thrifty thursdays...

hurrah! it is thrifty thursdays,

oh how i have missed my thrifty thursdays 'show and tell'

so without further a do i shall proceed...

well, truth be told dearest readers i felt a little guilty leaving my children to loiter,

but upon entering the thrift store my guilt slipped away

for that is the wonder of a thrift store...

it just becomes you,

your thoughts

and the your next peachy find.

i do believe yesterday,

i had my most peachiest frock find to date.

i found her rather neglected upon the racks of despair.

indeed it was her color i was instantly attracted to,

that 'perfectly perfect' sludgy, slightly icky, green.

and then to see that perfect green matched with blossoms and branches,

not to mention a mandarin collar...

well i think it comes as no surprise

when i say

i was overcome with dizziness and not the Mr Vertigo kind.

i did not bother to try her on,

her price tag being only $5 i was willing to take a chance...

if her fit was iffy

then i would 'choppity chop' her up to make cushions.

upon returning to the shed

i donned my new thrift store frock,

i gasped the gasp

could it be this little sweetie had potential,

perhaps a little loose and yes way too long,

but surely nothing Miss Ethel could not handle

after a few stolen moments here and there in my studio

i noted my thrift store frock began to shine...

i added a little tie detail with lace trim

and voila!

her pretty summery self shone forth.

she is thinking it is all adding up to Mr Summer doing a bit of loitering himself ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays on monday...

on friday Our #4 turned 12.

i noted he was full of beans

whilst i was full of aches...

i marveled at how being 12 was rather wonderful

one appears to have no worries

nor CCSI's to slow one down

in the evening Our #1 insisted on taking me to the thrift store

she said it would do me good to get out and about.

i think right there dearest readers, shows why i shall miss her so.

she drove me there,

found a cart to prop me up

directed me to the household department

and left me to it,

whilst she went to the clothing aisles.

never have i been so glad my thrift store has trolleys.

mine served several purposes as i hobbled around...

to replace my need for a zimmer frame

and to also hold the growing pile of treasures

upon returning home to the shed

i noted to Our #4

that indeed his birthday may be lacking a cake,

but what it lacked in cake

it made up for in thrifty finds...

a Stelton vacuum jug by Erik Magnussen

for $7

and a rather peachy retro quilt

for the couch.

i then broke out my Cadbury's Caramel bar from hiding

and shared it with the birthday boy.

to celebrate his 12 years

which seems so much longer,

and to celebrate my thifty finds

which always seem so much sweeter

when found thrifting with Our #1

she is taking things slowly with Miss Ethel and thanking you most kindly for your CCSI support ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays...

oh yes indeedy!

it has been a while has it not, since i did a 'thrifty thursdays' ramble.

indeed it would be quite true to say

it has been a while since i went to the thrift store,

a whole six days...

i think that shows great willpower on my behalf.

of course now the 'great show of willpower' thought has popped into my head this morning,

i can think of nothing else than leaving the shed

and heading to the thrift store.

i've actually started

twitching,

rubbing my hands

and

pulling my hair.

i am now relying upon every ounce left of my 'willpower' reserves

to stay rooted in the shed.

so let us not dwell on the thought of what lovely finds could be waiting for me

but instead focus on my last adventure to the thrift store.

it was a perfectly perfect thrifty adventure

full of fabby forsaken finds...

if you asked my man he would tell you otherwise,

but we are not going to ask him

for we do not want to spoil our 'thrifty thursdays' post

with 'bah humbuggers' of the thrifty kind.

as i entered the thriftstore

with $15 in my hand

i found many a forsaken little soul looking for a happy home

a nest of russian dolls

who obviously have something bothering them

but they haven't told me what

a few napkins and one pillowcase

always a favorite find for me

a pair of sprightly salt and pepper pots

who have seen many sights in their lifetime

a little wooden monkey looking for a new nose

(and of course we know had a very long journey to find it)

a red tin bowl, just like one i already own

but it would have been insanity to leave it behind

a pretty summer straw basket,

rather battered in a perfect vintagey way

as soon as i saw it, i went off into my imagination,

thinking of the lovely summery thoughts that come from owning such a straw bag.

upon leaving the thrift store that evening,

i pondered a thought...

indeed it was quite true to say

i was now $15 poorer than an hour before

and yet

without a doubt

i now felt so much richer than an hour ago.

i'm thinking i am probably not alone with that thought...

she has been fiddling with things again, she is wondering if others have noticed her fiddling ways ~ Tif

thrifty tuesdays...

ah yes indeedy! we are mixing it up a little dearest readers...

we are not ones to be dull and predictable,

no sirree!

we crave excitement and an element of surprise

and i can't think of anything more exciting and surprising than to take

thrifty thursdays

and make it

thrifty tuesdays!

("oh Tif" i hear you exclaim "how simply thrilling, ney exciting, ney surprising of you, you clever thing"

"why thanking you kindly" i reply "i aim to please")

but before we delve into what 'devilishly exciting' thrifty goodness i have acquired of late i must just say i have not been idle this morning.

despite having volumizing hair issues of the worst kind, causing me to be weighed down like i have not been weighed down since the 80's and my perming addiction.

i am delighted to report, that yes indeed, Miss Ethel and i have been getting it on again.

it would appear she is rested and ready for action...

i can also report

my thrifty finds have reached an all time high,

(or low, if you are my man)

not content with my usual cravings

i have now taken to giving lost thermos flasks a home.

then there is the usual attraction to lovely colored fondue pots,

because of course one never knows when suddenly one may wish to 'fondue'.

i was also spoken to recently by a pair of salt and pepper pots.

sporting rather fabby green plastic tops complete with springy hinges...

seriously, how could i ignore their telling beauty

a pair of sticky hooks in wonderful avocado green complete with original packaging.

i have yet to stick them on anything as they are so terribly wonderful i want to be sure to get it right.

and then finally but by no means least

two forsaken little souls...

it's been a while since a true forsaken soul has found me.

but these two had brilliant potential upon perusal,

and so it came to be that

one little tree

and

one little handy dandy holder

have made themselves at home in mossy shed

my man has noted that i appear to be bringing home way too many waifs and strays for his liking.

dearest readers, i told him he was indeed right, my finds are at a fearfully high quantity of late,

and then i asked him, how does one refuse a little forsaken soul that has the ability to make a wall smile...

i rest my case.

she is thinking that Miss Ethel is sounding a little croaky, she is thinking that may not be good news ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays...

since it's turned november i am seeing little snippets of holiday crafting everywhere i look.

not necessarily when i look in my yard, my car or my cat litter tray... it's usually when i am looking in the cyberworld

so now i have got past halloween successfully ignoring all pumpkin buying or decorating, but in return having to listen to the 'moans' of discontent from our #4, i must really try and make an effort for christmas.

thanksgiving will come and go in a blink of an eye and then i will be looking at december the 1st and having to fix up a 'charlie brown' christmas tree due to my lack of 'foresight'.

i will not let that happen dearest readers, no for i am determined this year to be one foot ahead of the game.

of course if i was really one foot ahead of the game i would have started planning last january but let's ignore that bit and just focus on how great it is to be thinking ahead by around five weeks.

in my new found 'being prepared for christmas' state of mind, i have been perusing the figurine aisle at the thrift store, but alas there have been no pesky gnomes looking for a warm shed this holdiays. in fact, as is usual with the figurine aisle, it is full of 'horrendous crimes' committed with ceramics, wood, clay and other materials.

the only joy i've had so far is a little deer

apparently it traveled from china at some point

i looked at it and it looked at me

i asked, if it knew how to keep it's eyes closed

it said it did and so i took a chance

several coats later it is a glossy red (actually orangey/red as that was all i had) and is preparing to play 'some part' upon our mantlepiece this christmas.

i really have no direction this year, no vision of 'crafty delights' with which to add a warm eclectic vibe to my decorating. i am quite fearful that last year was the best it is ever going to get and it's down hill from now on.

i plan to get a few things down from the attic, my yarn balls, my crocheted popcorn garlands and little trees... take them out, in the off chance, they may inspire me in my creative thought process.

in the meantime, i'm happy to report the advent calendar situation is under control, more 'bemoaning' from one half of the shed clan, but the other half was relatively onboard.

