It Feels Good to be Thrifty

Well last Friday I woke up and my first thought was, I should go thrifting today.  I did try to talk myself out of it, but the idea had taken such deep root in my mind that not even liquid nitrogen could eradicate it...so I went thrifting, with four kids.  It. was. AWESOME.

I actually only went to one thrift store and found all my little recycling heart desired...and then some.  I found shoes for all the kids with me...two were like brand new, two were name brand...it was a great day.  There was a lot of craftilicious finds but I'll spare you all the deets and just show off the great fabric finds.

First I saw this amazing fabric...

The color is actually more red than pink but is a yummy satin and I'm dying to make something with it.  I paid $1.99 for the piece which measures 4 and 5/8 yards and is 58 inches wide. Score!

Next up is this pretty bit of fabric...

It is a lovely striped organza fabric of several different colors, some of which are sheer.  Elsa proclaimed this fabric as 'mine' when she saw it.  For $.99 how could I say no?  Plus there is 2 yards of it, perfect for adding a little color to a dress or skirt!

I saw this fabric and fell instantly in love...

In fact I loved it so much that Saturday night I made another MODify dress out of it to wear to church on Sunday.  The fabric was $.99 and there was just over 2 yards.  When was the last time you found the best dress ever for $.99?  That's what I thought.

The last bit of fabric that I found was this...

Yup, more organza.  It is so pretty and I love how the green and blue blend into each other.  It set me back $.99 for 2 yards...I know I'm a big spender.

I also picked up a duvet cover and matching pillow shams for a whopping $5.99.  It graces my bed already and I love it!

So what do you think?  Did I make out like a bandit?  I think so, $5 for over 10 yards of fabric is pretty amazing.  Have you been thrifting lately?  Scored some great deals?  I'd love to hear about them :)

Thrifty Friday

So the last couple Friday's I've had the opportunity to go thrifting.  I've been on the lookout for the perfect pot for my escapade's in fabric dying and laundry soap making.  Today I found it!  I thought it's been a while since I've posted about my thrifty finds and I figure today is is as good as any.

Last week I stopped at a local thrift shop and found all of the above minus the pot.  First I found the umbrella stroller...

But it is in need of a little TLC...

While the print is very boyish it is way to thin so I'll be recovering it.  Which is exciting...I've got plans to add some fun and necessary accessories as well, making the stroller practical but fun!

The scarf was $.75!

I love the fabric but I'm not sure what I'll make with it.  It's about 1/2 yard of fabric...maybe a handbag?

This is a fabric shower curtain...

I don't know about you but it is begging me to turn it into a lovely dress.  You know I just can't help but oblige ;)

I fell in love as soon as I saw her...

my lovely, perfect and wonderful ORANGE handbag.  She has pockets and zippers

just right for shopping...her only fault...no room for knitting :)   The best part is she was only $.99!  Yes, less than a buck!

Finally what I was really wanting...

A nice big pot.  I love to dye fabric but really needed a decent sized pot to do it in, plus I've started to make my own laundry soap (this is the recipe I use) and I love it but the pot I used last time was too small...so I needed a big one.

When I went to pay for it the lady told me she had just put it out today!  We were meant to be!

Well, now that I've got all the crafty stuff it's time to start the crafting!

A Teaser...

Well I got back home last night.  The weekend was great, the family fun but I was ready to come home...plus if I had stayed any longer I might not have fit in my car...I discovered that you never outgrow the desire to kidnap stuff from your parents house and that while I don't share my parents pack-rat lifestyle it does make their house the best priced thrift store ever!  I also realized I don't have to get my parents anything for Christmas and that by not getting anything I will be giving them exactly what they need and want. 

However, now that I'm home I've got new stuff to find homes for not to mention that next week we're all going camping for a week!  We're all very excited yet I've got to hit the ground running and don't get time for break from my vacation.  So today's post will be short and sweet with a few teaser pics of what I brought back with me.  Hopefully I can get the house back in order and tomorrow will share more on my trip and the goodies I found.

Of all that I brought back I'll show you what I'm most excited about.  First my Momma took me shopping at a cute little fabric shop in Eugene for my birthday (this Friday) and they had Heather Ross fabric!  Um, I was so excited as I've only been able to drool over her collections from my computer but have never had a reason to splurge on it...but with Mom footing the bill I got a 1/2 yard!  EEKS!!! I'm stoked :)

The employee was saying that Heather Ross's third Far Far Away collection was due in anytime...now I know how to get my hands on it...send my mom to get it :)

What is even better is the fabric is Sleeping Beauty!  My all time favorite fairy tale!  Okay, enough about fabric...how about we discuss this beauty...

Yup!  That's a camera.  Technically it is a point & shoot but it has massive manual features like shutter speed and an external flash...I can hardly wait to play around with it!  My daddy is a photographer and just got a new camera and while he isn't sure I can keep this one forever, I do get to borrow it for a while :)  I know I'm loved!

Well, I've got to run...Elsa is tired and cranky from the trip and the house doesn't clean itself.

