I like making things: Thrift shop treasures

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Thrift shop treasures

I have stopped going to garage sales, auctions and thrift stores because, quite frankly, we already have too much stuff!

However...........something told me to pop into our nearest Thrift Store today when I was in town. A sixth sense or something like that.

I got 2 jigsaw puzzles, both 1000 pieces, an 18" doll, not an American Girl doll, but one of the copycats, a set off embroidery rings, some green ribbon and a pair of big bum jeans. All for the princely amount of $4.

I have had a hankering to do a jigsaw puzzle for a while now so they will be perfect. One of them for sure should be complete as it stated so on the box.

The doll will be a model for the doll clothes I want to make for our grand daughter. I have looked on the internet and there are lot's of free downloadable patterns for these dolls. I had mentioned in a previous post I would keep an eye out for a doll and I had looked on Facebook market place but couldn't find one under $40 so I am extremely happy with the $1 I paid for this one.

The embroidery rings will be used to make a dream catcher like the one I saw here on Artsy Fartsy's blog.

How to make a dream catcher using doilies

The ribbon will be used when making my Christmas cards this year and lastly the big bum jeans will come in handy this winter.

They are not pictured as they went straight into the washing basket. I didn't try them on so if all else fails I will use the fabric from them for one thing or another. For $1 it was worth the gamble. They are a good brand and show no signs of wear.

The doll has some home made clothes on and I think the previous owner may have given her a hair cut but it is very well styled. Her hair is actually lovely and very thick.

I was very happy with my little excursion into the Thrift Store today.

Hospital appointment for my husband's plasma exchange later this week. He felt a little better for a couple of days but has been pretty worn out today. The appointment is on my 70th birthday so we will travel up tomorrow night and go for a nice meal before he has to get it done the next day. He won't be up for much afterwards.

Had some pretty nice weather the past week or more, very welcome but unusual for this time of year. No doubt it will heat back up soon.

2 comments:

mamasmercantileAugust 1, 2018 at 3:52 AM
Great finds at great prices. Gerard and I enjoy a jigsaw. Hope all goes well with the plasma exchange and wishing you a wonderful 70th Birthday.
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Carol- Beads and BirdsAugust 1, 2018 at 10:54 AM
Happy Birthday. Best wishes for a safe trip and a lovely evening together.

I feel the same way about going to garage sales etc. I have so much to dispose of myself. Our thrift shops are not that reasonable. Sometimes things cost as much as you can buy them new at Walmart. But you got some great finds! Glad you are posting more.
xx, Carol
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As in the words of Thumper: If you can't say 'nuffin nice don't say 'nuffin at all.

Glad you stopped by

I started this blog in 2011: Ever since my Mum taught me to knit at the age of about six or seven I have made things. Back then it was doll clothes. I was also inspired by Mrs Levitt an elderly lady who had a sewing room in a conservatory type room on the back of her house. I would sit and watch her in awe as she sewed.

When I was a child living in England the school system was such that you started at 5 years, did two years in Infant School, then four years in Primary School then five to seven years in Secondary School, depending on whether you chose to stay on after fifth form to get qualifications to go to University. I can't remember much of the Infant school other than making the standard square doily thingy from fabric that had holes in it so you could embroider patterns into it. A bit like the modern day cross stitch fabric but with bigger holes and spaces to make it easy for small hands to use. I also remember with great joy getting a toy sewing machine one Christmas which sewed only chain stitch but I did make doll clothes on it and that was before I started Primary school. I do have very vivid recollections of Primary school and having sewing and knitting lessons. In Primary school I knitted gloves and made a dress from scratch hand sewing it all.

Secondary school continued on with sewing by which time I had progressed to using full sized sewing machines and was making more intricate skirts and dresses. My parents bought me a proper sewing machine when I was thirteen. I used that same machine right up until I emigrated to Canada at age forty six years.

I have always had a fascination for sewing machines and knitting machines. I bought my first knitting machine at around age twenty one from an ad in a newspaper for twelve pounds. I had absolutely no idea what one was just that I wanted one. I trundled on the bus to the address in the advert and handed over my twelve pounds having absolutely no idea what I had really bought. Fortunately it came with a manual. It was an aged Knitmaster, very basic and I loved it. I wore it out. Next was a Brother push button one which I didn't keep because it was at a time in my life when things were difficult. Later on in my life, around forty, when things were better I bought a brand new Brother punchard machine with a ribber attachment. I loved it and made many things. Life took a different turn, I moved countries twice and along the way, regrettably I sold it.

Now, through the universe's blessing I now have another machine. It is a vintage one because they stopped making them early 90's but works perfectly and I love it. So I decided to make this blog to document my knitting progress and include sewing projects.

In 2013: we embarked on a new hobby, leather-work. My husband got started with it and it drew me in. It is something we can do together. We have a workshop so have plenty of room to work. We added another workbench for me to work on in 2013. We already had one but we were tripping over each other both trying to work at it. We only make things we want to make. It is strictly a hobby. We made some things for our good neighbours who help us out a lot. I am also working on Christmas presents. So this blog now incorporates the leather-work. Knitting and sewing will always be my first love though.

Fast forward to 2023 and now age almost 75 years. I have seven sewing machines, four knitting machines, several ribber attachments and a garter carriage for one of the machines. I am blessed beyond words, but I know that I have more than enough machines to keep me going in my lifetime so I don’t think I will be adding to my collection any time soon……….unless a nice embroidery machine manifests itself very cheaply.

I am a Brit living in the USA, sometimes I spell like a Brit and sometimes like an American. Sometimes I use slang and even make grammatical errors. I blog for the pleasure of it and to record my endeavours in the event that my memory fades, as I am sure it will with more age. I will be able to look back and remind myself of the things I have made along the way. So please forgive my mistakes when reading about my life making things here in the hinterlands and I hope you get as much enjoyment from my blog as I do from reading the blogs I follow.

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Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Thrift shop treasures

2 comments: