Thriftin' on Friday.

It would sound better if I called it Thriftin' Thursday, but well, it is Friday now so Friday it is...

I tell my husband that I need some exercise and would he prefer that I walk about the MALL where prices start at the $20 dollar range or that I walk about the second hand stores where the prices generally top out at $20?

So we drove to the west end of town and stopped at Value Village -- there are 6 2nd hand shops in our town that I generally visit on a basis of one or two a week, so it has been quite a while since I walked around the most expensive shop in town (tho MCC aka Mennonite Central Committee Thrift Shop) is quickly becoming rather high priced too)

I got this McCalls Needlework and Crafts - Winter 1964 -65 for 99 cents.   I like to look through these magazines because it is interesting to see the styles and the kinds of things that our Mother's worked on in their spare time.   This particular magazine has no torn out pages, which is always a bonus, just in case I find something to challenge my nimble knitty fingers ; the instructions will be there...

A page of gift and christmas decorating ideas..  That Christmas tree is kinda cute, hey?  And a pin cushion made from RECYCLED Wool Sweater, rolled up tightly and sewn -- What a concept!  I do believe it is Betz White that does those Wool Tea Cup Pincushions.  Cool how an old idea can be modernized with a bit of thought and innovation!

I think this knit sweater is way beyond my ability but just think how great you would have looked wearing it on a cold winter's eve in 1964!   I was about to turn into a teenager and I know I would have coveted it (but knew it would never hang in my closet).

A Change of pace!  A light synthetic piece of fabric, about 3 meters worth actually.  $2.99  and I am thinking of making myself a summer top...  I am not so good a choosing patterns to sew and to put on myself, so I have a top that I plan to de-construct and use as a pattern.  I know I like that top, tho it is faded and has way too many snags and stains, so, next week perhaps I shall tackle that little job.

AND

I think I may have found THE fabric for the Medallion Quilt Along...  It kinda has that dull, dusty type of colour that I have been hunting for to put into the next round (Round 3)  So, will try it out and see how it goes -- if not I guess I will just have to trudge on over to the REGULAR fabric store and buy at retail some appropriate yardage, as the Medallion is definately needing to be worked on!

Oh, and according to the sign in the window at Value Village, Monday June 27 is half price day!  So I may be back there to see if I missed anything real important!!

SEW? What's goin' on?

I am finally spending HOURS in the sewing room and keeping myself busy...  Mostly creating things for my etsy shop....  I'm thinking maybe I should be having thoughts of christmas?  is it too early for working on christmas themed projects?

I made a picnic table cover.  TODAY, is the first day of SUMMER so a picnic table cover seemed to be in order -- NOW I just have to convince the family to come along to a picnic in the country...

I bought one of those Moda Charm packs -- I really shouldn't buy those... For me they prove to be too limiting.  

There are alot of ideas on the Moda website but I am far to CHEAP to buy a half dozen of the charm packs.   Something I discovered that I really don't like about these 5" squares, is the pinked edges.  For me, they make the piecing inaccurate, even if you just sew the squares together, which is what I did  for the picnic table cover.  I find that I sort of wobble in my seam line when sewing along that pinked edge, it scrunches too easily and can make as much as an 1/8 inch difference in my seams -- it is probably just the way I sew, tho.  I like that nice straight rotary cut edge that I would do when cutting my own squares from fabric. 

 I think, I shall keep away from those charm packs -- BUT I do love the colour combinations that they put together.   Like being in a candy store, or a quilt shop, RESISTANCE could be futile...

Yesterday I spent the day sewing FAST Flying Geese sections (go look for the instructions in the first part of the Medallion Quilt Along - clik on the tab).

I found another retro bedsheet that went quite nicely with two other sheets that I have in the closet, so I decided to make a set of Variable star blocks for the ETSY store

So I got 16 - 12 1/2 inch blocks completed and they are now listed in the shop.

The other day I discovered something VERY useful about creating quilt blocks for the STORE.

 Now, I am not really an unusual person, tho like the rest of you, I like to think I am different.

 I like to start new things and over the years have started many UFO's and they sit in drawers and boxes and sometimes I manage to pull them out and get them put together and finish them up.  It seems my best motivation for finishing a project is a wedding or a birth  to get a gift done quickly, I always turn to my UFO stacks! 

Now, though, I have found that making blocks and playing with fabrics and colours, I can make a project part way and then SELL it (or at least LIST it) in the store.   A fantastic way to play with fabric and not have the guilt of a stash of UFO's!

NEW THINGS...

This is one of those "I wonder" thoughts...  Has nothing to do with quilts or crochet, just a weird thing in LIFE...

Does anyone else, or in my case, does anyone else's husband INSIST on starting the newest bottle, container, box or whatever of a new thing before the previous one is quite done?   If I buy a new bottle of shampoo before the old one is done -- even if it is the same brand and fragrance -- my husband HAS to open the new one before the old is done?   If there is a open pack of baloney in the fridge, he will open a new one instead of finishing the old, even if old means he opened it yesterday!

