Thrifting...

It has been awhile since I have shared some of my

Thrift Store

Treasures

Hangers w/Clips

79 Cents

These are great for hanging fabrics to dry

Rubber Stamps

99 Cents

Crayola Crayon Box

99 Cents

This holds 96 crayons neatly and is portable.

Plastic Tablecloths

99 Cents

These are great for covering your work surface

when painting and doing messy jobs.

Shower Curtain

99Cents

This is heavy, sturdy, plastic and will protect my work surface.

I rolled it on a swim noodle to keep it straight so when I lay it on the work surface it won't have any annoying creases.

It stands nicely in the corner, out of the way.

3-D Letters

$1.99

Back Side of the 3-D Letter Container.

I think these will be great to spell out words during photography.

Vintage Tool Box

$5

Needs to be cleaned up...

Scribble Paints Tool Box

I am partial to tool boxes...

They are cool to look at

and are a great way to organize.

Thread Shed Tool Box

Sewing related tools live in this box.

I can clean my machine, draft a block, sharpen a pencil, tighten a screw, etc.

This is my Go-To-Tool Box.

Hotfix Crystals Tool Box

Grommet Tool Box

Tiny Bowls...

I think these will make great pincushion dishes.

When I need to create a quick gift for a sewing friend,

I can stuff these and make cushions for pins!

Dish Pans

Many of the classes I teach are FUN and messy!

These dish pans are great to keep on the student tables

for easy clean up during class.

CLICK HERE to view Fabric Paper

CLICK HERE to view Cow Pony Quilt

CLICK HERE to view Binding Tips

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Magnetic Pincushions...

Today I spent the day making a few party favors...

Magnetic Pincushions

Click Images to Enlarge:

I have to admit....this was a fun project!

This little plate measures about 3 inches across.

It has a magnet glued to the bottom, so the pins stay put.

I found it at the thrift store for less than a dollar.

Wouldn't this be sweet on your sewing table, and it wouldn't take up much room either.

Very Round Kitty Cat

Just throw the pins at the plate, and they stick to it!

Rose

Polk a Dots

Ice Cream Sundae

Circles

Ice Cream Cone

These all came from thrift shopping.

What a great way to recycle...

Here is how I did it:

Glue a magnet on the bottom of each plate

You only need one heavy duty magnet (left plate)

or

3 Regular magnets (right plate)

All Purpose Adhesive works fine.

Time to wrap them up:

Square piece of sparkly tulle and ribbon make the perfect gift wrapping

Magnetic Pincushions ready for gift giving...

I think each one cost under $2 to make, including the wrapping.

Go get busy.....your friends would love one of these!

CLICK HERE to view my Quilt Label Tutorial

CLICK HERE to view my Texture Magic Tutorial

CLICK HERE to view my Iron Cozy Tutorial

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Found Treasures...

Here's the latest treasures that followed me home from the thrift stores:

All of these items will be put to use out in the Thread Shed

Click Images to Enlarge

Lilac Travel Iron

CLICK HERE to view my Iron Cozy Tutorial

A girl can never have too many Rowenta Irons !

This is the third one I have found at a second hand store this summer.

Do I feel lucky? You better believe it...

My jaw dropped to the ground when I saw this NEW Olfa Circle Cutter.

I have been eyeing these for a few years, just couldn't put out the $25 to buy one.

Glad I waited...

Plastic Rolling Pins

Great for wrapping with fibers for Rag Rolling.

Rubber bands wrapped around these make a great rolling stamp on fabric.

The plastic makes for easy clean up too.

Stencils and Stamps are always great for Textile Painting and Stamping on Fabric

The Power Strip will travel inside my sewing machine trolley case.

How many times do you get into class and there aren't enough outlets to plug in your machine, light, iron, etc.

The White Glue is perfect for making your own Fabric Paper

CLICK HERE to see my Tutorial

CLICK HERE to view more Fabric Paper

This junior size apron will be perfect for when I have a little visitor to the Thread Shed.

Here is an apron I stamped

My philosophy...NEVER underestimate a Thrift Store

CLICK HERE to see more Thrift Store Finds

CLICK HERE to view Tips

CLICK HERE to view Student Work

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Unpacking...

If there is a glamorous side to traveling and teaching...

Unpacking when you get home...

has to be the un-glamorous side~

I spent the day in the Thread Shed

Trying to get unpacked, organized & ready for my next class

Remember this photo from my travels in Idaho?

It takes a 4 wheel drive pick up to get all my teaching gear on the road to teach 5 classes in two weeks.

Now that I am home...

All that "stuff" has to go back where it belongs.

The first step was to take it out of the pick up...

And, unload it all in the Thread Shed...

Come on in and see what I have ahead of me today

Yes, it was difficult just getting inside...

This view really gets your blood pumping...

At this point, I was ready to run out of the room screaming...

But, I remembered a few fun things, packed in those containers, that I found treasure hunting in our travels....

I am a strong advocate of shopping at thrift stores & garage sales.

Here is what I brought home on this trip:

Vintage Metal Tool Boxes

These are incredible for storing and organizing small supplies & notions in your sewing room...

CLICK HERE to see what I use them for

Botanicals

Leaf Wall Paper & Copper Leaf Light switch Plates

These will find their way into Mixed Media Quilts

CLICK HERE to view Mixed Media work

Scraping Tools

These will scrape paint off fabric & paper

Wooden Letters

I plan to use these for sun dyeing on fabric

CLICK HERE to view sun dyeing

Quilt Pounce.....Iron-Off Powder

For Marking your Quilting Lines on Fabric

CLICK HERE to see how I use Quilt Pounce

Silicone Bake Ware

The Thrift Stores are flooded with this stuff

I don't plan to bake with it...

I plan to stamp with it...

When you turn it over, there is a flat surface to apply paint, then stamp on fabric or paper.

CLICK HERE to view stamping

Metal Iron Trivet

Found at an Antique Store in Idaho for $1

When I teach, I carry my travel iron.

This metal trivet is lightweight and can travel with the iron.

Peacock Feathers

Perfect for Jello Printing & Sun Dyeing

CLICK HERE to see Jello Printing

CLICK HERE to see sun Dyeing

Bass Rubber Fish

This was easily my favorite treasure of the trip!

I plan to use it for jello printing and stamping...

Found at garage sale for 50 cents

It was one of those talking fish mounted on a wooden board.

Brad removed it from the board for me!

So.....I spent my day, cleaning, organizing and finding treasures.

Not such a bad day after all...

This is how Gunnr spent his day...

Gunnr & The Hens

Gunnr is the very best entertainment for the chickens!

The rooster plays hide 'n seek with Gunnr...

Gunnr spends his days captivated by the chickens!

I made time to enjoy the Hollyhocks now in bloom!

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn