My awesome mom is *the* thrifting find queen. Lucky for me, we have very different items on our thrifting lists and what I don't find, she finds for me. Take this full jar of large vintage buttons for instance:
The smallest in the bunch are one inch, the rest are even bigger. There are some intricately carved buttons here in styles that I didn't already have. The whole thing for a dollar. Yep, a DOLLAR! Am I a lucky girl or what?
Thanks mom!
I posted this in the Craft Revolution Blog, but I thought that my visitors here might like to read it as well:
Any small business owner knows that keeping the cash flow healthy in a budding business is a challenge. This problem is multiplied for crafty business owners since the supplies we purchase are often based on a want- rather than a need- basis. I have an especially hard time resisting new designer cotton fabrics when they come out. With average prices between eight and twelve dollars a yard, this can quickly add up to a very full studio and not-so-full business checking account. Luckily for me, I have recently found several fabric co-ops that have allowed me to buy the fabrics I love at much more reasonable prices.
Buy the Bolt is a new group that allows those of us with major fabric needs to purchase fabrics, well, by the bolt! Instead of each designer meeting a large bolt minimum (sometimes up to eight bolts per order), this group allows individuals to place single bolt orders at wholesale prices. The first order is for Michael Miller's new line, and I have a feeling it's going to be a big one!
Fabrics and Notions is a very active, very large group that purchases a wide array of fabrics, notions and sewing aids at wholesale for the group. If you join this group, be warned, there is a very large volume of messages each day- I get the daily digest and skim the topics each day to be sure I haven't missed a buy that I'd like to participate in.
Some tips for participating in fabric co-op groups:
Read the Files
When you get approved for a group, a number of files will automatically be emailed to you from yahoo. They will usually arrive as a word document attached to the email. READ THEM! These files will explain the basics of how to order, pay, and who to ask if you have questions. You will save yourself and the group leader a lot of time and frustration by following this step.
Don't pay early, and don't pay late
Some groups will ask for payment when ordering, others will want to wait until the fabric comes in to make sure that everything is accounted for and to avoid refunds for missing fabric. Again, it is very important to read the files and understand the group's payment policies. Paying early causes headaches for the group administrator and paying late can hold up the order for everyone.
Show Your Appreciation!
This is a big one. Running a fabric co-op is a lot of work and most take very little for their time and energy. Make sure you let them know that you appreciate the opportunity they are providing and perhaps offer to help if you can.
Supply co-ops are another great way that the professional crafting community comes together to support all of its members in making their ventures successful. If you're not sure that you'd like to participate yet, don't let that stop you from joining a group that looks interesting. Read the messages and get a feel for the group. Then, if you're comfortable, try placing a smaller order (Willow Fabric, for instance, allows you to order in one-yard quantities) and see how it works out for you.
Remember, co-ops aren't just for fabrics. Try doing a search at Yahoo Groups to see if there's a coop running for the supplies you use in your crafts. Odds are there are a few out there!
Do you know of more co-ops for crafty business people? Post a comment!
Yes, I'm easily amused. Today I was catching up at the lovely Carrie's blog and saw the coolest thing: Little screenshots would pop up whenever I put my cursor over a link. Turns out it's a nifty little widget for TypePad powered by snap. I thought it was so neat, I decided to do it here as well. Go ahead, try it! Neat huh?
Thanks Carrie!
Ahhh Sunday. Right now, my lazy bum is in bed with the laptop and a hot cup of coffee that Liam helped Daddy make for me. Kody's still sleeping. He's preparing for his teens I guess.
I've been meaning to tell you all about a site that Kristopher Dukes, a blogging acquaintance of mine, sent me an invitation to. At that point it was invitation only but it looks like it's open to all now. I could be wrong, but it's still worth checking out.
ThisNext is a very cool shopping/tagging/recommendation site akin to Wists, Stylehive, Stylefeeder and the like, but I have to admit, I'm really liking this one better than the others. My favorite feature is the little shopcast that you can now view in my sidebar waaaaayyyyyy down below my blogging friends list (I never realized how many friends I had in the blogosphere- that list is long!)
It's just a neat way for me to share the wonderful handmade things I've found on the web, and to let others know about *my* new products too! Check it out. You'll soon be addicted. Sorry 'bout that!
I had the photos downloaded and ready to post yesterday, I promise! But I had a little boy who wanted me to go upstairs to read to him and I never did make it back down to the office.
Not much in the way of fabric, but I did make some great finds!
