Needling the Time Away

I made these super cute (if I do say so myself!) needle books awhile back and then promptly forgot about them.



When I hit the Elephant's Trunk Flea in October I picked up some really cute vintage scraps that were the perfect size to turn into these books.



There are still a few scraps left so I will probably make more as even I, the non-sewer, was able to whip them up quickly.



While I really want to keep them, especially that pink and aqua one, I put them in the shop in hopes of spreading some of my handicraft around. Find the pink and aqua one here and the pink and brown one here.

Please take a moment to visit my latest Examiner column to see a super cute and cleaver fabric pouch you can make from only two square scraps of fabric.  Thanks to Katherine at Sew Me Something Good for letting me feature her adorable project.

Pretty Kitties

Meet Sherbet and Marshmallow.



A brother and sister duo that are always on an adventure. Sherbet like to chase anything that moves.



Marshmallow decided she didn't like being an orange kitty and one day just wished herself pink.

 

They make for wonderful friends.



Both are made from a cotton acrylic blend and are my own pattern. Soft and squishy and looking for a new home! You can find Sherbet here and Marshmallow here.

I will have the pattern written up and tested and up for sale soon, too. :)

Please take a minute to visit my article on Wendy's fabulous trash to treasure place mat project! Thank you to everyone who stops by and reads my column. And don't forget, if you have a trash to treasure project, let me know! I'd love to feature it.

cheers!
Rebecca

Rattle Those Pots & Pans

As you know I was like the mad crocheter while my leg was healing. I spent most of my time creating softies but I also whipped up a few super cute pot holders as well.



This is basically the pattern shown here from Lion Brand but I made mine a little bigger, added that frilly edging and made up my own flower. While I was making it I thought, "Hey! This looks like a cupcake!" (I was hungry) So I made this:



This is my own pattern and when I make another I'll write it up and post it for free on Ravelry. And since cupcakes make me think of cake, I made this:



Mmmm . . . . cake.



The mushroom is all mine and is already hanging in my kitchen but the cupcake and cake are up for sale in the Goodness Shop here and here. I have a bunch of cute aprons in there as well and will be adding things through out the week including new trims and some really cute vintage cake decorations.

I also posted a new article on the Examiner today. Do you know Jane? If you don't, you should! Read my article HERE about one of my favorite Trash to Treasure projects ever. Then visit Jane. You'll be hooked, I promise.

There is still time to read my articles and then leave a comment on this post for a chance to win some Goodness! Don't forget, you can subscribe to my column and click on my new crafty budget articles right from your in box. I'll be highlighting more Trash to Treasure ideas so if you have something to contribute, drop me a line!

xoxo ~ rr

Times they are a changin' . . .

It's about to get a whole lot thriftier over here at Thrifty Goodness. I found out on Friday that my last day of work will be December 4th. I have to say that I knew I wasn't going to make it through yet ANOTHER layoff (I've survived 5 at this point) but it's still hard to process. I've worked for Sprint for almost 8 years and it's the only job I've had since I moved to New York City from Baltimore in 2002. My husband still works for the company (thankfully) and I do get a nice severance package that will give me time to find a new job. I'll admit, I've had it good these last 18 months being able to work from home and I know that won't come my way again. So I'm tightening the belt, upping the Thrifty quotient and squirreling away all the money possible so I can be selective in my next career choice.

Now onto the Thrifty, right?


(boy I nees a haircut!)

Mom and I visited the Elephant's Trunk flea market on a gorgeous Sunday in November. We really lucked out with beautiful weather and some fun finds. Do I have photos? Um, no. But in my defense the vintage hankies and aprons are drying on the rack downstairs and the vintage holiday cards are set to be loaded in The Goodness Shop this week.

While visiting Mom in Baltimore we attended another Treasure Sale. As always I found loads of great craft supplies at amazing prices including knitting needles and crochet hooks (which I always grab as they are only 25 cents each and can range from $3 - $8 in the craft store) and some sweet fabric scraps. My absolute FAVORITE find this trip was this:





Never. Even. Used. And all mine for 50 cents! I've already put them to the test and they are great! And how cute is that box? Seriously, am I getting all ga ga over scissors? Yes. Yes I am.

So now when I thrift it will be with a new eye. An "I know I can find something here for CHEAP that I would normally buy at, say, Target" sort of eye. Like a new ironing board. And stuff to organize my closets.

So I'm off to peruse the employment sites, figure out my separation benefits package and become the Coupon Queen of Corona. Wish me luck!

~RR

Slithering to a Shop near you . . .

And finally in the Goodness Shop . . . . Goodness Soft Snakes!




