thrifty adventures

My thrifting days are often done on a whim. Just running errands and I have some extra time. Stop by the nearest thrift shop. Usually it's Goodwill. And this day I was out with my kids and it was the same thing. My eldest needed xray's on his teeth (for braces) and we had some extra time coming home before dinner.

My kids get a $1. spending limit. And this time I held firm. Especially since I had all 3 of them with me. But, they do also get to pick out a book. So it is a firm $2.50. Me, no spending limit. See it, love it, buy it. Because it will not come my way ever again.

And that is how I brought home this perfect vintage hobnail milk glass lamp for $6. I wasn't even sure if it worked. I didn't ask to check it. But the more I looked at it the more perfect it was. It stayed in a bag at home for a week. And when I did pull it out, it was because I had found this perfect lampshade in one of my closets. I told my girl it was going in her bedroom. But I am just too in love with it for now. It will have to stay in my sewing room for a bit longer.

Did you find anything wonderful this week? Then link it up here, because I would love to see it! And visit my friend Stacey to see what she fell in love with this week at her local thrift.

sherbet pips

A few days ago I received this delightful and fun fabric in the mail. And yesterday I started to cut it up! Which is so hard for me to do. When I get a new fabric that I love I just want to stare at it and never part with any little bit of it. But, cut it I did!



It's called Sherbet Pips from the fabulous designer Aneela Hoey of Moda. You can visit her blog and read all about her inspiration, and she has a flickr site too!

little baby gift

Here is a little custom order I finished last month. Made for a new baby girl. Two onesies and one pair of booties that can be worn two ways. Sweets for a tiny sweetie.

bit more purple

I think I have told you before that I am not a lover of purple. Even though I did just buy that purple couch! But this fabric was just gorgeous and I could not resist it's vibrancy.

So I made this sweet purple library bag. I spent the day writing a pattern for it too. So much tougher than I thought it would be. It is fun and easy to sew, but hard for me to put it in words. I had to sew, and write and got a little frustrated. And walk away for a bit. But I did it!

It's also a reversible bag. And using two complimentary prints on the inside make it fun. It's big enough for you, or your girl, whenever you're ready for a sleepover, not just for a trip to the library.

If you would like to learn to sew this bag just visit The Tin Thimble and look up their class list for April. Or you can keep an eye on my etsy page and I will soon be sewing up a few more!

And be sure to visit the Vintage Sheet Blog. Where there is a daily giveaway and it is lots of fun!

thrifty adventures

This has been my biggest thrift purchase ever. Both in size and dollar amount.


I actually saw this little couch last week. And didn't think much of it at the time. But I ended up thinking about it all weekend, dreaming of where I could fit it in my already full house.

So I went back on Monday morning and it was still there. Just sitting there all covered in its majestic purple velvet. With pure Victorian style. Ready to be painted white and covered with new fabric to go in my bedroom. I'll have to find some inspirational pic's to share with you. I am just so excited to get to it!

A little rickety, but such gorgeous details and pretty much intact. Plus, I asked for a better price and got $100 off. And yes, I told my hub that I was going to buy it. He is just worried about when it will be out of his garage.


When I saw this gorgeous face, I could resist no longer. I buy what I love!

What did you fall in love with this week? Join our linky party here and visit Pill's Place to see what Stacey found. And please remember to grab our button to add to your blog posting.

mother daughter sewing classes

Ever since I taught the little group of girls how to sew by hand, their Moms and some others, began asking me to teach them to sew. They have also asked to do a sewing class with their daughters. Such a sweet idea.

The girls at The Tin Thimble were up for the idea. And we have set dates for three classes. All on a Sunday. March 27, April 3, and April 10 from 1-3. By then, there should be gorgeous spring days.
I wanted to share with you here two of the projects I have finished already. The first class we will be making a reversible placemat and a napkin. This great fabric I bought at the Tin Thimble and had enough to make extra napkins for my home!

For the second class I used a new technique for creating pillowcases. I've heard that you will spend more time picking out the fabric then sewing up the actual pillowcase. And once I made it for myself, I believe it!

The third class will be a reversible bag. Which is so fun and easy. Perfect for taking your books home and back to the library. This is the project that I am sewing up today. So you will have to wait to see the pictures. But each class is perfect for the beginning sewer. So I hope to see some new faces in there!

I also wanted to mention The Vintage Sheet blog. You must visit them each day of March. She is having a daily giveaway. And if you love vintage and the fresh pretty patterns of vintage linens, be sure to stop by.

sweet menagerie

My sister sent me some fabric from her shop, Quilter's Eden about 3 weeks ago. It's called Menagerie and it is from one of our favorite fabric designers in Australia, Melanie Hurlston of Melly & Me. Our other favorite Australian designer is her sister Rosalie Quinlan. (of course they are sisters!)

Mary asked me to sew up a few baby bibs. So this is what I sent her. I had fun sewing these up. The elephant bib reverses so there is an elephant applique on the back of the flannel polka dots. And the monkey bib reverses also to a flannel polka dot, but it is sewn using my favorite aqua color of thread for a nice little added detail.

Now the bibs used only half of the fat quarter I was sent. So I had to make up some sweet little booties too! I love this little shoe pattern. It features the elephants on one side and the monkeys on the other.

I still had fabric left! Can you believe it. That is one of the best things about creating tiny things for tiny babies. They take tiny bits of fabric. So I did a little fun applique on a long sleeve onesie. It gets cold in Minnesota don't you know!

I am also being sent more of this Menagerie collection, featuring owls and bees. Love new fabrics!

I see more bibs and booties in my future.