Thrifting Our Way Through the Hurricane

The thrift stores had something we didn't: electricity and air conditioning. I spent a lot of time in my favorite thrifts this week.


This basket will be used at our family Thanksgiving meal to hold gourds or flowers. Mr. Redo's family comes to our house for Thanksgiving - the head count for this year is 47. Everyone brings a dish to share, while Mr. Redo's sister and I provide the ham and turkey.  We love having everyone. I married into the nicest family! 

I love this thrift store picture frame. I used it to frame this very old picture of my Great Aunt Mary (for whom I was named) and Great Uncle Will.

The picture sits atop this gorgeous crocheted table cover from Class and Trash, my favorite thrift/antique store.

The little "shepherd and his sheep" pitcher also came from Class and Trash.

Our first floor bath was devoid of all beauty ... until I brought this home from Class and Trash. 

Along with these items from Goodwill.

Lastly, we found four of these cabinet doors at the "Too Good to Waste" area of our local dump. This one brightens our dark brown built-in bookcase, which I constantly debate painting. 

All in all, it was a very good, thrifty week. What did you find at the thrift stores this week?


I'm sharing the thrift at:

I. Love. Fall.

I'm so ready to say good-by to earthquakes, hurricanes, and power outages.


We're back to normal around here (well, as normal as we get, right?) and completely ready for this:

Love those fall colors, fall flowers, fall pumpkins, fall everything. Bring it on, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and the pumpkin farm. 


I really do love fall. 


What's your favorite season?

Hurricane Survivers

We survived Hurricane Irene here in central Virginia. Massive numbers of trees are down, and three-fourths of Richmond metropolitan area residents are without power - including us. 

Dominion Power reports it could be one to two weeks before power is fully restored.

We took our frozen foods to a friend's house, who generously offered to share her freezer space.

In spite of 90 degree temps, we are comfortable in our house. Cooler temps are expected for the next few days.

Hubby had to work last evening from 3-11p in his job with the State IT Department. We were worried about him, but he did fine and even managed to drive home, arriving at 1:30a. The worst of the storm had passed by and he did not run into standing water on the interstate or side roads.

The kids and I bought three really cool LED lights at Walgreens. They came with a hook, so we clipped them to our belts and they lit a large area in front of us. When we went to bed (huddled together in one room), one of those lights kept us calm throughout the night. Thanks to Jacob for telling us about the lights and where to buy them.

The kids cleaned up all the debris on the deck and in the yard they morning. So although the power is still out, we survived well and are thankful.

Our condolences to those who lost loved ones in this storm. Our thanks to all those who worked tirelessly to help keep us safe, as much as they were able.

Hope all my blogging friends, and my family members, north of us have fared well.

Hugs,

Mary

Estate Sale Finds

Since we probably won't be able to visit any yard sales tomorrow morning (although they've thankfully lowered our risk to tropical storm rather than hurricane), we decided to drive out to the country for an estate sale.


It did not disappoint.


First I discovered these gorgeous doilies.

Can you believe how well the colors go with my teapot? 

I love these, too. The one on the left has a tag on back that says "Tiroler Welkunst, Made in Austria." It is so old European cute.


The other doily is hand crocheted and a beautiful blend of dark pink, green, and white. The doilies cost 50 cents each.


Next I discovered some old books, just 50 cents each.

Of course I had to get The Story of Virginia. Published in 1950, it's in rough shape but has numerous names written inside the front cover - apparently it was used as a school book back then. "Larry loves Ann" is part of the charm. Inside are great old black and white photos of our state capitol, Natural Bridge, and the old Jamestown church. I can't wait for a quiet evening to sit in my favorite chair, sipping tea and reading through this wonderfull old book.


Modern Verse, Book Two, was revised for this edition in 1939. 


"Between this blue intensity of sea
And rolling dunes of white-hot sand that burn
All day across a clean salt wilderness
On shores grown sacred as a place of prayer,
Shine bright invisible footsteps of a band
Of firm-lipped men and women who endured..."


Just right as we face a difficult weekend of uncertain storms. We will also endure.


Which Would You Choose was published in 1954 in Virginia and is another book of poetry.

This old school math book is filled with the most gorgeous pictures.

Fun times, back in the day. The Frosty book has also really cute, quaint pictures. I especially love books that were printed around the time I was born in the '50s. 

I spent a total of $8 on my treasures today. I believe I got some great deals. 




I'm sharing at:

Earthquakes, Hurricanes ... What Next?

Well, here in Central Virginia, home of The Earthquake of 2011, we are now preparing for a hurricane.


Are you in the line of Irene?


Today, this is what we're doing.

We'll also be praying for everyone in the path of this storm. 


Hugs,


Mary

Olden Picture

After yesterday's 5.8-magnitude EQ (honestly, we have an abbreviation for everything, don't we?), I noticed our new picture had gone crooked on the wall.

(the picture was taken before it was hung on our up-and-coming gallery wall)

The red rustic 5 x 7" picture frame (from Goodwill) had brownish paper in it. I flipped the paper over and was happy to find the other side to be plain. Just right for my project. 

I had this little doily from Hope Thrift. It looks old, which makes it special to me. 

Ever wonder why some people like older things while others like modern? Antique and historic things appeal to me. I love history because I love the stories that go with history. The people who go with the stories, they fascinate me. How did they live? Who were their friends? What did they eat? What kind of work did they do?


I also had another of Graphics Fairy's graphics, one of a very old envelope. 

Do you love getting letters as much as I do. Few people write letters anymore - why take the time or spend 44 cents for a stamp when you can send an email which gets there instantly? 


But still, I would love to get a letter in the mail. A nice friendly newsy letter, wouldn't that be fun? Something you could keep, read again and again, think of your friend far away writing this news to you.


