I started at Salvation Army and found my best treasure and it’s not even vintage but I love it. Large picture – $9.99.
An old farmhouse with a new sun porch added on and quilts hanging on the clothesline – I love it and now it hangs in my sewing room in the last empty spot on the wall. I’ve been waiting for just the right piece.
Teapot to match other pieces I have – $4.99
Several of these were new to me as well as half price so how could I say no? I admit it – I’m a plant junkie!
Such a fun day!
Reader photos
Note size – log cabin blocks are 2”!!!!!
Here’s Connie’s New Years Day start – she loves foundation piecing
Sounds like those of you in the eastern and southern states are in for some snow. I’m glad it’s not us. Guess I’d better make some more stars.
Just now seeing the 1-2-25 post. Wow you made a haul. Love everything you found, including plants and a blooming geranium!! I love treasure hunting and have done so for years but at 78 with a big houseful, I tell myself I can’t buy any more! Don’t want to saddle my kids with more to clear out some day. Planning a garage sale this summer and purging fabric that I no longer want – but it is a chore to go through it all!
Mary, you keep shopping and I will live vicariously seeing your blog pictures.
Mary – What a fun blog post! I was charmed by the background fabric Connie used in her Woven Star. Recently, I made several of the 6″ size. They are fun. Could you ask Connie if she happens to know what the name of the fabric was? It’s a great choice.
Thanks for all your boundless energy!
Oh, Mary, I went along with you when I passed through all the treasures. You have an eagle eye to find these to enjoy. The large picture is so neat. I love the ironstone platter. And, the teapot to match your two other pieces. Love it! The sampler is a treasure so neatly done. Oh, I can’t forget the plants. They are so unusual and healthy.
I didn’t see any cats or dogs in the photos. Next time. I miss them.
Thanks for a very interesting note to us. I look for your post every morning!
What a great day for you! Love what you scored at the thrift store – what great finds! That picture is beautiful and how fun to have it in your sewing room!
Great job on the plant haul – so many unusual ones – they will have a great new home !
Those 2″ log cabin blocks – I can’t imagine doing something that small – my fingers are too fat 😂 it’s amazing and I love the outcome.
I feel late when I chime in here – sometimes don’t get to read until afternoon but I always enjoy “sitting down” with you and so many others here – makes my day!🥰
Oh! Forgot to thank you for the close up of that adorable bunny, Mary! She is definitely a cute little thing, love her dress and ears 🙂 Jan in MA
Jan – Connie said I used to make lots of little things – just think of turning and stuffing those arms and legs – ick!!
I made a sock monkey for our first grand baby. It was much larger than your cute bunny. Our second and third grand babies did not ever receive a sock monkey or any kind of stuffed toy made by Nana Jean. 😳😂
Jeanie – hahaha!!! Yup, the oldest gets the baby book, the firsts of everything and then the parents and grandparents get tired. We all get it. But it’s still pretty funny! As the oldest however, I was also expected to do well in everything and be involved in all activities in school and church. All.
What a fun day of retail therapy! Love everything you bought but especially the teapot and the ironstone platter. I’ll have to keep an eye out for the raised dot detail. I don’t have any of that type of ironstone but it’s beautiful! I do hope whoever made the miniature log cabin quilts will speak up. I’d love the pattern name for the one on the left, so precious! Temperatures are dropping here in MA, I like Kim from WI’s idea of making a chili for the weekend! We just finished the Hoppin John that I made for New Years day. So good! I even put collards in it. Yum! Jan in MA
Jan – what is Hoppin John???
Oh Jan, how funny. I think this was out of one of Mary’s books before 1999. I will send along one image I “screen captured” when I saw it later as well as an image where the logs are 3/8″ wide out of the “Bouquet of Quilts” book around 2003. In the book the logs were 1/4″. Didn’t want to do that so I made mine up at 3/8″.
I am not sure where I decided on the the little barn block. After I did the flag and needed the space the little flying geese were paper pieced. So were the 2″ log cabins. Those logs were 1/4″ finished. Cody Mazuran was a guild member at the time and was teaching drafting and making miniature blocks. I can remember her madly hand quilting this huge red and navy log cabin. She published a great book on borders.
Oops! I forgot to say “Happy Anniversary” to Sunflower’s parents. That is impressive.
