Monday, August 22, 2011

Creative Baby Step

Lately I haven’t spent much time with my sewing machine. It definitely hasn’t been from lack of desire. The want-to-be artist within me has been very anxious to create. However, one thing after another kept getting in the way.

Today I NEEDED to sew! Instead I started cleaning/reorganizing my studio. Along the way, however, I came upon a small piece of wool felt that I bought several months ago to make some baby shoes. Aha! Just what I needed to get my sewing “fix”…a quick project! (Felt baby shoes are quick and easy since they need no lining.)

Studio (August 2011) 2011-08-22 008

They came together so quickly that I decided to use the same material to make a flower for a hairclip.

Studio (August 2011) 2011-08-22 007

I would much rather use the flower for a baby headband, but I don’t have any headband material that I think it would coordinate with very well….not even some plain black elastic.

Studio (August 2011) 2011-08-22 011

At least I was able to create something today! And yes, I did manage to get the studio organized. Now…if I can only keep it that way! If I get a chance, I will share the changes with you tomorrow.

Until then….

Blessings,

Sammi

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Madison-Bouckville Antique Week

 

After living here in Upstate NY for 3 years—only 20 minutes from Bouckville—I finally made it to Antique Week! Man and I were on a mission, one that we only maybe, almost accomplished. You know how it is…when you are looking for something specific, you never seem to find it. We were looking for a small cabinet for our bathroom. Since we rent, we need something that can be a temporary storage solution.

At first, I kept getting side-tracked! SO MUCH to look at! When we came to a tent full of buttons and fabric, Man stopped, took out the money clip and handed me LOTS (relatively speaking) of cash. I handed much of it back to him and reminded him of how CHEAP I am! Here is what I bought there:

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 030Some lovely home décor fabric.Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 031Wonderfully soft plaid and vintage buttons.

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 032And this heavy-weight cotton print. I apparently like this color combination, because I have several other similar fabrics already sitting on my shelf. (Note that these photos were taken AFTER I was home….because the first 30-40 minutes I was at the show, I completely forgot that my camera was in my bag. I really am a terrible blogger.)

As I finished paying for my fabric, I spotted Man across the lane….checking out fishing lures. Check them out was all he did. There were lots of bargains to be had at the show; but if there were any bargain fishing lures, we didn’t find them. Poor Man. On our way back out to the road, Man spotted this:

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 014Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 015Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 016Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 017My new sewing table. I am sure that Man thought I would bring it home and refinish it. Wrong! I actually love its rustic charm. The only “refinish” its going to be getting is a good rub-down with some Tung oil, mainly to condition the wood. The Tung oil will also help enhance its charm. As Man was negotiating the price of the table, a lady in the booth asked if he was a “picker”. I knew what was coming…a confused look. I explained it to him later. Winking smile

After purchasing the table, Man reminded me that we were on a mission. No more major buying until we found what we were looking for!

We walked up and down Route 20.

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 006

We walked in and out of the fields where the tents were set up. We saw lots of neat things.

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 001Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 002Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 003Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 004

I LOVE that birdhouse, but I barely got to take a picture…much less hunt down the owner to find out the price. Man was leaving me at a rapid pace. I had to keep up. I saw the locker and though “um…where could I put that?” Man didn’t even slow down. He was on a mission. “Let’s find that cabinet; then we can slow down and just look.”  Need a trophy for your wall? I saw numerous deer heads, a moose…even a bull. That one shocked me so much that I forgot I had a camera hanging around my neck! So, sorry…you’ll just have to imagine that one.

On down 20 we walked and walked some more. No luck on that side of the road. So we crossed over 20. When I saw these, I had to stop and take a picture:

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 007Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 008

If you collect vintage lunch boxes, there were a few in this booth! Plus a few thermoses…

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 009

I know these aren’t the greatest photos…no time to readjust settings. Man was moving on…as a matter of fact, he came back and got me at this booth. Okay, okay….I’m coming.

Back onto Route 20…into another area of tents….still unable to get any photos….Man having no sympathy that I’m trying to be a better blogger. BUT FINALLY, we found this:

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 018

(Yeah, I know….more pictures from the living room.) Man spotted it. I was absolutely shocked that he even paused more than a few seconds, because Man doesn’t like things with “character”. Especially this kind of character…

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 019

He looks at me (obviously desperate to get back to looking at fishing lures), “Can you do something with this?” I’m thinking, “yes, I can; BUT NOT for $95.” I told him I could remove the broken veneer…and I likely would have to paint it….and most likely it would have to have a distressed finish to disguise the damage. All things that Man hates! By this time the owner was there ready to negotiate. I checked it over. This is a solid, well-made piece. The drawers are dove-tailed. They slide in and out relatively smoothly. The veneer is only on the drawers and what-ever those pieces are called that divide the drawers. Do they have a name? Then Man pulled out the tape measurer. Of course….4 inches wider that our space. He did a quick mental re-arranging of the washer/dryer that are also in the bathroom and decided that maybe….just maybe, it might work. The jury is still out on that one…but for $60…still I’m in shock that Man let it come home with us.

