Thrifty Thursday

I haz the upset tummies but I wanted to gloat, um I mean, show you some of my recent Thrift Shopping scores.

  Picked up for $6 in Raleigh when out thrifting with the multi-talented Amanda Irvin. She is a graphic artist and jewelry maker and fiber artist - Her etsy shop is Sprockets and Lockets.

 This is now hanging in our kitchen where Bill Hubby gets many kisses for being the cook! Found this for less than $1 when out with Becky Wagner. She has been stitching up a storm! Go see!

 Out and about in Pittsboro with Drucilla Pettibone, who has one etsy shop brimming with glorious hand spun yarny goodness and another full of vintage yumminess, we hit upon a couple of Habitat Re-Store bargains. The teeny little planter is now home to a teeny little cedar. I have visions of Bonsai.

 And at the PTA Thrift Shop I found a complete out fit for less than $10. 

Shorts are L.L. Bean! Nice comfy linen too. 

Bill always gets a prize when I go out - framed Ben Franklin "Beer" quote. 

That queen size sheet keeps arguing with itself. It says sundress, then it says, no, I'm an apron or three. Breaking up a fight with a queen size sheet is tiresome. I tucked her away til she makes up my her mind.

 And at the other Habitat Re-Store (yes, we have 2! One for home goods and one for Building your home goods!) I found these stitcheries stuffs. I'm keeping the bird, pattern, and cross-stitch border. The ducks, elephant, and tiny stitched items are up for grabs. Free. Anyone?

 First I was all dumb about this one with "Is this an arrow head? Why?" 

D'oh! It's a Christmas Tree!

I adore this Carolina Wren perched on the Yellow Jasmine. South Carolina's state bird right? Is jasmine the SC state flower?

It's dirty but I just bought a pound of this stuff - Retro Clean. The package says "Safely Brings Age-Stained Textiles Back to Life."

Has anyone else tried it? I'll give it a whirl and let ya know how it works.

Back to my sewing machine. 

Tomorrow my friend Anne and I are off to my home town* of Wilkesboro, NC to set up a booth at the 3rd Friday Farmers Market!

(*Okay, I am from North Wilkesboro, but we are talking twin towns separated by a mere few yards known as the Yadkin River!)

Giveaways around BloggieLand and a Winner!!

 While it's 100+ according to the Heat Index I have been busy staying inside and sewing!

I really do not like hot weather.

Here's one cutie little apron I made.  Reversible and child size with a fabric rose hair clip.

I love the precious Japanese fabric with those bunnies!!

  

 

Sunday I tried to play "catch up" on my bloggie reading.  Wow.  I was way behind.  And I still didn't finish but some Sunday afternoons just beg me to take a nap ;)

As I perused the vacations pics, the fun projects and all the latest bloggie news I found a few GiveAways that I thought you might want to enter.  Then again, if you don't enter my chances are better. heehee

First up - Angie of Mama Lusco Handmade is home from vacation with pictures!! 

Beware - some are of a hot country singer! 

She is giving away this adorable headband.

It's reversible too!

Next, I visited Elizabeth at Thoughts from an Evil Overlord.  Don't be skeert!  She really isn't evil.  As a matter of fact she's really sweet and loves to read.  She reviews books and often has an extra to give away. This time it's The Island by Elin Hilderbrand.

Finally, our friends over at Craft Gossip are having an amazing giveaway!

They are offering 3 Etsy shopping sprees 

(each to a maximum value of $100). 

They will also pay for shipping.

I am entering so here's my "Wish List!"

 

From Lisa and her adorable the hemline shop I am in love with this Lady in Red Bag! 

  Not very glamorous but I could use of the these cone thread holders from zipperstop.

 vintagegoodness has this fab Hawaiian cat that I neeeeeeeed. 

 

This sah-weet camera is in Found Eclectic's shop.

This oh so orange charm pack could be mine from Pleasant Home.

 

Local designer Sachi Ivy made these beauties!!

thlvintage has these bindings that I really, really need!

So there ya have it!  My wish list is done. 

Go look around at the fabulous etsy shops and make your own.

Maybe we can both win!!!

