Just a Few Thrifty Finds

 For the most part (big grin), I've been really good about limiting my time going to garage sales and thrift stores. Temptation is hard to conquer when you're staring at a perfect thing-a-ma-gig for that perfect project you just imagined while looking at the said thing-a-ma-gig (know what I'm saying?), so I've been trying to limit temptation by just not going...

But, I can't be super-woman all the time, and I have stopped at a few sales and stores every now and then. Here are my latest finds!

• 1 yd of some retro fabric for $1... I'm thinking either a tote bag or a dress for Peanut :) They threw in the hem ruler for free!
• How could I pass up two VHS's on country dancing? I love line dancing... I'm the one at weddings who will gladly show anyone interested how to do the Electric Slide or the Cupid Shuffle or even a line dance I learned in high school. Grizz called me a nerd when he saw these, but he has agreed to learn to 2-step with me!
• Three Little Golden Books and a "Little Toot" all for $0.50 each.
• And finally, I found a rather large collection of Sunday School songs that I want to learn to play just in case I become like my mother and help lead the singing once Peanut is old enough for SS! This was fifty cents at a local thrift store :)

The "Little Toot" needed a close up :) He was too cute to pass up!

One of the main reasons I don't feel bad for picking up a few finds is because I sold all of this on Craigslist this past week (TV not included)! I posted 6 things on Tuesday and I dropped off the 5th item this morning. The only thing that hasn't sold yet is our coffee table; if it doesn't sell, we'll just take it home. Success!

My New Favorite Fabric

I found this large piece of folded fabric a few weeks ago at a garage sale. I payed the full $5 that the lady asked for, although I was still feeling guilty for buying it - I'm used to paying small amounts for small amounts of fabric. Then, I got back to the car, and I really looked at how much fabric was actually there... at least 5 yards! So, for $1/yard, I'm definitely not feeling guilty any more! 

Any ideas on how to date it?

It's such a great old print - it feels different than the cotton you can buy now-a-days. But perhaps I'm wrong and it's just a reproduction print?

Anyways, I cut right into it! I couldn't wait to use it! I made a tote bag first (tutorial here - although I did line it with the same fabric since it is a cotton instead of the bag material I used in the tutorial). I've also cut out an apron pattern, so as soon as I get done with a few necessary projects, I'll have a matching apron, haha!

 I'm pretty sure I held my breath while I cut a rummage sale doily in half to use as a decorative pocket. I know I bought it to use it, but it's still hard to cut into something like that!

I didn't want to hem the top of the "pocket", so I dug around my hat box of bias tapes, ribbons and edges. I found this blue bias tape that matched the bag perfectly - it is hard to imagine JCPenney's selling fabric and notions, but that's where this came from! (well, I got it at a rummage sale or a thrift store, but the package says JCP). Overall, I love my new bag! It's already been used on a few outings!

Linking up with Quilt Story and Quilting By The River... click on those buttons in my sidebar to check out the parties!

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PS: our patio tomatoes are actually changing color - it's a miracle! (I thought I killed the plant so many times throughout the summer, but it's pulling through!)

Sewing Fun at Garage Sales

On that same Friday when I found this Christmas gold-mind, I also picked up some sewing goodness!

 There were two sales right next to each other. The notions were at the same sale as the Christmas wrapping paper, and the mini-ironing-board was at the one next door. It was only 50 cents! The top of it is pretty dirty, so I'm in the process of making a new cover. I also have decided to paint it - I'll show you the finished product later! I was just so happy to find one, since I've been looking for one every since sewing this newborn dress. Lately, I've been struggling ironing the hems on the shorts I'm sewing for Hopeful Thread's July project, so I know this will help me out!

 As for the sewing stuff - the lady said 5 cents each for the bias tape and the trim and she wanted a dollar for the pinking sheers. She had two pairs, but the other one chewed up the fabric she gave me to test them out. This one cut like a champ though, so I'm glad I didn't buy one at JoAnn's like I've been meaning too lately!

 She said 50 cents for all the buttons... not too shabby, especially when there were a few still on the paper!

These are my favorite - although I'm not sure I believe it when they say they are "genuine pearl buttons." Really? Hmm... I suppose cowboys/farmers wear pearl snaps on their shirts, so I shouldn't be surprised!

Overall, at the two sales, I spent $2.75! That includes the vintage wrapping paper and an old Bingo game (I wanted the cards for some craft ideas that are spinning around my head). Add that to the $10 archery target for Grizz at a different sale (they wanted $15 but they took my offer!)... not a bad Friday morning :)

Christmas In July - Wrapping Paper

Last Friday, I set out with Neighbor and her mother for a morning of shopping - this included a few garage sales on the way to the mall. We found quite a few fun things (including a archery target for Grizz so he wouldn't feel left out while at work, ha!)

 I was so excited when I found these two boxes at one of the sales - it's cute, old wrapping paper! The lady of the sale didn't have any prices on things, and it seemed like she took any offer we gave her. Considering that, I should have tried to go for less, but I'm not going to complain since I got both boxes for just a dollar! Sure, one of the boxes was half gone, but I still think I did alright considering how much brand new wrapping paper is!

