There are few things in life that I really get excited about. One of them is a true trashure hunt. Every so often I head to the flea market, not looking for the obvious, but the stuff that everyone overlooks. Ya know, the junk. Today, you are in for a treat! It’s Trash to Treasure Tuesday and I’m going to show you what I do with this pile o’ “junk” by turning into flea market decor. You’ll see what my gal friends are up to at the bottom, so sit back and enjoy.
First, I started with this mesh screen. When I find old screens or mesh anything I snatch them up for one purpose…stitching. My apologies for the fuzzy pic…I was in a rush!
If you’ve followed me for long, you know that I truly enjoy embroidery and the therapy it provides. For the mesh screen, it was the same as the last time I created a woolly sheep on a sifter screen. Time to get my stitch fix!
After a bit of fun, I have a new woolly creation that makes me smile. I hope it does for you too!
*post contains affiliate links so you can find the products I love to use too! (see full disclosure)
Can you blame me for being a little bit hooked on these woolly creatures? In the past I’ve even made some from spindles and sweaters seen in this post. For the burlap, I used these wonderful laminated burlap sheets you can stick in your printer. I used to make my own by ironing burlap onto freezer paper, but these are handy too.
Now for found object #2. Do you know what it is? Let me tell ya. Once upon a time things were done by hand and when dried corn needed sifted, this was the way to do it.
This, folks, is a corn sifter, and as you can imagine has seen many hard days on the farm. Cool, huh? Now, let me show you what I turned it in to. mwahahahaha…
This here is a bonafide trashure message center. I took the found bread pan from the stash pictured above, and attached it to the sifter, then added a bin pull. My horseshoe was from my stash of goodies, and the antique buttons are now magnets to use for this and that.
You can even tuck some goodies inside the back of it as well. I had fun creating this one and making it have a whole new story. Imagine the stories it could tell or the stories it heard while being put to use. So cool.
Last, but not least are those trowels. The moment I spotted them I grabbed them up. The vendor looked me queerly…little did he know, right?
A good cleaning was in order and just like I did to that cake pan above, I gave them a clear coat. This helps slow down the rust action and prevent it from coming off. You can also leave it as-is too.
Once they’re ready to go, I use my drill to attach them to a gorgeous piece of reclaimed barn wood from my repurposed sewing machine table.
I then added a piece of reclaimed oak for the top and a pair of corbels to the ends. You can see how to build a coat rack like this in my step-by-step tutorial HERE in this post. Now I have a funkified trowel coat rack to add to my flea market decor. Woot!
The rusty patina paired with the time-worn reclaimed wood just makes my heart pitter-pat. Are you smitten with patina too? As is the case with most of my creations, all three of these items are available in my shop (Sheep sold) along with many other furniture, vintage finds, and handmade goods.
Do pin and share my flea market decor to inspire others to make their house their home. It really can be done on a budget. Thank you for sharing!
Up next, this vintage Broyhill hutch desk is going to get a new lease on life. See the after HERE.
Stay tuned to see and be sure to sign up for my newsletter. PLUS, you will get your FREE Furniture Buying Checklist and special discount to my shop. Now time to see what the other blogger ladies have for you below!
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32 Comments
My favorite is the little wooly lamb but they are all great ideas.
October 10, 2017 at 7:08 amThank you, Debra! I had such fun with it.
October 10, 2017 at 12:26 pmLovin’ the trowels. My father and brother both were carpenters by trade… though they are both gone, we have many of their tools. This just gave me a great idea for some of their old trowels that are collecting dust. Thanks friend.
October 10, 2017 at 8:23 amThat’s awesome! They are so versatile.
October 10, 2017 at 12:26 pmAs always, I love what you create out of “nothing”. From you, I’ve learned to pick up small bits at the flea market, but I’m still waiting for the creative lightbulb to go off. Thanks for the inspration!
October 10, 2017 at 9:15 amThat so awesome, Donna! I love to hear those kinds of stories. Thank you!
October 10, 2017 at 12:34 pmHow dang cute these ideas are!!
October 10, 2017 at 9:18 amYou are so fun, Debra! haha…thank you for making me smile. 😀
October 10, 2017 at 12:35 pmWhen I saw the before picture last week I thought what in the heck could she possibly make with that pile of rusty goodness. As always, you never cease to amaze me with your creativity! Never in a million years would I have thought of these ideas. Girl, you are a junk repurposing rock star! pinned
October 10, 2017 at 9:31 amA bunch of junk, right? ahahaha!! You are my awesome support. Thank you!
October 10, 2017 at 12:36 pmWow you amaze me! I think the message board is my favorite. Nobody can redeem junk the way you can!
October 10, 2017 at 10:58 amI’m proud to be told that, Christy. hee hee Thanks!
October 10, 2017 at 12:37 pmYou always come up with the most amazing and creative things Larissa!
October 10, 2017 at 12:08 pmThanks, Nancy. I have fun!
October 10, 2017 at 12:37 pmTrowels as hooks? Genius!
October 10, 2017 at 2:17 pmHappy dance!! Thank you. 🙂
October 10, 2017 at 5:29 pmI couldn’t imagine what you were going to do with that pile of junk. Very creative.
October 10, 2017 at 4:19 pmhaha! Thanks. 🙂
October 10, 2017 at 5:29 pmHappy Tuesday,
October 10, 2017 at 5:04 pmI just wanted to say how much I love your ideas. Always fun to see what you come up with and it is always wonderful when I find a like minded gal that can see the value and beauty of thing that others call trash. My family always give me a call to see if I have a rebirth idea for items before getting rid of them.
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings to you!
Minnie
Hi Minnie! I’m so happy to hear from you. Yes, so fun to meet those with like-minded creativity. Have fun!
October 10, 2017 at 5:30 pmI love them all so much! You always inspire me and I love that little woolly sheep so much! Great ideas.
October 10, 2017 at 9:57 pmThanks so much, Suesan!
October 11, 2017 at 5:29 amGreat ideas, except… the horse shoe is upside down! You are spilling out all the good luck !!!!!
October 11, 2017 at 1:14 amThat would be if I believed in such a thing. 🙂
October 11, 2017 at 5:28 amSuch clever ideas you have, Larissa! I love the sheep the best but I’m really digging the coat rack too.
October 11, 2017 at 12:43 pmThank you, Jen. 🙂
October 11, 2017 at 5:07 pmYou are simply so very clever, I love your projects so much! Wow!
October 11, 2017 at 7:08 pmLaurie, you are the best. Thank you for all your encouragement!
October 12, 2017 at 6:44 ami absolutely love all of your ideas-your site is amazing-enjoy all of your posts
October 6, 2018 at 3:39 pmHow wonderful of you to say, Janet. Thank you.
October 7, 2018 at 4:41 amLove your ideas! So fun to see what you come up with next!
What kind of screws did you use on the trowels? Did you pre-drill the holes? How did you do that?
Thanks!
November 5, 2018 at 4:46 pmThank you! I just used self-tapping metal screws to anchor them in. They go right through.
November 5, 2018 at 9:20 pm