Covered Bridges

After finishing downloading my vacation pictures I realized that we had crammed so much into our short four days. We didn't plan anything and never thought we would hunt for covered bridges. Hurricane Irene that hit the east coast last year destroyed some but left many still to be enjoyed. We visited three of the five bridges found in south west Vermont and didn't realize we were close to the other two in our journey and missed them, but there's always next time.

The Green mountains of Vermont

There are miles and miles of green mountains. The rich farmlands and everyone just making use of the land and their hands and minds to be self sustaining in such a beautiful part of this country. It was hard to leave, but it's only five hours away and I know I'll be returning. While I was there I felt so at home and got that farm girl itch that's been supressed for years. The pictures posted are from the Bennington VT area. Just a small sampling. More to come. Stay tuned.

What I'm doing with my weeks vacation.

It started at the end of work Friday July 6, 2012 at 10:00 o'clock a.m. My eldest daughter and I have plans to travel to Bennington VT for a three day road trip starting Saturday morning. But first we have to finish packing, get some dinner and yes visit a thrift store. I didn't find much, but what I found was enough.

My first find was these four vintage Vera napkins that with a little TLC may added to my store inventory. butterflyplace.etsy.com.

The next find was this vintage 1974 Disney spinning top. With a little soap and water this will also become inventory on my Etsy store. That was it for Friday thrifting because I am watching my budget and still had three days left to shop in Vermont and just enjoy some time off.
Then came early Saturday morning and the five hour trip to Bennington VT. This was not a random place we chose. It was a town we had seen before and visited on short terms. (basically a couple hours while driving through) So with the promise that we would someday go back, here we were on our way. We arrive early and had scoped out the thrift and second hand stores and headed first for the VOA. It was small but had plenty to rummage through and there's nothing like a good hunt. I saw plenty that I could get but I was being selective. I found a Vera Bradley wallet that has since been snatched up and I'm happy it has a new home.

The only other item at this site was this vintage John Wright cast iron door stop. I liked it because it's cats and it was just so cute and in good condition. I figured if it didn't sell it would be used somewhere in our new townhouse apartment. Well I've tried to research this and have found four others. Two on eBay. One of which is also in this great condition selling for $299. Yes $299. The other in such bad condition that it was just about a pile of rust for $19. Well being unsure of what to do I continued my search. I found another on another sale site listed for $200 and on another site one that someone had repainted for $175. Obviously I am going to do a little more research before I list this item either on EBay or Etsy.
It was a wonderful weekend and although we wanted to stay longer the budget said no. Other items I found were great and for my personal self. Wow something for me. I found a new pair of Clark's sandals for $12, a Gap shirt for $8, some nice skeins of yarn and crochet hooks for future projects, some terra cotta pots for my new herb garden, and few other odds and ends that friends will receive along with some special food items we brought back. I will blog those later because we discovered we could eat our way across the state of Vermont. lol
For this morning, the fourth morning of my vacation, that is what's new at our place. I hope everyone has a day and I look forward to sharing the adventures of our trip as the week goes on.
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Rosemary lemon chicken

I am rediscovering herbs. I thought I'd never have them in my garden so I stuck to flowers. Growing vegetables at my age and being single seemed like a little much, but my daughter has a friend that has a garden. This past weekend we traded canning jars, that I won't be using because they are quart size and I don't need that much any more, for fresh herbs and future green tomatoes. I have this favorite green tomatoe relish recipe that I am trading this summer for real maple syrup next spring. I have enough maple syrup from my last trade to make it through until next spring. That is of course if those delicious waffles don't tempt me. I sure hope this rosemary, garlic and lemon chicken comes through for me tonight at dinner. Changing eating habits is hard but worth it and I'd forgotten how easy good cooking was.

Hot from the oven and I have been enjoying the aroma for more than three hours. First all the aroma from the preparation which only took a few minutes to the baking time of 45 minutes.