The half-used box also had a package of Christmas cards! Thus, I'm thinking a few of my girl friends are going to get these cute forest animals in the mail come December!

There was one sheet of stickers too - they are the kind that pop out and then you have to lick them. That kind always reminds me of the stickers we used at Sunday School when I was younger...

 Look at all that Christmas goodness! The picture doesn't even show all of the pieces in the boxes. I want to use them, I do, but I know it's going to be hard come gift-wrapping time to actually cute into some of these sheets!

Here are close-ups of just a few of the pieces... I promise I won't show you all of them!

 Ok, so this one might actually be easy to cut into... who ever thought Santa should be bright pink?! Perhaps I'll wrap our niece's gift in it. She loves pink and I think it would make her giggle. I can just hear her "Mama, Santa's not supposed to be pink!" :)

 To be honest, I might have walked right past the boxes, but when I looked in one of them, I saw that one sheet was full of game birds. And yes, this bird is very dear to my heart, so I couldn't pass them up! I'm thinking this will have to wrap my mom's gift :)

 This one just makes me laugh. It reminds me of Disney's Fantasia for some reason. I can just see these illustrations walking quickly about their Christmas business while Christmas carols are playing in the background!

 Here's what Santa is supposed to look like - a big red nose and a cheerful wink!

Then look at this cute snow-couple. *Sigh* Wrapping paper just isn't the same anymore!

 This little guy looks just like the youngest boy in Peter Pan - look at those pajamas!

And his sister gets the treat of putting the star on top of the tree. Perfect :)

 Ok, Ok, I promised I wouldn't show you all of the paper close up, so I'll stop with this one - just know that there are lots more sheets of lovely vintage goodness. I'm sure I'll get laughed at when I show up with gifts wrapped in old-fashioned paper, but I just can't help what I love!

Estate Sale (Plus a Great Gift!)

Two Saturdays ago, we did this... thus, there was no time to hit up the Saturday garage sales (climbing the mountain was more fun anyway!). However, Craigslist had a listing for an estate sale that was going on Saturday AND Sunday! You know where I was heading after church :)

Much to my surprise, everything was 50% off... maybe that's a common occurance at estate sales, but this was my first true estate sale - walking around someone's home where EVERYTHING has a price tag on it... 

In the basement, I found a box of fabric next to an older sewing machine that was already sold. The box was listed as $3, though. It was taped, so I couldn't see everything in it, but for $1.50, I couldn't say no! I also picked up two scarves, one hanky, one matching fitted sheet/pillowcase and an embroidered table runner. The box ended up having quite a few things that I passed along to our church rummage sale, but I did save some vintage sheet scraps, half of an embroidered table runner and yardage of some purple wool, a soft floral and that southwestern stripe. (I'm so glad I chose to handwash everything instead of throwing some into the wash... the stripe and the wool bled A LOT!)

I also snatched up a double candlestick up in the kitchen. I loved etched glassware so I couldn't pass up on something like this for only $2. I have a similar candlestick in the Fostoria Chintz pattern, but I didn't recognize the shape or the etched pattern. Therefore, I offer up a big thank you to the internet for helping me find this pattern :)

It is called Prelude and it was first made by the New Martinsville Glass Company, which was bought by Viking Glass in the 1940s. Prelude continued to be produced by Viking. In all, it was produced from the 1930s until the 1950s. I've seen sets of two of these candlesticks listed on the internet for as much as $80! Obviously, with only a lone candlestick, my price value decreases dramatically, but I do think I got a steal by buying it for only two bucks! It looks great sitting next to my Chintz candlestick on my bedside table. Someday, I hope to have a wide range of etched candlesticks and then display them somewhere more prominently... someday :)

This was not a sale find, but it did come in the mail the same weekend... My mother-in-law is too sweet! She sent me this kit and the instructions to make a tool keeper to help me keep my sewing tools contained when I'm out sewing on the kitchen table. It will also be great for when I take my sewing things next door to sew with Neighbor. Thank you again!! I can't wait to have time to sew it up :)

First Rummage Sale of the Season

 Three dollars total. Not too shabby for the first garage sale of the season!

 First up: Christmas ornaments! Sure, I make most of the things we hang on the tree, but these will be a great addition next year!

 I also picked up some cookie cutters... I have yet to decide if these will be used for cookies of if I'll attach them to gifts or just hung on a tree: lots of choices! When you're at an antique store, these can often be a dollar a piece or more, so getting them for less than that was great!

Last but not least, the green depression glass sherbet. When I was at the sale, I knew I recognized it as a true depression glass piece, but I wasn't sure if I could trust my gut instinct of the "Block Optic" pattern. Well, after a quick internet search, I was right! It's one of the most available depression glass pattern, but this sherbert still worth $2-$3 on Ebay - I'm glad I grabbed it! It looks great next to my "Miss America" sherbet and it holds my measuring tape perfectly :)

I do have to restrain myself at rummage sales/thrift stores/etc. We have plans to move back to the Midwest in a year or so, so I can't keep piling up stuff only to have to pack it up and haul it home. So, I will only purchase things that we can bring to my parents' place to store when we visit this summer or things that I will use up before we move home (fabric). Of course, if things are small and a great deal, I won't be passing them up - what's a couple more boxes to put in a moving trailer ;)