mix and match

 

I purchased these three pillows yesterday at a thrift store.

A tag on them assured me that they had been through a sanitizing process.

For 75 cents each (small ones) and a dollar and a quarter for the larger one,

I couldn't pass them up.  

I SO like the pattern & colors.

I'm trying them out with a couple of others on our vintage sectional couch.

Floral patterns in most any color scheme always catch my eye...
(The yellow in my "new" pillows is not quite as bright
as these pictures make it appear.)

 I couldn't pass up this belt for a quarter either!
Its silver trim went fine with the silver zipper on the denim vest I was wearing.

dollar day

 The white blouse (it'll be fine after a quick ironing)...

 and the "hot coffee" tee

were a dollar each at a thrift store outside Franklin, North Carolina...

  So was this pair of wide-legged, denim capri!

 I like the front pockets.  They fit "like a glove"!

I can't wait to wear them.

 I had to go with this bit of Seuss whimsy! 

It was W-A-Y less than a dollar.

vacation tools

Getting ready for vacation involves pulling out some essential that I've purchased very
inexpensively in thrift stores throughout the years.  No need spending big bucks on luggage
when vintage specimen can be found inexpensively!  The travel bag has served me well.  I currently use it to transport my computer, a few books, and hotel samples of shampoo and lotion as I gather them along the way.

Believe it or not, all the clothes I need for the 2 weeks are packed

in this white suitcase (which really ISN'T as dirty as it seems).

Back home in a high shelf in our closet, it has a "twin"--well almost a twin.

Sometimes one or the other or both hold out of season clothes.

Comfortable walking shoes are another travel "must".

After a day of travel, I see that these are going to serve me well!

  I'm ready to check out a few thrifts stores while my husband golfs this morning.

Though I've cut back significantly on purchases, it's a recreational activity that I enjoy.

 My journal is one of the books I pack (along with my Bible).
THIS time I forgot the scissors and tape that I usually bring along to
attach memorabilia as I go....

 and a jacket of some sort is always important to have.
This is one of a "collection" of denim jackets that I have acquired
thanks to thrift store shopping.  It's one of my favorites.

my sentiments, exactly

black skirts

denim jackets

What a relief!  British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has declared that Kate Middleton should "re-wear her outfits to help the environment".

"I don't have any advice to her, except I think it would be great if she wore the same clothes over and again, because that's  very good for the environment and it would send out a very nice message...If you're going to all that trouble to get an outfit that suits you, then you should keep on wearing it," she said.

  My sentiments, exactly!

I think I SHALL keep on wearing "it".

,,,and I'm still unpacking!

AND it looks like I'll keep on using Currier & Ives blue & white dishware, too!  On Saturday my husband and I were checking out the "flea market" part of a nearby antique mall.  When I saw 52 pieces of this dishware for $8, I couldn't pass it up even though I already have a cupboard full.  I still wonder if there was a mistake in pricing!

...my cupboard currently...

another day; another doily

  Doilies seem to be finding me lately....

and though I am not a cat-lover personally,

I snatch up bargains like these notecards above to gift my cat-loving friend with!

OK.  Really.  This one MAY be the last jean jacket that I purchase for awhile, but

I couldn't resist the sequined decoration and its snazzy style.

In spite of what it looks like, here's what I wrote to Di in response to her comment following my last post:  "... believe it or not, I am not "thrifting" nearly so much since I came face-to-face with the extent of my accumulations while putting away Christmas decorations, etc. Sometimes though.....I combine my need for change of scenery with the hunt, most of the time refusing to pay the prices that seem to constantly rising...."

Ahem.  Have YOU noticed those rising prices?!?

I leave you in an awkward pose* trying to show my outfit for today's excursion:

jeans with a faded brown plaid pattern, a brown sweater, and comfortable reddish-brown flats.

All thrifted -- but years ago!

*Remember, my SmartPhone doesn't have a time delay feature on its camera,

and my husband was not available to take the picture.

double denim-ing

 This morning I read about "double denim" at That's Not My Age.

I was intrigued enough to wear the denim skirt this morning

with a black tee.

By this afternoon I was Double Denim-ing BIG time

with this new 50-cent jacket found at a thrift store about 30 miles north of us.