even i have to admit i'm still not sure if i have crossed the boundaries of 'tasteful' holiday decor.

dearest readers it is with great delight and perhaps some trepidation that i report, stumbling upon a '1970's macrame christmas tree' wall hanging complete with pompoms, last night on vintage etsy. when it arrives via the mail man, only then will i be able to tell if i have truly crossed the 'iffy' boundary or if indeed it was $5 well spent...

and so it just leaves me to tell you i will be away for a few days, our #1 has her wisdom teeth removed tomorrow and so i must scrabble around the kitchen drawer trying to locate my florence nightingale hat along with my 'best' bedside manner...

i have plans of being a wonderful caring attendee to her, whilst also updating the shop with my latest offerings...

she is wishing you a lovely weekend, dearies (do you like that, she thought 'dearies' was rather endearing) and will see you next week ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays with spongebob...

never did i think one little blankie could warrant such kindness but once again you bestow your loveliness upon me and my creations. allowing me to carry on 'hooking' with pride knowing that what comes out of it is 'worthy' and 'special'....

and so we must continue with today's hot topic... ah yes, it's our favorite day of the week, thrifty thursdays.

all around the globe people are going "not now", "in a minute" or "i'm busy" as they pull down their 'bank clerk' blind at the window, put out the closed sign on the cashier's till or lock the door and place a 'back in five minutes' note on the glass.

for today is the day all must rush to their computers to find out what latest and greatest (that of course is debatable) 'find' Tif has procured at the thrift store.

i hope my dearest readers and any bank clerks that happen to have pulled their blinds, that i do not disappoint today. so if you are sitting comfortably behind your 'do not disturb' signs, with tipple in hand (please read that last bit most carefully as not to have any embarrassing moments if someone looks over your 'sign')... let us begin.

last friday i mentioned i was off thrifting, and so i did, but not until the evening by which time i had experienced a crafting 'epiphany'..... (i have paused here for you to take a sharp intake of breath and when exhaling gasp "oh my Tif, that is tres exciting to say the least".... to which i say "i know!!!)

but more on my 'epiphany' moment tomorrow (ah ha, a cliff hanger if ever i typed one).

and so it came to be that i phoned my man at work, suggested that we met half way from his work and mossy shed, to digest some chinese food and then i could sneakily drop in convo, how lovely it would be if he bought the kids home whilst i did a spot of shopping.

of course he did not fall for this without some questioning to the type of shopping i needed to do. i caved in and mumbled 'thrift shopping', picked up my bag, smiled everso sweetly, leaving him with the bill and the kids,whilst i went upon my thrifting ways... (oh how tough a woman can be when she has thrifting on her mind).

upon entering the store i knew it was going to be a good day, but did i know it was going to be a 'sponge bob' kind of 'best day ever' thrifting day, no i did not... having had one such day not too long ago i did not feel i was in the market for another so soon, but how wrong i was...

the moment it hit me as a 'sponge bob' thrifting day was the moment i rounded the aisle and came face to face with 'bark cloth curtains'.

i stopped in my tracks...

"can this be" i exclaimed to myself, half scared i was going to wake up at any minute

never in all my born days of frequenting this particular thrift store have i ever, ever, ever, come across such an item,

i reached forward to touch them, almost daring them to vanish in a puff of smoke, it all seemed so unreal.

but no, they were real and better still there were three of them, the most amazing pattern, fabulous colors, in peachy perfect condition and if it could get any better than that... they were MINE!!!!

for no other shopper had spied this diamond hidden amongst the rough.

i gathered all three of them up and held them close, i looked around wishing to share my moment of 'priceless' discovery but alas no one was near... nor i fear, would they have cared about the deranged woman with unwashed hair, hugging granny curtains and weeping with joy. (or allergies... one's never quite sure)

i placed them gently into my cart and promised them a 'new life' of untold joy living with me.

i glanced up, now becoming a 'protective' mother... making sure no one spied my 'spoils' and try to take them from me. i moved forward, less then five feet away, another 'gasp' of "can it truly be" filled the air...

it could only be the towels that must have belonged to the 'curtain' owner, right before me...

