You get what you pay for

That's how the saying goes, but I like to think sometimes you get more than what you pay for.

I picked up an artificial flower arrangement last week at goodwill for a couple dollars. It was pretty sad, but I knew I could work with it. What caught my eye was how realistic the flowers (dried hydrangeas) looked.  It was a large, ugly basket with dusty hydrangeas haphazardly sticking out from here and there. At one time I'm sure it was really pretty. Something you might see on a hearth in a home with country decor, but now it looked like it had been stored  in a dusty attic under some boxes.  Why didn't I take a before photo? Don't I know the after is more impressive when you can see how bad the before was??  One day I'll learn. Just imagine a dark toned basket with some gold painted accents holding an arrangement of dusty, nearly falling out hydrangeas with spanish moss, artificial ferns, and raffia. Got a mental image? OK good.  Let's just say no one was fighting me for it at the goodwill. Their loss.

I pulled out all the hydrangeas and the florist foam and threw  the rest of the filler stuff away.

After a good cleaning, the basket got some spray paint action, with paint from my stash. It'll go perfectly in Alyssa's living room to hold Bayleigh's books or toys.

There were enough hydrangeas to make two arrangements. One for the dining room table,

.

and one for the living room. I love how the flowers add some softness in contrast to the mercury glass. I'm not usually a fan of the fake flower, but I think these come pretty close to the real thing. I'll keep 'em around a while.

Two pretty arrangements and a big basket for holding books, not bad for $2.00.  Getting more than what I paid for, that's what I love about thrifting.

Comments

[Cheryl]

I love hydrangeas...the blue ones. We actually planted some last year and I was so excited when it bloomed. I cut the clippings and put them in a little vase on my window by my kitchen sink. LOL, I might as well make washing dishes a little more enjoyable, right? Great job with your find.

[Autum]

Good morning Cheryl
I have a couple of hydrangea bushes one blooms and one doesnt do a thing. I want to plant more so I can have blooms in the summer and also some dried for year round.
Another blogger, Kathryn of Handmade Kate had photos of her amazing hydrangeas on her blog last summer. She was kind enough to send me some of the dried blossoms and they make me smile every day.  

[Tonya Richard]

Awesome thrifting, Autum! I have those hydrangeas. Like you, I don't usually like fake flowers, but saw these at Hobby Lobby one day and was impressed at how real they looked. Wish I would have got the deal you got, I payed full price LOL Hydrangeas are my favorite flower as well. I love having fresh ones, but these are nice too. And you can't beat a new basket, baskets are expensive!

[Sarah]

Oh Im so excited! I had a bunch of these flowers from my days in management at Pier 1. And Ive almost tossed them numerous times. Reason being, theyre the only fake flowers I possess and didnt know WHAT to do with them. I love how you display yours though so I may dig them out of backroom storage:)
I love reading your blog! Keep the tips coming!
Sarah

[Carolyn J.]

Great find.......thanks for sharing the inspiration!

[Sharla]

I adore Goodwill.

[margot]

Great find! I love feeling like I've had a good eye to find those diamonds in the rough!!

[Melissa]

Oh, nice! You can't do much better with $2 than that. I make a weekly visit to our local Goodwill as well. Love the thrifting.

[Autum]

Dig those flowers out Sarah and enjoy them : )
Im so glad you enjoy my blog! Its nice to know someone besides me gets a kick out of a bunch of cast away fake flowers : )

[Autum]

Thank you, Carolyn for your nice words!

[Autum]

I have mixed feelings about the goodwill in my area. For a thrift store, some of their prices are a little high, especially on furniture items. But there are those times when I do happen upon a good find, so I keep going back ; )

[Autum]

I agree 100% Margot. Its the diamonds in the rough that keep me coming back!

[Autum]

Thanks Melissa.
I dont get to go weekly, but if its more than a couple of weeks I start to feel withdrawal : )

[Autum]

I've eyed the ones at Hobby Lobby too Tonya, but never seemed to catch them at half off. I never buy anything from HL that isn't on sale- if it's not 1/2 off this week, it probably will be within the next couple of weeks.
I hope I can grow some real ones this summer.

[Kim]

You've got to have a little bit of creativity & vision when you go into thrift stores...which you obviously have!

[Jenny]

You just have that knack with things Autum - everything you make inspires me!!

[Autum]

Thank you Jenny!!

[Angie]

I just love the colour you sprayed that basket!