WHY IS THAT?   The only way I seem to be able to put a stop to that sort of thing is to not buy the new replacement item until we have completely run out of the already opened product.   And this really gets me!  If we run out of peanut butter and do not have a replacement jar in the house, I have seen my hubby open a jar in the store, stick his finger in for a taste and put the jar in our cart!!  Is that OKAY even if you are buying the jar???

I THINK WE HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF....  (good thing hubby doesn't read this blog!) -- and don't YOU go telling him I am letting out his secrets!!

Admit it!

I'm lazy...

It sounds better tho to say I'm busy, but honestly, there are some days, even a stretch of days where my motivation is not quite up to snuff...

I did have a busy weekend -- with putting in volunteer hours at my quilt guild's quilt show this past weekend and between those hours of manning the admittance booth, selling raffle tickets and wandering about and answering questions, I did have to wash dishes and vacuum carpets and water the garden and go grocery shopping for the food to keep my family happy and contented...

THEN on Tuesday IT happened again!  The kind of event that occurs less often than Christmas but once done lasts so much longer than just one day.  Since 1972, this event has occured 12 times now.

WE GOT A NEW KITTEN!!!

Walter is his name.

He is a very handsome little boy.

He comes from the home of my friend Nearissa and she hand raised/bottlefed him and his siblings from the time he was about 10 days old -- his Mama went out one day and never came back...  It is a good thing Walter (who originally was named Socks) had Nearissa to save him.

Walter is the most adventurous and fearless kitten that I ever remember meeting.  He is just over 8 weeks old and is as bold as if he had lived here everyday of his life.

Walter found his way about our house by going forward every step, he climbed up top and squeezed underneath.  He scrambled up the stairs and scurried across the rooms he was exploring!

Even Pearl did not intimidate Walter.

Walter was happy to see Pearl, in fact.  Walter embraces Pearl every chance he gets!

And Pearl, well, lets just say it was LOVE at first sight...

Archie, our mature older boy (he is only 5) was at first a bit leary of this well dressed little whirlwind who has invaded the territory.  Walter did not flee nor backdown when Archie came to be introduced.  Walter just watched and explored and waited til Archie invited him into the cat cave, where they now both lay together, or play peek-a-boo -- one outside and one in...

And even the DAD has taken to the charm that Walter spreads around the house!  (the DAD was quite uncertain of taking on a new baby)

Walter is full of charm and it seems he is just one of those guys with a winning smile and he seems happy to spread his "shine"  all around...

So now I have a reason for lazy.  Watching Walter is an amazing thing and I am sure it will not wear off for days and days and days and days...

Nothing to Say...

Just the regular everyday kind of things lately.  It is finally showing signs of SPRING and that is my favourite season.  I am planting things in my garden and the squirrels are eating the seeds that I planted for Pole Beans...  My Cat Nip plant was devastated by a new cat in the neighbourhood.  Chewed up, rolled on, and spit out!   I moved the ragged plant to my upper balcony where that cat cannot climb...

Calendula, and Batchelor Buttons are sprouted and the second set of leaves are appearing.  Tiny Tim cherry tomatoes are looking strong with bloom buds showing.  My container strawberries are bloomed and tiny green strawbs have formed.

Our Guild Quilt Show is this weekend, so I am busy sorting a few items that I plan to put into our guilds "For Sale" Boutique.  A couple of tote bags, children's sun hats, potholders and even an I Spy Lap Quilt.  The quilts that I have in the show, were labeled and hanging sleeves put on last week and they are packed up ready to be hung.

Organizing things have been a top priority for the last few months and I keep finding things to put into order or to eliminate.  Photos, dated and into file boxes by year, and month with a few special series labeled by subject.  Fabric Stash reorganized and then reorganized again.  Etsy Store items, inventoried and packaged for easy and quick shipping...

Yesterday, I spent the morning, organizing household files -- after the previous 2 mornings spent shredding old reciepts and tax forms and other outdated paperwork...  TWO huge garbage bags of shredded paper for the recycle bin.  DONE.

The Medallion Quilt, meantime is on hold -- just not the time to think about it and I am having a major difficulty finding a fabric that the next border is crying for.

A few family EVENTS and Occasions also take up my time lately -- seems like May/June is almost as busy as Christmas!

A new DRAGON/Dinosaur (from the thrift store) for my backyard -- I do have a strange set of creatures inhabiting my fence and deck and under some of the plants!

And today a couple of things lined up -- out of the house.  I am going to visit the local CAT shelter and see if I might find a new member to our family.  This house has always had two cats and since Fossie went on her way to the big cat haven we have been missing her so it is time to look for that new kitty to fit into our home...  And the not so fun part of the day -- gotta go pay house insurance, and while we are at it, it is property tax time so that bill to will get taken care of today..... 

WHEWF!  Thats enough for one day.   I think before I start it all, I will fill the slow cooker with some chicken and veg and I won't need to think about dinner until it is time to scoop a serving from the ceramic bowl of the slow cooker...