I also spotted this wooden case at the same booth.

2011-08-18 001 2011-08-18 004

See that scratch down the front? Well…that wasn’t there when I first saw it. But when I picked it up to get a closer look, the object in front of it had a wire sticking out that I didn’t see…and well…oops. It’s okay…I was bringing it home regardless. $15 was more than my cheap self wanted to pay, but I wasn’t about to try to negotiate that one…Oh well…at least I didn’t damage anything I couldn’t afford! Plus a little wax and that scratch will just be a memory.

It was time for a bite to eat…then off to another field. Time to finally take things in at a slower pace.

Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 010Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 011Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 012Madison Bouckville Antique Week 2011 2011-08-18 013

And then it happened…yes, wouldn’t you know it….a sudden headache. One of those nasty—if I don’t take care of this quickly, it’s going to become a migraine—headaches. Thus ended my day at the Antique Show.

Thankfully, I WAS able to head off the migraine. (Thank you Excedrin!…and nap.) Recently I have had several migraines, which has done very little to help my project list! And yes, I have discussed it with my doctor…she is pretty sure that it is my nasty little, uncooperative thyroid gland. Hopefully, an adjustment in my meds will take care of the problem….but for today, it may have saved my husband $$$! Although, he did tell me if I felt better that he would take me back tomorrow. Oh the relief when I told him to just go to the lake instead! I knew he would rather go fishing…and that project list of mine isn’t getting any smaller!

For the truly curious…total damage done: LESS than $200, including: parking, purchases shown above (plus a chrome-plated zinc and ceramic salt and pepper grinder set that I forgot to photograph..NIB $5!), and over-priced (you know it’s true) food-vender breakfast for Man and lunch for both.

Until next time….

Sammi

Monday, August 8, 2011

Jackpot!

Today I made a quick trip into my favorite antique/thrift/junk store! The items there are usually from estate sales and occasionally a storage unit that someone has abandoned. Therefore, you NEVER know what you will find. The bonus? The owner prices to sell…she has to move stuff through, not only to make back her money, but to make room for the next estate.

Lately, I’ve made trips there looking for a small cabinet that I can use in our bathroom. We rent, and our one and only bathroom has a pedestal sink, no vanity. So we are in DESPERATE need of storage. I’ve had NO luck finding what I want….but that hasn’t caused me to walk out empty-handed.

On a trip there a couple of weeks ago, I found this little beauty:

DSCF2542DSCF2543

I was pretty sure that I knew what it was, but I asked just to be sure. Want to guess?…or perhaps you know. Hint: this one is missing the holder for its knife. Which is perhaps why I managed to pick this little baby up for $3. I was going to sell her on etsy, but I think I’ve fallen in love.

On that same trip, I also found this tray:

DSCF2552

I found this one on the 50% off shelf (lovely assortment of alcohol NOT included) for a mere $2.50. It has a couple of rusty spots where the silverplate has come off, but I think it looks quite lovely in the indulgence cabinet (it is also where I hide my chocolate…mainly from myself as no one else living here eats dark chocolate!).

Today’s trip also failed to produce the perfect little cabinet, but I did find this shelf:

DSCF2539…plus a couple of old books. The drawers were filled with all kinds of little goodies, including the 3 turtles and the lizard seen on the bottom shelf.

turtles and lizardStill not a very good picture, but I promise they are really cute….especially the little turtle lying on his back. The drawers also held some pills (which are now in the trash!), a clock key, a shot glass, a bracelet, and other odd bits. I had planned on refinishing the shelf to use as a spice rack in my kitchen. Only one problem with that plan….no place to hang it! Oh well…it is a well-made, SOLID piece; so I’m sure it will find its place.

Now on to the JACKPOT!!!! Are you ready? I nearly passed out when she told me how much she wanted for these….

DSCF2545A box FULL of vintage patterns!

Including:

DSCF2546swimsuits and skirt cover-up,

darling boys’ coats and hats,DSCF2548DSCF2549sweet little girls’ items,

DSCF2550and some lovely sleepwear…back when ladies knew how to dress for bed, no t-shirts and yoga pants (yes, that is what my Man has to deal with most nights…but I think I’ve been inspired!).  Plus so much more….aprons, hats, purses, even toy patterns. How much was this box of goodies, you ask? Take a deep breath! (then scroll down…)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$5!

Yep, $5!!!! I couldn’t pay for them and get out fast enough. I was afraid that she would change her mind!

Anyone else out there hit the jackpot lately?

Until next time….

Blessings,

Sammi