Okay dinner is served and it was out of this world. I guess I'm going to have to find more time to cook great meals. I made enough to have two more meals and I bet these leftovers are going to be the best ever. Have a wonderful evening everyone.

Family picnic today and I'm taking this goodie.

The challenge was to see if I had enough room in our rented townhouse kitchen to do the baking that I love to do. It was tight but I did it. I usually top this sweet bread tea ring with walnuts but since it's going where others will be enjoying I am cautious about nut allergies. Better safe than sorry. So the kitchen has done well with large baking projects. The next test will be to see how it does for canning season. Yes you can take the woman out of the country, but a farmgirl I will always be and what would a hot dog be without home made relish?

Send a message and receive the gift.

This is not my find. My eldest daughter and I enjoy thrifting together and have found many wonderful items for our home and to resell. She has this gift that she will deny, but it is a gift, of sending a message to the universe that she would like an item and within a short time it comes into her life. Thus the Lava lamp. Although this is not a rare item the fact that it is aqua blue and green is amazing to me because these are her favorite colors. She has a golden touch which some of her friends will agree with me on. She has a good eye for nifty items and she is so much fun to treasure hunt with. You can find many of her finds on her etsy store, poetcharms.blogspot.com. and she helps me find items for my etsy store, butterflyplace.etsy.com. Thanks for visiting our stores and blogs and have a wonderful day. I can't wait to see what all of my blogging friends find this week.

Spray Painted Planter

The dark brown owl planter in the front of this photo was purchased at a flea market for fifty cents. I bought it because I follow a blog called Thrift Core.  http://www.thriftcore.com/2012/06/around-world-thrifting-with.htmlthrifters-. She blogged about spray painting planters and I thought it was a fun idea, but didn't know how good or bad I'd be at spray painting. I gave it a try and I'm not so good, but I'll get better with more practice. For a first timer I got lots of paint on my hands but I think it came out okay and I couldn't wait to put a plant in it and set it on the kitchen counter to liven up our plain rental counter. I found a mini Jade plant that fit just fine and since I don't have room for a standard size Jade plant it made me happy to get the small one. Well today I put them both together and this is the result. I like it and may do this again.

All I can say is that if you find something that you really like and it's not in the best condition give spray paint a try. I already have done one other item and it's for sale on my store butterflyplace.etsy.com. It's a mushroom print trivet that I reconditioned orange and it came out better for the second time using a can of paint.

Finished quilts and afghans for charity

Just finished the sixth blanket for the Linus Project. It was the twin size crochet basket weave pattern afghan that needed all the loose yarns worked in and trimmed. It will keep someone nice and warm. It is made of all the leftover balls of yarn that have accumulated over the last year. It feels good to have it done. There are two smaller afghans and three quilts. I have several more that I would like to start working on so that I can have a dozen before I contact them to deliver.

I also spent more time today working on preparing items for my store. butterflyplace.etsy.com. All the pictures are taken and edited and now it's just a matter of finding the time to get them listed. I haven't done much thrifting this past month. Most of the items have come from the boxes moved and just the stash hanging around that needs to be downsized.

This week has been a learning week. My daughter and a great California gal are teaching me more about the Internet and how to make it work for me. The challenge has been a newsletter for my etsy store. They've helped me create a mailing list on excel and create buttons for my page. They make it look so easy, but teaching me has been an experience for them both. I can still learn. How exciting.

Busy, Busy, Busy.

For the last couple of weeks I have been trying to clean out boxes of stuff that were moved and that I had no idea what was in them. Some were marked and some were not. I've found projects started that I have been working on finishing. This week I finished another crib size quilt and a twin size afghan made of all leftover yarns for the Linus Project. Not wanting to throw the leftovers of the leftovers away, I have spent evenings after all chores are done crocheting these two and a half inch flowers and using my knitting knobby to make long knitted tubes. They are only as long as I have time to make them before turning in. I have ideas on how to use these. I don't know if I'll have the time, but at least the yarns are not being wasted or filling a landfill.
Other boxes were marked store inventory and I have been working on listing new items on my store. butterflyplace.etsy.com. It just seems like time is flying by and having time to do everything that I want to do isn't working to well. Time management is becoming top priority and I am learning that having fun blogging and stopping to smell the roses has become an urgent matter. I know the alarm is set for 3:15 am and that work starts early but I think for my own mental stability picking up the crochet hook, knitting knobby and making blankets for charity has done me wonders. I have more unfinished projects to work on and ideas for quilts from the tons of fabric that are filling my space. I hope to post some pictures of them in the next week so stay tuned. Until later I hope everyone has a wonderful week and I will watch for you all on your blogs.

