I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Thursday, June 7, 2018

Thrift Shop Treasues


Hello, hello, another week has raced by. I missed our Monday post, busy with spring cleaning. During quiet winter months I often do as my mother taught me, I clean a bit every day, keeping things nice. But I like to do an in depth cleaning twice a year, in the Fall before the holidays begin and in the spring to make the house very fresh and appealing for my seemingly endless summer guests.
I wash all the white slipcovers, for example---and Mo's beds. Screens, windows, ceiling fans, light fixtures. I even dust the walls, do you? My current project is to clean a few kitchen shelves ''everyday''.  Man, it's all exhausting, but I love a sparkling clean house.
And I finally removed the flannel sheets from the beds, crisp cotton percales instead.


Of cousrse that night the temps were in the 40s.



My friend Bea came to visit Wednesday. The clean house was wasted on her, as we spent maybe five minutes here at home before heading out for our shopping adventure. You may recall B is my comrade in thrifting. This was a banner day at the thrift, she found great clothes--tags on! Ann Taylor and Loft; I found my usual mix, I don't usually buy clothes for me.
Lots of other treasures though:


This is fun, not to wear but for the fabric.


My quilter friends may enjoy this GAP shirt, made of, well, shirting print. Quilters call fabric with a white ground and tiny motifs "shirting" from a mid 1800s fad for men's flowered or patterned shirts. here





It appears to be white densely woven cotton with a black sprig, but the label says it is indigo, which makes it that much more authentic.  Now, next time Lori does a sewalong calling for shirting, I am all set.




 I will deconstruct it and file the pieces with my meager stash of similar fabrics.


Good finds for my etsy shop and other projects:


Dear little lighthouse souvenir dish, a ring dish maybe? I'll add a magnet under the bottom to capture needles and small scissors. Etsy if I can bear to part with it. Not sure if the lighthouse is Hatteras, or Sandy Hook, NJ?


Darling Swedish-style wooden box with hearts. To be stained blue. Scissors or other sewing things, spools of thread?



Tiny candlestick for a pinkeep base.


And a bit off topic, I recently got these cute vintage-ish tiny tomato pincushions at the church flea.


I can't read the label, maybe Taiwan?


New collection [I have another, somewhere, to make the required three.]  Sewing tomatoes...


...inspired by my slow creation  of a new velvet pincushion, for etsy.


Aren't these the tiniest, most dear and adorable strawberry emeries you ever saw!





And for my new collection[s], I found great jars at the thrift shop.


This one is a semi-vintage candy jar.



It's the kind with two bases, can set sideways for scooping out gummy bears or Mary Janes or Tootsie Rolls. Childhood memories. I liked Sour Patch fruits and candy corn. M and Ms.


And could not pass up this new heavy jar, below right. Good for seaglass or thread spools, maybe?  I save the spools from my sewing when empty, because for some reason DMC still sells embroidery thread in skeins and I roll it onto used spools instead. Also good for scraps of lace and ribbon, etc. They'll go in here, I expect.


An interestingly tall paper box for my box stack. I'll paint it blue for now. At some point I'd like to cover the sides with fabric, like a bandbox and maybe add a lid cover with wool applique.  Antique bandboxes, here


It's especially nice for such a project because the interior is also printed with a nice winter scene. I find finishing the interiors to be the hardest part to do well.


Here are some of my boxes, only the blues in the summer. Some are real Shaker, some are good antique pantry boxes, and a couple are not anything at all. I'm not a purist! I like the colors and the look. The new box will be perfect for the grouping. [The box on the left, second from the top, is an example of a bandbox, this one a wonderful heart shaped box].



And last---now this is either tacky or so cool.????? I saw it from afar, in the thrift shop's grubby glass case and fell in love.


It was expensive, $7.99. I put it back. But in the end I bought it. It can be the first item for our maybe-shop, Gone to the Beach Vintage Jewelry Shop [name needs work, lol.] or it will stay in my jewelry bowl for the summer.


 Gold scallop shells and pearls. Swoon.


A necklace like this is, I think, best if both played down yet used as a trademark piece. So I wouldn't wear it with a dress, not even a sundress, assuming I wore a dress, which hasn't happened since I went to a religious Jewish wedding maybe 20 years ago! I'm seeing it with white capris here   and a black tank top, sandals, straw hat for summer brunch; or with khaki shorts and a plain tee, maybe white, for dinner at an outdoor seafood place.

 Maybe, yeah, maybe, just all around and everywhere? Reminds me of my favorite gold seashells bracelet, though I suppose it's a one-or -the-other sort of deal.


It too has an illegible label. Not vintage though.


