Thrifty Finds {Tea Cups}

A quick trip into my favourite little Op Shop had me skipping back to the car with a smile.

I found and swooped these up for $3.  A set of five little tea cups and little saucers.  Just what I needed for a little up and coming tea party, I have had a few ideas for a while now and they are all coming together. (I don't know who is more excited) 

It has been so long since I have had a good op shop find (or bought anything home - trying to be good in the name of moving interstate you see) 


I only have to find a few more and I will be all set. The plan is to let the girls drink out of them and then whip them through the wash and pop a few little treats in and cellophane them all up for the girls to take home. (instead of party bags)

Flea Market Finds

What a find - Buttons.  Mum and I hit the oppys this last week and I grabbed up some bargins. 

We happened to turn up on fill a bag of summer clothes for $1.  $1 - what a bargin.   Mum grabbed a few things that she could wear and then I helped her to fill the bag - she looked at me as though Iwas nuts (as the clothes that I was throwing in would not have fit me in a million years.  But I came home, buttons were unpicked and I have some new buttons.  Best of all there is more than one in each of the colour/size.  I have many buttons in jars - but struggle to find similar ones when needed.

For more FleaMarket goness head over to Her Library Adventures, she scored op shop gold this week.

Blogtoberfest #20 - It's Tuesday...

and I can't wait to find some time to sit with Amelia and show her how to use this.

During a rescent opshop visit - Amelia found this - How could I say no

I am going to pack it in the car with the thought of sitting in the back with her and doing it while travelling up to Queensland.  How do you think that she will go.  Is four a good age to start something like this?  I have started it off so that there is already something coming out of the bottom - I thought that this was a good idea as she would not be waiting for 20+ rounds before she got a result.

I was doing so well...

and then I walked into a few opshops!


Opps - there goes the stash diet - bad bad girl - I will hit the back of my wrists for you all - that did not stop me.


800grams of Bendigo 4ply Cotton - I am going to attempt to over dye this with Dylon Dyes - wish me luck


and 1000grams - yes 1kg of Bendigo 4ply in a cream


Not 100% sure what these will be turned into just yet - but we are moving north and cotton attire is an essential. If not it will make good cheap bags. At $1 per 50g how could one leave it just sitting there.


On a recent trip to Tim's parents I managed to be in the opshop at the right time andd picked up a stack of Enid's books


and a few more knitting patterns - not that I need more ideas - I have so many things in my Ravelry list it is not funny.

Vintage Sheet Swap!

I participated in a swap on blog land - Meika saw the idea on Oh Fransson blog and thought that the idea was fab and wanted to join in the fun but it was a little too late - and so she thought of doing one here down under.

So I sent off 10 fat quarters and in return received these...
Thanks Meika for organizing this in the middle of moving. I know that the Holly Hobby Fabric is from Cass - if anyone else can see what they sent let me know and I will add a link.

Thrifty Tuesday!

Just a quick one - Stumbled across these at the op shop today.
A light green chenille single bed blanket, two balls of cotton (in love with the colour) and yet another knitting pattern to add to the collection.

Vintage Tuesday!

I know another day behind - what can I say...

I have been inspired by Claire. She is putting a little package together as a Competition over at CraftyMama's. You have to create something from a vintage pattern or recycled item.

Friends of ours had a little girl (well not so little, she weighed in at 4.33kg) So I thought that I would make her a little outfit!

After going through the pile of patterns I have found this in a 6mth size and will make it with some cord that I have in my stash!

Thrifty Tuesdays...

Well we hit the opshop yesterday and came home with these little goodies!

Two pieces of material - one each for the kids. And a book that I used to love reading as a child...

Tim has requested a new knitted cricket vest!

And not like a need anymore knitting books - but I could not leave them there (and I was very strong - I could have walked out with 100 of them)

Hobby Love from the Op Shop

Amelia and I visited the op shop late last week. I was busy looking through the patterns and Amelia went off to check out the toy section. She came back with a hobby horse. He is in fantastic condition and how could I say NO! I also came home with a Holly Hobby Single Bed Cover (not sure what it will become yet - but I could not leave it there!)

Look What I Scored!

I think that I have forgotten to share this little find with you all. While visiting my husbands family in Victoria I stumbled upon this little find!

Almost a whole set of Boye Circular Needles - I have often dreamed of owning a set of Addi Turbos - and when I spotted these for $10 - yes $10, I just knew that I could not go home without them!

A little drawstring dilly bag...

I wanted to make Amelia a little bag to store some of her trains and animals in. I am sure that I have seen a tutorial on this in blogland somewhere in the past week - but do you think that I could find it (and I was sure that I popped it into my favourites! )
Anyway - I have now decided that it is probably a little too small for what I originally wanted it for, but for a few of her smaller animals it will to the trick - and gives her just enough little things to play with at church.

I used a piece of material that I found a while ago in an opshop - it was originally someones kitchen curtain I would say.

Sock it to you!

Well I have finished yet another knitting project - this is what one achieves when she is sitting down with her feet up! I feel as though I am getting nothing much achieved at the moment and it is possibly due to wanting to sew some things but just feeling bluh and all of 37 weeks pregnant to boot!

So the latest project off of the needles is this little Vest and Matching Beanie. I asked Tim if he would like a matching set and he replied with "Don't you Dare!" Tempting isn't it. Made from Opal Sock Wool and this pattern
I made a few changes - Knitted in 4ply sock wool on 3mm needles - I am hoping that it will fit a 6 month old nicely - But I can't fathom having something THAT small again!
And the beanie pattern is 'the sock topper' as published in Yarn Issue8 and is my first completed project for the YARN KAL

Amelia tries it on for size - humm a little small I would say

Thought that I would also show you a few patterns that I managed to stumble upon the other day (and since I missed Thrifted Tuesday yesterday - opps!)

