Life on The Rock: April 2012

Thursday, 19 April 2012

Holy Thirfting Batman!

I've only been thrifting once so far this week. Its been a hectic few weeks. Between my now workaholic status, and Brads unpredictable, inconsistent work schedule, it's been hard to find the time. I did however purchase my first item of clothing. It was an interesting experience. It took a lot of time. But I saved money. So I guess I can't really complain. I didn't get a large volume of items, but I got some stuff Im happy about, and its useful! I'll showcase this weeks items, as well as a few from thrifts past (but stuff I've never shown you here). Enjoy!

So here we go:

As a child I had a friend whos family had bowls very similar to these. I have fond memories of eating Presidents Choice White Chedder Mac and Cheese out of them in front of the TV. I got this little set of four for 3.99 minus 30%, because there was a managers special on housewares. They're so freakin pretty.

Vintage Tupperware - literally tupperware brand. The larger items are vintage Thermos's. LOVE. I never check the "plastics" isle, because its usualy dollar store CRAP. Not this time. Im going to keep my eye out from now on. Not to mention the tupperware was 3 for .99 cents. (Is there not a cents symbol of the keyboard? Am I just noticing this now?)

My first thrifted clothing purchase. A pair of jeans, for work no less. The other pair that I used to wear EVERYDAY had huge holes in the knees. Hey what can I say? Im crawling on the floor with kids ALL DAY. They were 6.99, they're Bluenotes Brand, so they probably would of retailed for about 25 or 30 bux, not bad, but hey I didnt want to spend that much for jeans that in a few months time will look as bad as my old ones.

Umm I kind of love her. A lot. Im (mildly) obsessed with Wrkinles dogs - not the actual dogs, just the ones made by Ganz. I always wanted one as a kid, but sadly never recieved one. I have three now, all thrifted. I have a big one (with original hang tags!!!!) that I got last year in Toronto at a goodwill for $2. As well as a sitting one that I got the same day at the big one at a salvation army for $1.49. This pretty lady (who is wearing a superhero outfit!) was 1.99, shes small, and has a hole in the back of her head for your finger to go.

A little tiny Pyrex bowl (this piture makes her look huge). Im keeping her, shes cute and small. I think she'd look awful yummy with strawberries in her. Mmmmm. She was $1.99.

Im all set for my next potluck. Haha. Ive never, ever participated in a potluck. But Im sure these will come in handy one day. The one on the left is Rubbermaid, the one on the right is Tupperware. Im pretty sure the Tupperware one used to have a handle that attached, but it was nowhere to be found. Oh well.

My Grandmother on my Fathers side adored Peter Rabbit. When I was small she gave me a stuffed Peter, but unfortunatly hes long gone now. When she passed away eleven years ago I got to take her Peter, the exact same one she'd given me. Whenever I see anything related to Beatrix Potter I think of her. When I saw a baggie filled with these (numbers 1 through 8) for $1.99 I had to have them. I had several as a child, as well as dishware, all gifted to me from her. One day I will put these in a nursery.

This little bit of happiness I found in a gameboard box after I bought it (thrifted obviously). Right away I recognized it, but Google had to help me figure out what it was actually called. They were made by Galoob in 1989 and were called "So Small Babies" there were animal ones like this little guy, and babies. As a young child I had a yellow and blue dog one of these. MIP they go for a lot of money. Id never sell this fella though, hes just too cute!

Hope you enjoyed checking out my thrifted goodness!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cap Creations

Sunday, 15 April 2012

Snail Mail v.2

I have a tendency to buy online - a lot. Usually from Ebay (I do find that Etsy is mildly overpriced - not to mention the prices are set), and only if I think its a deal. Im usually drawn to buy it now or best offer auctions, but I will bid if the price is low enough. I also love getting mail. Which makes this a totally win win situation. Good deals on stuff I want (usually vintage/collectables) and snail mail! Woot woot!

Another package arrived this week, and on Friday too! Theres nothing better than Fridays and mail - especially when combined. If you havn't already figured it out - Im a little obsessed with vintage Sesame Street. I was a die hard fan as a kid, and still have very vivid memories of many of Sesame Streets classic clips and songs ex. We all sing with the same voice, Everybody eats, Everybody sleeps, Somebody come and play, Two little girls and a little doll house...I could go on, but I'll spare you. You can find all these clips on Youtube. If your anything like me, you can spend hours on youtube searching for and watching old tv clips from your childhood years.

Ok, I'll stop rambling, on to the goods!

A 1977 Sesame Street "Light and Learn" game. Although its not really a game, but more of a learning tool. I guess it could be considered a game if your like 3, but to me its just vintage goodness! And...

IT STILL WORKS! Woohoo! Like my demo? As if you wouldn't just believe me. The graphics are super cute, and so many of the classic characters are on it - like one of my favs Rosevelt Franklin!

I paid less than five dollars for this awesomeness, and Im oh so pleased.

Saturday, 14 April 2012

Thrift-a-polooza!

