Goodwill Hunting . . . . .

. . . . . . and maybe . . . . a little bartering.

I usually don't do well at Goodwill.  I see pretties, but nothing that jumps up and grabs me by the hand screaming, "Take me, take me!".   Well, except the dictionary that was missing the last half of the "R's" and the first half of the "S's".  

On Tuesday as I was out thrifting with Dolly and Bert something changed.  They had found their bargains and as I was putzing around the jewelry counter waiting for Bert to check out, a bowl of jewelry caught my eye.  It wasn't the marvelous collection of jewels in the bowl, but the bowl itself.
All I could see was the rim.  Nothing special, nothing screaming at me, but the rim was "cute".  So I bent down to take a closer look at the bowl.  Ooooooo. . . . . now we're talkin'!

I asked the fella at the register if I could see said bowl when he was finished with customers.  He said sure, but the line kept growing, Bert was getting closer to check out, and on the inside I was pacing like a caged cat at meal time.   He would never make it to me.  As fate would have it another young man walked up to the jewelry counter to replace a necklace, so I smiled my nicest smile, and in my sweetest voice asked if he could show me the bowl.   Yes, yes he sure could.  Inside I'm doing the happy dance.   I explained to him as he was emptying it out that I had broke my husband's mother's bowl that was just like this.  What a surprise to find a replacement.

But my happy dance ended abruptly when he emptied the bowl and turned over only to find this:                     

"Not for Sale"

 



 

 

Oh, my.  All I could do was look at the poor fella with pain in my eyes (not really, no pain - just disappointment). Generally a "Not for sale" sign means it already belongs to someone or it's quite pricey.   But to my surprise he said - "That's ok.  This is the price it was before they decided to use it as a jewelry bowl."  as he's pointing to the marked out 5-. (I had not seen that)  I can sell it, he says.  

 

What happened  next surprised even me.  I asked him if he would consider taking less for it.  Who in their right mind dickers with Goodwill?  Who?   My mind was thinking $4.00, but my ears heard:  "How about $3.00?.   What???    It was all I could do to stay calm and poised and say, yea, sure, that's good.     "Hang on" he says, "while I run in the back and get another bowl."     What just happened here?  I'm thinking, "Hurry dude" before we get caught.    

 

Happy dance, happy dance, all the way to the car! ! ! ! 

 

I believe in miracles, you sexy thang. Oops, wrong song!

 

We moseyed on over to SA - where I found the Dream Catcher for Goldilocks and then to Halo - a Christian owned thrift store.  I paced again, like a caged cat, waiting my turn to rummage thru the glassware.  Some gal was buying up all the goodies,  I was sure of it.  When she finally moved on, I browsed what was left the shelves.  

 

Again an oddity caught my eye.  There sat two little bowls stacked together.  The one on top had what appeared to be an upside down lid in it.  Curiosity prompted me to touch it to see what it was.  The "lid" didn't move, so I picked up the bowl.  You can't imagine my surprise and excitement when I realized it was the very same pattern as the bowl I snagged at GW, and that it wasn't a bowl at all, but a candle holder! !   Best part ~ it was a whopping fifty cents!            

 

 

 

 

 

Here they are after their bath.  The pattern is Indiana milk glass, Cabbage Leaf pattern.  I love it!

 

Sometimes it all comes together, even in silly things.  $3.50 for a little nostalgia and a replacement ~ not bad for a day's thrifting, I would say.  Not bad at all.   But a day thrifting with kindred spirits ~  that, my friends, is  PRICELESS!                      



Vintage Vibe

I know you know that I love all things glass ~ and vintage (well, not ALL things vintage, but a good amount).  And I love finds, steals, gifts from family and friends and, aaand, a "shout out" from a kindred spirit on Pinterest!

Have you ever wanted something when you saw it?  Ogled over it?  Wanted it?  Couldn't afford it? Never got it, but it was always in the back of your mind?  I would say, "One day. . .. one day, I shall have one".  Well.  A month or so ago I was playing with paper at Dolly's house and before I left she sent Miss Sarah to the attic to fetch something.  Down came the following:

 

"Would you like this?" she asks.  Say what?  Be still my beating heart!  Why, yes, YES I WOULD!
You could have knocked me over with a feather.  Oh, Dolly!  Thank you so, so much! Insert Happy Dance! Ahhh. . . . chippy love!   I have pondered for a while as to how to use it. 
I'm sure the perfect thing will come to mind, but if not, I love 'er the way she is!

Then a couple weekends ago the Lion's Club here in town had a "community yard sale" in their building.  I hemmed and hawed over whether or not to go and finally caved around 11:30AM.  I know from experience that all things good and pretty and valuable are usually gone in a matter of minutes.  So I figured I was just going on a scenic tour of the place.  (I've  never been in their building before.)

