I'm Baaaaack!!!!!

Did you miss me? Seems like forever since I've blogged or even looked at other people's blogs. The last few weeks have been spent getting ready for vacation, going on vacation, and now, trying to get out of "vacation mode".

But I got to see these two:

That's Liam and Daddy (Kevin) playing in the pool and then Izzie. We had only seen pictures of Izzie and she's much more beautiful in person!

We had a wonderful time visiting with our daughter, Ruth, her hubby, Kevin (they drove in from Long Island, NY); our son, Scott, and his wife, Steffi. We also had a wonderful time with Steffi's parents, Konrad and Brigitte, who live directly across the street.

So now we're back and I'm trying to get back into my routine again! I haven't gone to any garage/yard sales or to the Goodwill over the past few weeks; however I did stop at the Goodwill store last night. Picked up a couple of items but I'll have to show you those later!

Until then,

Patti

Goodwill Bargains!

Today was "50% off Blue Tags" day at Goodwill! I have the Goodwill Store calendar on my refrigerator so I knew I was going to be there before the doors opened!

I was on the hunt for white stoneware so I was excited when I found quite a few pieces. Not everything had a 'blue tag' but the prices were still pretty good!

Here's what I came home with - the white shelf was $3.99; flared "pedestal" $0.99; the other one -- $0.99 as well; two white plates -- $0.99 each but 1/2 price so $0.99 for both. The striped pillow was $3.99 but had a "blue tag" so $2.00.
Then there was the "Hand Towels" wooden bin -- $2.99; the white rectangular baking dish with lid $2.99; the ceramic butter dish $2.99 (looks like it was a "closeout buyer" deal from Target); two little ceramic trays - $1.99 each but "blue tag" so both for the price of one! The teacups (I'm collecting teacups and saucers for a project which I'll share with you later) $1.99 each but one was "blue tag" so $1.00 for it. Then there is the red plastic "bowl" with a lid. It has some cute "sunflowers" around the bowl and on the lid, but you can hardly see them. I'm thinking this will look fabulous painted white and will make a nice storage bin for some smaller household items.

Now, for the BIG BARGAIN of the day ..... this chair for my bedroom!!! When Mom and I first arrived at the store, the doors weren't opened for business; but, I was peeking through the door and saw they had a lot of new furniture down the center aisle. I knew exactly where I was heading when the doors opened. The chair looks brand new -- I won't have to reupholster this one! Burgundy velvet swivel/rocker for, are you ready . . . $30!!!! And, the pillow above -- looks like it was made for the chair. Now I have a nice quiet place where I can go sit and read or do some needlework while hubby sits in the living room watching TV. I can't wait to use my little quiet spot!

Check out other great thrifty finds at Rhoda's "Thrifty Treasures"! I'll be heading over there myself!

Patti

Look what's for dinner tonight!!!!!

Mmmmm - mmmmm!!! Look what's for dinner tonight!!! Pinto beans, cornbread and fried taters!!!! I know my sister's are gonna be jealous when they see this --- but if they're good, maybe I'll save some for them! Or, maybe not!

I was raised on "southern cooking" -- Momma and Daddy were from southeastern Kentucky. So meals like this were quite common when we were growing up! Hubby practically "begged" my mom to make him some pinto beans before she heads back to Michigan on Tuesday.

In the infamous words of Alton Brown on the Food Network Channel ..... "Good Eats!"

Patti

My First Time 'Yard Sale"-ing

For years I've always talked about wanting to "hit the yard sales", but it seemed like all we did was slowly drive by and say, "Don't see anything!" But after reading other blogs about some of the things being found at yard sales, thrift shops and "junking" . . . I knew this was something I had to get in on!

My mom is visiting from Michigan so I dragged her out with me today! Out of nine yard sales, we found some great bargains at four.

I found these little chairs for $1 each -- I'm going to use the red one in my dining room to set a plant on; the yellow one is going to go out in one of my flower beds. I thought my grandson, Liam, would enjoy the book of nursery rhymes. I'm hoping to find a white candle holder that I can use as a base under the little bowl. Garage Sale #1 Total: $3.00


The next stop I found this cute little shirt for my granddaughter, Harmonie. As I got ready to pay for the shirt, I noticed the cake stand and platter -- they just begged me to take them home! Garage Sale #2 Total: $5.00

The next stop I found this darling little white lamp with a yellow shade and pink gingham trim. The price tag indicated it was a "Pottery Barn Lamp". I just checked out the Pottery Barn Kids website -- looks like similar styled lamp bases sell for $49 and another $10 for the shades. The mirror is from Target and measures about 24" x 24" -- checked out Target's website and looks like mirror that size run $40 or more. I'm sure I'll end up painting the frame and hang it in our bedroom. Then there are the wooden trucks and cars --- my daughter loves toys like this for Liam. She avoids buying anything plastic if she can . . . so when I saw these in a bag marked $3 it was a "no-brainer". When I went to pay for everything I only had $10 in my pocket; I asked the gal running the sale if she'd take $10 and was told, "Ummmm, no . . . I really need the $12." Hey, still a pretty good deal in my opinion! Garage Sale #3 Total: $12

The last stop I found a lot of beautiful things. This gal had all kinds of antiques and even had some Jim Shore figurines -- for $40 I could have gotten this snowman (http://www.jimshore.com/shop/p-3210-boy-snowman-figurineret.aspx); but then this website sells it for the same price! But I did find the Tommy Hilfiger sweatshirt for Liam, the red and white striped top (with price tags still attached to the arm) for Izzy and a teacup and saucer. Garage Sale #4 Total: $11.25

So, you can see I made quite the haul for a mere $31.25!! With success like this, you can be sure I'll be back out there again!!! Just remembered -- this Sunday and Monday all "blue tagged" items are 50% off! Will definitely check that out as well!

