Tuesday's Treasures & Wednesday's Wisdom

I combined all my errands and shopping yesterday and came home too tired to photograph and post my treasures, so here they are on Wednesday.

I've been attempting to fill my home with flowers. The long, dark winter was difficult to bear and Spring hasn't come soon enough so I'm buying flowers and brightening up my rooms. I wanted a blue arrangement for my soon to be blue and white dining room. I found this pretty vase at a new to me thrift store for $2.00. When I got to the check out counter the woman said "That'll be a dollar." Turns out it was half-price Tuesday! Score!!

My skill at flower arranging needs educating, but I did the best I could. It sure brightens up the room.

This Pfaltzgraff platter was another score at $4.50. I love the pale blue.

And this half-pint Mason jar was just $.50

Salt and pepper shakers in blue and white for $1 each.

Four pale blue with colorful flowers cocktail napkins, $.50 each, and a gold linen dish towel for $.25.

Royal blue travel toiletry bag from Lands' End for $1.00.

What's the wisdom in all this? Patience and perseverance are keys to finding thrift store treasures. Know what you want and don't settle. Do without and make do until you find the perfect thing.

Tuesday's Treasures on Wednesday

A trip to the thrift store today and I scored big time!

Pieces in this pattern are in my mother's kitchen - I decided not to wait to inherit and have looked for this pattern
every time I go to a thrift store or yard sale.  Today I scored this beautiful three bowl set, totally worth the wait!

A couple more books for me, and two girl's classics for a young friend of mine.

An unused copy of a classic -- it will be a gift.

Three fun baby books. Sandra Boynton is a favorite of mine.

The table runner I bought for the delicious looking apple fabric.  Some colorful cloth napkins.

A spring daffodil, two linen towels, and a yellow embroidered napkin.

Christmas napkins, two each of three motifs, hand appliquéd.

Detail of applique.

Lovely cross-stitched linen tablecloth.

Detail of cross-stitching.

Christmas fabric for more gift bags!

Wonderful pieces of fine wale corduroy. Just right for children's clothing.

 Lastly, I took my two sewing machines in today for servicing. While I'm without them I plan to prepare a few things to sew. (Actually, I'm going to attempt a little bit of mass production so I can stock an Etsy store with things to sell. Watch for the announcement of an opening soon!)

Tuesday's Treasures

Confession: I have an obsession. Yes, I admit it. Every time I go to a thrift store I check the linens to see what treasures have been turned in, abandoned by the unappreciative. I find the prettiest things!

26" square either napkin or towel

Lily of the Valley motif on each corner

Linen kitchen towel with liquid embroidery
In all of my study of domestic history, Monday is consistently washday. One historian believes that is so that the best linens, used on Sunday would be washed before any stains could set. Makes sense to me.

This gorgeous peacock is embroidered on a piece of polyester linen-like fabric.
I'd like to make a sofa pillow out of it. (17"x 13")

Peacock tail feather detail

Lovely natural linen hand towel

Detail of daisys in dark and light orange with grey stem and leaves

Bleached linen hand towel

Detail of pulled thread embroidery and yellow and grey flowers

Linen is soft and absorbent; it feels so nice against skin whether it's a towel or handkerchief or napkin. There is just nothing like it. I pay anywhere from 25 cents to $5 for the things I chose. Low end for small items like a hanky or napkin, up to large tablecloths at the high end. With new linen costing anywhere from $10 to $100 per yard, I think I pick up absolute bargains, especially with all the handwork included! Can you see why I'm obsessed?

Do you have an obsession? What do you collect? What can you just not resist? What attracts you at thrift (or antique) stores?