i snatched them up, bundled them into my cart, realizing that time was of the essence, other treasures belonging to this wonderful 'granny chic' loving person who cared so well for her belongings were lurking amongst the aisles...

next came a fabulous lace tablecloth... oh so perfectly intact with no rips or stains to speak of,

and finally a little pretty jug, in my favorite china color... yellow

by this time i was exhausted with the 'hunt', it was nearly 9pm and i needed to take my haul home where i could lay it all out and marvel at it's full glory without the worry of 'hyenas'...

on returning to the shed i found our #3 on my computer, a perfect victim to 'oooh and ahhh' at my finds.

i began to take out my towels, then my tablecloth, next the jug and finally the glorious barkcoth curtains, fully lined in 'tip top' vintage condition.... (did i mention that before, just thought i'd mention it again... just in case i hadn't quite got across just how flipping fab they are!!)...

and so our #3 kindly made all the right "ooohs and ahhhs" in all the right places, glancing occasionally in my direction.

finally his gaze broke from the computer screen and he swivelled around to face me.

"are you telling me all those items were there tonight?"

"yes!!" i replied quite breathlessly

"all those things that look just like the things you like to buy from the thrift store, where all from one trip?"

"yes, i know!!!" getting a little 'shrilly' with my voice

"how much did it all cost?" he inquired (ummm, doesn't miss a trick)

"forty one dollars including tax" i answered, waiting for the response and holding my receipt for proof in my sweaty little palm, should i need it.

"forty one dollars for three barkcloth curtains, one large tablecloth, one jug and five towels?"

"yes that is correct" wondering and 'a waiting' the response...

"well, that was money well spent" and without further a glance he reconnected with his cyber world leaving his mother to sit in the corner, piled high with thrifty finds... by her side, Miss Ethel resting from her earlier sweating, due to a crafting 'epiphany' and thinking all was so very well in her world.

she will return with her 'epiphany' tomorrow ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays... branching out

i am still trying to combat my color fears.

this week i took a set of shelves i found out thrifting, that happened to be the same as my bathroom ones but in white and decided to boldly go where i have not boldly gone before with a paintbrush.

i bought a can of pink paint, not any old soft, gentle 'be kind to my eyes' pink paint, but bright, in your face, 'i glow at night' pink paint. (i fear i am losing it completely these days, must be the lurkingness of turning 41)

two days on i am still reeling from being taken out of my comfort zone.

made worse by my need to use the paint up, after all i had spent good money on the stuff. and so foolishly, i continued to wield my paintbrush on the inside of our dresser hutch... (trust me when i say the color is rather subdued in this picture)

i got so scared afterwards that i found my handy dandy staple gun and some lace to 'cover up' my 'battling with color' moment...

i see many fabulous examples here, but when it comes to my own space i appear to lose my way more often than not...

my lovely 'doubters' cupboard of last week only became it's soft shade of blue because i had left over paint from my utility room and our bathroom. having lived with this color for over a year i knew it was a safe bet, but having run out of leftover paint i felt the need to branch out and attempt a new palette.

my man commented "ummm, is that set of shelves new?" as he shielded his eyes from the glare upon entering the shed.

"yes, i painted it today... what do you think?"

"well..." he hesitated and then continued with the 'tone of voice' from one who is fearful to offend "it's quite bright for you isn't it?"

"i know!" i broke down, "i don't know what i was thinking, i was overcome by a moment of bravery, or some might say madness, and now i have a tin of paint containing fluorescent salmon pink and a shelf and dresser cupboard that scare me."

nothing for it but to live with my new 'scary' color for a while, not because i think the color will grow on me, but more because little olive has taken it upon herself since the kids went back to school to become a 'pickle of the utmost kind' and thus making sure any free time i might donate to painting and crafting be donated to her instead...

she is off to collect the eggs with little olive and used dog in tow, in an attempt to get out of the glare ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays...

if you are sitting comfortably then i shall begin...

once upon a time in a far off land lived Tif, a young slip of a girl and her 'used dog'. Tif was an 'addict' and once a week she would head into town to get her 'fix'.

'used dog' would wait patiently behind at the shed, never knowing what sort of mood Tif would return in... had she got her 'fix of thrifty finds' or would she come home empty handed and 'down'.

on one such day, Tif was in her local thrift store noting that instead of being super quiet as she had hoped it would be in the school vacation. it was in fact 'heaving' to the point of bursting at the seams with people looking for 'something'.

this did not bode well in Tif's scavenging mind... and just as she predicted, the 'pickings' were slim and her 'fix' was looking more and more doubtful.

then she spied 'it', not a 'oh my, where have you been all my life' it.

but a 'ummm, perhaps i am beginning to lose my way in the thrifty world' kind of it.

and so as nothing else was leaping at her, (not even colin or johnny sadly) Tif decided to take a gamble and purchase the 'it' thing in question. after all she was looking for goodies to decorate her overhang out back.

on returning to the shed, Tif put her 'questionable find' in the back yard to survey.

'used dog' sniffed the 'it'

then she sniffed again

soon after she had to go and have a lie down as the whole 'it' thing made her feel quite faint.

whilst 'used dog' rested, Tif set about trying to create what she had envisioned at the thrift store, with the help of some pink paint and Miss Ethel.

("oh Tif can we just interrupt you there?",

"why yes of course dear readers, what is it?"

"well, you said pink paint, isn't that a little 'bright' for you and your color phobia issues?"

"good question... i must confess i have conquered my 'brightness' fears of late and gone to quite the extreme, unleashing 'bright pink' on several items in our outside area, i think you would be most proud of me... ")

now back to this gripping tale of 'addiction', 'thifting' and 'transforming'...

and so after a happy hour or two, a small swan appeared from within the ugly duckling...

not a 'radiantly fabulous swan' but a swan never the less

after her lie down 'used dog' felt much better.

on taking a good look at what Tif had done with the 'ugliest' stool in the thrift store she gave it two 'paws' up...

giving Tif the confidence to carry on bravely rescuing 'dubious' looking things no longer loved and bringing them back to the shed to enjoy a life with their new 'coats of many colors'...

the end

she is off to get those pesky gray hairs fixed yet again ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays... of the 'utmost' kind

"any good?" our #4 shouted as he entered the shed, whilst slamming the door behind him on sunday.

"any good what?" i asked

"any good stuff at the market?" coming to a halt in the living room. "oh yes, i see you did find some" his voice trailing off...

"what is it?" he inquired hesitantly.

"this my dearest child is a 'flea market find' of the utmost kind", to which i continued to educate him on just what 'a find' it was...

then he took a look at my other 'find', not having to ask what it was, as it was quite obviously a bench.

"it matches the others except it's not the same shape... did you need one of these?"

"oh yes," i replied. "it has been on my 'top ten thrifty finds' for the longest time. quite honestly i had trouble breathing when i spied it at Freemont this morning".

he paused a while...

"so how much did you pay for your finds?" came the next question.

"$20 for the 'oh my goodness, you are just perfect' embroidered picture, and $25 for the 'have been looking for you for the longest time' bench"

another pause...

"i think the bench price was okay, but i would never have given $20 for that picture"

he then went on his way to build mini stone sculptures in the yard.

some time later he appeared again, finding me admiring my sunday market purchases and marvelling at my good fortune...

"so would you say this has been the best day ever, what with your 'market finds' and your 'etsy feature'?"

"yes" i replied, "i think i would put it up there with some of my 'best day ever' days."

"well then, you've just had a 'Spongebob kind of day', congratulations and here it is" to which he promptly popped the TV on, located a recording somewhere from the depth of technology (as i can only just about figure out the 'on' button i marvel at his 'remote control' abilities) and before i knew it, i was being subjected to a singing Spongebob and our #4 chorusing together

"it's the best day ever"

she is off to get the dreaded pesky gray roots sorted and realizing time is running out fast, as 'old blighty' is calling her ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays and a little bit of company...

my daydreaming has been interrupted by the real world so alas i have no idea how my beach cottage front door is looking and what lovely natty color i have painted it. i really really want to know the type of windows it would have either side, or perhaps actually a window in it. i also feel the little entrance way would have a wonderful welcoming feel and some beautiful bits of furniture scattered around. but dear readers at this moment in time we will never know.

two things have caused me to 'wake up'... actually three but i can't tell you number three until monday ("aaah, such intrigue, such mystery" i hear you whisper, because you would be whispering as that adds to the scene setting of 'suspense')

real world interruption number 1:

i was all prepared with my stack of dirty dishes, running the water over my Method liquid when a voice appeared behind me... the voice seemed to be settling in for the long haul. interestingly the voice did not appear to have any intention of helping me with my 'kitchen chore'.