But someone, aka: God, was watching out for me and my addiction!  Just look at what I came home with (all for under five buckeroos!):

Not one, but two, serving dishes!  $1.00 each.  They are pretty good sized.  Larger than a relish tray. The pattern is called "Star of David".  Told ya He was watchin' out for me.  Used them on the 4th.
Two little candle holders that I'm going to turn into pin cushion bases.  They are heavy as lead and very, very sparkly. And they were only a quarter each.
And lastly, (Heidi Jane ~ I can't believe it!) a tiny little Banana bowl!  That's right.  A.  Banana. Bowl.  It's a pressed diamond cut kind of pattern.  Cute.  Shiny. And tiny.  For ~ hold on ~ two smakeroos! Two!   Ahhh. . . . . Happy Jig! Happy Jig!

On our Annual 4th of July get together my sister surprised me with these:

Like my old Maxwell House coffee jars, they are vintage and they came from Dad's. (All but the little one in front ~ she picked it up at a thrift store).  The star lid on the little one belongs on one of the bigger jars, but the OCD in me wanted consistency.  (go ahead and laugh) The lids even have the old cardboard seals still in them!  I asked her why she gave them to me and you know what she said?  Because I said I liked them and if she ever got rid of them I would like them.  Now, how's that for sharing?  I'm going to use them on patriotic holidays for sure!  Already have it planned out in my noggin.  I love the scene on them ~ a kitchen counter with a window, a coffee mill, a coffee pot, a jar of coffee, utensils, a loaf of sliced bread and a vase of flowers.  Love it!

And then, today.  I'm on Pinterest and see I'm mentioned in a pin by my Kindred Spirit on the West Coast of this here United States of America.  She thought of little ole me when she pinned this:

It's an old Coke carrier like the one I have, only this gal (http://www.infarrantlycreative.net) put shelves in hers to hold pretties.  She even used black, white and red accents!  Can we say: "Oooooo, ahhhhh"?   It was sweet of Christie to think of me after reading my blog post about my Coke carrier.
Even sweeter that she remembered!

Life is too short not to enjoy things around us. It's too short not to share your love, your heart, your talent, your spirit and the things that connect us to one another.  Every day it seems I'm reminded of those that God has led into my life, be it for the long haul or for short stints.  I'm grateful for each and every one, even if I fail to say it.  I feel sometimes I am a miserable friend.  Sometimes I fall short ~ but mostly I just fall.  Flat.

Forgive me?
I love you guys!

Happy Day to Me!

I know ~ doesn't make a bit of sense, yet it's the most logical of sensible things to me.  No, I can't explain that statement.  Let's just roll with it, shall we?

I gifted myself something for Mother's Day.  Yes, I know, Mother's Day was just over a week ago. I'm a busy mama.  So, work with me here.

Boney Ol' Bugger, U.B., Ernest, Bing, ~ AKA:  BOB ~ took me antiquing for Mother's Day.  I love looking at old things, seeing how I am an old thing, and I feel right at home in those smelly ol' stores ~ I am, however, NOT smelly.  Let's just set that straight from the get-go. I am so inclined to come home and shower off the residue those buildings seem to impart on me.  

I usually just browse ~ if you've known me long enough, you know browsing is one of those things I love to do. It's a relative of window shopping (in case you didn't know that) and I love doing that too.
Neither costs a dime and my imagination gets to play all kinds of decorating games.  I love "free" and anything "practically free".  So, I was thrilled beyond thrilled when I stumbled upon my find!

A long, long time ago, Heidi Jane and I entered a contest on Susan Branch's blog (love her blog).  It was for a vintage banana bowl.  Can we just say: "Ooooo, Ahhhh."?  It was a shiny, crystally one.  Yep, all sparkly and saying my name. And if you know me, anything glass, especially clear, sparkly glass, makes me weak in the knees.  It was an anxious wait ~ mainly because Heidi Jane is the Queen of Contest Winners and I just knew she was going to get that thing.  But that was alright by me .  She is part of my Aaron and Hur team and I'm a thinkin':  "What's Hurs is mine!"  tee-hee   But, alas, neither of us won it.  tsk, tsk

But it never really left my mind.  I stalked banana bowls on E-bay and antique stores.  They range from pricey, to very, very pricey.  I didn't need one THAT badly.  But, it never left my mind.