Sampson Snake & Sylvia Von Slitherton! I do love making these guys. There is a third in the works. I also added a lovely piece of vintage fabric and two vintage books - one of carols and one of hymns that would be great for use in altered art! and don't forget about my other goodies! I hope to do a bigger update this weekend with those promised vintage wrapping paper packs and some wonderful vintage hankies I recently scored. You will DIE when you see their cuteness. I'm still deciding which ones I'm keeping. :)

Want a sneak peek??





And these pictures don't do them justice. I could do a whole post on them! I seriously hope some sell as there are 152 if them! Yikes.

cheers
Rebecca

And then there was GOODNESS

Whew! I forgot how much work it is to load stuff on Etsy. Seriously! And try doing it by mobile broadband! (Though I must admit, my little-air-card-that-could has been performing quite well go Sprint!)



All sort of goodies over in The Goodness Shop for you including some of my hand crocheted tea cup pot holders and baby things. I hope to get some snakes loaded up there next week. I also included loads of vintage trim that is sold by the yard and some rick rack and seam binding. I'll be adding treasures as they come including vintage pillow cases and collections of buttons and little bits for altered art and jewelry making.

Here is a sample of some things in the shop now!





And next week I'll be listing a bunch of sweet vintage wrapping paper. Come by for a visit!

cheers
Rebecca

Spooktacular

I have some fun Halloweeny goodies in The Goodness Shop!



Crocheted Candy Corn Treat Bags. I just love these! I was able to make most of them on the subway since it's a pattern I can remember. I think they came out so cute. And see my cool pumpkin? He's the old school plastic kind like I had as a kid. I found him at Savers on Saturday. :)



Black Pumpkin Paper Rosettes. I love making rosettes. I can make them in front of the TV so they have a special place in my heart. Made from sheet music, crepe paper and card stock.

I also added a few other non-Halloween items like this basket pincushion:



Cute flower topped pin made by Robin at Robin Bird's Nest.

And a few tea cup pot holders:



Sweet flower appliques were a swap gift from Dana!

It was nice to feel productive! I am hoping to keep the shop updated more often now and maybe actually sell a few things LOL. I've enjoyed trying to come up with new things to make and I have a serious ache in my arm from patting myself on the back over those treat bags. I don't know why, they just thrill me. :)

I'm approaching 200 posts and will have a giveaway contest. I still have 9 more to go so stay tuned! Later this week I'll share some thrifty good fortune, some Mystic pictures, a Halloween craft and a Breast Cancer Awareness post. Looks like I'll be at 200 before you know it.

ciao . .
R

Spring Swap Goodness!

Someone call Dionne Warwick, Jenn needs to be her Psychic Friend! I received my Spring Fling Swap package today and all I can say is WOW! Jenn did an awesome job and even though we just "met" it's like she KNOWS ME.



First, how totally cute are the little cards she made for each letter? They are destined for my inspiration board for sure. So what's in the cute little packages?



S - sewing book - YES! One of Jenn's wonderful sewing books. I love it and it was made just for me. You can get one for yourself here. I love it!



So cute!

P - post card - this is thrifted and has the most wonderful little poem on it. How did Jenn know that this past week I went to an antique mall to specifically buy old postcards?? More about that later this week.

R - rick rack! You can never have too much and I use it often. :)

I - inchworm illustration - Jenn drew this! Isn't it wonderful?



It's water color I believe (correct me if I'm wrong, Jenn!) and I love LOVE it. I totally think Jenn should put these in her shop. I might need a collection. :) By the way, Jenn's husband Josh is also an amazing artist! See his pictures of "Big Ed" here.

N - napkins & New Jersey - the napkins are too cute and embroidered which is right up my alley. The New Jersey charm is enamel and pink:



How perfect? In the letter she included Jenn said her husband picked it out and thought it would be funny to include it. Well, I'll have you know that I have THREE charm bracelets and often haunt EBay in search of enamel charms! Oh, and I was on vacation last week IN NEW JERSEY. Spooky, huh?

G - gingham and guest towel which can both be seen in the picture at the beginning. Such darling lace on the towel. :)

Thank you again Jenn, I have truly been spoiled! Today is the last day to get your swaps in your mail. If you feel you are going to miss the deadline please email your partner and copy sgswaps@hotmail .com.

So my vacation was nice, too short of course, but nice still. We were crazy yard "sailing" women on Saturday and I even visited an antique mall in Jersey on Thursday. I'll share my finds and my plans for some yummy paper packs to be offered in The Goodness Shop next week. Here's a sneak peek of some of the paper to be included:



I'm off to hunt down some more of the Spring Fling Swappers! Next swap to be announced at the end of May!

Cheers!
RR

And now what will I do?

Easter has come and gone. Now what shall I craft for? I am almost done with the Spring Fling Swap (hope to mail that out NO LATER than next Monday, Jenn!) We've had a few emails that some swap packages are already on their way! You still have two weeks to get them out.

