Treasures from a Thrifty Weekendl

Warm breezes, clear skies, with the temperature in the low 70's made for a perfect day of thrifting. That's what I thought and planned on. You know what the say; the best-laid plans.....

An area in our town is named Allendale and is located near Lake Michigan, with some homes right on the lake front. This is an established neighborhood dating back to the late 1800's, with lovely old home. They held the annual Allendale neighborhood rummage sale this weekend.  Up and out the door early, with visions of good deals dancing in my head. What's the fastest route? I see the signs and stop at my first rummage sale, excitement.

My first purchase of the morning was miss matched shoe horns.  I love the colors and have a pair of boots badly in need of some shoe horns.  The woman running the sale made sure to tell me that they were antique. That became the word of the day.  Wonderfully decorated children chairs with vibrant colors and designs could be  bought for twenty dollars each.  They were antique.  I went to pay for my shoe horns and mental head slap, I forgot to stop and change my hundred dollar bill into smaller bills. Lucky for me a ten dollar bill, was stashed behind my drivers license.

Next sale (after all I still have nine dollars and of course the hundred dollar bill) I stop at had a green scale and the decal says it's made in Chicago, Illinois. No price.  "How much is your scale?' I ask.  You tell me what you would pay for it; it's an antique. She wanted twenty dollars for it.  I liked it, but I didn't love it twenty dollars worth.  So went my morning in Allendale.

I drove to the bank changed my hundred dollar bill into smaller bills, and headed to a church rummage. This was the last day of the sale, and I knew it would be slim pickins. I am so glad I decided to stop because I found my favorite piece.

An embroidered tablecloth with this lovely lady in each corner.

I love, love, adore the crochet lace and these cheerful flowers in between each beautiful lady.

Betty Crocker's cookbooks; 1956, 1971 and 1973. I couldn't resist.

From the1956 cookbook.

My watch and my stomach are telling me its is lunchtime, so I am heading home, and lo and behold I see church rummage sale.  I can't help myself, and I follow the signs.  They are handing out bags as I enter,  and we are told one dollar for everything you can fit inside the bag. 

Linen placemats made in Sweden and new with tags, tea towels.

Amish-Butterprint, Pyrex bowl.

Sweet handerchiefs.

Gap lambs wool scarf and hat.

Fisher Price knee and wrist guards.

Colorful childs crochet blanket.

All of this in one bag for one dollar, happy dance.

I am linking up with, Her Library Adventures on Sunday, for:

on Monday with Apron Thrift Girl for:

and Southern Hospitality for:

Remembered Yesterdays, Cherished Tomorrows

With thoughtful quotes sprinkled around eye catching vignettes Embellished Heart in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin offers a pleasant experience in shopping.  This shop offers vintage findings and furniture, art and home decor along with unique gifts and jewelry. I had the pleasure of meeting the owners this afternoon, Tori Tarlton and Norma Tarlton and asked if I could take some pictures of their store the Embellished Heart to share on my blog.

Tori holding a mirror with this quote...

Live in the moment knowing you are mortal,

and when in doubt ask; "What would Lassie do?'  Bernie Siegel

I felt like sitting down and having tea and finger sandwiches in this vignette. What a clever idea to embellish the glass jar with a quote. Inside this glass jar was tan and pink netting, twigs with a sweet bird figurine sitting inside.  The quote was written with black marker, which washes right off. Clever idea.

Love the lamp and the caddy with the Siestaware glasses, adorable.

More eye candy.

Notice the silver shoes to the left of the chair, too cute.

Walking around the store looking at the vintage/reto items brought back memories of my childhood.  I noticed several things that we had when I was growing up. Memories. I will be visiting the Embellished Heart again.  Next time I going to buy something that I have my eye on.

I love that apron. It will fit right in with all of my others :-)

Hardware Store No More

After wrapping up a package for fellow blogger, Tammy from Tammy Loves Dishes, I headed to a near by independently owned hardware store. This hardware store houses a post office and is twelve blocks from my house.

I entered the store that surrounded me with tools, pipes, chains, machines, and crabby old men working behind the cash register.  As luck would have it, there was a queue for the post office.  With two people in front of me, I had a few minutes to look around at the interesting items that lined the walls of the store. I saw red and the sign. I pulled my camera from my purse and snapped this photo.  I must mention that I received a rather strange almost nasty look from the gentleman behind the cash register.

This sign reads:

AHH HUMM...EXCUSE ME......

I PREFER NOT TO;

INTERRUPT YOUR CELL PHONE CONVERSATION,

HEAR YOUR PERSONAL BUSINESS, NOR

COMPETE WITH A PHONE FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

THEREFORE, WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED WITH YOUR

CALL, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WAIT ON YOU!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION!

