Bad Blogger!

 I've been away for over a year! I'm not a good blogger. I stopped for a week or two, then procrastinated. I didn't even make a post saying I was on a break for goodness sake! I'll give it another go though and try my best. I'm hoping to get re-connected and make new connections. I'm hoping that re-starting this blog will spur my creative juices as well.
It's always nice to have feedback.
Hope you're doing fine and dandy!

I will really try and learn new ways to use my camera. These colours look a little washed out. Speaking of which, I bought the bed spread on the bottom, which said dry clean only. It looked brand, spanking new, but there was no way I was going to follow those laundry instructions! It looked perfectly fine when it came out of the washer, but when I got it out of the dryer, the colours where all washed up, you could say, very faded. It's super synthetic. I'm wanting to turn it into a big laundry hamper-bag and maybe a laptop bag? What do you think?

Baubles and Beads

So who says you're not supposed to wear a toque with a party dress? With fancy beads no less! I'm afraid the monkeys have minds of their own. 

I suppose that's why I like them... human rules don't apply!

 I've been bead shopping for the monkeys.

Ooh, look I'm getting Christmassy too. Run little gingerbread man!

What I wanted to show you was my growing bauble collection. Since I've been putting beads on the monkeys, I've been keeping my eyes out, while being thrifty.  See, being a thrift shopper from waaaay back, I find it hard now-a-days finding treasures the way I used to. But! It seems I've been overlooking old bead necklaces. So anyway, I've been getting some cheap thrills the last few weeks whenever I find a nice weighty, string of old, vintage beads.

  

See what I mean about following human rules? 

What monkey has to keep her legs together while wearing a dress!

Oh, by the way I've bought the only Christmas decorations that I'm going to this year. 

Up there in the header. I really had to have those! 

Show and Tell Time

I picked this up today at Value Village.

Listen to these names... Sister Mary Providence, (well, she's a Sister after all) Mrs. Edward Cridge and Mrs. Thomas Blinkhorn. There are a few more good ones, Madame L'Hotelier, Mrs. R. B. McMicking, Lady Trutch.

I still have sock monkeys on the brain, and I'm thinking these would be very good names for them.

I like the little quote in the front of the book; The History of a Country is written from the lives of Men, but from the lives of the Women we learn best of a Nation's soul.


I also got this sweater and skirt. Just too bad neither of them fit me. I wanted the skirt for a quilt, but someone in this household seems to fit into it quite nicely. Damn. And the sweater... hmm, possibly a pillow.


Oh, one more thing... I'm sure you're as inspired by Amy, of Angry Chicken as I am. I love her that much more after listening to her interview on Craftcast. Reading blogs are wonderful, but to hear someone speak... well, it gives you that much more of a feel for the person. She was inspiring and uplifting. It was a fun insightful interview. Thanks Amy!

Red, Yellow, Turquoise

I got these glasses at Value Village yesterday, still a deal at a buck each. I went looking for turquoise fabric. Do you realize how rare that colour is now a days? I did find the yellow curtain though. All washed up and fresh now. I think it would make a nice heavy weight apron. Oh, the pot holders I got there last month. Aren't they great? I wouldn't mind finding the crochet pattern, if anyone could help me out on that one.

They look right at home here. Hmm, I'm not liking that white wall.

OK, so these are the colours I'm into right now. The solid turquoise is quite a large piece of nice, heavy, cotton, but it's too bright for me. I tried bleaching it but I'm wondering if there's a better way? The patterned turquoise is new fabric, as is the polka dot. The plaid, is a men's shirt, (thrifted). Maybe I'll throw a little pink in the mix. It sure works above! By the way, the label above comes from a Dover, Old-Time Label Art book. ( Permission-Free designs )

One last shot... This is a store window in Steveston. I love this colour combo. Steveston has great, windy, open space for kite flying, something I do almost every weekend with my sweetheart. I'll show you sometime.

Have a great weekend everyone!

The tail end of the yard sales...

I love yard sales when that special something jumps out at you. These crazy birds are great.

Here's another tin. I've had this a long time.

And here's a little bag that I finished off this morning, inspired by all the Japanese ones I've been seeing. My neighbor gave me this little lamb. I was admiring it on one of my visits. Wasn't that sweet? She's my little knitting mascot.

Shop, then shop some more.

Have I mentioned how I've been having crummy luck in the thrift stores lately? I just have to admit that it will never be the same as it was back in the hey day.

Any way, I like to think up projects with items that I can still find for a steal while thrifting (for that treasure) and that's why I bought the shells and cigar box. It's to make these!

I've been on a little collecting kick for these shell boxes lately and I have three of them now. It's probably because I have fond memories of looking at my mothers shell box when I was very young. It was a beautiful one and made with care and I thought of it as a treasure box because it contained old, mysterious sewing paraphernalia. Anyway, I like my corny box with its corny Acapulco postcard glued onto the inside lid.

Over the weekend I was able to find some fabric that got me excited. Some of it from an expensive quilting shop and some from a great discount store. It's all washed and ironed, and ready to use. Does the thought of cutting into fabric pain anyone else?

OK, one last shot. I found this little pillow today. (so I lied about not finding anything good any more) Since it's tiny, I'm going to add some sort of trim, turquoise and red? and give it some proper stuffing. I love when my daughter likes something that I get a kick out of, so, this one's for her.

Treasure Hunting

I got these craft magazines the other day for 49 cents each, which was amazing, since this particular thrift store usually overprice most things. I still go on a regular basis, because it's a five minute walk from my place, which is pretty irresistible. The booklets range from 1953 to 1960 and they're full of funny advertisements, and articles titled 'Women Who Make Cents' and the 'Flower Forum'. I'm wondering if it would be wrong to, ahem, cut a few up to do collage, booklets etc. What do you think?

Favorite Thrift Score

If you've read my previous post you'll know that I'm a participant in a swap.
One of the questions Elizabeth asked us, was, "What was your most favorite thrift score?" (and to add a picture, if we wanted to make her jealous) I thought this was a great question and should make the rounds in blog world. This was my answer.
Favorite thrift score? It wasn't a thrift score, but I found, in an alley, a beautiful, curvey, antique, wrought iron bed, all pieces included! I never thought of taking a picture of it, but now I will. Also, at the same place, got a steamer trunk, tin, wooden slats, good condition, original paper inside! I RAN home, got a dolly, prayed they would still be there. This was before cell phone days, well, for me anyway. The bed is in my daughters room.
When I was a teenager I used to go to thrift stores before anyone did. This one particular place, I would leave with a green garbage bag full, pure wool, cashmere, satin ball gowns, beaded sweaters, you name it, rhinestone jewelry coming out my ears. When you asked how much something was, some sweet little old lady would say, "Is 25 cents too much dear?" Yah, so you youngsters talk about thrift stores now-a-days, sheesh, I still have dreams, actual dreams of that place called Second Hand Rose.

Vintage

I've joined the vintage vixen swap hosted by Elizabeth at My own lil Space. I get a kick out of things like this.

I got the little tin recipe box the other day, alas, no recipes included. The tin pail was from my neighbor, and my daughter brought home the basket which is lined in lovely red gingham.

"Salty and Peppy" have been living on my stove for eons. I would never get tired of them, or the little love birds.

A little set up in front of a childs painting . . .