Finish#12 : It's a Mr. E

Just a silly bunch of wooden pieces I couldn't pass up a the thrift store.

I have tons of weird little items that wait for inspiration to strike.

Clever name inspired by my nephew, who actually wears the same hat.

Now a little creature, maybe a prototype for a robot figure? 

Finish a Day is great for doing some stash busting.

Thrift Thursday: Buy Fabric to Match Your Cat

Caught a little cold on the plane trip home. 

Bought great vintage zodiac fabric at Addison Studio sale a few weeks ago... 

so This will be Thrift Thursday for re-entry week.

Been distracted by learning Photoshop, but cutting out a cute top from this fabric today.

Amy Butler Cabo halter... But with some restyling.

Nice to get the needle going again.

The weekend is starting to look exciting!

Thrift Thursday: Wait Until You See

It was pretty chock a block with Springy Holiday Goodness at the thrift store.

I got vintage-y blossoms, great crown lace, a chipped up, egg shaped bunny matroshka doll (destined for a refinish, random, tiny, wooden Easter-y charms), baskets, a bag, a set of rosette irons, a pie crimper, a vintage table cloth and a lamb cake mold.

Today I tried the cake mold out:

Behold: Naked Lamb Cake!

Since the face got a bit crumbly, I guess I'll have to frost it. 

( I am trying to resist because frosted cakes aren't part of my commitment to clean up my mid-section)

But it is cute, like a little cake-y sculpture.

I'll frost it and give it to a friend.

Because it's about process, not just product.

Thrift Tuesday: Made In Japan and Made by Hand

Here is what I have been thrifting up lately.

Vintage ornaments and baubles and gee gaws. Lord, where is my hot glue gun?

These are begging for up-cycling. Re-glittering. Joy to the world.

Soon.
I just need to work on the housekeeping end a few more days. Then I'll get out the gift wrap and bits to make better bits. Gift-worthy bits. Inspirational bits.

Oh, Change of Subject!
Hey... Anyone want to come to my book signing in Tuolumne County?
It's Saturday, at Lunchtime at the Mountain Bookshop in East Sonora.
There's nothing like signing books in the town you grew up in...( She says like she even knows when this is her first- EVER!)
I wonder if I'll see any long lost pals?

Hmmmm.

Advent day 3:
Go Ahead and Stock Up.
Buying gift and thrift puts us ahead of the game.

Thrift Store Thursday: New Pony For The Stable

Meet The Singer 15-91.
She was born in 1948, in New Jersey.


I met her at the thrift store and the General said she could be mine for 20.00. A man had brought her in the day before and she had belonged to his grandma, and the machine was working great the last he knew. And she seems to work just fine.


There are some online reviews that call this machine "The Workhorse" or the "Farmer's Wife's Machine". I find sewing with her delightful. It is her sturdiness that I find so appealing.

And she cleans up real nice too.
But I have wasted quite a bit of time on the E-Bay trying to get her all outfitted with accessories.
Still looking for a buttonholer, and a piping or braiding foot, if anyone wants to trade for one.
I have loads of neat vintage supplies and even all the plates for a dresden plate quilt all in original depression era flour sack cloth.



Oh and there were other goodies at the thrift store too, that made it into my basket. But there usually are, and they usually do.

Fashion Friday: Making It Up As I Go Along

you can click on the photos if you need a close up

This is a pattern free self designed top made entirely from thrift store fabric and buttons. Did you catch that folks? Entirely thrift-begotten supplies and designed by Me!

I did use new thread. But, hey, that's like 95% green. Super economic at 3.00 in fabric and MAYBE another 50 cents in thread and buttons, and it only took a day, plus hemming and attaching buttons. So it was also quick like a bunny.

this was supposed to show that it buttons up the back but ...oh well

And Voila. I am doing something that helps me define myself the way I have long aspired to.
"She is the kind on woman who designs her own clothes."



Yeah. That is definitely the kind of person I long to be. It does have more sophistication than
"She is the kind of woman who dries tomatoes in the back seat of her car."

And look how great it goes with the earrings that Susan made. I wore this when I had dinner with her on our trip to Portland... and she liked them so much she put more of these in her shop.
Must be said that she was as delightful IRL as she is on her blog... and I think Jacob was a bit smitten because he talked as much during our dinner together as he did the rest of the trip.

(You know you want to buy them.. Then we can be like twins, or sisters or something. And you can even be the younger sister with less gray hair, because I like you that much!)

See You Next Week,
Betty

Thrift Thursday: Road Trip and Local Thrift

The Thrift Haul this week comes from the Gualala Pay and Take, and my own local fave, The Abbott's. Total spent? $12.50. A steal!!! A farmers market shopping basket, metal film canisters, sewing anvil, great huge length of vintage blue lace on the bolt, vintage Artware fabric and resin bowl and enough old ribbon for all the holiday presents this year.



Are you kidding me? This is pure gold! Is it just me or did folks in the "olden days" have more fun that we did? There is a Night Sledding Photo lighting how to in here. And sing along after flippin' sing along! The kids and the dogs are adorable!!!



I sense a vintage photo tutorial coming on.

Picture Me Yours,
Betty