Every year when spring rolls around, before I know it I have a stash of furniture pieces I can't wait to paint. 

It's very rare that I run out and have to actively hunt for new pieces (which is fortunate, because Marketplace is such a disaster these days). Sometimes it honestly feels like the universe provides a constant stream of new pieces coming my way, sometimes by pure serendipity.

how these pieces keep showing up

My current lineup, for example, goes like this: auction, donation from friend, Marketplace find, ReStore find, side of the road find. Side of the road finds are my fav - I've found some truly amazing things. I'm that weirdo you see pulled over on the side of the road checking out a piece of unloved and unwanted furniture. Sometimes, they stay right where they are and I head back to the car for hand sanitizer - not every piece deserves a second chance.

I feel so lucky when friends or social media followers reach out with a piece they have no use for and don't want to throw away. It always feels like fate when the perfect piece shows up in my inbox. It feels equally icky when I have to say no. I appreciate the generosity every time but sometimes it isn't the right piece for my style or I don't have room to accommodate it. 

When I go actively hunting my favourite is Habitat for Humanity ReStore (and MAN do I miss having one nearby!). You find the craziest (and sometimes truly ugly) pieces all jumbled up in a bizarre treasure salad.

the adventures of creepy pickups and bizarre interactions

Some day I'll write a book about all the weird, wonderful and sometimes strange incidents I've had picking up secondhand furniture. Most of the time people are lovely and I often get to hear the backstory of my new piece which I love, or get to see some really cool houses tucked away in rural areas.

Rarely, but sometimes, the piece isn't what I expected. Oops, I underestimated that measurement. Or ick - your ad didn't mention the yucky drawers. I spend a lot more time cleaning than you'd expect. Even the pristine pieces need some cleaning and fixing before the paint can start to roll.

trial and error

It's been nearly 8 years now of restoring furniture and of course I've learned a ton. There's the basics like what sells easily and what pieces will be easy to move by myself (very annoying to have to wait for moving assistance when you want to paint right now).

There's also the rules I've learned the hard way for what's not going to be worth it. Previously painted? Nope. Ikea? Why bother, it will fall apart in a few years. Major repairs? The challenge sounds fun until you're pulling your hair out in frustration. You learn to read between the lines in ads and assess the photos quickly. And when there's a gem, you jump on it. Let's just hope the seller replies (because really, what is going on with all the people who post items for sale and then don't reply to messages?).

the big picture

Why do I bother when there's a lot of hassle involved? For one thing, I just absolutely love the feeling of taking something ugly and unwanted and transforming it into something that feels alive. The icing on the cake is meeting the person who buys it and hearing their plans for its next chapter of being loved and treasured.

The other major reason is it truly breaks my heart to see quality furniture being thrown out because nobody wants it. That's why roadside finds or my favs, or the ugly ducklings that my brain can mentally paint and see how beautiful it could be.

something from nothing

That feeling echoes in many of the things that I do - the transformation of a dud into a treasure, an unwanted item into a unique decor piece, flour into sourdough, wax into candles. It makes me feel powerful and useful, my little dent into the wild overconsumption all around us.

If you're here, you probably know the feeling. When you keep your mind open and your creativity flowing, the right pieces will find you. Here’s hoping the universe delivers the perfect piece to you very soon!