After it had finished belting it down with rain first thing, I drove to Llandod to get my groceries for the week. I had to go and buy some white embroidery floss from Bonne Marche, and across the road is a cheap as chips charity shop, so I thought I would at least look through the window. It was busy (mainly as I think new stuff goes out for Monday). I could see two ladies fossicking through a box of what appeared to be craft things. One walked away from it, so I went in and took her place. I am glad I did! When I paid,they told me that the chap had literally only just bought that box of stuff in, so I did time it right! Here is what £5 bought me:
42 x Anchor embroidery flosses; 7 Madeira ditto; a skein of green perle floss; 6 heavier cotton embroidery floss. A fat quarter of pretty daisies on a black background.
Four quilting stencils.
2 metres Moda? patchwork fabric in cream and white.
Didn't I do well?
All the things I had ordered also arrived today. My Fungi design metal drinking bottle; the wooden easel I need for Fairs, bringing me up to 3, plus my Cotton Trader parcels of slip on shoes and crop jeans, and thermals.
Danny and his mate came yesterday and took the big birch chest of drawers from the kitchen, so for the first time since we moved in, I don't have anything on the angle of the L-shape turn. I can feel the energy flowing properly now, instead of being blocked. I can just walk across and turn the light on without leaning over anything. (I don't now who decided to put the light switch behind the upright beam).
I made some Banana Muffins yesterday. They called for Buttermilk, which I never have in, so I used a small tub of set yoghurt (Vanilla) which needed using, combined with milk to make the right quantity, and they turned out really well, and rose amazingly. I will put up photo and recipe tomorrow.
I know some of you do Family History. I belong to a Genealogy group on Facebook, and enjoy reading about other people's research problems - and there's always lots of people happy to help. There was a mention of someone's middle name she was struggling to read. Turns out the child had been called Daisy Deepsea (then a surname after). I bet that was a unique name!
I spoke to the Heating Engineer company this morning and they offered me £30 towards lost food. Works out £36 with less VAT so I accepted that. I've left the little freezer turned off for the moment so just got Scampi and frozen Smoked Haddock to go in the main one.
Oh, and it was a day for nice things, as the fruit trees are on offer at £7 each (2 for £12) at Tesco again, so I bought a Cox. They also had 100 pink and purple bulbs for £10. I thought that a good deal and they are so pretty. The ones I bought last year (50 for £5) put on a great show in planters.
Back in the morning.
Wow! That is a very good charity shop haul for an amazingly low price. Daisy Deepsea sounds a time traveller from the Isle of Wight Festival. Groovy!
ReplyDeleteIt was a very groovy name for a Victorian! That is a very cheap charity shop and often has some very good buys in it. I got a wooden farm set for Iarna last year - they only wanted £1 for it, but I gave them more.
DeleteA great bargain from the charity shop. A positive day all round.
ReplyDeletePlus I missed the rain - didn't go out until it had stopped chucking it down, and literally, as I shut the door from unpacking the car, it began again. I was delighted with my crafting things.
DeleteMy goodness, what a great haul of crafting items. Very inexpensive.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
There was a lot left in the box too - lots of fat quarters, some perspex quilting rulers, patterns for various blocks (in sealed bags), and some rather elderly crafting books.
DeleteGreat finds! Tho sad, do you think the man just lost his crafting wife. She'd be pleased you took them. What are the black edged packages bottom left, I can't read the labels.
ReplyDeleteGood the heating company manned up and paid for your food loss. And big dresser/ chest is now gone, good. Sounds like a successful day.
It did sound that way (or she'd gone into a home). Either way, other folk benefit. The black edged packages are Madeira embroidery floss. Patterns never call for Madeira, so just to use if I need that colour.
DeleteI thought they would be helpful. £84 is a lot better than £120 as a bill anyway.
You found super craft bargains, almost free for so many goodies. Nice to buy a fruit tree too.I bought a Fuji apple tree three years ago, my newest fruit tree.
ReplyDeleteThey were almost free, but that was what they charged! I told Tam about the fruit trees and she may get a plum.
DeleteHoly cow, did you ever luck out! That charity shop find was amazing, and you were meant to find it!
ReplyDeleteWell, it was meant to be, that's for sure, as the chap had literally only just left the shop after leaving the box! The fabric was the big bit of luck as it's about £13 a metre in Doughty's.
DeleteWhat a bargain! I can't imagine how much all of it would have cost at regular prices. sounds like a very good day. I can't bear a cluttered kitchen or clutter anywhere for that matter. My sensitive brain gets overwhelmed. Clutter is different to my arfully displayed collectons of vintage things although some, (many), might not get the distinction. My day did not go as well as yours. I was out for several hours and when I got home the dogs, usually well behaved if left, had ripped the sofa to pieces. Fabric and foam everywhere. It's ruined. Fortunately I have a loose cover I can put on it but there is a noticeable concave shape to the front. As we are moving I'll treat myself to a new one but it is an expense I wasn't counting on.
ReplyDeleteThe embroidery floss alone is £1.20 + for a skein -I had just paid that for some white from the little wool shop opposite. So the Anchor flosses were £50 worth to buy new. I don't like clutter either, but have run out of room to put stuff because of having Danny's and Tam's stuff here - some quite big bits including an armchair and a bamboo table of Tam's in the Library, baby stuff etc.
DeleteSorry your dogs destroyed the sofa. Perhaps they can sense the change happening. My lovely old dog Tara, when a puppy, destroyed the sofa, and then shredded two expensive drilled foam pillows I'd had as a wedding present (1st time round) and you would not believe how million pieces she chewed THOSE into!
