Thrifty finds, but no pictures of my studio…

Claire January 28th, 2008

I know that this isn’t a proper update on the room tidying – well there has been a lot, but it’s not quite finished yet, and I don’t want to post pictures of it until it’s done. I am replacing some of the stack a crates that don’t stack. David is quite happy about that as he can then use them in the cellar for some of the scenery he has for his tiny fighting men. I am replacing them with more of the clear plastic storage boxes that I am in love with. And I need more of them considering what I managed to find on Saturday.

I know that a couple of posts ago I was bleating on about the lack of decent craft materials in Nottingham (and judging from some of the comments, pretty much everywhere else for that matter..)but I really had to take it back on Saturday. I have been meeting up with my best mate Rach on Saturdays and doing a bit of charity shopping/thrifting. Where David and I have moved to is great for that as there’s about 7 decent charity shops on the main road. One of my favourites is the Nottinghamshire Hospice shop, a very worthy cause and the source of many bargains. I headed to the back where the bedding and doilies are kept and nearly screamed when I saw the pile of stuff I wanted. I got 4 packets of the Anchor soft embroidery cotton – they’re really old and none of them have been used. Included were some Anchor stranded cotton so they will go in with my stash. And underneath them in a basket were all these colours of crochet cotton and perle cotton (which I have also used for crochet) - 25p each…. My mate saw me with my arms full, asked the lady behind the counter for a bag for me and held my bags whilst I gathered… The bowl they are in is a large ceramic mixing bowl I got from the Scout shop for £2 (just to give you an idea of the scale). The poor lady behind the till is normally thinking I am crazy buying napkins and silk scarves and doilies reguarly. This kind of tipped her over the edge.

I then got some zips for 5p, and a lovely 70′s hen and chicks pre printed toy thing (there is a word for it but I’ll be blown if I can think of it after a day at work). And this box of cottons, complete with a thimble. Whilst I was paying for all my booty, I spotted another bag of stuff that had just been donated, and rummaged through to find yet more cotton, balls of 4ply cotton for facecloths and a kitsch knitting bag for 35p… I could have got more but felt I would then be greedy (like this isn’t…… Rach justified it by asking how much I would have paid for it in Hobbycraft, and what I will use them for, how many flowers and other bits I can get out of each ball of thread. She’s great like that bless her. Still thinking of going back later this week….. Apparantly when I came out of the shop I was looking quite flushed. I tell you, it was a beautiful thing….

I haven’t spent all my time/ money shoping -I have also spent quite a bit of time crafting, although I have yet to take pictures of them – I have managed to complete 5 embroideries for apron pockets and peg bags since Wednesday, so I am very pleased – will post pics of them later, when I have a bit more time to take nice pictures. And finish the room off for “unveiling” to the world…. Until then, xoxo

• pinky and boo , thrifting
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