PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Monday, 19 March 2012

Thrifting

I love a bargain as much as anyone else and recently I found these in the charity shops in Louth.    The metal bowl with lid is just so gloriously OTT that I can imagine it filled with beautiful things at Christmas time.
I really like quite plain things, but this was too tempting to leave behind at just £2.50.
Perhaps I'll fill it up with small Easter eggs and see how long it takes young Harry to find them!  Toby would probably show him the way.
The yellow is not where base metal is showing through, it is down to my poor attempt at lighting.
This piece of fabric is beautifully heavy Sanderson fabric, 2 metres, £4.00.
This is a pair of heavy cotton curtains, £2.00.    Faded and gorgeous.
This heavy fabric is just an offcut, perhaps 16" wide by  4' long.  
Then this piece of embroidery - it's not in fabulous condition and it certainly isn't fine work -  it's pretty and I think I'll make a cushion cover out of it, which is probably what it was in an earlier life.  It cost 50p.


My fingers are itching to get stitching, but the garden is the priority at the moment.  

I'd better get back to work!
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32 comments:

  1. Meggie19 March 2012 at 12:35

    You are so right...gardening as just taken over life for you, for me, and for so many other blogging friends. I am dying to get back to a sewing project, but, just too tired in the evenings. How is that poly tunnel coming? At least, you did get some much needed rain...

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  2. Elaine19 March 2012 at 12:56

    Hi Meggie, I took the opportunity of my lunch break to do this little posting. Now I can delay no longer, I must get back out there and do some more clearing of the poly tunnel site. It has been ordered and should be despatched by the end of the week. I hope it doesn't prove to be something like a deck-chair puzzle when we come to put it up!

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    1. Meggie19 March 2012 at 13:39

      I forgot to comment on your thrifting....I would have purchased the same items if I had been there.
      As for the poly-tunnel...scan the directions so you have two copies, "His and Her".

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    2. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:10

      That is a brilliant idea Meggie. It could save a lot of time/arguments!

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  3. Unknown19 March 2012 at 13:07

    Ooh I adore those fabrics! Which shop?

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:12

      Hi Dom, It was Cancer Research, I believe. They were hanging amongst the curtains, etc.

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  4. Ms Sparrow19 March 2012 at 13:27

    I love thrift stores! However, I've had to slack off buying doodads because I'm accumulating too much stuff. I will have to start donating to them instead of patronizing them.

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:14

      Hi Ms Sparrow, I know what you mean, but it is so difficult to walk away. It's probably just as well that I don't get out to play very often these days!

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  5. Green Dragonette19 March 2012 at 13:51

    Lovely fabrics-look forward to seeing the finished cushion with the last one!

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:16

      Hi Green Dragonette, I think that will be a relatively easy one, but it won't be for a few weeks.

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  6. Elna19 March 2012 at 15:10

    I just love the bowl and the fabrics are very nice. Have a nice day.

    Hugs
    Elna

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:18

      Hi Elna, I was very happy when I found the bowl, I was very surprised at the low price!

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  7. Cuby19 March 2012 at 15:28

    Wow what amazing finds, I love scouting round the charity shops for beautiful things that catch my eye. I love all these things and I love their prices - what great finds.

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:21

      Hi cuby poet, It is such fun - I'd love to visit a car boot sale or two, but no chance of that at the moment. It's probably just as well, I need do sort through cupboards, not cram more things into them!!

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  8. Chris19 March 2012 at 16:30

    That's areally great bowl for £2.50 Elaine.

    Remind me to tag along on your next shopping trip. I can NEVER find bargains!

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:24

      Hi Chris, I'll probably find bowls like that can be bought from the Pound Shop, but I was pretty pleased with it! You are welcome to tag along any time - wear your running shoes, Louth has about 15 charity shops these days!

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  9. Jan19 March 2012 at 18:34

    Lovely finds! I particularly liked the Sanderson fabric. What are you going to make with it all? Jx

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:26

      Hi Jan, The Sanderson fabric is such beautiful colours and great quality, I was pleased to find it. Not sure what I'll use it for, but watch this space!

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  10. Scarlet19 March 2012 at 18:34

    Those are beautiful finds Elaine, and absolutely fantastic prices! I know what you mean about being dragged away from things you want to do by things you really have to do, and now I'm struggling to do either because my eye's still hurting!

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:29

      Hi Scarlet, It was great fun finding them, I really love fabrics and can't wait to be able to get working with them - later in the year. I hope your eye improves soon.

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  11. Jane and Chris19 March 2012 at 18:38

    My mind is racing with all the lovely Christmassy things I could put into the bowl.....it's beautiful! So, if you decide you don't really like it....
    Jane x

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:31

      Hi Jane, I know, it just shrieks of opulence and fun and Christmas is a time when I love all those OTT touches. If I find another one, it's yours.

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  12. Joanne Noragon19 March 2012 at 20:07

    Lovely finds to work with on a warm summer afternoon. Except the little silver jelly bean bowl. My favorite is red--cinnaamon. Oh, wait. Those are for Harry...........

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    1. Elaine19 March 2012 at 20:34

      Hi Joanne, Jelly beans would be good, or I could be nice to George and fill it with licorice torpedoes, he loves those. Good idea!

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  13. Molly19 March 2012 at 20:43

    Love your bargains. The bowl is pretty. Weeding seems to be taking over my life right now:(

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    1. Elaine20 March 2012 at 07:18

      Hello Molly, All this weeding, digging and forking is great exercise - but I will be pleased when we move onto something a little less strenuous! I was so pleased to get that bowl - so unlike anything I would normally buy - but it's fun to go completely wild, especially when it only costs £2.50 to do it!!

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  14. Knatolee20 March 2012 at 11:57

    Great deals! I love the silver bowl.

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    1. Elaine20 March 2012 at 21:23

      It's a beaut Knatolee. As ever, it is just a case of being there at the right time.

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  15. Cro Magnon21 March 2012 at 13:05

    A bit of bling occasionally is good for the soul. May I suggest sugared almonds, or even chocolate coins?

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    1. Elaine21 March 2012 at 20:31

      Hi Cro, Sugared almonds would look very nice, but I think chocolate coins would make Harry extrememly happy, especially as he is so keen on pirates at the moment.

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  16. Little Home In The Country21 March 2012 at 13:24

    LOVE the embroidery! I always snatch them up at the thrift stores... I can't bear to leave them as I think of how much work went into them. I love wondering who it was who stitched them, what sort of family they were from, what were they pondering as they stitched...

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    1. Elaine21 March 2012 at 20:36

      Hi Little Home in the Country, I have some lovely, thrifted, bits of embroidery to show some other time. I quite like the worn ones because at least that shows they were used and (hopefully) appreciated.

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