drawer dresser"
3. Include the measurements.  This is a big pet peeve of mine.  If you don't tell me how large the item is, how will I know if it will fit in my car/house.  Try to include length, width and height.  If the dresser has a mirror include those measurements separately.
4. Include a photo.  I know this can be hard if you don't have a camera of your own, but borrow one from a friend or use a camera phone.  One bad picture is better than none at all.  Trust me.  If your ad doesn't have a photo you are asking people to drive all the way to your house to see the item and then decide if they want to buy it.  Some people (like me) will skip all posts without photos.
If a photo is really not possible, include as much detail in the description as possible.  Something like "Solid walnut 6 drawer dresser  48"L x 22" W x 26" H.  Dresser is Victorian style and has curvy legs about 6" tall and carved drawer fronts.  Drawer pulls are black.  Dresser has some small scratches on top and sides, but is in good condition"
5. Respond promptly to questions and requests.  It's a good idea to update the posting to include the answers to questions that are asked.

Hopefully if you use my 5 hints above you will be happily decluttering your house of unwanted items, saving the planet, and helping people in need of what you are offering.  It will have you saying, "Hey Craig, thanks for the list."

A thrifting I will go...

I recently posted about how I am new to "thrifting", but after the success of my first trip to Value Village I decided that this was a hobby I could get on board with.  Since then I have made a few more visits and uncovered some more treasures that I wanted to share with you.

Here is a frame that I bought for $4.99

and turned it into this (using some primer and trim paint that I already had at home).

I have big plans for this frame as part of the front hall decor.  Don't you love how the frame mirrors the molding that I installed in the front hall already?

I bought this vase because I loved the shape.

I planned to paint it with my oil rubbed bronze spray paint because I was inspired by what Sarah at TDC did here, but then she posted about how the paint didn't work out here.  So I changed my mind and decided to leave it unpainted for now.  I think the colour is pretty and I'm sure I'll find somewhere to use it.  Come to think of it... it does kind of go with that green tile... hmmm...

I also found this cute basket for $2.  Who doesn't need cute storage?  Right now its going in the office to store "junk" but since its a great size and colour I can pretty much use it anywhere.

Not too bad so far... I have learned that you need to go often to find the "good stuff".  Sometimes I go and come out with nothing, but the browsing is still pretty fun.  I guess I'm just a "gatherer" type.  Most of the things that I bought were put out on the same day (they have the date on the price label).  So you can believe that the awesome stuff is gone on the day it arrives or soon after AND that I'll be carrying it out of there with a big grin on my face.  Happy thrifting!

Linking up!

Light up my life

I am new to "thrifting".  I have always been a fan of reusing and repurposing, but I am not a regular thrift store visitor.  I love to wander antique stores browsing, but I have never really thought of them as "stores" where you can buy useful stuff that you need.  Well, I was wrong (I hope my hubby is not reading this...).

We have a chain in my area called Value Village perhaps you've heard of it?  It's similar to Goodwill. 

I made my first visit there in search a light fixture for the front hall.  We have painted and purchased a mirror, for the dark front hall, but I figured the most bang for our buck would be to replace that sad little single bulb light fixture with a multi-bulb chandelier.  I needed something small since we only have 8 foot ceilings, but something wide enough to be able to balance the large mirror.

There in the back corner of Value Village I found this beauty.  It was fate.

Can you see that price tag?  Yes, it says $3.99.  So I said, "Yes, please!" and purchased my four dollar light.  I brought it home and got hubby to test it out to make sure that it was in working order before I started my makeover.  It was!  I was pumped. 

After reading many posts about the wonders of spray paint especially the Oil Rubbed Bronze finish I was excited to start my first project.  Yes, that's right.  No previous spray paint experience, but I was ready.  I figured how hard could it really be anyway?  First I ran out to Home Depot and picked up a can of this:(Actually 2 cans since I didn't know how much I would need, but 1 turned out to be more than enough)

Then I took the fixture apart taking pictures as I went to help me put it back together.  I won't include these because unless yours is exactly like mine it won't go back together the same way.  Then I cleaned the fixture with soap and water and dried it thoroughly.  I was impatient to get started with the painting (aka the "fun part") but I knew that if it wasn't dry all the way the paint would bubble or peel or just generally not look good.

Since it is still winter here (although surprisingly warm out today) I painted indoors by laying down a large drop cloth in the basement and covering all the boxes, etc in the area with drop cloths as well.  Just a tip, the paint does travel farther than you think it will so cover more rather than less (or paint outside).

Here are some tips I picked up that will help you get perfect results your first time:

1. Make sure the fixture is clean and very dry

2. Don't try to cover the whole thing with the first coat, it will be tempting, especially when you see how good its starting to look, but don't do it!

3. Spray a light coat of paint and then leave the room for 10 minutes.  I set a timer.  You have a chance to get some air, this stuff is a bit smelly, and it allows the paint to dry a bit.  Then head back to your painting room and repeat: light coat and then leave for 10 minutes.  About 3 coats should do it.

Voila!  A brand new gorgeous painted chandelier!  Are you excited to see what it looks like???  I promise I will have photos this weekend once it is hung (and I have a chance to upload them).  Sorry for the teaser... but the wait will be worth it, I promise. 

Update: You can now view the finished light here.