Good stuff, huh!? Everything including the tomatoes cost under 30.oo. My kinda shopping spree.


.....................................................
Tomorrow, June 8 is Mo's adoption day.


Mo flew alone, all the way from California, 4 years ago. Such brave little man. He was ten weeks old.




He may have a little party on Saturday, but I already got him a new vestie and a birthday box from Chewy.com. We can't wait to open it tomorrow, I hope it has pug appropriate yummies inside. Four years of Mo World. I love him so much and hope he is happy here.



Have a good weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...









No, Mel, they have no scent.


15 comments:

  1. Darn, unscented roses! They're pretty though.

    I love the square jar! It's so cool and unique. And I love the seashell and pearl necklace, you should definitely wear it this summer - with anything except white shirts!

    Your other finds were nice, too, like the lighthouse dish (it's got a good shape to hold scissors!) and the pincushions.

    Love the pictures of 'baby' Mo! Hard to believe it's been 4 years! I know he's happy with you so don't worry about that. He's got it good!

    Tell him happy adoption day for me tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No white shirts? Needs neutrals.

      Mo loved his box of treats, we'll do the cake and party hat tomorrow.Thanks for the good wishes!

      Delete
  2. Of course, he loves living with you. He has you wrapped around his little "paw" finger.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha. Sometimes he seems a bit boed and the he has tantrums......

      Delete
  3. Happy adoption day to both you and Mo! He's added so much to your life (and you've added so much to his wardrobe!)!!

    It had never occurred to me to take old thread spools and wind them with embroidery thread. What a great way to display it and ensure it doesn't tangle!

    The necklace is very much a statement piece. The way you describe pairing it for summer wear is awesome (it could even be something pulled out in the dead of winter to remind the wearer of fun times)!

    Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mo says Thanks! His Jerry Garcia inspired tie dye vestie looks so cute!!! And he loved the Chewy gift box, eve tho the two toys were too big.

      Glad you like the necklace. I hope I can make it look cool on me.

      The emb thread on used spools works great, I used to get so annoyed with the tangled mess.

      r

      Delete
  4. Oh I love your finds. I have one of those tomato pin cushions!!! They are wonderful !!! Well, Happy (adoption) Birthday to Mo!!! He is adorable (and I know he has found a wonderful...happy home!)

    Rusty says ‘woof/woof! 🐶🐾🎂

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mo says ruff ruff back to dear Rusty! Thanks for the good wishes.

      Delete
  5. Very fun flea finds! I think my Mom had one of those tomato pin cushions. Pretty cool jars too.

    I recently found an old wooden spool in my sewing basket. So much more cool than the newer plastic kind.

    Your bed looks so fresh and inviting. Hah! You predicted it would turn colder as soon as you took the flannel sheets off.

    Girl, you would totally rock the necklace. White capris, black tank gets my vote.

    You and Mo are a match made in heaven. He couldn't have it any better. Happy adoption day! Hug him for me :)

    Kel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Your mom always had cool stuff! Yes, I love the old wooden spool, I save them or buy if I find them, but I also save the ugly new plastic one, because I use a lot of thread and as described, they re pretty useful.

      Bed---no flannel. Nights are very cool even with Mo cuddling. I think LL Bean makes summer flannel sheets? Or VT Country Store? I need them.

      I def plan to wear the necklace, I love it!

      pls tell me if you are forwarded this msg like you used to get replies.? Thx!

      love

      lizzy

      Delete
  6. No doubt Baby Mo loves his Mommy and home. Such lovely findings. He is fortunate to have someone to love him as much as you do and provide for him. Thanks for sharing your explorations. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Baby Mo prob thinks we're a bunch of idiots, but since there will/ was doggy cake, he tolerates my silliness.

      Delete
  7. Oooo, lots of great treasures! And I am glad you went back for the necklace, it is lovely and wear it with the bracelet. You will look great! Enjoy your sea, I get to see my sea in about 2 weeks! Yay! Kit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kit! As always I look forward to seeing pics and reading about your ocean trip each summer.

      Delete
  8. A very good haul - particularly the shirt. It's difficult to find good shirtings in quiltshops here. The tray looks a great size for projects too.
    Belated birthday greetings to Mo. I'm sure he was spoilt rotten. May you have many more Mo. Can you believe he was ever that tiny pup?
    Always a treat to see your wonderful blue and white jug. Penny

    ReplyDelete

Hi! I'm allowing comments from everyone, even anonymous for awhile, to see what happens. With comments moderation. Hopefully the awful porn spammer has gone elsewhere. Or you can always email me! I love to hear from everyone.