Vintage Textile Craft Learning Books

These nine vintage learning books were found in a box marked "rummage please". I was more than happy to do so. The earliest was printed in 1941. The price was twenty five cents. What a year. In the time of Utube and on-line free instructions these books will some day be totally obsolete. What did we do before the Internet? We used these instruction books. They include sewing projects, knitting projects, crocheting, tatting and home decor ideas. Another is from 1949 several are from the sixties and another from 1975. I've done my share of sewing, knitting, crocheting and home decorating. It was fascinating to look at these books. These are soon to be listed on my Etsy store, butterflyplace.etsy.com so stop by to see what's new and have a wonderful Memorial day everyone.

Coffee and blogging. Could it get any better?

And as soon as I typed this title my Internet service decided to act up. Of course. Why not? Yes it could always be better, but I'll take what I have now and cherish it.  I love this still time of the morning when everyone is still sleeping and I can relax on Saturday morning. Not much on the schedule this morning so I'll update my blog and get busy on my store.
I was quite selective this week looking for thrift finds. I wanted to stay under budget and managed to get some great finds and do just that. Lately I've been thrifting in my own collections and the things I accumulated while being a home owner. Now that I'm in a smaller space I've downsized and only kept the items that had potential for selling. Still some furnishings to empty out, but with today's economy and people needing so much it won't be hard to find them homes. The hard part is getting someone to lift and move them when they want them.
I don't have a favorite item this week, but the one item with great potential is a cake plate surrounded with strawberries that is vintage Japanese. Then comes the vintage fruit and vegetable hooks made in Japan. I found a couple pieces of yard goods that I'm not sure if I'm going to make something with or sell. The souvenir tray is from Arizona and a lot of people seem to collect these. I found some vintage cardboard Disney wall hangings, a brass owl trivet that needs some polish and a vintage Santa made in Japan. Just a statue this time not a music box, but he was so cute I couldn't resist.
It's been a slow month selling on line. I've come to the conclusion that it's because everyone has been as busy as I have. This month has Mother's day, Graduations, Memorial day, end of school year events for children, getting gardens cleaned and planted and who knows what else. I have summer on my mind and I'm sure everyone else does also. I'm ready to start with the numerous yard sales too. It's just an itch that needs to be scratched. I guess if that's what I'm doing so is everyone else. Please everyone have a wonderful week and check out my store for new listings. butterflyplace.etsy.com

Mother's Day Gift To Someone Else.

The time that I've had lately to sew for myself or charity has been so scarce. I had visitors for Mother's day on Saturday and decided that I would sit down at my machine and do something for someone else. My daughter and I donate to the Linus Project. If you haven't heard of it they take home made quilts or afghans for sick children and young adults at area hospitals. We try to get about half a dozen together and then make sure they get where they need to be for distribution. The fabric in this quilt is from a cutter reclaimed bed sheet and remnants from my stash. I have enough to make one more which will come at a slower pace because of time. This quilt measures 52x48 and will keep some little one a little warmer in tough times. It felt so good to get back to some sewing and to do something for someone else. I can't imagine spending Mother's day in the hospital with a sick child. I was so blessed to have three healthy children and so far healthy grandchildren.

This has been a slow week.

