In and Out, Out and About

 

Hi everyone! It's mid-November already! Wow, time does fly. My fellow thrifter friend visited me a few weeks ago and instead of going to our usual places, she wanted to try something new. This friend is very recycling focused and when shopping she tries to find good second hand clothes. Could she afford brand new, of course she could! This is her way of reusing and making do. I thrift mostly for fun, looking for collectibles, decorative items and shirts/ sheets/ textiles that add interest to my quilts and other project. 

I'm a fan of markets like the little church fair, small, doable, great prices, lovely items---all proceeds for church and charity.

But winter hours are odd, and they don't sell clothes much.

Instead I  had noticed this new-to-us shop when on the road trip to Joann's this summer. It got good, very good! reviews on my local FB group.

The store was huge! like two Costcos, a warehouse. Lots of clothes I did not begin to look at.

It was clean. The jewelry area was attractive. Shoppers looked poverty level and desperate, sadly. Prices were high.

As for the housewares---I feel a bit mean but I have to say---I have never seen such trash in my life. The crappiest flea market would be better; this was like what gets hauled to the landfill after a poor quality garage sale. Where does such plastic crap even come from, where was it sold?

This was what I found as ''possibles":

McCoy bowl, a fake or very new shoddy line. [note the rest of the stuff on the shelves, eeek!]

Thin pottery, tacky. [tho I admit lighter bowls are easier to use and wash, store, but still.]

Blue and white bowl, Japanese indigo ware/ modern. Really lovely. Quite large, about 8-10" diameter. I think it was $16.99. Similar can be found cheaper at Home Goods, though I was tempted. Picture it full of lemons or pears?

Note the design is seashells.

Pretty platter in a familiar, modern moderate line of china. Very expensive at $14,99 

edit this is vintage-ish Nikko "Blue Peony" , platters like this are on eBay and Replacements for $20-40. But still no bargain.

I had hoped to find a resin or metal jackolantern for my downstairs entry. Mine got kicked and broken by a delivery guy. I don't put out a real jack bec of the squirrels, hoped to replace it. But no.

                                                                        internet image

B found nothing either, the clothes were high priced and the massive rows crammed full were overwhelming.  I did look at one child's cute but used puffer jacket---similar cheaper and cleaner at Old Navy. No bargains here! We went  home to the beach and had Thai at our tiny, hole in the wall place we love. So glad they made it through Covid years.

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Back home I've transitioned to November decor.

And my marigolds are still so pretty and profuse.

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Not sure about Christmas---tree decor, all that work. Meh.  Hope I perk up and get over my Grinchy-ness soon. My brother is already starting his decorating and collecting!

Have a good week!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Striped bass fishing

skeins of water ducks

Quilt Update and Other Stuff

 

Hi everyone! It got cold here, we had frost warnings last night [but no frost]. And the icy wind is howling through the old wooden window frames. I even put the heat ''on'', up to 55*, I figure if it's that chilly in the house then yes, the heat can come on. But no. It's mid November, Veterans Day, which marks the beginning of autumn here. The leaves and grasses will be turning, then going all dun and brown by January. Earlier I got out my dad's military medal, the only one I have, and touched the medallion, remembering how much pride he took in his service as an Air Force officer and pilot, his efforts to ensure our Democracy and freedom.

Before I catch us up on quilt doings I must show off my wonderful early Christmas gift from my brother. I've wanted a spongeware pitcher for years. They have always been quite expensive and since they're very country, homely utensils, they are not a common find here, too early, too prim. 

Just my style

I'm always sending my brother screenshots from IG. He pays attention!

I  love the new addition to my pitcher collection. I had fun filling it  with fall botanicals from Trader Joe's. Hops, yarrow, berries.  

Ihope they dry nicely.

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Ever optimistic, despite the disappointing news of No Thanksgiving here  I turned the folded When the Wild Geese Fly quilt on my bed. It's made by me and warm and flannelly, so I actually use it if it gets cold. I turned it to the Turkey block for Thanksgiving month.

I love the children too, the block above, my kids in my heart if not here for the holiday. Are they going to school or trick or treating, who knows....

And this darling turkey came up in my Quiltmania agenda calendar. It is back issue 151. Though I don't really a need a pattern. If I ever find a cutter quilt piece to use for the background, I'd love to make him.

Here's a couple of other Thanksgiving/ Fall little quilts I am loving, esp the three Acorns. New from Julie Porter/ Farmhouse Cottons. Only av as a download so far.

TQC, inspired by Penny's version. This is a photo from TQC, free pattern.

And from...now I am not sure, I'll edit. Inspired by a Cheri Payne design, I think. Adorable.

Now...remember I started by saying it is soooo cold here. I wore long pants! And once day I wore a cashmere turtleneck in a soft persimmon rose color. Oh I felt wonderful, so snuggly and so soft and warm. But tomorrow is supposed to be record breaking warm here, warmest Veterans Day in history here. And the other day it was almost 80*! Back come the shorts? Mo is all set to be outdoors for sewing hour:

Mommy, why are we hiding in here? 

We venture out most days. Good thing I had lots of handwork planned. Here is Noah's Ark, all turned edge hand applique. [The bright plaid at the bottom is the tablecloth, not part of the quilt design.]

I think I have three or four more animals and the dove---let's see: foxes, a horse, the snakes, a lion [both males, yikes]. Then the whales and the Ark and Sky, so it's more than I think. 

Not pressed here, and I am right this minute not at all impressed. But maybe I will like the blocks better in May when the project comes out again.

And one beautiful day I stayed in and made the base pumpkins for the Jacks project.

Mo was not amused as he patiently waited outside.

I hope to arrange the faces  over the winter. Then hand sew next summer?

This is the inspiration quilt from FB group, with the maker's permission.

It is duller than my usual but I love it. All thrifted shirts and a hand towel. The eyes etc won't be like I'm showing, that is just to give you the gist.

Blog friend Juliann sent me a lovely bundle of assorted wools to use. Just perfect. And mixed in  may be be the wool pennies, old, old, from Rusty Crow Quilt Shop. 

I'll do one face at a time, sounds like a fun project for a snow day?

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Earliest sunset this year is December 7, at approx. 4.30 PM. Dinner walkies have become après lunch walks instead, our long daily walk.

The nights draw in so early. The darkness overwhelms.

Have a good week.

love 

lizzy 

gone to the beach...