"are you here to help?" i enquire, feeling a little robbed of my daydreaming time,

"oh no, i just thought i would keep you company as it must be lonely doing the dishes by yourself" said our #4

he then continued to talk to me for the whole duration of my 'dish cleaning' session.

the conversation was all about the wonderful event that had happened earlier that day.

our #4 is a magpie, no doubt about it... he collects and marvels at all the little bugs and insects that roam our earth. and for the past few days his attention has been directed towards the furry caterpillars that have come to visit. we now have four contained in a little 'critter' box on our kitchen island. the need to share my company in the kitchen was so we may discuss at great detail the event of 'one little caterpillar' turning into a cocoon. this is pretty groovy stuff for an eleven year old, and actually for a forty year old as well...

the truth be told, i was happy to give up my daydreaming that night.

real world interruption number 2:

having left the dishes to late last night and then of course wishing i hadn't... i past through my studio and noted the little mouse trap by my fireplace was closed.

"darn" i thought to myself, that pesky little mouse has triggered it again and got away...

my little mousey trap is a humane one, not a "let's break it's neck" kind of thing, more a "come in here little mousey and i'll take you for a ride up the road where you can be free" kind of trap.

since sunday the trap has triggered on quite a few occasions but no mousey inside.

so i picked up the trap and took a little peek...

oh silly me. the little mousey was inside, but not for long.

i looked at him and he looked at me.

i noted he had a big nose and he noted i had one too.

i noted he appeared rather well fed and he noted i didn't.

then as quick as flash he escaped under the grill below the fireplace and then stuck his nose back out to have a little laugh before disappearing into the depths of our shed.

as you can imagine a long old conversation had to be had with my man about "what were you thinking of looking in it, it's a mouse trap, if it's closed surely there's a mouse in it"

once again interrupting my daydreaming whilst doing the dishes...

after the dishes were done, i went back into my studio. there was the little mousey, bold as brass sitting up on the brick hearth, washing himself.

this morning the trap had been triggered again... but no mousey inside and interestingly no peanut butter either. no wonder he looks like a well fed mouse.

real world interruption #3:

can't tell... ha ha!

but i can tell you before the mousey interruption i went 'a thrifting'... to tell you the truth i really didn't want to, after last week's rubbish trip it was hard to muster the strength. but of course i 'mustered' it in the end and glad i did.

for i found a spiffy crocheted blanket for little Olive

in peachy granny knicker colors... how lovely.

i have practised placing it into her basket that i painted earlier in the week.

it fits a treat. i'm not sure if she will be terribly well behaved with her blanket unlike 'used dog' who keeps her's neat and tidy... we will see in July!

so a bit of ramble as usual... tomorrow i hope to bring you a few pics from the exhibition i am working on, and before i forget i do appreciate that you 'believe' i can pull this off. it is helping me to soldier on with recreating a little bit of 'dottie' from my head for the real world.

she will see you with a 'washing line of sorts' tomorrow ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays...

perhaps i should start with advising any of you with a faint heart or perhaps a new babe in arms, to sit down whilst reading my tale of today...

(of course you may not have come back to me once you saw sweet 'wee Gus', and i could be talking to myself, nothing new there then...)

i went 'a thrifting' last night, and it happened.