This is a cute little vintage apron in a design I've never seen before- someone actually cut a half-circle out of a rectangle of fabric and ran the ties along the curved line, then used bias tape on the rest of the edges. The result is a very wavy, pleated-looking apron with considerably less work. Clever!
A tea towel apron that I just had to have. I love the orange flowers.
I can't remember where, but I read on someone's blog just the other day that they found a flower shaped bowl while thrifting. I thought to myself- "geez, I'd love to find one of those!"
Well, lo and behold, what did I find at the thrift store?
A pretty little white bowl that looks like a flower! Also a cup and saucer from a particular 1930's collection called Georgette (AKA petalware) by W.S. George. It's not a terribly pricey thing to collect, which makes me happy, and the pretty designs and colors of this collection make me smile. I found several pieces for my mom for her birthday, and then found these. I decided to keep these for myself and build my own collection.
I also found a vintage sears nightgown in a sweet print, and vintage yardage cotton in a nice floral print. They were both in their oxyclean soak when I took photos so we'll have to wait for those. I also snagged a couple of jars of old buttons. Nothing terribly exciting in there but I did find a few that looked like bakelite and another that appears to have swarovski crystal in it. The rest will make great crafty fun for my boys, so all-in-all a good investment.
Along that subject, I've been quietly amassing a collection of vintage plastic buttons. I love the flower shaped ones and I've been haunting ebay for them. I almost won an auction for 300 of them, but was outbid in the last few hours. I really, really prefer the buy it now format, but buttons are so collectible that smart sellers know they have a good chance to make more money if they go auction style. Ah well, there's always the next mother lode!
I've been meaning to photograph my little beauties to share, so hopefully some time soon (after I get my new digital SLR. Shhh! I didn't say that, really. I'm not obsessing about getting a new camera! Not me! Ok, fine. Yes, I'm obsessed with getting this thing. I'm a photography lover, and actually have a fair amount of college education in it. The little point-n-shoot Canon is wonderful, but I sorely miss the artistic freedom of SLR. I'm afraid there will be a momma needs a new camera sale at Adorneya in the very near future. Can't. Hold. Out. Much. Longer!).
I'm excited to share the second vintage pocket tote that I've made. I'm really enjoying making these.
This one makes use of a cute birdie print that I only got a teeny amount of. I probably have enough to make one more tote like this, but that's it. They way the print is laid out, there are only birds every 12 inches, and who wants a birdie print bag with no birdie? This one's going up in my etsy shop later today.
Yep, still trying to get back into the swing of things since everyone has gone home. I sent out two orders yesterday and some product donations for an event that several of us at Indie Finds are contributing to. I still have to finish that custom order, but it's getting there.
Thanks to the feedback from all of you, as well as some really helpful family and friends, I've decided to make my new wristlets include a removable strap that can double as a keychain. The new wristlets will also include one large pocket and several credit card slots. As my brother-in-law Evan said, it's all about the pockets!
I was so busy getting orders ready to go, that I completely missed Thrift Thursday! I don't want to miss out on the fun, so here are some of my favorite finds from a thrifting trip with my mom this week: All for $4!
For more fabrics, and to read descriptions, see my thrifting finds set on Flickr!
Ok, that's it for now. Once I've had some coffee and gotten some work out of the way, I'll be back with a WIP or two.
Woohoo! My mom had the boys this morning so I took the opportunity to go thrifting alone. Anybody with kids knows how luxurious that is! I was free to rummage to my heart's content without worrying about where the little one was heading.
The thrifting gods were smiling on me today. Just look at what I found!
Pretty curtains with these flowers along the edge. They will make cute totes!
I love this fabric. It actually has 1978 printed on the selvage. Pillows? Bags? Not sure about this one yet.
I only found a small piece of this, but it's enough for a clutch or mini-tote or two. I love the little birdie!
This is heavy woven fabric, I think it was originally a large curtain panel. Not sure what I'll do with it, but I love the pattern and color!
This is actually a corduroy with narrow lines. What are the lines called? Cords? I'm thinking some cute wallets for this!
This is my absolute favorite! I'm thinking this would make great fabric for the flap on a messenger bag with the rest of the bag made in a coordinating brown or olive canvas.
Thank you for your suggestions to save my table cloth. I picked up some oxy clean at the store yesterday (looked for blueing, but couldn't find any) and will try it tonight.
The boys and I have been busy. Between nearly-constant temper tantrums and sibling squabbles (they're 3 and 9. Someone PLEASE tell me it gets easier!) we have managed to squeeze in lots of fun summer stuff.
