thrift store finds

It is Spring Break for us here, and my son & I have been doing lots of fun stuff, but I haven't sewn a thing all week. No 'What I've Been Working on Wednesday' this week! On our way to today's adventure, the Eli's Cheesecake factory tour, we stopped at a little thrift store nearby. Though I found no sweaters :( , and the store was tiny, the ladies (i'm assuming volunteers) were all so friendly & helpful, and the store was so organized and not the least bit cluttered, like most thrift stores. I walked away with some treasures (one man's trash) for a bargain!

Just last week, I was about to buy some pins for making my pincushions, but held back back because I prefer to buy resale, and I couldn't make myself spend the $5/package for the ones with bigger heads. I'm glad I waited, because I got 4 boxes (144 in each!) for $1. These are labeled corsage pins. Does anyone know the difference between a corsage pin & a pin for sewing? Size?


I was wanting some simple cross stitch patterns for a project & found these for just 5 cents each! Jack's favorite birds are cardinals, so bonus!


I wanted to make a few more shaker pin cushions, so I was thrilled to find these! One was marked 50 cents, and the others were marked higher, but the ladies declared that silly, and marked them all down to 50 cents :)


Another project on my mental list required snaps, but again I balked at the Joann's prices, and decided to wait to find them resale. Glad I did, because I got these vintage ones for a mere 25 cents total! The one card is solid brass. Do they even make them that nice anymore?



Jack found a Crayola protractor/ruler too, that kept him happy & entertained all afternoon for a quarter, so we were happy campers.

If you have completed any recycled wool projects, as always, feel free to post them on my Facebook page!

Off Topic Thursday - Thrift store finds

One of the great perks of my job, being in a thrift store at least once a week, is finding cool things for my family while I am there. Not only do I find the funky and fabulous, but things I need. If I walked into a thrift store, I would not be able to buy a wardrobe for my son, but since I am there weekly, I am always picking up a piece here & there. He already has at least 5 pair pair of Gap jeans (fits the skinny guy best) in the next size up waiting for him, along with shirts & jammies. I'm picky, but I can be, since I am always buying in advance. Sometimes, if it's a rock bottom price & has a bad stain i'll roll the dice & see if I can get it out. I almost always do get them out. Pssst... wanna know my stain secret? Fels Naptha. I just wet the stain and rub the bar on it, work it into the material where the stain is a little, and throw it in the wash. I have been told that this isn't the most earth friendly soap, but one bar lasts me for years, so I am not worried about it. I only use it to get stains out of thrift store finds, so that in itself is earth friendly... keeping clothes in use. I just bought a Hanna Andersson sweater this past weekend. It was only 33 cents because it had a huge oil stain on the front. I used my trusty Fels Naptha & it looks like new now.

Here are some of my finds from this winter....

A pair of organic cotton Hanna Andersson pjs that were 80 cents because of some huge stains. What stains, you ask? Exactly (thanks, Fels Naptha!)! Also a pair of Tony Hawk jeans that I got for 33 cents because of a small hole in one knee, that I patched with a small piece of brown striped merino. I think when it gets fringy around the patch, after a couple of washings, it will look really cute. They will be great for playing in the park in the spring.


My son's favorite dogs are pugs and Boston Terriers, so when I saw this throw pillow I had to buy it for him. It looks cute on our couch :)


My colander, now accent lamp.


I have been wanting a little shallow tote bag to carry my coupon organizer in, and found the perfect one for 80 cents.


These are just a small example of all the many thrifted goodies i've brought home with me on my sweatering adventures. Most of our clothes come from thrift stores & garage sales. Tell me about your thrifted treasures!