My thrifty balcony

It's the long-weekend in Canada so today's post is going to be about thrifty leisure spaces - namely my wee patio. You know my penchant for orange these days. I found this gorg linen tablecloth (plus nappies) for $5.99 at my local thrift shop, Stretch Thrift.

The big handpainted, slightly cracked pot that's holding the lavender was found curbside, while the white pot was thrifted for a few bucks. The English jug was a gift from my best pal, and the wee glass tea light holder was also a present, from a family friend. The rose glass tea light holder was thrifted for $1.99.

I found the retro wrought iron patio set for $40 at a garage sale a few years ago; ditto for the seat cushions. I've had the stripy pillows for years, bought new at The Bay department store when I worked there eons ago.

The flower box was a gift (found by an ex in the trash - nice to know I inspire this kind of gifting!), as was the lovely cut-out ball (given to me by a friend - it used to be a lamp but it wasn't functioning so I cut off the cord - I could put a tea light in this if I wanted to but the piece can stand on its own). The stool is pretty ugly - I thrifted it for a few bucks and always meant to jazz it up - but one of my kitties loves sitting on it while outside, so I leave it like that for her.

Happy weekend!

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My parents are trash pickers too!

I feel like a proud mommie. Except I'm really a proud daughter!! When I was home for Thanksgiving last weekend, I saw this wicker set on my Mom and Dad's bricked in area outside their front door. (I added the pumpkin to make it look more festive).

Readers, they trash picked it.

Well you can imagine - I couldn't have felt more proud. Sure it's a wee bit rough around the edges, fraying a bit on the legs, but good enough for outside for the kitties to languish on as they sun themselves these glorious fall afternoons.

There's even a table.

Don't get me wrong: it's not like Mom and Dad haven't trashed picked before. I year ago, methinks, I did a little post after coming home from a Thanksgiving trip showcasing the worn chairs my Mom had plucked from the trash and used as ledges for her potted flowers out on the back deck. And another time Mom took home a teak desk found curbside.

But let's just say they wouldn't have trash picked a few years ago. Granted it IS becoming more fashionable/acceptable nowadays, but well, I'd like to think I had just a wee bit of influence here - a daughter's prerogative, perhaps!

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Garage Sale Score No. 1: Wrought Iron

Let the garage sales begin.

This is my pal Brenda on Saturday at a local garage sale.

Brenda, Matthew and I all got up early Saturday morning to go to this neighbourhood garage sale.

We had pretty high hopes as we all went last year and stayed for hours.

Alas the booty at this year's sale was a bit disappointing.


Here's a pic of us last year on the patio of the Second Cup, rejoicing over our booty.

But that's the thing with garage sales: they tend to breed and attract others.

Across the street from the disappointing sale was a small sale on a woman's lawn.

I saw the wrought iron fold-up chairs first. The table wasn't readily apparent.

Ask and ye shall receive. The matching table was for sale as a set with the chairs, only it was holding all her glassware that was part of the sale - a lucky thing pour moi as I'm sure the set would have gone long before I got there if it actually looked like a set.

So here I am on my balcony with my new wrought iron patio set.

Cost: 40 bucks.

Major score!

I just want to spend all my time on my balcony now.

At the disappointing garage sale, I did find these sage green cushions, two for $5, that fit on the chairs exactly!

The covers zip off so all I have to do is wash 'em.




I still need to spruce the table up with flowers and potted plants and all, but doesn't it look good out there?

I'm so pleased. After my patio makeover last summer, I was thinking that I really did need a decent wrought iron set ... but knew I'd have to have major junking Karma to get such a set for a decent price.

I'd like to think the Garage Sale Gods were watching over me Saturday when I found this.

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