Monday, August 17, 2009

Thrifty Thursday -Meet Candy the Chandy!



If you've been following my blog, you know that I've found some pretty amazing things by the curb lately. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING prepared me for what I was about to find.

For months I have been searching for the perfect chandelier for my very formal Dining Room. I looked almost everywhere - Craig's List, Ebay, Lowes and every high-end lighting store - I knew this was going to be a splurge purchase. I've seen some amazing chandy's on many of your blogs and I knew exactly what I wanted - a very ornate, very formal chandelier just dripping with crystals. As some of you know, last week I celebrated my 40th birthday. Hubby wanted to get me something extra special for the occasion, so I decided this was the perfect time to splurge.

Three days before my birthday, I was out with my BFF when we stumbled across this chandelier ON.THE.CURB. !!!!!

Yep, you heard me right. Someone left this amazing piece of eye candy for the garbage men to haul off to a landfill.

It was surrounded by a huge heap of trash, but I zoomed in on it from the next street over. I barely waited for Denise to pull over before I jumped out of the truck, hyperventilating, and shamelessly threw myself over it, not about to let anyone else within 2 feet of it. Now keep in mind, Candy the Chandy was in need of a little TLC. Okay, ALOT of TLC. Her brass lost it's luster years ago, what few crystals were left had been covered in grime and the top pieces were broken. None of this stopped me from scooping all 50 lbs of her into the back of the truck.

Right about this time, the homeowner pulled up in his own truck, carrying a huge dollhouse HE had just trashpicked for his granddaughter! This wonderful man got out of his truck, walked over to us and I will never forget what happened next. He asked me if I wanted the rest of the crystals! I was speechless with my jaw on the pavement, so Denise graciously stepped in and said, yesyesyesyesyesyesyes! He went into the house and came out with a bag that was at least 20lbs. and full of the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. We thanked him profusely and asked him if he wanted anything in return. Astonishingly, he said no. I will always think of this as God's gift to me on my 40th Birthday. Rich and I were in no position to splurge at this time and deep in my heart, I knew it. So my wonderful husband's gift to me, was helping me bring Candy back to life. It took several hours and a couple bottles of brass cleaner to bring back her luster and the crystals just needed to be left in some soapy water for a while. We were up very late that night, but I wouldn't have been able to sleep anyway. I hung each and every crystal with care, marveling at their beauty.


I couldn't have picked a better way to spend my 40th birthday and I couldn't have picked a better gift.


There are bound to be more treasures just waiting to be discovered on some street, in some town, on some curb at the end of some driveway. But there will never be another Candy.


Somehow, some way, Candy and I were meant to be together. She was meant for me and I was meant for her.


No go visit Leigh at Tales From Bloggeritaville for more Thrifty fun!

27 comments:

Reid said...

It's beautiful! AWESOME find!
Is the top pretty? It looked interesting but couldn't see it int he pictures. Great job!

ImagineCozy said...

What a fantastic story! And you tell it so well. Hey, the law of attraction really works --- you were looking for her and she was looking for you.

Thanks for sharing,
-Angela

Unknown said...

Ok, of all the curbside stories I've heard, your story wins hands down! How absolutely fabulous! You clean it up beautifully! Happy 40th Birthday, I see one of your wishes came true!

Thanks for sharing your marvelous story!

Tina

Melissa Miller said...

Kim it's so gorgeous! ~Lovely.

Happy Birthday to you my sweet friend. ~Enjoy your day!!! :)

Melissa Miller said...

Forgot to mention what a neat story as to how Candy came to live with you! It was meant to be! :)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Wow! You really lucked up on that find and you and husband did a great job of restoring her.
Happy 40th!

Anonymous said...

Oh what an awesome find!!! That is a gorgeous chandy! So glad you found it and are enjoying it!! What a great birthday find!

{oc cottage} said...

Wowie! Kazowie!!! That is so awesome!!

m ^..^

Unknown said...

that is such great story! My granddaughter is on my lap right now and fell in love with "Candy" and said "Gramma I want one of those for my room!" Yours is so pretty.

Rainey and Mady

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

WOW!!! You lucky ducky you Kim...How beautiful is that Candy...Oh Happy Birthday my Dear friend...did you ever think of a name yet for your shop?? May you have a great week...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Sharlotte said...

That is just plain AMAZING! What a terrific find! Your chandelier is nothing short of gorgeous! Happy birthday to you!

Carol said...

Wow, what an amazing find. She is gorgeous!! Happy Birthday.
Carol

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

OH MY GOSH~ What a STUNNER!! Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!!

(My birthday is in February :)

Lou Cinda

Its So Very Cheri said...

I can not believe some of your finds. What an amazing chandy-it looks really good and the best thing-if you decide you want to add oil rubbed bronze or a color you can.

I hope you will come for a visit.
Cheri
Its So Very Cheri

Lisa B. said...

What a find!! You made it just gorgeous!!

amandalouden said...

Gorgeous! You are so creative and clever!

mah said...

Squeals and screams of delight and happiness!!!!! Can you believe what people throw away? WONDERFUL, FABULOUS. I am so happy for you I just can't stand it!!!! Mary Ann

Anonymous said...

Absolutely Gorgeous! I love having chandeliers in a home.

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

You BOTH are beautiful! I miss you Kim! Hope you are good! You could link this up, my friend!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WHat a great find...meant to be together. I may bust out singing....
Hugs!
Leigh
Tales from Bloggeritaville
lbratina.blogspot.com

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

HOLY chandeliers! Candy is AMAZING!!!! You seriously lucked out on that one. I am super impressed at how you brought her back to life. You crack me up with your story of throwing yourself over her on the curb! LOLOLOLOL!

Too funny!
~Misti

Ldy ~~ Dy said...

Whoa!! Hold on a minute!! You found that on a curb ready to be trashed???? I just can't believe it!! My jaw was hanging open while I read your post! I know...it didn't look like much when you picked it up...but oooh girlfriend you and your Hubs did a fab job! It is gorgeous!! A big Happy Birthday to you!!! Hugs!!!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

WOW! Are you sure you are finding these things on the curb? I cannot believe the freebies you get. I want to come drive around your neighborhood. That chandelier is gorgeous! laurie

Cindy said...

Oh my gosh, that is just amazing! It's the law of attraction...I swear it works. If you think about something enough it will appear! It's happened to me a lot! I found my chandelier at a garage sale and I thought that was a good deal at $30 but yours is even better!!! Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

Wow, that chandelier is BEAUTIFUL!! What an awesome score! :)

Stacey said...

No, I suppose there will never be another Candy. She's lovely.

Kat @ www.TodaysCliche.com said...

I would NEVER luck out like that. That is INSANE. You are one lucky girl! Happy 40th and Happy SITs!

Jenn Erickson said...

Holy Smokes! What a find! I can't believe anyone would put that beauty out on the curb!