Town House Homestead Tuesday

Today I am a lot tired and going to take it easy. Temperatures are headed up into the nineties and it will be a slow putter day. First an update on the furniture rescues and their status. 

The rescued chair is all repainted white and is now home with my desk. The decision to paint it white was the correct one. It makes my desk look sharp and refreshing.

The rescued rolling file holder is complete. I think it came out quite well. I now have a large pot of endive growing in it along with a large pot of flat leaf parsley. So wonderful to have the time to restore items and put them to use.

We did some thrift store shopping and found some vintage Pyrex, a Vera scarf, a vintage towel, a new mouse for a computer, candles and of course books.. We shopped at a library book store for some too

From my container garden I harvested a few ripening tomatoes and can't wait until they're ready to use for a meal.

I have two good size sweet pepper plants growing and as you can see they're producing well. Not ready to harvest yet. These are carnival peppers and they should turn color before they are ready. 

This jalapeno pepper plant was a gift from the universe. We intended to purchase it and several days later, after looking at the receipt, we discovered we hadn't been charged for it. It is producing what it can in it's tiny container.

We purchased a habenaro pepper plant and after I thinned them to other pots had seven individual plants, for the price of one, that as you can see are starting to produce peppers. I am looking forward to making some habenero pineapple jelly. 

I have two large and long pots of beans growing. The beans are coming, but so far not enough to make a meal, but it won't be long. I also have a pot of spinach growing. These plants are moved outside during the day and brought in to the breezeway in the evening. We haven't been here long enough to build an outside "protected" garden  yet, but it will come. In the mean time the breezeway serves as a lovely green house for my container garden. No critters have touched the tomatoes, so they spend the night outside. It's been fun and later this week I am going to plant some cucumber seeds in a pot with a tomatoe cage. It never hurts to try and learn. That's what's happening here at the new Town House Homestead. Thank you for stopping by and have a great week. 

Thursdays Threads

There's been some breaks in the kitchen activities lately and it honestly feels great. There are so many things that my daughters and I want to do and we are taking the time to do it. This past weekend I continued working on my memory tee shirt quilt. It is coming along well, but I ended up with enough shirts to make two quilts or a front and back. I needed one more shirt from my son's college he graduated from last May and it has been ordered and should arrive by this Saturday. I am excited to have one more item on the road to being finished. 

My eldest daughter finished an apron made from a vintage sheet. This is one of the many, many projects that she has underway and it felt good to her to have it finished. 

I continue on my new adventure knitting socks. I know some of you wonder when I find time, but we live in a rented townhouse. I have some not so nice neighbors who will keep me up late nights with the noise. They can start being noisy at 5:30 a.m. and go to well after 11 p.m. and no matter what we do it doesn't stop. We are close to our goal of finding a new residence, but it may be up to 16 months from now. Money isn't growing on the tree fast enough so in the mean time I reduce my stress with my knitting and am rewarded each time with a new pair of socks or other clothing item. I think I will probably have a few dozen pairs of socks by the time we can move.

The most challenging part of my life right now is growing my green thumb. It is a test, but I have one window that is small and can't be blocked (according to the complex rules) so I have a small table with my Christmas Cactus plants on it. My white Christmas cactus is growing leaps and bounds and it is actually blooming "one" bloom and it's May. I guess it likes that window. I'm calling it my prime gardening space.

Life in the townhouse has it's challenges. Too small but workable, bad neighbors but the reward is socks, and taking the time to look and grow into the new life we so need and desire. Counting our blessing every day and taking advantage wherever we can to move forward. Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend. 

Thrift Finds

This past Saturday we went to a Church sale with the intention of finding one small item and coming home. It was close by and why wouldn't we find this one small always available item. Well, we didn't so we moved on to a thrift store. We found that item and it was only .99 and then the hunting bug hit her like an F4 tornado and look what she did!

She hunted and hunted and kept putting things in that cart. It was fun to be out, but I think that short trip turned into two thrift stores on top of the Church sale. 

She found a wooden box, bar ware that she sold within minutes of her purchase, shipping envelopes, a spice shelf, sewing notions, the card board book which was the reason for the adventure and a framed print of a female artist she adores, but cannot find any information about.

She continues to bring home vintage sheets and pieces of fabric to sooth her addiction and we found a primary print JC Penny Snoopy drape.

