New Op-shops

The Op-shops here are not disappointing, with a few treasures picked up during the week.

A new to me Johnson design dinner plate

Milk glass, $2

 And a little bit more, $2


and finally a lovely spot to display some of the collection, the mantel.

And a large Pyrex bowl, only $1.50 from Vinnies.

Yesterday we went to our first Clearing Sale, which is usually when a farm has been sold and they have an onsite auction of a whole lot of farm and household items. We left with two ute loads worth of stuff and slightly sun burnt noses, but we couldn't be more happy with our purchases. I shall have to show them off in the next week or two.

Add your thrifted finds, and see everyone elses, here.

Green

My Place and Yours is back again for 2012 thanks to Vic of Punky & Me, and this weeks meme is Green. If you haven't joined in before all you that's required is a little post on the topic for the week, including a picture or two. Then leave your link for others to check it out. Every week is a different theme, so I'm sure they'll be something for everyone.

Link up here.

Happenings + Send it Forward

It's been a pretty busy week, what with nearly all the boxes unpacked and finding a spot for everything. Gee am I glad it's all nearly all done. Moving is pretty stressful, not to mention time consuming and expensive. I wouldn't like to do it too often that's for sure.

 

The Vintage Sheet FQ swap hosted by Green Tea and Red Nails has come around again, and I've spent a few evenings on the lounge making a total of 100 fat quarters, I was on a bit of a run I think; now they're all ready to be posted off on Monday. I can't wait to receive a whole bunch of prettiness in return.
There's still time to get involved, and you can contribute as many or as few vintage sheet fat quarters as you like (so don't think that you have prepare anywhere near this number). You can sign up here.


A nice little surprise arrived in the mail during the week. Max of Blackbird has spoken became involved in the whole 'Pay it Forward' project, or in the case of my little gift- 'Op-shop it Forward'.

Delightfully wrapped was a wonderful ..

Leunig book, which is currently taking pride of place on the coffee table. Thank you so very much Max.

Now having received a 'Pay it Forward' gift it's my turn to do the same, so I've had to get my thinking cap on as to what on earth I could send to a couple of other bloggers. So I thought in an effort to make good use of a few tea towels from the collection, I'd like to make a couple of cushion covers to give-away.
All that's required from you is to commit to 'Pay it Forward' should you receive a cushion cover from me.

 I showed you a few of the tea towels from the collection in this post, so if there is one in particular you'd like just let me know, otherwise I'll use one from the collection with a design I think you'd like.

I think I'll stick to just choosing and making two at this stage, and I'll see how I go.
Remember to include your email address in your comment if you'd like a chance to receive a 'Pay it Forward' gift.

Thank you for all your lovely comments on the house. I adore our new home and am loving decorating it with many a thrifted find.

May you have a fantastic weekend. x

Settling In

A few snippets of our new place...

The boxes never seem to end, but we're getting there slowly. A no-dig vegie garden has been constructed, pictures are being hung (luckily there are quiet a few hooks already in the walls), and there has even been a spot of baking and op-shopping. 

Hope your week is going well. x

Thrifted

A selection of recent finds...

A few Golden Books, 50c each.

Pyrex dishes, $1 each

And I finally found one of these after seeing a few around blog land. Pies and quiche will be high on the menu now.

The red frames were what caught my eye. Pulling them out from the stack of pictures I found these two sweet prints. Opening the frames when I got home I discovered they are sheets from a 1974 Holly Hobbie calender. I can't wait to display them in our new home.

Why not add your op-shopped treasures over at Sophie's and browse through the abundance of thrifted goodness while you're over there.

New Home

Our new little cottage, our place to call home, the start of a new beginning with new faces, new friends to make, new jobs and a rather large step closer to making our dreams happen. This move is the result of three years of study and hard work, our plan is to work and save, and with a fair part of my life for at least the next year to be spent working we're on the right track.

Currently all the boxes are being emptied, their contents trying to find their perfect spot. I'm looking forward to making this little cottage into our home. I've got many a plan of sewing tasks ahead of me- bunting, cushions, curtains, finish off the quilt for the bed, slip cover for the lounge; as well as all those non-sewing related- raised no-dig veggie gardens out the back, potted herbs out the front, sweet peas up the fence, wall picture galleries, dedicated sewing room, make a recycled timber bed and sewing table, framed tea towels for the wall and Pyrex and Johnson ware to display. So with all that, plus new op-shops to explore and work commencing in a couple of weeks I should be kept fairly busy.
 
Well better get back into it, the rest of the boxes aren't going to unpack themselves.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Op-shopped Finds

Making the most of my final week of thrifting in all the local oppies before the move, and they didn't disappoint with a lovely little haul of a kitchen pieces.

Fire King mugs, only 50 cents each.

 

Pretty Pyrex, $2 each. I think I have another of the top one packed away, but the bottom one is a new design to me.

A new to me design of Johnson, 50c. I'm trawling Pinterest looking for pretty ways to display my growing plate collection. Any ideas?

A stack of Johnson, 50c each for the dinner plates and 30c for the side plate.

 The find of the week may just have to be this oval shaped Johnson serving platter. The first I've seen in this shape, and a steal at only $1.

And the backdrop is one of half a dozen vintage sheets I picked up. I hadn't found any for weeks before these, and just in the nick of time these beauties turned up, with the lovely Green Tea and Red Nails about to host another Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Swap.

 Be sure to check out all the other lovely thrifted goodies over at Sophie's.

Mid-week Baking

With the packing and cleaning in full swing a bit of a sweet treat was in order.  
This recipe is great for using up a few of those over ripe bananas congregating in the fruit bowl. I've adapted it from bestrecipes.com.au  and it goes something like this...

Self-Saucing Banana Pudding

 

1 ½ cups SR flour (I used wholemeal SR this time)

1 tsp bicarb soda

½ cup sugar

3-4 bananas, mashed

½ cup oil

2 eggs

Sauce

1 ½ cups brown sugar

1/3 cup golden syrup

2 cups boiling water

Preheat oven to 180°C.

Sift flour and bicarb soda into a deep 2-3 litre casserole dish. Add sugar.

In a separate bowl mash the bananas with the oil and the eggs.

Add the banana mix to the flour and mix until well combined.

Combine brown sugar, golden syrup and boiling water in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH for one minute and stir to fully dissolve the sugar.

Pour syrup over the back of a spoon onto the batter mixture.

Bake for 50-60 minutes.

May be eaten hot or cold, especially good with ice-cream.

Thrifted Collection: Tea towels

This week I thought I would show you part of my collection of tea towels. I have collected these over a year or so, all from op-shops, paying up to $2 for them, with most only costing around 50c each.
On The List of things I'd like to achieve in 2012 and beyond, at no. 45 is organising my tea towel collection, this will involve sewing some of them into cushions, market bags, a sewing machine cover, and maybe framing a couple, in order to appreciate their beauty around our new home a whole lot more than being folded and stored in a suitcase, although it is a sweet vintage case.

And a few more...