And another quilt

A while back I went to to a new-to-me thrift store in a town north of here, with a new friend. We had lunch together and then headed to the thrift store, I'd never even heard of it before. Lots of pretty things - nice dishes - some clothes - some furniture - some books - and around a corner in a dark little spot I spied a bag of what looked like quilt blocks.

Stuffed into a plastic bag were all these Dresden Plate blocks - in Laura Ingalls Wilder 70s calicos - appliqued and very good work - a few extra "plates" and even some extra backing to applique them to. This is what they looked like when I got them - just squares. I asked my new friend if she wanted them - she's a quilter too - but she said no, she had plenty to do. Well, not one to leave quilt blocks in a thrift store - and not one to pass up a bargain - I grabbed them. And the price was 2.95 - for ALL of them. I was delirious with happiness - and giddy with quilt blocks.

I tried several settings - searched high and low for that 70s calico look - and came up with nothing. I had some leftover kelly green solid from another project and thought it would look great as sashing - so off I went to the sewing machine - and stitched this top up in a day - and I had to applique two of the plates to the extra background.


I love how it turned out - though I still have to applique the round centers in the plates. I am thinking a dark green calico tone-on-tone that I have - won't take long to get those centers done. I was thinking I'd put another border on - but might just stop where I am - more thinking - but I think I will do the centers and call it done. I love the scrappy look of it - and I found several fabrics that I've used in some of my older quilts in the spokes of the plates. It is fun to have someone else's work with the same farics I used in quilts in the 70s.

I think this is my biggest quilt bargain - well, maybe the 25 cent quilt was the best - but it is old and needs repair - these are in like-new condition and fresh and pretty. What is your best quilt bargain?

Yard Sales

We went searching for farm stands selling rapsberries and Ranier cherries - and found some great yard sales. Found Raniers too and bought a big bag full.

And then we found the yard sale to end all yard sales - it covered two yards and was splendid - and we did some major damage there . . .

A Thomas book for Ben - when you read the story it gives little pictures that match those on the right side and you push them and it makes a sound . . . very cute . . .

More books . . .

A really cute star shaped Santa for my collection . . .

A Sunbeam iron that actually gets hot, instead of tepid like the one I have . . .

A hand drill for Don . . .

Size 8 DMC - lovely beige color . . .

New - still wrapped in plastic in its box - dip set . . .

Some cute bears for the quilt shelf in the bedroom . . .

Another of these sets of toy bins for the toyroom - the other one is overflowing and it is hard to keep things sorted neatly. . . .

And a BeDazzler - cuz you know I likes me some dazzle!!!

Vintage thingie Thursday and Thrifty Thursday

It is time for Vintage Thursday Thingee - and I've got some great things to share. Please join us at Coloradolady, where Suzanne is our hostess, to see vintage thingies!

And stop over at Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday!

We stopped at a yard sale last Saturday - a lady had put all her stuff out on the lawn near the ponds in our community. We aren't allowed yard sales here - so we were surprised to see her there. We asked if she was from the community and she told us she was from the apartments across the road, but that this was the perfect spot for a yard sale.

We knew that soon the management of the community would see her and scare her off - but we shopped anyway. I started asking prices -

for a nice serving bowl - 25 cents, two for the price of one. . .

a cute folding sand chair that the boys could use - 25 cents . . .

some pretty silverware - 25 cents for all of it. . .

a pretty little pickle fork - free . . .

a mandolin - 25 cents - lots of extra blades for this too . . .

Everything was spread out on an old quilt and Don asked - how much for the quilt - and she said - are you ready, maybe you'd better sit down - go ahead, ohhh you already are sitting down. She said - a quarter!!!!!

Well, we couldn't get that stuff unloaded off the quilt fast enough. She apologized that the quilt was in bad shape -but I said - I can always use parts of it - and for a quarter - well, what can I say - what a deal!!!!

I love the tulip design and the thirties colors . . .

Most of the quilt is in fair to good condition . . .

The edges are badly frayed on one end - I imagine that this was wrapped about some boxes and stuff in the back of a pickup on moving day and allowed to flap in the wind - from the extent of the damage I'd say it was a long trip. But most of the quilt is in fairly good shape, considering its age and the treatment it has gotten.

Ohh poor little quilt . . .

All raggedy and frayed . . .

But I shall clip off the frayed edges and find some matching fabric to rebind the edges and it will be a happy quilt once again. After repairs it will be a good throw size for napping on the sofa.

I'm so glad we stopped at that yard sale - got some other things there too - for 25 cents each, but they were't vintage - just great deals. On the way home we noticed that the lady had moved her sale across the street to a narrow strip of grass near the apartments. I hope she sold everything, and it is pretty likely - since she had such good prices. Glad we were first.