("what happened?" i hear you cry)

oh dearest deary readers, something far worse than a 'contaminated' sneeze in my face, far worse than orange skin from my fake tan lotion, and far worse than the fact my dishwasher has packed up on me (actually that is really crap and quite the worst kind of thing as it is filled to the rafters with a whole day of gross things to which i now need to address...)

i know people say
"it's okay, it happens to everyone sometime in their lives"

or perhaps
"don't think about it, the more you think about it, the more it's likely to happen again"

or even

"that's okay, i love you anyway"

well such words of comfort can not help me here...

for the first time in history (does that sound familiar...)

i went into a thrift store, and then left the thrift store empty handed... (gasp, shock, horror)

i went from department to department and then i went around again, in quiet disbelief, thinking perhaps it was moi that couldn't see the treasure that was so obviously there, but no i don't think it was me with the problem, it was total crap. not even one pillowcase...

i did spy a little old typewriter that i soooo wanted to bring home, i tried it out with a piece of old paper from my bag... there i was in the middle of the store, typing away. after a few words i noted the ribbon wasn't as 'fresh' as i had hoped, thus proving difficult to read my words... then three keys got stuck in a big tangle and i remembered why typewriters are perhaps not the best thing to write on. so i placed my sweet typewriter back on the shelf... now i think about it, i wish i had left my ramblings in the machine for the next thrifty soul to come upon...

i am hopeful my empty cart will be a 'one off' kind of thrift store horror and not the start of 'a string of horrors', only time will tell...

in the meantime i have a few thrifty finds from the internet for your 'inspection' today...

i have to tell you first though, i'm in love... not just an 'infatuation' kind of love, this is the real thing, i see a whole lifetime of love ahead of me.

it is with a vintage labeller.

actually two...

i know it's greedy of me to want them both, but they know about each other and also they know in their own sweet ways they are special to me, so they have agreed to share my devotion and i think this threesome is going to work out nicely.

so far i have labelled

our #1's alarm clock

our #1's cell phone

our #1's boyfriend's cell phone

our #2's friend's cell phone

our #3's cell phone

(ummm, something tells me i could have a nice little business going here)

and my favorite so far,

some fabby, 'oh so perfect' spice jars i found on etsy... which are gallantly trying to keep me organized on my desk.

and last but not least

the top secret mission of the other week...

the lovely fran is not the only one to hear the pitter patter of tiny feet

i too will be hearing 'pitter patters' in the middle of July... it is most exciting

the only difference is

wee Gus is a boy

little Olive is a girl

wee Gus has two arms and two legs

little Olive has four legs

wee Gus is four days old

little Olive is three weeks old

wee Gus will not have hair for a while

little Olive is covered in fur

yes, i am to be a mummy to an Olive. i feel most excited about this turn of events, ask my man and he will tell you he does not quite share my excitement, but as he said the other day as i marvelled at little Olive's 'oh so perfect patches' after my visit to see her...

"well it's like everything you bring into the house, i know i will learn to love it in time"

and she's thinking that's all that matters ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays...

you always get a 'feeling' the minute you walk through the thrift store door as to whether it will be full to the point of over flowing with 'great finds' or totally 'crappity crap'.

last night it was a 'keep yourself under control Tif' type of thrifting night, someone somewhere, god rest her soul must have passed onto something better because what was on view hadn't probably seen the light of day for many a year...

half way through my 'trawling' i realized my thrifting ways were getting out of control... and so i did what i always do, pile my cart full and then at the end go through and select my 'absolutes' and put back the 'not today' items.

so for your perusal i give you...

a heavy cook pot ("what unearth does Tif need a cook pot for?" i hear you gasp, and perhaps even experience a wee tingle of fear for my loved ones).

that's a very valid question, after all we know my strengths lay elsewhere than in the kitchen. well i saw it and i noted how lovely the color was, then how hefty the weight was, then the sweet handles on the side and then it dawned on me that if i had such a cook pot in my possession then surely my cooking would improve. whilst i ponder what delight i am going to conjure up in it (and don't say it's the size of a small chicken) i have placed it safely on top of my dresser to gather dust.

the linens were looking especially lovely last night and i really did have to be selective, i found several tablecloths that will end up as curtains, a nice selection of pillowcases that i need not tell you their destiny, for you are always super duper clever at remembering things.

and then perhaps my favorite fabricky find was a tablecloth in lovely sludgy retro colors.

i can't decide whether it will get the chop in the end, something i will ponder on for a while...

next, a little orange cup thingy-me-bob that i felt most suited to live on my desk for keeping tags and cards in.