So ~ as I was browsing Season's Best Antique store downtown I ran upon an item that made me stop in my tracks (other items just slowed me down a bit).  Stop dead, I did, glued to the price tag on an item that never really left my mind. Glued.  Could it be?  A typo perhaps?  Or more likely, I needed to put my glasses on to read the fine print.   Oh, by golly, it was true!  There in front of me sat a sparkly, shiny, crystal clear banana bowl.  For. . . . . . . . a whole whopping seven dollars and fifty cents! That's right!  Seven point five zero!   Can we just do a jig right now?  I picked that baby up, held her tight to me ~ you know, just in case, and headed straight for check out, only to play "Eye Spy" on the way out.  I spied a lot, but no time for stopping, you know, just in case.  Not in case I changed my mind, but in case someone realized there might need to be a price check on "Isle Getaway!".  But at check-out, the cashier assured me the price was right, but not without making a comment on it being pretty and at such a good price.  "Just hurry up buddy so I can get my find out of this store." I'm thinking.  And let's say, I didn't waste any time getting to the car.  There's a first time for everything!  Bob was even asking if I was sure I was done.  Now, THAT'S a FIRST! ! !

All shiny and sparkly!  I love her.

Doing what she does best.

I must really thank the booth owner for marking such a lovely thing
at such a lovely price!  Just. For. Me.

 Happy Day to ME!

I'm Slackin'

All my blog is hearing these days is the echo of chirping crickets. (That would not be me.)

I feel like it's been a hundred years since I've last posted on my blog ~ other than birthdays (which are very, very important ~ just ask anyone that I miss).  And, speaking of missing, I miss blogging.  Miss. IT.  It's my own personal therapy and it's relatively inexpensive.  The only thing it costs me is my time (which can be in high demand these days ~ making it pricey). And speaking of pricey ~ pricey things elude me right now.  They are far, far away.  And speaking of far, far away ~ my KY clan left yesterday afternoon to return to the other side of the Bay and then home.  Far. Far. Away.  So ~ I am making myself sit a spell and blog.  I'm in need of therapy. 

And in case you are wondering what I do besides ramble on ~  here's the low down:

First low down is I had to get up and tend to Baby Girl and it is now 2:21PM on Friday and I started this thing on Wednesday!

To continue on.  I've been obsessively playing with cotton ~ aka: fabric.  I am smitten with the stuff right now.  I have several projects in the works. 

One of the first ones completed was this trio of gems:

This is what they originally started out as:

Kelly wore this flannel shirt all thru high school.  I thought it was adhered permanently to her body.  When the time finally came that I could dispose of it, well, I couldn't.  I tucked it away for posterity, and I'm glad I did.  It made three cute stockings for three adorable grandies.  I also managed to get six little ornaments out of the scraps and was able to use those awesome buttons on them.  "Waste not, want not.", my mama used to say.

I've also been working on projects for my KY girls.  I will be excited to get them done and in their hands.  Some of the threads, aka: fabric, are vintage, let's say, around late 1980's.  Well, maybe old is a better description.  Vintage or old,  it sacrificed itself for the sake of cuteness.  Cuteness for my Ky girls. 

I'm beginning to think I have an undiagnosed addiction to cotton, aka:  threads, fabric.  I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame, a bee to honey, ketchup to fries, bacon to eggs, Singer to the machine . . . . . .  which is the whole reason I've rekindled my love affair with Singer.  God bless Issac Merritt Singer (and his rivals).  

Playing with fabrics is a "Happy Dale" deterrent.  For that, I am grateful.

Now, to avoid that which is L.O.U.D.L.Y. calling my name ~ you guessed it, cotton ~  I am going to force myself to do some laundry.  It needs to appear to those that are gone all day that I have actually done something productive with my time. You know how it is when you never have anything to wear.  We just don't want that reason to be the laundry's fault, now do we? 

Catch ya on the flip side  :)

Quilt Love

I have renewed a love affair with quilting.  I can't seem to stop thinking about it.  It started when I re-organized a mass of sewing junk ~ which included, but wasn't limited to, unpieced quilt pieces and a quilt top that needed a backing.  I've tried to avoid contact with this fabric but it has been wooing me ever since I opened Pandora's Fabric Box.  Not to mention all the wonderful blogs and quilt sites I have discovered on the Internet showing me all the loveliness fabric can do!

I shall share a bit of the affairs of my heart with you as they blossom.  I am currently working ever so gently on that quilt top that was in Pandora's Fabric Box.  I have some ideas for it.  We shall see if they come to fruition.  Also in that box were some "Bow Tie" blocks that I took apart and reworked.  I'm thinking I may make a red, white and blue quilt using some of them. 

I made a sample "Pinwheel" block today using fall fabrics.  I'm likin' it!  What'cha think?

Now to decide if I want to make a quilt, a pillow, a wall hanging. . . . .  Whatever I decide, I NEED to do it and be done with it.  Too many quilt blocks and pieces lying around is akin to a monkey on my back!   And I hate monkeys on my back!

