Saturday 16 March 2013

Op Shop Gems

When I am out running errands and find myself right next to an op shop (thrift store) I will usually pop in and have a look for some hidden treasures. Much to Eli's dismay, errands have taken us to a few op shops in the last couple of weeks. He was consoled on one visit with this 50 cent bargain (though he still maintains that the "op shop has a funny smell" and will sometimes walk around holding his nose!).
Eli playing with his new school bus.

On another day and at another shop Eli spotted this handmade wooden truck for $3.

Handmade goodness!
These are some gems that I was excited to find!
$5 framed picture - I have an idea for this and started on it today!
This is a piece of decorating fabric that was originally in a sample book. I trimmed the top and bottom (there were holes at the top so that it could be removed from the sample file/folder and an adhesive strip on the back across the bottom with the fabric details). I will turn this 50 cent treasure into a cushion cover.

Close up of the centre picture. Love it!

And these are the vintage sheets that I took home with me. The first one is a cot sheet that was a bargain at $1.
The rest are either single, double or queen sized. I think I almost have enough to start cutting them into charm squares and fat quarters. A quilt made from vintage sheets is on my long list of things to sew, inspired by Janice at Better Off Thread.




And last, but not least, my favourite and most exciting find. A metre of this lovely Beatrix Potter quilting fabric for $1. I was very, very excited. When I told Eli how excited I was he just looked at me while holding his nose.

These are close up shots of the cute little pictures of each of the characters.






How cute are they? Do you go 'op shopping'? What gems have you found?


11 comments:

  1. Nope, I'm not big on op shops. I'm trying to get rid of "stuff" not add to the mountain in the games room!!!! Although, I do pop in occasionally. My best find (very unexpectedly, while I was searching for clothes for a dress up party) was a teddy bear ornament that was part of a set I was collecting (well, had been given as birthday gifts for years) ... I didn't have these two and they were no longer in production, so picked them up to complete the set, yay! P.S. Love the Beatrix Potter fabric, how cute! I also love your quirky sense of style (quirky = meant in the best possible way!) You turn things that I would never look at twice into masterpieces ... much braver with fabric choices than I ever will be, love it!!

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    1. I was pretty excited about the Beatrix Potter fabric. Did you see the vintage sheet quilt that Janice made? I love it! Fancy finding the two teddy bear ornaments to complete your set!! I like rummaging around op shops sometimes, though I am happy to say that I give more to them than I bring home!

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    2. No, I don't think I've seen it. Do you have a picture?

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    3. This is Janice's vintage sheet quilt.
      http://betteroffthread.com/2013/01/11/vintage-bed-sheet-quilt/

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  2. How beautiful! Can you do that wibbly wobbly sewing (again, very technical!! Almost too embarrassed to type that given that you have so many quilting friends who read this blog!!!) for me once I've finished piecing my quilt together?!?! I'll pay you in chocolate!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Yes - you can do the wibbly wobbly sewing. Here are some sites for some free motion quilting tutorials/examples:

      http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com.au/2008/03/free-motion-quilting.html
      http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2010/04/free-motion-quilting-home-machine-features-tips/
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39I5A3iyCtw

      Absolutely no chocolate necessary!!

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  3. Yes you will do it for me, or yes I can do it for myself?!?!?! Given the links you've posted, I guess it's the latter!!!

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    Replies
    1. You'd be more than capable, though I'd be happy to do it for you!

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    2. Hmmmmm, we shall see. Maybe a demo will be required!! (btw, I don't think my feed dogs will lower ... if they do, I don't know how to do it!)

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    3. Mine don't either! Sounds like we need a quilting morning? Perhaps we could practise on a couple of mug rugs I have that need quilting?

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    4. I'd love to give it a go!! Let's make a plan after Easter :-)

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