speaking of several years....

 It's been awhile since I've photographed myself--

mainly because my new Smart Phone doesn't have a time delayed camera feature - 

at least none that I can figure out.

So I'm back to the old way.

This morning I wanted to show off the thrifted necklace I'm wearing.

After trying several shots of it, I decided that getting the green color

of the pendant to show properly is impossible with my equipment!

I'm wearing a favorite striped (thrifted) Ann Taylor top.

I've had it for several years and the colors never seem to fade!

Speaking of "several years"....

My husband has stored wood in his shed for several years.

A few days ago, he began to create a potting bench out of some of it.

I can't wait to see the final product!

Today I'll be rummanging around the garage to look for a few trim pieces

for him to apply before painting.

Stay tuned - and visit my Wonder-Working Man HERE.

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.

venturing beyond familiar

 Saturday, my husband and I ventured beyond "familiar" into our neighbor state - Ohio.

Thrifting and lunch was our agenda.

At one shop (Lima, OH), after we had selected clothes from the 75% off rack,

I was told we could have had 6 items for $1.00!

I was running out of time, so just took the 4 items I had for $1.00.

The Lee jeans above and the leopard print shirt at the bottom were two of them.

 At another store in another town (Delphos), I found these dishes for $.25 each.

 I'll use them in place of greeting cards--

maybe with a few brownies or cookies.

I found the jacket I'm modeling in the first photo at this shop, too.
I just love the "lines" on its back.
My husband came home with a pair of shoes and a couple of shirts, too.

It was both entertaining and productive to "Venture Beyond Familiar"!

Oh!  I almost forgot this white planter

which fits nicely with my collection

of white planters and ironstone.  Twenty-five cents, too.

what to do?

 Hmmmm.  This new Smart Phone isn't as "smart" as the last plain old cell phone I had before!

While sporting a stronger camera, it doesn't have a 10 second delay--

which has me worried when it comes to taking pictures of my Fashion Thrift.

(Today, F.T. includes a black top, and  lined grey slacks with a Talbot's label.)

What to do? What to do?

 Meanwhile, above is a Royal Traveller Casual Tote that I thrifted long ago.

I think I'm ready to pass it on.  I seldom tote my laptop with me anymore

and the few times I'd need a tote like this don't justify it taking up space.

(Read "Purge"!)

These five glasses I thrifted more recently at $.25@.  They are Johnson Bros. and are listed

on eBay for anywhere between $14.99 and $24.99@ if I'm reading it right!

I wonder if I'll have any luck selling them?

If not, I could set a table for more than 5 by alternating clear glasses with these.

What to do?

a very good day

 I just KNEW it was going to be a good day,

and so I donned my "everyday" grey skirt

 and chose a golden top to accompany it!

 I knew I was meeting a friend for an early Christmas lunch at Grabill Inn

so I pinned this festive pin on my shoulder.

(After seeing the picture, I repositioned it....)
The baked cod was delicious - as was the cherry crumb pie!

 What I DIDN'T know was that I'd receive a phone call resulting from an ad I'd placed

 indicating my desire to buy a vintage white or tinsel-style Christmas tree!

 Though I'd hoped to pay less for one, I decided to "give" it to myself

and call it an early birthday present.

I DID meet a charming couple

 in transacting the deal!

 They think this tree is about 60 years old.

Each branch was carefully contained in these "sleeves" (above).

 We began the assembling process as soon as my husband got home from work.

 THIS is the finished product.

I guess all I need is a color wheel.

We ended the day skyping one of our granddaughters to wish her 

 Happy Birthday. 

She lives in Illinois; we live in Indiana.

Except for that (the miles that separate us)
it's been a very good day!

simply good habits

On Thrift Store shopping...."It’s a hobby that cuts waste,
saves money , and rewards diligence — all simply good habits."
(Joe Ferarro)

I agree, Joe!  Though not the dress-up style that Joe is so good at, this outfit is the result of my good habits.  These are not recent purchases, but I enjoyed wearing this simple outfit on a day with such a varied schedule as I had yesterday....

And though I may someday regret adding these pink plastic salad servers onto my stash at my Favorite Thrift Store this past week, I don't reckon it will be soon!   I think the large tropical tablecloth will be fun to use next summer, too--whether as a table-topper or for constructing a tent over the clothesline for our grandchildren.....It's HUGE!

