Saturday, January 17, 2009

Thrifty Treasures

I thought I'd show you a few finds I've come across at the thrift stores lately. I've been trying to walk through with blinders on when I'm near the housewares aisles--I just have nowhere to put more "stuff" right now since some of the "winter" decorations are still up, but that hasn't stopped me from finding a couple fun books and--of course--textile goodness!

I can never pass up a Susan Branch book, and Lindy over at Bearpaws & Hollyhocks sometimes reads little snippets from this book to her classes. It's not one I had in my Susan Branch collection, so I was tickled to come across it.


This cookbook, Margaret Rudkin's Pepperidge Farm Cookbook, was published in 1963, and illustrated by children's book illustrator Erik Blegvad. It's not rare by any means, but the illustrations are charming. I hope to have a chance to look through it a little more closely this weekend.


Now for the textiles. A week or so ago, I checked the aisle of women's jackets and blazers and found these lovely colored wool blazers. The hot pink one already found its way into the flower on the heart pillow!


I also found a women's wool suit in a pretty teal and black weave--the color's a bit washed out in this photo.


All together, they make a very satisfactory pile of wool once they're cut apart, washed, dried, and stacked! (The teal and black wool is there on the bottom of the pile.)


After giving you the heart pillow assignment the other day, I couldn't resist a return visit to the thrift store where I found another lacy white button up sweater and a red knit sweater. More pillows are in my future as soon as I have time to make them--luckily, they don't take very long!


And last of all, I came across this handwoven vest. The background or foundation is a brown that looks much like burlap (it isn't!), but the watercolor blues, purples, and pinks woven into it--well, thoughts of Easter and hopping bunnies are running (or hopping?!) though my mind. I'm not sure what it will become, but I'm confident it will "tell" me what it wants to be before too long!


Have you visited your local thrift store lately? There may be some treasures waiting for you! Happy hunting!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I find all kinds of treasures at my local thrift stores too!

Books and quilty finds are my favourite thing to find.

My kids LOATHE going into thrift stores, but I think it's a GREEN thing to do, and socially conscious too. (Besides, I'm terminally cheap!)

Judy said...

OMG!! Those jackets are even more fabulous than I had imagined from your description! Our housewares area really lacks at the moment, but as the store gets known more should come in. SO did you wash the wool in the pillowcase or just in the washer? I'm cutting mine today and int he case they go for washing.

Excellent finds!!

Busy Little Quilter said...

I love visiting my local thrift stores. Sometimes I find stuff, and sometimes none at all. I have this "thing" for small chairs that adults sit in. I don't need any more small chairs, so I am going to look for a lacy white sweater.

Have a great weekend!

MichelleB said...

Those are some great finds. What great wool in those jackets! Although you have to wonder at who bought them in the first place. Did they real wear them? LOL

libertythreads said...

I love to thrift and am always looking for wool. My question to you is how do you wash the wool? Do you take it apart first, leave it all together, put in something to catch the lint, etc.?
I love reading your blog everyday and love your humor!
libertythreads@charter.net

Shirley--Knot-y Embroidery Lady said...

I was chuckling when I read MichelleB's comment because I too was wondering the same thing. I guess you can never have too many colours in wool blazers in your closet......

I hope you are having a great weekend - resting up and doing what you enjoy with your family and of course some time in your "Sweat Shop."

Best of luck at Bearpaws and Hollyhocks Open House tomorrow. Your quilts will draw a lot of interest.

Cheerio

Jenny said...

I've visited your blog several times in the past few months. I love your writing, your humor, your ideas! Thanks so much for sharing yourself through your blog and for brightening my day.

Lorraine said...

Nothing like that is ever in my local thrift store.....but will keep looking! The wool is a great 'find'.........!

Anonymous said...

Great finds....I'll have a look in ours this week. Maybe a little somethin' somethin' to send your way!

Anonymous said...

You will love the Margaret Rudkin cookbook. It was one of the first I bought when I got married. That was at least a few years after it was published though. LOL. Your thrift shop yields more wool then mine -- mine is apparently where acrylic goes to die....

Nan said...

I cannot wait to visit my local thrift stores now! Look at all those treasures! I'm excited to see what that pretty vest "tells" you to create with it.

Very Mary said...

Yesterday I found 5 old wooden cigar boxes for $1. (for all 5!). The paper whore in me is itching to get crafty!