My Weekend Find

 I was very sad when Sunday came cold and rainy.  Our plan was to go to the Allegan Antiques Flea Market, but it was so dark to the south of us that we headed north instead.  I found these along the lake shore between Holland and Grand Haven.  And this isn't all.  There are three more canisters and six spice jars.  What a deal.  I have wanted a set for a very long time.  They aren't perfect, but the price was.  And when we went to pay we discovered that they were also on sale.  And yes, I am going to use them.  My Truvia is in the sugar canister and my green tea is in the tea canister.

My Lovely Find

The only shopping I did today was at the thrift store just around the corner. And I am oh so very happy to report that I found just what I was looking for. A pink Shiny Brite flocked Merry Christmas ball. Be still my beating heart. In my humble opinion, it looks lovely on the silver tree in my pretty pink bathroom. It was in a bag marked 50 cents with four other ornaments. Sigh...

Thrilling Find

Some time ago I found five of the yellow leaf embossed cups.

While antique shopping in Wisconsin last week I found a sixth one.

Little finds like this make me very happy.

And now that I look at the picture I am made aware that my kitchen table is not level. Not level AT ALL.

Hmm.

Wow. Time Flies.

How can it be over a month since I last posted here?

It isn't due to a lack of great finds.

Most of my picture taking has been of cute grand kids.

THGGM has been painting and fixing a different area of our kitchen for about a month now.

Every time I try to take a picture it is either too dark or too cluttered with all of the things that belong in the area in which he is working.

Anyway..,

All that to say - I found a Dutch girl cookie jar today!

I've been wanting one FOREVER.

Now I feel like a REAL grandma (beppe!).

I PLAN to fill it up with Steenstra's Santa Claus cookies.

Isn't it AMAZING just how much that cookie jar looks like me?

Do you think that has anything to do with the cookies?

No. I didn't think so either.

Cute Couple

Aren't they cute?

Pake en Beppe!

ENDLESS Possibilities!

I found the bias tapes at the thrift store for 25 cents. LOVE the colors! The wider hand dyed ribbon came from an antique store in Sutton's Bay. It is REALLY beautiful! Oh, and I even found the 4x6 recipe box I have them in for a fabulous deal.., somewhere.., I can't remember.

More Flower Frogs

LOOK! I found these three flowers frogs at the NEW Wilson's Antiques in Traverse City. I always think of Wilson's as being waaaay over priced, but these were just $2.00 a piece.

I've paid double that at thrift stores around here.

Now I just need to find the perfect things to put in them.

Just What I Wanted!

I've been looking for a paper suitcase to make a 'traveling dollhouse' for Famke. Last weekend I tried the craft store, but found nothing that I could even use to improvise.

Today, I only went into ONE thrift store, and LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

A super cute paper suitcase! Can you believe it?!

I wasn't sure about the meaning of the granny square until I opened it up to take a peek inside.

Not only is it a kit for making granny squares, someone already made them and left them inside! And, with two crochet hooks, a scissors, a darning needle, and some pins and needles (which I found the hard way).

All for $2.00.

Seriously. I just cannot get over how I seem to find what I am looking for, and for soooo cheap.

And if you haven't already purchased it, Amy Powers "Inspired Ideas - the Happy Birthday Issue" is where I found the idea for the traveling dollhouse, and much, Much, MUCH more! www.inspireco.com

She Finds What She Is Looking For

For years now I've wanted one of these "Mother" pictures.

I've found a few at antique malls for around $12.99 or so, but I didn't want one that badly.This one I picked up today at my local thrift store.

It was only a dollar.

It is nicely matted and is in a silver colored metal frame which for reasons I can no longer remember I cropped out of the picture (now i remember. it was on a red tablecloth which made the frame look an odd color).

Anyway..,

It was a year ago today that the events leading up to my mom's death on May 14 began.

I miss her.

How Do You Like My New Glasses?

Look! I was SO happy to find these five juice glasses.
They actually cost less than what I've seen these types of glasses sell
for individually, so of course, I was extra thrilled. And, they were in a
case at an antique mall. Hmmm. Thrift store owners could learn
much by strolling through an antique mall every once in a while.

Maybe. Maybe Not.

Found a pair of valences at a thrift store today.

The colors and the nautical theme seemed perfect.

Now I'm not so sure about the blues.

If not, I could always use them as a bed-skirt since the blues would not actually be touching.

