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March 2008 posts

March 30, 2008

Recycle - Thrifting Finds

Shirley & I had a couple of fun days this week.  On Weds we met in Martinez & hit the antique stores.  On Saturday we were going to have a joint garage sale but the weather was so crummy we decided to SHOP instead.  We went to estate sales, garage sales & thrift stores in the Danville area.  What fun.

First of all I want to show you this picture of the thrift store shoes I've found this last year.  These shoes are either NEW or maybe worn once or twice.  My husband was showing a friend his fishing picture & up popped my shoe pic & wondered what the heck is that?  I wondered what happened to it.  I guess I used his camera. 

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Look at the brands!  Shirley gave me the Ferragamos that she found thrifting.  She is a Ferragamo sleuth.  Woo hoo!  My husband now calls me Imelda : )

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I found this wonderful little vanity set at a garage sale yesterday.  The colors go perfect for my bathroom.  Got them for a steal. Fine bone china made in England We also popped into Cottage Jewel for a looky loo & Quilters Inn.  Found these pretty Kaffee Fasset fabrics that I loved so got a half yard of each.

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I love these frames & this one with the vintage pic was only $8.  The pic is around 1900 & all the people are camping or something with a tent behind.  Kind of dressy camping.

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The pretty purple bottle - $1.99 at Good Will.  Isn't this a fun reproduction Izannah Walker doll.  She/he was plain but I sewed some vintage labels on the muslin body, tied a steel cut button around the neck (a necklace or medal depending on the sex) & gave him a belly "button".

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Thrift store brand new vest for $3.  Softest material.  The price tag & extra button were still hanging on it - $49.00.

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The softest courdoroy jacket with grosgrain trim. Thrift store for $3.00

March 25, 2008

It's done - finally!  My "Paper Doll Dresses" pattern.   I have added the pattern to my Etsy website.  You may also order by contacting me by email with your paypal email address & full name & I will send you a paypal invoice.  The china doll heads photo is included in the pattern! 

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March 23, 2008

HAPPY EASTER!!!

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I hope everyone is having a nice relaxing Easter Sunday. 

March 19, 2008

Run don't walk to Michaels!

I found this wonderful shadow box at Michaels about a month or so ago.  I was just admiring Andrea's blog today where she showed hers filled with vintage jewelry so I thought I'd show mine.  They come with the pink/brown background paper & also blue/brown.  I just LOVE it!

Here it is with the cover opened.

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Cover closed (a little harder to see)

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This pair of satin baby shoes are my own little baby shoes.  Hard to imagine my feet that small. 

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March 07, 2008

Progress "IS" Being Made

As for the dresser sanding caper, this is it's latest state.  I had to stop for a while to rest up my arm but it's coming along.  It's no longer going into the sewing room.  It will live in the kitchen with some of my pottery collection. 

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Isn't this the prettiest color & design on this bowl/pot.  I wonder if it was a chamber pot?  Ewww!   

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I'm going to move the little dry sink out of this corner to another spot, put the big dresser in here where the kitchen chairs won't bump it. 

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For those of you who have been asking when the paper doll quilt will be done, believe it or not I have been working on it again.  The diagrams & written pattern should be done in about a week & hopefully ready for sale.  Sorry I've been such a slow poke.  Life happens & I've got too many irons in the fire.

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I've quilted around the appliques & now just need to quilt the background & add a few embellishments. 

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As for today, DHL is supposed to be delivering my 2nd new computer today.  Then we can pack up the 1st new broken computer & return it.  DH is out doing errands & I sit here still in my jammies (noon) waiting for the doorbell as I have to sign for it. 

March 05, 2008

Housecleaning Sale

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I have put some of my sewing room overflow things on Ebay if anyone is interested : ) 

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Updated 3/20 - Sold

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Beaded Purse handmade in France! Updated 3/20 - Sold

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**** AND ****

Here are some books that I am parting with.  All books gently read once/like new. Could even be given as a gift.  If you are interested in any of these (not on Ebay) send me an email through my profile with your name, email address & mailing address & I'll send you a paypal invoice.

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Celebrating Home.  I have two so one is for sale.  NEW.  Originally $29.95, $19.77 on Amazon.  Through me $8.00 plus $3.00 shipping. 

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I have 3 extra copies of Volume II Somerset Home.  Some of my art was in this issue.  Originally $14.95.  Through me $7.00 plus $2.00 shipping.  Updated 3/20 Two left.

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4 quilt related novelsby Jennifer Chiaverini & 1 by Sandra Dallas:

"The Persian Pickle Club" - Sandra Dallas.  Originally $11.95.  Through me $4.00 plus $2.00 shipping.

Jennifer -

"The Cross Country Quilters".  Originally $21.00.  Through me $7.00 plus $2.00 shipping

"Round Robin".  Originally $20.00.  Through me $6.00 plus $2.00 shipping

"The Runaway Quilt".  Originally $13.00.  Through me $4.00 plus $2.00 shipping

"The Quilters Apprentice".  Originally $17.00.  Through me $5.00 plus $2.00 shipping. 

March 04, 2008

Better late than never

It seems like forever since I blogged.  I'm on an organizing whirl.  This time it's the closets.  We saw a box of really nice hangers at Costco & bought them.  Cherry wood, 50 hangers for $23.  Today I took everything out of 4 closets - yikes!  Let me tell you, 50 hangers doesn't go very far.

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I used them for my husband's clothes.  Then I went through my clothes & took the best of the plastic hangers & used those & took out the old crappy sagging ones plus the wire ones.  I bagged up lots of old clothes.  My husband's is the worst.  It took me ages to have him part with his 70's stuff : ) & now I'm getting rid of the 80's stuff.  Even his old Members jacket had to go.  He's been retired for 10 yrs now & we've still got some old police jackets that he's saving just for memories.  We dream of someday having the closet people come out & do something to make more room.  Dream closet here. 

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Some of the newer clothes go to relatives, thrift stores & maybe garage sales.  The Beave is having a garage sale this month so I will probably drag some of my stuff over & join her. 

My new computer arrived today & as soon as my husband picked the box up it was making a bad rattling sound.  He opened the box & part was disassembled.   How in the world did they manage that?  So, now we wait another week or so for a new one & have to send this one back.

In a few weeks we are getting a new roof.  Well, new roofs (rooves?)  One for the house & garage & another for our separate detached garage/workshop.  Most of our neighbors have changed theirs & some that didn't are starting to leak.  They are over 20 yrs old so it's time.

The worst part, aside from the cost is that I have to take down most of my wall hangings, plates, breakable things while they are here.  I guess I might as well dust while I'm at it since I hate moving all those things to dust.  No more wood shakes though.  This is the thickest composition which everyone seems to be going to, even the new homes.  Less expensive & less of a fire hazard, fewer trees to cut down. This is the roofing slow time of the year so they are willing to deal.

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My dresser sanding project is on hold till my carpal tunnel wrist feels better.  I really overdid it as usual.  It's going to look great though when it's done.  I have been researching the dresser online to try to determine the age & more about it.  It's starting to look like it might be an "Eastlake" piece from between 1870 - 1900.  The top was all scratched up & had water rings on it.

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It has spoon carving, (excuse my sawdust) one of their trademarks & the joints are called either Knapp dovetails, scallop & dowel , pin & scallop or pin & cove.  Many names for them.

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* A nice surprise a few days ago *

I would like to thank Leticia from Regalo for sending me an ART award/prize!

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Here's what it is about:

This prize has arisen from the daily visits that I dedicate to many blogs which nourish me and enrich me with creativity. In them I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain me day to day and to share this prize with those who enrich me every day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few, the people I will name today deserve this prize, as do the very long serious list of bloggers I also enjoy to read, but I will name the first 6 and will leave the rest of the work to all the bloggers that visit other's blogs and are nourished by them.

The rules of passing on this award are as follows:- post award in your own blog: [Post who gave it to you]- indicate its origin and a link to the site.

I must have over 200 favorite blogs on bloglines so it is impossible to narrow it down to a few favs.  We all have tons of U. S. blogs we read every day but I'd like to list some of the European blogs I love to look at whether it be art they make with their hands or the art of decorating.  Both inspire me   Here are 6 of them. 

Ciel d Orange

Espirit Champetre

La Brocante de Margote

LouiseLoves Pinboard

Zinc et Buise

Min Lilla Veranda

 

My Photo

MISC.