I am going to make another Dresden Plate Quilt.  I want to make:  a Bow Tie quilt, a Jacob's Ladder quilt, a Star quilt, a Rag quilt, a Nine Patch quilt. . . . on and on and on I could go!    The best thing about quilting in this day and time ~ the tutorials on line.  They make it so easy and show so many shortcuts and simpler ways to piece blocks.  No wonder I'm in love. 

And all these girls in my life!  They have to experience quilting at least once.  They just have to!

Monday Quietness

This morning is pretty quiet. Baby Girl isn't here yet, the other two dumplings are in school and Ben is at the gym.  I've managed to have a financial meltdown while balancing my checkbook and paying my bills, I've vacuumed and mopped (with my new favorite mop), I've blogged, I've done laundry and I have had lunch ~ all.  by.  myself.

So I thought I might take a little more time and share my finds, my "doings" and just things in general.

On Saturday I went anti-quing with Heidi Jane.  We had a maa-vo-lus time.  She hit the jack pot with the bargains.  Her new name is Bargain Betty!  I love it!  I didn't hit the bargains, but I did manage to find a gem or two.

 I've been looking to buy a juicer for a while now ~ this one came in at five dollars.  Bargain Betty got hers for under four.  Hm.  Helena is already making lemonade.   And . . . . the most adorable muffin pan I've ever seen! ! !  I walked around with it for a bit before I convinced me to buy it.  I've never seen a glass one before.  Rease is waiting with bated breath for some muffins!


Then when I got home I told me:  "Self, you are going to finish a project this weekend. Period."  "Okay", I meagerly replied.  So I jumped on a bookshelf that I have had, literally, for years.  It was an unfinished pine piece.  Now it looks like this:

I painted it white (barely) scuffed it with sand paper, rubbed on some glaze and then some poly.  I like the way it turned out.  The picture is a little hard to see, but it sure beats that nasty unfinished pine. I think for now I will put it in my laundry area.  I need a place for diapers, wipes and hair doodles for the girls.  This will work for now.  Then we'll see where it moves to next!



And this morning, Goldilocks tried her hand a "arranging".  I usually keep my apples in my white milk glass fruit bowl.  But Goldilocks liked this better:

I think I will keep it for a while.  I like that you can see thru it and see my lovely pink screwdriver! 

Notice the "candle holder"?  Well, it's actually a miniature pie plate I got from the gal that lived across the street from dad.  Got two  ~ love them!

Well, Be`be` Girl is here.  Gotta run!

I Thought I Was "Quirky"!

Well, maybe I am, a little.  I love glass.  It's no secret.  All kinds of glass ~ but most specifically, OLD glass! I even get caught up on jars, especially if they are functional or pretty.  Wal-Mart's salsa comes came in Mason jars with measurements on them.  I was intrigued with that, hence, the quirky part of me. How can I re-use these babies?  Hmm. . .   Sometimes I couldn't and, to my angst, they found their way to the land fill.  And then there's the Vlasic Pickle jars with the cute scroll work across the top.  I fell in love with that!  I have a very large one that I made Jenny save for me a few years ago.  I store pasta in it.  I wub it!

 

As for OLD glass, I would have just about every kind out there if I could.  I would have a plethora of dinner dishes, ones for every season, holiday or event!  I would have to have a small house to just store them.   I am very fond of depression glass and old crystal.  I only have a few pieces of depression glass.  My favorite piece is a pink cake plate.  It has snow flakes etched in it.  It came from Benny Wells' Auction many years ago.  My ex got it in a box lot for a song. 

I have a small collection of milk glass.  Part mine and part Mrs. Rease's.  I love that too.  Then there are odds and ends.  Some I shall share over on my other blog, because they came from my mom's house, or I got them a very long time ago. I do regret one thing ~  my sister, Donna, gave me a set of old crystal goblets, some short, some tall, many moons ago.  I used them for quite some time.  But, for whatever unknown, unspeakable reason, I got rid of them!  I can only sigh and move on :).  Shot myself in the foot on that one.



A fruit bowl I got eons ago, along with the only two pieces left to a
spice set.
I use them as salt and pepper shakers.



I have come to embrace using all my pretties. It was hard at first.  What good are they just sitting on the shelf collecting dust (and gnats right now)?  So, something gets broken.  Life goes on.  It is after all, no matter how old or pretty, just glass.

God knew what He was doing when He put me on a strict budget!  Yes, yes He did!  But He allows me to look and be practical as I can be.



I love these plates.  They are leaf shaped with a
raised vein pattern on them.  Perfect for fall!
Oh, and that's an old syrup or vinegar cruet.



And . . . I thought I was alone in this love of glass.  But as it turns out, a blog I am following expressed the same emotion, only better!  That's what triggered this post! !

Ahhh. . . . be still my beating heart!

PS ~ For kicks and giggles, let's throw glass door knobs in the mix!  Did you know they make wonderful curtain rod finials?  Yep, that's right.