Bobbins and Spools Aplenty

Tempus fugit, and life changes. I'm in the midst of moving, starting down a new path,  and making new plans to put into play shortly.

In my last post, I mentioned a lovely find at a rummage shop in Vermont, and intended to have a detailed post on everylastitem up for Thrift Share Monday. Instead, I'm focusing on these lovely items, happy to share one special group with you.

Browsing the densely-packed aisles and shelves, racks and boxes, I spied one spool, and thought it might be an interesting objet on my desk. Seeing several more, I thought that I could cherry-pick some that were of harmonious size or thread color - but a voice inside of me said, "Buy each one of them".  I've learned to pay heed to the voice, and asked the woman who curates the shop (really, it is more an act of curation than shop-keeping) to help me find them all. She did, and offered me a very fair price for the lot, which I duly accepted.

The spools and bobbins vary in height, amount of thread, color, and core composition (wood, cardboard or hard plastic), and I am wondering what to do with them all. Some will be destined for etsy, some for a local community flea market this spring and summer, but I hope that a few will find their way onto my new mantel.

Do any of you collect bobbins and spools?

 

This post was shared as part of Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday Collection and Her Library Adventures' Flea Market Find extravaganza. Feel free to link back to me if you share this post!

 

 

Thrift Share: Paper, Crafting Finds, Good Reads, and a VT Stash

I had a busy weekend, with lots of walking and some cross-country skiing (and falling) in Warren, VT, so I knew that I'd have to hit the local thrift stores early. I headed to Central Square in Cambridge for some delicious, quick lunch at Mary Chung's and on to the Goodwill. I made a quick-for-me stop, lasting only about 45 minutes, but found some great deals.

The first item that found its way into my basket was a box of tissue sheer notepaper, made by Eaton. Buttery yellow and tissue thin, would this be better used in altered art, collages, or as an actual writing medium?

I also found a more contemporary bundle of notecards - and the ever useful 'Thank You' notecard:

These delightful vintage photo albums (one for "Memories" and one for "Wedding Memories" ) were designed to hold the square photos of yesteryear.. Does anyone know when photo print sizes became larger? The mid 70s, perhaps?

A set of wooden rods and balls, designed for handbag-creating use, was also found..

.. and round out by a varied selection of Little Golden, American Girl, and Home Décor books!

Click on each image to enlarge..

On Friday night, my boyfriend and I headed up to Waitsfield, VT, where we stayed at a friend's guest house. The next day, as he tacked the hills of Mad River Glen, I walked over to the Bridge Street Marketplace and visited Lost-N-Found, a rummage emporium that was brimming with goodness. I'll be writing a separate post on my finds, but I will share one - a glue gun with sticks! I have never owned a glue gun, but am sure that I will now be adorning every available edge with hot glue and braided trim!

Read about more fun shares on Apron Thrift Girl, where this post will be in the usual Thrift Share Monday collection!

My new Etsy Treasury: I'm The Operator...

.. with my pocket Calculator..

I pulled this little Treasury together, inspired by the calculator that Apron Thrift Girl featured in this week's Thrift Share Monday post. Enjoy!

'I'm the Operator..' by misshowescuriosities

Inspired by Kraftwerk's "Pocket Calculator", here are a selection of slide rules, vintage calculators, and other adding machines to "add" to your delight..

Shop N Add Vintage Shop... TheSecondTimeA... $9.99	70s Unused Olive Rockwe... apricotvintage $10.00	Vintage calculator, ret... NotGrandmasVin... $25.00	Texas Instruments SR51 ... BYBots $10.00
Texas Instruments Busin... butterflyemoon $36.00	Kraftwerk Vintage Tee C... retroEra $200.00	Small vintage wooden ab... sovietvintage $15.00	Vintage Early 1980s Cas... tipsynumber9 $9.99
Vintage Calculator OurGeneralStor... $15.00	Vintage Radio Shack By ... yeoldegenerals... $12.00	Hewlett Packard 16C Sc... DJandPvintage $	Antique Wooden Abacus sinderellasatt... $49.00
1956 remmington rand ad PatinaVintage $9.95	Vintage Keuffel and Ess... kelleystreetvi... $23.95	Pair of Vintage Calcula... retroradar $18.00	Vintage Calculator campvintage $9.99

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

 

Thrift Share Monday: Candles, Clocks, and Jokers Wild

** I'm being featured in the Vintage showcase on etsy on January 11th! Please stop by!**

I think that I'm finally hitting my stride when it comes to ferreting out the best local thrift and consignment shop locations. While there are a few places I'd love to hit - like the Savers on the VFW Parkway - I'm pretty happy with my current sources and am on the lookout for the next secret stash!