Think I'll put my feet up for a while . . . it's been a busy day!

Check out other "Thrifty Treasures" at Rhoda's "Southern Hospitality" blog http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/

Patti

My Little Loves

I love being a "Nana" . . . when we first heard we were going to be grandparents, my hubby said, "We're too young to be 'Grandma and Grandpa' . . .". We decided we were going to be "Nana & Papa" instead. The only problem . . . we don't get to see them enough.

Isabelle ("Izzy") is in Pennsylvania . . .


Liam is in New York . . .


Harmonie . . . she's here in Minnesota . . . only 20 minutes away. But it seems like we don't get to see her nearly enough!

Papa did get to attend Harmonie's recent graduation from Kindergarten . . . she's grown up so fast!

Even though Liam and Izzy are so far away, we so grateful for the internet and web cams! We even have a trip planned to go out and see them soon! I'm so excited . . . I can't wait!!!

I once saw a bumper sticker that said . . . "If I had known grandchildren would be so much fun, I would have had them first!"

Yes, I love them so much . . . "My Little Loves".....

Patti

I LOVE White Ceramic Ware!

Earlier today I was talking on the phone with my sister who lives in Michigan. She informed me that she was "very disappointed" that I hadn't blogged in a while! I tried to explain I have been really busy this week but she didn't want to accept my excuse . . . so, here you go, Sis!

Here's a picture of a platter I picked up at a local thrift shop called Chaps. I didn't see the signs when I walked in -- everything was 50%! Walked out the door paying only $1.30! It didn't fit in with my big wall display in the living room, so this one hangs in the dining room next to the patio door!

Headed over to Goodwill and found these this past Wednesday! The cashier asked me if get "the discount"; when I asked, "What discount?", she said, "The 'Senior Discount'!" I was honest and told her "no" . . . I'm just 52 but I guess my hair made her ask the question! The platter was $5, the creamer .99 cents, the cup and saucer $2 and the little bird print and frame $2. I was thinking of painting the frame black and putting some scrapbook paper and our last name initial in place of the picture! I'll be sure to post when I finally figure out what I'm going to do with it!

Found these at TJ Maxx -- all of the plates were in the Clearance section -- the two blue plates were $2 each, the square embossed plate was $4 and the white serving platter $5. I did pay full price for the black plate rack -- $5. I set the platter on the plate rack and have that in my kitchen. Still trying to decide where I want to hang the other plates.

Remember the little gravy tureen I found a couple of weeks ago -- here it is on my kitchen counter. The soup tureen was given to me last year by my daughter when she was visiting from NY. Her grandmother gave it to her but she decided she didn't want it (it wasn't her "style"). I told her I would take it even though I had no idea what I would do with it. Now I'm scouring thrift shops and garage sales for any white ceramic plates and kitchen ware I can find!

Check out more thrifty treasures on Rhoda's Southern Hospitality blog http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/ .

Come back and visit soon!

Patti

A Busy Week . . .

First, I want to wish a belated "Happy Anniversary" to my big sis and her hubby of 42 years!!! Congratulations and I love you both!!!

It’s been a busy week around here . . . what with my mom coming in from Michigan, driving up north to my sister’s house to celebrate her birthday on Friday, an open house wedding reception for my nephew and his bride on Saturday, and back home on Sunday. Mom is spending the week with my sister and will be back sometime this weekend!

For now, it’s “pedal to the metal” time as I work to get this week's customer quilts completed before Mom comes back to my house. So far I’ve quilted four quilts and have at least three more to get done before Sunday!


His and Her's Quilts - Wedding presents for my customer's son and his bride

Sun Porch Throw - This customer didn't piece her quilt top; instead she brought me two pieces of decorator fabric that she wanted quilted together.

Flannel Trees - This customer is donating this cozy throw for a raffle to benefit rescued husky dogs.

Over the past few weeks I've been working on some "thrifty" home decor projects.

Project #1

I needed a "table" next to one of our recliners in the living room so I thought I could stack to baskets together. It didn't look so good . . .

So I decided to paint the top one white . . .yuk . . . you can still see those raised apples! I managed to hide those under a little bit of green grosgrain ribbon!

But then the top of the basket wasn't strong enough . . . or flat enough . . . to accommodate a beverage glass, so . . . I took a frame I picked up on clearance at Joann's for $2.50 and inserted a piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper. However, the paper wasn't quite big enough for the 11 x 14 frame so I just laid a couple of pieces of green grosgrain ribbon (from the basket project) at the ends! And - Ta-Da! Not too shabby . . . or should I say ... "shabby chic"?

Project #2

I also found that I love the look of this plate display that I found on "The Nester's" blog . . .

So, I found some plates at a couple of thrift stores and the clearance section of TJ Maxx.

• The top square plate was $3.00 (TJ Maxx)
• The two round ones below were$0.80 each - $1.60 (Thrift Store)
• The small gold ones were $3.00 each -- $6.00 (TJ Maxx -- full price on these though)
• Oval platter -- $1.50 (Thrift Store)
• Two small square plates -- $1.00 each -- $2.00 (TJ Maxx)
• Small round (matches gold plates) -- $2.00 (TJ Maxx)

TOTAL: $16.10

Oh - but wait -- I needed the plate hangers -- those were $3.00 each so that's another $27.00! Nearly $11 more than the plates themselves! But, what a great wall display I have for less than $50.00!!! I'm happy!


There's lots more to share but I'll have to save that for later !


Patti