Buyer’s remorse?

Do you ever go junking or yard sale shopping and find something that’s too good to pass up?

Something that you buy, even though you’re not certain how you’ll use it?

But the price is right. And you hand over the dollar, quarter, whatever that the seller is asking, like I did for this:

What you can’t tell from this poorly shot photo is that this isn’t just a frame with a “lover-ly” needlepoint jaguar, straight out of the 70s. It’s also a box.

Do you ever get buyer’s remorse over such purchases? So much that you stuff them into a bag bound for Goodwill?

Well, this isn’t a post about an item like that.

And it is not because this is jaguar art and we like Diego here. My son has already staked claim to this jaguar. But this post isn’t about how I created some fabulous wall hanging for his room out of someone’s ugly, but admitted well done, needlepoint project.

No sir!

You shouldn’t judge this jaguar frame-thingy by its outward appearance. Because there’s something special inside that box, something as thrilling as the crunch inside a Whoppers candy.

I won’t judge you for judging this yard sale find. I judged it too.

When I saw the embroidered art sitting on a table at a yard sale, I shuddered. May have even muttered to myself, “Wow. That is ugly! Who would buy that?”

Then, I went around to the other side of the table and saw the offending artwork from the other side, and I snatched it up. The inside held treasures you wouldn’t believe. Like whatever was inside the briefcase in “Pulp Fiction.” (What was that any way?)

Have I teased you enough?

Do you want to know what I made from my jaguar frame thingy?

Right away, I pulled that jaguar needlepoint out of the frame, and inspired by a conversation with a friend, I painted the frame backing with chalkboard paint. The frame box thingy got a couple coats of milk paint and wax.

Pretty enough, but the prize is what’s inside. I’ve given you several hints. Did you guess?

It’s a spice rack. As in the coolest thing ever!

The right side has racks to store your spice bottles. And the left has a nifty guide for uses of herbs and spices

When I was transforming this beauty, I had always planned to sell it in our shop. But as I was taking the photos for this blog post, I started falling in love.

I think this chalkboard spice rack looks very pretty in my kitchen. So that’s where it’s staying, for now.

Do you have an example of an ugly duckling that became a swan? An upcycled treasure from pure trash? If so, we’d love to see it. Please comment with a link back to your projects so we can be inspired and learn to see the beauty in the butt ugly!

This is definitely a Thrifty Treasure, so I’m linking up to Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality.