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!

affluenza

My Che Guava face...
And here I am, finally, corralling my thoughts in an effort to communicate what I have been feeling lately. By the way, have you all noticed the number of bloggers who have been radically shifting or closing their blogs? I just find it interesting that at the same time I have hit a disinterested spell in blogging, so have many other fine folks...

What I want to write about today has to do with the wonderful Frugal Subversive badge to the right of this post. Nice, isn't it? Stephanie awarded me with it and was I ever excited!! Days before she presented me with this award, my husband left his copy of Our Daily Bread lying on the computer desk where I would be sure to see it. I think it quite a propos to share here...

As people in affluent societies stock up on Blackberrys and flat-panel TVs, it's hard to deny the increasing wealth in many parts of the world. You might call it "affluenza." There is anxiety, however, amid so much prosperity. It is the economic "puzzle of our time," said Robert J. Samuelson in The Washington Post. I wonder if this is true because we are attempting to find security in "more stuff"--stuff that is temporary and fleeting.
...The "good life" cannot be found in things. Instead of seeking our security by acquiring "more stuff," may we find true satisfaction by investing our resources and our lives in and for His kingdom."
Poverty of purpose is worse than poverty of purse.
--Marvin Williams as seen in Our Daily Bread July 12, 2007

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Rhonda Jean over at Down-To-Earth started this meme and here is what she has to say about her Frugal Subversive movement:

Reducing our consumption of products and returning to local, homemade and reused things is something that will benefit all of us and our planet. Endeavouring to be more frugal is one of the most important steps we can all make to help redress our environmental problems. It is a small but important step towards sustainability.

And who am I tagging?
Shereen over at "Waiting For Him" because she is doing a marvelous job of living well below her means: reducing, reusing and recycling. Very inspirational lady there...

Linda, over at Reminisce... always inspires me with her deal finding, reusing and plain pleasure in simple things.

Finally, my friend in real life, Amanda is as subversive as they get. She and her husband inspire me and James continually.

You go girls!!

The Little Store that went Live!

Make that, the very little store. James and I decided to set up an online storefront for vintage clothing, collectibles, fabrics and trim. So far, I only have two items listed. We're just trying out the most basic storefront. It is proving to be a little more difficult to set up than I had hoped. But, we're excited to have a cyber-place for all our treasures...why don't you come on over and see us some time?

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.

the times, they are a changin

Just when I was really enjoying selling at Etsy, rules have changed! Bummer. Commercial supplies and vintage items are no longer allowed. Hmmm...I sell vintage commercial supplies. Obviously not meant to be!

So, I created a new shop. It's a free shop with free Google checkout. It's an up and coming space that I thought I would try. Here's my link to it:





I am just now getting it up on its feet and still have most items listed on Etsy until they expire. What do you all think?

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...

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.