GOT JUNK?

I'M LINKING UP WITH REDNESDAY - HERE!

I was fortunate enough to be able to go to Home Goods yesterday while mo-in-law was at her senior exercise class. Then, after class, we went to her church's thrift store. Here's some of what I got (not gonna show you the undergarments purchased!):

Picked up this for Mister. Appropriate for him!

I was so pleased to see this little Cath Kidston twosome! Only $5.00.

At the thrift shop I found two delightful tins to add to my collection, and some braided "ribbon".

This is a stationery set, with verses on each card and artwork by D. Morgan.

Last is this ever-so-lovely print with a verse for Mother. I've admired these on others' blogs but have never seen any in my travels before.

(NORTH) AMERICAN CHRISTMAS

As the holidays approach, the giant foreign factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods - merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

I believe that this year should be different. North Americans should give the gift of concern for their fellow countrymen by purchasing Homeland-made products.There is no longer the excuse that, at gift-giving time, nothing can be found that is made and produced by American hands.

It's time to think outside the "gift" box, everyone!


Who says a gift needs to fit inside a shirt box wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone gets their hair cut, right? Give gift certificates to your local barber shop or hair salon. And, while on that subject, there are manicures, gym memberships, eyeglass frames. Know someone with a back problem? Give them the gift of a chiropractor visit - bliss!

Use your imagination - we all know that gift cards are available for "everything" - restaurants, movie theatres, and car wash/detailing owned and operated by your local American working guy. You can even make your own gift certificates for things like lawn mowing/raking, driveway plowing or sealing, golf lessons, cleaning lady for a day, or even a tune-up by a local computer technician.


Think you can't find anything Made In America anymore? You're on the internet right now, correct? Just type into your search engine "items made in the U.S." or "items made in Canada", and you'll have no problem! I know there's a store in New York called Made In America Store. You can visit it, or shop at their online store. And, of course, don't forget your favorite ETSY shoppes!


And, what about your holiday decorations? Do you really need to buy more boxes of light strings and baubles marked Made in China? Home-made and bought, baby!

You see, Christmas shopping should no longer be about draining American pockets to fill foreign ones. Christmas buying should now include caring about your fellow countrymen, and encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. When we care about other Americans, we care about our communities and the benefits that come back to us in ways we can't imagine.


(P.S. - I got this idea from an email I received this week - not my originality!)

CRAFT FAIR ITEMS

A local nursing home/rehab has a holiday craft fair every year where the residents make stuff to sell. This year they put out the call for family and friends to help out, so I made some tags and a few other items to donate:

This "frame" is a bamboo coaster. I love the Tea tag - just might make one for myself!

The butterfly here is 3-d, but you can't see it. I love how pretty the bead fringe looks from the camera flash! On the Shine tag, on the bottom ruffle, I used two Fastenater staples. The Fastenater was on clearance at Michael's recently; originally $30 marked down to $10 - not worth $30 in my book, but I love it!

These are mini composition notebooks.

Some Christmas ornaments make with wood stars.

I made these wands last year to sell on Etsy, but the pics on the printer paper blurred slightly from the decoupage. They're good enough for the craft fair, but (someday) I'll make more with clearer pics for Etsy.

I also made this simple Autumn banner. I tried to stay away from making Christmas items, as everyone does that.

When I bought the Fastenater, I also picked up this 12" pad on clearance. Originally $14.99, marked down to $4.99; when I got to the register it rang up as $2.99. Now, that's a bargain! And a very pretty one at that!

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

I just love it when we bloggers share info with one another! Two recent ones are these:

First from Sandy, of 521 Lake Street, was her tip on these polka dotty plates from Target.

Second, Elizabeth from Creative Breathing, has these to show us from her local Michael's Craft Store - Mary Engelbreit chipboard books!

Isn't it great when friends share?

RIBBON, AND MORE RIBBON!

I love ribbon. Don't use it much, but it appeals to me, so I buy it "just because"!

Friday I was over at a local fabric/sewing shoppe called The Franklin Mill Store in Franklin, Mass. (next door, south of Medway). It's an awesome store in an old mill building that began in 1946. They still write out the sales slips by hand and use calculators - no computers!

Here is an interior shot of the store: (see the ribbon section in the background?)
And here is my little bag of goodies I came home with!
How about the size of that big red rick-rack? And, of course, on the bottom right is some cherries ribbon, and cherries buttons!
This is Fiske's General Store in Holliston, Mass. (next door, north of Medway). One of my all-time favorite places to go! As the sign says, they have "most everything". I buy LOTS of my ribbon there! They have everything from Webkins and Japanese erasers for the kids to a craft and decorating section for the moms, with a "penny" candy section just as you walk in the door.
The girls and I stopped in there after church this morning. I just had to buy one piece of ribbon!
I can't resist a bit of name-dropping - Holliston is also the hometown of Country singer JoDee Messina, and one of my brothers dated one of her sisters for many years!

So here's my whole kit 'n kaboodle, all stuffed into these boxes:
Maybe I should wallpaper a room with them - lol! Have a great week everyone!

Shopping Spree

So - I received a Christmas gift card to T. J. Maxx to buy clothes, which I desperately need. I finally got around to going there yesterday, and had my shopping cart filled with pretty things. When I left the dressing room my cart had only a night gown in it - nothing fit! Can I blame it on peri-menopause?
Now, I'm used to putting on about five pounds or so every winter. Spring through Fall I'm out in the garden most of the day, so I get enough exercise and/or don't think about eating. I had stepped on the scale a few weeks ago and had gained the five pounds, thought it not bad, and would be working it off soon. But that five pounds all went to my hips this year. Boy was I dismayed!

So at Maxx I just got my nightgown, teen dd an Aeropostale t-shirt, and pre-teen dd a black & white shirt (she asked for something black or red) and a pastel shirt. My local Maxx is attached to Home Goods, with a big opening to go between the two. As I wheeled my cart through the arch, I stopped and picked up a bottle of Pecksniff's Lily & Cottonseed room spray and a big spray bottle of Asquith & Somerset Lavender Linen Spray.


At HG I picked up the garden stone decoration, an "L" pad of paper for dh's birthday this weekend, two pretty mugs for the girls for Easter, this cute bunny head decoration (needs ironing), the two cherries kitchen towels, and a case for pre-teen to store her "stuff" in (like a mini-suitcase: hinge, zippers, and handles on either side).

And, yes, a sure sign of Spring (besides Daylight Savings Time and two days of 60F weather) is flower bulbs! My Snowdrops have sprung!