thrift junky chronicles { 16 } & catching up

 

Whew!  The last couple weeks have been ca-ra-zy!  First we got snowed in for a week.  Well not literally unable to leave our house, but still.  And after that we got the flu for a week!  Again!  We just had the flu not too long ago.  I didn’t get it last time; this time, I was in bed for 24 hours in severe pain everywhere.  A friend asked me, “How do you take care of your kids when you are that sick?” I said, “You leave your bedroom door cracked so you can hear if someone is in a life threatening situation.”  Yeah, that was all we could do.  The kids were sick for like two days, then hubby and I were sick the next two days.  We were blessed because our house guests who were already exposed to anything we had were around to keep an eye on the kiddos a lot while Ty and I were dying.  And then one of them got it too.  Whoa.  Glad to be back! 

Anyway, had a couple more good finds at the thrift stores the past few days…

 

cool tree notebook that is unused for $0.99

Le Cruset dish for $2.99

a “Fred” mug  ($1.99 and 50% off) – a must have with two Freds under my roof (hubby and son – family name)

those little tiny loaf pans?  I think I will make pin cushions out of them… still thinking about it.  They were $2.99 for the four which is fine for reselling.

three neat old jars.  No lids or anything, and just marked with a “W” on the bottoms with a circle around it.  They are really thick and seem old and remind me of expensive “found” ones Pottery Barn had this summer.  They were $0.25 each

new vintage threads on wooden spools ($3.99 for big bag

a vintage metal embroidery hoop ($0.99). 

set of mini loaf pans ($2.99)!  I have no idea what I will do with these loaf pans yet other than to hold on to them until I see the perfect organizing opportunity for them, perhaps a bathroom drawer?  And also to make miniature banana bread for the kids to have a tea party.  Side note: my friend Leah looked all over Farm Chicks flea market for these and did not find any.  When I found this I took a picture in the thrift store and texted it to her and might have said “neener neener” at one point.  Is that a sin?  I am pretty sure it is.  Leah will you forgive me? 

Anyway that is plenty of that.  Want to see one non-thrifted purchase?  Some new fabrics to replenish the zippered pouches in my Etsy shop…

Thrift store fabrics (scrap yardage, sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers) make a lot more profit for resale, but these fabrics just had me at hello.  This is why I go thrift store shopping now instead of to fabric stores!  Do you see the fattest piece in the top picture?  It looks like the grid paper AshleyAnn always crafts with – SO SWEET.  Super excited about some combinations with these and some of my current stash, too.  I’ll keep you posted.

I think I might make some of this bag to sell…

It is a photo of a page in the Amy Butler book, “amy butler’s style stitches” which has “12 easy ways to 26 wonderful bags” in it with instructions and patterns.  This one is the “origami bag set” which stands up on it’s own like a long triangle.  So cute.  I would like to sell nested sets of two.  What do you think?

The shop has been going well; since opening about a week ago I have had 4 orders, selling 6 items.  That is decent.  Of course I am already swarming with better ideas; better pictures, different designs, new items… hopefully a lot of it will come to fruition!

Been packaging things cute, that is a vintage sewing pattern I am using as tissue paper in the middle picture – you can get millions of patterns at Goodwill every day.  A long time ago I bought a vintage kitchen scale, only to get it home and realize it is a postal scale!  Now it is coming in handy, so cute and retro too!

Anyway, going out with the kids to join hubby’s family for 24 hours of vacation!  Gotta go!  More this week!

giveaway winner

 

Well, thanks ladies for entering my little blog giveaway!  I think I got a couple more entries than last year, plus some Facebook shout-outs and a couple new followers, so that’s fun!   =)  AND, I sold a few items in my Etsy shop already!  Yay!  And only one of them was someone I know.  By the way, I put a logo and link over there ---> for my shop.

Okay, I know, I know, what you’ve all -– all six of you -- been waiting for… and the winner is --- Sue G.!  That’s my mom, hahaha.  She wasn’t going to enter but I made her do it.  Good thing, huh, mom?!  She had me keep out one of the tote bags from my Etsy shop so she could buy it, and now she gets the pin cushion she picked out in the giveaway, for free!  Aren’t I nice?  Are my mom and I the only ones who are always owing each other money for this or that or buying stuff from each other?  We are kinda weird, so it wouldn’t surprise me.  =)

Well, that’s all I got for today.  I have a pot roast in the oven and I really want to get started painting some cabinets, but I have a chicken coop to clean, and homeschool to do.  Such is life! 

it’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here!!!

Okay, so I told you a few posts back that I had gotten four footed milk glass bowls and was making pincushions out of them for my Etsy shop.  But then I thought, wait a minute… a while back I found three in one thrift shop in one day, then the next time I found four… this isn’t just going to keep happening to me.  Maybe I should keep this nice, neat little set of four vintage milk glass footed dishes for things like…

the WORLD’s BEST fruit salad that’s like nothing you’ve EVER had before.
I pretty much say that about everything my friend Sandy makes, and it’s pretty much always true.  This recipe is from Sandy, and it is no exception -  have had this three times this week and I still can’t stop thinking about it.

