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Many moons ago I picked up these pillowcases thinking I’d repurpose them as the fabrics are so delightful.  Alas, I never did!  But I still have them.  It’s a good reminder that I should probably do something with them before too long! 

give me liberty

I remember the first time I learned of Liberty; I was thirteen and somewhere on the East Coast with my mom.  We were touring material shops in the Northeast and one of our stops was like a Liberty warehouse.  The prints on their own were plenty charming, but the feel of the cotton mesmerized me!  I didn't have enough spending money to buy any yardage, but I'm glad I didn't - the memory alone is worth enough.  And now as you probably know, Liberty is at Target!  Glee!  I only wish it were a permanent fix.

$9.99

For all you die hard Solid Cherry fans, the original version.

I picked up those pillows at the Goodwill over the weekend. I regret I'm not sharing a detailed photo of the handiwork, because the stitching is amazing. I love these pillows so so so much -- a huge plus? They don't stink and a good lint-rolling turned up hardly anything. The message is so sweet (attention all you Mary J. Blige fans: Real Love. It's possible). And aren't those names charming? Partly why I thrift: I love to know I'm taking care of something someone once really cherished. At least I hope so.

The chairs were thrifted too -- but a ways back. They are my favorite.

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Something red hot to start off the month of loooove, cupids, groundhogs and presidents.

I am a little addicted to blankets (see $12) and have been since I was born; I only stopped cuddling with my baby blanket a few years ago. And miraculously, because I don’t know what I would have done otherwise, it remains in one piece. I am indebted to Gladys (RIP Gladys!), the kind neighbor lady down-the-street that crocheted a gender-neutral afghan (pink and blue and white) for my homecoming in late October 1979. Her gift of warmth and comfort has been with me now decades.

Recently, I’ve been on the thrifting prowl for blankets and scored this one (made in Scotland) over the weekend. Tried and approved: it is one warm and cozy new friend. Fabulous, no?

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Ignore the red sheet with white flowers on it! (It is actually covering a big comfy thrifted chair that we are trying to keep somewhat "nice" and free of paws!)

What is really going on here is that quilt that has enveloped all but Jane's head. I bought it maybe two years ago, but I don't think I featured it. I was unsure of it and thought I spent way too much on it. But I tend to splurge on handmade things. There are stains on the backside and it is not in great condition, but that's the nature of something that has been loved. After handwashing it (or rather, using my machine's handwash feature!), any doubt I ever had on why I bought this is gone. Disappeared. This quilt? It is the warmest, snuggliest blanket you could ever hope to find on a cold night. The print is charming and the material is all once piece (aside from the backing). Not a lot of handiwork, but just enough to be both utilitarian and pretty all at once.

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Steve and I were on our way out of the most eccentric local thrift shop but before we slipped out the door, I decided to dig through the overflowing scarf bin. I unearthed this small treasure and was intrigued. A hand-woven scarf from Kentucky? I´m sorry, did you say fireside weaving? Oh, delight! Look, the artist even signed the original tag:



It´s called a snow white scarf and I just adore it:



What´s most wonderful, though, is what I learned about where this scarf was woven. Take a look at all student crafts. So cool.

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*Shuffle*
*Shuffle*
*Crash!*
*Boom!*

Here I am! Coming to you from underneath a mountain of cardboard boxes! We have moved and started settling. Yes. I said started. I haven't been thrifting a whole lot, but here and there I manage to get out and investigate the shops. My mom mailed me this book which lead me to start seeking these kind of retro terry cloth towels and the like. I don't have many - and haven't found many lately. I don't know what I'll do with them, but they've come in handy as fun rags. I took this picture in the old backyard. We don't have a clothesline yet but they're pretty easy to throw together so that'll have to be project #4,763. Really, we don't have that many projects. Our house is in excellent shape! Today we went to an architectural salvage yard and bought a cypress door that I'm convinced will make an excellent dining room table. Steve is outside sanding it right now. I should go get my camera!

I hope all of you have had a wonderful time at the thrifts! I have missed this place, so, so much.

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*Torn* between keeping one and sending one to my mom. I should share!

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I'm pretty sure that my fence should be wooden and have pickets, but alas, it was free! And it makes a good place to show off tablecloths in the early evening (Cole could care less about the tablecloth - he is looking for the baby ducks that live in the trees!).

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What the underside looks like:

I am going to *pretend* this quilted throw was once made in a prairie farmhouse and kept a younger version of me nice and warm during a bitter cold winter. Do you see what Florida does to a girl? It makes her daydream of the plains! And I have never lived in the plains! Eeek. I'm going to cherish this, no matter how relatively new it could be...it's just the most precious thing I have thrifted in a long, long time.

$5.50

Happiness is finding five Fiestaware plates by Homer Laughlin...for fifty cents each...and dating them to the 1950s! Take a look at the tablecloth ($3) and gray Fiesta plate up close:

You can tell from the three sagger pin marks on the back of this plate that it isn't contemporary Fiestaware (post 1986)...it's the old stuff!

...They might sell for as much as $8 a piece. Oh, I love to thrift!

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These colors just pop right off the tablecloth, I'm telling you!

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Wow. I had the best thrifting day ever! I was so lucky. I bought a scratch lotto ticket this morning and didn't win a thing but I think the universe had another way of rewarding me! Slowly I will reveal my lucky finds...but first, one of TWO vintage tablecloths. This one is quite stained, but I'm to the point where I just don't mind. I am glad it was used and loved and that it made its way to my collection.
Up close (will you look at the color!):

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My first thrifted pillow! I couldn't resist its colors and its vintage chenille glam.

Bonus: Even though it looks nursing home, it sure doesn't smell like it.

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Did someone say...tablecloth obsession?! This one, unlike the others, is groovy. I'll be honest here: I don't really love it. A tablecloth like this demands a tureen and an ashtray for long cigarettes. You know. It just does.

(I found this one in Florida.)

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Another tablecloth, albeit quite stained! I love the colors here and how the fruit border is framed in a wobbly gold rectangle. It's very summery and cheery. Now for the sad news: it appears to have come from an old folks home as there's a room number Sharpied into one of the corners. Oh, well. I hope whoever had it before will know that I am going to enjoy it!

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I'm back!

This was one of several tablecloths that I thrifted in Portland during my December trip - it's quite stained and has some tears, but I just had to have it! It's a perfect candidate for sewing into pillows - or for covering a table outside.

I love vintage tablecloths and have been very lucky lately - my collection is fattening up nicely. Wheeeeeeee!

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A splurge? Hardly! My mom and I collect vintage tablecloths - I don't know what constitutes "vintage" exactly, but what we like typically comes out of the 1950s and 60s. In antique stores, they're usually marked way, way up into the $40-50 range. Anyway, I spotted this one in Portland and my mom was fiercely jealous of my score, so I secreted it away and she'll get it as a Valentine's Day surprise. I tried it out on my parents' kitchen table and it fit perfectly...so then, it was meant to be!

$4.95

Thrifting window treatments is not for everybody. It was not for Steve. I bought these curtains at the Veteran's for $4.95. These are very Madge - I like little florals. I am completely aware that they scream "Yo, Grandma Madge! You smell like cats." It was my original thought that we could put them in the front room where we have wood paneling; they would have been a nice complement to the honey color of the wood. As it is, there are two windows in that front room and the curtains only covered one window. Oh, well. Steve's power of veto won out: he thought they smelled and looked like Grandma Death no matter what. I stashed them away for my craft room.

Here they are up close and personal - but the colors are so pretty, no?: