This was a week of utter delight in the world of sifting and thrifting. I'll just leave these photos here and let you imagine all sorts of re-uses for these wonderful treasures.
What did you some up with? Just want to position some on shelves or frame a few pieces? I know! That would already be amazing, wouldn't it?
There's a local craft fair in March that will be focusing on shabby chic junkers, repurposers, and hand-makers, so I have high hopes that the Jello molds can be turned into something artful. There's also a local arts festival in April I am working towards.
One of the art projects will be made from that doll sweater. It has seen better days and is a visible mending dream.
As much as I'm enjoying found objects, these four large and three small tubs of wool fabric can't be ignored. Erica, of Nine Patch Quilt and Fabric in Nevada, Missouri, had it sort of dumped on her and she was more than happy to see it go elsewhere. It's already being channeled into a new pattern. You can see the work-in-progress on my Instagram - #sweaterdollstories.
Any great thrift scores in your week? This is a great time for it. People just want to clean out the old and get all new. Silly people!
It's the annual September town-wide yard sale day and only by accident did I go out today and get sucked into it. Happily I might add.
There's no reason to bore you with details. You really should just see some of the goodies hubby and I brought home. The tin dishes above are some of the goodies.
1950s or 60s figurines.
Glass Christmas balls.
Vintage tablecloth (it's folded so this is 1/4 of it) and a sewing bag.
A 1995 Mickey Mouse tree topper that moves and lights up when plugged in and a 16mm reel of Krazy Kat - "Frogs and Kats" episode.
Here's your warning. I like creepy things.
I couldn't pass on these poor old dolls.
These two are pretty gothic looking. But it wasn't until I stood them up that I noticed the lady's head is turned backwards. I'm leaving it that way.
These beauties are so elegantly dressed, but one of them has a broken neck.
It's a little "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?", isn't it?
Don't say I didn't warn you.
I'm looking forward to turning this set into a pincushion doll.
I love her little bracelet and her buckle shoes with little straps and heels.
I also scored a pristine feather comforter and now I'm ready for winter.
Hubby and I didn't even unpack the car when we got home. We both immediately fell asleep in our comfy chairs and took a nap.
Next post, I'll tell you what happy accident brought me into town in the first place, though I'm really glad it did.
Question of the week: what do you do when husband banishes you from the house?
No, not a fight. Just some work that was going to create some dust so he suggested I find something to do. Hmmm....that's never really a quandary for me.
I spent an hour in the library reading Kurt Vonnegut and then another hour at my favorite antique store in town, Treasure Hunt, owned by Carol Reeder.
I bought the little Brown Betty salt and paper shakers while I was in there but snapped pics of a few 1950s to 1970s finds to share. Some of these were like things I grew up with. I had a Wonderhorse rocking horse and I definitely remember these tissue tins in the bedrooms.
The Bisquick tin would be great for homemade baking mix!
Later in the day, we drove to Pittsburg, Kansas to return a rented tool and found some lovely exposed history.
The tile was exposed on a building site on the main street of town. I hope the rest is recovered and restored.
The wall was found by a couple who bought an old building for an old-fashioned grocery store they want to create. When they bought the building, it came with all the contents stored there so they were selling them off and I found this 1950s Singer Sewhandy 20 toy sewing machine.
The needle is broken and it's missing a couple of (not completely essential) pieces. The sewing machine should work, once I clean it up and buy the needles it uses. There is no bobbin. There's a "looper" under the plate that creates a chain stitch to sew fabric together.
I did some research and though this was a children's toy made from the 1910s to the 1970s, I read many young women would take this off to college to make simple repairs. It's only about 5" tall!
It's a hand crank sewing machine. It looks like the thread spool pin was replaced ages ago with an old screw whose point was clipped off. The little depression in the front of the base was meant for a C-clamp that would hold it to a table.
I learned to sew on a Singer cast iron machine that had once been a treadle but electrified for factory work. My grandfather owned a vest factory and put it in a beautiful cabinet and gave it to my mother. Leave a comment below: what kind of machine did you learn to sew on?
