THE FREE GIVEAWAY

Every fall, my church has a free clothing and housewares exchange. I donated six garbage bags of very fabulous stuff that my family no longer needed/wanted and I took home one small bag of so-so fabulous stuff. I got a vintage fur coat that I intend to make into Christmas pillows that I will place next to my Hudson's Bay blanket pillows that I made; also a thrift store treasure. I will be able to enjoy my snuggley fur pillows in the privacy of my home without PETA activists throwing paint at me.

I went to the exchange wanting to pick up some old blue jeans that I could cut into squares and sew into a blue jean rag quilt. I have made a few of these quilts over the years and think they make great picnic blankets. I know it's a very 1996 project, but I like doing it and recycling the jeans into something useful. Instead of getting jeans, I found two boxes someone had donated full of precut blue jeans! Score! There must be a 1000 squares. Someone started the same project and didn't finish it. Is there a message there? Perhaps, since it was 15 years ago that these quilts were popular, maybe it is a dated, dumb idea; but guess what my girls are getting for Christmas? That's right. Blue jean rag quilts!

I always check out the fabric at sales to see if I can find anything I can't live without. Lately I have had such good luck and found enough material to restock my sewing stash that I have gotten rid of in the last few years. I found fabric to make these pillows, sweet baby flannelette for baby #4, vintage fabric for pillows for Meg, and enough material to make my daughters about a dozen skirts. I love free stuff!

HELLO DOILY

I am a sucker for doilies. I have bags and bags of them because I hate seeing them not being appreciated for their fine workmanship in thrift stores and flea markets; so I buy and store them thinking I will find a useful purpose. What to do with them since this is not 1930 and they are not part of my home style and I don't want to put them on every surface? They are now on display in my "shabby chic" room. Vintage doilies strung end to end make a jubilant banner. Prices can start at 25 cents so buying a dozen will only set you back a few dollars.

JUNKOLOGIST

I confess, I love old stuff and I am a junkologist. I am obsessed with all things junk and think I am the Queen of the Fabulous Finds. I have stopped the car to pick up things that others have thrown away on more than a few occasions. I know all the thrift and consignment stores in town and I love a good garage sale. I will be blogging about some of my treasures and their transformation from junk to "fabulous junk", because sharing these finds is half the fun.

This is a dusty, musty armoire that I found at a thrift store that I am going to transform into something fabulous. Stay tuned for the finished product.