Thrift Store Jackpot

I have been shopping thrift stores ever since my teen years and it seems like these stores are becoming more popular--probably because of necessity for many and because "cheap is chic", as Better Homes and Gardens wrote this month.

 When you are a person that likes to sift through garage sales and thrift stores, you know that it can be hit or miss a lot of the time. A cool shirt here, a table you can redo there. And you have to be able to stand the stale smell of the store and really use your imagination.  (Why don't they put air fresheners in those places?)

This week, I couldn't believe the jackpot of cool stuff I found between two thrift stores. I can hardly find clothes I like or in good shape and I found 3 perfect sweaters! And I found out  Savers has 25% off every Monday-how could I have not known that? 

Here is a photo stream of what I found:

  Pretty lemon yellow linen napkins, oh, what shall I make with these? 

A nice Tupperware cake carrier! -(my husband thinks it might have been his mother's from when he was little--Tupperware does last forever!) And a nice Pyrex dish in pretty cream and orange. 

I couldn't believe someone wouldn't want this Swan Creek Candle in Pumpkin Vanilla-these high quality soybean wax candles normally cost around $15! 

 A cozy cotton button up cardigan in perfect shape and one of my favorite colors originally from Sears.

Short sleeved Italian Mohair blend sweater from the Limited, in a deep peacock blue to match my door.

 Another cute sweater in perfect condition  from A.N.A. JC Penney ,one of my favorite brands-will be nice with leggings and boots.

 A ruffled Vera Wang scarf in a perfect purple!

When I came home with my bags full of goodies at such great deals, I felt so blessed. It's the little things that make this girl happy!

DIY 3 Layered Fabric Pouf Brooch

I have been loving those little fabric pouf brooch/hair clip duo's I've been seeing in stores lately and was determined to figure out how to make one of my own, so I searched the internet high and low and found a few tutorials that helped me create my own version.

I also took a trip to this great non-profit art supply place called Scrap 4 Art, that will let you fill up a big bag of donated items for $6. They have lots of fabric scraps there, so I was happy to fill up a bag bring them to life again.

I'm excited to show you  my version of the pouf using three types of fabric to add color and texture.

Before you get started, you need to know that this project is not hard, but took me about 2 hours to do, so plan ahead!

Here's what you'll need:

1. two fabrics of your choice (I used one cotton vintage patterned and one polyester solid)
2.  tulle
3. thread
4. sewing needle
5. traceable object (like a jar lid)
6. sewing scissors
7. brooch pin back
8. glue gun
9. marker

Trace four circles on the fabric you want the base to be.

    Cut them out!

    Fold each base circle in half, then in half again.

   Pinch each circle at the corner, then sew a stitch through one corner at a time, connecting each corner with the thread. Knot in place.

   Now it's time to trace circles onto your top fabric. The amount will vary, but I used about 15-20 circles.

 Cut the circles out.

Fold them in half and in half again, repeating the same process as above. Pinch one corner at a time for the next step.

 Next, hold each pinched corner of the folded circle and make one stitch through the entire brooch into the corner. Stitch again, all the way through connecting circles in the same way until the pouf looks tight enough. 

    Next, I cut out about 8 strips of tulle about 5 inches long, knotting them in the center.

    Place the knotted center in between the two different colored fabric pieces and sew a stitch all the way through, repeating this process all the way around the circle with tulle strips until tulle evenly covers the pouf.     

If you want to make your tulle curl up a little and look vintage like mine, hold the ends of the tulle carefully about 6 inches above a lit candle. They will start to curl up pretty fast, so start further away from the flame and slowly warm them. And watch those fingers! 

If you want to see a picture of how I did this with some other fabric brooches I made this summer, click here.

And here is the finished 3 layered brooch! 

                 

                 

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Rock Your Ugg Boots

It's that time of year around here in the Midwest-time to get out your warm boots and prepare for the cold. Ugg boots are a warm, comfortable fashion staple for many of us this around here this time of year. (Of course, being a thrifty momma I got my knock-off's from Costco.) 

Ever since discovering cloth rosettes, I have been pretty much addicted to making them--and now that I know how to make the felt ones, I love these even more. Thanks to Stelabird for the tutorial!  Well, I thought it would be fun to make my knock-off Uggs stand out a little and add some pretty felt rosettes to them. 

Here's what you'll need: 

1. felt-I like using Eco-Fi made from 100% recycled plastic bottles
2. fabric scissors
3. pin back
4. glue gun
5. marker or pen
6. round traceable object-like a jar lid

Here's how I did it:

Trace a few circles onto felt

Cut them from the outside in into a circular swirl (see pic below)

This is what the swirl should look like

Roll the felt circle into a rosette shape, adding a dot of glue along the way

Glue gun a pin back to make it removable 

Here's how they should look! Don't worry if they don't-it took me a few tries .

I pinned them to the seam so it wouldn't damage the suede

Ta da!  I'm rockin my Uggs

Do you love rosettes too? Share a few ideas with me of what you've made with them by posting a link in the comments box and I'll post a few pictures  in a post and link back to your blog!

Linked up with these parties.