Hello! And welcome to another week of my thirfy finds. I didn't go thrifting as much as I have the past few weeks, because Brad and I are starting to get really serious about buying a house, because renting sucks; and also, housing prices are rising (which is totally lame - as theres no reason they should be especially in THIS province - but whatever thats just my opinion. But Im totally not bitter about it...) so yeah - houses cost money, and itd be great to get in when its not insanely crazy expensive. So Id like some money to buy a house with, which means maybe I should cut down on the excessive spending. I mean I know its only thirfting and the stuffs super cheap anyway, but it really starts to add up people!

My living room looks like Value Village jr. and If I dont get it all listed on etsy (correction - EBAY. Im not going to use Etsy for the time being) soon, Im going to end up on the next episode of hoarders. Not good. Not to mention, I want my living room back, please and thanks.

So heres what I got this week:

How cute! Little sheep dog figurine! Hes marked with a Gift Craft sticker, made in Taiwan. Despite his cuteness, I'll be selling him (on Ebay, because Im not doing Etsy anymore! - more on this later).

How cool is this. well ok its not that cool, its just a mug with the Robin Hood flower logo, but its old and I like old. Its made in England, and the freaking people at value village had this marked for 1.99 sometimes I get so mad when they price things that are older, higher. UGHHH!

I think Brad likes this more than me. Ha. I really like the pictures, the inside is pink, with a little mirror and a ballerina who still dances to the tune "love story".

Love vintage aprons, this one looks handmade. Its the second in my collection.

How odd that last week I found the Girl Talk game, and this week I find six Girl Talk books? Hmmm..These are for sale too.

I really like these, they both have a bit of what looks to be water damage, but I couldn't resist them. Not to mention they were only .99 cents each.

Mmmmm vintage stationary. Need I say more?

What Im assuming is the first sesame street record? I always passed by it - because it doesn't look anything like something sesame street would put out. But its sesame street all right!

Rody is an original 1984. YES! Hes living in my living room in the corner, hes going to live with me for a long time. Im going to let my future children love him.

Unfortunatly no "chunky" little people came with this, but I do remeber this well from my own childhood. I never did have one, but I played with it on several occasions elsewhere. Im debating whether or not I should sell it, or try to get the people that match and hold on to it. My future children will have many vintage toys.

Ahh an oldie, but a goodie. The Chatter phone. 1984. WITH its original pull string.

A STACK of vintage sheets and blankets. The Looney Toons are 1980 (two pillow cases), and the raggedy ann is a pillow case too (that I found in the valence section?). Two vintage blankets (I grabbed the hockey one for Brad, I doubt it was ever used its in such good shape), and a few more pillow cases and flat sheets (including the one Im using as the backdrop).

Overall a pretty decent week, if I don't say so myself!

Cap Creations

Her Library Adventures

Apron Thrift Girl

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Snail Mail

A vintage mint in box Ernie rag doll by Knickerbocker circa 1975. Brad ordered this for me on Ebay, it was Buy it Now for only $10.00. Score.

The back on the box shows all the Rag dolls that Knickerbocker produced in the series. I want them all. I've seen Bert - but out of package, and I havn't been able to find Betty Lou at all.

The graphics on the box are precious. This is the side, too cute!

Grampa showed up yesterday. Hes from the 1960's, hes made by Joyce Miller and was distributed by Sears Roebuck Co. Hes the non - talking version, and Ive seen them listed for quite a few bucks, but we got him for $12.00. Hes in great shape for his age. One odd feature is that you can undress him...I mean an elderly man doll is kinda weird as it is, but the fact that you can undress him...I mean, I think thats taking it a bit far! Haha!

Did you get anything in the mail this week?

Monday, 9 April 2012

Hoppy Easter!

I had the best of intentions to do this post yesterday, ON easter, but I let the day slip away from me, and spent most of it lazing around watching tv and catching up on my knitting projects (all easter related). Despite all that effort - or so I though I only completed two projects, both which were more than half way done to begin with. Hmmm, so where did the rest of my day go I wonder? I guess every once in a while its nice to have a day to do nothing but laze around. I still have a bunch of easter knitting to do but more on that on Wednesdays Yarn Along.

Brad and I had a quiet Easter, we didnt make plans to drive out to visit his family, they live five hours away and its a bit of a treck, as you can probably imagine. Easter kind of snuck up on me this year, and I didnt think to make Easter dinner plans (or supper as its refered to here in NL). So instead we had a nice breakfast of homemade waffles followed by too much easter candy - of course.

Here are some snapshots of the festivities:

Our Easter treats. Mine is the bigger basket, as well as the Muppets chocolate. Brad got the smaller basket. Oh well!

Two little bunnies I secretly knit for Brad on Easter Eve. Free pattern found on Ravelry here.

Mmmm homemade waffles!

One of our cats Ollie investigating the haul. (I'll do a post on her and the other two soon).

