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Wisconsin Magpie

Wisconsin Magpie

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

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Category: makeover

Posted on July 30, 2019August 16, 2019

Vintage typewriter table gets a chalk paint update

Vintage typewriter cart makeover by Wisconsin Magpie

A vintage typewriter table gets a modern farmhouse-style update with black chalk paint and grain sack stripes.

Posted on July 10, 2019August 17, 2019

Giving an old hardware organizer a makeover

numbered hardware organizer drawers

Underneath this cute little numbered drawer set was a sad plastic hardware organizer just waiting for a makeover.

Posted on September 26, 2018August 18, 2019

Bathroom remodel | A do-it-yourself farmhouse-style makeover

When I left off in my last post, our downstairs bathroom looked something like this: We had just tiled the shower -- and it looked fabulous  -- but the rest of the room was still stuck in a 1995 time warp. We wanted to update the room with modern materials but also make it look …

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Posted on September 20, 2018August 18, 2019

DIY bathroom renovations

bathroom shower before remodel

Today's post is about bathroom decor, which, if you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know is a topic I don't write about very often. If you're wondering why, allow me to introduce Exhibit A: "My Downstairs Lavatory, circa 2017." About the only good thing I can say about the room …

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Posted on January 28, 2018July 22, 2018

Makeover | Giving a dark, dated curio cabinet a new look

I had some leftover milk paint after last week's jewelry box redo, so I decided to use it on a sad little curio cabinet I had stored away in my basement waiting for inspiration to strike. The cabinet was a thrift store find -- although calling it a "find" might be a bit of a …

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Posted on January 14, 2018September 4, 2018

Makeover | Mini chest of drawers

Here's a little chest of drawers that I redid this week. (I think it's supposed to be a jewelry box, but I've been keeping it on my desk to store office supplies in.) This is what it looked like when I first got it. I picked it up for a dollar at a garage sale …

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Posted on November 9, 2017September 5, 2018

Makeover | Decoupaged jewelry box

Here's my latest makeover project: a jewelry box. Here's what it looked like when I found it at a thrift store: The grey pleather and the plastic handles were a little sad. But when I opened the box up and saw the beautiful blue velvet interior, I knew it had to come home with me. …

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Posted on November 4, 2017September 1, 2018

Makeover | A new look for an old chair

Old, unwanted chairs have a way of finding me. This one was waiting for me on the curb outside of my son's apartment building in Milwaukee. Here's what it looked like when I found it. The hunter green was a little dated, but otherwise the chair was in great shape, so (much to my son's …

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Posted on December 19, 2016September 5, 2018

Makeover | Chalk-painted suitcase

Here's a little train case I picked up at a thrift store ... Except when I bought it, it looked like this ... Cute little case, right? Except for the tragic 1990s floral tapestry. I like to use old suitcases for storage (because a shelf full of vintage suitcases is much nicer to look at …

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Posted on September 20, 2016September 5, 2018

