Thursday, October 14, 2010

Thrifty Thursday

I can hardly contain my excitement as I type up this week's Thrifty Thursday!  Yesterday I decided to visit 2 of my favorite shops in a nearby town ~ one is a consignment store and the other is a home decor store that carries a few antiques now and then.  Wait until you see what I found!

First stop ~ the consignment store.  What do I see as I step in the door ~




It was marked $4.00!  This will find it's home in the kids' bathroom. 

I continue to browse the store and am not having any more luck, when I notice that the stop owner has opened up another room in the store.  I make my way back and there I find these ~






The spice box was $3.00 and the cabinet was $4.00!  I can't help but think to myself, "Why would anyone get rid of these treasures?!" ~ but am I glad they did.  On to the next store I go.

I rarely purchase anything at the next store as it is a bit pricey for my budget, but I LOVE TO LOOK!  The shop owner knows how to decorate!  The last time I visited, I noticed that she had a small corner of antiques and wanted to see what may have been added.  I made my way around the store and up to the loft to check out the corner  ~ it wasn't there anymore :(

So, I decide to take one more look around the loft and then head home with my bargain treasures ~ when I notice something hiding behind one of the chair displays.  As I head over to see what it is, I can tell it's old.  With each step closer, my excitement starts to build.  By the time I reach the chair, I'm hoping that what I think I'm seeing really is what is hiding there.  I move the chair and there it is ~ an antique dough board!!  All I could do is stand and stare.  Finally, I pick it up ~ there is a tag describing what it is and stating that it is around 120 years old!  So now I really want it.  I have seen all these great looking displays on everyone's blogs using dough boards and was going to see if my dad could make me one, because I know the real thing is hard to find and probably costs an arm and a leg.  But here I am holding a real one and it's huge!

Then I have a sinking feeling in my stomach ~ I can only imagine (knowing what the prices on the other items in the store are) what the price for this beauty is.  With a deep breath, I turn the tag over, read the price, and almost drop the dough board.  I can't believe what it says!  Are you ready ~ I mean are you sitting down, well of course you're sitting down ~ it was $30!  I seriously couldn't take it to the register fast enough!  The shop owner says that it hadn't been in the store very long and asked what was I going to do with it.  Well, I was almost hyperventilating by this time and could barely answer her ~ plus I was worried that she would take a look at the price and say it was a mistake, but she didn't.

Here is a photo of the beauty ~




Photos just don't do it justice.  It is one big piece of wood ~ not 2 pieces glued together.  The cut marks are fantastic and I love the shape.  It measures 1 inch thick, 20.5 inches wide, and 28.25 inches long.  It's hard to tell if the nails on the ends are square heads are not.  DH says that it is indeed an antique and not a reproduction ~ the aging of the wood, the aging of the nails, and the fact that it is 1 piece of wood are good indicators.  I can tell that the cut marks and wear are genuine and not added for looks.

Can you see why I'm excited!  Now I just have to decide how to decorate the top ~ I was thinking about trying my hand at making a pantry cake and adding a shoo fly cover.  Can anyone tell me how the pantry cakes are made or provide me with a recipe?

Come back tomorrow and see this week's makeover result!

7 comments:

  1. Wow, lucky you! You got some great finds! I love it all!

    Brenda

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  2. Wow, you scored big time, and what fantastic
    prices! I would have bought it all, too! I
    don't see where I can e-mail you, go to my blog
    and e-mail me, I have a couple recipes for
    pantry cakes that I will send ya. I want to
    go shopping with you! :)

    Bear Hugs~Karen

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  3. I would be excited too! I love those kind of days when you venture out with no certain thing in mind and BAM there it is waiting for you to pick it up! Way to go! Cant wait to see the makeovers!
    Blessings~
    Leslie

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  4. I made my pantry cake out of brown sugar and cinnamon. I used 2# of brown sugar and a whole cup of cinnamon, sprinkled on enough water to make it stick together. I sprayed the mold with cooking spray. Press the sugar mix in firmly. Invert on a baking sheet and gently tap to remove from mold. You can dust it with mixed spices to give it an even grungier appearance. Pop into a 175' to 200' oven for a couple hours. Let cool before trying to remove. I used those old copper jello molds, cast iron corn cakes molds, shot glass for a small cone-like mold, aluminum tart pan, tin candle holder--anything you like the shape of. Tie a piece of tea-stained cheesecloth or homespun around and add some Sweet Annie or any kind of mint or herb, really cute. Put in a bowl with some shelled corn or on an old tin plate or even a -doughboard! for a great look!
    BTW~ that is just one of your awesome finds. I adore that little 5 drawer cabinet!
    ★Linda★

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  5. Thanks Linda! I will give that a try.

    Karen ~ I'll head over and send a email!

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  6. What a fantastic shopping day you had today!
    I can just see the look on your face when you saw that tag! I can definately see why you snatched that dough board up!!!
    You are soon to be the next thrifting queen! Behind me of course! LOL LOL

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  7. Wow, you did fantastic! I love everything, especially that dough board. I use the recipe Karen shares on her blog, http://www.kmprimitives.com/pages/TipsTechniques.php (you will need to scroll down a bit) - it always turns out great.

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