Jan
What a great day, Mary – treasures of all kinds. It’s great advice to go thrifting with an open mind. I went in once looking for a frame in a specific size and found it. Then it sat for awhile because my original idea didn’t work. Last year I came up with a collage with Christmas cards and carols. I’ll send a picture to Mary.
I’m also sending the picture of the pillow and small quilt I made for my daughter’s cat, which I mentioned in an earlier post.
Today’s post was a visual feast for the eyes. thanks, Mary, and all who sent in pictures. 🙂
Jan
You had a very successful day. Plants, dishes, a wonderful picture. So glad you’re feeling up to going treasure hunting again. My sister loves going thrifting. She often finds fabric and makes things for charity.
I’ve been doing laundry and cleaning for the past days. The Iowa crew left New Year’s Day after being here a week. Oh how I miss them when they leave! It was probably Sally’s (dog) last visit as she is aging fast. She can’t hear, sight is fading, lumps showing up everywhere , and has doggie dementia. It makes me soooo sad. I just can’t hardly bear it.
I started a new quilt New Year’s Day – churn dash weave from the book The Blue and The Grey. I’ve been doing the cutting first and will be able to start sewing tomorrow probably. But more laundry and vacuuming and putting things away. I can’t clean and do like I used to but that’s ok. I have no time line.
I love all your thrift store finds! I love to go thrifting and can’t wait to go back to my favorite local store. We have a no-kill animal shelter and they have the best thrift store in town. All the workers are volunteers, the building is owned by the owners of a pet store so no rent, and everything they make supports the animal shelter. They were closed since the Saturday before Christmas but just posted photos on Facebook of the painting and reorganization they did. Because they’re all-volunteer they’re only open Wednesday-Saturday from 10-2 so I’ll try to go tomorrow. I got some great Christmas stuff in there! The trick to finding good stuff is going fairly often, because the best stuff goes fast!
Happy new year!
Mary,
Good morning, everyone! Snow was lightly falling with no wind at all and so peaceful and calm when I walked down to let the chickens out. I usually think about my blessings on the way to the coop as it’s so peaceful.
I love that new picture you got Mary, and your wall spot is just right for it. What I want to know is, what do you have in those 3 wooden containers/cabinets underneath it? I like all those and imagine you have treasures inside, too!
Beautiful reader quilts today and your pick for a new year/new project is going to be so nice. On the mini log cabin quilts or wall hanging, the one on the left has so much detail when you enlarge the picture. That was a lot of work!
Connie’s sampler is nice and what a nice thing to do, putting both your initials together. That’s true friendship!
Your plant selection is very nice too. You had a great day out.
Today is my mom and dad’s 70th wedding anniversary! January 3, 1955. My dad was home on leave from the Marines. They were married in Pontiac, Michigan where my mom was attending cosmetology school and living with her sister and brother-in-law who both worked for Pontiac Motors. My dad stayed for the weekend and went back to the base. He was in the Korean War and was finishing his service time. Mary, I will send you a photo to share.
Stay warm, everyone! 🌻
Sunflower – 70 years!!!! And he stayed for the weekend and then went back to “work”. Hope your mom could appreciate the day
My dad was also in the Korean War. He’s been gone 2 years now so sadly they didn’t make it to 70 yrs. What a blessing for your parents! Michigan is giving us some cold and snow right now, isn’t she?! Love the virtual thrift haul, Mary. You found treasures!
What wonderful finds. And a teapot to match.How lucky! The log cabin courthouse steps quilt looks very intriguing. Always love to see the quilt show!!
Our snow was just a frosting today with the streets bare. The sun is shining and I may venture out. Postponing is my habit , I’m afraid.
Hi Connie,
The courthouse steps quilt measures 89″x94″. The blocks were approximately 14″ blocks set on point, 5-1/2×6 blocks. My sister made it thinking I had a king size bed.
Strips were cut 1-3/4″ to finish 1-1/4″.
It is basically three colorings. To make one 60″x80″
Make four all light.
Four all dark
Nine half dark, half light
Fourteen “half” blocks.
If I figure out how to make a video from a image I will post a link with the strip sizes and images of construction.
I forgot to mention that for a 14″ block, the center should be 1-1/2″x1-1/2″ finished.
So interesting. Thank you for the details. What an amazing job.
Ok Connie I figured it out. Visit this link if you want to know what sizes to cut strips for a 14″ block and view the layout of the blocks. If you are familiar with on point quilt layouts it should give enough information if you take a few screen shots.
https://youtu.be/bEhA9zQ6a2E
I apologize. I meant “Carolyn”.
