Friday Fabric Finds

Friday seems to be my great day for Fabric Finds!!!

I just wanted to share the very bad photos (Sorry for the bad quality, taking pics late at night in bad lighting) of the couple of great pieces I got on Friday, just to add to my ever growing collection

 

A stripey chenile quilt in very good condition.  I am seeing a dressing gown and maybe winter PJ pants for Oliver from this.

 

A gorgeous green seersucker tablecloth in perfect condition.  A top or skirt for me I think.

 

This is a really gorgeous yellow and white stretch sateen - not sure but maybe a tote bag from this.

 

And a little piece of cute french linen. 

The pictures are very sweet and I love fabric with text on it like this.

 

 

 

I think this could make a great set of cushions or mounted on a canvas for a wall hanging.  But there is no rush to decide, I have a million other things to do before I get to this one. 



Old windows and a Free Cable reel

I am always on the lookout for old stuff

I was very excited when I got these old windows a few months ago at an op shop

My new windows

 

I could not resist. 

Though I did walk away the first time (did you hear that dear husband) it was only after speaking to my neighbour and her telling me I am mad to not buy them, I went back and got them 3 days later, knowing full well my husband would not approve of my purchase.

I love old windows and there are so many ways you can use them

My new cable reel

 

I also love old cable reels

I never thought I would be able to get one of these, let alone for free.

Yes it was "FREE"

 

But this time I am not in trouble with my husband - for bringing home someone elses rubbish. But only because I got it for free, which makes it even better don't you think !

All following photos are from Pinterest

 

  They can be made into great things as shown in all these photos 

Maybe a coffee table/book shelf for example

Or a padded stool

A Dining table topped with stainless steel or maybe glass

Paint it white

A sweet Occasional table

Even an Umbrella stand

 

I got mine from a skip - a local school was having a clean up over the holidays and I just happened to come across it.  I looked around for someone to ask "can I have this"  but there was no-one there.  So I went to the house next door to the school and asked if they knew anything about the rubbish in the skip (I don't give up easily).  He didn't know anything about who was in charge of the skip but said it should be okay to take it, and who was I to argue ?? So the lovely man even helped me get it out of the skip and load it into my car.  Woohoo, my very own cable reel.  I have so many other projects I want to get onto, but this one should take priority I am thinking. I think painting the reel white, adding some groovy castor wheels it will go great with my new white Adirondacks!

  

And here are just some of the ideas I have seen on Pinterest for old windows

 

A coat rack

Or a photo frame

or combination blackboard/pinup board/shelf

 

I would love to be able to make them into a cupboard but don't have the handyman skills for that one. 

So best to keep it simple I think, stay tuned for an update on these two projects (thought it may take me a while).

 

Opportunity Opportunities

It's so hard sometimes, not to take the opportunity, when you are at an opportunity shop, to buy that "bargain". Cos if you don't buy it, someone else will. My Mum works at an op shop, unfortunately it is in Victoria, but she gets some great stuff, and most of it she pays $1.00 per article. Yep, you heard right, ONE DOLLAR $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Unfortunately here most op shops are way overpriced. Mum got these old canniesters from work, probably for $1. She very kindly gave them to me when I went home recently.

She also got me this gorgeous vegetable dish, I serve our steamed vegetables in it all the time. And soon we will have a lovely supply from our new vege garden.

I bought these cases recently, the bottom one was from a garage sale. The middle one was from an antique shop on View Street, Bendigo. And the little one on top I got from the op shop in Yandina. It is an old school case and oh so cute !

This retro looking desk I got for my son Mst O from the Endeavour Foundation warehouse at Kunda Park. It cost $50, if Mum had gotten it from her op shop it would have been - yep - $1.00

I found this set of six retro espresso coffee cups and saucers at the markets in Yandina on the weekend. The whole set cost me $8 which was okay. They are quite groovy.

My husband enjoyed a coffee in our new cups, I can't wait to use them for a dinner party.

I also picked up a gorgeous little old Brother typewriter for $5 from a garage sale, the kids love it to play on it. They had no idea what it was. I used to have one when I was a kid. I love to hear the tap tap tap sound of their little fingers on the keys. I also picked up some vintage Dr Seuss books, I love these. And so do my kids !!

A trip down memory lane

I love old things. I love buying old things. My husband always says when I return from an op shop spree " We don't need any more stuff " . When I buy something from an op shop or market or antique store, part of the fun is wondering where it came from and who did it belong to. But what is even better than someone elses old stuff is your own old stuff. When something that was originally your mothers, mothers, mothers that has been handed down the line to you, now that is special. This jug below is from our old family farm, it comes from my Dads side of the family, about three generations ago. It's an old shaving jug and I just love it.

This memory board was put together by my Mum and it's full of so much family history. Dad built the timber and glass box frame for Mum, just one of the gazillion things she nagged him to make for her over the years. Sadly we lost Dad to a brain tumour about five weeks ago, so this is just so special to me now. It is full of old jewellery that came from my great Aunty Chaz, lace gloves that were once hers and some beautiful old wedding photos and postcards from many years ago. It has lots of other little bits and pieces in it, and you can see my Mums marquesite watch that my Dad bought her when she was in her early 20's. I love this watch, and what a great way to be able to look at it everyday rather than having it stored away out of sight in a jewellery box.

This is a painting of my mum's family home that she grew up in, in Horsham Victoria. A few years ago she gave a photograph to a friend who is an artist, and she commissioned her to paint a picture of her family home. It was a great idea. Dad made the frame for this too, so it is such a special piece with great sentimental value.

The car in the garage is my Pops old car. Sadly the house has been demolished to make way for a duplex, so it's great to be able to look at this painting now and take that trip - you guessed it - DOWN MEMORY LANE.

You CAN make this !!

Just a quick post before I head off to work. I wanted to share this site with you, most of you probably already know of "You CAN MAKE THIS" - it always has cute patterns for purchase that you can download instantly. I love Peony flowers so thought I would share this one, the dress is very sweet too. Pop over to here and have a little look for yourself.

I will be posting pics of my latest op shop / market finds in the next couple of days. So pop back if you have time to check them out.

Have a great day !!!!!!!

OppShopping and Vintage Shoes

I went oppshopping with a girlfriend and her 13 year old daughter yesterday. My friends daughter found the best pair of old shoes for $8. I just had to share these with you because I thought they were beautiful.