25 July 2009

We've been enjoying a lovely, relaxing visit with Ryan's parents in the North this week so I've been much too busy poolside to open my computer to blog. It's tough to spend a week watching Oliver enjoy his grandparents, being fed delicious food and taking a break from keeping my house, but somebody has to do it! :)

This morning Ryan's Mama and I snuck away for about an hour to see what their town has to offer in the way of yard sales. It was certainly a far cry from the intense Saturday morning bargain hunting to which I have become accustomed, but it was nice and relaxed and I was quite satisfied to walk away with just a few little treasures all for under $4.

Here is what I found:

$1.10 - a bundle of 14 wooden quilting/cross stitching hoops - something I've been planning to buy at the fabric store, so you can imagine my delight at this treasure!


How on EARTH do I plan to use fourteen hoops?

So glad you asked! I came across this picture on a blog recently (wish I could remember which one!) and fell in love with the idea of displaying various sizes of circles of lovely fabric on the wall as art. I have become particularly fond of Anna Maria Horner's fabric designs and plan to hit Etsy for some fat quarters with my remaining birthday money! Hurrah for lovely things! (and hurrah for finding things you need on the cheap!)

(not my photo)

{quick update: one sweet blog reader just shared this afternoon that she and her husband actually make these in larger hoops and sell them to be hung in offices or study spaces as bulliten boards. Check out her blog to see beautiful photos of their work.}


$0.25 - A nice pair of "snippers". I had no idea what these are but my mother-in-law has informed me that they are quite useful for snipping threads as I sew. They are spring loaded, sharp and tiny, and I imagine she is quite right about their usefulness! Thanks for the heads up!!


$0.25 - I know, it's kind of ghetto to buy cosmetics at yard sales, but... I did it. I dug through a sealed free sample bag from Clinique and found this untouched-by-human-hands (or lips!!) tube of lipstick. I like the color and it cost a quarter - I'm going for it!


$0.25 - And finally, a lovely bracelet that I'm wearing even as I type. I'm not a big jewelry fan (never felt like I could pull it off), but this is small and simple and I love this color. I'm really happy about it!


I just realized that I didn't list a tuck-n-run find for the day. Hmm... I think I know what it would be, but I'd love to hear what you think! Which of the 4 items I bought today would you say were my biggest prize?

Oh, and before Mr. Linky, I do want to show you what I found at a consignment sale last week for my sweet sister and brother-in-law who are expecting to retrieve their twin boys from Ethiopia sometime this fall. She's had the Joovy Big Caboose on her wish list for almost a year now, but never a spare $400 lying around the house to make it happen. So, you could imagine my delight when I found myself browsing a sale last week and spotted this in the corner of the room...
... for $40!!!

Um, SOLD! And, yes, my sister was THRILLED! That can be my tuck-and-run for last week for sure! (And, did I mention that this stroller is compatible to carry to infant carriers in those front seats and there's a jump seat in the back for a certain 2-year-old little girl to either sit or stand and ride.

Okay, enough about the stroller.

Now, I'm dying to hear about your finds! You can link either what you found this week OR last week since I was totally negligent about posting. Post and share!!!



Oh, and don't forget to tell me what you think is my best buy of the day!
Happy Weekend!

17 comments:

Martha said...

Well, of course, your Tuck-N-Run is definitely the 14 hoops and especially since you were going to buy them anyway at some point. It's been a lazy morning in SC so I didn't go out yard saleing. In fact, it's 1:05 and I am sitting here in jammies. Gotta get up and get busy though since I've been wasting a beautiful day. Need to get out and get my vitamin D. Have a nice remainder of your visit with the in-loves (laws) and don't get too spoiled.

Martha said...

btw, you will really really enjoy the little snipper scissors. I've loved them for years.

The Guerra's said...

I think your tuck and run is the hoops! That is such a great idea for what you are going to use them for! So cute!

Molly said...

Oh! I just did the fabric portraits in Peanut's room about a month ago. Such a great way to bring some color and personality to a room! GREAT deal. I won't mention what I paid for mine...

Lauren said...

i love the fabric/hoop idea! what a great decorating tip... may have to steal that one, though it'll be hard to find that many hoops for that cheap. so cute.

Marisa said...

Love seeing what you come up with. The queen of Yard Sales. :) I added a link with another idea for the hoops...maybe something to go in the awesome green office space you guys finished. LOVED it. Hope you're doing well, girl.

B. said...

Its not ghetto if it is still in sealed package untouched! Its a great deal then!

Jen said...

I thought the tuck and run was the bracelet!

I don't have a blog but have to brag up my rummage sale find of the week. We have a 6 month old son and my husband, a civil engineer, has been collecting road signs for years now, just in case we ever had a boy. Well, at a sale on Thursday, I found a traffic light! Working! For 10 dollars. I thought it was a steal and it will look SO CUTE when we do his bedroom. I pray Abram loves all things construction the way it sounds like Oliver does!

SLM said...

Hey there!

Please pass my name/blog on to your friend who adopting twins in Ethiopia. My husband and I adopted twin boys in Vietnam two years ago. I love connecting with other adoptive moms, especially those who are adopting twins.

Oh, and I love the idea of the hoops. Very cool! I may need to steal that.

the story of us said...

we didn't GO to sales, we HAD a sale - and today everything (mostly) was .25 - you'd have loved it (but don't know if i had anything for you!)! :) glad you are enjoying your time up "north" (though still not as far north as we are!). enjoy this time with your ryan's family! :)

Whitney said...

Your sister is a lucky gal to have a thrifty sister on the lookout for her. For me, the tuck & run would be the lipstick. Thanks for sharing the idea with the hoops. I may have to try that!

Taylor said...

Love your yard sale posts so much! I wish I had more time to yard sale, but not yet! I also love the embroidery rings with fabric idea, I've been wanting to do that for a long time too! I saw the idea on apartmenttherapy.com using on a wall in a kid's room. I want to do it for a kid room, but we don't have kids yet! Thank you for sharing the fun finds (Clinique lipstick for .25? Totally not ghetto, awesome!) and can't wait to see the finished fabric project!

Taylor

Anonymous said...

Raechel,

Just found your fun blog!
I vote for the Snippers as the best find.

Let's talk fabric, as I have some that I would like to share with you before it goes on my Etsy store.

Tori

Lexi said...

Hi! I saw your comment on Mckmama! I wanted to share my website with you: Sugarandspice1.etsy.com
I will be donating a portion of all sales to the String of pearls to help families and babies like Stellan! I am trying to get it out there in any way I can! Please let your family, friends etc. I would really appreciate it!
Thanks!! :)
-lexi
Sugarandspice4baby.blogspot.com

Katy said...

I have fabric framed in my house, its an instant piece of art! very fun finds!

Kameron said...

I finally did my first yard saling adventure! Thanks for the inspiration. I love the fabric in the hoops idea. I may have to borrow it for the nursery!!

Dana said...

I'm seriously GREEN over your tuck and run. And those hoops are a GREAT GREAT idea. I'm going to do a wall in my bedroom...if only I can find a set of 14 for under a buck! Unfortunately Canadian yard sales are hard to come by...too cold ;)