Proper thanks and new things

A thank you is in order.  Last post I waxed poetic about the state of my blog and whether my time here was done or not.  The outpouring of support and love I felt from you caused my heart to leap into my throat and my eyes to get all misty. I've never been a journal keeper but one day in 2007, I started one here. I can type faster than I can write with a pen. And I can include photos with the click of a mouse. So, for over ten years I've been writing of my days, thoughts, makes, travels and motherhood. And the knowledge that you're here with me makes me feel all sorts of feels.... encouraged, supported, accountable, understood, safe to share opposing opinions and just warm and fuzzy.

Thank you.

Last summer my neighbor and I spotted a leucistic cardinal at our feeders.  (We immediately thought it was albino but are pretty sure it's more accurately leucistic. You can click here to learn more.) We saw him a few times and then he was gone. However, last week I spotted this guy at my house. I wonder if it's the same one or maybe an offspring.

I also recently found these old, metal, two sided signs. There are 24 of them in total and they are currently leaning against a wall in my mudroom while I decide what to do with them. Suggestions welcome.

-dana

Slim pickins

I still swing by the local thrift shops as often as time allows. I don't find near as many amazing things as I used to. That makes it extra exciting when I do stumble upon a prize I suppose. I love, love, love spatterware enamelware. I don't ever find it at thrift stores though. In fact, my husband found this bowl at an antique shop for a very fair price.  The vintage, toy toolbox is super cute and I may use it in my greenhouses to corral supplies. I made the quilted mat inside the black tray and now use it to keep television remotes. The white enamelware tray? See the little pour spout on the front left corner? I believe trays like this were used in darkrooms back in the day. I think it looks like a conversation bubble used in cartoons. I'm thinking of hanging it on a wall with a bunch of magnetic letters. An interactive selfie station. Mostly I imagine putting my dog in front of it with the speech bubble above her head. Imagine all the funny things she would say!

-dana

Snapshots of a week

A rainy 5k race for Razor and Licious.

An awesome thrift store find at $10.

Though this quilt top was completed back in May, I finally got it back from the long arm quilter and got it bound.  Strawberries!

I don't think I've talked about my recent fascination with making French bread. I always try to make a dinner that cooks for hours and hours on Sundays. French bread is a natural companion to such meals and I've gotten quite good at making it.

If I do say so myself.

-dana

Chalk board love

I found this old chalk board at a thrift store the other day.  I bought it cause it was cool.  Not because I had a plan for it.

But after bringing it home I discovered that it fits perfectly on the side of a kitchen cabinet.

And the old worn oak blends beautifully with our oak counter tops.

Now I want to draw something great on it.  Maybe a quote? Maybe rules of the house? Or kitchen? Or something catchy?  Funny?

I need suggestions!  What should I draw on the chalk board?

Thanks,
dana

P.S. I plan on buying these to write on the board.

Guess which I'm keeping

I visit our local thrift shops fairly often.  And lots of cute stuff finds it's way home with me.  Like the tin child's ironing board. Do I need it?  No. But I have this compulsion to buy things that I know nobody will love like I do.  

Tell me you do that too?

Rescue things from the thrift shop that you know need saving?

Just this week I slammed on my brakes (don't worry.  it was on a back country road) just as I passed the metal salvage yard because I saw the most adorable vintage 1950's kitchen stove.  And it desperately needed rescuing. Upon inquiry I discovered it was already set aside for some other fortunate soul.  The fact that the special-ness of the stove was recognized and saved for someone that would appreciate it gave me just about as much peace as if I'd taken it home myself.  Almost.

Anyway.

The vintage toy ironing board and fruit printed glass pitcher recently came home with me.  But I'm not keeping them both. Which do you think I'm keeping?

-dana

Recent happenings

I found these metal owl wall hangings at a local thrift shop for $1.00 total.  I sprayed them with paint I had on hand. 

I'm half way through the Sugar Block Club Block of the Month and so glad that I opted to use my most favorite 1930s repro fabrics for it.   

And June is the first month of the new Hop Skip Jump Block of the Month from Sew Lux Fabrics.  I'm making two of each month so that in the end I have 24 blocks.

-dana

Collecting

A trip to a thrift store yielded this instant collection.  Love.

-dana

That ugly $5 thrift shop painting I was talking about . . .

