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How can you not love puppies!?! I found this at the Happy Dragon thrift store last week. I was sure it had to have a chip or something but it's in excellent condition. I'm not sure of the age but it's not modern. There's also no marks on the bottom so no idea who made it.
It's always hit or miss that the Happy Dragon. They've been around for a long long time and they know when they get the good stuff in. Prices are still good if you just collect but a little too high to flip. I stop by when I can but with so many pickers in the area, I don't get my hopes up. But isn't this the cutest thing!!!
Working on picking out the fabric for my first grand baby's quilt. I really enjoy the creative process of finding the fabric that goes with the theme. Since the father is Dutch, the house fabric was perfect match for Holland. My daughter likes black and white (yes, that generation of minimalist) with over tones of black and white. Guess I'm old school and would prefer bright colors with baby animals. :). Today I'm in search of the backing fabric and a few fillers.
A very good friend is making the quilt for me. I know how to sew but I'm not even close to the level of her craftsmanship!
Hope to get everything today so the fabric can be shipped off this week.
I've been doing what they call Swedish death cleaning. Clearing out all the things you don't use or need so after you die your family doesn't have to deal with it. It's not as morbid as it sounds. When I got divorced 10 years ago, I got rid of 90% of what I owned. Not sure I would be able to do it if I wasn't forced to. But now having gone through that, really there isn't anything I have to keep.
I do have still have a large craft supply but that's my hobby and I use what I have, I rarely buy anything anymore so my collection has stopped growing.
I've been in a creative slump this month, so I just stamped on some envelopes with an old Penny Black stamp set and colored with some copic markers. I'm not sure what card will go inside but I'm sure I'll get inspired at some point. :)
This was a Goodwill find last week. I've been really good about getting everything in my booth at Cottage Crafts in Campbell but this frog bowl (maybe ashtray?) didn't make it into the box. I was using it as a fancy stand for my kindle and just forgot to wrap it up. Guess it's going to hang out at my place for another few weeks. It was really dirty but it cleaned up well plus no chips!
I found going to Goodwill in the late morning when the carts with the new stuff comes out is the best time.
Someone was giving away her crafting supplies and this very old QuickKutz binder with a few fonts and images came my way. So during my class I was talking about the QK handle and how hard it is on your hands. One of the ladies asked if I had tried using the Side Kick, which I bring to class. So I gave it a try and it worked out super! I would never have thought to give it a try. Now I can get rid of those bulky handles!
This was a quick and simple card for my class at FabMo this past weekend. Since I switched to a Gemini die cutting machine I have to come up with cards that don't need a big machine, since I don't want to take my machine into class. All my equipment really gets beat up in class so can't risk my Gemini. The Tim Holtz side kick mini machine works so well in class. Only has 2 plates so you don't have to think about how thick the sandwich plated have to be. This card used to different stamp sets, if I had saved the packaging I could tell you which company. :)
I wasn't really planning on doing any picking today but my schedule got pushed back so I ended up driving past my local Goodwill at a time when the new stuff is still on the carts. Even I was surprised finding some good stuff.
I think the biggest score was the Early American pyrex bowls in brown. It is missing the smallest bowl but the set is still worth flipping. I'm trying to be really good at getting everything in my booth at Cottage Crafts in Campbell ASAP.
Picking at my local Goodwill isn't easy. The prices are almost full retail. I'm guessing it's becasue of the cost of living here is so high, things just cost more. There are many times I pop into the store and leave with nothing. Someone's collection of Blue Willow china was donated. Most of the items were reproductions so was passed over by the other pickers. This mug was buried under everything. My mom had a set of Blue Willow china when I was really young. Not sure what happened to it when we moved away from the farm, but the pattern always reminds me of my mom.
So what makes this mug special is it's vintage restaurant ware as well as being Blue Willow. It's the real deal. Will I be able to flip it for a profit? Only time will tell.
I go to the Happy Dragon charity store about once a month. They do get some really cool stuff but being in the business for many years they know when they get vintage items worth more than garage sales prices. They have a special section in the store (behind locked cases) with things about 50% off what it would sell for on ebay. If you're a collector, it a great place to shop. As a picker, it's hit or miss, I have to find things I can flip for a profit.
This past Wednesday there was a long line at the front door before the shop opened. Even I was surprised at the number of people waiting to get in. If I had to guess, everyone was a picker. The other tell tale signs that they were pickers, was I got elbowed out of the way a few times. :)
Didn't help that the volunteers who work there get in the way by not knowing where to stand.They just block the narrow aisles with their shopping carts that are being unloading or thinking they have to straightening out a shelf when there are people shopping in that section. OK just a little pet peeve of mine.
I did find this milk glass lamp on a top shelf. I think the only reason I got it was I was tall enough to reach it. The wiring is new and it works. Now I just need to find a lamp shade to go with it.
