Thrifted Master Bathroom Storage

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I've been working on organizing the master bathroom.  I'm tossing dated products and trying to bring everything we need into one central location, so we don't have to run back downstairs when we need Apple Cider Vinegar, for example.  Whenever I take on a new project around the house, my 2 questions are: 

• How can I solve my problem without spending any money.  
• What do I have around the house some where, which would make a suitable container.

How about my china hutch full of thrift store pillage and sweet vintage scores. 

It turned out lovely.  Better than I had planned.  I found candles, sugar bowls for baking soda, an orphaned gravy boat for Epsom Salts, an old jar with a lid for my Coconut Oil and an oil decanter for my olive & Castor Oil  mix I use on my face every night (which by the way, makes your eye lashes grow LONG).  

Which brings to mind another thought......

Use your stuff!! 

Don't keep your pretty things locked in a cabinet to be used once a year (or never).  Pretty things are meant to be used.  We can't take them with us.  Make your life and your world beautiful TODAY.  Don't wait for Christmas or a birthday to decorate.  PS: If you're not going to use it, or don't like it, get rid of it.  

All of this was thrifted.  I think I might paint this table though.  I'm not sure if it's going to stay here or not, but it works for now.  :)  

I've had an atomic tiered serving piece in the cabinet just taking up space and being useless.  I decided it would hold some make up.  I like lip sticks more than eye shadows.  Can you tell?  I don't own too much makeup these days so it's working just fine for the time being.  I also broke out my grandmother's piece of Fenton to hold some brushes and liners.  

What pretty things do you have around the house which you could use as a container?  Share with me.  :) Tell me what you think in the comments below. 

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Be blessed and be a blessing.
Choose Joy!

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8

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Lamberts Lately ~ Create it Thursday
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The Dedicated House ~ Before and After Wednesday
A Revisionary Life ~ Angels Among Us Thrifty Life Thursday
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Bacon Time with the Hungry Hypo ~ Anything Goes Linky

Mom's Peach Peel Jelly

After we pick and peel our peaches

Summer Peaches in Vintage Pink Pyrex

...to make our summer Peach favorites 

such as Peaches and Cream Cake...

Peaches and Cream Cake recipe can be found in The Cake Mix Doctor, one of my favorite
cookbooks. I love all of her recipes. (affiliate link)

Tips for Thrifting Fabric

This Quilt is now for Sale on Ebay. Come see it. :)

I'm not ashamed to admit most of our wardrobe comes from the thrift store.  I frequently buy a shirt, skirt or dress because I know the fabric will look good sewn into a quilt a year from now when I get tired of wearing it.  :)  

Here are my tips for "Thrifting Fabric"

***Shop your own closet first and don't be prideful.  Old boxer shorts are nice fabric when cut into strips.  People say "gross" when I tell them a certain piece of fabric is from a pair of boxer shorts.  WHO CARES!  Cotton is cotton! (of course they are washed).

***If you don't have easy access to thrift stores, don't forget tag sales, garage sales, estate sales, etc.  If you have a friend with good taste, tell them you're interested in their shirts next time they clean out their closet.

I like sewing the shirt tags into my quilts.  It adds an element of fun, as well as dates the quilt and always makes a for a fun conversation or memory.

***Always go with an open mind and think outside the box.  Yes, that Mauve
jumper with pink appliqued bunnies is horrible, but cut up, it's just pink fabric.  *affiliate link*

Yep...check out the late 80's mauve tone on tone.  Not so bad cut up, is it?  
It's a pretty pink now.

***I much prefer smaller thrift stores as their prices are better and the money usually stays local, helping the community.  I still shop at larger "corporate" thrift stores but only on half price days.  Their prices have increased over the years, and I can get the same item at Walmart or Target for the same price.  

I had planned on this quilt being more "Low Volume", but it took on a life of it's own and became 
"Pastel Volume".   
I'm totally OK with that.  I like it when my quilts speak their mind.  :)

***Know your favorite thrift store's sale schedule.  For example: One of my favorite stores has all men's shirts, $1.00 on Tuesday.  Another place has all clothing for .25 cents.  Schnikies! It goes without saying, you hopefully want to find lots of XXL, long sleeve items.

The white piece in the very center with the orange squares is one of my favorite "civil war shirtings" from an Old Navy shirt. 

***Always buy natural fibers.  Cotton of course, but don't forget linen and wool.  They add a rich texture to your quilts.  What about seersucker (my favorite) or corduroy?  These fabrics will add sculpture and interest.  Don't be shy.  I dare you you to go Gee's Bend and add corduroy to your quilt.  

(Some of the most inspiring quilts I've seen lately are Victoria Wolfe's grandmother's handpieced quilts. I can't stop thinking about them and I'm terribly tempted to start hunting double poly-knit.  She shares pictures and stories of her inspirational grandmother in her book: 15 minutes of Play  I'm really enjoying this book and can highly recommend it.  If double poly-knit makes you happy, put it in your quilt).  

***Never pass on 100% cashmere anything.  :)  That's just my rule.  I'll wear it, or felt it.  LOOOOOVE Cashmere (and other pretty 100% wool sweaters).  

The green gingham/check down the center were a favorite pair of boxer shorts.  

***I never leave Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashley, Lilly Pulitzer, Lands End or Wrangler shirts behind. These good brand names always have the best quality fabric with wonderful prints.  Do you have a favorite brand?  

***If you find men's shirts in purple, orange or brown, get it.  They are hard to come by.  You'll always have plenty of blues, greys and greens. 

 Remember to gather flannels or homespun fabrics.  

***Don't forget you'll need background fabrics and low volume type prints.  I don't care for solid white, but I will always grab a white shirt with print, especially if it looks like civil war shirtings.  I love them.  (Old Navy usually has really neat civil war shirting type prints. Watch for them).

I Spy a green shirt my daughter wore in high school. :)

***Be sure to visit the women's and children's section too.  That's where you'll find a lot of floral, feminine fabrics, novelty prints and typically more color than just a "blue dress shirt" from the men's department.  The women's section is where I find good reds.  Shirts and tops are fine, but there is more fabric in a dress, up to 3 yards.  If you've only got $10 in your pocket today, get the dress.  

This is a vintage pink and gray table cloth, I finally decided to use as backing.

***Watch for vintage clothing.  This is how I find a lot of my vintage fabrics.  EXCEPT, I take it home thinking "The fabric in this 1968 shift dress is FAB-U-LOUS!!!"  Then I don't have the heart to cut it and I'll end up hoarding it until I decide what to do with it.  *sigh* (Be careful of this.  Don't hoard.  Use it up. Now. Better on a bed, loving someone and keeping them warm, than junking up your studio and life).

***The pajama section always has fun novelty prints.  

I used 2 old pillow cases in this quilt.  The case itself was worn out and unusable, but I cut 2 inches off the edges and harvested the crochet work and ric-rack.  Just sewed them in as strips by top stitching the decorative edge down.

***When you're looking through clothing or pillowcases, always watch for nice trims and notions.  Can you harvest the ric-rac?  What about the lace?  Can you cut the ruffle off that cute skirt and use it some where else? 

***The linen section is my favorite place to look.  Vintage sheets are my favorite find, but what about the vintage table cloth?  The pillowcase with crochet trim?  Dinner napkins?  Shower curtains?  Upholstery fabric and velvets are nice to collect for the  bucket list "Crazy Quilt" you're planning

***Also, this is the section where a lot of scrap fabric and craft supplies end up.  DIG!  You'll find handkerchiefs, fat quarters, yardage, all kinds of good stuff.  My best scores have always come from digging.  If you're really, really lucky and the stars are all aligned, this is where you'll find quilt supplies, blocks and tops.  YUMMY!!  

***I personally like to look through the curtains.  There are always homemade window treatments in there, with yummy vintage fabric and notions.  We covered much of my daughter's wedding with thrifted lace curtains and crochet table cloths.  I covered a large window with thrifted curtains as well.  

