Antique Store Sale!

 Craigslist is an amazing thing, isn't? We have been able to sell some furniture, and it lets me know about garage sales... AND it informs me about sales at local antique stores! Woot!

Case in point: a vender in a downtown shop was selling out... everything in his booth was 50% off - BUT the Christmas things and linens were 75% off! I'm not kidding... vintage linens were 75% off :) I was a happy lady when I saw that Craigslist post :)

Then, Peanut was in a crazy mood - there was no way she was settling down for a nap anytime soon... this always means we get to go on an outing! We drove downtown and I strapped her into the front-carrier. It was time to browse :)

We found the booth, and although I could have purchased many more items, I restricted myself to these goodies... an embroidered table runner, 3 fat quarters and more than a 1 yard cut of vintage fabrics. Happy me!

I also found this Little Golden Book in another booth. Not on sale, but I *need* it in my future sewing room ;) My entire purchase was under $10!

When Mom was in town in August, we made sure to make quick stops in several antique stores and fabric shops. Well, I had never heard of this store, so we missed walking by it because we turned around one block too early! Oh well, I took a few pictures of items I knew she would be interested in and sent them to her. It's almost as good as shopping with her :)

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!

Grizz's Cousins' Baby Gifts!

 Grizz's cousins are expecting any day now (I know, I know, it's been a busy summer for babies, right?!), so I whipped up a gift for them before heading home for a two-week break from Big Sky Country. This cousin farms with Grizz's dad and uncle, so while spending time at Grizz's parent's house we headed over to their house to give them their gifts.

The only fabric I bought specifically for the quilt top was the cute International boy fabric from JoAnns. I made sure to check with Grizz before putting another other than Green-John-Deere into the quilt, but he assured me that there's a red, vintage tractor or two lying around the family farms :) The other fabrics were from my stash (remnants, thrift stores or rummage sale finds) - I was trying to get the old-farming-feel of having to use old clothing for quilts... so I added plaids, striped shirtings, corduroy and seersucker :) 

 To offset the red tractors on the front, I bought some John Deere flannel (JoAnns) for the back and some cotton (Fabric.com) for the binding. I can just see a little farmer boy having tummy time on either side of this quilt!

 Just look at that cute kiddo - and that puppy! Love it!

 This tan fabric gave me so much trouble! Whatever I had left after this project went in the trash. It was so slippery... it must have been polyester. I'm a little worried that it might slip out of it's seams, but I added some fabric glue and I warned the mommy-to-be that if it happens to let me know, and I will put a patch over it or something :)

 The finish off the gift, I folded it up, and along with this bundle of two burp rags (a strip of flannel sewn to fabric diapers), put it into a matching bag!

 If they already have a baby bag, I figured this could be used to hold toys or even dirty clothes in the baby room :)

The patchwork is all farm and western related scraps. I used denim along the outside and more of that same John Deere Flannel from the quilt back for the lining. I guessed on all the measurements for the bag and just kind of winged it as I made it... I look forward to trying different sizes/shapes in the future, as I do love the idea of making a bag to give baby quilts away in!

(Pretty sure I loved taking pictures at my parents' place - so many background options!)

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday and Linky Party Tuesdays - check them out by clicking on the buttons on my sidebar!

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!

Thrifty Kitchen Finds

I think one of my favorite parts about going thrifting and antiquing is all the learning I do while researching different items! It's just amazing how much information you can find online about vintage and antique glassware. Back when I was younger and going antiquing with Mom and Grandma, all we had was a few books with price lists and reproduction information. 

Anyways, here are a few of my finds lately. I probably am done buying casseroles, but I would still love a few bowls! But, even if I don't buy anything, I can still research things that I see and compare prices to Ebay! :) And another fact, if Grizz thinks I need to get rid of any of these pieces before we move again, I'm not out a lot of money (I definitely didn't buy these things at an antique store!)... perhaps I'd try selling them first though?

 This was found at a garage sale in Helena. Before this item, I didn't know Fire-King made items that looked like Pyrex! This pattern doesn't have a name, but it is commonly referred to as Cornflower Blue - not to be confused with Corning's Cornflower Blue!

 I bought this 2 qt item for $2.

This pyrex piece is a Goodwill Find. It is the smallest size of cinderella mixing bowls in the Crazy Daisy Spring Blossom Green nesting series.

 I have already used it quite a bit. My favorite part is the spouts on the side - they look like handles, but are actually great for pouring!

 Since taking this picture, I have cleaned this part - magic eraser did the job well!

 Remember when I said that I want a Fire-King Jadite Swirl or Batter Bowl? Well, turns out my grandma has one that she still uses! Isn't that cool?

This small bowl was another thrift store find.

It is the small milk glass bowl by Fire-King, and would match so well to some jadite ;)

 Last but not least... A divided casserole by Pryex!

 Pattern: Snowflake Blue

 Cute, right? AND it had the cover!

 I think it would work great for a casual relish tray...


Like I said, I'm done buying casseroles - we have plenty! But I still have an eye out for bowls... there's just something fun about using vintage items in the kitchen :)

Some Fabric-y Finds

 While in Helena for a week (wow, that was already a month ago!) while Grizz had some work training, I spent several days going through thrift stores, antique stores and fabric stores. I will not bore you with everything I found, but here are some highlights!

These blocks were 50% off at the antique store. I couldn't pass them up! There's about 11 or 12 I think, and some are in pretty rough shape. I haven't decided exactly what I'll do with them, but something will come to me eventually :) While researching ideas, I did find this fun book, all about "orphan" quilt blocks that is now on my Christmas list!

 These 4 napkins were also 50% off. I'm thinking they'll be great pillows or tote bags! If anything, I suppose I could just use them as napkins, too ;)

 These two embroidered men's hankies were at a thrift store for a quarter a piece. I couldn't pass them by. How about pockets on an apron? Hm... so much to sew, so little time!

 This Christmas find was not in Helena. It was at a huge estate sale in a nearby small town. I kidnapped Neighbor and her mother and took them along... don't worry, we also had fun eating in a small-town restaurant, and we went out to Gibson dam, too! A fun, girls-day outing!

I thought they were just so cute! It is a square tablecloth and 4 or 5 napkins - all for $2! Again, I don't know if I'll use them as they were intended for, or if they'd be more fun creating something with. I do know the napkins are great for setting underneath decorations, so we might just leave them as is for now :)