 

today at the croft*

My brown-checked tablecloth needed washed.  Instead of putting it back on,
I selected this faded paisley one.  I like it for a change!
(Yes.  I DID get my summer shoe wardrobe sorted, weeded out, and stored.)
And here I am today!
Yet another LBT with a different pair of jeans this time.

Note the unique, flared sleeves.

Not so convenient to work around the house in,

but funky and fun.

*croft = short for Gatescroft, the name we selected for our
house/home some time ago.   Do YOU have a name for YOUR house?

sunday scene

My Sunday-go-to-meeting outfit.  All thrifted, of course--from head to toe.

The chartreuse green top is my invitation to spring!  Skirt is navy blue.

 Remember the 25-cent jigsaw puzzle I bought earlier this week at a thrift store?

Well, THIS is the problem with thrifted jigsaw puzzles!

Few things frustrate me MORE :)

See how my top matches the roll top desk behind me?

We found the desk awhile ago at a garage sale, 

and a year or so later decided to paint it.

I really like the color.

free and finished

You might remember our "free" table (curbside find)...

 (above) refinished and still in the garage.

 Finding its place in our living room...

the box on top of the table a thrift store find,
also repaired and finished by my husband.

 Home, at last (for now)...

I'm standing here...

waiting for the hands on the clock to move and

dressed in my signature thrift store style. 

There is a church rummage sale today.

I need a new (used) robe!
Check out WHY here.

Splurge!

Today I'm celebrating the chic-ness of a "splurge".  Now I know that $1.39 on what some might consider a necessity may not seem like a splurge...but if you knew how long I've been putting off this purchase, you'd understand the word "thrifty" in the header of my blog! What a luxury!  Now I have one for the purse AND one for the table beside my favorite chair.  What bliss.

And this is what I'm wearing to church today...
Everything purchased at one time or another
in a thrift store.
All of it waiting in my closet
to be worn...

I like the crispness and versatility of navy blue.
Worn with red and white stripes,
all I lack are the STARS!

Un-Funky

Here I am - just inside our bedroom door.
A wall of 4 white and inexpensive bookshelves
flank a center window creating an almost-built-in effect .

I'm ready for church and

wearing an entirely thrifted outfit.

I figured out I could wear my old gold belt reversed!

(I have no idea what that inverted "V" is on my skirt front.0

(If you didn't get a chance to see my

Free, Fun and Funky post,

just scroll down to yesterday's.)

Today, I'm back to my un-funky self.

Just finished reading this book
- a good one in my opinion.
Entwined in the story,
wonderful descriptions of fashion and home styles
of the era...and Paris!
A novel about the marriage of
Ernest and Hadley Hemingway
by Paula McClain.

"All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you; the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse and sorrow, the people and the places and how the weather was."  (E. Hemingway)

i still use the ironing board

OK.  I'll bring out the iron and ironing board

before leaving the house this morning.

I still do.  Occasionally.  

Do you?

would you ever....

Would you ever wear this pattern and plaid together?

I did...then wondered if it worked.  

I decided it did. For me.

It's not the FIRST time I've mixed pattern and plaids--

take for instance this pillow made of fabric from wallpaper sample books...

I ♥ these plaid tin containers--small part of my "tin collection".

basic, light, simple, thrifted

Basic, light, simple and thrifted.

A $3 outfit
for a very hot day.
Even earrings are too hot to wear!

Women's summer fashion in a nutshell: 

Wear just enough to prevent chafing.
No more, no less.

Got this from Kristen who got it from Annie....

I was outside to do this ^ when I saw this...

This little thrifted birdie appears
nonplussed by our
current heat wave!

resorting

I'm resorting to old photography methods - taking picture of myself in our hotel room mirror.  Before checking in to our church convention at Sawmill Creek Resort, we checked out a couple of thrift stores.  This white top (badly needed) was 1/2 price for a grand total of $1.  It is light-weight & cool.  Fits comfortably.  I like the cut of the neckline!

I also purchased these four blank cards at $.10 each.  (I made the choker necklaces beside them in the Craft Shack when we lived at camp several years ago.  Now and then, I remember I have them and enjoy wearing them.)

...the view out our window this morning.