It's Flea Season Again! ~ First Church Flea Market of the Spring

HI! Temps are very cold and the wind is big, but I know spring has arrived because the little church's first flea market was held last week. Oh I was sooo excited, you cannot imagine. I know, little life, little thrills, but that's my idea of fun. All winter long I've been saving dollar bills, because the fleas here prefer cash; I have a little wad of crumpled singles set aside--I am so organized and didn't dip into this tiny hoard for tips or lunch money. Prob is less than $30.oo.

So last Friday I had it all planned out, I would be early, I'd get to the flea's Friday presale ahead of the crowds. This flea has  a preview sale Fridays and Mondays 2-4 PM. Imagine all the treasures the church ladies had accumulated during the winter?
I got there early but later than I'd hoped because I ended up waiting for a no-show friend. I arrived at the church and there was not a parking space to be found in the entire village. Not at the other church or the preschool, not at the train station or the post office or the wine shop. Nada. I drove around for an hour, hampered by the fact that this village is on a spit of land without regular cross streets and hemmed in by two busy busy busy train crossings. I finally went home, dejected, rejected.
In the end I went back Monday...again no parking! This is new, there must be something going on at the same time, like a moms' group or AA or Bible study. I finally parked about a mile away---darn it, I was gonna get there! [Please don't suggest Uber, we don't have it and it'd cost too much anyway.]

The shelves were very picked over, and the place was pretty empty, so I know all those cars came for something else. The ladies were tidying up and putting away, because this is the basketball court of the rec hall.

Here are a few things that caught my eye:
This lovely big doll house.

I loved it. It's like a Midwestern farmhouse, just what I used to dream of owning back in the day, before beach cottage times. That front porch just begs for Halloween decorations, bales of hay and many pumpkins. The interior was in poor condition but fixable. A rehab!

There was also a box of all the furniture and the doll-residents. It said ''included"; If you peer through the plastic wrap you can see the darling little quilt that was there. I think ''cheater cloth'', not pieced, but cute, very 70's calico-awful.

I didn't note the price, because I didn't want to buy it and it was tempting. I would love to have a doll house again.

A sweet beer bottle brown glass rooster candy jar, 1930-40s?

Loved the big mirror, I always wanted one of these when I sewed my own clothes.

Pretty lace and linens, too $$.

More, with embroidery.

I loved this dresser scarf's oddly colored dull flowers, maybe for sachet hearts? but not that day. Eight dollars? Insane, who but me buys these things?

Ribbons and fabric, not tempted. Next time.

I took a few pictures of the clothes racks in case my friend B can ever go with me. Not a big selection, though on another rack they sure had a LOT of big white wedding gowns in tiny sizes.

What came home with me, how did I spend my $3.oo?

A floral sheet and an apron.

The full/double sheet was 2.oo and is a possible backing for the Blue Baskets quilt. Quilt backings are one of the unmentioned big expenses of making quilts--often 6 or 7 yards at 10.75 a yard. So as much as 80.oo; a two dollar sheet looks amazing in comparison.

The bluebells are darling, aren't they, plus touches of bright yellow and the tiniest red polka dots.

I love it. My quilter isn't thrilled with using sheets but I prevail. I think using a  vintage sheet is so in tune with the idea of the Baskets being recycled old shirts. And often sheets are nicely lightweight and so soft. I do have something else in mind, waiting to see if it goes on sale before ordering.

This is my only Blue Baskets of the month for March posting, except the mention again the lovely white shirtings from Nancy.

I didn't make any Baskets this month, and in a few seconds you'll see why.

My other treasure is this great polka dot apron, in the best green and best polka dots. One dollar. I'm sure my eyes got big and I grabbed it. Think how many St Paddy's Day dinners this apron may have made. Worn but pristine and well kept.

Wonderful make do pocket, as if it was made without the pocket and the maker used all the fabric. Then needed a pocket! So she cut off some of the waist ties and pieced herself a pocket. Look closely, it's made of three carefully pieced horizontal strips.

I don't collect aprons, but I almost kept it to wear myself. In the end, I realized I don't wear half aprons, just bibbed bakers' aprons. I am a spill-on-my-shirt kinda girl.

After washing and ironing, I folded the apron and set it on the corner cupboard. Aha! The polka dotted green just had to be the backing for my fun little red doll quilt.

I made the little quilt with the unused blocks from TQC 1880 Sampler.

Just one more is left, it will be a pin keep. Since this little guy is just for me I could use the wild red horseshoes fabric that I love. Horseshoes were a very popular motif in conversational shirting prints in the second half of the 19th century, so the print is not as anachronistic and silly as it may seem. I treated myself to having it quilted professionally, in miniature Baptist Fans.

It was going to possibly be my Humble Quilts swap quilt, but on inspection I saw it perhaps had ''bad'' fabrics, not in the rules. Plus it was probably too goofy, too childlike?--and lastly. I loved it too much to give it to someone who is expecting and deserving a traditional look.

I struggle with giving my quilts away. The second---no third!--little quilt I made for the swap is so perfect with my yellowware bowls! We'll see how time goes.

These two little quilts and prepping  1880 and Sajou for the quilter took up the days that were intended for my Baskets. I'll have to do double for April! Or fall behind. @@

Mo and I found daffodils today! But no pix.

Have a good weekend.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

PS When Lori adds the Stringalong Linky I'll add that here so you all can see the projects of people who actually got things done in March. 

 PS2: If you love the look of the 1880 Sampler, with its 4" blocks [not necessarily my version but the project], TQC is doing a new sewalong !! W/ tinier 3" blocks.  HERE  I'm thinking to do it w/ my 1930s kiddy prints. It's a fast project but it can be made at your own pace, when you feel like it. No deadlines or posts involved.

Out and About ~ Costco, Flea Market and other Fun Stops.

Hello! Things look good on the computer and Blogger fronts now! I'll update at the end of this post. This summer my friend Elle [L] and I have been making a point of getting out for some fun shopping [okay, "just looking" every week. It isn't all that hot here but a ride in L's air-conditioned SUV is a bit of a treat for me.

I love the new little church flea on alternate Fridays, often I go alone before doing my weekend grocery  shopping. I have to look hard to find good stuff sometimes---and then there is the one that got away. Big 30% off furniture last week; as I dragged L back to the tables area for her opinion of the beautiful but repro farm table I've been eyeing all spring---painted chubby turned legs, scrubbed pine top, drawer,---two guys with a big moving truck carted it away right before our eyes!

Other fun finds. L collects Wedgwood. Only the matte blue iconic Etruscanware also called Jasperware. here  Remember how she wouldn't buy the rare antique yellow teapot, $3.oo!? Very focused collector. A few weeks ago I found these pieces, plus a teeny tiny blue  with white cherubs teapot, less than 2" high.

I bought the square dish and the teapot for L for a gift to thank her for helping me get Mo to the vet for his annual check up--and well, just because she's a wonderful friend.

I was very amazed to get the pieces home and, with a strong magnifier, see that they are really Wedgwood/ England! NOT  cheap repro. Modern, souvenir pieces, but still. 5 bucks and  fifty cents!
This past week we found these two heart dishes. L passed on them, I never did find out why. Maybe because they're probably parts of card sets?

  I collect these papier mache eggs and always grab them anytime of year! This one was only a dollar, marked Western Germany, so maybe 1950s? Before the country was called simply West Germany anyway. Good size, 4"
Good color, chocolate.

I was a little annoyed that the church ladies put on an adhesive price tag and damaged the image on that side. Really too bad. It's 50-70 years old!

More finds we left behind.
Sweetest bisque cherubs, perfect condition. Love. I'd use them for a white Christmas display with variegated holly and snow dusted pine, white ribbons....

Cow creamer with roses, so sweet. English, 1800s.

Deco? cobalt cocktail glasses ~ [friends said No!].

I do like these weird old flower frogs. Too $$ as a set.

.........................

Another day we popped into the new Costco in the marsh behind the little village where the church sale is. The tubs of Spanish bumblebee lavender were gorgeous. 14.99. Costco is NO bargain.

And the field roses were 13.99 a bunch.

,,,......................

Here we are setting off for our twice a year trip to The Christmas Tree Shop /CTS.

CTS has nothing to do with Christmas or trees, though I think it began years ago in Cape Cod selling seashell Christmas ornaments.

It is a long drive, made longer by L's desire to go the way her GPS said, instead of by my back route through the sandbar beaches and the marshes.  In Cape Cod there's a CTS or two or three in every town; I wish there was one closer to us. They sell fun seasonal items, always useful and must have-y, at awesome prices.

What I found:

Drinks stuff,

And a useful serving tray $1.25.

Long candle matches and a cool monkey puzzle/ monkey fist nautical rope doorstop.

It must weigh 10 pounds! It was the most expensive item at 7.99 but I did wish I'd bought two or even three because the doors in my cottage blow shut with loud bangs all the time.

Pretty smallish box for quilt blocks:

Outdoor plant pot lights, 3 for $5.oo.

Tie backs and nice shabby chic curtain rods, no curtain rings though.

New, useful size Nantucket repro basket.

Boxes of cards for thank you notes which yes I do write!, and for friends and rels who live in the stone age and do not email or text.

Even a box of coastal Christ,mas cards! Yay.

I always look for totes there. This is a great find, sturdy and well made--a new beach bag!

I love that it is nautical but with tangerine orange stripes and navy trim, it's perkier than classic r/w/blue. And an embroidered pineapple, so cute.

I did not get a stroller or bed steps for Mo, or deck gates; no curtain rings.  No outdoor deck rug so Mo's little feet don't burn. [Waverly, 59.99!@@]. Deck umbrellas were also too expensive, have to manage with just the one for awhile longer. Everything here cost under 70.oo.

This week? Maybe Joann's for quilt backings; Old Navy for on-sale "perfect" tees and tanks. Trader Joe's for reasonably priced flowers. Sound fun!

PS My BBQ contribution salads were delish! This one is from the summer issue of Bon Appetit magazine:

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

Blogger issues: With the help of blog friend Nancy I have fixed notifications for your comments. Now I again get an email and will do my best to answer comments. However I may continue to also answer on the blog because I think it adds to the post. And if you are a no-reply blogger , unless I know you and have your email, your reply will be in the blog comments on my blog. Unless you supply me with your email, which you are welcome to send to me at   lizzzz.d@gmail.com  or robin750@msn.com or leave it in your comments. I am pretty good about saving email addresses. Thanks!