So how was your Easter? My friend Stacy and I cooked our little hearts out! It really all came together well despite the fact we overcooked the ziti and decided on mashed potatos instead of a gallette.



Luis' cousins brought two cakes from Veniero's and I made the peach bundt cake. It's from an actual Bundt cake mix I got at the Williams-Sonoma outlet for $4. They are regularly $14 and even though they include the sugar and are really really tasty I doubt I would pay that much for one. I would buy it for $4 again though.

Check out those napkins:



I found the napkins and the enamel napkin rings at the Savers this past Saturday! How lucky on the day before Easter. You know I wouldn't have found a darn thing if I went there looking for them. The napkins were 95 cents each (there are 5) and the 5 rings were in a bag with a few other things for $1.99. Oh and 30% off with another coupon. :) I also found a small table cloth I used on Sunday (but forgot to photograph) and a Pyrex goldmine! I'll post about that later once I get some decent pix.



My feather tree from Sarah was a huge hit! I moved it into the living room where everyone could see it. See my little menageri?



There's my brown courderouy bunny pin cushion from Ms. A and my little crocheted pals. I've decided to keep the pink bunny for next year and will put the duck and the cupcake up in the shop today. The egg is from Joann's and I added a little glitter to spruce it up. I actually got it for a friend but figured I'd put it out for decoration before sending it. Is that wrong? ;)



The kids had a wonderful time and my niece Christina especially loved the kid friendly bar. I had champagne, raspberry champage, sparkling tangerine strawberry punch, seltzer, pom juice, orange juice, raspberries, strawberries and limes. Needless to say, they didn't get any of the champagne. ;)

Wait until you see the wonderful Pyrex set I thrifted. I'm totally tickled by it. More tomorrow!

ciao
Rebecca

And then there was Goodness

Well, I managed to take those pictures and my sister posted them all for me. :) So please click on the picture and go visit the Goodness Shop!



Along with Mandi's adorable barrettes you'll see my tea cup pincushions:



shabby chic crocheted pot holders:



and cotton crocheted baby bonnets:



Thank you for looking and for your support in ALL of my crafty adventures. Mandi said she had more comments on her blog than on her My Space page where she knows everyone. I told her that is how craft bloggers are! :)

So how is the swap going? I got an email from Peta today saying she is almost done! She was my Pink and Brown partner and she's pretty quick. :) I'm getting there, I was stuck for something for "I" but my sister gave me a great idea! I should be sending out next week for sure. Don't forget to include an outline of what letter each of your items represents! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Ciao!
R

Keeping Up with The Goodness Girls

Okay, remember how I said I was putting things up in the Goodness Shop YESTERDAY? Yeah well, I haven't taken any pictures so in reality there will be things in there tomorrow. I am still having motivation issues I guess. I did make probably the cutest shabby chic crocheted pot holder EVER last night. It'll be in the shop tomorrow MAYBE even with a mate.



My sister, however, has already loaded things to the site. Please visit The Goodness Shop and see her wonderful barrettes for, as she says, girls of all ages. :) Speaking of Mandi, she has decided to become a blogger! PLEASE go and visit her. She needs friends. ;) (did I mention she is my little sister??) Anyway, visit Handi Dandi! Mandi and I are quite different, like she doesn't even go to the thrift store! I know. Craziness. She does, however, seem to like the things I have gotten for her there so I guess that makes it a little better. One similarity is that she is getting married this year as well. :)

****************

I went to the Savers on Saturday. I've been having some good thrifting there lately and I think it might be because I've been going Saturday mornings instead of my usual Sunday. I also had one of those 30% off coupons burning a whole in my wallet. So all the prices below are pre-coupon. :)



napkins - 95 cents each - lovely delicate embroidery.

duck plate - $1.95 - too. cute. for. words.



pillow - $1.95 - this may be my most recent favorite find!



juicer - $1.95 - love these things!

leaf dish - 95 cents - I know have four leaf shaped dishes, that is definately a collection!

spade shaped dish - 45 cents - just plain cute I think

daisy place mats - $1.95 - perfect for the Easter buffet!

And yesterday I mentioned how I found yet another china pattern I adore:



French Saxon China: Pattern: Thistle - 2 plates, 2 small bowls and a sugar bowl - around $5 for the set - you know I NEED the creamer now right? I looked on Ebay and replacements.com and no such luck. I'm hoping one of you comes upon it in your treasure hunting and I get a little thrifting karma for reuniting Heidi's Hazel Atlas sugar bowl with it's long lost mate. :) If you do, let me know! I have much to barter.

Please friends, send me some motivation jou-jou so that I can get pictures taken and things sorted out for the Etsy shop. We are also working on our very own website store as well where we will sell vintage and other used items at a good price. We'll need extra jou-jou to get that done!

xoxoxo
R