I may have passed up the chance of a lifetime today.
It was a low key morning. I admit to a bit of teeth grinding over the huge “neighborhood sale” signs on three or four contiguous tracts that each had only one or two unimpressive sales. I have limited (read ‘nonexistent’) needs for children’s clothing and well-used toys. With a true neighborhood sale you have enough driveways involved for plenty of variety. But heck, there’s not really a darned thing I need and garaging is a treasure hunt. Last week I found treasure (and yes, my butt likes that chair more every day). Today, my pirate ship just didn’t find many islands with that big X in the sand to mark the spot.
We did say hello to some cute pups, all of the small variety. Jody’s owner is possibly the first person ever who seemed to think it a trifle odd when I took a picture of her dog.
Jody was followed by George
At my last stop I met Cookie.
I managed to shell out $3.10 in all, and came home with a couple of books.
I'll use this Hallowe’en frame in my office in the fall.
I've been looking for a chenille bedspread for the guest room for quite a while. They’ve been thin on the ground (which is literally where I found this one) and the ones I did see were too pricey. Finally found one today I think will work, and the price was right.
My last find was only a dime, and the story that came with it definitely falls into the priceless category. I saw a couple of boxes on a driveway with lots of old patterns in them. I don’t make clothing any more, just do a bit of refashioning. But some vintage patterns can be resold, so I did a little looking. First one I came across was this.
So I went to pay for it. The lady having this sale was probably in her seventies, maybe older. As I got out my dime I asked if she was the seamstress. She laughed and said no, that was her mother. Then she added, “She’s a hundred and four. She’s in a nursing home now, and she has her good days and bad.” We agreed that we all have those. But apparently her 104 year old mom still has all her marbles and is going strong. Then I thought about the patterns I'd seen. “So are the children’s patterns things that she made for you?” She said that they were, and that her mother had made nearly all her clothing when she was growing up. “Every once in a while she would buy me something from a store, but I never liked those because other people could have the same thing. I only wanted to wear things I knew no one else had one like it.”
That’s one of the reasons I like shopping on driveways—I get to have things no one else has. Most of the time, anyway. I remember wearing a newly-purchased sweater to work once and having someone tell me they had one just like it that they bought about twenty years ago.
I want to end on a slightly mysterious note. I've got something in the works that I'll be announcing in a week or two. No, not my retirement, dang it, that’s still out there in the future somewhere. But it's something I'm VERY excited about. Stay tuned!
Love old patterns! My Mom made a lot of my clothes growing up also.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post. I always love the dog pics. My mother made all my clothes too. Sewing notions, patterns and sewing machines are the embodiment of love to me.
ReplyDeleteI love looking at old patterns. I used to make all of my own clothes. Then I got too busy. How sad.
ReplyDeleteLove the dog pics!
love the pattern also..... we all have good days and not so good days. Queen, I always enjoy your blog, straightforward, a sense of humor and great finds.
ReplyDeleteI love that jacket pattern (and old patterns in general) but it wouldn't flatter my figure either. NTL, it's very cool and I loved the story behind the patterns... makes it extra special.
ReplyDeleteThat pattern would look great framed. As always I love the stories you share with us. Very fun!
ReplyDeleteCute blog! Love the name!
ReplyDeleteA whole box full of vintage patterns---and you left them. Be still my heart!! I would have pounced on them. Vintage patterns are as scarce as hen's teeth in my neck of the woods. When I ask about vintage patterns at garage sales, they usually point me to a box of 70's or 80's patterns. Or they will tell me about the box that belonged to their Mother, Grandmother, etc. and that they threw away. I almost cry when that happens.
ReplyDeleteAnd about the bedspread---if you can't see the problem--then don't worry about it.
Debbie
MAry Engelbreit books are hard to find around here, no one lets them go. Maybe if the husbands were having the sales...
ReplyDeleteYou know that is part of the reason that I thrift too. I love buying unique and well made things. I feel so bored at the mall or at Wal-mart. And of course I love the stories from the people. That's really what makes thrifting so special.
ReplyDeleteI really like the reference to being a pirate ship looking for islands. I feel that way too and sometimes have to just cruise on by those lame sales. Nothing makes me madder than a sign that advertises a big a** sale and then becomes a let down!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. I am also an avid garagesaler. As my daughter and son in law just informed me I'm going to be a grandma in the spring, I now get to stop at all the kiddie sales. My daughter wants me to decorate the forthcoming nursery so we really need to start looking.
ReplyDeleteHi! Found you through a google search. I love yard/garage sales too... you never know what you find. I'm going to be keeping my eye out for that McCalls pattern... it's a beauty! Monique xx
ReplyDeletehttp://originalmischief.blogspot.com