Thrifty Chic

Heeeheeee!!!!! I am smiling and laughing to myself here, pootling about in my own little world today, thinking my own little thoughts, dreaming my own little dreams, planning little projects, gathering ideas, images, inspirations and generally being sort of quietly, mentally, hugely creative, do you know? Lots going on with me inwardly right now, so very, very much I wish to do, create, achieve, make happen, I am bursting at the seams with it all. Its exciting beyond words sometimes, living life in such a creative, colourful way as I do, and with a mind and imagination as ditzy as mine.

Last night, do you know what my dreams were filled with?

Can you guess?

Patchwork!! Lots and lots and lots of colourful, crazy, wacky patchwork!! hahaha yes, sadly it's true...my mind has turned into a big, messy piece of Patchwork.

Ahhh I was SO hyped writing yesterday's post, so hugely pleased to show you my Chair, and I thank you enormously for sharing in my enthusiasm over it. Your comments mean so much to me, most especially as my family, as lovely as they are, just do not get it. J has not really commented on the Chair :: I think he said something along the lines of "hmmmm very good", in an absent minded sort of way like you talk to a keepy-on, pestery child when you are trying to concentrate on something else and they are interrupting you with nonsense.

But somehow, the Chair has turned out to be hugely important for me personally. For one thing it has started me out on the Patchwork Highway (even in my dreams!) and I can't tell you how excited I am about that, don't know why it's taken me so long to be honest. And for another thing, it has kind of opened my mind to the whole delicious concept of breathing life into old abandoned objects, of Re-purposing, Recycling, Revamping, Restoring, whatever you like to call it. Of course this is not a new concept by any means, but in the present climate, this style sure is having a huge revival, and I for one think its Fantastic.

 

You know I am a Magazine-o-holic, right? Yeah, week after week, page after page, magazines continue to inspire me enormously. This mag I'm sharing with you today is BBC Good Homes (June issue) :: not one of my Must-haves but one that I always flick through and will buy if anything grabs my attention. And being as the words Thrifty chic were on the front cover in bright magenta letters, it caught my eye right away.

I just LOVE that phrase *Thrifty Chic* it really tickles me! 

This magazine spread is actually a decorating article and is all about livening up rooms by making and transforming things on the cheap. I find the overall style is a bit full-on, but there are some lovely ideas in amongst it all. By the way, you can click on any image on my blog and it should pop up larger and in a separate window so you can see it better.

 

I really, really like the above image, that slightly battered but oh-so-gorgeous turquoise shelf is right up my street. The idea here is to cover old boxes with gift wrap or fabric remnants to make pretty storage :: oooooooo I SO want to do that! In my cellar, accompanying my stash of empty Bonne Mamman jam jars, I have a collection of empty cardboard shoe boxes. Yes, tis true. I am a Grade A hoarder, no doubt about it.

 

The ideas on the above page are to do with revamping old furniture with bright paint and wallpaper samples (YEs, i can do that!), making slip covers for dining chairs (yes yes!) and sticking bobble trim along the bottom of a plain blind (why of course, a bobble trim makeover, how fabulous!)

 

And the above page is my favourite of the lot. ahhhhhhh yes, I am really all of a flutter now, because all on the same page there is a stripy tea towel, patchwork seat covers and those melamine tumblers which I love!! All of my favourite things! In fact I love the idea of using giftwrap to stick up behind shelves or on cupboard doors. In fact, I think I might have found a new avenue of Retail Therapy to join my paper napkin and tea towel buying addiction :: Giftwrap! Yes yes yes!!!!

 

The magazine also came with a little booklet called "Make it Yourself!" with an assortment of projects to make and do.

 

I love the painted chest of drawers...

 

...and the repurposed old enamel containers used as plant pots.

Yes, I think I could really get into Thrifty Chic style.

It really appeals to me.

I think I might need to buy this book too, you know, just to be really sure.

Then me and Chair can cosy up together, browse the pages and dream and plan and get inspired.

Have a great weekend one and all, hope it's an inspiring and dreamy one!

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Klub Burung]

Lucy, your picture is fantastic! I really like your creative mood.

http://toko-lovebird.blogspot.com/2015/02/kenari-lizard-burung-kenari-kadal.html

[Beth]

Damn, been looking for this BBC Good Homes magazine here but still having found. Thrifty chic is totally my style too :-)

[en]

Thank you for introducing such a wonderful magazine to us. I live in Japan, but I've finally got the magazine here(in Japan). This book shows me how to use colour and pattern beautifully.

[anna]

if it's giftwrap you're looking for, i know just the place! i covered a couple of boxes in some gorgeous colourful stars, hearts and circles from phoenix trading. i think you'd really love them. they're really strict on internet advertising so i'd better not say too much more, but if you drop me an email i can give you more details and i'd be more than happy to put some in the post to you as a small way of saying thank you for your wonderful blog.
have a great bank holiday.
x

[Mandy]

You've done it again, I'm sitting here grinning like a Cheshire cat.