Easter was never a huge deal growing up, Christmas was the "bigger" holiday. Although I do have fond memories of Easters as a child. Unfortuanatly I didn't believe in the easter bunny for long, I couldn't really wrap my head around a giant bunny delivering eggs; I did however firmly believe in Santa for quite some time, but he is a human after all - and I think thats why my belief in him was so real. My mother made me (well I guess I shouldn't say "made") hunt for easter treats with my younger brothers until I was 18, but at least she didn't make us divide our eggs evenly between each other like she did when we were small (something I always hated to do - finders keepers was my moto). In our family we only ever went to Church on Easter Sunday, I hated it, but there was one part that I looked forward too. Little chocolate eggs would be hidden in the pews, and before the service would start Id run around and steal, I mean gather, as many of those eggs as I could carry before too many people entered, and since I would always be wearing a dress - which coincidently wouldn't have pockets, I would stuff said eggs in my pantyhose for safe keeping. Needless to say, it wasn't long before the eggs would melt and Id be a chocolaty mess.

I hope everyone had a safe and Hoppy Easter! Thanks for stopping - or should I say hopping? (hehe) by!

Friday, 6 April 2012

Mmmmmm Thriftalicious

Another very successful week in thrifting! WOOHOO! Brad and I went so many times it all seems like a blur! I think weve gone about four or five times in two weeks - and theres been new stuff everytime - stuff that I want! Bonus!

So heres some of what I found, a lot of this is going to be put in my Etsy shop - hopefully this week.

Three very random items to put together, but I was trying to cut down on the photos...Anywho! So I found these three little vintage treasures yesterday. The giant mug thing was mixed in with the actual mugs. I thought it was cute so I grabbed it. Its going on Etsy. The Metal plate is made in Japan and its a kansas Souveniour - Brad googled it and apparently its an ashtray?! Weird lookin ashtray if you ask me. This as well as the Walt Disney World paperweight are also going on Etsy.

I found this NOT in the book section. It was in the crafting/linen section burried under a bunch of random stuff. See! Digging works! The illustrations are really cute, its dated 1965 it was priced at 2.99 - I have some beef with the Value Village we go to, if an item is brandname or old - the price is almost always high(er), luckily books were 30% off that day. This too is going on Etsy.

Now this was interesting. I found this among the five billion vases. Its an old (very old) Blood Purifier bottle. The image on the label is really cool. The bottom is stamped T.C.W. CO. U.S.A. 10. I couldn't find another one online, so I don't know its value or anything. Another Etsy item.

This was in one of those clear plastic bags that they bag like items in for one set price. The bag was ripped open and as tempted as I was to just take this little gem out to only buy it and NOT the other CRAP that it was with, but this Value Village wont sell items that arn't priced. Grrr. So I had to buy the whole bag. One of these is listed on ebay for 30 bucks...I think thats a little steep. Mines going on Etsy - and not for 30, not even close.

Found these two pyrex dishes. The top one is made in England. I know very little about Pyrex - Im looking to sell both of these, but I couldn't find either of these exact pieces online. If anyone knows anything please let me know! :) (Or if anyone wants to buy them..hey thats cool too! Make me an offer!)

LOVE THIS. It has minor wear so its been used, but it has the BOX! AGHHHH so nice. Its made in Japan. Destined for Etsy as well!

I just want to thank the 30 something girl who decided she didn't want these jems from her childhood. Now my childhood self has them after having wanted them, but was too young to get them because she was five when they came out, and these are clearly not for five year olds. One of the Girl Talk dares is "put an icecube down your shirt and let it melt". I raised my eyebrows at that.

MORE PYREX. Again made in England. Again if anyone knows anything - please tell me!

Ahhh 80's plush. Mmmmm love it. The owl has all its original tags. 1989 Ganz (Etsy bound). Odie is 1983 - so soft, practically brand new - made by Dakin (Etsy bound).

These two look like they'd be very unlikely friends. The Dog is a bank (and it still has its rubber stopper!) It has a sticker on its paw that says giftcraft. It also has a flower pattern carved in its ears, seems kinda retro. The little partridge has a Made in Japan sticker on the bottom. Brad found one on Ebay listed at $95.00. WHAT?! These will both be on Etsy. The bird will NOT be listed for 95, maybe 90. Haha joking.

Vintage pillowcases and Mickey Mouse sheets for my ever growing fabric stash.

Vintage fabric. I think. Whatever it is, I LOVE IT.

When I saw this I did a little jig in my head. Its a 1971 Betty Crocker Recipe Box with Recipes (duh) I dont know if theyre (the recipes) all there - according to an Ebay listing I found there sappoused to be over 600. It doesn't seem to fetch to much online, so I might just keep it. Some of the recipe categories are "Mens Favourites" "Budget Casseroles" and "Recipes for Calorie Counters". Haha.

I love knitting, and I love vintage knitting patterns, especially children, baby and toy patterns. There was a while where I was finding tons of vintage pattern booklets, but these two are the first Ive found in a while. So precious. Funny thing is I've never knit anything from these patterns. One day I will.

I didn't even know Pyrex made mugs until I saw a post about them over on Jill's blog. Now that I have these though they are bringing back memories of my grandparents cottage. Im sure they had a bunch of these style of mugs there.