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Wisconsin Magpie
Wisconsin Magpie

Wisconsin Magpie

One woman's quest to salvage the world's castoffs, lock, stock and bauble

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Category: Small Project Makeover

Posted on September 20, 2016September 24, 2020

Makeover | Twine-wrapped dog and cat

 Meet my two new pets. They're much less trouble than my two old pets. I found them at the St. Vincent de Paul Dig 'n' Save. (The new pets, that is. The old ones were also someone else's discards, but that's another story.) The Dig 'n' Save is pretty much The Island of Misfit Toys …

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Posted on August 22, 2015September 24, 2020

Crafting | Making a wooden arrow from a picture frame

Things are looking up around here. At least in my upstairs hallway. As I was hanging artwork there recently (you can read about it here), I decided I needed one more piece to stretch across the top of the wall. Maybe a sign of some kind, I was thinking. I checked the stash of projects …

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Posted on July 30, 2015September 24, 2020

Building a frame for a canvas panel

After watching the first two seasons of "The Borgias" -- and one episode of season 3 (because season 2 ended on a cliffhanger and I had to see how things turned out) -- I decided it was time to stop procrastinating and start hanging some art on the wall in my upstairs hallway. (I blogged …

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Posted on June 30, 2015September 24, 2020

Crafting | Tiling a tray with popsicle sticks

I bought this tray from a secondhand store a while back. (But it didn't look like this then.) The "before" picture of the tray is below.  I loved the size of the tray...  ... and the dovetail joints... ... and the black metal handles. What I didn't like was the Christmas scene. I wanted to …

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Posted on February 13, 2015September 24, 2020

Makeover | Painting a shadow box

 I've always wanted a vintage typesetter's tray. The trouble is, the ones I've seen for sale have been on the large side, and the walls in my house don't have any large-sized spots left to fill. So until I can persuade my husband to buy a bigger house or to build another wall in our …

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photo of Lisa Cestkowski

WELCOME

Welcome to Wisconsin Magpie. I’m Lisa, the creator of this site.

A history nerd and profligate collector, I spend way too much of my free time at thrift stores and garage sales, salvaging other people’s castoffs. When I’m home, I’m attempting to use power tools I have no idea how to operate and undertaking craft projects well beyond my skill level. Sometimes they actually turn out.

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wisconsinmagpie

Collector of castoffs. Haunter of thrift stores. Attempter of craft/DIY projects.

