Christmas Memories

Here are a couple of vintage Santas that I have found over the years. I think I paid ten cents for the Santa on the skis. The cardboard Santa was from Mr. Happy's house. We have a life sized one that we used to set up when the girls were little. I think it was his grandpa's salesman sample.
I'm getting ready to pack up the holiday stuff. I look forward to seeing these guys every year, and maybe adding to the ranks.

I resolve....

to resurrect this blog for 2011. I have found a lot of cool stuff, and have not documented any of it. Tragic. Even Mr. Happy has joined me in the quest for re-used, re-cycled, and vintage goodies. So my New Year's resolution, along with spontaneously losing 25 pounds, will be to update this blog once a week.

This is most certainly true.

Filthy Amish in Turquoise

I live near several Amish communities. Close enough that we pass through them on almost every traveling adventure, and weekly many of them come here to the local flea market to sell their wares. Some of my friends actually plan weekends to "Amish Country", which consists of staying overnight in some cute place and visiting a bunch of little shops. I don't know what they buy, probably overpriced hand crafted crap-ola and pie.

So here's the thing. The Amish have no indoor plumbing or electricity. So how clean are they, really? They are kneading bread dough and rolling out pie crust, and though they probably wash their hands in a bucket, it's not the same as lots of soap and hot water. Don't eat that stuff.

And, the Amish are the major players in the puppy mill tragedy. Don't believe me? Google Amish puppy mills (here's one to start with) Have a box of kleenex and and a barf bag at the ready. Not suitable for little children.

I know next to nothing about their beliefs and practices. Just another lesson in not judging a book by it's cover of quaintness.

And speaking of quaintness, there is nothing quainter than Amish Collectibles!






Pyrex bowls and napkins from the Amherst goodwill, butter dish from a garage sale. Enjoying them now, to be flipped later.

Bad Idea, chapter 1

Here begins another series. Sometimes I get caught up in the moment, and then I bring home the most ridiculous stuff. I will try to chronicle what was going through my head when I find some of these items.

First off, the Goofy Phone.



Goofy is asleep and breathing. Then the phone rings and he wakes up. Yeah. Everyone needs one of these.

So I'm in the Vermilion Goodwill, and they just put a few carts out. I spot this treasure and think... disney? ebay? Well, unfortunately they are not selling on ebay, and it's not in that great condition anyway. Lost my mind for a second I guess.

Now what? Trash? Return to Goodwill? Gift it?

Five bucks. Down the drain.

No more books! Except this one.....

Rainy, icky, weather. No more garage sales, no more church sales, only the occasional estate sale left. Only the thrift stores to maintain my balance. I need to expand my territory for thrifting. The best ones are quite a distance, maybe when my thrifting buddy comes home we can try those.

There is a cute thrift store that is run by a church very close to our home church. I never find very much, and there is little new stock put out. But with the lack of other venues, it's worth a stop. Last week they had half price on everything. I also got a sweater, but that's for another post.

I picked up this book because I liked the title, and it looked to be from the 40s.



In the front of the book is taped a piece of paper with a typed list of names and dates of when that person is to receive the book. This bit of ephemera so intrigued me that I had to buy the book. Even Mr Happy was intrigued.





Were they just being frugal? It can't be for a discussion because it would be seven months before the last person got the book. And did it make it through the list? Right after Mr and or Mrs Alban received the book, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. We wondered if they were related, or church friends or neighbors. Are any of them still alive?

This is one of my favorite finds. It's so simple, but I have been pondering this since I found it. Now I want to go back to this shop and look in all of the books.

Twenty-five cents, Thrifty Buys, Lorain Ohio

Vintage needlework patterns

Although I am not that lucky at finding fiber goodness when I am thrifting, I do come across vintage patterns regularly. I generally come across old needlecraft magazines, but I have found my fair share of knitting books. I love looking at the old ads. Though some of the patterns are hideous and outdated, many are timeless. I have yet to find some old Mary Maxim patterns, but hope one day to knit the hockey sweater for Mr. Happy.

Golden Hands is a serial needlework publication that covers all types of crafts. I have found the stray copy, but recently picked up a bound set of almost the entire first volume. I will probably flip this to someone on Ravelry, or ebay.







Amherst Goodwill, $1.50

Oh, Stewardess!!

My thrifting buddy found the most amazing vintage Samsonite suitcase this summer. It is truly unequaled in size, condition, and style. I even had a dream about the suitcase! Ever since that lucky find, I have kept my eyes open for vintage luggage. My goal is to find a red train case/makeup case like Hayley Mills carries in The Trouble with Angels.

So today I am Goodwill Hunting in Amherst after dropping off a trunk full of old clothes, and I find this beauty:







So it's not the red case (which I will find someday, mark my words) but it is amazing. It looks like it stepped out of a game show! It is an American Tourister Tiara. The interior is the most glorious green brocade, and it smells like my grandma's closet.

Price: Two bucks.

Weeza, I'll fight you for this one.