Tuesday Archives #155: Thrifty Finds

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: THRIFTY FINDS

Almost three years ago it's hard to believe what deals I came across while on a morning walk one Saturday morning as I spied a garage sale down the street.

Seriously, click HERE  to check out what $15.00 bought me! 

Here's a peek at one of the thrifty finds I found: 

BEFORE:

AFTER: 

Baby Quilt Show/Garage Sale Find!

Today the weather was beautiful as I walked over to a local Cultural Center to checkout the Baby Quilt Show/Fundraiser being held for our local children's relief nursery.   

Most the quilts were simple, many created from charm pack and panel patterns.

 I found myself inspired by the simplicity of them all.

I couldn't resist picking this one as my very favorite:

Annnddd it's always nice to see your own donation among the bunch:

I also found this thrifty find at a garage sale right across the street: A larger dresser to replace a smaller one to aid in my studio remodel. (My neighbor and I  simply ended up swapping dressers as she wanted a smaller one! SCORE!)

I can't wait to start filling the drawers!

With smiles,

Val:)

Sewing Cabinet Refurbished

Before

 After

THANK YOU for all your comments on my previous post. The wood of the cabinet was not in very good condition, so my dad decided to sand it down and restored it to "fit" into our primitive decor using a black satin spray paint. I love it so much that I decided to set it up next to a window in our diningroom. I plan to follow up on all your references and once I get the machine up & going I think this will be a perfect spot to start sewing my eye spy quilt. 

Meanwhile, the rest of my weekend will be spent enjoying a household of family. Umm...no body told me being a grandma meant rearranging all my lower kitchen cabinets! LOL!

Happy Weekend!

With smiles,

Val:)

Look what $15.00 bought me!

Treasure Find #1:

Hidden inside this case:

Was this:

For FIVE DOLLARS...and it works! 

All's it needs is a new light bulb and a belt: (ya think!)

Treasure Find #2:

Check out what's inside here: 

 Ta!Da!

 I seriously have no clue about either of these. (LOL!) But we were out garage sale hunting for a high chair and came across them. On day one, they wanted $100.00 for them both...by late Sunday afternoon...they were lined up on the sidewalk just waiting for my final return! 

And seriously,my treasure hunting didn't even end there 

as I found all this inside one of the drawers:

The best $15.00 I've spent in a long time don't ya think!?

I can't wait to research these and get them busy sewing. I guarantee future posts. But in the mean time, if you have any websites you would recommend me to use to start my research, please do leave them in the comments, I'd be sooo appreciative. Linking up with my blogging buddy Marianne at her linky: Thrift Thursday and a few other linky parties that are on my "party" page. Check them out.

With smiles!

Val:)

Look What I Found!

Meet my vintage New Home Light Running Sewing Machine:

I found this at a garage sale while out on my long weekend walk this afternoon.

It even came in it's original sewing cabinet:

 All for $25.00! Have you ever been unable to resist such a find?? I love it's old style, olive green color. It's made of metal and operates using a knee pedal and YES it runs!!!! The old style plug is in wonderful condition. Looks like from the medallion label, it was made in 1889. I only wish it could talk and tell me stories of it's journey and projects made! 

If you have a vintage piece, I'm curious what you've done with it. I think mine would look good in one of our guest rooms with a quilt draped on it. I also think I'll use it to sew a sampler size quilt top for the fun of it! (And I just added "Vintage Sewing Machines" to my Tuesday Archives list!) Be cool to see what vintage machines everyone else collects. 

Hope your weekend is super!

With smiles,

Val:)

Garage Sale Find!

While out for my Saturday Morning walk, 

I came across a few yard sales and found this:

It measures about 18"Dx13"Hx13"W and totally matches the card catalog I store my ribbon in as highlighted in this post: Ribbon Storage. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it...I just knew I had to have it for my studio! (LOL!!) And I got it for $10.00! I'll be sure to highlight it's storage outcome on a future Sunday Organizing post. 

With Smiles!

Val:)

Click here to read more!

Linked up with:

Rebuilt Rocking Chair

One summer day last month, I happened upon an old rocking chair at a garage sale down the street from my house. I fell in love with it's character and found myself actually carrying it home! I couldn't help but imagine rocking my future grandson and maybe later find him cuddled up in it reading books. I bought it for $5.00! 

I was so pleased with my find...that was until I asked my dad during his stay last week (He's an awesome woodworker btw), if he would set me up to sand the chair down. His look was one I saw many times during my childhood when I'd stump him with, what he calls my "crazy ideas". It's a look that said:  Valerie are you kiddding me....this thing needs to go in the dumpster!  (ha!ha!) After probably ten minutes of serious contemplation the challenge was on! He set forth to rebuild the darn thing!!!

As he took pieces apart, I set forth sanding....and sanding....and sanding! I think he used an entire bottle of wood glue!

  

This is me getting OUT OF PRIMING the chair:  (HAHAHAH!!!)

Ta Da!

I love the colonial red color I found! My mom laughed, literally out loud, at the fact my new cushion cost more than the chair.(I did too!) But I LOVE IT!!! I can't wait for it to be moved into the house (Today I had a few paint touch-ups to complete after school) But can't ya see a quilt finding it's home draped on it's back and a toddler all cozy looking at picture books in it? And maybe even a quilted cushion cover in the future!?? Aughhh the creative thinking never ends does it.

It was a fun weekend! Thanks dad.

With smiles!

Val:)