Thursday, January 28, 2016

$5.50 at an Estate Sale


I got a few things at an estate sale. First up, a vintage Bingo game for $2.


There were actually two sets of cards and wooden numbers inside. I would like to do a project with these items…at some point in time.


Next, I got a black leather belt that has a braided elastic section in the back for $2.50. I was in desperate need of a black belt as my old one (that I’ve had for at least ten years) is about to break in half…literally.


Finally, I got a set of four little container boxes that are shaped as books for $1.


Annoyingly, the price stickers were placed on the front, so when I peeled them off, it took off some of the ink. The brilliant thing to do would have to put those price stickers on the back as it was blank…but sometimes people just aren’t that brilliant. [Sigh.].



Thursday, January 21, 2016

Thrifted for $2.33


I went to a pay-by-the-pound Goodwill again, but this time I bought less than last time. I spent a total of $2.33. First I got this grease container. I actually haven’t ever saved my own grease, but it’s something I could do (if I every fried much bacon).


I also got a hanger (that’s missing a few red tips) because I thought it would be useful for organizing belts.


And I got a black slip and a white slip.


And a handkerchief.


Finally, a pillowcase I thought was pretty and super soft.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Vintage Pincushion and Wool


My grandmother gave me a vintage “pincushion” from the late 1800s. Many scrap pieces of fabric were sewn together to create this little pillow.


It has different bits of embroidery throughout the piece. It’s interesting to look at and I appreciate the amount of craftsmanship that it took to create this.


And a cousin gave me some wool fabric from she had received from our grandmother. She had had the wool for years, but eventually came to the conclusion that she wasn’t ever going to get around to using it, so she gifted them to me. There are four different fabrics (with different yardage), and all are cute plaid patterns. I’m not sure what I’ll do with any of them yet, but it’s all very nice fabric.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Thrifted for $23.15


I went to a pay-by-the-pound Goodwill and got a lot of stuff. I got quite a few clothing items. First up is a wool black and white Ann Taylor dress.


It’s perhaps a little big in the top, but I can wear a blouse underneath or a sweater on over it and I think it looks pretty cute.



I got this blue and gray lightweight dress. It has buttons down the back and an elastic waistband. It’s a little large in the bodice for me, but I liked the fabric quite a bit. I’m guessing it’s from the 1980s.


Next up is a really warm 100% wool sweater. I’m not really a fan of wearing the color beige, but I couldn’t resist this Olympus school sweater (that must have belonged to Becky in 1973). It’s in pretty good condition, although there were two small holes that needed mending.


I also got this Ninkasi Brewing T-shirt to wear at home (it’s pretty comfortable).

I got a lot of this red with gray leaf fabric—yards and yards of it.


I bought this little ironing board for ironing sleeves.


And I got this Le Creuset cast iron skillet (that needs to be cleaned).


Sunday, January 10, 2016

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Duly Noted Notepad


This holiday season, I made this notebook for my coworkers. I almost didn’t do anything as the holidays just sort of snuck up on me and suddenly I had little time left. I was ready to resign myself to doing nothing, when I had a burst of inspiration to create a notepad that was fairly simple in design and doable in my short time frame.

Things are constantly being reworked, edited and overhauled in advertising. I feel it all the time as a designer; “It’s great, but…” and then a list of things I need to change. It’s normal. Coworkers and clients look at something and want edits, then see those edits and want more edits. It’s a long ongoing process.

Thus, I thought this notepad would amuse my coworkers since they probably receive at least one of these suggestions daily. On the back I chose a quote that I felt was appropriate.


I also I created a bellyband for my holiday message. It has been “proofed” in red, and these changes should improve the copy.