I am hoping to get the nightie made and teamed with a pair of shorts to take to the hospital - think that I really need to get a move on - if it is cut out then I am half way there - RIGHT? And would like to make up some of the baby bibs as gifts and for our new arrival.

Thrifty and Toddler Tuesday!

I know that I said a few weeks ago that I was going to stay away from the opshops - but I just could not help myself. The other week when I was down in Albury I ventured into an oppy there and just look at the goodies that were bought out while I was there.

I picked up these two chenille sheets for $9 - what a bargain. I have been after some for a while (in the thought of making Miss A some winter pants and wanted some to add into a quilt top)
I just love the flower detail in the white one.

And last week Amelia and I organised craft for playgroup!

Here is a before and after shot of a card board angel! The kids had a ball doing it - and the parents were left with the glitter floor!

In Thrifty Heaven

During our Holidays in Queensland I managed to get a little op shopping in and I think that I cleaned them out of there patterns. Just check out these goodies.

I also picked up a few books, I love the Henny Penny one, it has pictures threw it in place of words. And of course I could not resist this material smurf book!

I think that I am now on an opshopping ban - DH has told me that I need to start making somethings with everything that I have collected - my little cupboard is overflowing!

Bring on Spring so we can see the wildflowers and lambs!

I have been doing a little sewing of late. I have just finished the first outfit for Amelia's Spring/Mackay wardrobe. I know - I should be working on my ball dress (and I promised photos of that tomorrow) But while I had white on the overlocker I could not help myself.

This little outfit is as vintage as one can get. The pattern (Simplicity 5649 - Vintage 1973) and the material came from the opshop and the yellow came from my grandmothers stash (and could well have been there for 20 years)

Complete with a little hair clip made with my new tool. It is a Yoyo Flower maker - not sure if I will use it alot, but it does make for a cute hairclip addition.






I have some orange ricrac here - and just tossing up whether to add it to the bottom of the shirt. What do you think?

I also want to get some little dresses made and a twirly skirt (or two) and a tiered shirt. Ok - off to thread the overlocker with black thread now and overlock the seams of the dress.

Thrifty Tuesday

Well, where has that week gone.

Over the weekend we made a trip up to Albury to visit Tim's brother and SIL. I managed to get to a few opshops and this the result. Two lovely pillowcases, 1 meter of white material with little gardening girls on it and 20 zips.

Now all I need to do is find the time to turn them into something - Oh and find the energy!

Edited to add: Lily - the zips will become little purses (just some ideas that I have in my head to sell at the christmas stall and for 50cents for all of them I could not leave them there) and Lah - yes they are from your secret stash - but it is ok - I left some for you.

Thrifty Tuesdays

Giving credit where credit is due - I got the idea of Thrifty Tuesdays from Pip who got the idea from Paper.String.Cloth

I think that I will alternate with Toddler Tuesdays - as I have a little girl here how wants to be doing more and more every day and crayons just aren't keeping her occupied anymore - so keep an eye out next week for some recipes and craft for little ones!

Look at all of this op shop loveliness - and apparently the op shops have been thin - I am so moving to Albury/Wodonga if this is what they have to offer! Thankyou so much Leah - I love everything...

And look - my very own little purse filled with this lovely little iron on's (cant wait to make something for Miss A)








Some of my other favourites. I love this little knitted outfit (we have a few naked dolls around here at the moment)











And this little doll - how cute is she - Have a friend who is due to have a little one any day and would make a great gift. Humm what else - a piece of flannelette and a piece of cotton and two patterns for when I am back to being my NON Pregnant state again!

Thanks Leah - you are a gem and you had absolutely nothing to worry about.

The Love of Grandmothers

I always love going home to Mackay - cause I get to raid my grandmothers stash of materials. And on the weekend we went for a drive over to Tim's grandparents and look what I came home with. Now it is on loan - well I think it is anyway - but when we were leaving she said that she hopes to see many lovely things made on it and that she had many years of use out of it as she is sure that I will!

Expect to see lots of things made on it over the next few months - now I just have to work out how to accommodate it for a growing belly!

New PJ's for Amelia

I have been bitten again with the sewing bug!

Amelia is in need of some new pj's, she seems to be having a growth spurt at the moment and is growing out of all of her clothes.

Notice the material- it is the same as my thrifted 'lounge pants'. When I asked Tim what he thought he said "As long as I don't get a pair everything will be ok!" I wonder if I can cut a pair out - just to scare him, LOL. He did say that they fitted well!Also on the sewing table at the moment is an outfit to wear on the weekend to my Cousins Aussie wedding get together! Yeah I am so excited. Amelia and I fly up to Queensland for a fortnight. Lots of cuddles for Amelia and some family time for me!

Lounge Pants

I have pulled out the sewing machine and now remember why I haven't been doing any sewing! My machines need a service and big time. My Overlocker's tension is all wrong - I currently have all dials set on 9 (when they are usually on 3-5!)
And my Sewing Machine is not doing button holes - What is going on!

Anyway - I saw a pair of lounge pants on Amy Butlers site and went looking for the pattern. Well to buy the book here in Australia is $45 + postage. So I adapted a pattern that I already had. I am not happy witht he ribbon - but it is all that I had in the cupboard so it will do for the time being! The material is a Sheridan Cotton sheet that I found in an op shop hunt.