Thrifting and Estate Finds

I have to apologize for keeping all of my fantastic finds to myself!

 I have just been so distracted with creating and doing local craft shows for the holidays I have not been able to put my mind into writing or editing photos for my blog. 

I really want to post things that inspire and not just post something to just put up a post. 

I have been to several great sales this fall and found so many things I want to make into great stuff!  I finally finished all the I Pad and Nook cases that I had designed and cut out so now I can start working with my vintage finds.

 I found this great bookcase for $2.00!

I plan to paint it and use it to organize the following fabrics.

 Vintage tablecloths! I got all these from one lady at a garage sale. They didn't have any linens at the sale but I usually ask or tell them I am looking for old linens so they don't get an attitude when I just look and leave.  I'm weird but I don't like to disappoint the sellers. Anyway the Mom said she had a bunch at home.  She actually went home and brought 3 boxes of linens and fabrics back to her daughter's for me to go through!  I didn't photograph the fabrics I got, just these great Retro tablecloths. I couldn't believe she had so many!

 The linens above and the next 5 images were from an estate sale that was in a building in downtown Dayton where these people had a costume rental business but they were also hoarders.

 Jack pot!  1 sale, unbelievable.

 This dress/nightie is beautiful.  And the photo below is of 5 very old aprons.  I plan to rework 2 of them into something I can wear to my summer shows.  I need to dress like my booth, I think. 

 Jewels to add to bags, bottles or maybe I'll just wear some of them myself.  At the same store I found the jewelry I found this box of typewriter keys! I have been wanting a charm bracelet with these type keys in my families initials for a few years and they were all here!  My friend Julie is going to make them into my bracelet. I can't wait.

 I have a thing for watch faces.  These reminded me of my Mom so I picked them up pretty cheep.

Had big hopes for these fall colored fabrics but I ran out of time so I guess they will have to wait till next fall.  The basket is already holding fabrics I'm in the process of re~purposing!

I hope I gave some of you some eye candy to enjoy.

Estate Sale Follow-Up

I have been very busy!

Remember the 1st Estate Sale? Well I went to a 2nd one the next day and scored a ton of stuff. Went to Columbus, Ohio with my Etsy artist friends and found some more treasures and the actually braved a very chilly, rainy Saturday to attend my first auction in many years and got 3 nice cake stands for $2.00! I lost to an eager bidder for a box with a cutter quilt and blanket I wanted to re-purpose but that is OK there will be more.

So, the reason I have been gone for a few weeks is because I have been crafting in my spare time getting ready for my craft shows coming up.

Here are a few things I made with the quilt hanging out of the dresser in the Estate sale post.

Cute vintage tea towel made into a pillow. Front is in the last photo with the other pillows.

These are going to be quilted flowers with vintage buttons in the center.

That quilt had the coolest backing I have ever seen. I used it to back the pillows and naturally the bunting has both sides so you can change it with your moods!

I am having so much fun but I have been also putting to much pressure on myself to get tons made I don't have time to blog or facebook my friends. I will be working hard this weekend to get more made that I will be adding to my Etsy shop.

These all went to my local coffee shop.

I hope some lovely Mom's receive these for Mothers Day gifts!

I could use some encouragement. What do you think of the re-purposed quilted items? I have a love for quilts but I'm not sure so many others do. Should I keep making things from quilts? Just thought I'd check before I spend the next month cutting up all these quilts I keep buying!

1st Estate Sale of the Year!

Look at what I got today!

I can not tell you how bad I have been needing to go to a sale. Watching American Pickers each week, reading all the bloggers who live in warm climates who have sales year around. It has been killing me.

Well all I can say is I hit the jack pot today.

I can't wait to make something from all these finds.

What do you think of the dresser? The details are very art decoish.

The color is almost perfect as is but I think it needs sprucing up. I was thinking of a color instead of the white look but since I will probably sell it I don't know what color to go with.

If I keep it it will need to be a bit more white than yellow.

What color would you go with?

Robins egg blue

Aqua

Rusty pink

Green?

Look at these handles.

LOVE THEM!

The beautiful patina.

Drool

They alone are worth what I paid for the chest.

I won't tell you how much I paid because you will have a heart attack.

Go ahead and guess if you would like and tell me what you would pay for it cleaned up.

I got more bottles to alter. I just added some to my Etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70940439/romantic-carnival-glass-vintage-steam

More books to use. I love books so much I hate tearing them up. But I'm getting over it when I see what I make with them.

Awesome sheet music that is already distressed to unbelievable coolness!

Do you see the edges?

I almost died right there in their driveway.

See those 2 knobs. They were marked $3.00. Nope, not paying that.

Asked what she could do.

She put all this, the bird print, tintype frame and both knobs together for

$1.00

yup a

$1.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These will be added to something soon.

I thought this silver bracelet was very interesting.

I really likes these small beads with the silver spacers. I don't like the larger sized beads at the base of the necklace so I think I'm going to remake it into a bracelet for myself.

I didn't take close ups of the cutter quilt or the dust ruffle but they are really nice. Already washed them and am ready to start sewing something with them.

So, I think I did real good for the first sale of the year. I got my fix and now I'm ready to get busy making stuff.

Do you want to know how much I spent total?

It's going to help you with your guesses on the dresser but lets just say I had enough left from $30.00 to get a mocha!