[rani shah]

love this post...so fully of yummy inspiration for the eyes! thanks os much for sharing the magazine...I must find a copy!!!

[Hege]

I just LOVE your blog, it is Fantastic! It is so full of colors and you inspire me every day! Cheers from Norway!

[cathleen]

I am CRAZY for your patchwork chair...your patchwork enthusiasm, and your patchwork dreams! Have a happy weekend, you thrifty chickie!

[Kelley McDonald]

Forgot to say I posted a link to your blog and one of your photos (credit given to you of course) on my latest blog post....you might enjoy seeing it. Kelley

[Kelley McDonald]

I just wanted you to know that I read your blog daily and it brings me a bit of joy and inspiration. I also blog (albeit not so often right now) and you have inspired my posts. I am in the midst of moving my family of five kids to a larger home which will possibly supply me some studio space. But I still have to pack all these boxes in order to make it to the other side. Thanks for giving me some online fun. Kelley
www.spirituallaundry.blogspot.com

[Emily]

I thought I was the only one who dreamed in patchwork.

[Joy James]

Patchwork is my addiction Lucy. The colours of the fabric, the feel of it. I have sort of given up buying fat quarters I now buy bolts of the stuff. I love your style and the colours etc of your blankies, flowers, well everything really and you've even inspired me to take up my crochet hook again and crochet flowers. Your chair is gorgeous and I too have a hubby whose eyes glaze over when I show him something or talk about my other addiction of making soap.

Trouble is for me I am moving next week into a much smaller house, only 2 bedrooms and no attic so i have lost my 'playpen' as I call it. Goodness knows where I am going to put everything.

My blog if you want to have a look.
http://hippynews.blogspot.com/

[bethel of bethania]

G'day Lucy
Go girl order that book right away - I think it is right up your alley... then sit in your beautiful patchwork chair & dream you dreams... you have to get it all in order in your head before you start so dream on...
Where would we be without Dreams...... B

[Christina]

Hi Lucy,
I have started a ripple throw and have blogged about it and mentioned you of course!

http://alittlebirdtoldme-craft.blogspot.com/2009/05/work-in-progress_23.html

:) Christina

PS. I love thrifty style too, and although we have a bit here and there, I would love to change things a lot! Now to convince my husband...

[lulu]

Have a glorious weekend dear Lucy..

[Jeanette]

Dont worry about J we ALL have them---just carry on--- and make the world happy as you do --- Australia

[Victoria]

I have Thrifty Chic on order from the library at the moment... I hope it comes in soon!

Victoria xx

[Tamara Erbacher]

Luce, you just have to get this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Thrifty-Chic-Interior-Style-Shoestring/dp/1906525234/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243034838&sr=8-1

I have it and am in love....I planned on posting about it myself this weekend so that will give you a sneak peek....

Have a lovely weekend.

Tam xo

[Shelley in SC]

I was laughing out loud when you said "my family just doesn't 'get it'." Oh, can I relate!! Sometimes we need our blog friends so we can feel like we're fun and creative and not just crazy!!

[Tatiana]

Lucy, your chair is fantastic! I really like your creative mood. Thanks for new ideas.

[Emma Reynolds]

Wow! A fellow Bonne Maman jam jar collector! They are beautiful,and great for keeping things like buttons in. :-) Emma

[cherrie]

Aaah. Wish I had an old wooden floor so I could stencil it. Sigh.
I have also just found how cheap, cheap, cheap it is to repurpose and reuse othe rpeoples rubbish. So satisfying and I am lucky I have friends who ove thes too so I can share the rubbish with them and make them super happy. You might need to show your hubby the world wide response to the your colourful crochet or maybe he is already secretly proud of you but also in his own exciting dreamworld.

[Mary Poppins]

He he, bought that with my groceries, wording and cover jumped right out at me, so of course had to go in the basket with my spuds and pasta. Thanks for the sneak preview, didn't know that little booklet came with it, I shall look forward to reading :)

My last post was about my enjoyment of hoarding, though have now come to realise I have taken it all a little too far, 2 days and 20 bin bags full, and there is more and more and more, feel so much lighter and freer without all my junk everywhere, Ohooo dear maybe I am turning into a minimalist ;)

X

[Jenn]

Lucy, I love you and your magazine addiction more than I can say! If I had the money and they had it in I would be buying that from my local barnes&nobles. So many wonderful ideas. And since I am limited again in what I can do for a few days...hhhmmm...so many ideas (knitting and crocheting are out since they will relax me to sleep and then I'll have to frog and frog and frog again). Thank you for such lovely ideas and such a lovely post!

[Emma Lightfoot]

I dreamed about knitting last night, glad it's not just me.
Will go and look for the magazine tomorrow -you should be on commission.
Emma x