I used my handy glue gun to attach the doily and the graphic. 


Total cost of project @ $2. Brings me lots of (historic) joy. 


Do you write letters any more? How about we each write a letter to someone we love today? How fun would that be? I'm going to do it!


Update: I did write a letter, and I bumped it up a notch by gluing it onto scrapbook paper. I typed it because of my hand pain, but I think my friend will still enjoy receiving a letter from an old friend!

I'm sharing at:

The Earthquake

Yep, it was 5.9 magnitude on the Richter Scale, with an epicenter about 30 miles from where we live outside Richmond, Virginia.

Yes, it was terrifying. We've never, ever experienced anything like it.

And yes, thank God we are all okay. Just shaken. Going now to McDonald's for the Sweet Tea and the chocolate chip cookies. :)

Hugs to everyone.

The Pillow Project

I am a woman of many ideas. Some of my ideas work. Some don't.


At the beginning of summer, I told my children that we were going to do one sewing project together so they could learn basic sewing skills. We would make a pillow cover.


Their enthusiasm was overwhelming. Not. 


But I really thought I could talk them into it. Nope.

Ms. E did agree to visit JoAnn's with me to select the fabric for her pillow. She also found some bling she loved. I just knew that once she picked out fabric she would become excited about making a pillow for her bed. 

Ha ha. That never happened.


Redo Jr. wouldn't even discuss the idea. He's more like a, um, well, an outdoorsman. He likes to build and create things. Outdoors. 

So Ms. E and I selected the fabric ... and I cut a square from an old pair of jeans to make a pocket. 


Still, the pillow looked ... not complete, somehow. 

Ms. E and I discussed this red pillow and decided it needed something in the pocket. The graphic I had printed from Graphics Fairy was sitting on a nearby table, so I put it in the pocket. We decided it's a "train ticket", which you carry in your pillow pocket. After you give the ticket to the conductor, you sit back with your head on the pillow and nap to your destination. 

Somewhere in France, obviously. Cremones de Fenetre. Could that mean Trip to Fenetre, a beautiful French town filled with lovely cafes and museums? It could, if you use your imagination. 


Which I tend to do, way too much. Like imagining that my kids would actually want to learn basic sewing skills. 


And that, my friends, is the end of the pillow story. 







"/>

I Won a $50 Pampered Chef Giveaway!

I am so excited to learn that I won a $50 giveaway to Pampered Chef from Courtney at:




The Pampered Chef consultant providing this amazing offer is Shannon Lee - click here to see her business site. 
I plan to order my first stoneware: a rectangle baking pan and a loaf pan. Can't wait to try this stoneware; all my friends who have Pampered Chef stoneware rave about it. When it arrives, I'll bake something and share another (chocolate) recipe with you.
Hop over to A Diamond in the Stuff because Courtney has got a lot going on, all the time. 
She shares tutorials:

She holds linky parties and, dare I say it, awesome giveaways. 
She also has an Etsy shop called, yep you guessed it, A Diamond in the Stuff, where she sells some amazing things that we all would love to have. 

I want that bowl, and I bet you do, too!
When you stop by to visit Courtney, tell her I said hi ... 
Thanks, Courtney!

More Burlap Table Runners

Yesterday I shared pictures of a burlap and lace table runner I made. 


Somehow I originally managed to buy two yards of burlap, which we all now know will make a whole lot of table runners. The lace and beads were from a local thrift store.


Today I stopped at JoAnn's for more lace and beads. Just so you know, there is no economic downturn at JoAnn's. People are still buying fabric, if my 15 minute wait in line to have my sundries cut, and another 15 minute wait in line to pay, are any indication.


Buy stock in JoAnn's. I'll wait while you call your broker. 


Anyway, I came home and made two more runners.

I wanted to try different trim on these. Love this ruffle. And the pearls ... love the pearls. 

For variety, I also made a runner with this ... do we call it lace if it's not silky? I'm having a senior moment, so no other name for this lovely trim will come to me. 

I can't decide which version, of the three I've made so far, is my favorite. Actually I'm in love with them all. 

Isn't that sweet? Soft sweet country from a country girl displaced to the 'burbs. Take me home, country roads. But only for a visit - I wouldn't want to live too far from JoAnn's, right?


Hope you enjoyed seeing the table runners. Looks like I'll be making more from all the burlap. 

I'm sharing at:           http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/

Make a Burlap Table Runner

I saw this somewhere recently and knew I wanted to make it.

I searched diligently on Google trying to find the original designer of this table runner, to no avail. In spite of keeping a little notebook on my desk in which to jot notes of ideas and where I found them - this one did not get recorded. If you know where it was first seen, please let me know so I can give credit. 

It was actually simple to make - 

. Cut the fabric the length and width desired

. Sew under the unfinished edges

. Cut lace to fit, turning under a small edge on each end. Sew along the folded edge.

. Hot glue a row of decorative beading atop the sewn edge. 

I love the rough burlap and elegant lace/beads together. 

I plan to make several more since I have lots of burlap left. 

Do you think a lovely burlap and lace table runner would make a nice giveaway? Let's do something fun and celebrate the first day of Fall - September 23 - with a giveaway. Would you enter to win :)

I've also thought of opening an Etsy shop, though I've read online that times are tough for Etsy sellers. Are you too young to remember President Ronald Reagan (during an '80s economic downturn): "It's the economy, stupid!" I guess it's still the economy, though we learned in kindergarten not to call people stupid, right? 

Also wanted to show you the little pretties I found at Goodwill. The sale color this week is green, so walking in I determined to "go green." 

The beautiful fall salt & pepper were half-off for $1.12. 

This cute and yummy Warm Apple Pie candle was $0.65 full price with a yellow tag, so I splurged. You'd splurge, too, at prices like that, right?

I'm linking at: