Do you remember the childhood classics, The Velveteen Rabbit or Corduroy?
I often compare the moral of those stories with how I feel about yard sales.
Taking someone else’s once loved items, now deemed trash, and pouring new life into them until they are treasures, brings out a creative side that I just love.
So when I passed this huge bunch of bad fake flowers at a yard sale, I immediately thought, “Wow, those are ugly, huge and way too long.” (The stems were about 2-3 feet.) You see, I have spent the last six months purging my home of those kind of fakes. This yard sale had junk…all of it was junk, and since my goal is to hit at least ten sales in an hour, when I see junk, I don’t waste my time.
But as I said, “thank you” to the woman and walked to my car empty handed, Corduroy reminded me that maybe even these ugly things needed a home. Maybe a small portion of my heart could extend hospitality and see beyond the junk.
Would it be possible? At $0.50 for the whole bunch, I decided the four blue blooms had potential. So I went home, had my son cut off the 2 foot green wire stems, and began to brainstorm the possibilities.
Perhaps, it could find a home under my large cloche?
Or on my beautiful tiered tray?
How about on the stand that I just bought at GoodWill?
Could its destiny be to top the milk glass tower that I bought at a yard sale or…
perhaps to accent this vase that I picked at the Nester’s swap (the one that she bought at a yard sale, and passed on in the process.)
Please note, sometimes the “work with what you have” mentality is very literal. I needed to add height to the blue blooms, so I just stuffed my son’s socks underneath in the blue vase…it worked. 🙂
I still haven’t found the perfect place to use these blooms, but I will. Since my kitchen/great room are accented in yellow, green and blues, I will accessorize with them some how.
And to think, I almost passed up the junk for just $0.50.
Shop your house. “Corduroy” may be whispering that he too just needs a little extra loving, and someone to look outside the box to see the trash to treasure potential.
It may be a matter of sewing that button back on, and it will be just perfect. 🙂
GREAT VISION!
You have such a tender heart, Jen….and I love it!!! 🙂
suzanne
Very cute ideas!
Awwww! I'm glad the forlorn flowers got a new home. 🙂
D
I'm impressed!
I like all of the ideas – please remember to share which one you choose!
Cute post! It's a good point, you don't have to use ALL of something you buy at a sale – if you want to tear it apart and only use a piece of it – that works too!
~ Pam
What a great post! They blue blossoms look like they'll go just about anywhere. 🙂
oooh! I have some plastic Alliums like) that…never thought about cutting off their stems before–pretty! 🙂
Jen, I like them in the last photos you posted them. Definite potential with those blooms. I think you have a good eye. 🙂 This is a great reminder for me to look around at what I already have instead of wishing for more….
In the milk glass tower, they remind me of ice cream. 🙂
I love Corduroy. . . that was always one of my boys' favorite books. And you're right! Sometimes things just need a simple button sewn back on to make them good as new. Way to see past the superficial! Vision is definitely one of your gifts.
Awww, this post warmed my heart. I am a preschool teacher and I share Corduroy with my class for bear month in September. The littles bring a favorite bear to ease the transition of being at school the first time.
🙂
AWW… I just love that book! What a neat post!!
Aren't you sweet to rescue those flowers. I especially like them in that little vase (with the socks). I have been thinking lately of digging in the basement to see what "treasures" I can reuse.
Mary Lou
This is such a sweet post, Jen. I've always been a bit of a rescuer my self. 🙂 Kelly
The Velveteen Rabbit is one of my favorite Christmas stories. I put it out every year. 🙂
I just bought that exact same milk glass item (the lower one) at my Salvation Army last week for 99 cents! It was there the last time I was there, but I put it down. When I went back a week later and it was still there I deemed it a sign and put it in my cart. I am very excited to put it in my kitchen when it is done.