The lesson:  If you can’t find what you want at a price you can afford, wait.  It will turn up.

While we were thinking of ideas for my daughters’ bedroom remodel, I decided it would be fun to add a little piece that nods to their love of ballet.  I was going to need a large oval frame and an old pair of pointe shoes.  As I shopped discount decor stores I found that most frames like that retailed for $50!  Even on clearance the best I could do was $25.  It just wasn’t going to work within my budget.

I decided to wait it out.  A few weeks later a neighbor put this frame in her garage sale for $5.  It was like new and still had the $50.00 price tag on it!

What I show you next will make many people cringe.  It was hard for me to think about too, but the black and gold, gorgeous as it was, wouldn’t look right for my purpose.  So I painted it.

At first I thought I had totally ruined it and was so glad I only risked $5.  But I braced my shoulders and focused on the plan.  I found a retired pair of pointe shoes on Etsy for $20.  They were a huge splurge for the room, but were a fraction of what I had seen other shoes go for.  Add a little ribbon from stash and voila.

I hung it from a Wall Dog screw and just for giggles hot glued a rhinestone over the screwhead.  It’s perfect, sigh.