Thriftacular Thursday!

I collect postcards, so I was over the moon when my honey recently surprised me with a stack of super old ones.  They're amazing!  Most of them feature brightly colored images on linen paper.  I just about lost it when I saw these cards.  Yes, I'm a giant nerdy person.

They're just such gorgeous examples of a bygone era.  Sadly, most people don't even send mail anymore.  So not only is the art of letter writing slowly dying, but all the amazing little items and processes that go along with it.  There are still a few people dedicated to preserving this form of communication, however, most people just appreciate these types of things.

These are a few of my favorites from my surprise stack.

I love the old cars in the front one.  That one is of an Inn located on the campus of Dartmoth, in New Hampshire.

Old NY ones!!  Nothing like what you'd pick up in The Big Apple today.

These ones are crazy!  Originally a book of twelve, they feature various areas of a Cabaret in Paris.  More specifically Le Lido des Champ-Elyees.  We have numbers 2-12, and I haven't been able to find much information online.  We may never see what number 1 was.

Oddly enough,  I did find a site selling one of the cards I have.  It shows the marble bridge that spans one of the pools.  Something looked a little funny about it though, so I took a closer look at ours.  It features a ladder, probably used for diving, that the one for sale doesn't have.  Crazy, huh?  Maybe we have some super rare prototypes, the photographers originals?!  Ok, maybe I watch too much Antiques Roadshow, but I just love thinking about the history of things.  Like who did all these cards belong too?

So, have you come across any treasures lately?  Do you like writing letters? How often do you write?  I try to write a few letters every week.  I also belong to Postcrossing and that's a lot of fun, too.  Most of these cards will stay in my collection, but I'm certainly enjoying sending some of these oldies out into the world.  I like surprising people and I'm sure most people don't find a 65 year old postcard in their mailbox very often!  Back to work, I've spent far too much time on the computer already today.  See you later, gators!

Over the Top.

So, round these parts we don't go all out for the holidays.  Unless it's Halloween or Christmas, there are no decorations, no fancy dinners.  It's just me and the guy, sometimes the roomie, so usually it's just another day.  A day that we happen to have off from work.  On the other hand, birthdays are pretty fun!

This year mine was a bit extravagant- over the top, if you will.  Food, thrifting, fabric, fun- all rolled into one fabulous weekend!  We kicked it off on Friday night with the most amazing Mexican food we've had in a long time.  And chocolate, there was a ridiculous amount of chocolate.  There were M&M's, Godiva Chocolate Pretzels and my sweet honey made me the yummiest cake.  I think it's pretty funny that I went on a chocolate bender, considering when I was a kid, I hated chocolate.

My guy also gave me this awesome Betsey Johnson Dia de los Muertos ring.  Yeah, I know, I have such conservative taste, huh?

Then we went thrifting at one of my favorite stores ever, the one that only sells craft stuff.  Just heavenly!  I bought a ridiculous amount of vintage fabric, about 11.5 lbs actually.  On the way home we scored some expensive dishes for next to nothing, it was just pure luck.  I knew that they looked familiar, so I looked into it a bit more.  They're a discontinued and highly sought after style of Denby Dishware.  I couldn't believe our luck when I saw replacement sets go for $95+ per place setting.  And we got 6 place settings for $8!  And that's not 8 bucks a piece, that's total for the whole set.  Craziness.

Back at home, when I started unfolding all the fabric for the laundry, Chunk appeared out of nowhere and burrowed in.  He didn't seem to mind when I kept piling it on, so I left him for a while.

So, yeah, I guess this is was 26.5 lbs looks like- 11.5 lbs of fabric and 15 lbs of cat.

After short stints of sleeping and failed attempts to burrow all the way to the bottom, he just resorted to planning sneak attacks on everyone nearby.

Followed up with the yummiest breakfast for dinner, celebration drinks, and cuddles with a movie, I had the best birthday!  A big thanks to my honey for making it all fabulous for me.  Love you, Cakes.

I had such a great time, I just had to share it with you.  Now I've really got to get ready for my stitching escapades this weekend!  I'm giddy with excitement.  I hope that everyone out there has a craftastic weekend, I know I will!!!!

Gifted

I'm so grateful for the people I have in my life.  They are sweet and thoughtful.

And on top of that, they know exactly what I like.

Both of these gems were recently given to me by two wonderful people.  Aren't they great?  Both of them are hanging above my crafting desk now.

I found the vintage cross-stitch piece on the desk, waiting for me when I arrived at work one night.  My co-worker Liz left it for me, she's the nicest lady.  Isn't it darling?!  Old needlework is one of my favorite things to collect.

The plaque on the right was a gift from my honey.  He brought it home for me in an attempt to cheer me up when I was under the weather.  Niagara Falls is where I grew up, so I love to collect all the old souvenirs.  Ironic how people always do that once they leave somewhere, huh?  Guess you don't what you got til it's gone.  I was so sick I couldn't do anything but lay on the couch or bundle up under a million blankets in bed...for a solid week.  When he gave it to me, I was so out of it that I don't even think I managed a smile.  However, I LOVE it.  He's such a great guy.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm such a lucky girl!

Thriftacular Thursday!

A recent acquisition.

With it's scare tactic title and it's lovely green, I knew it had to be mine.

Check out the inside!

I'm happy to report that on the previous page Dusty had exclaimed, "Listen, punk..." before he knocked Rosey out.

Yes, definitely a wise purchase.  Ahhh, I wish I lived back then...