***Don't be afraid of stains.  An Oxy-Clean soak will work, and if not, just cut the stain out.  Don't use that piece.  Or I'll use the piece anyway and applique things over the stain.  It always turns out randomly cute when I do this.

The finished quilt was begging to stand next to my Yellow Texas Roses, so I said Yes.  :)  

***Be careful of fabric dry rot.  If it's really old and very thin, sadly, I wouldn't mess with it.  But if you're dying to have it because you can't leave pink kittens behind, make sure you're getting it cheap and put it in an art quilt. 

Our latest Springer foster, Barkley wanted everyone to see how cute his butt is.  Really, Barkley?

***If you like it. Get it. It's your quilt. Do what YOU want.  Make your own rules, and then break them.  With thrifted fabric, it's so cheap you can afford to experiment.  I would never experiment with my Amy Butler-Heather Ross-Kaffee Fassett hoard.  Never, ever.  But...

With thrifted fabric, you now have permission to make something funky, fun and ugly.....to play....to dye....to rip.....to tie....and wow.....I kinda like this ugly block.  "It's so ugly it works".  LOL   Plus, it will be original.  No one else has the quirky (affordable) fabric stash but you.  

Quilt Bravely!!!  

Did I miss anything?  

Do you have any tips to add?  

I'm anxious to hear about your thrifting for fabric adventures.

Be blessed and Be a blessing.

Be inspired. 

Encourage one another. 

Make pretty things. 

"I love it when people are able to interpret thoughts and feelings 

on fabric or some kind of material."

~ Anne Hathaway ~ 

The Guess Who - Hand Me Down World

Would you wear hand-me-down shoes?  Or thrifted, used shoes? 

Some people are ~ "Heck no! No WAY!" ~ people

Some people are ~ "OK, Maybe, if they look clean enough...how much are they?  Cheap?  Sure!  I'll wear them" ~ people.
 

I potentially fall in the later category, if they are clean enough. 

 

ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE FUNKALICIOUS LIKE THESE!!! 

A week later, I'm still hung up on these shoes I found at the Thrift Store, which were too small.  They were so different and unique.  Don't you hate it when you fall in love with something, and you can't have it?  These shoes are worthless, until you can't have them....and then all of a sudden, you would cut off your right arm for a pair, your size.  D'oh! 
 

WHY ARE WE LIKE THAT?

 So I've dried my eyes. *sniff*

  I've let go. 

I hope these shoes blessed someone else out in the universe.  *sigh* 

Then I hear this song, and started remembering the mega-fantabUlous Kenneth Cole,
leather Golf -not really- Loafers.   

Again, she weeps.  Boo. Hoo. 

It wasn't meant to be. 

Do I age myself if I post this song?  I grew up on "The Guess Who".  I remember driving out to California in 1976, jammin' to their 8 Tracks in our black Pontiac Grand Prix....  This is us, in the mountains of Arizona.  I'm on the far right.  You can't see my face.  That's ok.  :)  We're going to Disney Land, baby!

 

“I could walk a mile in your shoes,

but I already know they're just as uncomfortable as mine.

Let's walk next to each other instead...” 

~ Lynda Meyers ~

 

Be blessed and Be a Blessing.

Shirt String Quilt

Inspired by the Jelly Roll race, I ripped collars and yokes  into 2" strips from my shirt stash.
(If you click on the You Tube video link above/left, you can see the
Missouri Star Quilt company Jelly Roll race tutorial). 

 

 

As it turned out, I didn't rip 2" exactly on every piece.  I probably got closer to 1 3/4".  Oops.....but no big deal.  I think it made the quilt more interesting not having exact widths on every strip. 

 

 

 

I really had no plans for this.  I didn't know what it would look like and I didn't care.  I sewed for 2 days and hoped for the best.  :)  I felt a lot of emotion pressing on me, so I sewed until I got it all out of my system.  2 whole days.  Whew!
Feeling much better now.