What a wonderful find at the charity shop good for you. Re the spiral pattern it might not be as complicated as you think. I used to look at Bargello quilts and thing I could never do that but I've made three now and I think the spiral would be made in the same way by making strip sets first and then using the triangle rulers to cut the shapes. I'd be interested to see what you think after you have read the instructions. I'm thrilled with my bargello quilts and the sense achievement and much easier than I thought.
ReplyDeleteShirley from Perth Australia.
Hi Shirley. My quilting teacher had encouraged the ladies to make Bargello quilts and they looked amazing. I have several quilting projects planned, so if I try Bargello it will just be a cushion! I imagine you're thrilled to bits with yours as they do look wonderful.
Deleteyou really did score a bargain! I think I have those quilt stencil patterns too.
ReplyDeleteI was very lucky, and they are things I will use. That said, the Bargello type rulers are going to be used (largest one anyway) for a Christmas Tree skirt.
DeleteI don’t wish to put ideas into your head BB, but have you come across or used Weeks Dye Works silks? They are variegated and therefore do the work of shading for you - thinking of Peter Rabbit here. They are very subtle, not at all like the Anchor or DMC variegated threads one sometimes sees. I discovered them through stitching Midsummer Sprigs about 11 years ago now, an Alicia from Posie gets cosy design. Some of my yoga group made a raid on the half price seeds after yoga yesterday and somebody mentioned the two for £12 apple trees at Tesco. How can they possibly sell them so cheaply. My bare-rooted maiden apple trees bought and collected direct from the grower Paul of Chidham were about £25 each six years ago and even in 2001 the bare rooted maiden trees I bought from Wisley for the allotment were £50 for three trees. The mind boggles at Tesco’s treatment of their suppliers …. I was sensible yesterday and only bought seed of Musselburgh leeks, acorn squash and Cosmos Purity. I’ve decided not to grow potatoes this year (a big decision as I’ve grown potatoes every year since 2001, and back in the day I would plant about 90 seed potatoes) and I missed my window for planting hardneck garlic back in the autumn. I usually plant 60 garlic - a year’s supply, but I lost about a third of the garlic last year to the wet weather and sodden ground. So from now on I’m only growing easy to grow and harvest veg that is at its most delicious eaten straight after picking and for me that will be asparagus, radish, rocket, broad beans, leafy greens of chard and spinach, courgettes, sweetcorn and French beans. The squash plants will be planted on top of a compost heap so will be no work and not take up valuable growing space, and who can resist a leek dug straight from the ground and there will be tomatoes, chillies and basil in the greenhouse. Will Danny help you with veg growing this year? I remember he started a plot last year but cannot remember if you harvested much. It was a bad year last year, even for me in the south of England: pathetic squash, five sowings of French beans needed before germination and disappointing garlic so don’t worry if nothing much came of yours. This year will be better - the triumph of hope over experience! I ended my nice day - yoga, a cup of tea with friends at the garden centre cafe, a local walk in the afternoon with saving £200 off the quoted price when renewing car insurance. This was with Direct Line and S has always sorted out the cars but cannot do it anymore. They wanted to charge me £100 more for a new policy as S was no longer going to be the policy holder. I argued that I was already a policy holder with them and by removing a driver from a vehicle it should be less not more. I did play the disabled, no longer driving card quite strongly and had to ask to talk to a more senior person, but I got the result I was after. Things aren’t good for S at the moment and on Thursday we have a neurological team assessor coming to the house to ensure I’m doing everything to make the house safe. I think it will be one of those tick box exercises but one has to show willing. It’s all a bit depressing really. Still, we have to keep positive and what will be will be. I know you and millions of others have walked or are walking the same path. Have a good day BB. That daisy fabric fat quarter would make a lovely sun bonnet (Free download from Purl Soho of Liberty Sun Bonnet) for Rosie. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of them but just looked them up and they are beautifully subtle. However, I would have to start all over buying threads - have 150 - 200 of the DMC and Anchor ones . I don't know how Tesco can sell the trees so cheaply, but someone is happy to supply them. A sunbonnet would be a great idea using that daisy fabric.
DeleteWe had a very bad year for Garlic too - seems to have been the Bonsai variety! Tam didn't get around to planting hers, so I am about to put them in here in a big tub, and she wants the old plot at the top of the orchard for Squashes. We need to get a couple of big dumpy bags of topsoil though, as the guy with the digger removed it all when flattening it for the poytunnel.
Sorry that S isn't too clever at the moment and you have my sympathies as I can remember it all too clearly myself. I hope the Neurological team assessor has some ideas, if needed.
I would weep if I had made that donation and saw how little it had made for the charity.
ReplyDeletePrices/values vary from charity shop to charity shop, and where they are. The ones in Hay-on-Wye are expensive - we paid £25 for a down jacket there. In the bigger towns, some charity shops are like blardy boutiques and priced accordingly. Llandrindod is a small town, so things are priced accordingly - they can't have things sitting around too long as they get quite a few donations and they would soon run out of room. The Bracket Trust Charity prices a little dearer, but even so that lovely jacket I bought recently was only £6.
ReplyDeleteIt's good when you can be in the right place at the right time, and after the freezer fiasco you deserve a bit of good luck.
ReplyDeleteThose embroidery threads have come to the right home, haven't they! I had very few when I started my City & Guilds course, many years ago now, but fortunately I found a shop selling off old stock and gobbled them up. I'm glad I did - not only did they make a trillion samples over the course of 6 years, but I found that a single strand will repair ladders/holes in fine merino garments invisibly.
ReplyDeleteI am jealous of your haul. There's enough there to last you quite a few years. You will never have to buy anything again for your crafty activities.
ReplyDelete