{{hugs}}
Buffy

So tell me do you bring home fun stuff from your parents when you go to visit?  Are you the pack rat or the tosser?  Don't you just love the fabric?  Even though I'm getting ready for a week of camping I can still make time to chat!

A Weekend Road Trip...Part 1

I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend.  I know we did!  For starters we only had THREE of our little ones at home because the other two got to go spend it with my family in Eugene, Oregon.  Yes, Lincoln and Elsa both got to spend a couple days with their Nana, Papa, and Auntie Renae along with a couple dogs and a few chickens ;)

However, my family lives about 9 hours from us and because it was to be such a short trip we met them about half way.  Can you say ROAD TRIP?!  Yes, it was a lot of driving, but for anyone who has children (especially those with many kids) any chance you get to reduce the noise in your house is worth it!  Besides it really was a lot of fun.

Early Saturday morning I got up with Lincoln, Samuel & Elsa and we hit the road.  The other two got to spend the night with their grandparents here in town, because Husband works on Saturday's :( , and we started off...

Starting off!  They're pretty alert for 0530 huh?

We didn't dawdle too much on the way down in the morning.  I wanted Lincoln and Elsa to be able to spend as much time as they could with my family.  I was however able to get this quick pic from the car...

The weather was perfect for driving.  Not too hot, not too cold and because we left so early on Saturday morning the traffic was almost non existent (I mean we were on the road).  Once we arrived we met up with my Mom, Sister and her friend that had come along for the drive at the restaurant and inn Cousins.  It was fun, but a reminder of how my kids don't eat out much, a mental note has been made to play restaurant with the kids so they are more prepared for proper behavior in said setting (note, they weren't horrible just unaccustomed).

 

That cookie was HUGE!  I think it was even bigger than Lincoln's head :)  The boys loved that there was an actual tractor in the restaurant but were upset that they couldn't sit on it.  Not to despair...

There was one outside they could lounge on!  However, soon it was time to say goodbye and start on the next chapter of our journey...

 

That is my sister with Samuel, who came back home with me.  Before we left The Dalles I had to stop in at the local yarn shop, The Whole Ball of Yarn.  It was perfect!  Not only did she have wonderful yarn, but she was also have a sale I was good and only brought back 3 balls!  I know, crazy me.  It was really a move out of self preservation because I was hoping to find more yarn shops on the way home (I didn't, but more on that later).  I bought this yummy yarn...

 

The yarn is Queensland Leche (duh, you can see the label) and it is 40% Extrafine Merino Wool, 30% Microfiber, 20% Milk Protein, 10% Silk...it is super duper cushy and soft and I wish I had bought enough for a sweater but didn't have that kind of cash...maybe another time right?

After finishing up at the yarn shop we stopped at the thrift shop that was right next to it.  I fell in love with it.  It was clean (big plus), had great stuff well organized and this...

Yes that is Wool...there are no ball bands but I'm thinking it's Lamb's Pride...or something similar but it is cushy, Aran Weight and definitely wool...it is a little scratchy but not horrid.  I'm think a shawlette with descending colors?  Not sure, but there is some serious yardage and get this...it cost me $2.50!  I know, I practically stole it :)

However I didn't just get the yarn, there was all these cozy finds too...

1) Vintage Sheet, full size $2, 2) Girlie Skull Cotton Knit Fabric, approx. 1/2 yd. $.50

3) Twill fabric, 2yds $1, 4) Cotton Poly blend double knit fabric, 3 yds $1

Did I score or what?!  I know, if the yarn wasn't enough of a deal I came home with all this delicious fabric!  Yet there is more...

 

1) GAP skirt, 2) Price tag, 3) Fabric Tag

Can you believe that not only did I find this amazing skirt, that I paid $3.75 but it was originally $54!  STEAL!  Then add in the fact that the skirt is 100% silk....  I couldn't pass it up, but sadly the skirt is a little small for me and really not a great style for my post-five-babies-body yet don't despair this beauty will make a great something else...I'm thinking summer top?  What do ya think?

Though I did find something that made my heart stop...

I don't think you people realize how much I LOVE mugs...I mean I absolutely adore them.  Especially ones like this.  Ceramic.  Speckled Glaze.  Two colors.  I could have a wall full...well if I keep finding them I will ;)

Obviously it wouldn't be cost effective to drive 270 miles one-way just to visit a yarn shop and ah-maz-ing thrift shop but now that I have found these quaint shops I think our stops in The Dalles when driving down to visit the fam might just get longer...

There is so much more about our trip to share and I haven't even finished the first half!  Yet, my kids seem to think they need a Momma and not a blogger...shocking I know.  So I promise to share the rest soon (okay I really don't want to give away all my fun stuff all at once, you might get bored with me if I did).  

{{hugs}}

Buffy

So how was your weekend?  Have any of you been to a great thrift shop lately?  Yarn and fabric goodies you've found for a steal?  Please share!  Also, don't forget about the 20-Minute Challenge!  I'm gonna work on it after the kids are in bed tonight.