Vintage Thingies Thursday - and Thrifty Thursday - Pine Cone Dishes

It is time for Vintage Thursday Thingee - so I've been going around my house photographing dishes - oh what a lot of dishes I have to photograph. Please join us at Coloradolady, where Suzanne is our hostess, to see vintage thingies! I thought I would start with my pine cone dishes - I love anything to do with pine cones - anything - I have baskets of them in the house - and pine cones on many, many dishes. I've gotten almost all of them at thrift stores or yard sales - and one or two from ebay - that I just coudn't resist.

Since everything was from thrift stores or ebay - I thought I'd share with the group over at Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday!

I have an old egg basket full of cones we have collected . . .

And a punched tin basket - great for the holidays . . .

There are shelves full of pine cone dishes . . .

And more shelves . . .

And yet more shelves . . .

They all live in this china cabinet in the living room - along with some other vintage things and a flock of white chickens - a story for another time . . .

I love this teapot - it is for left handed -

Or right handed - isn't that just handy? Pine cones on both sides . . .

There are stacks of plates - and platters and these two sizes of bowls . . .

I love the big flat soup bowls - these are great for chilly winter nights and a big pot of soup . . .

And don't for get the salt and pepper . . .


And a wonderful deviled egg tray that our son gave me for a gift one christmas . . .

I even have the tiniest little children's tea set . . .

The cream and sugar are just precious . . .

I like the pattern on the tea set - it is one of the things I got on ebay - to celebrate a new job . . .

So what is your favorite set of dishes? Or do you have more than one favorite?

Thrifty Treasures

A good day for some thrifty treasures - stop over at Southern Hospitality and find other great blogs with thrifty treasures.

I only have two this time - but they are really good ones. I have a teapot collection, all of them are solid colors - and I've been looking for a cobalt blue one for years (20 years ). I found one in SoCal a long, long time ago. I'd been getting the solid color ones for about 2.00 at a swap meet on the border and when the vendor asked for 5.00 I passed - thinking it was too much. Oh how I've regretted that decision as I've not found another since then - until now.


Just look at that beauty - shiny and blue and so flashy looking. It is going to look great on the top of my cabinets in the kitchen with all its friends. And I paid - are you ready for this - 4.99 - and that isn't bad for inflation in 20 years. :-)


Sitting nearby were these small pyrex bowls. Now you know I love pyrex - especially when it is in such beautiful condition - almost mint. These individual bowls are about 3" across - just the thing for individual servings of pudding, or baked beans - oh the possibilities. They were 1.99 each - more than I usually pay for second hand - but come on - they are perfect - and they were sitting near the teapot - I just couldn't leave them there. I haven't used them yet - but as soon as it gets cool enough I think I'll make some baked beans.

Some thrift store fun - and some pink stuff

I've not been to a thrift store or a yard sale for ever so long - but here are some great finds from before Don's surgery. Just haven't had time to share them with you. If I've posted about these before - please just skip this post - and if not - then please enjoy.

These pretty pink appliqued hankies are so dainty. I love vintage linens with this kind of filmy, soft applique and embroidery . . .

And a tiny pink pitcher - this is only about 3 inches tall. I put it on the window sill in the kitchen where it catches the morning sun . . .

I noticed lately that we are using the big kitchen salt and peppers on the table for meals and when I found these cute little crystal shakers I knew I just had to have them - and only 29 cents a pair - now that's a bargain . . .

And a jam pot - with lovely tarnished silver lid. I used another vintage silver spoon from my collection - seems to fit perfectly . . .

And the bargain of the day. . . week . . . month - these prefilled bobbins and little spools of thread. There are 32 of each - such a rainbow of colors. They are great for the Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt I am working on - a thread for every fabric. And the bargain you ask? Well - $1.99 for the whole set - now THAT'S what I call a bargain!!

It's time for some fun around here

It has been so serious here lately - I feel like I need some fun - so let's play with the thrift shop stuff. There are some fun things I haven't shown you yet - and I know you really want to see them.

This group of hankies was sitting in a little basket on the counter in a thrift shop that I rarely go to because they generally don't have very good stuff. I saw the basket and almost walked by - until I saw the price - 29 cents each.


Well, I just couldn't gather them up fast enough - pink ones - blue ones - yellow - embroidered - lacy - sheer - oh the fun. And only 29 cents each.

Lots of lace - lots of scallops - lots of pretty, pretty, pretty . . . and 29 cents each.


And all starched and ironed - and folded in little triangles . . .and only 29 cents each.

I left a few - didn't want to seem piggy - but I didn't leave any of the cute ones, or any of the pretty ones, or any of the embroidered ones, or any with the crocheted edgings - ooops - oink oink oink - got a little piggy there. But I was a happy piggy - I am collecting vintage linens and especially hankies, and one day I shall make a crazy quilt of them - and these new ones will certainly be stars!!!! And only 29 cents each!!! Did I already mention that?

I knew you wanted to see these - so what have you gotten lately at the thrift store? I really want to see what you got. And did you pay only 29 cents each?