Although I was able to thrift and find a few items it has been very slow here this week. I've had Internet issues and hope to get them taken care of soon. My finds this week included two pair of reclaimed tab curtains that are already taken apart to reclaim the fabric. A bright pink and orange sheet for fabric, a floral ash tray from Japan, a mushroom print trivet from Japan, four plastic coffee cups with the same exact print as the trivet only made for Sears, a whimsical frog and mushroom wall hanging and last but not least a set of Georges Briard Christmas coasters. Some of these items need some maintenance and others will be listed shortly if not already on my etsy store: butterflyplace.etsy.com.
When I moved a few months ago I put merchandise in boxes and marked them as store inventory. Since my service was slow or not available at all this week I shopped in those boxes. This morning I have begun to take the pictures of these items. It feels good to empty out and move on. Some items I asked myself why I kept them, but I quickly found ways to donate them and move them along to other homes. I cannot believe the items that I have accumulated and kept in boxes. So onward and upward to find them new lives with new families and continue the recycle, renew and reuse aspect of life. Have a wonderful week everyone.

Juvenile Linens are just coming to me. Interesting.

I had absolutely no intentions of stopping at an estate sale, but I did. Found one item and one item only and couldn't resist. This vintage twin size set of Cabbage Patch Kids sheets were just too cute. Okay so it was after noon on the last day of the sale and it was on my way back from running errands and the universe directed me there. At least the one item that I found was a great find and of course since it was the last day and after the bewitching hour I got them for a lesser price. Thank you universe.

The elastic on the fitted sheet is showing it's age (1985) but otherwise they are in excellent condition. The set includes one flat sheet, one fitted sheet and one pillowcase. Still lots of room to be enjoyed or upcycled into something new. This set is all Cabbage Patch girls so I imagine they may have made sheet sets with just Cabbage Patch boys. I sure hope so. That's how my week is going and what I've found. I have many more items and will keep listing them on my Etsy store. See you there. butterflyplace.etsy.com Have a wonderful week everyone.

Last weekend of April and the thrift finds were fun.

My favorite find of the weekend were these vintage nursery curtains and valances. I was with my daughter and she quickly scanned the linens and found the valances. I on the other hand took my time browsing at an older folks pace and found the four curtains that went with them. She quickly said that I could have the valances to purchase with the curtains. I just love the cuteness of these curtains and can see them being upcycled.

I also found two Tommy Hilfiger 100% cotton sheets to upcycle. I love 100% cotton. Some yard goods, an owl planter which will be spray painted, a clear glass owl bank, a Joys of Jello cook book and what's not in the picture a package of vacuum cleaner bags. I don't think I've paid full price for vacuum bags in years. Why should cleaning cost full price? I can't wait to do some more work listing items on my store. I am getting close to my goal of 400 items and may be there this week. I just wish that the total showed on my store. I count the duplicate listings but Etsy does not. Visit and see how I'm doing. butterflyplace.etsy.com Have a great week everyone and I'll see you around my sites.

Favorite thrift finds this weekend.

My favorites of the weekend, but not the only finds are these two loving owls music box and an unusual cheese cutting board that folds like a cupboard. It was so unusual that I just had to pick it. It was in excellent condition for it's age and is made in Japan. I can't tell the song that the music box plays, but it works and was irresistible.

Other finds this weekend include some more fabric, vintage and modern. Two cut glass candy dishes, wooden trivets made in India, a pink and orange vintage cotton towel and a large bell shaped trivet that is silver. A good cleaning and it will make a wonderful addition to any holiday table setting. I had a great time hunting this weekend, but have been careful not to over spend. So far setting a budget has worked.
Other events of the weekend include more research for business growth and learning my way around more internet sites. It's fun and work at the same time. Feel free to visit my Etsy store at butterflyplace.etsy.com .  Have a great thrifting week everyone.

Reclaiming usable fabric.

I have spent a great deal of my life putting used or well loved items to use in my own life and am  changing the world one person (me) at a time to waste less. I can see the use in most anything, but have to hold my tongue when I see the mass production of useless stuff. This fabric was reclaimed this week from a worn out bed skirt. The flat part that sits on the box spring was totally gone, but this wonderful eyelet fabric was in excellent condition. Can you see this in a shabby chic makeover?

