Weekend Picks - Part One

 Time for just one estate sale on Saturday and I left with a sweet pile of sewing notions for my Etsy store.  Yes, that bowl in the back is the one I bought a couple of weeks ago.  It is holding 50+ zippers.

 Everything isn't headed to Etsy.  This vintage dried flower picture is staying with me.

 And these Fostoria Baroque parfaits will be added to the husband's collection.  They are sitting on a stunning lace scarf head cover that is already listed in my Etsy shop.

 A cute little Royal Ruby vase for my collection and, in front of it, cards of vintage rayon seam binding.  I love that stuff!  My stash is overflowing so I need to get some of that listed, too.

 My proudest accomplishment....  There was a huge pile of doilies and I heaped them right into my box, like I always do, and then...  wait for it....  I put them back!  For once I left them behind for someone else to rescue.  Of course, my box was really full with all the sewing stuff so no promises but, as they say, one step at a time!  I kept this one table runner because it was a unique pattern...

...and this pile of crochet squares that are just waiting to be stitched together into pillows or a tablecloth.  The two tiny salt and peppers will be added to my collection.
Stay tuned for Part Two, Sunday at the VOA.

The Sale That Made Me Break My Rules - AGAIN!

 I had completely forgotten the sale that made me break my rules was being held in two parts and this weekend was round two.  Many thanks to my blog friend Laurie (Magpie Ethel) for reminding me!

 They opened up the basement this weekend and this was truly a hoarder house of quilting, lace trims and childrens' books.  A lot of it wasn't priced so it was kind of tough picking since you had to dig the boxes then haul it around until you could find someone to price it.  Many treasures to be had for the stout-hearted and strong-kneed.  Is kneed a word?  Hmm.  The fabric completely overwhelmed me and I didn't even try.  That is something I really need to learn more about.

I got a ton of rick-rack and other trims, tiny Shiny Brite ornaments and a sweet Christmas deer, wooden spools, decals, die cuts and something new for me - children's story books.  Renee, those are YOUR fault - hehe!  And in case you're wondering...  YES, I did go before I did the housework and no, the universe did not crack open.  Imagine!

Rescue Me - Take Me In Your Arms

I had a few comments about this photo on my Where Bloggers Create III post so I thought I would share the inspiration for it.  I actually sent a picture and little story to Somerset Studio a LONG time ago but never heard a word.  I didn't submit the actual artwork and I think what they say is true - the artwork often sells the article.  I made this piece right after a trip to the thrift store that yielded a particularly intriguing poke sack.
My affinity for "poke boxes" goes back as long as I can remember. Poke sacks, poke boxes, poke bags, bags o' unknown crap, call them what you will... I CANNOT resist one. All I need to see is one tiny trinket that catches my eye and it's all over. I have to find out what else is in there! Mysterious loveliness.  A tangled and intriguing mess just waiting for me to sort and smooth and ooh and aah as I bring order to the chaos and respect to the possibilities.

I won't bore you by cataloging everything that came home with me that day but it included many bundles and spools of acetate ribbon, the kind used for floral work; many, many colors and widths of satin ribbon; lace, both old and older; colorful rick-rack and braid trims; seam binding; some thread and a thimble; salvaged and new zippers, many sizes and types of elastic and a large spool of pink curling ribbon.  Plus a vintage piece of ephemera offering an apron pattern for 25 cents and a faded and stained piece of red satin blanket binding with a note pinned to it that said “Barbie blouse”.

I have heard it said that you should bring nothing into your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. I try. Really I do. But some things cry out in a way that is almost audible - RESCUE ME!
Through the years I think I've seen just about everything at the thrift store, from bronzed baby shoes to a burial urn. Yes, really. A burial urn. As I was unscrewing the lid my brain was processing that I was UNSCREWING the lid and I realized what I was opening at about the same moment that I peeked inside. Lucky for me there was no occupant but the metal toe tag at the bottom confirmed my conclusion and sent me and the urn straight to the front counter to suggest this might not be appropriate.  I really have seen it all, cradle to grave so to speak.
My favorite rescues are the bags, boxes and tins of buttons and sewing notions. As I poke through them I begin to get an impression of the former owner. You can tell a lot about a woman from her sewing box. Many utilitarian buttons, removed from the garments and saved for mending, punctuated by random glass or rhinestone buttons saved from a few "special" dresses or a good winter coat. Uniform buttons strung together on a piece of darning thread, perhaps all that is left of a loved one's uniform. A few marbles and bullets (yes, I have found bullets) retrieved from pockets on the way to the washer because boys will be boys and so will men. A precious baby tooth.  A felt needle case with "MOM" crudely embroidered on the front, surely a gift from a young daughter. A thimble stamped with S&H for the green stamps. Hand-tatted lace cut from the edge of a worn out pillowcase so it could be re-purposed as trim for a baby dress. Orphaned earrings. A bra extender because she put on a little weight over the years. Yes, you can tell a lot about a woman from her sewing box.

It tugs at my heart when I find these poke boxes in the thrift store. Someone, somewhere, picked up a box or a bag and up-ended the drawers of the sewing cabinet to "get rid of all that junk". Big sigh. It makes my heart glad to rescue them and respect that they are the artifacts of a creative life.

Independence Day Serendipity

Yesterday morning I posted my thoughts about how much we truly have to celebrate on Independence Day and the sacrifices that have been made to afford us the freedom we enjoy.

When I finished that post I headed out for my weekly treasure hunt at the VofA. I picked up a nice poke sack of sewing notions. I nearly passed it up because it contained several zippers and, goodness knows, I really have NO use for any more zippers. It also had this mysterious olive-drab bag in the bottom. The bag looked kind of old and ratty and I could feel thread spools inside, yet another item I don't intentionally seek out.
Imagine my surprise when I untied the bag and peered inside. As soon as I saw the needle cards were printed with "Handy Needle Assortment for Service Men" I realized this very worn old bag was a soldiers sewing kit! My heart beat a little faster as I reached inside and wondered who had reached in there last and where and when and why. Suddenly the raggedy little bag took on a whole new meaning.

I have no idea of the age, although the threads are on wooden spools, The zippers look like brass and there are some buttons with anchors. The metal of the scissors and the small pile of straight pins has an odd black color that must have something to do with preventing rust. I have never seen straight pins like that. Above the scissors there is a small skein of olive-drab wool. The needle card includes a darning needle so expect this was for repairing socks. How appropriate that I find it on this, of all days!

The photo below is the rest of the loot, which just goes to show that strange notions can be good notions!I will store the little sewing kit away for today but I think I see a shadow box in my future.