Thursday 13 February 2014

Charity Shop Tales 13

It's been approximately 3 months now since I've done one of these posts.  I think with Christmas and paying off my credit cards I just haven't had any spare cash to spend, so I've almost completely curbed my habit of shopping in charity shops, although not quite, as old habits do die hard and it is all in a good cause. 

From time to time, I do still pay the odd favourite local charity shop a visit if I'm passing and last week was a case in point.   I was in town (the town centre of the borough in which we live) and I couldn't help popping into one of my all time favourite charity shops.  It was in danger of having to close not long ago, due to the rent being increased, but thankfully got a reprieve, so whenever I'm in the vicinity during opening hours, I do like to go in and take a look.  I didn't have a lot of money in my purse, but the few pounds I did have I was happy to put into the coffers of a local charity.

As is often the case when you have a few spare pounds, you can't actually find anything that suits and this sadly was the case on this occasion.  My book pile is almost toppling over so I resisted my usual urge to buy a couple of books. 
 
They had some interesting vintage clothes in there this visit, but sadly they were very small sizes and wouldn't have come anywhere near my frame.  Shame.  I consoled myself, as always, by being drawn like a magnet to the tins/baskets of sewing paraphernalia/fabric and came away with a couple of bits and pieces. 

First, was this piece of vintage fabric, which looks like it has been cut from the hem of a dress.  I really liked the colours and the print on it and as I already have some similar fabric from the same era, I'm thinking of using them together in some sort of patchwork project.  Not sure quite how yet.  I need to give it a bit more thought.  I think it's a kind of Tricel type synthetic fabric from the 1950's/60's even, so it's not the easiest to work with, but I'd like to do something with it as the print is so striking.

 
I also bought a couple more unused reels of vintage cotton in pink/purple colours as pictured.   They still had the original wraps on.  I can never resist these.  They will be added to my basket of cotton and will hopefully be used at some point.  All three items together cost me £1, which was very inexpensive and just goes show that small pleasures can still be found and don't have to cost too much.

6 comments:

  1. That is a very striking fabric! I too love old reels of thread - I have a big sweetie jar filling up with old wooden reels, but those are gorgeous with their wrappers. The green one looks especially appealing!
    x

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    1. I must admit that I can never resist them when I see them and they often work out way cheaper than buying new. I love your sewing room. It looks like a very creative space.

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  2. I like the print, look forward to seeing what it ends up as!

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    1. I need to get my thinking head on but I think I'll probably try to use iron on interfacing with it to make it a little easier to work with.

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  3. Yes I look forward to seeing how you use that great fabric and I too have a storage jar filled with old wooden cotton reels !

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    1. I'd never be able to work in a Charity shop like you Penny. I'd be spending money every day I was there.

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