After cutting marketable pieces of reclaimed linens for my store (butterflyplace.etsy.com) I kept cutting the smaller pieces into four and a half inch squares. Quite a variety for sale to someone who quilts or for me to use making quilts for the Linus project.

And then there's the even smaller pieces to sell as a bundle of scrap. Best for Charm quilts it includes all the cuttings larger than one and a half inches to full fat quarters. Most of the fabrics are cotton and polyester, but there are many 100% cotton and with such a large variety the sky and some imagination is the limit. So that's what's been done with reclaimed linens this week and hopefully I can get more listed on my store and continue to keep stuff out of landfills.                                                               

This weeks thrift shopping.

In my travels this week to different thrift stores my intent was to just drop off donations, but the temptation to look at new merchandise led me to a bounty of new fabric and resale items. I like to find different fabrics that I can combine with others for craft projects or quilting both for resale and charity projects I'm involved in. I never fail to find vintage pieces of fabric or reclaimed bed sheets and linens. It has become the fun in my life and gets me out other than just going to work. With warmer weather hitting the northeast early this year I have notice the number of people having yard sales increasing. I'm not quite ready for them, but give me a couple of weeks and I'll be there. The bounty will begin to appear on my etsy store, butterflyplace.etsy.com, so I hope you take the time to visit to see items up close and get descriptions.

This weekend's thrift finds.

This weekend I spent about one hour thrifting. I'm finding that I have plenty to work with as far as listing items on my store, but I had a wonderful opportunity to visit with my younger daughter and her family. That time with family will always come first. As you can see I found several items including three feet. (Shoe stretchers I believe.) I picked them up and put them in my cart and just as I did a woman came up to me and asked if I was going to buy all three. I quickly said yes and she still picked them up from my cart to check them out. I felt that this was a bit rude, but I played along and told her I was going to use them as bookends. They are heavy wood and metal. Two have names on them and I will continue to research them for resale. I also found a set of vintage Japanese coasters that are heavy paper. They are hand painted water color prints. I also found a couple of 100% cotton towels and a piece of vintage 1980's American Greeting Co. Strawberry Shortcake fabric. I still stayed within my budget for the week.
This weekend was also a learning weekend for me. I am doing more reading on etsy to learn more ways to market my store. I've needed to take the time to do this and this morning was as good a time as any. So I'll let you all know how it goes this week with the new information and how it helped or didn't help sales. My goal is to get more listed this week. After all it's just stuff sitting around until you list it and put it to work. Please stop by butterflyplace.etsy.com to see how it's going. Have a great week everyone.

Thrift finds for the past week.

What a wonderful week thrifting. It's becoming so natural and relaxing and the finds are just falling into place. Even setting a thrifting budget has worked. It's great to be able to choose what I really think will work on my store. I've taken a four day weekend to work just for me and have fun. Also to celebrate turning 60 and finally knowing how wonderful life really is. Knowing what is fun to do and not asking myself any more where I belong. I am and that's all. Enjoy life and visit my store on etsy. butterflyplace.etsy.com  Have a great weekend everyone.

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.

I've got an awesome new fan page on Facebook, Come "like" me!!

Check out my new fan page on facebook: The Craft Zone



Like me on my new Facebook Fan Page

I just started a new Facebook fan page. I hope you will all take a minute to click "like".
I've linked it here: The Craft Zone

Strictly Fabric Thrifting

This latest thrifting adventure was strictly fabric. Downsizing has made it a little more difficult to store larger items. Fabric can be folded and stored conveniently on a shelf. This fabric will become inventory on butterflyplace.etsy.com my online store. I will, however, continue to sell off my lifetime collections since they are already being stored. It just makes sense to sell of what is already here before purchasing anything else. It's amazing what we accumulate in our short lifetimes. I hope you take the time to visit my store.