And may I say yes, she got me 15 more canning jars and let me tell you the Good Will was loaded with them, but we play the color tag sale for the 50% off items and the one's we left were not that weeks color. The cashier tried to say they may not be there when we come back, but anyone who pays $1.99 for a used canning jar can have them when you can get a new case with rims and lids for a lot less. I have not filled these. I washed them and put them on the shelf because fruit and vegetable season is coming and we are trying to get some empties on the shelf. This is what happens to her when she needs one very small, always available, most anywhere item. 

Thank you for stopping by my post and have a great week.

Up cycled vintage sewing and what's on the sewing table this week.

Our sewing and fabric addiction is showing it's face. It all started with an apron last week. This past week my daughter got some of her "unfinished" projects out and "finished" them up so we can continue to grow and clean out here at The Craft Zone. Here are some of the up cycled ladies tops made from vintage reclaimed sheets.

These tops have long sleeves and short sleeves finished with elastic. There are elastic necklines and yoke necklines. Some are belted for a fitted look and some are just loose and comfy. They are made from vintage patterns that, yes, she has found at thrift stores throughout the years.

When you sew there are always mounds of scraps. Strips, squares, circles and trims. Everything from new to vintage scraps. Why not put them to use. This past weekend she experimented with Easter egg shaped mug rugs. These seem to be the new coasters and personally I like the idea of a larger coaster. I like to set out a warm plate, but have always used pot holders. Why didn't I think of mug rugs. Dah!

On the sewing table now are all the items made from the remnants of the apron. I've managed a quilted table runner from two inch strips, an oven mitt, two pot holders or mug rugs and then from the remainder of the two inch strips I am sewing them together for another pot holder. I promised myself it wouldn't go back to the works in progress bin and it didn't. I ordered bias tape from eBay because I didn't want to edge them with white and there weren't enough remnants to make bias tape, so as soon as it gets here they will all be finished. Thank you everyone who stopped by and left comments last week. I hope this week is a great one for everyone. 

A little bit of everything this week.

The thrift finds this week were small. Mostly because we didn't get out to do much. We spent time with family, got the taxes filed, went out to lunch and have just been doing what needs to be done around the apartment. 

I spent some time choosing the fabrics for my next quilt. The oriental print has been my favorite for a long time. It is bed linen fabric that I will up cycle and mix with the solids. Most of the fabrics have been thrift finds and some are just leftover remnants from other projects. I know it's bright, but color inspires me. 

Thrift finds this weekend include a vintage Hollie Hobbie bed sheet, a yellow and orange floral pillow case and a beautiful gray and pink art deco style vintage pitcher. 

It was a work and play weekend and I think we needed to relax a bit. Relaxing to me is sewing and with St. Patrick's day coming I had to make something. That something was an apron. I know it won't make the corned beef and cabbage taste any better, but it will make the cooking fun.

We have so many items that we need to list on line that I think we may take a couple weeks off from hunting and just work with what's here. It's been wonderful building the stores and getting it all organized as far as storing it. Lots of research to be done to make sure we know what we're listing and continuing to grow. I hope everyone has a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by. 

Altered Big Shirt

I just finished converting this big shirt into this light weight house robe. At this, in between time of year my winter robe is too warm and my summer robe is too light. This shirt being 100% cotton made it just right for early fall evenings.

I didn't take a before picture, but this was a ladies size 2 X dress shirt. Today it is my robe.

I cut off the shirt cuffs and I added reclaimed lace border to the collar, sleeves and bottom. This gave it the lengths that I wanted and a little femininity. I didn't remove the collar I just stitched the lace to the existing collar to give it stability.

I thought I was done, but it still needed something. I removed the "shirt buttons" in exchange for these pearly ones and did some simple gathering with bias tape and ribbon to give it that non shirt look. It's been fun to make something for me. Hope it inspires you to make something up cycled. 

I like aprons.

My daughter and I just love sewing and aprons have been a big part of that love.

 

 

 

Recently I made this sheer apron out of an up cycled curtain panel and some fruit print fabric for pockets. It was made just for fun and to keep one curtain panel out of the landfill. I also reclaimed some trim from a second curtain panel. Some times we just have to get those ideas out of our heads.

 

 

 

I also made this one out of denim. I like the durability of denim and I added just some simple eyelet lace around the bottom. Fancy isn't usually my game, but lately I just need to fem it up a bit.

At the following sites are two of my daughters funky fabric aprons. I love these too.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/50480811/egg-stordinary-vintage-waverly-fabric

https://www.etsy.com/listing/50554502/whats-cookin-very-retro-reproduction?ref=shop_home_active

 

Stop by the stores and see what's new.

butterflyplace.etsy.com

butterflyplace.storenvy.com

poetcharms.etsy.com

 

We sure hope that if you're creative you have the time to make it happen. Have a wonderful week everyone.

