Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Three Lots for Three Bucks



Price: $0
This bunch of dishes was in the free box outside the door of my local Senior Center Thrift Shop.
They were free in the financial sense but there was a price of another sort waiting in the box.
All of the dishes were stuck together in a big, gooey glob by what I think/hope was chocolate syrup.


At least that’s what I’m telling myself it was.
Free.  Focus on the Free.


Price: $1
I would have gladly paid twice that because when it comes to vintage Christmas,  I. Am. Weak.


Price: $2
I didn’t even look through this mountain of sewing patterns found at a yard sale – for $2, all of them went straight into the car with plans to use the tissue pattern pieces for wrapping any breakables sold at my next vintage event.
Until I started unpacking the box when I got home.

Some of these patterns are charming.


And some of them are horrifying.


But they all represent one woman’s lifetime of sewing:  For her younger self, her married self, her young daughters, teenage daughters and eventually, her granddaughters.
So much for my wrapping paper plans…

~~*~~*~~*~~
Wishing you a wonderful 4th of July!


31 comments:

  1. I would have been thrilled to come home with such great finds! And I do love the wrapping paper idea, but then again, maybe that would be a shame.

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  2. Sharon -- I can't bring myself to use the sweet vintage patterns in this group so those will get set aside but I do think anything 80's can (and should) go! Yikes! What were we thinking back then? -amy

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  3. OMG Parachute pants! Great for an eighties party. Did you know my stepdaughter is now wearing legwarmers? And skinny pants (we just called them really tight jeans-lay down on the bed and breathe in)

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  4. Using the 1980s patterns as wrap would be the kindest possible thing you could do. You'd be recycling and removing evidence that anyone ever dressed that way.

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  5. You could bring parachute pants back you know. You start the trend and I'm sure the rest of the blog world will follow! Great finds.

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  6. Three dollars of pure heaven. Ironstone for free and in bulk dipped in chocolate! Was there a golden ticket in there too? Happy fourth to you and yours...Smiles....Renee

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  7. love the dishes and think the chocolate syrup part is hilarious!

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  8. Love the patterns. I just received a gift and it was wrapped in pattern tissue and I LOVE it! I will use some I have for that....I will keep a few patterns but most will just become tissue! Love the ornaments, great finds! hugs, Linda

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  9. Oh my, the 80's wear. Brings back my memories at the club......I'll keep the dancing memories, but you can have the attire....OY!

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  10. Score! I love sewing pattern tissue paper...the only use for those 80s patterns.

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  11. Oh wow! What a bargain shopping moment this was. Don't you just love the graphics on the old patterns. Yes, horrifying is a good word for the shiny outfit. Didn't they call those parachute pants? Love the ornaments and the plates are wonderful too. I guess there's a price for everything.
    Enjoy the holiday tomorrow.

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  12. Oh my gosh... do you see my mouth hanging wide open? It is... my jaw is on my computer keyboard. LOL

    LOVE LOVE the dishes and the patterns!!!

    :) robelyn

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  13. Wow, such great finds! I am hoping it was chocolate sauce, too! You have me laughing with that horrifying pattern! What an outfit! ;) Wishing you a beautiful and Happy 4th of July!! xo Heather

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  14. What about that Burda pattern in a vintage fabric...could it be saved? Nawwww...better to use that pattern as wrapping paper!
    Good 3 bucks spent...

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  15. LOVE all those patterns! I see them at many sales, but often they are $1 each- too much for me. What a great find- lucky you!

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  16. Wow what great finds!!! I too would have grabbed the dishes, gooey and all.

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  17. I enjoy reading about great finds and yours really rank at the top! Enjoy!

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  18. I love anything vintage Christmas...all great buys! And I like to think of someone's life as seen through a collection of patterns. How interesting! Have fun!

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  19. EEEEEEEEEE!! All those patterns for $2. High TEN! The best I have ever, ever done is 3/$1. Looks like you got some great ones, too, plus some you can go ahead and use for wrapping - just saying.
    I love that you rescued those artifacts of a creative life. Well done.

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  20. Oh you've just GOT TO whip up a pair of those M.C. Hammer pants!
    I've bought a few dishes with the mystery brown drippy stuff on it too. Along with other questionable substances. What does that say about us? Or should we not go there?

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  21. Hey! How did my 80's hair get on that woman? And when did I have shiny balloon pants?
    Great finds! :)

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  22. Oh, those 80's. I'm still trying to get all the hairspray out of my bangs!
    The older patterns are just adorable, though.
    Great finds, Amy!

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  23. great prices! I would have picked up all of that stuff too!

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  24. what great finds the plates and the patterns

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  25. Wow...you DO know how to score in a big way!!! Great finds...especially the Christmas ornaments!

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  26. OOOOOOOh! I love the plates. I think I would have put a clothespin on my nose, adorned rubber gloves and cleaned off poo for these! My favS! I am following you now. Hope you visit and follow me too!

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  27. Wonderful finds!! Happy day to you! I'm your newest follower too! :) :) xo Holly

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  28. I looooooove vintage patterns! Great find!

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  29. Those are MY white dishes! I've been collecting them since I got married in 1986, cuz I wasn't into the ugly stoneware of the day. However, I always found them in the upper midwest, since moving to the PNW I have found only a rare chipped plate. Aren't they just the most beautiful things you've ever seen, brown gunk and all?

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