wisconsinmagpie
Happy 2021, friends! Out with the old, in with the Happy 2021, friends! Out with the old, in with the new! Unless you’re a vintage lover, in which case, it’s out with new, in with the old ... 🤣🎉🍾
#vintagelove #vintagehome #vintagehomedecor
Merry Christmas Eve, friends! #vintagechristmas #v Merry Christmas Eve, friends! #vintagechristmas #vintagechristmasdecor #vintagechristmasdecorating
Give me all the vintage brass horns. They’re so Give me all the vintage brass horns. They’re so festive, especially with the addition of a few evergreen branches, berries, and a velvet ribbon on top.  #christmasdecor #vintagechristmas #farmhousechristmas  #farmhousecozychristmas #vintagehorn #vintagefrenchhorn #vintagebrassdecor #vintagebrasshorn #vintageholidaydecor #vintageholidays #christmaswreaths #diychristmasdecor #diychristmaswreath #classicchristmasdecor
A few of my #vintageelves in a vintage recipe box. A few of my #vintageelves in a vintage recipe box.
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#vintagechristmas #vintagechristmasdecor #vintagekneehugger #kneehuggerelf #vintagechristmasdecorations #christmascollectibles #christmascollection #vintagechristmaskitsch #elvesinabox #vintageholidaydecor
It was like Christmas morning yesterday when I red It was like Christmas morning yesterday when I rediscovered my collection of Santa #blowmolds in storage. 🤣 I haven’t set them out the last couple of years and almost forgot I had them.
#santablowmold #vintagechristmas #vintagechristmasdecor #vintageholidaydecor #vintagesantas #santacollection #christmasblowmold #christmasdecorations
Gobble gobble. Two of my favorite vintage #thanksg Gobble gobble. Two of my favorite vintage #thanksgiving candles. #vintagethanksgiving #vintagecandles #gurley #gurleycandles #vintageholiday #vintageholidaydecor #vintagethanksgivingdecorations #fleamarketdecor #thrifteddecor
Hard to believe it’s November already! Time to p Hard to believe it’s November already! Time to put out the turkeys! #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdecor #thanksgivingdecorations #thanksgivingdecor #farmhousethanksgiving #farmhousethanksgivingdecor #vintagethanksgiving #durkeesspicetin
Meet Frank. He’s a little bit robot, a little bi Meet Frank. He’s a little bit robot, a little bit monster, and all heart. Details on how I made him are on my blog.
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#frankenstein #diyhalloween #diyhalloweendecorations #diyhalloweendecor #diyhalloweencrafts #assemblageart #assemblage #halloweendecor #halloweendecorating #halloweencrafts #upcycling #upcycle #junkassemblage #myfleamarketstyle #farmhousehalloween #farmhousehalloweendecor #diyprojects #diycrafts
Sharing a little Halloween scene made up entirely Sharing a little Halloween scene made up entirely of #thriftedfinds (except for the Q-tip skeleton art, which my son made back in grade schoool — but the frame it’s in was thrifted).
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#halloweendecor #halloweendecorations #halloweendecorating #myfleamarketstyle #fleamarketdecor #farmhousedecor #farmhousehalloween #concretepumpkins #fauxpumpkins #vintagehomedecor #vintagedecorating #halloweenvignette #thriftstoredecor #thrifted #thriftedhome #thrifteddecor #thriftedhalloween #vintageporchlovesvintage
A few of my favorite #Halloween decorations. 🎃 A few of my favorite #Halloween decorations. 🎃 
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#halloweendecorations #halloweendecor #jackolanterns #falldecor #terracottapumpkins #copperjackolanterns #farmhousedecor #farmhousehalloween #farmhousehalloweendecor #farmhousehalloweendecorating #halloweenluminaries #pumpkinluminaries #jackolanternluminary #terracottajackolanterns #icollectcollections #fleamarketstyle
Took some inspiration from Emily at @weatheredware Took some inspiration from Emily at @weatheredwaresandco when styling my shelves for fall. I don’t have all the fabulous vintage pieces that she has, but I think I managed to capture her style. #myweatheredwares #amberbottles #vintage #vintagedecor #vintagedecorating #olivetheprettythings #vintagebooks #vintagecrockery #farmhousedecor #fallfarmhousedecor #fallfarmhousestyle #fallshelfie #fallshelfdecor #fauxpumpkins #fleamarketdecor #fleamarketstyle #shelfiedecor #shelfstyling #shelfie
Sure feels like #fall today. 💛🧡#fallcolors # Sure feels like #fall today. 💛🧡#fallcolors #falldecor #fallporch #fallporchdecor #fallporchdecorating #fallfarmhousefeels #fallfarmhouse #porchdecor #myfleamarketstyle #pumpkins #pumpkinseason
My bleached chair is done! Swipe for the “before My bleached chair is done! Swipe for the “before” version. I’ll have a blog post up about it Saturday morning.
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#bleachedwood #bleachedwalnut #bleachedchair #furnituremakeover #furnitureflip #furniturerestoration #diyhomedecor #diydecor #beforeandafterrenovation #beforeandafter #farmhousedecor #neutralfarmhouse #farmhousedecorating #chairsofinstagram #myfleamarketstyle #vintagehomedecor #vintagefarmhousestyle #vintagefurniture  #vintagechair #vintagechairs #blmarblechaircompany #blmarblechairs
Bring out the pumpkins! It’s the first day of fa Bring out the pumpkins! It’s the first day of fall! 
🍁#concretepumpkins #fauxpumpkins #pumpkindecor #pumpkindecorations #falldecor #falldecorations #fallvignette #fallfarmhousedecor #fallfarmhouse #vignette #farmhousehalloweendecor
Just finished up a new Halloween sign. I should ha Just finished up a new Halloween sign. I should have a blog post up about it on Saturday morning. 🎃 
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#halloweendecor #haloweendecorations #halloween🎃 #halloweensign #halloweendiydecor #handmadehalloween #handmadehalloweendecor #halloweendecorations #halloweendecorating #halloween2020 #farmhousehalloween #farmhousehalloweendecor #farmhousehalloweensign #blackandwhitehalloween #farmhousehalloweendecorating #myfleamarketstyle #diysign
Hang in there! We’re half way through the week! Hang in there! We’re half way through the week! #repurposed #upcycled #upcycling #repurposedmaterials #repurposer #upcycledart #upcycledcraft #upcycledvintage #falldecor #fallcrafting #repurposedjunk #fleamarketstyle #trashtotreasure #vintagefarmhouse
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