 

 

 

 





Around the Craft Zone this week.

 

 

This past week I've been getting to some of the projects that have been getting out of control. To be listed this week is a box of hundreds of 4.5 inch fabric squares cut from leftovers. I made a few pillow case dresses for charity and my daughter gave me a shoe box full of dresses she had cut out and I finished a couple she had started. Completed 12 and have at least 12 more to work on. Also still being up cycled is the curtain now apron project I started last week. Just the ties and waist band and that will be done. I hope everyone has a wonderful week and let's keep those in dangerous weather situations in our thoughts.

Bringing brightness to my day.

I was feeling rather gloomy and needed a trip to the thrift store. I didn't expect to find much and wasn't really caring whether or not I did. Just need to stop and it was less than two tenths of a mile from the grocery store. Why not look. I had an exciting time just by myself walking up and down the aisles. I found the blue elephant Napco planter, two made in Sweden brightly colored wooden hot plates that have handles so they can be hung, four tall wheat print glasses, a vintage porcelain owl and the cutes Japanese squirrel. The squirrel was claimed by my daughter for her vintage nick nack shelf and for some reason I can't stop enjoying his eyes.

Continuing down the linen aisle I couldn't believe the bright colors. Vintage and new sheets, reproduction vintage circus fabric and rainbow stripe fabric. How could you not feel better with all these mood lifting colors. Some of this will be used in sewing projects and some added as inventory to my on line store butterflyplace.etsy.com. It was a spur of the moment decision to go and well worth the trip. I can't wait to just do it again because only I can change my mood. Have a wonderful week everyone.

One estate sale this week.

I was not going to go to this estate sale, but it was on my way home from work and the very end of the sale. As I thought, most of the items I had seen in the preview were gone, but to my surprise most of the closets and bedrooms still had plenty to rummage through. Reclaimed linens and fabric are my favorite items and are always fun to me. This picture shows some vintage curtains. Some of a wood panel and kitchen pattern and others with a vintage Dutch ribbon that I will up cycle into something new. There was a linen towel with a country store theme and square linen napkins that I will also up cycle. I moved on to another room and to my amazement had a closet that seemed untouched but once past the old terry towels I found more linens to reclaim.

I found three sheets in excellent condition and to my surprise two vintage pink and white Swiss dot bed spreads with those lovely large ruffles. One is more loved than the other but if not usable as is will be great to reclaim the fabric. The best part of the short visit was that they were so happy not to have to pack all the leftover stuff up that I got great prices. It encouraged me to keep up the hunt and go on your instinct. You just never know. I hope soon to be able to go through these items more thoroughly and list them on my etsy store. butterflyplace.etsy.com. Have a wonderful weekend everyone and keep on going.

My favorite thrift find of the weekend.

I had a wonderful weekend thrifting. I found many items, but my favorite brought back childhood memories. I always knit with the small version of this spool, even home made ones made from a wooden spool and four nails. It kept me very busy when I was a child. Even today I will use the small plastic one I have with a thin thread like yarn. I came by this at a thrift store and it was only 99 cents. It fills my hand and as I'm getting older the larger the better. I couldn't wait to get home and try it with regular yarn. As you can see I am going to town. One of the wooden pegs has been replaced, but it is still in working condition. Now I have something small to do when resting in my big chair. I can't wait to crochet with the resulting knitted tube or create something crafty.

Thrift finds on a calm February weekend.

For the northeast this has been a strangely mild winter. The new word is sprinter. Yesterday we had some snow early but it quickly went away. The weather was not a major factor in getting out to do some thrifting and estate sales.
I found some vintage care bear, strawberry shortcake, herself the elf, Vera, vintage linens, a thread box loaded with new threads, a juice pitcher and glasses, a vintage plastic canister, rainbow brite and a couple of sweatshirts to stay warm at work. My favorite was the heavy tape dispenser for masking tape. I can't wait to restore it and use it or list it on my store. Many of my finds were sewing finds and future fabric to be up cycled. I found something special to send to my friend in CA too. I know she'll read my blog, but it will still be a surprise when she gets it. I find the challenge to find good things fun and what a great reason to get out of the house in February. Thank goodness for thrifting. Good items, good prices and most of all good fun.

Follow my progress on my store: butterflyplace.etsy.com