Or, I could run some elastic through the rod pocket and make a cute little skirt for Famke!

Not really.

I've Been Wanting One of These!

Found a wall pocket today. I used to have one, but got rid of it two moves ago.

This one was a dollar or less - I forget - but a good price!

Now.., I'm not sure exactly where I'm going to put it, but where ever it ends up, it will look GREAT. Well. At least I will thinks so.

The blue place mats were only 25 cents each. They are the perfect color for my kitchen.

Been Looking for These

Jonge has confiscated the pink gloves I have in the dress-up drawer. He calls them his superhero gloves. It's too funny.

So, when I found the white pair I knew I needed to get them for Famke. They were a dollar. I wish I had found them in time for Easter. I remember Famke's mommy wearing gloves one Easter. Next year, maybe.

Oh, and I found the ledger paper in a cool folder for me. That was only 99 cents.

Pyrex Mixing Bowls

The three bowls on the inside used to belong to my mom.

THGGM found the yellow bowl at an antique mall a few months ago.

It seems to me that the original yellow bowl would have been a little bit 'golder' than this more lemon-y yellow one. But, it works for me!

I used to have all four bowls in pink, that had been THGGM's grandmother's left in her house which we purchased after she died.

All that's left of that set is just the smallest pink bowl.

I'm rather clumsy, if you haven't already noticed.

Won't Need to Dream about It this Year

Surprisingly, with all of the Christmas music books I've amassed over the years, none of them have White Christmas.

So, I was exceptionally excited to find the sheet music today.

Holiday Inn is one of my all time favorite movies, so having that on the front was an extra little thrill.

Another plus, it's written in the key of C, so I will be able to actually PLAY it, and it will work with the bells!

I told THGGM that HE would be able to play the bell part, just like in the movie.

It didn't seem to have the same exciting effect on him as it did on me.

Oh, well.

I'm still happy!

Boutonniere Dishes

Yesterday, while THGGM unloaded the last of the leaves at the leave dump, I went to the 50% off everything sale at the thrift store.

How convenient that they are right next door to each other, no?

I found six of these plates, each marked one dollar. So, for three dollars my collection is growing!

I did feel REALLY bad about missing out on the entire set a few weeks back, so this will help.

And now I have ALL THIS!

coffee pot

six small plates

six dinner plates

one small bowl

one saucer

It's a start!

And look! I even made it look a smidge Christmas-y with the greens and the aqua ornaments!

I think in the 60's you HAD to have these dishes. They are not terribly hard to find.

Still, I'm having fun collecting them piece by piece.

I am SOOO easily entertained.

Sewing Tin

What a thrill when I found this!

I had a small round tin of this pattern that was filled with small wooden spools of thread. A few years back I found two more - one the same size as the one I had and one larger.

This is NOT an uncommon find, but the sewing tin was usually in the $20 - $25 dollar price range.

I found this one in Wisconsin last week.

For $8.

I almost didn't get it, because at first glance I thought the tag said $18. I WAS tempted, but passed.

Then as we were leaving, I picked it up to get a closer look, and, of course it NOW seemed like I was SAVING $10. I just couldn't pass THAT up.

Patiently, She Finds What She Is Looking For

A very long time ago, I found a set of really cute doll dishes.

There were cups, saucers, plates, a tea pot and who knows what else.

All for $25.

Of course, a long time ago it was even less likely that I would have $25 as it is now and it's STILL unlikely.

But, next to that set was an extra tea pot, so I satisfied my doll dish cravings with that.

Not long ago I found a small matching plate, and last Friday while in Wisconsin I found the larger one.

If I live long enough, I might be able to have three friends for tea for my 100th birthday in 49 years. R.S.V.P.

The Bailey's, Reunited And It Feels So Good!

Look! I found a Mr. Bailey to go with Mrs. Bailey.

I'd always thought she looked lonely.

Mr. Bailey was $7.00. I almost passed over him until I saw a 50% off sign hanging over the table.

He's mine now. Or, rather Mrs. Bailey's.

She'd been wondering were he was all this time.

hoop, Hoop, HOOP

Many many months ago, I found an idea in a Country Living magazine. Someone had traced the hand of their three children, and embroidered them. Since then, I have been looking for hoops. This is my third one - and I also found two linen napkins to stitch on! Although, that brings me to this dilemma, now must I stitch them using linen thread? Or, would that only matter if I planned to use them, which would require washing? I hope they turn out.