Curiouser and Curiouser

I have always wanted a Curio Cabinet, or 'cabinet of curiosities'.  I tend to collect a lot of shells, fossils, rocks and other natural elements. I have yet to delve into the taxidermy collection, but for now I think I will stick to being a 'rock hound'. I am always drawn to museums and little odd shops that house mummies and crystals...things of that nature.  So when my hubs brought home a free bookcase, I thought to myself...hmmmm this could work.  I decided to give it a fun chevron effect paint job:

I still need to tweak the items and add some height for interest, but not bad for free, eh? Not sure that I am in love with it yet and I would still like to find that 'perfect' cabinet, but for now this will do.

Holy Lampman

You know the feeling you have when you're walking thru a thrift store and you find an amazing item, for an amazing price and your hands begin to sweat? You look around wondering how the heck you got so lucky as to grab this one of a kind find and no one else is fighting you for it?  Well...I had just that.  I was cruising thru Goodwill, and lo and behold....ahhhhhh, this lamp.  An all wooden lamp for .....wait for it... $3.99!  Granted it had an ugly shade, which I re-donated.  So I did have to buy a new lampshade, a drum shape in neutral (Wallyworld) for $14.77, but come on.... this beautiful lamp for a total of $18.76!!?