The Great Transfer

I'm transferring all my great thrifty finds to a new blog: Treasure Hunting on the Coast. Check it out sometimes. Several of the items featured on the blog will be available for sale in my Etsy Shop. The rest stay right here with me. Where they belong.

A Strawberry kind of a day...

While visiting the various thrift shops (or, as Adah likes to call them: trip stores) and garage sales today, I seem to have had an eye for all thing green, pink, white and red. Some days, certain colors attract me and today it was the strawberry palette. Take a look at some of my finds for today.




Top left corner: photos contains red tights, strawberry shortcake tricycle, adorable baby shoes, Strawberry Shortcake canister, teddy bear made of an antique quilt--at least, that's what its label says!! Do you see that amazing pink phone in the bottom right-hand corner? It's perfect. Please click on the photo to see these images in a larger size...

What's a dehumidifier?

There's a quote in one of the Little House Books where Pa looks at Laura and says: "The rich man gets his ice in the winter, but the poor man gets his in the summer." It's kind of odd these days to think of not having ice on demand (especially here in the South), but that's how folks lived for years. In fact, I would venture to say, only in the last eighty or so years have a majority of the people had ice or refrigeration on demand.

Why the rumination on ice? Well, I was looking over Wize's list of dehumidifiers and was astounded to see what prices run on these little buddies. The average price on these units is about $200: with the low being $22 and the high being over $300. I thought it rather amusing that several of the $200-$300 dehumidifiers ranked below the $22 unit. Just another reason Wize is such a useful site, I never would have known such an inexpensive unit existed! Granted, I don't think I'm going to be buying one of these little contraptions anytime soon, but some people will be glad to know they're around.

So, what does Laura Ingall's ice in cold weather have to do with these dehumidifiers? You knew I could link all this together, right? Well, here in Pensacola, we have a little problem with humidity. I once had a friend from Michigan state say that she figured southern girls had such beautiful skin because of the high humidity in our region. I'm not sure about that, but I do know that these days my skin has taken on the texture of dry paper. I can't drink enough water to rehydrate myself. Humidity is down to roughly 30% and I'm shriveling away to sawdust people! Can't I get some kind of happy medium here?

Chenille to Chanel

This poor chenille coverlet has been wasting away on the bottom shelf of a cupboard for months now. A few days ago, I came up with the marvelous (to me) idea of turning it into pillowcases. I did not get a finished shot of the pillowcases, but I am very pleased with them. After looking at the amount of material left over after making two pillowcases, I was determined I would have a dress from some of the remaining yardage. Not only was I able to make a dress, but I have plenty of fabric left over for more projects. Anybody have any ideas?

Note: This coverlet has multiple tears, so I am not guilty of just randomly cutting into a vintage bed spread. It has a wonderful second life that will make me very happy!

Thrifty Thursday #2

Last Saturday, I went to my first estate sale auction! Oh, how I loved it. Aside from the fact that the A/C in the home could not accommodate all the folks inside, it was lots of fun. I was by myself because James had appointments (Yay!!) so I was fairly hesitant about bidding. This estate sale had lots of vintage sewing items the first day but they were gone by the time auction time came around. I bid on several lots but did not win any until we went outside. There was a lovely antique dresser/vanity missing one drawer. The bid started at $10, I met the bid--no one bid against me--so I went home with this beautiful dresser for $11.86!! How cool is that?

Where else? Mini storage clear out. James bought a beautiful vintage silk screened oriental painting for his office. It's about 5 ft high by 3 ft wide--$15! It looks marvelous in his office. We found several great garage sales before we even left our neighborhood. I got the rose light cover (1920s-30s) for only $2.

I have to check on any auctions this weekend. They're the best.




Want to play? Just leave a link to your amazing finds or thrifty tips in the comment box.

Thrifty Thursday

Continuing in the tradition that I just began last week, I would like to share with you some of our finds this week. Honestly, we haven't been out and about that much. We've had a job change and the heat pretty much precludes venturing far from the house. Last Saturday, I lost the clip to hold up my hair and nearly panicked. (note: my hair reaches my waist, so it must be pulled back and up!) As well, many of the thrift stores we frequent do not have air conditioning. You may be able to imagine that we don't browse and search much in those stores (of course, they have the best things...)






Did you have any great finds this week? Leave a comment and a link to your post so we can find you. We'd love to see your special deals or thrifty ways!

Thrifty Thursday...

Who remembers my failed attempt at hosting the blogging carnivals? That really got to be too much for me, so I will just post thrifty finds on Thursdays. Slowly, I am trying to get a schedule for this blog. One day it will come together and be so nice. In the meantime, if anyone wants to join in on Thrifty Thursdays, just leave a link in the comments. I would love to check out your finds or your thrifty ways.

Until then, here are some photos of our recent finds...
Side of the road...free...windmill, not the house...
old singer button hole maker--maybe 50 cents
Fire King Milk Glass--50 cents each
Way too cute hat!! Couple of dollars, I think...

I miss...

my little blog. I have been so busy setting up my online store that I can't think of anything creative to say on the blog. I will tell you we made some supersweet finds while we were out "thrifting" today. From books to pressure cookers (for 2.50!!), we came home loaded with "good stuff" and some new ideas for marketing. I have become so internet savvy in the last few months, I don't know what to do with myself.

If you haven't yet checked out my little shop, it would do my heart good if you clicked on the link to the right. I don't have anything listed right now, but the pages are basically set up. look around and let me know what you think of the images, navigation and so forth. I am looking forward to everyone's feedback!

Some of my collection...

In case you don't know, I love vintage quilts and Raggedies. I buy them when I find them (granted, they need to be priced under ten dollars!) So, here are some images from my collection:

The Carnival of Thrift! Edition #2

Welcome! Welcome to the carnival of thrift! Step right up and view what we have found. Thanks for the entries to the second edition of I went thrifting today... We have some wonderful entries and some entries that I found surfing the web. Without further ado, let's dive right in!

Anastacia presents
Stash enhancement posted at Anastacia Knits, saying, "I don't know if your readers would be interested or not, but this find was a treasure for me!" everyone be sure to let her know, we are always interested in good finds!

Tracee Sioux presents
Worth 1,000 posted at Blog Fabulous, saying, "I totally found my dream pants in my size at an unadvertised garage sale. Total Score!"

Jenny-up the hill presents

Up the Hill Gang: Sweater = Sheep posted at Up the Hill Gang.

Becca presents
The thrifter in me... posted at Unplugging the "Stuff" Machine, saying, "What a collection of goodies!"

Here's what I found surfing

As I said before, I love lingering at Linda's place, seeing all of her pretty things: thrifted and grown! Here's what I found over there this week: Craft-Room-Makeover in which she presents her own thrifty way of remodeling a room!

Will you look at these fabrics that Katie found at a yard-sale? Someone called them "in demand vintage." I think they're great!

Thanks for joining us for this edition of the Thrifty Carnival. Don't forget to get your entries in for next week.

The thrifter in me...

I have been wanting to post some fun pictures of some of my thrifty finds here lately. Something or other keeps stopping me. Yesterday, the whole computer conspired against me. James' poor iPod is still non-functional. I'm just hoping I'm not the one who harmed it. We do use a Mac. I almost think it's a lemon or we abuse it, 'cause it gives us more trouble than we like. Granted, it's still not a lot of trouble. Just some.

Whoa, back to photos of thrifting. I can't even keep track of what day it is, so of course my posts are going to wander as well. I have some great pictures here and they will definitely be entered into the carnival of thrift for next week.

check them out!

1930s Sterno Vaporizer, complete with cookstove--$5

Holiday Designs Canister Set: 1960s--$10 for all four!

Now that's a cute chicken. I don't think it does anything, though!--$.50
unmarked salt and pepper shakers: Pyrex Style--$.99 for set

I love my new hat! It came with the original receipt! $11.33! Unfortunately, the year was not included on receipt. The top is velvet and the brim is composed of real feathers. Super cool!--$5

The Carnival of thrift!

Today marks the first day of struggling with the HTML for this carnival linkage. Whew! Someone is going to have to tell me how to do this easily, 'cause it's not working for me! Anyway, for our first edition, we have two wonderful thrifters, of course, that does include me. I want you! for our next edition...
Welcome to the May 9, 2007 edition of i went thrifting today....

We have several categories: garage sale, treasure piles and thrift store. Our first entry is in the garage sale category:

Garage Sale

the ever-thrifty Stephanie presents

The First Yard Sale of the Seasonposted at

Stop the Ride!, saying, "Let the fun begin!"

Our second entry is in the thrift category, because I am nothing if not thrifty!

Thrift

Becca presents

about those photos... posted at Unplugging the "Stuff" Machine, saying, "What great deals!"

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
i went thrifting today...
using our
carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our

blog carnival index page.

Now, I know someone knows how to fix this last part. Please help!!

Becca

What with joining carnivals and all...

I know it's a little late in life to join the carni...but I've gone and done it. I made two new carnivals in BlogCarnival. These two carnivals feature two of my loves: thrift shopping and gardening.

The gardening carnival consists of posting a photo of your current favorite plant/flower in your garden or someone else's garden. The entry should also include a few lines as to why you admire this plant.

The thrift carnival is all about showing off what you found while out thrifting or garage saling for the week. Linda already does this on her blog and other folks may as well, so I thought we could make a party of it!

Here is a link to my carnivals. They are not completely set up, but you can browse around in them if you would like...

Posh Points

Hi all! Has anyone seen this website? I just signed up today and already bought two cute things with my "Points." I am adding this banner so you can sign up. If you sign up through my referral banner, I get 10 points for referring you. Woohoo!





ps. you can also list things you're trying to get rid of. Of course, you have to pay shipping to your "buyer," but that's your only expense. It's almost like free stuff.

Random notes on random things

The bees are awake! They are buzzing around our heads like so many fighter planes. We just bob and weave. As well, one of the monarchs came out yesterday. I was able to see most of the transformation (very private critters, those monarchs).




As well, here are a few photos of some recent finds:


Antique quilt rack (side of the road)--isn't it lovely?--and box of 40-50s vintage linens

Bag of vintage patterns and sewing notions: gift--thank you Polly!

A gift in my flowerbed!

I do NOT! look like Jerry Garcia!

Can you believe Someone would say that? And on Valentine's Day? Unh-unh...it's my lovely little Audrey Hepburnish hat I just bought yesterday. I am enamored of it. Blond fur with a pink grosgain ribbon. Too sweet.


And this is the outfit I pieced together from thrift store finds. As soon as I find/make a dressmaker's form...on it goes!


Don't worry, I'm not keeping the hat. I will sell it, eventually.

Here's a little picture of Jerry Garcia with the hat...

I want...

...a pink atlas sewing machine. Is that not the wildest and craziest sewing machine ever? Who knew there was a pink enamel sewing machine out there? I know where to get not one...but two of them. Now, what will I do with two pink enamel sewing machines? Hmmm...I guess they'll just be my precioussesssss.

bring it in to the shop...

We got this great machine at an estate sale last weekend. Beautiful cabinet and the machine works! I decided to oil the machine, which should be easy, given that it is an older machine with no high-tech gadgetry. Well, I took it apart and couldn't figure out how to put it back together. I think, mostly I just panicked. All the parts fit back in place but not with the same results for example: a working machine. I called friends, I called people online...I called the sewing machine shop. Now, I am sure that someone, somewhere has a good relationship with their local repair store. I don't. When I told the woman what I had done, she remarked: Well, that was stupid. Talk about your conversation killers. Then, her only bit of advice was to bring it in to her shop. Not gonna happen. The machine weighs 100 pounds, her shop is across town, she'll charge me 80 dollars to "fix" it and...she just commented on my stupidity.

So, to ease the dull ache of frustration, I went outside to garden. While in the garden, I thought of my 83-year-old gardening neighbor who also sews. I walked down to her house in hopes of pointers. She graciously welcomed me into her home and said, Well, let's look at my machine. She uncovered her machine and it was the same machine I just bought! I could have danced for joy. We prodded the machine and discovered that I merely hadn't tightened the balance wheel enough. Praise the Lord!!

End of story: machine's fine. For free. Oh, it's clean and oiled too. I'm gonna learn to fix my own machines from here on out.

unplugging

I initially came up with the title for this blog from reading The Cheapskate Gazette. I thought, James and I live simply, we are not addicted to stuff. These last few days of this new year have proved me wrong. It's not that we don't like stuff. We just don't like paying retail for it. If we can find it for free or really cheap, then we will take it. Found a cool set of dishes for only five dollars? Don't we already have a set of dishes? Well, yes, but these are super cool.

Okay, that was an out there example. Here's one closer to home. A neighborhood nearby was having a mandatory clean-up. We found several bookcases, shovels, ladders, dishes, etc. When is enough? I was telling a friend about the good finds and he said: "I just don't want anymore stuff." Not free stuff. Not cheap stuff. No more.

What kind of hole are we trying to fill anyway?

Anyway, James and I both come from stuff backgrounds. On one side, we have hoarders and on the other side, collectors. It's a mighty battle, my friends.

So, why am I writing all of this? Well, this stuff keeps us from doing the right things. I lose focus when I see clutter. I can't think. I can't dream or create. Some of this stuff has to go. Soon. Thanks for listening.

about those photos...

Free rocking chair...kermit loves it!!

Domestic Rotary Sewing Machine: circa 1930s...side of the road.

Syracuse Fine China: pattern Carefree circa 1950s

Descoware: enameled cast-iron predates Le Creuset

HaHa!! Cold water coffee extractor! If anyone knows how to use it, please write and let me know!