Gone To The Beach: 2026/05

Friday, May 22, 2026

Random May

Happy Friday! Can this possibly be the last Friday in May? Memorial day weekend took me by surprise. We had the first thunderstorm of the summer yesterday! It was a rare brief very hot day, maybe 80* away from the waterfront, brilliant sunshine. My friend came to visit and we were so admiring the gorgeous summer day--think down parkas the day before--for our thrifting expedition.

Then-- B decided to leave early and 2o minutes after she headed out, this rolled in!

The sky got green even--to this midwestern girl, that says tornado! But no. This warning aired today--better late than never?

Shopping was a great big fail, I felt so bad. Around January we started seeing IG posts about enticing locally new ''thrift shops". We were so excited, only for me to discover last minute that these aren't thrift shops but fancy schmancy ''vintage", [think 90s, 2000s] clothing shops. Curated, omigosh. How pretentious is that!

I don't want second hand Chanel, I want Ralph Lauren plaid shirts/ $5.oo that I can chop up for my quilts. A used Chanel bag, a Givenchy dress, size 0 / hundreds of dollars price tag, are useless to me. Primped and curated offends my treasure hunting soul.

An apologetic about the new style of thrift shops, if you're interested HERE snippy. entitled, no fun

We then decided to make the long drive to the only Good Will here. Luckily I checked. ALL Goodwills in SE NY have closed. For those not in US, GW is/ was a for-profit thrift shop. Good finds, very random. We went to Home Goods instead .

I always enjoy looking. This is the year of strawberries and cherries. On all the summer clothes catalogs too. Who decides these silly fads? We've had pineapples, mushrooms, flamingoes, pumpkins, I forget what else, lol. Garden gnomes?

Imagine this--repro Strawberry Shortcake. How silly is that.

I loved this glass thing. I thought it was a fountain, quite large, but maybe a solar patio lantern?

Stripes were ''in'' also and junky coastal seashell prints on towels and table cloths. Do they stock coastal in Kansas,? Idaho? or just here. I wonder. Again, a No.

I got a few little things: new silverware to replace my mismatched supply, a cute little tray w darling scallops for drinks and snacks on the deck. Pretty boxes: one for letters and journals I refound and one with Mo's keepsakes.

We were hot and tired, so picked up our fabulous Italian dinner takeout here and headed home. Since Mo's passing, my friend is able again to enjoy coming to my home for dinner or visits.

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I haven't done any quilting this week. I did make a birthday gift. One of my signature winter sweater storage sachets made using a favorite real vintage [1920-30s] fingertip towel.

And just now I made a Teach Me How to Sew dress for my little friend.

We hope to do some lessons this summer. If anyone has any advice, I need it. I was an early sewer, by 6 I could make fairly elaborate Civil War era dresses for my Hitty-style peg doll, and piece small quilts. I don't remember really learning to sew. Just first embroidery lesson and helping sew the curtains for my ''big girl'' bedroom. Both sessions w my dad. We even to a fabric outlet in the city for the curtain fabric: violets on creamy chintz/ lavender, purple, and aqua sprigs. We painted the walls same way, aqua w a lavender focus wall, shiny white moldings and doors. And I got a purple plush rug! Maybe was 4? Not sure how to teach this child, who has maybe never even seen a needle. But I know we will have fun.

Here's the most basic dress I could design. For 14" American Girl doll.

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I've mostly gotten my garden going. Look what is sprouting just one week in!

Ladybug got new paint. She's still looking for MoMo tho, as I am.

The big wildflower pot is thriving unaided by me. Most of the greenery is coreopsis which self seeds. A favorite.

And look what bloomed. Russian Wallflower in a perfect Lizzy cheddar. Outstanding in a tiny wildflower sort of way.

I remember it from a Botanicals wildflower pack but it never bloomed. I now see it's a biennial, so ignored by me it is blooming on its second year.

Rain this holiday weekend, then it'll be June. June can be cold and wet or hot and sunny. It is our sort of nod to spring.

Have a great weekend.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

the roses are less but the storm survivors are valiantly in bloom.

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PS If I'd had more time at Home Goods, I think I'd have bought these pretty classic books. Below beloved Anne of Green Gables was a lovely copy of Little Women. I'd reread them this summer then give to my little friend when she is older. Maybe I ll get back soon.

