Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Thrifted Tuesday..

Finally, I got back to a spot of op shopping this week! I've been taking a break from thrifting in order to hibernate the finances a bit, but yesterday the withdrawals got too much to bear......


So, on to the finds......


A whole pile of fabric, a bit of a mongrel bunch this time, but all individually quite good for what I plan to use them for....


thrifted fabrics


But the fabric find of the year was this AMAZING vintage linen tablecloth, hand embroidered, and ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, for six dollars.....


thrifted tablecloth


How on earth anyone could ever have the patience to embroider so well is absolutely beyond me!


thrifted tablecloth


And just for overload on the tablecloth - here it is in my kitchen...


tablecloth in situ


After those finds, I was on my way home, when I decided spontaneously to pop into another op shop I haven't been to for ages, where I rarely have any real luck, just on the off chance that there might be something......


Boy, was there something!


The ENTIRE SET of Childcraft Library books, the lot for five dollars.


Thrifted set - Childcraft Library


For those of you who are not familiar, the Childcraft Library series is like a set of encyclopedias for kids, from the seventies, with the best illustrations in the world. We had a set of these when I was a kid, and I spent hours and hours poring over them, learning stuff (I was, and still am, and unabashed bookworm), hassling dad to help me make stuff out of the "Make and Do" book, and getting my first dose of Greek Mythology (another of my loves) from the "Stories and Fables" edition.


It's on par with finding a whole set of Golden Hands, or Enid Blyton books, or something similar.....


Here's a couple of pages so you can see what I mean...


From Stories and Fables....



Stories and Fables - Childcraft Library


Stories and Fables - Childcraft Library


Stories and Fables - Childcraft Library


From Make and Do:


Things to Make and Do - Childcraft Library


Love it.


Before I go, I just wanted to say a thankyou to everyone who commented on the pincushion tutorial.....having never done a tute before, it was good to know that other people found it useful!


I hope you're all having tea and cupcakes, wherever you are....! xxx

8 comments:

laura capello said...

whoa, you made out like a bandit!

Rhonda Jean said...

You got some goof bargains! Well done. I love that charming tablecloth.

glorydaze said...

Wow... I really was having tea and a cupcake!
Those books are a great find. I can't believe you got the whole collection. Well done!

shula said...

That tablecloth is an exceptional score.

Fantastic.

Gigibird said...

I have just found your blog via the comment you left on Love Honour and Disobey.
Even though you live in Australia, the land of poisonous spiders I feel you are a kindred spirit.
You are so very talanted and funny and take great photos, which is essential for me as an out of focus photo is like a radio that isn't tuned in properly!
Think about adding a email link so people like me can email you!
I shall be trying to make a pin cushion in the next few days....

Sharyn said...

Thanks for showing the Childcraft Library books. I haven't seen them before but they look fabulous and I'll keep my eye out for some on my op shop/garage sale trips over here in the Blue Mountains!

Stacey said...

Gorgeous tablecloth! I have a heap of them plus doilies, etc that my mum and nan made years ago. I could never have the patience for it. If I can't have results in a week I won't do it. (That goes for gym membership as well).
Love the tartan pants on the boy in the make it book!

Gina E. said...

Hi Paper.string etc.! I just found your blog while searching Google's Blog search for craft and vintage loving people, and there you were. I've just spent an enjoyable 20 minutes reading your blog - great photos, amusing posts, and that tablecloth....well..if you visit me sometime you might notice that I collect vintage linen, so if ever you decide to sell it..?