Thanks for all the input! Yes, I've tried JCPenney, Lisa - four of them, to be exact. The two outfits I took home from there for her approval were both no-goes. I forgot to mention that she wants 3/4 to full length sleeves, not an especially easy summer find either. It's an outdoor wedding near the end of July and church dressy rather than formal will do. Sharon, the Sears stores around us seem to have cut back on dresses. They carry mostly two-piece outfits with tops she won't wear. I have been pushing the idea of a dressy pantsuit so that nylons and shoes won't be an issue. She is afraid she'll be the only one there not in a skirt. I think an outdoor wedding will bring all sorts of outfits - and everyone will be looking at the bride anyway! So I'm still looking in that area as well. I've never heard of bridal consignment shops. I'll have to check the yellow pages. Kit - I've tried Christopher and Banks - lots of cute separates, but nothing I could co-ordinate for her. I have found blouses there for her that don't have double and triple darts in front. I'm not familiar with Coldwater Creek or Ann Taylor, but will Google them tomorrow. Nicki - As far as I know, all of the Jacobson's stores are gone. I used to love shopping there. There was a large one in Jackson, as well as Ann Arbor and Birmingham. (I grew up in Berkley, used to live outside of Jackson). I don't get to the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, but I've been in every store in Briarwood, Arborland and Westland while visiting Mom and my sons. We even drove over to Jackson to check out an Elder Beerman store there. Beverly, Travel Smith is another new one for me to check out tomorrow. Deanna, I've never heard of Schweissers or Glad Rags. I'll have to get up early tomorrow to run all of my Google searches!! No, I didn't get out kayaking, but I still have hopes. My son and his fiance are here now and they're going to take the kayaks down the hill to the lake tomorrow. Then a friend I used to work with is coming up for several days. We'll get out every day the weather permits. Thanks so much for all of your suggestions. I'll let you know how I make out. Bonnie

Shee, Your idea of using them on candles in candlesticks is a good one. I am currently making some lamps out of old brass candlesticks, and bought some shades on eBay for them. I will electrify mine, but if you can keep them straight on the top of some candles, just for a nice decor touch, why not? You'll save yourself some money, too. Check the link below for a similar idea using real candles... Your shades are beautiful. I've gotten some good buys, but never any for 50 cents! These are some of the shades I'm playing with. I've since gotten some 'springier' ones. I also did these out of barley twist candlesticks for my mantle. Here is a link that might be useful: see this at Source Perrier

This is fun, Red. THanks for starting the conversation. 1. Do you always buy new furniture for your home? (When I can find what I want, but I often can't. I'm in a small town with only a few furniture stores, and most of their stuff is either the wrong style or cheaply made and sold at ridiculous prices. My LR couch, LR chairs, DR set, DH's collapsing DIY-from-Target dresser, and kids' bunk bed were new: pretty much everything else is used.) 2. Do you Ever order furniture online? (Yes, but I've been burned. An Overstock chair described as aniline leather was actually bicast, and looks like vinyl. A Crate and Barrel chair needs constant tightening to keep the frame sturdy. I am especially wary of Ebay stuff, though I know other people have had good experiences...) 3. Do you Ever shop for used furniture through Ebay, Craigslist, The newspaper classifieds, Estate and garage sales? (Yes to all but Ebay. I agree with previous posters that if you don't get up with the birds, it's not worth the bother. And I have definitely gone on some wild goose chases. But I've also had some real luck with the classifieds and Craigslist, also our local Habitat Restore.) 4. A. In your area, Do you have good garage & estate sales? (No -- they're an exception.) B. Good things attractively priced on Craigslist? (Feast or famine. Enough terrific MCM stuff of late to make Flyleft jealous. (: But not always.) C. Nice things available through classified ads or thrifty nickel papers? (Haven't pursued these in a while, thanks to Craiglist. I'm spoiled now: I want to see a pic with the listing!) 5. Do you see other's estate sale finds or CL purchases and wish you could find stuff like that or have the courage and time to look for used? (Yes: I never have enough time. That, and I'm unwilling to get up and out early on the weekends.) 6. Does worry over not being able to return things purchased used or not being able to do layaway or credit deter you from looking in those areas? (No, not really.) 7. Are you uncomfortable buying used or antique? Do you worry about 'other people's stuff' or negotiating prices? (Not at all, esp after your wise words about dealing with cat dander, Red. In fact, I just scored a great upholstered chair at the Restore yesterday!) 8. Has this board and it's great stories/photos/threads inspired you to take the leap and look at used stuff, try Craigslist for the first time, or bid at Ebay for furniture or decor? (No, I was already into it. I do get good reminders here. I'm wary of my Ebay karma, so while I applaud lucky buyers who've posted here, I'll never go that route.) 9. Have you ever bought something at retail that you felt 'stuck with' because of the amount you spent? (Yes, my heinous, oversized, cheap-looking Flexsteel couch. It wasn't one of the floor models; we found it in the store's Flexsteel catalogue, and I persuaded DH it would be OK. Was I ever wrong. I hate the damn thing more each time I look at it. I am thinking of entirely remaking the back and side cushions to make it more bearable. Plus it's too big for the room, and makes rearranging furniture really hard. I will never buy another couch without giving it the tush test, and will measure many, many more times.) 10. If you've Mostly bought furniture and decorative items at retail stores, what antique or used venue would you most like to try right now? (I wish we had a really good antiques mall here, with more furniture and art.) 11. How much time does it usually take YOU to find what you want.... A. At a local or national retailer? (We don't have many of them here: a few weeks, but I usually don't find what I want.) B. Through Craigslist ad? (I don't really time these finds, because they're so random. I've been looking for a nice bed for several years: just found a solid-wood classic-lined bed from NC for $150, so my patience paid off!) C. Through Classified listing? (using these infrequently of late) D. Garage or Estate sales? (like Craigslist, these are chancy. I'd say I stumble across a good one a few times a year.) All in all, the more I read here and at the Furniture Forum, the more interested I am in used furniture. I like the hunt and the creativity involved in remaking it; it's in my price range; and I think it's a better value than today's laminated frames and polyfill cushions. I'm about to embark on my first experience with reupholstering an old chair. Wish me luck!

I once went through an "upscale" home with a decorator leading the tour who pointed out that one particular home had a couple of gorgeous fake plants and a couple of real plants where you would really notice them. It started out with a discussion of "I can't keep real plants alive," so she suggested we mix fake and real like the homeowner had. None of us had noticed that a couple were fake. I think when you see one or two real up close, you just assume everything else is real (if they look good, of course).