Birkenstocks on sale!

I forgot to tell you about the bargain Paula and I did get yesterday. We stopped in one of Dulcy's friends shops in Ozark, Leona's and a few doors down was a shop that said so and so wholesale company.BTW Leona's doesn't have made in China crap, they have wonderful stuff! Anyway...in the window were bras and furniture. I said we have to check this out! Well we were looking at sandals and the lady noticed I was wearing Birkenstock sandals, hot pink no doubt. She said they have Birkies for $29.00!! I almost peed my pants. I love the way they feel. I think they are really good for the pain in my legs from the fibromyalgia. I wish I could've gotten another pair, but one is better than none! Paula got a cute black pair with the bling and rhinestones too.

I take back all the complaining I did about the little town of Ozark! We just thought we were shopping for antiques, not shoes. But I must admit I don't have room in my house for One More Thing, but you can always find a place for one more pair of shoes! For you local girls, Leona's and the wholesale place are behind Lambert's.

Let the beauty we love be what we do...

Sheri

Dyeing wool today

What a beautiful Saturday morning. Cloudy with a few sprinkles, but it is cool outside. We've been experiencing the hot and muggies. I am not a hot weather fan. Maybe 'cause of the hot-flashes, but it makes me bitchy.

Today is the day we take our entries to the fairgrounds for the Ozark Empire Fair. It starts next Friday. I took two rugs to exhibit. I've lived here all my life and Never entered anything in the fair. I think it will be fun. Here's what I submitted. The first one is titled "Sunflower" and is my own design and the other one is "Herb Angel" by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farms.

On my sunflower rug I appliqued the sunflower petals and stuffed them with a little fiberfill. Then I beaded inside the flower. Gold and brown beads.

I also thought I'd show you the dyeing I did of all of my bargain thrift store and garage sale wool. I dyed for about three hours today. I only do two pots at a time, so it takes a little while. I rinse and spin in the washing machine and then dry it in the dryer. We took down our clothesline down a few years ago. But I think the wool get fluffier in the dryer anyway.

Yesterday my neighbor Paula and I went to Ozark, Missouri for some shopping. Ozark is known for its antique shops and flea markets. Well the antiques were outrageously priced and the flea markets only had fleas! What a disappointment. We did have a great lunch at a Mexican place on the town square. Excellent margaritas!! Here's Paula in front of one of the shops. This one had all stuff made in China. I hate that!!! Why call it a mercantile and put up the cute sheep sign? All to fool us, that's why. I expected a quaint little shop.

And here's me checking out a chicken (from China) I would like to see our local potters' chickens in our local shops!!

I guess I'd better stay in town and shop at the local garage sales where I know I can find a bargain. Some might call me a tightwad. I don't care!! I really hate to pay full price for anything. Like I said, it's the thrill of the hunt. Happy hunting to all of you,

Sheri

Garage sale shopping!

Hi all. Last Thursday I went to the thrift stores and Friday I went garage saling. I met the most wonderful lady who had crocheted shawls at her sale. She had tried to sell them at our local shops, but Springfield isn't known for people paying for what handmade things are worth. I don't think she probably sold them at her g.sale either, 'cause they were $70 and $80. Too much for us bargain hunters. I did find out that she is a spinner and a weaver and is involved in a local fiber arts group that meets in the fall, winter and spring. She invited me to come to the meetings in Sept.

After talking some she said, "I have some wool for sale that I was going to make a blazer out of, but never did." I said lets see! It's this beautiful tan herringbone. The price you ask???

3 yards for THREE DOLLARS!!!

I also paid $3.oo for the beautiful orange jacket. She had some mens wool sports coats but wanted $6 each for them. I explained that this is only my "bargain finding wool addiction:" She laughed and understood, besides I thought what if a man could really wear the jackets to keep himself warm? She took my phone number and called me after the sale and said How about free for the coats? I was in my car lickety split!! I took her a gift of one of the lavendar sachets that I had just finished. Tickled her to pieces!!

Also that day I found this great enamel pot with two handles on it. It does have a small spot of rust in the bottom and I'm kinda worried about dying in it? What do you guys think, has anyone ever used a pot with rust in it? I'll give it a try with a small piece of "ugly" wool first.

That about it for my bargain hunting except for a beautiful pair of rhinestone earrings. I have tons of them. My husband calls me a CROW, if I see anything shiny, I'll bend over and pick it up! Could be called many worse things!!!! I like crows anyway.

Have a great day and let me know what you think about the rust in the dye pot.

Sheri...Let the beauty we love be what we do.

Thrift store finds!

I went to our Wed. night hooking group last night and was talking about the great wool clothing I bought the day before and everyone was so surprised that the Salvation Army is still selling wool clothing in the summer! Well now I let the cat out of the bag... I was the only one in the group who knew. So I made it harder on myself to find the good stuff. Oh well I can't possibly use all of the wool I have now. It's just the thrill of the hunt.

My sister is always saying how I find such good stuff at garage sales. Well I get dirty and dig around in the boxes on the floor. That's where the hidden treasures are. And what fun it is to pull something out of a box and all the other shoppers say "Oh I didn't see That" Tee hee.... Here are my treasures from Tuesdays thrifting.

The red plaid skirt is almost as big as the yellow and brown blanket when it is undone. It's a wrap around skirt. Love those. I am getting pretty good at taking apart clothes. I know just where to cut now to get it done the fastest and with the least waste.

While at Simply Fibers hooking last night, this is what I did. I am going to make sachets out of them. Tammy suggested I use Fray Check on the edges to make it easier to sew on the backing. That girl is sooo smart!! That's why we call her "teacher". I will fill them with lavendar from our back yard. The whole house smells of lavendar as every flat spot in the house has a pan of it drying. I even put some in the vacuum cleaner bag. It really "smells up" a room when you do that.

Also last night I bought 2 yards of natural colored wool from Tammy. She lent me one of her dye books. Vermont Folk Rugs, Dyeing to get Primitive Colors on Wool by Laurilyn Wiles. I don't even need a specific color of wool, I just like experimenting in the dye pots. I have only done it a half a dozen times. She is such a talented dye artist. She sells her wool on Etsy and ebay as Skip to my Ewe. Be sure to check our her lovely woolens. She has good prices too!

I'm off to make the sachets...

Remember-- Let the beauty we love be what we do.

Sheri

These two are finished-almost

Today I finished these two rugs. The one with the sheep only needed an eye and ear. And I rehooked the lettering for our cottage. The picture shows it really bright, but the lettering is almost navy blue.

I know.... I can't really say they're finished 'cause the edges aren't finished. I think I'll just whip the linen to the back of the cottage rug. I'm going to hang it on the front door. With just a couple of small tacks. The sheep one I will make into a pillow to go on the love seat it is pictured on. I think it will look great. Our house isn't primitive, it's more cottage style. It was built in 1929 and is stucco outside and plaster and lath on the inside.

I love extreme primitive, but my hubby doesn't like it AT All!

I think the more chippy the paint the better!! He never complains about my decorating style though. Our bedroom is PINK and white very shabby chic. Poor guy. He knows that I change my mind all the time with decorating so he probably thinks it won't last that long!! I'll show some bedroom pics later.

Tomorrow I'm going to the thrift stores in my neighborhood. The Salvation Army and the Disabled Vets stores are within walking distance from our house. They usually have great sales. I won't pay full price for anything--- not even at thrift stores. That just wouldn't be thrifty!

Have a great evening,

Sheri