Thanks for sharing your thrift store finds. You found some great items. The sampler is beautiful. Just think of all the handwork that went into creating it. Thrift store shopping is my favorite. I was at Goodwill yesterday and found a small wooden stool that needs a new upholstery cover. I had $5 off so it was just .99 + tax. I’ve always wanted to try primitive rug hooking so, this may be a perfect starter project.
Beautiful new plants that will give you a garden through the winter.
Connie R – I always need some new greenery this time of year. Have you ever seen my whole wall of embroidery? I should show it again – I always feel like I’m rescuing these pieces because of all that handwork that some woman did and their family didn’t appreciate it so they dropped
I feel the same way about samplers. I need to rescue them because I know how much time it took to create. They really do need to belong to someone who can appreciate them. I would love if you showed your sampler wall.
What a fun day or retail therapy! I love the picture of the house with the cool porch and the quilt says, take me home. I don’t cross stitch, but I do love finding pieces that others have made, they have so much work involved and to find them at thrift stores is heartbreaking. Lucky you. Does your teapot collection have a name? it’s quite an unusual piece. I have 6 cactus plants and how they survive me and my lack of care is a mystery, but they hang in there and keep on blooming. I admire your green thumb and those in the boxes are quite wonderful. I have 2 quilts to finish for a friend’s grandchildren before I start anything new this year. Hope to finish getting our daughters new home set up today since she goes back to work on Monday. We are turning cold (below zero) but no snow to speak of. Time to make a batch of chili to get us through the weekend.
Kim – I don’t know enough about the teapot collection – it is very distinctive and unusual. I should do a Google search
Love your thrift finds! I enjoy thrifting, too. As a matter of fact, I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, but there’s an estate sale close to where we have to go, so we’re leaving early to go there first! Hopefully I’ll find some treasures, too!
I am having trouble deciding what to start working on. I think I’m going to do a small snowman quilt first. It’s a Country Threads pattern. It’s the one that has a small quilt for each season. Don’t have it near me so don’t know the name. I’ve wanted to do that little snowman for years, so I’m going to do that this weekend and then pick something bigger to start working on.
We’ve got some snow coming on Sunday-Monday. I don’t think it will be much, but a little is better than none! Where we used to live and where my kids are (it’s only 3 hours away) it looks like they’re going to get 7+ inches. They’re looking forward to it. My daughter’s a teacher and it looks like her Christmas vacation is going to get extended a couple days!
Take care all.
Love your great finds! The old farmhouse picture is so inviting and what a find to match the teapot. I can’t pass up beautiful samplers either. What a great plan for sewing and with a finish date!! I haven’t started my list yet but will before end of week. Enjoy the day.
Dee – don’t you always feel sympathetic to the woman who did all the handwork and then her family left it at the thrift store?
Mary for years and years and years I have wanted to make yes America we can quilt. It is easy and doable so I think I’m gonna start rummaging thru fabric and see what I’ve got. Oh what FUN!
I really like Connie’s x stitch project.
Jean – why don’t you make it with me? I didn’t get any stars finished last night – went to bed early after my big day of thrift store therapy.
Mary, I made the “Yes We Can, America!” quilt . It’s one of my favorites. A lot of fun work. How great it is to see you out and enjoying life. I hope to get out more after my surgery this month. Plan on taking some walks with my husband. Now you’ve tempted me with the Woven Star that Connie is making. It’s beautiful and perfect for Christmas colors which I love. Enjoy your plants, you have the perfect home for them.
Best wishes Linda on your upcoming surgery on your recovery. I know you had spoken of having it in another blog post so do let us know how you are doing and maybe some of us could shower you with get well wishes if you give your address to Mary. It’s nice sitting at home in winter time having the mail deliver cards in hopes it makes your days more pleasant.
Great finds, love the chair!
Laura VS – the chair would be a great decorative piece outside – I probably should have bought it for $5
Hi Mary, great thrift finds! We popped into a favourite thrift store after seeing paddington in Peru, nothing bought,then lunch at a popular Cafe before heading home. The machine shop was not open, so fortunately l have a second machine, Bernina 801,haven’t really used it, and found the was a walking foot with it! Woohoo
, my lucky day!
Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – so that means another trip to the machine store. I’m not familiar with a Bernina 801 – guess you’ll get familiar with it now, right?
