Pie Bird

It's difficult to photograph things under glass.  But, my most recent purchase was this lovely ironstone pie bird.  The twig and the nest are bits from the yard.  The dome, doily, Scrabble letters, and hymn book page are thrift finds.  The eggs are pistachios that wouldn't open.

Salt Shaker

Found this salt shaker angel for less than a dollar.

For this one I plan to add a tassel to the bottom and a wire for hanging at the top.

Hopefully in time for Christmas!

Two New Paper Flower Bouquets

Yesterday at the thrift store I found a baggy containing three rolls of crape paper for 50 cents. A few weeks back I found the two vases for a dollar each. I've made these before, but never with two colors. For $2.50, a bunch of branches dropped from my magnolia tree, and a bag of shells given to me by my Daughter-in-law I now have two nice bouquets of paper flowers!

Tiny Tart Tin Pin Keep

This was fun!

I made it using one of the tiny tin tart pans I bought yesterday.

The idea came from the current issue of Somerset Life (i thrift shop so i can afford things like magazines.)

Also thrifted? The wool blanket, the stuffing, the button, and probably even the pin, needle and thread!

The hand is mine. Although, I DO buy hands whenever I find them.

Simply Simple!

Now that I have a work space for myself in my basement, I'm trying to make stuff with my hoards of raw materials that I've been hanging onto for such a time as this.

So, here I give you exhibit "A".

It's a bracelet!

Made from a favorite thrifted shirt that had seen better days.

And, the empty cardboard from a roll of duct tape.

I'm not kidding when I say I keep everything.

Anyway..,

I ripped the shirt into one inch strips and wrapped it around the cardboard roll, using only plain old white glue on the inside of the roll.

It's a bit chunky. But then so am I.

Oh, The Possibilities!

Friday I thrifted a fabric scrap for 10 cents. Saturday afternoon I ripped that scrap to pieces and tied them to the straps of a kicky pair of wedge-healed flip-flops from Walmart. I cannot tell yet if I like them. But, if I decide that I don't, I'm only out a small amount of time and 10 cents!

Crochet Collar

This is what I did with one of my crochet collars I bought yesterday.

Slipped it over a lamp shade!

Love the look.

I'll need to move it around a bit until I find just the right lamp shade for it. Or, simply wait until I find another collar exactly like it since there is a pair of lamps and I've only one collar just like this.

Hmmm.

In the very brief time I was in the thrift store tonight, I found a bunch of things for 49 cents. Some of it was even half off.

I'm determined to figure something out for my dioramas, and this singing family seemed like they would fit in with all of this other stuff - all thrift finds.

I'm starting to like it.., I'm REALLY starting to like it.

Or, maybe it's just late and I've had too much coffee...

Do tell.

Molded Jello Is In My Future

At least now there is hope for it! Having unmolded a few large jellos in my life, the thought of unmolding a bunch of small ones seems a bit daunting. So, this will more than likely appear as little works of something in the future. I've already got quite a few, but I like to 'have my cake (or, jello!) and eat it too' which is somthing I've been told cannot be done. One of my favorite local antique malls - which has very good prices, mostly - has bags of eight - ten molds for around six dollars. All twenty-five of these were in one bag marked $2.50 at my favorite local thrift store.

A Whole Lot of Bambi

I found a bag of tiny fawns for a quarter. I've been playing with them ever since I took them out of the sealed bag and removed their attached wires. I must find homes for them amongst my Christmas stuff.

I know they are nothing special, but they sure are cute!

Oh, and the gray wool they are sitting on? It's about the size of a small scarf and cost 25 cents also.

I've got a doll that needs new shoes, and gray wool should look lovely with her cashmere dress...

I Make Stuff. Out of Stuff.

I love these little cedar boxes.

I also love books and calendars with Mary Englebreit art.

Also, I love to decoupage.

This is our Christmas treasure box.

In it, I keep the holy family and the three wisemen.

Baby Jesus in the

manger will join the family when he returns from wherever Famke put him.

The box, the picture and the nativity people are all thrift finds.

More Rice Bags

After making a rice bag for Jonge, I thought that I could use one for myself.

Now I can't quit making them.

For this one, I cut apart a thrifted dinner napkin.

This made it very quick and very easy, as I did not need to hem the opening of the 'case'.

The actual rice pillow is made from one of my favorite shirts that unfortunately went through the washer and dryer with an orange crayon. I saved the good parts.

For this one, I mixed in about a teaspoon of lavender with the rice.

It smells very very good!

Thrifting Amusements

I spent a very short amount of time this evening putting together some bookmarks from the flashcards I bought over the weekend.

I'm quite happy with how they came out!

Really, how could I not be, as there isn't much to them!

These were made without my needing to venture into the bowels of my basement for any supplies at all. Not that I'm opposed to going into the basement - I love it down there.

But, everything I use from upstairs means less for me to take downstairs. I'm always thinking.

I very simply punched a hole at one end and added either string, ribbon or ric-rac and attached a button, bell or bead to the end.

Oh, I also used a corner punch on the corners to keep them from getting all bendy.

I did stamp on these with my alphabet stamps. Next time I'm not sure if I will do that.

As I go along I keep thinking of other things I could add to them. I saved all of the cute little plastic earrings Daughter had growing up - even the ones that are currently single. They might look nice attached to the end of the ribbon.

Hmmmm.