This week's share comes from the Central Square Goodwill in Cambridge, MA.

My first find this past week was a lovely GE Electric alarm clock. In need of a shine, she still works, and the alarm is just as shrill as the day it was first placed by a bed head:

Next, I found a *huge* stash of cake-topper numeral candles, "suitable for birthdays or anniversaries", per the package below. I'm only showing a small sample here; I found at least 20. Due to the miracle of fuzzy math, two Ziploc bags full were had for a song..

Finally, while not an homage to the 80's game show (anyone remember it, and who the host was? Please let me know!), the first thing that came to mind when I saw this pair of drinking glasses was "Jokers Wild":

Fabulous in double-walled plastic, and stamped "Made in Hong Kong" on the bottom, I'm thinking these will find their way into a game night at some derserving home.

Later this week I simply must make my way back to the Church Thrift Store - I love to see who's volunteering and get the latest news from the Retired and Fierce set!

Thrift Share: Lanvin, Blanket Bindings, and other Marvellous Things

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that you've all started the new year on the right, vintage shod foot, and are ready for many new adventures..

Just before Christmas, I stopped in at my favorite Church shop in Harvard Square. A few last-minute gift shoppers were there, along with a triad of Church ladies - one of which vociferously complained about the moldy air. Where there's must, there's interesting vintage, so I made my way through the store.

I found this tray, still on the shelf after a few months, and knew that it would soon be mine. It reads "Globe Quality Stainless" on the back, and I'm not sure if I want to send this to etsy,eBay or use it for entertaining. Nuts on one side, olives on the other?

Making my way to the back room, I pored through a few racks and shoe displays, hoping for some more Delman shoes, but the only thing that caught my eye was a large jar of buttons (2c apiece) and a basket filled with vintage sewing supplies :

These are on their way to etsy.. the crochet hook, however, is a sign that I'm meant to take up the fine art of thread-based creation once again.

Now, for the aforementioned Lanvin. I was moving towards the far end of the shop, past the line of shoes, when I spotted this crazy knit maxi-dress on the rack, or more accurately, it's label and then the rest of it:

I need to dry clean it, and will find a model to wear this while it's photographed. I find that clothes that are modelled not only look better, but tend to sell better than items that are hung up on hangers. Also - I love the red top, which will be perfect for Rednesday!

I bought several small items, including a mini pewter vase, Christmas Ornaments, a Christmas greeting card, and a wee wooden dolly in a car.

I saw something that would be perfect for my boyfriend there, so I'm thinking about bringing him with me on Saturday. Ladies, you'll be amazed at how much guys love the Thrift..

Best wishes to all of us for a joyous, prosperous, and inspiring 2011!

 

 

Celebrate the Season Swaps!

...or, a festival of lessons in generosity and procrastination. Generosity from all of my swap members, and procrastination on my part in posting about them!

Earlier this fall, right after Halloween, the wonderful faerwillow announced this year's round of Swaps. Four in number, I opted to participate in all! Why not re-create the wonder of years past when the post contained lovely packages from afar, with goodies unknown? I joyously anticipated each swap arrival..

On Yule, I opened all of my packages..

** When reading, click on any of the tiny images to open them in a new window, full-size **

First, I exchanged 3 gifts to give with our Mistress of Swaps, faerwillow, and received a box of delights from nature and from talented and crafty (in only the best possible way!) hands.

Handmade Blessings, Petits Cairns, Ornaments that Delight

Boxes of Music & Tools of the Trade, all with instructions for use!

I did not photograph a lovely Blue Bauble and some sweet-smelling pine needles, but they are well-loved. Speaking of pleasure, I do think that this lovely Willow wand I received has a new would-be user:

Next, a Yule~holiday card arrived in the post from Moontides. Bright-red and full of cheer, it has a warming influence on my mantel:

Moontides was also my ornament exchange swap partner, sending along a quartet of Angels to guide and inspire:

Tracy of The Faerie Castle was my book exchange partner sending along this touching tale of giving, grief, and the reclamation of hope:

 I highly recommend it for all of your little friends.. and grown-up ones, too..

I am so blessed to have been a participant in these swaps.. Let's keep this going in 2011 and beyond!

 

 

 

All of my new Twitter followers will get a coupon code for 10% off everything in my #etsy shop, Miss Howe's Curiosities! Please follow me on Twitter (see the link on the right hand side) and get a little something nice for yourself in the shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/misshowescuriosities