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Imaginary Flea Market

Hi! Spring cleaning--nope, never really did it, I do a Fall and Holidays cleaning instead. But this year since I lost Mo, I've changed my tune. Still scrubbing schmutzes on walls, vacuuming endless ''pug glitter''/ shedded fur. This week I'm washing and /or putting on new loose [ha!] slipcovers on my white sofas and chair. Oh it's hard to do, what a workout. Back is killing me. Instead of fitted IKEA covers I got inexpensive loose covers. They look a lot like sheets. I hope to get used to this look--at least they look clean, until I can finally save up for new furniture.

I've been tackling closets and kitchen cupboards too. The kitchen has produced some very fun finds, long forgotten! Like these pink vintage mixing bowls.

I don't collect pink bowls, have no idea why or when I bought them, prob at the Big Sunday Flea pre-covid?

I only remember the largest one, grey, white, and pink. I used it for dyed Easter eggs years ago. No memory at all of the others. Note the wobbly edge.

It is crudely finished, 1920-30s American. Unglazed base.

Then this 1940s-ish lusterware. Tacky then, tacky now.

A pink and burgundy stripe, Hull? before 1950s?

USA but no brand mark.

A small but fine RingWare Beehive, California Pottery or Bauer. on the left, Dusty Rose color. Art Deco fad, c. 1930s. This is the most valuable piece, they run over $40.oo-60.oo on eBay.

I also found my McCoy pots, all except the much wanted pink one. Why is it missing? [these are also expensive now, in $45-55 dollar range for tiniest size].

And I see some Swedish crystal vases, mid-century modern and Waterford. [My mom adored ''Danish Modern, despite my dad's total focus on American colonial and primitive] I hope to get someone to climb up on the ladder and reach them down. Note the ladybug planter, second row/right.

In the bedroom is a pine library file case; I use it to store my random treasures. I found the old letters from my mom, and old photos of my kids in primary school. And I found a lovely small travel alarm clock in a red lizard case, My grandma brought it for one of her Euro trips she took each summer. The case is a horseshoe. And it has glow in the dark numerals. My brother collects mid century small alarm clocks...so I mailed it off to him. Sorry I forgot to take its pic tho. c.1950?

Then I found a long forgotten old milk bottle. Actually eBay says it is a cottage cheese jar.

I love it, fun to rediscover . I remember it in my college apartment filled with daisies--or paint brushes, probably was dump dug by my dad. The embossed logo says Drink Milk for Economy and Health. Good to know it endorses my cottage cheese and veg afternoon snack. And on the base it says Universal Milk Bottle Company. Not for Resale. Cincinnati.

c. early 1900s

It's in the window now, I m hoping it turns purple. I'll fill it again with daisies soon, I hope.

Today's project was easy and pleasant: unearthing the blue and white Staffordshire transferware plates and platters.

They get a good wash and will replace the black Staffordshire in the next few days. In recent years I have kept the black version displayed, as it's been my favorite. The blues were such joy to rediscover.

I also found this gorgeous big heavy spattterware platter. Bought years ago, never really looked at til I washed it today. Examining the base, I realized it's an old, antique even, piece, not an 80s Cute Countree revival copy.

Real fleas! Once years ago I had a chance to go to Brimfield but I blew it.

I am sad to be missing the fleas. Even the church white elephant will be exciting when I manage to get there with its current odd times and poor parking. HERE My brother has been stepping up and often sends me pics and finds from the Ohio fleas. Note the stenciled crocks, painted tool box, the quilts, painted butt basket!

Springfield Extravaganza: HERE

He and my SIL collect things that I don't so no conflict except we all love vintage Christmas, marbles thimbles and so on. She collects miniature sewing machines! And J likes Rookwood, toys, etc.

My brother has a great eye for the Americana prims I love. He sends pics--and boxes finds, so thrilled always.

He's been looking for pantry boxes and firkins for me. Often he is outraged recently tho by what he calls New York prices. I think he said this stack of maybe not authentic/ modern repro/ recently painted firkins was almost $700.oo.

Or---nevermind the firkins, lookit this red bench. swoon.

This pitcher--one of their best finds for me:

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meanwhile back in the sewing room I made my first mock up of Posies/ aka Lizzy's Last Garden:

and started my seeds on the deck.

At first I wasn't too happy w Posies but as it's hung there all week I am starting to love it. I think it's the polka dot leaves, an unintended touch.

I'm also working on Boardwalk, mostly. Soon I 'll be sidetracked bedazzling and tie-dying camp shirts and sewing doll clothes. K-pop Demon Hunter costumes, for oh so wholesome Am Girl dolls. Omigosh. Three sets!😧

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Sure was glad one rare warm day that I took down the storm windows and washed all the windows. (she said sarcastically). Gale warning instantly flashed up of course. But most of my seeds are in, early. Thing to do item accomplished! ✅