I'm going to show you how to clean, prepare and decorate pine cones in three easy steps. Lucky for me, I was able to find pine cones right in my backyard. Actually, the pine cones came from my neighbors trees, but they fell into my yard. I walked around the yard and collected several that were perfect specimens.
First, I had to clean them. They had a lot of grass and dirt on them, so I wet them a little bit to see if I could get rid of some of that gunk . During this rinsing process I noticed that the pine cones started to close up. This is natural. They usually open up again during the baking process.
So let's talk about the cleaning process.
One of the tutorials I researched suggested letting the pine cones soak for a couple of hours, so I soaked my pine cones for about 3 hours in a mixture of water and vinegar. Use 3 parts water/1 part vinegar.
After about one hour of soaking, wipe as much sap and dirt off each pine cone, then let them soak a while longer.
Next, place all the pinecones on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. It's important to use aluminum foil because you don't want any sap falling onto your cookware or even onto your oven. Next, pop the pine cones into the oven.
Bake at 250 degrees for three hours or until the pine cones open. Check often. I checked on mine like every 30 minutes just to see how they were doing and to make sure that they weren't burning.
It's amazing to watch the pine cones slowly open and stretch out as the oven gets hotter! As they transform, they take on a really shiny coating.
Mine came out really well! I'm thinking, pretty nice for something that I found in my own backyard, right?
So let's recap:
Step 1: Soak/clean pine cones in vinegar and water
Step 2: Place pine cones on a lined cookie sheet
Step 3: Bake at 250 degrees for 3 hours or until pine cones open up
Once cooled, decorate your pine cones with paint or glitter or leave them neutral. They make great accessories in a basket, on a garland, mantel or under a holiday tree.
I hope you get to try this. Let me know how it turns out!
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"There are no thrift stores near me". Some of my friends have actually said this to me, but in my view, this is an unpopular opinion.
Some thrift stores like to call themselves by other names, like charity shops, knick-knack stores, bazaars or boutiques. So, what I'm suggesting is that there are probably thrifting opportunities all around you. You just might have to do a little sleuthing to find them.
The larger thrift stores, like Goodwill, Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity ReStore are easy to spot. But your local churches and community centers often run thrift sales and flea markets. Some churches actually have their own thrift stores.
My tip: Check your local newspaper and online sites like Craigslist for thrift sales and flea markets.The finds at these out-of-the-way places are incredible!
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Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting: "Thrift stores never have anything". I've heard this so many times before, but I disagree.
You never know what you're going to find at a thrift store, but that's the beauty of it. Don't give up! There are days when I can go to several thrift stores and nothing will catch my eye. But I continue to go back because I enjoy the experience and I know that if I keep at it, I will eventually find something that I like or need.
Thrifting is like playing sports. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. To win, you must stay in the game. So, get back out there and THRIFT!
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Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting: "Only poor people shop at thrift stores"
Really? Yes, thrift stores were conceived many years ago with the idea of helping the less fortunate, but thrifting is more popular than ever!
Most thrift stores still maintain their charitable mission, but the demographic of their customers varies greatly. These days, teens and millennials are flocking to thrift stores for jeans and vintage clothing, where the quality is much better than fast fashion.
Many thrifters are consumers who love a bargain and they know that their local thrift store is a goldmine for finding unique pieces.
So, while shoppers with limited income still frequent the thrift store, you will also find a variety of thrifters from all income levels who just love the thrill of the thrift!
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Y'all know that I love blue and white porcelain, but I have to tell you that my best pieces did not come from a retail store. Shocked?
I'm not saying that you can't find good pieces at retail stores. I'm saying that you can find REALLY NICE pieces at other places. Let me tell you about three places where you can find the best blue and white porcelain.
#1 The Thrift Store
If you know anything about me, you should have known that I was going to say that the thrift store was one of the best places to find blue and white porcelain. I've found so many great pieces at Goodwill and other out of the way thrift stores. When I see a blue and white ginger jar at a thrift store, I'm in disbelief at how it ended up there. Who would give that away? What's going on in their life that they no longer have love for this ginger jar? Earth to Caron! Come in, Caron!
Where was I? Oh, yeah. Ginger jar at thrift store. Yes. I spy with my little eye something blue and white on a shelf. I slide over to the ginger jar or lamp or whatever blue and white piece it is, and snatch it off the shelf!
A few weeks ago, this very same scenario played out in my local Goodwill. This time it was a blue and white floral lamp in the shape of a large ginger jar. I saw it up ahead in the aisle and I left my cart unattended and literally ran up the aisle to grab it. I apologize if you were the woman that I startled as I made the grab, but I was on a mission!
I think I paid $8 for it. Good prices. Unique finds. That's what I like about the thrift store.
#2 Consignment Shop
Let me tell you a little about consignment shops. Consignment shops are similar to thrift stores, except they are usually not charity-based. In fact, the inventory at consignment shops belongs to sellers who agree to pay the shop owner a fee or percentage of the sale price. Inventory is usually more upscale and in better shape than at a thrift store. Usually.
Prices are much higher than at a thrift store. But, like a thrift store, you can find really unique pieces. People bring in unwanted family heirlooms hoping to get a good deal. I've shopped at consignment stores over the years and I like the experience.
One thing that I've done at a consignment store that I've never tried at a thrift store is haggle. You don't usually haggle at the thrift store. The price is the price. I understand that and know that most of the proceeds will go back into the community, so I'm okay with that.
On the other hand, the whole premise of the consignment arrangement is to get the best deal for the seller, so in my mind, that means that there is room for negotiation. Never be afraid to ask for a price break.
I found a consignment store listing on Craigslist that turned out to be goldmine of blue and white chinoiserie. I located the place on a map and grabbed my coffee. It was a few towns over. Apparently, someone was consolidating a relative's home and they had a boatload of blue and white decor. Everything was turned over to the consignment shop. I haggled a little and ended up buying a beautiful blue and white chinoiserie bird cage.
#3 Yard Sale, Flea Market
Going to yard sales is one of my favorite pastimes. You are bound to find almost anything at a yard sale. Sometimes the stuff is free. People just want to get rid of stuff, so there is always room to haggle.
I remember driving through New Haven, CT and stopping at a light. While sitting in traffic, hubby spotted a yard sale. No, what he really spotted was a table full of blue and white. We pulled over and I think I jumped out before the car had even come to a full stop! Then I chilled. I didn't want the seller to see how excited I was.
What was before me was a bucket of blue and white ceramic orbs. Various sizes. I struck up a deal with the seller to buy them all. I think there was 18 in total. We hit a snag when I realized that hubby and I had no cash on us. This was critical! I quickly sent hubby on a ATM run. I couldn't let this deal fall apart!
Cash is king when it comes to yard sales and flea markets. I could have easily lost my blue and white orbs if we had not found an ATM. There's no "please hold this for me until tomorrow" going on a yard sale. Had this been a planned yard sale trip, believe me, I would have made sure to have cash on hand.
Recently a rare Ming dynasty cobalt blue and white floral bowl was found at a yard sale in New Haven. The buyer snagged it for $35 and it later sold at auction for over $722,000. What an awesome find!
Check out my Youtube video where I talk more about finding awesome blue and white pieces.
Now, I can't guarantee that you will find any rare pieces at your local thrift store, consignment store or yard sale. But you can find unique designs, great pieces at great prices. If by chance, you happen on a Ming-dynasty era bowl, that's icing on your blue and white cake!
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Do you love gardening but hate the thought of the aches and pains that follows after all that bending and kneeling? I understand.
Picture this. You're basking in what I call the "after-gardening glow". I mean, you have the satisfaction of having made good progress in your garden. A lot of digging and pulling. You're on a natural high from destroying a gazillion weeds.
You've planted seeds. Your endorphins are through the roof! You sit back and say, "I did good"! The after-gardening glow is Real!
And then, BAM!
It sets in. You become stiff. Every muscle in your body aches.
Sound familiar?
Does it make good sense to do all that work in your garden and be laid up and unable to move afterward? No, I don't think so.
I have one piece of advice: USE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB.
Invest in a good garden workbench or stool and give your body a break. You need one that can hold your weight and hold a few hand tools. I found mine online. I'll link it here:
This one is sturdy enough to hold my husband who weighs about 200 lbs. and it folds easily into a padded kneeler. That soft padding makes a difference when sitting or kneeling for extended periods of time.
When folded as a kneeler, the legs of this garden workbench serve as side handles to help you steady yourself as you stand up. I've used it both ways and it's great! I'll link my Youtube video where I show more details of this workbench.
It comes with two removable pouches that can hold all the gardening hand tools you need for the task. This was an awesome find! Your back will thank you!
I hope this was helpful. Contact me if have questions. Happy Gardening!
Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links, we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content.