Wonderful post today! I love all your treasures and the pattern you’re working on. The two reader quilts are great too. I especially like the string quilt made in the log cabin style. I saved that picture and will study and try to figure out how to do it. Enjoy making those stars!
Nice u r back to finding some great bargains that make u HAPPY👍🏼
Happy New Year, good health to U & your Hubby in ‘2025🎊
Katie in Gilbert,Az.
Katie – yes, these thrift store finds really do make me happy – I love all my stuff and having it all around me is comforting is a strange way.
Oh Mary, this is such a fun post seeing all your purchases! That farmhouse picture is great, and I love how you knew exactly where it was going. The plants are beautiful, too.
Connie, your friendship cross stitch is lovely, and your new quilt project will be, also.
Mary, I am happy you decided on a quilt pattern, as I know that was bugging you.
Take Care & Thanks, 🥰
Jeanie – yes, I feel like I’m wasting precious time when I don’t have a project – I’m driven for sure.
Wow, great finds!!! When we’re traveling, we like to stop at thrift stores. My hubby has even found new looking jeans. I think that’s why he doesn’t mind checking the stores out now. I bet the nursery guy was glad he stayed a little longer that day! I’m wondering how wide the stripes are in those 2″ log cabin blocks. I’d be afraid I sew over one of my fingers if I attempted a block that small. HA! Well, we’re finally heading home. We’ve enjoyed visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and the 3 grands. I’m ready to be home for a while.
The strips are cut 3/4″ to 7/8″, applied, and then the seam allowance is trimmed so that the logs are 1/4″ finished. These were paper pieced. I used cheaper copy paper that was a little bit easier to tear off. It also makes it easier when sewing the blocks together. The quilt is hand quilted using a cotton batt split in half for a lower loft. The piece is about 25 years old now.
Love everything about this post. New and old. Remembering the past and making new memories. Vintage goods and things freshly created. Adding on to what you had before. Eclectic with a capital “E”. What a way to start a new year. Can’t wait to see your 2025 quilt project as you work on it. Happy New Year!
Mary, you hit the mother lode today. I wish we lived closer so I could go thrifting with you. I think I’m jealous of how you always find items perfect for you.
5 more cards today, I’d like to thank:
C.K. in Wisconsin (That card front is precious and I love the Mother Theresa poem)
Pat in Iowa (I will respond to your letter, please be patient)
Rita in Alabama
Christina in Pennsylvania
Bonny in Iowa
We’re up to 39! I’ve never felt so loved!
Jamie – when I go thrift shopping I always go with an open mind – I never have a list because I never know what I’ll find.
Mary, did you notice the block saying in the window above the bench where you set your plants? Your shopping is better than a pill.
Twenty years ago I got a Janome 3500 which I absolutely love. Lately I’ve been afraid it would croak before me and I wish I had got 2 of them. They quit making them right after I got mine. I had a problem with my seam width and figured out the problem. Last Saturday I showed the problem to the fabric store owner and he actually believed me. He said he had one in the sale room, let’s check it. Yep, it did the same thing. It had a price tag of $280 and I said it is MINE. I was so excited.
Then, when I got groceries on Tuesday I checked out the books and there was #31 the new Stephanie Plumb book. How could I get so lucky?
I’m putting the border on the last Pediatric quilt and will now turn in 6 at the Tuesday meeting. Don’t know where I will go from here, but maybe I should do something in the house? I dusted my stove top yesterday…
We’re in a cold spell right now with snow. My snow shovel is in the kitchen ready to go. When the wind isn’t blowing a gale, the cold air just feels so good.
Take care everybody, and enjoy what we get.
Betty in Rapid City
I’m so jealous. I used to be standing at the doors of Costco, waiting for it to open whenever a new Evanovich book came out. Love the Plum series. Unfortunately, between 19 and 20, my eyes started burning when I tried to read. #20 was sitting there, taunting me. I tried audio books, but my mind wanders too much. And now she’s up to #30…again, I’m so jealous. Enjoy, I KNOW you will!
Betty – thrift store shopping soothes my soul and I love the eclectic mix I have going here – anything goes!! Turning in 6 quilts – wow!!! Don’t worry, you’ll find something else fun to sew!
The hospital pediatric quilt requirements are 40 x 40 or 50 x 50, just small quilts so they go together quickly. Plus unused blocks, whatever is laying around can be used. At first I tried out new patterns to see how they worked. The pediatric nurses give about 12 quilts every month to kids that need an extra boost, they can really go thru the pile of quilts. Lots of bright colors are great.