Oh yeah, my GiveAway!  I went back to the first method I used here in Bloggie land - our trusty drink shaker maker.

 

All the names went in and

Mindy is our winner!!!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Hope you have a fab week!

Review and GiveAway Fun!

 We had a wonderful long weekend! How about you? 

Saturday, Bill and I attended Greensboro, NC's Fun Fourth Festival.  

We only went for the music.  

We were not disappointed.

Ladies and Gentlemen, From Carrboro,NC
Big Fat Gap
Bluegrass at its finest.

 

Everyone enjoyed the tunes!

 

Here's one nano-second that Bill wasn't running around snappin pics!  

From all over NC - Hobex! A favorite of my entire family.

Gotta love Andy Ware's purple pants!

 

Fresh from his Prague tour- Greg Humphreys!  

The beautiful Taz Halloween! After the show. We is sassy wimmens!

Now for Giveaway fun!!!

CSN stores generously allowed me to choose a product from one of their 200+ stores. I received and reviewed said product - a sofa protecting cat scratching post. 

Originally submitted at CSN Stores
Features:

• Available in various neutral carpet colors - shipped at random
• Encourages cats to scratch on it instead of expensive furniture
• Treated with organic catnip oil   
• Pros: Inexpensive, Protects Furniture, Just The Right Size, Attractive Design  
• Cons: Cat Doesn't Use It, Wobbly base

Couch Protector Scratch Post

3out of 5

This is a well-built product in the sense that it is just the right height to protect our sofa corner. The base is wobbly though. We added a weight from a former floor lamp to stabilize it.
Sadly, Our cats have no interest in it at all. Even after adding more catnip! But I think that is just their personalities rather than any fault of the product.(legalese)

Hopefully Stanley, who is the main sofa scratcher, will soon understand what he is supposed to do with is new post! 

CSN Stores is also offering a $40 Gift Certificate to one of my wonderful readers!!  It's too hot outside to think a whole bunch, so I'm gonna make this simple.

Leave me a comment about your 4th of July weekend or about how to convince a formerly feral cat to use the scratching post rather than the sofa.

One entry per person.

Comment before this Sunday, July 11, Midnight PDST (yeah, that's 3am EDST.)

I will use the Random Number Generator to choose a winner and announce here on Monday. 

Be sure I have a way to reach you by e-mail!

Giveaways, Lights and Freedom!

Have you been outside today?

After a month of record high temperatures and me hiding inside with the AC cranking out lovely cool air it was so nice to take Our Petey the Boston Terrier out for his morning meander and enjoy some cool - dare I say crisp? - air.  Birds singing, sun shining, and a wee bit of a breeze. I know it's mere a lull in the heat storm that is Summer in the Mid-South.  But oh so nice to open the windows and let the house breathe the cool free of air conditioned stuffiness!

What have y'all been up to so far this summer?  Nothing seriously exciting nor new around here.  Bill is still on the job hunt. But his temporary unemployment has allowed him a chance to go out and about with his camera. Check out his pics of what we lovingly refer to as "Southern Decay" and the other things that catch his artistic eye.  

Leave him some comment love too. He thinks his pictures are "okay."  

I say they are amazing.

My daughter Katharine and her Beau, Brian, just moved into the cutest little house in a cute little town nearby.  They are now 25 minutes versus 15 minutes away but it's a fun ride through the counties' back roads. They had too much stuff and offered us a floor lamp.  Great timing as one of our lamps had just decided to rebel. Only one minor problem - the gift lamp is a little wobbly.  

No problem. 

Ha!

We put it to work in our workroom. Lovely. I sat down in the chair beside it and Whomp! There it is! On my head. Fighting a tear or two I declared war on said lamp. 

You lamp you!  I'll fix you! Ha!

 Yeppers!  I fixed that lamp!  You are now looking at the new ceiling fixture in our Guest bathroom!

(Oops! Tilt yer head to the left. Sorry.)

I love hanging light fixtures. I love recycling! This application used the base and top of the lamp.

Free is good isn't it?

Come back and visit with me next Tuesday for a review of a product from CSN Stores and a $40 Gift Certificate Giveaway!!! 

I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful weekend celebrating the freedom we have as Americans!

Be safe!