Yesterday was a gorgeous sunny day, despite the thunderstorms that had been predicted. In the morning we made grape juice popsicles and took a nice long walk. After lunch and swimming lessons, we decided to make some mint-chocolate chip ice cream. Word to the wise- don't try to substitute table salt for rock salt in your home ice cream maker. It won't work! We'll try again tonight with rock salt and hopefully we'll have success.
Spaghetti and home-made meatballs with bell pepper sauce and fresh mozzarella on a blanket in the back yard with blueberries for dessert. Heaven. Pure heaven. I love summer!
This morning I washed and pressed some more of my recent thrift finds. These were from a grab-bag of fabric that I got for two dollars:
The light blue is actually this nifty seagull print:
And I'm also excited that my latest fabric splurge arrived. I love everything about these prints. I'm very much into blue and green right now, so I just had to have them. The one on top was a freebie that the seller threw in because of a delay in shipping my order (which was not her fault). Now, if I could just find my muse and keep her around for a few hours...
Have I mentioned the color-iffic swap-o-rama? There's a link in my side bar. It's a very cool crafty swap where each month you get a new color theme and a secret partner. Besides sending anything from candy to craft supplies in the designated colors, you also have to include one handmade item. You can visit your partner's profile on flickr and swap-bot, and check out their blog (if they have one) to get a feel for what kinds of things they like and really customize the package to them.
I joined just after the aqua blue and brown packages were sent, and was totally bummed that I missed out on that theme. Luckily for me, a lovely gal named Lori saw my post about it in the group and asked if I'd like to do a personal swap since we both missed out. Yay! I'll be sending it out this week Lori!
I just got my swap partner for August, which is a rainbow color theme. This will be an interesting challenge since this person has very different tastes from me. Hooray for creative challenges! Maybe just the thing I need to get back into creating mode.
And that's not just an expression here in Vermont. The rain has been seriously detrimental to some local farms, causing them to go under at an alarming rate this year. I'm talking farms that have been run by the same family since before the depression. I was somewhat glad to see that the New York Times did an article about it last week, but then worried that if they've taken notice, it really must be bad.
Basically, the situation is that farms need to make hay to feed their animals. The earlier the hay is made, the better nutrition it provides. If farmers don't make enough nutritious hay, they have to buy a protein supplement which cuts into profits that may be vary scarce this year, also due to the weather (too much rain is just as bad as too little for crops). All of this according to the article which is annoyingly no longer available online or I'd just let you read it for yourselves.
So what have the farmers here been doing since the sun first came out to stay a few days ago? What else? I honestly think they've been at it every day from about 5am to 9pm every night. They have no choice it seems. Tomorrow is supposed to be showers and then who knows when we'll have another stint of dry weather?
The weekend's work as witnessed from my front yard:
My mom grew up on a small family farm that just provided enough for their family of nine (mom was the baby). I grew up next to a small family-owned dairy farm in a little house that my mom rented throughout my childhood from 5-16. Yep, that big red barn was the first thing I looked out to every morning, and the cows would occasionally stick their heads in the window to say hello. Our house, you see, was directly in line with their grazing field and in fact, one side of it became part of the fence.
Growing up so close to a farm, however, only gave me small glimpses of the hard work that was done every single day to keep it going. Every day, the family was out herding cows into the milking barn as I was just brushing the sleep from my eyes. In all weather, without fail. What I have witnessed over the years (the house I live in now is just 2 miles from the same farm) is just a tiny fraction of what they do, and even from that, I know I do not have it in me to run a farm. Farmers are incredibly strong, resilient people and I have great respect for them. In fact, I am in awe of them.
And now, I'll make a little hay (or in my situation, some crafty talk) while the sun shines (while the kids are brushing their teeth for bed).
Here are some recent thrifting finds:
I have no idea what will be done with them, but I couldn't just leave them there in the thrift store for someone else to snatch up! I love the brown/black floral print tablecloth, but it has some yucky yellow stains on it. I've tried a white vinegar rinse and lots of exposure to sunlight to no avail. I'm afraid to try bleach. Any suggestions? I'll still love and use it stains and all, but I'd love to get them out if I can.
I've got some new bags all cut and ready to sew, hopefully tomorrow afternoon while the boys are at the beach with their Omi (husband's mom). It will be a good distraction since I never really know what to do with myself when they're not here.
And here's one more pretty picture for you:
Day lilies (which aren't really lilies at all!) and hydrangeas from the garden directly outside our kitchen window in a pretty pink glass dish that my mom gave us when we were married. Have I mentioned that I live for summer?