Betty in Rapid City
I knew you’d share your treasures with us!!! I love seeing your thrift store haul as you find good stuff. The green mat around the painting makes it with that perfect picture.
Our grass is so green right now with the moisture. I’ve no where to be except church on Sunday so I’m content being in if it snows a lot. Snowblower is all gassed up ready.
Kathy – I agree about the green mat – so many similarities between my house and the house in the picture – guess that’s why it spoke to me
Great retail therapy day. The lg picture is perfect in your sewing room. Thanks for showing your goodies.
What a great day of retail therapy! I love the farmhouse picture. It would be a fun puzzle too. Great variety of plants too. I love the kalanchoe, so different. Great quilts and I can’t wait to see the one you’re just starting.
Money well spent ! We’re in AZ for 8 weeks and I intend to do some serious flea market shopping before I head home.
Mary, you have the most unbelievable luck at the thrift shop!!! I’d love to go thrifting with you one day!! I’m heading to Denver tomorrow to have lunch with a dear friend who is up from Montrose. Think I will take time out to go to the Brass Armadillo west of Denver before I come home again. I drive by it fairly frequently, but always when I’m on my way somewhere else. Tomorrow, I will make time!
My niece and I were chatting today about our overabundance of craft supplies and where to start the New Year. Her goal for the year is to use up all of the craft supplies she currently has. I wish! I need to either start my Tilda quilt or get back to needlefelting. I have enough craft supplies to last the rest of my life.
Your plants, too!! Wow! I have pretty good luck with Pepperomia in my south facing kitchen window. This house is soooooooo much better for plants than my last house. Light makes such a difference! My current favorite is my Chinese Money Plant (Pilea Peperomioides). It propagates really easily by way of “Pups” (who wouldn’t love that???) and is just a happy plant! I started with one that a friend gave me a year ago and now have 5. They just make me happy!
Diane – I have several Chinese Money Plants – you’re from MN – have you ever heard it called a lefse plant? That’s how I first knew it!! The things I find are never in antique malls – always junk stores and I know the Brass Armadillo in Des Moines used to be very expensive. Go to Goodwill or Salvation Army – you have to look at everything to find a few good things. It’s very time consuming – ha! Let me know what you find.
Ha! I haven’t heard “lefse plant” but think I like that better than “money plant”!! Mine will thusly be renamed!! Yes, I’m thinking you’re right about antique malls vs. Goodwill or Salvation Army. I honestly do not need anything but love to look! I find it very fun to go up and down the aisles and find things I remember from my grandmothers’ houses and I often laugh when I spy something I’ve got right in my own house. I have plenty of treasures but like you, I am a bit of a collector, so if I can add something to a collection, it may come home with me!
Diane – lefse plant indeed! I have some babies that will need repotting soon!
Oy. Brass Armadillo was overwhelming and quite disappointing. I don’t think it was because I was tired, but that may have played into it, but I don’t feel the need to go back anytime soon. Quite frankly, I decided I had far better treasures at home and I’d just go home and enjoy them!! It’s always fun to look though!
Diane – I’m glad you agree it’s highly overrated – I’ll bet there are lots of thrift stores, Goodwill and Salvation Army stores in Denver!!! Wish I could shop there with you.
I make Christmas ornaments every year for family members and some friends. The past few years, they have been paper pieced and I had already decided to make the same woven star that Connie is making. I have cut out all my background pieces and I want to refresh my stash of holiday fabric this year for the other pieces. I love the way Connie’s looks!
It must be a full time job just watering and taking care of all your plants, Mary! I only have four plants and it is two too many. I have managed to keep an African violet alive that was my mother’s and a peace plant from her funeral which was in 1997, but I am ashamed to say they have lived in spite of my poor care.
We may be getting some snow this weekend but we are retired and live in a 55+ community that clears it away so we really don’t care. We have no place we have to get to. It will be a good time to take down all the Christmas stuff and put it away til next year. I love the quilt you are starting Mary!
Sue – you sound like Becky who has a couple plants and she does not want any more. She is a minimalist which I definitely am NOT. I really enjoy all my “stuff”.
Mary….. you certainly ‘hit paydirt’ with all those treasures.A fun day…. Retail therapy is always good! Love the plants you found too. 👍🏻🥰Your pink log cabin quilt is stunning…..great fabrics and the perfect quilting too!|