Okay, are you ready to try it yet?  There are three super easy parts:

WORLD’S BEST FRUIT SALAD

Fruit: Chop strawberries, apples and banannas.
Sauce: Stir together 1 cup each of plain yogurt and sour cream, plus about 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk and about 1/2 tsp. vanilla (more to taste).
Toppings: Granola of choice, coconut flakes, sprinkles.
This serving size was about a cup, so I layered in 1/3 cup bananas, 1/3 cup apples, and 1/3 cup strawberries.  Then I took a large spoon and drizzled on a heaping spoonful of the sauce.  Then I sprinkled on some coconut flakes, followed by granola and sprinkles.  That’s it!

Easy right?  Wait till you try it, it is so darn good.  I had it for lunch yesterday.  And a little after dinner, too. 
 
Okay, so those little dishes didn’t make it into my Etsy shop, but guess what… a whole bunch of other stuff did!  I finally put my leftover items from my sale into my Etsy shop.  It fittingly called, WillWorkForDecor on Etsy.  Right now it is full of camera strap covers, zippered pouches, teacup pincushions and some art prints.  I will have some vintage plastic signboard letters coming up soon.  I also hope to keep an eye out for thrifted treasures to sell in the vintage section.

And here’s the kicker (boy, this post just keeps getting better!)… head on over to my Etsy shop and pick out your favorite item… leave a comment here, telling me what your favorite item is and (drum roll please?) … you will be entered to win that item! 
You didn’t think I had forgotten about my blogiversary giveaway did you!?  Get over there, pick out your favorite item and leave a comment now!  AND, Follow my blog or give me a shout out on Facebook and you can enter twice (leave two comments).  I will randomly select one winner next Tuesday, and announce it here.  If you win but your favorite item has sold, you can pick another or I may custom make you another.  Giveaway closes Tuesday morning, January 24th, at 8am PST.
(Note: this giveaway is now closed!)


Have fun, ladies, and thanks for reading this lil’ ol’ blog!  =)

productivity at last

 

I haven’t really been snowed in since the new van is excellent in the snow and hubby LOVES driving in the snow, working on his rally-car-driver-on-a-snow-course-skills, getting sideways and freaking everyone else out.  Whenever we go somewhere I have to inform him constantly, “You know everyone hates you when you drive like this, right?”  He loves every minute of it.  He is not dangerous – he only does it when there aren’t other cars around us, but when they see us coming, then we straighten out and drive normal, they are always staring at us with worried expressions as we drive past.  Sorry people.  We pulled out three people who were stuck… does that make up for scaring the other people?

But school and work have been cancelled for the kids and hubby and myself, and we are all staying home a lot – so there is still a feeling of “cabin fever” even though we aren’t truly stuck here.  As is typical, at first I was thrilled, and now it has turned into long days getting a little boring and the kids getting a little wild.  They had to be pushed to go outside yesterday to get some fresh air – they are apparently over the snow as well. 

We got over a foot; I last measured two days ago at 9 inches, and it snowed at least another 4 inches after that.  Almost over the tops of my boots!  That picture was really hard to take with my 35mm lens, by the way.

Having a borrowed computer (I told you my old one died, right?) without Photoshop on it has shown me I need to be more diligent about getting each shot right,  SOOC (straight out of camera).  I always seem to end up a little dark on my exposures!  Sorry, you’re going to have to put up with it for a bit.  =)

The good news about being snowed in?  It finally gave me some time to get my Etsy shop up and running!  I have about 70% of my items loaded and ready!  It is my goal to get the rest done today, and I will get them all active and blog tomorrow and link you to my little shop!  I’m a little sad I don’t have Photoshop, so I can come up with a better header than the one I have which I made like a year ago, but, it is what it is.

So, until tomorrow … by the way… I have the world’s most glorious recipe to share tomorrow!  It involves fruit, but it is like nothing you’ve ever had before!  You might salivate when you see it.  Or maybe that is just me.

Peace!

restaurant style guacamole

 

There are different types of guacamole. 

Growing up we smashed avocados and used one of those spice packets.  Now, I consider that really gross.

Later, my Mexican friends taught me their recipe, and I would make it fresh with onion, jalapeño, lime, salt, tomato, and cilantro.

Now, when I get the craving but am lazy (which might be always), I do it Mexican restaurant style…

I forgot to photograph salt in the picture.  Make sure you use salt.

Ingredients:

2-3 avocados

1/2 lime

small can jalapenos

sour cream

salt

chips  

Slice the avocados in half, then slice each half, in the shell, into chunks and scoop out with a fork (this accomplishes most of the smashing for you).  Smash the avocado chunks with a fork till creamy.  Add about a teaspoon of the jalapenos (more to taste), a half teaspoon salt, squeeze in a teaspoon lime juice, and a dollop of sour cream, and stir.  Devour.

By the way, those Juanita’s chips are THE BEST.  We are hooked on them, and I refuse to eat any other chip.  Aren’t I horrible?  And when I say “we” I mean me and the Mexicans who live with me – they are their favorite too.  They are so crunchy and not overly salty.  We find them at Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart, and I think Safeway.  Sometimes they can be sold out.  I throw a fit and stomp in the store when that happens and grumble under my breath that that company must be making big bucks and why don’t they just expand and make more so the stores don’t sell out and I don’t have to be without their blissful chips for a day of my life  for crying out loud.

This is when you tell yourself avocados are the healthy kind of fat.  =)