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

Instagram post 2190471085585932757_1553672247 This is Lilly, aka Pretty Girl, Little Girl, Baby Girl, Dilly, Dilson, Miss Dilson, Dilly Girl, Dill, and Padille. She recognizes all of her pet names. #smartkitty #catsofinstagram
Instagram post 2186632358673549645_1553672247 Happy Day Before Turkey Day! To anyone who was following my #aturkeyaday series (and was wondering why it abruptly stopped a couple weeks ago), my apologies. I had some unexpected health issues come up that knocked me off social media for a bit. I’m feeling much better now, so here’s one more turkey #assemblage. I made this one out of a vegetable steamer, an egg separator, a couple of picture hangers, two washers and an old earring. I painted everything brown and then slathered a coat of Spanish copper #rubnbuff over it all. #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdecor #thanksgivingdiy #thanksgivingcrafts #craftblogger #diycrafts #diyblogger #assemblageart #upcycled #upcycledcraft #thrifted #upcycledcreations
Instagram post 2175586794003746422_1553672247 Here’s today’s Turkey of the Day. I made him last year out of thrift store castoffs: a Bundt pan, an aluminum juicer, a couple of mini gardening tools, etc. Most of my DIY junk turkeys are free standing, but this guy is a door hanger. His feet kick back and forth every time the door opens. #aturkeyaday #craftblogger diyblogger #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdecorations #thanksgivingdecor #diyhomedecor #diythanksgivingdecorations #diythanksgivingdecor #crafts #assemblageart #assemblage #vintagethanksgivingdecor #upcycleddecor #farmhousethanksgivingdecor #farmhousethanksgiving #rusticdecor #fleamarketstyle #fleamarketstylemagazine #thriftstoredecor
Instagram post 2174886669505587964_1553672247 Today’s Turkey of the Day. This is my most recent creation. Swipe to see process pix or read about it on my blog wisconsinmagpie.com. #aturkeyaday #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdecor #thanksgivingdiy #thanksgivingdecorations #diyblogger #craftblogger #upcycled #upcycledcraft #itsprobablythrifted #thrifting #fleamarketstyle #farmhousedecor #farmhousethanksgiving #assemblage #assemblageart #vintagevignette #vintagedecor #tujlovesjunkin #thanksgivingcrafts #cottagestyle
Instagram post 2172682184704222315_1553672247 Turkey No. 5 is another thrift store find. He’s got a simple, primitive look to him, but he’s not old. He’s got a hanger on top, so I’m guessing he’s supposed to be a Christmas ornament. I always set him in a cubby in this shadow box where he’s a perfect fit. 🦃#aturkeyaday #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdecor #thanksgivingdecorations #thriftstorefinds #thrifted #fleamarketstyle #rusticdecor #farmhousestyledecor #farmhousethanksgiving #itsprobablythrifted #falldecor #collections #farmhousefridays #chippygoodness #icollecteverything #simplefarmhousetouches #shelfie #shelfiedecor #vintagevignette
Instagram post 2171995973400454814_1553672247 Here’s Turkey No. 4 in my collection. He’s one of the first junk turkeys I made. He has some balance issues and tends to tip forward and fall on his face, but when he cooperates and stands upright for me, I think he’s a very handsome fellow. His parts — jello mold body, tart tin tail feathers, canister knob head, hex nut beak and cabinet pull feet — were all #thrifted . #aturkeyaday #junkart #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdecor #thanksgivingdecorations #itsprobablythrifted #diyblogger #craftblogger #farmhousedecor #farmhousestyledecor #farmhousethanksgiving #neutraldecor #diycrafts #diydecor #recycledcrafts #vintagekitchenware #vintagevignette #vintagethanksgiving #collection #upcycled#upcycledcraft #upcycledcreations #myfleamarketstyle
Instagram post 2171389815228975911_1553672247 Turkey No. 3 is one I made from a pile of thrift store junk earlier this fall. Swipe to see the building process. #aturkeyaday #thanksgivingdecor #thanksgivingdecorations #diyblogger #craftblogger #itsprobablythrifted #thriftstoredecor #ourthriftstoredecor #tujlovesjunkin #rusticdecor #vintagedecor #vintagevignette #vintagefarmhouse #fleamarketstyle #fleamarketstyleholidays #junkin #diy #diytutorial #diycrafts #vintagehousewares
Instagram post 2170520582542372233_1553672247 Turkey No. 2 is an old cast iron cutie. I found him at a thrift store earlier this fall — after I had sworn off collecting any more turkeys. When I saw the price tag, I couldn’t leave him on the shelf. #aturkeyaday #vintagevignette #ourthriftstoredecor #itsprobablythrifted #thriftstorefinds #thriftstoredecor #thrifted #vintagedecor #vintagethanksgivingdecor #vintagethanksgivingdecorations #vintageturkey #castironbank #farmhousedecor #farmhousethanksgiving #fleamarketstyle #fleamarketdecor #vintagefarmhouse #tujlovesjunkin
Instagram post 2169788712481578826_1553672247 Out with the jack-o-lanterns, in with the turkeys. Because I have more turkeys than I have room to display them, I’m going to share one a day here until Thanksgiving. Turkey No. 1 is actually a napkin holder, but I only have one, so I generally prop him up on the edge of a shelf or inside a cubby in my printers tray. #aturkeyaday #turkeycollection #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdecor #farmhousedecor #ourthriftstoredecor
Instagram post 2165433689043864819_1553672247 Tip of the day: Always fill your favorite thrifted metal jack-o-lantern mug with a cold beverage, not piping hot coffee (unless you’re wearing gloves). #ouch #halloween #halloweendecor #halloween2019 #craftblogger #diyblogger #tujlovesfall #itsprobablythrifted #ourthriftstoredecor #thriftstorefinds #thrifted #thriftedhalloween #thriftedfinds
Instagram post 2164686241220369969_1553672247 Weekend thrifting find. Four old, tattered books from the “free” table. All in German. Two with early 20th century inscriptions on the inside covers. Pages are yellowed, bindings are broken. Kids’ scribble marks in one of them. ❤️ #oldbooks #vintagebooks #thrifting #thriftstorefinds #blameitonmyvintageheart #ourthriftstoredecor #vintagejunkie #rusticdecor #vintagedecor #farmhousestyledecor
Instagram post 2158191396698401785_1553672247 Here's the latest junk turkey to join my flock. Read more about him on my blog, www.wisconsinmagpie.com  #falldecor #falldecorations #diyblogger #diycraft #diyupcycle #diyhomedecor #junkin #itsprobablythrifted #thrifted #thriftstoredecor #farmhousedecor #farmhousedecorations #vintagedecor #vintagelove #vintagefall #vintagefalldecor #farmhousefall #farmhousefalldecor #assemblage #thanksgivingdecor #vintageupcycle
Instagram post 2156120333883508697_1553672247 Found a little ghost ornament while thrifting recently and was happy to discover it fits perfectly on top of one of my Pyrex flasks. #halloweendecor #halloweendecorations #thriftstorefinds #thrifted #thrifteddecor #itsprobablythrifted #diyblogger #craftblogger #tujlovesfall #halloween #neutralhalloween #neutralhalloweendecor #collection #collector #collecteverything #farmhousehalloween #farmhousehalloweendecor
Instagram post 2155255355697572085_1553672247 For my money, nothing beats a simple black and white #gallerywall . Frames were thrifted. Shell photo taken by my son. Ampersand painted on the backside of a thrift store print. Postcard and tray are vintage. #gallerywalldecor #gallerywalls #gallerywallart #blackandwhite #modernfarmhouse #blameitonmyvintageheart #itsprobablythrifted #modernfarmhousestyle #vintagevignette #vintagelove #collections #diydecor
Instagram post 2153141190222980148_1553672247 Sure feels like #fall today. 37 degrees here in #wisconsin. 
#falldecor #falldecorations #porch #fallporch #halloweendecor #halloweendecorations #pumpkins #tujlovesfall #myvintagestyle #farmhousedecor #farmhousestyle #fallcottage #fallcolors #rusticdecor
Instagram post 2152356722333705385_1553672247 And just like that a new collection has been started. Found these two copper pumpkins at thrift stores recently. Now I’m obsessively looking for more. #itsprobablythrifted #collecting #thriftingfinds #thriftstoredecor #thriftstorefinds #ourthriftstoredecor #tujlovesfall #halloween #halloweendecor #halloweendecorations #copper #copperdecor #farmhousedecor #myfleamarketstyle #halloweenvignette #secondhanddecor
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