The queue moves toward the postal window and another sign (I wasn't comfortable taking another photo after the last look I received) was posted. It said something to the effect; No cell phone usage near the postal window. It slows down the computer and equipment used. My turn comes and while the gentleman is waiting on me - MY CELL PHONE RINGS!  I didn't answer :-))

I realize some folks will agree with the message that this store was sending out.  As I walked out the door of this independently owned hardware store, I knew that next time I needed to mail something I would drive the extra miles and use the United States Post Office, where all I would see is wanted posters.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I decided to go into Illinois with my sweet sister to do a little thrift shopping. I live between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  I have the best of everything within my reach; theater, shopping, museums, Lake Michigan,  major league sports teams, and great thrift stores.  My sweet sisters birthday is June 18th. She received her 25% off your purchase, birthday card from Goodwill.  With high hopes and 25% off we headed for one of my favorite Goodwill store in Mundelein, Illinois. While driving we passed Marytown, in Libertyville, Illinois. Both of us recalled the fantastic rummage sale we attended several years ago at Marytown. I decided to pull in and forced asked my sister to run inside and inquire when the next rummage sale would be.  While she went inside, I grabbed my camera, so I could show you the beautiful grounds surrounding Marytown.

This sign welcomes you to the beautiful grounds of Marytown.

The only church in Lake County, Illinois where you can pray 24 hours a day.

Beautiful statues dot the grounds.

The walkway towards the grotto.

Look close and you can see the tear drop on Mary's face.

Bagged flowers were attached to all of the trees, beautiful.

In the area of Mundelein, Illinois, stop and refresh your spirit at Marytown.  Now back to the reason why I stopped in the first place...  My sister did find out that a rummage sale will be held in October.  Filed that information in the back of our heads.

We arrived at the Goodwill store with high hopes. We left with our 25% off coupon still in my sisters purse.  I did see this purse that I wanted to share with you.  This beauty was in the locked glass case!?! As my sister and I stood in front of the case staring at the purse, yes it is a purse. A customer wanted to see an item in the case.  As the clerk unlocked the case, I politely asked if I could take a picture of the purse. This saddle purse was priced at $39.99.   It did not come home with either one of us, but I am sure somewhere, sometime this saddle bag purse will go home with someone.  

Changes, Chapters, Challenges

Yesterday changed my life, after twenty three years of working for Kenosha Unified School District, I walked out the school door as a retiree.  Cards, gifts, flowers, tears, hugs and a bunch of promises to keep in touch were exchanged.  I felt loved and appreciated by my coworkers, but I look forward to the new chapters in my life.
The Cheerful Thrifty Door blog has become a fun new challenge for me.  I look, read, and listen to things just a little differently now that I am writing this blog. I also carry my camera in my purse just in case I need a photo for the Door.  I smile when I see that someone has left a comment or is a follower. I enjoy reading and following others blogs.
I am so happy that I will be able to attend rummage sales and estate sales, in the mornings instead of during my forty five minute lunches (I was late returning to school many times) or after the school day was over.  I will finally be able to see the good stuff!
Most important will be the time I can now spend with my family, especially my grandchildren. So the changes, chapters, and challenges of my new life have begun, and I look forward to all of it!

Thrifted

My treasures .....

This Johnson Brothers oval serving bowl was waiting for me at the Goodwill with a price of sticker of $2.99.  I can see some summer fruit being served in this dish, not to big but not to small.  A perfect sized bowl for me.

I loved the designs of these two small square scarves found at a 

neighborhood rummage sale, $1.00 each.

Dennison Flower Book - how to make and arrange beautiful Crepe Paper flowers, dated 1963. As I was flipping the book pages I was amazed that someone could be that talented to make flowers form crepe paper that could look so real.  For 50¢ I brought it home to take a closer look.

Kraft Grape Jelly Jar Bear, stamped 1988 on the bottom. 

Cute for holding candy for my grandchildren and only 25¢.

 I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted a rummage sale on a Sunday. In my area, Sunday sales are few and far between, screeching to a stop, I walked up to the garage and found these Scottie dog planters. Nothing was priced, and that always makes me nervous. The price was 25¢ a piece! The ladies were so nice, the things they were selling belong to their grandmother.
Grandma wrote on the bottom of the sitting Scottie planter that it had
been purchased in Florida, August 16, 1952.

These two figurines just made me smile and for 25¢ each I had to have them. 

I am linking up with, Her Library Adventures on Sunday, for:

and on Monday with Apron Thrift Girl for:

and Southern Hospitality for:

A Blog I Enjoy and Want to Share

Every afternoon after work I sit down at my desk and read my favorite blogs.  Dian's Timpanalley is one of the first blogs I click on to read. This blog is not about thrift store finds, cooking, or photography. This blogger just writes what is on her mind and about her experiences.  While reading Ruth's blog, you will find that she also has an Esty store Dian's Earrings. I seriously ♥ the vintage 1960 silver rhinestone brooch with the fringe. Take a few moments and check out her blog and Esty store, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Do you have a  blog that you really enjoy and want to share?  Perhaps it is your blog that you want to spot light.  Leave me the URL or blog name and it will be my pleasure to visit, read and become a follower.