Weekend Wanderings!

We had another nice weekend and it is so nice to get out again, I do hate being cooped up in the winter. On Saturday we were going to pick up the boys and on the way up, we stopped at the thrift store.

They get a lot of new items, so I grabbed a new beach pail and a stuff kitty that makes sounds and talks, and it's eyes light up, only a buck a piece. I also found a couple of quilting books. My fun find was a vintage nautical kit, from Maine, which I realized was three in one package. It will be fun to make some things with the items and add a few of my own.

We took the boys for a walk at the park, then a visit to the Umbrella Factory. They had a new photo display, so I had to get a photo.

Alex was loving all the animals and he would have to say hi to all of them. There were new pathways in the bamboo forest so they had fun exploring those.

 On Sunday they were dropped off so we took them to the beach. The boys loved playing at the beach and it was nice to just enjoy watching them play and hunting for glass together. Alex seems to love water, we have to watch that he doesn't go in, which he did at the pond, on the previous day, sneakers and all.

Nick loves to dig and he even found some glass in his hole. Afterwards we took them to the nearby park, lots of fun equipment for kids, but crowded and hectic. Nick had to try everything out.

It was a wonderful weekend with the boys and helped ease the pain of these weeks. Last week was the fourth year anniversary since we lost Danielle and tomorrow is her birthday, along with Easter, it is always the hardest month, missing her and wishing she were with us.

Weekend shopping!

This weekend was cold and windy, so no walking on the beach or hiking on hills, and we need to get ready for Thanksgiving, so we went shopping.

The problem is, I never found anything that I was looking for but I did find a few new things for Christmas, lol. On Saturday we went to the shop to drop off our tapes, which was housed in an old mill. If you are ever in the Mystic, Stonington area, it is worth a visit.

It is called the Velvet Mill and hours various businesses, including crafts and antiques, as well as, a brewery that has kegs for tables. On Saturdays in the winter, they have an indoor flea market with various food vendors and crafts. A great place to spend a few hours on those cold days.

I didn't find anything interesting, but I knew there was a thrift store in the area, so of course we stopped there and I found a few things to decorate with. The nice thing about thrifts is I can buy things for a couple of dollars and not feel bad when I get sick of looking at them.

Here are the items I found, 2.00 dollars for each item. The ornament has a little girl in a bed with a kitty, I couldn't resist that. The small creche is perfect to add to my collection and I can add some items to it. The tree is a two piece wooden tree, not sure if I should leave as is or prim it up. I do like the fun look and maybe decorate around it, to have something the kids would like.

On the way home we stopped at the antique store, I needed some more lavender. They have a section with new items and lots of booths, so of course we had to walk around to see what was new. I didn't see anything else that I wanted or needed, but I thought these mini cast iron stoves were nice, I know someone who collects them, but too pricey for me.

On Sunday we went to the Bees Buzz, another antique barn with booths that has new and old items. I was thrilled to see a new vendor who had roving, and wonderful curly locks that I can use for sheep or beards. They look yellowed in the photo.

Another vendor sells handmade pottery and I love the coloring, but there is never anything I can use. This time I spotted a toothbrush holder and it is something I need and beautiful blue/brown hues to match my bathroom colors.

Next weekend is a large craft fair at Sturbridge Village and I thinking about going, but they charge to get in. I do not understand that, I am going to buy things, so why do I have to pay to shop? I can go to a prim store or the vendors and buy from them without an extra fee, money I would use to buy something, so I am not sure if it is worth it? One of the vendors will be Sassafras Hill Primitives, her booth looks wonderful.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are hosting the family and friends and I am sitting here wondering how I am going to get this house clean and cook food in three days, ugh. I work well under pressure and good at hiding dirt if I have to, lol. May you all be blessed with friends and family or a nice quiet day enjoying some stitching.

Saturday Thrifting!

It got up to 40 degrees today, a warm spell, lol. A good day for a ride and browsing the local stores by the beach areas.

We have a thrift store called The Johnny Cake Center. It is a small store but packed with goodies and today I lucked out. They had bins filled with a lot of home fabrics, but I dug through and found wool on the bottom. The tan is a thick blanket wool, great to back wool quilts with, the darker brown is a felted wool on one side and thick wool on the other, great for felted projects or maybe even a teddy bear. The last piece I found is a nice check, a bit thinner but it should full a little more when I dye it and that will work nicely as penny backs or for pillows. There is about 10 yards total and I got it for 9 dollars, but we gave a little extra to help out. The money goes to help the families in the area.

Then I dug through the back area, they had a sale table and look what I found underneath. Three wool yard sticks, perfect for a yard stick project. I have seen a lot of fun projects and things  you can make with yard sticks, so I grab them when I can find them for a good price. A total of .50 for all three, of course I thought they were worth a little more and it is a good cause.

I needed a new table for my bedside and the black one I had was the perfect size for Bill, next to the couch, so today I found one I liked. It is new and more prim, than it looks in the flash glare. This one is taller and I can put my library books underneath and have room for my extras in the drawers. I always like to keep pencil and paper nearby in case I get an idea.

So, a good shopping day, I found some things I can use and something I needed at a good price. Then we got to enjoy a ride around the coastal road and enjoy the views from different points.

Thrifting Goodies

After being stuck in the house so long with the flu, it was so nice to get out again. Yesterday I went wild and hit four stores in our area, of course, today I am resting;) I thought you might like to see some of the goodies I got.

I found the wire basket at the home store, love using them around the house and filling them with prims. Then I hit a consignment store and found a fun sewing firkin with my favorite subject, a kitty. And they also had a cast iron cat door stop to add to my collection.



This was my lucky store of the day, I also found the prim candle keep with 4 grubby candles.



At the salvation army I found a candle board, needs sanding and stain, but a nice find.



And I had to get this, because it was cute and only 50 cents.



In another consignment, I found a nice wall basket, this is a larger one and it has a painted frame on the front, I took that off.
It will be perfect with a nice punched piece on it. So, I had a good day thrifting and now I need to paint my hallway and start redecorating that area with some of my new goodies.

Thrifty Monday

I just love thrift stores, you never know what you will find.

I am always on the lookout for shelves and items to store things and found this great wall shelf with drawer.
I am not sure what is was actually for, but it looked like a great spool holder to me, so it will be going in my sewing room.



Then while I was looking at items, my husband comes up with a picture he found. It seems a lady was also looking at it and my husband grabbed it, because he knew I would want it, lol. Yes, I am making my poor husband into a thrift store junkie. It is a picture by Donna Perkins. I love the frame it came in too.



I also found something neat for a friend, but I can't say what that is;) And the find of the day was a yard of wool for only two dollars. I love plaids and it will be great to over dye. Something I don't have to cut up, before I use, love that.