my thrifty find on Etsy this week is some wonderful vintage wallpaper squares. you just dip and stick, i have enough to cover one wall but alas i have no walls left to cover. now i am thinking i could perhaps cover a door or cupboard, then again my ugly filing cabinet could do with a lift and it would look just peachy covered in a little retro print, yet another thing to ponder upon.

i tried two panels out on my trash can in my studio as a trial run and it worked just brilliantly..

so that's our thrifty thursday round up... i am off to make our #4 feel super special on the day he has turned 11. to celebrate the up and coming event, a few days back he decided to embrace his maturing years by having his long flowing locks removed.

it was not unlike shearing a sheep, as i have never actually sheared a sheep i am only guessing, but i did break out into a wee sweat and was quite concerned at one point that i had unearthed a bird's nest. he is now sporting a rather natty little do most befitting for his 11th year...

she will see you tomorrow with grand news about the chickie peas ~ Tif

thrifty thursdays...

we will not focus today on the fact that little eva and orla (my only two speckled sussex chicks) have been pretending to be girls all along...i know this to be true because i burnt the midnight oil trying to find out information that might tell me otherwise...but alas it would appear that at least two of my eight chickie peas are not going to be 'a laying' any eggs. this morning i have discovered that not only are they fond of Elvis but also David Bowie, it was a bitter sweet moment.

we will also not focus on the fact i am fearing for Gladys...thank goodness the rains have stopped, i had visions of her slowly sliding towards the mini lake in our yard and just sailing on down the hill. i half wondered this morning if Maggi my neighbor would wake to find Gladys in her front yard...

so let us find some more uplifting thoughts to focus on and what better than thrifty thursday... i have a list as long as my arm. it would appear i have gone thrifty nuts this week but really i haven't, okay well perhaps i have.

before i begin, can i just tell you that it is the most dangerous thing to discover that one can thrift from one's desk. over the past few weeks i have noted that Etsy is a haven of lovely vintage thrifty finds, if one can't get out and about when being florence nightingale then just peruse the aisles of vintage on Etsy to keep you sane.

so if you are sitting comfortably then i shall begin...

1. a sweet little ceramic deer holder thingy-me-bob from etsy seller karapegg

it caught my eye when i was reading the blog over at papernstitch (worth a read, and the shops featured are just lovely). i never ever have found a ceramic at my thrift store more than two years old, it is complete 'pants' in the ceramic department...so that being said i am most happy to find one on Etsy.

i am waiting for inspiration to hit and figure out what to do with the container bit at the back, i would buy a wee plant to put in it, (this is where my dad will have taken a sharp intake of breath and feared for all little greeneries waiting to be bought near me) but alas i am rubbish at keeping house plants alive. i pride myself on keeping my four children, one man and countless little critters alive, so i forgive myself not being able to maintain a potted plant...

2. pillowcases and napkins for 'summer apron wraps' sigh...my favorite thing. i managed to get started yesterday on some more...

3. a retro tablecloth in the color of _ _ _ _ _ . i am not going to say it for i do not want to put any one off buying my wares. this lovely dogwood table cloth is destined to be made into cushion covers.

4. a lovely pair of retro yellow curtains in minty fresh condition... which i will put in my little vivant store, but of course all in good time.

5. two sweet pictures... i know what you are thinking, Tif has gone off on one, but do not worry yourself laying awake at night thinking i have got it "oh so wrong". no dear readers i intend to butcher the pictures and just use the frames (that does sound rather aggressive, i fear my martial art ways are getting out of control). i shall paint them a lovely glossy color and then figure out what delight to frame with in their beauty.

6. a tissue box... not just any old tissue box but a kitschy, hang it on the wall kind of tissue box in the most perfect granny pink. having reached the adult world at 40 i have discovered apart from things heading southward at an alarming rate, my nose has started to drip (too much info, i know) and i think it rather lovely if one has to deal with a 'drip' to have tissues at hand... usually i just have a toilet roll sitting around. but no, i am all grown up now with a tissue box that i shall attach to the wall so any passers-by, upon being invited in, may admire my tissue box and exclaim "how lovely and sophisticated to have a plastic kitschy tissue box holder upon your wall".

she's off to get busy with the laundry, ahhh the joys of being a homemaker ~ Tif