A few weeks ago I mentioned  that I bought an ugly painting at a thrift store for $5 and had an idea in mind.  Since then I've received numerous emails inquiring just what in the heck I was going to do with it.  Some of you thought I was going to just use the frame.  While others of you figured I was going to paint the whole shebang white and then create my own art.

Instead I opted to follow the inspiration from Young House Love and paint a favorite quote over the top.  This went through many revisions . . . the first time the letters were too small.  The next, too big.  The first time I painted it I used a mustard yellow that just made the whole thing too 1970s drab and quite sad.  Then I painted over it with a creamy white.  Finally I outlined the words with a wide tip brown permanent marker.

Here's how I felt during the process:

::Loved the idea::  ::Thought I was pretty much brilliant for finding such an ugly piece and knowing that I was going to transform it miraculously::  ::Choosing a font made me question my sanity::  ::Tracing the letters made me feel like a trash-to-treasure queen::  ::The mustard yellow made me want to pitch the whole thing::  ::A few days passed and I reluctantly decided to try a new paint color in hopes of reviving it:: ::Sat with the creamy white for over a week trying to decide if it was an A+ project or a project gone really, really bad::  ::Just finished outlining the letters and feel the best I've felt about it throughout the process::

So, now it's leaning against my cutting table next to my sewing machine.  We'll see if I end up hanging it or taking it straight back to the thrift shop.

The jury's still out.

-dana

In progress

An ugly $5 find at the local thrift shop.  Project in progress. 

Stay tuned.

-dana

Shake it!

Felt giddy to find this vintage 1950s all glass and metal cocktail shaker at the thrift store yesterday.  So giddy in fact, I might have done a little gig.  Much to the embarrassment of my daughters.

-dana

Another trash to treasure moment

This time a substantial and sturdy table from a local thrift shop.  Perfect in the playroom.

And the whole project only cost me $10.

-dana

Vintage Cosco stool - before and after

I found this vintage Cosco stool at a thrift store last week.  I've found three total over the years but never a yellow one.  Have I ever shown you the other stools?  I'll have to go look and see if I have. 

Anyway.  Please forgive me while I swoon at it's awesomeness.

The seat back was torn.

But with some oilcloth and elbow grease I fixed it right up.

For for twenty bucks I now have . . .

a stool that both buzzy things and furry things approve of almost as much as I do.

-dana

Bing

Summer keeps marching on.  I love it when I find the cutest, squat-iest little mason jars at the flea market.  And Bing cherries at the grocery store.

-dana

P.S. I'm working on adding a new section to my quilt shop .  I'm hoping to open it on Friday and then have a sale store wide.  Fingers crossed.

Thrift find

-dana

A Thrift Store Story

I was at a thrift shop yesterday and spied this case.  "Cool case!" said me.

I opened it and nearly fell down.

No joke.

Inside was this amazing Singer Featherweight sewing machine from 1954.

After I got my breathing under control I carried the machine and case to the cashier and asked if I could plug it in.

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

She worked! Even the light turned on and off.

::Squeal::

At that point, fast and furious picture taking and texting ensued. My mother-in-law is a Featherweight aficionado and I needed her opinion fast.

"How much?" I asked.

"50 bucks," said the cashier.

I waited to hear back from my mother-in-law while trying to casually walk around the store. Another employee sauntered over and whispered, "You should see if that's her best price. She'll often come down."

::gulp::

"I don't think I've hid my excitement well enough to get a better price. But thank you." I said with a smile.

This beauty is pristine! Anything that appears to be scratches in this photograph are, in fact, only reflections of light and lint. This vintage 1954 Singer was well used and well cared for.

So, I bought it. 

The end. 

Well, not completely the end because I plan on boxing it up and sending it to my sweet mother-in-law.

Just as soon as I'm done marveling in bewilderment at it.

-dana

Recap

Found eight boxes of vintage ornaments at a thrift shop the week before Christmas.

Made cinnamon rolls not once.  But twice.

Ate more chocolate that one person should be allowed.

Sugar cookies are a must.

As are pizelles.

Cut into a stash of fabric that I'd been keeping for far too long.

Started binding this quilt.  Can you see the owl quilting?

And got emotional more than once looking at all the handmade ornaments on the tree.  And even giggled that so many of them contain gold noodles.

-dana