The Bargain Barn

On my lunch hour today I shopped at a "Bargain Barn", a store full of closeouts and overstocks.  The store had a HUGE supply of hardware.  Most of the nuts and bolts type of hardware was sold by the pound.  It was really interesting to look through the pieces and think about how they could be utilized.

After browsing the aisles for almost an hour I came home with a few unusual hardware pieces that I thought I could use in various projects.

These pieces were marked "Bearings".  I loved the silver and black finish and the raised design on these.  They measure 2" in diameter.

I thought the bearing was very pretty on it's own so I took one and simply hung it on a black ribbon.  A super simple jewelry creation.

I took a second bearing and glued a button in the center.  I then glued a pin on the back and I can now wear it as a brooch or pin it to the center of a rosette.

I have several old bubble glass magnifying paperweights that I have purchased at thrift stores and flea markets over the past year just waiting for a redo.  I took one of the paperweights, a bearing and one of the keys I purchased in London for a third project.

After layering the bearing and the key on a copy of a vintage London map (I ended up not using the dictionary paper for this project but the vintage London map instead), the map was cut to fit the bottom of the paperweight and then glued in place.  I love how this paperweight showcases one of my thrifty London finds.

 These pieces I found were marked Leg Inserts.  They are about the size of a quarter.

The shape reminded me of a flower so that's what I turned them into.  I took some wire and wrapped it around the top of the insert and then twisted the wire to create a stem.  I added a button in the center of the "flower" and then grouped three "flowers" in an old wood spool I decorated with some black paint and scrapbook paper.  I then tied the three "flowers" together with a piece of vintage lace.  The bouquet now sits on one of the shelves in my studio.

I found and bought more interesting hardware items today but I'll wait and share those later.

I'll be away the rest of the week for a business meeting.  I hope you are enjoying your week.

Jane