I picked up a few more books that day.  I've decided to acquire the whole series for both Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys.  Both Dillon and I read them, so we thought they would make a nice addition to our household library.  I want the old versions though, like the ones from my grandparent's house when I was a kid.  None of this shiny cover re-print stuff.

Yep, I see the ones that are out of order.  Don't worry, it drives me crazy too.  I've since corrected the problem on the shelf.  Unfortunately, I've been to lazy to take another photo.  You'll just have to take my word for it.

Another childhood favorite.

My last name starts with an E and Cookie Monster was my fav, so I read this one a lot when I was young.

This last one will be making an appearance in several upcycling projects that I've been working on.  I would never have it in my heart to destroy one of my favorite books, so rest assured that this one was pretty well thrashed.

In fact, I had to collect up all of it's innards from the shelf at the thrift store to even buy it.

I'm making sure that this little gem will live on through other stuff.

Thanks for looking and have a craftastic day!

p.s.  Speaking of books, read anything good lately?  I'm reading a bit of Tom Wolfe...

Thriftacular Thursday!

I have big plans for these crafty gems that I picked up recently.

* I'm pumped about the bandanna patchwork fabric... I'm thinking embroidered cowgirl pillows.

* Super excited about finding the cotton batting, I've been wanting to make a quilt lately.  Crib size is perfect, I won't get too overwhelmed with a huge project.  I have enough of those going on.

*  As for the zippers, what can I say?  I have a problem.  I always pick them up if I see them when I'm thrifting.  Besides who can pass up those awesome colors?  Yeah, that's what I thought.

Found anything great lately?  What are your favorite things to look for when you are out and about?

Thanks for looking, I'm headed back to Stitch City aka my little corner.  

Have a fun-filled, creative day!

Thriftacular Thursday!

Last time I went thrifting I found a bunch of crafty stuff.  That's always exciting!

Here it is:

Both sets of napkins were in excellent condition, they looked like they had never been used.  I'm so in love with the green ones,  maybe it's the lace, maybe it's the color.  The second I saw them I knew they had to be mine, so I was relieved that they were nice.  Having to put them back for being in crappy condition would have killed me.  I have big plans for the yellow ones!  I can't wait to finish them.  I'll give you a clue- quote.

Four zippers- in case I can ever figure out how to sew in a zipper.  It's a big goal for me... I want to make pillows for my embroidery pieces but I want them washable.  Now I just need to coax ol' Bessie into helping me out.

And last but not least, 2 packages of Aida cross-stitch fabric.  I'm venturing out people.  I'm finally going to learn.  It should be interesting with the whole counted thing... I'm easily distracted.  But I'm going to try.  I've gathered up some patterns, I already have more than enough floss to get me started and now I've got Aida.  Wish me luck!

Have you thrifted anything good lately?

Just a Buck!

So, since they totally overplay it, I'm sure most of you guys who are in the US have seen the stupid McDonald's commercial about the best dollar ever spent.  I assure you that despite the fact that I am a chubby gal, you will never, ever hear me say the best dollar I've ever spent was on a cheeseburger.  That much I can promise.

For a while I thought that the best dollar I ever spent was on this:

Don't let the 19 cent price tag fool you.  I did pay a buck.  I love thrift stores.

That was until recently.  

When I saw this little sketchbook:

 

Yes, 80's lovers, this junk glittery madness is back.  I'll be honest, as a former Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper owner, I couldn't resist it.  (And yes, I did buy the kitten one too.)

However, it's official!  This is the best dollar I've ever spent!

Yep, another thrifted gem.  And super sharp too!!

Inspiration

I always have more than one project going at a time.  That way I don't get too burnt out or obsess too much over one particular thing.  I'll admit sometimes I'm bad about it.  I've cast aside a project or two for longer than I should have, but I always go back to them.  I love having a fresh perspective on an old project.

I thought I'd share the inspiration for a new embroidery project I'm starting.  It'll get added to the 3 others I'm working on right now (and to hundreds of items on my to-do list.)

Like almost everything else, I thrifted this book years ago.  I love the ultra 70s coloration and typography, mainly because it doesn't fit the mental image I have of the Capone days- at all.  Maybe I've watched The Untouchables a few too many times (wait, not possible)  but I just don't think "bright" when I think of Prohibition Era gangsters.  I'd like to reproduce it with these colors, just because it looks silly to me.

And talk about riding on the coat-tails of others, "The New Bestseller from the Publisher of THE GODFATHER".  They could come up with anything better than, hey we've published other good books!?

Too long!

I'm alive!  It's been too long since I last posted something.  I've been justifying it to myself with the excuse I busted the USB port on my camera.  However, truth be told I've been having one big pity party since my little kitty, Princess Franki died.  Well, I'm over it!  Not her, just feeling so stagnant.  I 've got to get off my big NY behind and get to work.

Besides, an alternative to my camera woes has been in front of me the whole time.  Hello, old scanner friend!  I've decide to post some lovely old photos I found while thrifting a few weeks ago.  I'm a sucker for old photos.  It makes me a little bummed to realize that no one wanted these lovely old memories so I scoop them up.  (I often end up making up little stories of my own for them...I know it's strange, don't judge me!)

These last two are my favorites of that days score.  I think "Baby's 1st Steps" when I look at the top one.  Just darling!

I scanned them to use for ATCs and such, as I would never want to destroy the originals.  I posted them so anyone else could use them too.  If you do use them, let me know, I'd love to see what you made!  Just leave me a comment this here blog or find me on Flickr.  Happy crafting!

P.S.  Coming up in the next installment of Vintage Photo Fun- the man we call, Uncle Jack the Writer.