Finds of the week!

I found a lot of goodies at the thrifts this last week. This is a huge amount of old buttons I got from 5 bags at $3.99 each. There are multiples of some cards, many from the 1940's to the 1960's and some newer. I love finding any kind of old sewing notions. I can't wait to find a good use for these.

I found these pattern books and transfers while in Yakima, Washington. I love old knitting baby pamphlets. Two of these I had back in the mid 1970's when my daughter was born. I look forward to trying out a few patterns to donate to one of the baby charities. I also collect old embroidery transfers. Here is one of monograms and the other is animals for a baby quilt. Can you see a trend here?

Last but not least is a bunch of yarn from some grab bags. One and a half skeins of Noro, some Vanna White, three skeins of sock yarn and some assorted orphan skeins. I make a lot of hats and scarves to donate, both to homeless teens and adults. I really like taking forgotten and abandoned yarns, and knitting them into useful objects. To me it is all about being creative and finding something beautiful in otherwise cast off materials. Now to get busy!!

Some finished projects

This is a scarf I just finished using one skein of Gossamer by Karabella. I got this yarn in a grab bag of yarn from my local thrift store. It is a simple garter stitch with 34 stitches cast on to size 12 needles. I just knit until the yarn was gone. I love the way the tinselly gold and silver bit sparkle in the smokelike mohair.

The second project is a quilt I just finished. I chose a simple pattern to show off this fabric from Moda. I used one of their Layer Cakes called "Dear Louisa" after Louisa May Alcott, author of "Little Women". I loved this book, reading it over and over again when I was in grade school. I think it is the reason for my love of reading. Whatever was going on in our chaotic household, I could lose myself in the adventures of Jo and her sisters. I am calling this quilt "An Old-Fashioned Girl" after one of her lesser known books. I consider myself an old-fashioned girl in my love of quilting and knitting.

A Great Thrifting Day

So it was a great day to go thrifting today. I found a couple of bags in the knitting aisle with some great things in them.

My cat, Maya had to inspect everything and give her approval.

I paid about 12.00 for what you see. I love the balls of cotton. I can see lots of washcloths and bibs in my future. The crinkly looking pink yarn looks like some Mission Falls 1824 yarn that I have in several other colors already.

My first blog post

I finally decided to join the rest of the world and start a blog.  I will be talking about my life as a crafter, a reader and a thrift store addict.    I call my blog  "A Work in Progress" because I always have some project in the works.  I embroider, knit, crochet, quilt and sew.  It's also a reminder that we are all a work in progress and that if we become too complacent with ourselves, we aren't living up to our full potential.  So I hope you'll share with me all my adventures in living a creative life.

This is a doll quilt I made last year for a challenge on smallquilttalk a group on Yahoo for followers of Kathleen Tracy's books. You can find her at
http://sentimentalquilter.blogspot.com/