It was a beautiful day for a drive and I just had the urge to go check it out.

With this "new" jean jacket enthusiasm, I'll be hanging out at Sharon's denim blog,

Live to Love Denim.  

I've enjoyed her at Thrift My Style -- Fashion, Vintage, Me

for quite awhile, and since I ♥ denim I'm enjoying this newer blog, too.

 For a quarter, I added the hand-decorated tin can (whimsical folk art)
made with colorful magazine pages;
and the cheerful doily was basically free
when my husband added it to his 2 pair of slacks and a
Van Heusen shirt - for a total of $3!

in the mood for october

 What a beautiful way to start the month of October!

The air is crisp and cool...

I'm definitely In The Mood for it and

dressed in all thrift from head to toe.

 I will probably don this "new" denim jacket when I leave the house

 to run some errands and meet a friend later today.

 I was drawn to its unique cuffs and Eton collar and delighted that if fit so well

 and cost only $1.50 at my Second-Favorite-Thrift-Store!

found at the church rummage sale

 I found these pieces at the same Church Rummage Sale

where I purchased the white wool sweater.

 Can you help me out with the name of this type of art?  

 I think I used to know....but I've forgotten.

  You can imagine me trying to carry the pair of brass candlesticks

AND the framed art

as I traversed the gymnasium-sized room!

 Somehow I managed to put this decorative mask under one arm

as I made my way to the table to pay!

I sure enjoy Church Rummage Sales.
 ♥♥♥

 I'm wearing one of my denim jackets today.;
SOME day I'll compose a post showing my "collection"!
I ♥ denim jackets.
(I DIDN'T find any at the rummage sale.)

Not Just for Spices Anymore!

 I actually have two of these hanging now - one in the guest room

 and this one, hung today in our living room.

That STILL leaves me with these two extra ones...

wonder if I could drum up some interest???

Meanwhile, look what I found today at my second-favorite-thrift-store!

It has WONDERFUL, feminine lines

 and fits (almost) like a glove!

That's the scoop on the spice in MY life today!

I sure hope your pre-autumn days are as beautiful as those

we're enjoying here in northeast Indiana!

Me and My Table

 ...not sure if that's correct grammar ("me and my table")...

But my husband put the last coat of paint and finish on this refurbished

gate-leg table that we purchased at a garage sale a few weeks back.

This afternoon we'll find (or MAKE) a place for it in the house.

I'm wearing a light-weight cotton Gap blouse and a Size 8 jean skirt!

I just "had" to put the size in here.

I'm shopping my closet since I've lost enough pounds

to fit into some clothes I've had waiting for this moment!

All thrifted, of course!

special pieces

While jetting across blogland, I stopped for a brief layover at Aesthetic Alterations.  I was intrigued by this  statement:  "...you don't need much in the closet--you just need special pieces."

I agree!

For me, when it comes to casual wear,

it's hard to beat a denim skirt and black top!

If you've "known" me for any length of time,

you know I call this my "uniform"!

(You also know where I purchased it all.)
Uniforms work well for me.
Life seems simpler this way.
Fewer decisions; fewer items needed;
less space required...

These shoes dress it up just a bit for a morning "connection" with several friends.

Afterwards we'll enjoy lunch together.

Lasagna is my contribution to the menu.

farewell to september

 I like to have a supply of unique plates on which to place 

cookies or brownies, etc. to deliver to friends on special occasions

(or for no reason at all)!

One of my friends collects cardinals.  

I may hold on to THIS one (below) to give as a Christmas gift!

It's a 1974 Avon piece...

I think the dogwood blossoms are especially beautiful.

 Finding blue and white pieces 

to augment our "everyday" dishware always makes me happy...

so I was DOUBLY happy Friday.

As soon as I saw the tablecloth in Halloween colors,

I grabbed it! It's good-sized and a a good feeling fabric.

It should hold up to many washings.

In the clothing department, my husband scored a pair of Sass shoes,

and I came away with this denim skirt.

It was a fine ending to September 2011. 

We celebrated the 41st anniversary of our engagement (a day early)

with a lovely lunch and a successful shopping day at

my favorite thrift store.