I haven’t been thrift shopping in ages.  It’s just been too hot.  But the heat has finally started dipping into the low to mid 90’s.  It’s an improvement, believe me.

So I came across a few AWESOME finds.

This little suitcase for $3.  It’s in great condition and now houses all my art paints (which kinda makes me want to paint it).

An organ sheet music book for my art, journal and collage needs.  It’s a thick one and should last me a while.  Only a quarter.

And lastly, the pièce de résistance, Charlie Harper’s Giant Golden Book of Biology!!! This little beauty cost me a whopping $.69!!!   I couldn’t believe I found it.  The cover is dirty and drawn on a bit and one of the pages has scribbles, otherwise, it is in beautiful condition. The illustrations are AMAZING!! I will cherish this book forever!

Looky at what I got.

Some great vintage undie garment patterns, a skirt pattern, teeny wooden spools of thread, lace elastic, needle threader, folding scissors and  matchbook sewing boxes filled with needles or button, etc.   I am particularly excited about the under garment patterns.  I have been very keen on the idea of making my own underwear out of old t shirts.  That must be a really odd thing to read if you are not familiar with the DIY – undies – phenomenon. All of the patterns are from 1970!  How cool is that? My husband, by the way, thinks this whole underwear business is hi-larious.

Anyway, everything is from my mother-in-law, aka Gramma Cindy. I’m puttin this post in the “thrifted” category because Gramma Cindy’s house is just like a thrift store ~ except that I didn’t have to pay for any of this awesome stuff.  Thanks Gramma C!

I think I’m finally coming out of my funk.  I have some things half done and am feeling a crafting frenzy coming on.

I did manage to make these earrings on Sunday.  They are made out of 36g brass metal.  Leftover pieces from making new metal birds.  I cut out the shape I liked, pressed lines into the metal and then heated over a flame to make them rustic.  I like how they turned out and am amazed that I didn’t burn myself as I am very prone to burn accidents.

I also got some new jewelry, not made by me.  The earrings are from jeweledmonkey.  I bought these and these from there too, courtesy of my wonderful mommy.  The pretty bird necklace is from a local shop.  They make me feel a bit more fancy.  Something I feel I have been lacking over the last year.

And today, I went hunting for used jars (school science project) and found this old typewriter for $3!!!   The kids played with it for HOURS!! The tape still works a teeny bit and I’ve found more on line. This could be very helpful for my little guy in learning the rest of those tricky alphabet letters. Q,W,V,M,N, D & P can be so confusing!

I went thrifting this morning and scored a bunch of great stuff. These cute Japanese cups and this awesome soap dispenser.  They all need a bit of cleaning up.

One of my best vintage linen finds yet.  Nine beautiful full size sheets. All in excellent condition.  The colors are bright and colorful.  I love them.  I also got 2 pillowcases, a pair of funky pajama pants, button cover kits and a whole bunch of embroidery floss and floss bobbins.

Anyone want to share how to get thrift store smell out of linen in one wash? Do tell…

Can you tell?

I forgot to mention the buttons that I also found while thrifting last weekend. I know I have a pretty good collection already, but I can’t ever resist!   A jar of them for $4.  After washing them up, I found some real gems in the pile.

Now that jar on the end is almost full!

My husband has always been really into bike riding and it has been his big goal in life to get his whole family into riding as well.  Lately, we have been trying to ride more in general and as a family.  I’ve had a Gary Fisher mountain bike for the last 12 years, but I’m not a mountain biker (as hard as my husband may have tried).  So the fit was always a little uncomfortable.  So, we decided that some good old fashion cruiser bikes would be needed.   I couldn’t get one without him wanting one too, so two were bought via craig’s list and ebay.

His is a 1968 Austrian made Sears, mens 3-speed and mine is a 1972 Schwinn Breeze, 3-speed womens cruiser.  They are so much fun and so much more comfortable for me with a more upright riding position.

Don’t you just love all the character these two bikes have?  Fortunately, the hubby is also an aspiring bike mechanic, so getting them in tip-top shape has been no problem.  Now all I need is a basket to carry my things, and maybe I’ll start riding to work. Or maybe not. I’m still working on that, especially because I get off at 8pm, the darkness freaks me out a bit.

Thrifted vintage pillowcases make me very happy, as you may have guessed.  But, a novel idea came to me the other day, to use them as actual pillowcases for pillows!  On the bed! Yeah, brilliant I know.  It makes me very happy to use some of my stash in this way.

These two skirts were made from thrifted bags that I found at Savers for $2 each. They were big enough for me to fit into and a quick-n-easy sew.  I just had to cut off the tops and bottoms of the bags, hem and make a button hole & casing for a drawstring. Easy peasy! They go to just above my knee and are perfect summer wear.

but I just can’t help myself!! I really was only going to a church rummage sale that I saw a sign for, then one house led to another and before I knew it, I had a car full.

More stuff to add to my piles and piles of stuff. Remember me complaining about my stuff piling up all around me? Well, this definitely doesn’t help matters. I need some kind of help!

Despite my need for some kind of thrifting control, I just have to share what I found…

All of the quilted items are unfinished quilts and large patchwork squares, hand pieced, not machine sewn. Amazing! I had to save them and do something with them like, dare I say it, cut into them. They would make amazing potholders, pillows, small blankets, oven mitts–so many things. I’ve thought about just finishing the quilts, but there are lots of stained parts that didn’t come out in the wash and small holes too.

Other miscellaneous stuff like a ceramic rooster and old books. The rooster is going in the kitchen (even if the hubby doesn’t like it) and the books are fun to look through. There were more, but my Super-E snatched them up when I walked in the door and I haven’t seen them since.

Attn: Notecard swappers. Almost all notecards are in, just waiting for a few from oversees. All of the cards so far are amazing and beautiful! It will be well worth the wait, I promise!!!

There is nothing like thrifting. It gives me such immense joy. The anticipation, the seeking and the ever so glorious discoveries! I went on Friday and had a great time, just me and my I-guy. Here is what I found…

More pillowcases, napkins and dish towels. The bluish fabric on the far left is actually a large fabric sack. It may be a new skirt soon.

A linen tea towel. I think I am going to stretch this over canvas wood stretcher bars and hang it on the wall. I am in love with the colors of those flowers!

More buttons! You know I can’t resist buttons. Two dollars for a large bag! Plastic, fancy and shell. I especially love the fancy buttons. I may have to make another one of these bracelets using some of these buttons!!

Miscellaneous quarter and fifty cent finds. I have been wanting a flower loom and am so lucky to have found one. Now I just need to figure out how to use it!

On a completely different note, the notecard swap sign-up has closed and I am super thrilled with the participation! The following people have joined in.

Alexandra
Amy- Life in the Lyon’s Den
Anestasia- Drawing and Dreaming
Alexis Art & Design
Amy W
Tanya F.
Michelle-Greeting Arts
Lori Z.-goodygoody gumdrops
Raesha-My love
Jane Aproximately
Heather S.
Pasha Plum
Teresa- Affectionknit
Gemma- Queen Bee
Lydia-The Purple Martin
Dallas-Sallad Says..
Heather – Winemakerssister
Narissa- Creative Rants from..
Deb C.
Katie R.
(oops! Just found these next two in my SPAM box!!! I hope there isn’t any others lost in there)
Tangee -A Sparkly Messy Life
Kelly-Kloth & Bolt

If you are not on this list and have left me an e-mail or comment already, please leave a comment or email (again) and I’ll add you on. I will send everyone an email sometime today with all of the details.