 

 

As it turned out, I think this is one of my favorite quilts.  I encourage you to engage in mindless quilting with no plans for the outcome.  Shirts give you permission to ruin, make mistakes, re-rip again and again....... I would never feel comfortable "ruining" very expensive fabric I purchased at the quilt store.  I know with a shirt, they are a dime a dozen at the thrift store; easily replaced.

 

 

The only thing I would do differently with this number of skinny strings is not sew the ends on the diagonal.  It looks beautiful, but it takes longer, with a lot more work. (I'm making another now, sewing straight seams end to end.  A LOT faster).

 

 

I also had a hard time squaring it up.  I thought about putting boarders on it, but it was so crooked, I decided to let it go.  I figured I could clean up the edges after quilting.  I sewed 2 1/2" strips on both ends to give me extra length to work with as I squared it. 

 

 

It straightened up just fine after quilting and cleaned up nicely. 
An old college friend, Sarah, quilted it for me and did a beautiful job. 
It is now in the binding stage.  Finished quilt pictures to come soon. 
Stay tuned.  Follow my blog so you can see it. :)   

What do you work on when you're mind is full?

 

 

Let’s escape outside,” Isabelle suggested. “Do you have any other talents?”
“I bake and garden.”
“Do you sew, too?”
Amber nodded. “I sew whenever anger incites me to mutilation.”
Isabelle laughed. “One cannot hang for attacking a piece of cloth.”

~Patricia Grasso~

To Love A Princess

 

Sharing with:

Twigg Studios ~ Sunday Show Off Party

Free Motion by the River

 

************************************************************************************

  

Pooh thinks all the quilts are his. 

I haven't had the heart to tell him yet, but I'm giving this new one away.

  Go back to sleep Pooh.  Cheer up buddy. 

 

Lace Covered Window

So we had a little problem.  

This window, which lets in much needed light, is very poor for privacy.  I never could decide on a window treatment.  Plus, my budget at this time in our life is a big fat ZERO.  I kept trying to think of what I could do for free......what do I have around the house that could work???  What could give us some much needed privacy, but still let in the light.  If we could cut down some of the Florida heat coming in with this south facing window, 

that would be a bonus.

Pinterest to the rescue.  I saw this idea over at Annabel Vita where she 'liquid starched' lace to her window.  

Boom!  That will work.  

I have tons of lace curtains left over from the wedding. 

(The bottom half is a very old piece of vintage lace curtain...so pretty)

 I can make my own starch.  

FREE, sort of, or FREE enough!

  I win!   

I used this recipe for my liquid starch.  Took only a few minutes.  Let it cool before you paint windows with simmering glue gravy.  :)  

Here is a before:

I didn't take any pictures of the process, as I was covered in liquid starch, 

but below are pictures of the results. 

I followed Annabel Vita's easy tutorial and here are my tips from my experience.

• Clean your window first, removing any dust.
• It would help if you have an extra set of hands.  I was by myself and it took patients and upper body strength.  
•  Don't be sparse with your liquid starch application.  I used generous amounts.  It dried rather quickly, so you have to keep it wet, or it won't stick.   
• The whole process took about 2 hours. 
• It's been up a few weeks now.  No problems and it still looks good.
• I haven't tried, but I'm pretty sure it could be removed with water and a scraper.  At least I hope it will.                                                          

After:

I went outside at night to see how much more, if any, privacy we had.  Nice!  That will work.  Good enough.  

You can't see up the stairs or the hallway any more.

PERFECT!!!  Success!  Thank you Annabel Vita! 

Lee Lee the Cowdog says hello!  

Hope this post inspires you to creatively solve an issue 

when money is tight.  :) 

 Use what you have and don't be afraid to take risks.  

“Set wide the window. Let me drink the day.” 

Edith Wharton

Be Blessed and be a Blessing.

Sharing with:

Transformation Thursday over at The Shabby Creek Cottage

Time Travel Thursday at Brambleberry Cottage

Rooted in Thyme Simple and Sweet Fridays

Raising Mighty Arrows ~ Proverbs 31 Thursday Link Up