Retired.

What started out as a perky update about my antique mall space has somehow morphed into an odd little tribute to one of the items currently for sale there.

Please pardon me while I reminisce about an old friend who was faithful, sturdy and strong, not to mention pretty nice to look at.

We worked well together and even had some banner years.

As they will do, this good friend always supported my projects.

Lots and lots of projects.

And now it’s time for this friend to relax, take it easy and perhaps simply sit in someone's garden. 

I heart funky vintage furniture.

Miracle at the Salvation Army

This probably sounds like it's going to be an inspirational Christmas story (it's not). Unless a good day at the thrift store is like Christmas morning (it is).

I live an hour east of civilization and the thrift store options nearby are few and far between. If I travel east another 20 miles, I reach a town I like to think of as 'The Promised Land of Thrifting' and yesterday's excursion was no exception.

I did all of my boring errands first (get a snow shovel, hairball stuff*, blahblahblah at Home Depot) with the idea I would reward** myself with a trip to My Favorite Salvation Army Store Ever. (Yes, I have a favorite Salvation Army store. Everyone does, right? I've been to some that were consistently awful, this one is always amazing. I love it).

Completely oblivious to the time of day, I was in the store for 10 minutes when they announced they were closing. (note to self - when driving 20 miles to shop, watch the clock) Fortunately, in that short amount of time I was able to grab a vintage chenille bedspread, some wonderful VAT PRINTS vintage fabric and 2 pretty milk glass dishes.

But wait, there's more!

The line at the cash register was moving slowly so I poked around the sweater racks and found a vintage black beaded sweater in perfect condition. In my size.

Thrilling, I tell you.

And so now I'm back to my regularly scheduled Christmas sewing.

*Just to be clear, this is for Vintage Cat

**My self-reward system also applies to dental appointments,

Christmas shopping & bathing suit purchases

Meet the Staff

This is my sidekick, Vintage Cat.

 

Duties include Vintage Fabric Inspection

and Product Photo Disruption.

Prefers to use the computer keyboard as pillow which leads to a lot of this:

zzzxxcccccvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Slurps coffee from your cup when she thinks no one's looking.

Good girl.

Coming at me

At my house, Christmas usually shows up during summer. The traditional unwrapping of colorful boxes filled with vintage Christmas tablecloths, exciting packages arriving from ebay and etsy (more vintage tablecloths) and the popular get-in-the-holiday-sewing-spirit-when-it's-hotter-inside-the-house-than-it-is-outside (fyi - if you're planning to move to the PNW, do not be led astray by those who say 'you don't really need air conditioning here' because 'you definitely do') all starts sometime in late June. That's when I'm still relaxed about everything in my sparkly dream-world scenario where I calmly craft an enormous, highly creative and well-made collection of items to sell on ebay, etsy, and at shows.

If only.

I do like sewing vintage Christmas because it's so in-your-face...red & green everything, clashing all over the place. That's Vintage Cat, helping with some photo styling. More about her to come. Also, she has both eyes in case you're wondering.

And now October is only one day away. That calm feeling is eroding (along with the sunshine and daylight here) and my studio definitely looks like the day after Christmas at the mall.  -amy