Treasure Box Wednesday: The Thrifty Office

While inclement weather meant thrifting was a bust this week, that doesn't mean "Treasure Box Wednesday" has to be. So today I'm taking you all to work with me. Virtually. Because:

1.) So much of my office decor has been thrifted and

2.) Good help is hard to find-- Hand me that Jell-O mold so we can submerge this coworker's stapler in fruity gelatin goodness, won't you?

Now with our office prank complete--

(Heh-heh, remind me to tell you someday about when I kidnapped my colleague's glass cat collection from her desk and left ransom notes telling her where to recover them... Good times... good times)...

--On to the decorating!

The building I work in dates from the mid-1800s and has been many things over the years, the last of which was a series of apartments. This means that our offices-- while professional, functional and nicely-renovated-- also have some fun, unexpected features like exposed brick, fireplaces, and an atmosphere of creativity. As a result, most of us have personalized our spaces. And you know, when I get the opportunity to decorate, it's no surprise that the thrift creeps in.

It's been a great place to showcase a few thrifted lamps and some thrift store art. Here's one thrift store painting you might recall from my Gallery of Foundling Art page-- now looking quite at home here on the chimney brick.


I placed a second painting on a floating shelf, along with a thrifted vase and brass candlestick...



Lastly, here's the one juxtaposed with a print I'd bought years ago when I was in New Orleans. I like the colors and how the peacock in the art is echoed by the stained glass lampshade.


Now on top of my filing cabinet, you'll find my "African Queen" corner-- inspired by my yearly trips to the Florida Keys where you can actually see the real African Queen boat used in the movie...




The movie poster in French (apologies, it's a little blurry) was a Goodwill find, while the photo below it was one I'd taken of the real boat, and the small giclee at right was done by a Florida artist...


The wooden container with the peacock feathers in it was a Salvation Army purchase. And the photo of Stonehenge was actually one I took when I was on vacation. (Claire, you were asking to see one of my pics, so this one's for you!)


And just so you don't think no work could possibly get done here, I thought I'd show you some of my favorite office supply containers, all thrifted and all reappropriated to the task...


The turquoise Depression glass candy dish holds binder clips, while the stained glass bowl makes paper clips easy to reach. Post-Its live in my vintage elephant, which I believe was probably used for cigarettes many moons ago. The little deco pewter dish means I always have a pen handy.

And before we go today, I wanted to introduce you to my mascot-- Bobblehead Jane Austen.


Yes, what writer under stressful deadlines doesn't benefit from a little literary levity? And actually, given Ms. Austen's quirky social satire, a bobblehead just seems to make sense. Plus, she agrees with all my ideas when some added self-esteem is needed! (I'm fairly certain that the real Miss Austen would not have been so compliant.)

So that's our office tour today-- don't forget to have your parking passes validated on the way out. If you happened to miss Sunday's post of spring decorating whimsy-- "The Big Easter Lambie Whammy," click here. As always, I'm delighted you chose to spend a bit of your time here; I know for most of us, time is truly at a premium. So thanks!