August 26, 2009

The sign of a good time.

I know this sign well. I learned last year that if you follow that arrow, good times await. The ladies of St. Paul work hard to make your shopping experience a pleasurable one. I know, I know...I'm starting to talk about shopping for junque like it's a stay at the Ritz Carlton. But I was greeted with a glass of ice water (!), and they stage everything at the sale so beautifully. Much better than these photos show. Perhaps my camera was melting from the heat (it was about 100 degrees Kelvin in the church basement, unfortunately). Look how organized:


I'm used to just seeing piles of stuff everywhere.

I went home with a little bag of treasures. Here are my china pretties:

I overpaid for the dish rimmed with purple flowers ($3) but consoled myself with the equally as lovely green dish marked down to 50 cents. Both are Austrian and will be used to make dessert stands. For Austrian pastries? Seems only right.

The Johnson Brothers bowls are for me, and were a budget busting $12. But that's really only $2 a bowl, and I really like them...so in the bag they went. Won't they be great for serving autumn soups?

Three vintage ornaments, a dollar each and the perfect gift for a friend:

Since I started sewing, I can't pass linen tables. And now, mismatched napkins = fat quarters. This one is already in the midst of becoming a pillow back (I used it to practice installing zippers with my zipper foot attachment. And by "practice" I really mean "I'm never doing zippers again."):

I think I also overpaid for this sampler remnant at $3, but it will make a fabulous pillow! I have some scraps I can use for the back, so I guess a $3 investment for (what I hope will be) a great little vintage pillow isn't so bad.

This damask tablecloth was only $3, but it's in great condition (complete with dry cleaning tag still on!). I'm already feeling bad about potentially sacrificing it to the Singer:

On my way home from the bazaar, I spotted this:

Are those tents and umbrellas covering flea market tables? Three blocks from my house? I really need to read the local paper. Anyway, I got there pretty late so nothing much struck my fancy except for this bag of buttons:

Hello, disco LP. I can not wait to use you on a tote bag!

And this sugar sack for $5, which I think I can squeeze two pillows out of.

The vendor said she had "tons more" vintage sacks and fabric pieces but didn't think to bring them because no one makes their own things anymore (she was primarily selling quilts). So she and I have planned a rendezvous in the early hours of September 12 at the giant Ocean Grove Flea Market so I can take a look at her wares.

Hopefully I'm a better sewer by then. No pressure.

And...it's now officially Thursday. Which means the lovely Leigh will be sharing a whole heap of Thrifty Thursday finds with the rest of the blogosphere. I'm gotten a sneak peek and I happen know she picked up a few bowls that were even a better deal than mine. So click here to head on over to her place...

20 comments:

Sue said...

CAN I MOVE IN WITH YOU??? FOR NO OTHER REASON THEN YOU FIND THE BEST SALES....EVER!! I WANT TO COME ALONG AND BUY LOTS OF CHEAP CRAP....AND GOOD STUFF...AT $3. YOU GOT SOME GREAT BARGAINS...NO, YOU DIDN'T OVERPAY FOR THE EMBROIDERED TOWEL THAT YOUR MAKING INTO A PILLOW...IT WILL BE ADORABLE....I CRIED WHEN I SAW THE TABLE WITH ALL THE MILKGLASS...

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

EVrey single thing...I LOVED. LOVED. WOuld LOVE to see the flour sack pillows. WOuld you sell any? Hmm? Hey link up to thrifty thursday! Hugs!
Leigh
Tales from Bloggeritaville
lbratina.blogspot.com

Formerly known as Frau said...

Great finds love everything I too wish I lived near you!

Pearl Maple said...

Too much temptation, thanks for sharing all the little treasures you found, can see lots of creative ideas will be flowing with them all.

s. pearce feldman said...

you did so well! i'm a little obsessed with the flour sack... promise you'll keep us updated with the status? i'm so proud of you taking on all these sewing projects!

Jane said...

Those church gals do know how to put on a sale! I loved everything I saw in your pictures. You picked up some great stuff and I don't think you overpaid for anything. Since I have started doing more "thrift" shopping I find myself finding anything over $5.00 expensive!! (Too bad I didn't think like that in my younger days, think of the money I'd have :) ).

Old Time Cindy said...

Drooling over your pictures! I would not even know where to begin at such a great sale like that. My heart starts beating too fast, I get dizzy, I get a little faint....
Thanks for sharing!
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy

Jean Martha said...

Bake on Saturday. OMG. Love it. I'm a sucker for samplers. All great finds. I wish the churches in NYC would have rummage sales.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

You did good. Pretty bowls.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Wish I had been around for that sale! Look at all that great milk glass. Let me know when you get together with the flour sack lady :)
♥, Susan

Patti @ Pandoras Box said...

I spied some Fenton milk glass...wish I was there! You found some fabulous items!

j said...

You really found some cool things! I love the "Bake on Saturday" stitched item. And the ornaments are right up my alley.

Looks like you had a great thrifting day!

Sue said...

Me again.....Daughter started a new blog today if you haven't seen it....www.stupidthingshusbandsdo.blogspot.com ...Yes, you read that right...best part of it...you can e-mail her "stupid spouse stories" and she's post them on the blog....she's so clever...with such a good subject she should be flooded with responses.....gotta love the men!!

Tina said...

I'm telling you, if I lived there, I'd wouldn't have a dime to my name, but my living space would be full of treasure.
Have a chic weekend
T

Ally's Corner said...

You found some really great things.

Ally

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Laura!

You find the best vintage goodies!

Guess where I am tonight? Montana! My husband and I drove through Yellowstone National Park today and we're staying in a town outside the north gate. More Yellowstone tomorrow touring for the next few days and then on to the Grand Tetons.

Kwana said...

Ornaments, Yay! And I love the idea of the sugar sack pillows. So cool.

Rue said...

What great items! I love the little "bake on saturday" needlepoint and the bag of buttons is always a favorite!!

Maureen B. said...

Those were great finds! I especially love the "bake on saturday" linen - perfect for you and your love of baking. P.S. Thanks for the mention, I felt like a blogland celebrity!

Joyce said...

I would have had a hay day at this place! I love the fabric and ornaments.

Laura I was thinking of you this weekend- a church in Wisconsin was having a sale and had church pews, but the reallllllly long ones. I mean LONG....

xoxo