Cool find

My friend and I spend Friday night hitting the not in Canada stores and then spend Saturday on a thrift fest. We hit about 6 different thrift stores before stopping for dinner and our drive home. We found a Salvation Army and it seemed to be a depot or big drop off one, there was a big garage for all the trucks to pull into and also this “AS IS” building. The big sign said it closed before the store so we headed in there to check it out.

It was soooooo strange. It was just a big warehouse type space, with an open roll up garage door to get in, and the stuff was just piled and piled on the tables. There seemed to be some attempt at organization, like a bunch of crutches piled in one corner, but other than that you just had to dig. It was so crazy and cool at the same time. I tried to nonchalantly snap some phone photos.

I did find this amazing creation.

The price said $3 but when I went to pay she said $1.25, it was all very mysterious. But even for $3 I couldn’t pass up the crafty awesomeness of it, and all that work someone put into it, it’s crazy.

The details are so cool. I have no clue how old it is but here’s a shot of what little info there is on it.

USA shopping scores

Well I guess it’s about time I actually sit down to write this post about the fun things I picked up on my USA excursion at the beginning of the month.

I got this amazing bag, that I’ve been using almost non stop since, for $3. Actually, not even $3 I’m rounding up. Insanely good find.

I got some great clothes, which I suppose call for some outfit posts. But that’s a tricky one since I’m usually the one behind the camera, I really need to change that.

Other than that my scores happened in JoAnn’s, surprise surprise.

Some FQs just because.

A taste of Denise Schmidt.

Some yardage. Apparently I was in a floral sort of mood.

Whales because how could I not buy those!?! Sure I had a moment of “Gee I’m 30 something should I really be shopping from the juvenile section for myself!?” but I *had* to get these whales.

And I found an english translation of a Japanese craft book I already own. Since I had some coupons the book was half price and I figured it might work like a little guide to help me decode my ever growing stash of Japanese craft books. I have 2 new Cotton Time magazines and today I figured out which symbols say ‘fold’ so I’m pretty proud of myself.

I know it involves more hexies but I need to get around to making this, again it’s just too awesome.

I also picked up some ridiculously cute scrubs that I plan to hack to bits and sew into other stuff.

Fun Fabrics

I was asked recently by My Girl Thursday to share my sources for the fun fabrics I have. She says she has the bug now, if you kind of sort of like fabric I’d leave now because you’ll be totally addicted to hoarding it after this post. Almost all of mine comes from Etsy shops so I’ll share some of my favs with you. Sometimes I just do a search for scraps, but my brain gets confused with number crunching the prices and shipping combos and I usually head back to the stores I know.

I’m addicted to cutesy Japanese prints. Boqinana has great stuff. It’s so hard not to fill my cart with ribbon after ribbon after ribbon. This store is also full of some great fabrics.

This and That from Japan . . . well the store name says it all. Sadly on vacation at the time of posting this but check back, it’s totally worth it. They carry great fabrics, supplies and craft books. Pages and pages of awesome I tell you!

The Hey Day Shop has fun fabrics and usually has a selection of scrap packs to choose from.

I’ve ordered from The Dainty Squid’s destash store before, not sure if it’s still up and running.

The only place I’ve been able to find fun Japanese fabrics in person is at Quilt A Bag in Markham, which is only good to know if you live nearish to there. The ladies are lovely and they carry a lot of Japanese craft books and supplies for projects, coin purse frames, handles, cute ribbons, Japanese craft books. They attend the Creativ Festival in October and carry a lot of great kits with everything you need to finish the project.

I’ve ordered vintage fabrics from Pink Fawn Designs before. While it’s pretty easy to find vintage linens if you go thrifting you can expand your collection, handy if you have a certain project in mind, and not have to use the entire sheet you bought on the one project.

Starlit Nest has packs sorted by designers, themes and even offers a big ole flat rate box deal. Shop 4 Craft has some great wooden buttons, if I’m just in the mood for buttons I go there if I have a hankering for fabric I’ll hit one of the shops that carries fabric AND buttons and get all splurgey.

For snaps I go to Cowgirl Snaps. When I found this shop I thoguht that the pictures must be tweaked adn there’s not way the colours could be that vibrant but when they arrived they were amazing. The colours are great and there are options for mixing and matching.


On my wish list are these great fun scraps. Sometimes, being in Canada, it’s hard to find scraps worth purchasing because shipping can get ridiculous. Someday I’ll splurge on these teeny bits of loveliness.

My Friday night.

Well I have to say Friday night was pretty stinking amazing. I was super pumped about heading out to Impresario to see Lucky Jackson’s work in the gallery. It was also the official ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening of the store. My clutches, wallets and some other items are available for purchase there and so it was nice to support the store on such an important day.


But the highlights of the night were 1) meeting Lucky Jackson, who actually stopped me as I tried to nonchalantly sneak past her “Hey! Are you SewTara?!” (darn purple hair) 2) seeing some of her amazing pieces in person and 3) meeting Chantilly. It was truly an awesome night.

If you happen to live out that way, or head East out of Toronto you should pop into the shop. Rebecca, the owner and curator, is selling some lovely handmade items. Currently I have almost a whole shelf to myself. I went in a bit early and dropped off a new batch of items for her to carry. Good news is it’s all on display and ready to go home to happy people. Bad news is she took everything I had and now I have to get sewing all over again!

I also created a new product, some fun hair clips and about half of them are living on the check out counter.

Wow, where have I been?

I got older yesterday, perhaps that explains it.

I’m super pumped because I’m going to something really, really exciting tonight. Which I haven’t mentioned because I’d rather share awesome pics later and yammer on about it with the glow of having been.

I didn’t finish my little cute bag like I said I would. Yeah I’m terrible.

Don’t forget to sign up for the scrap swap. I’ll be matching us all up on Sunday!

Noella Beauty Works

I’m in love with this shop. I think being a little more daring with eyeshadow is part of my ‘accesorize’ mission I’ve been on this year. Earlier this year I bough about 6 colours and then a few weeks ago I got a little crazy and ordered some more.

They’re great colours and go on so well. If you like the Facebook page she hosts giveaways often and has a weekly deal. There’s also bundles in the shop and buy X get 1 free things too.

I must have been in a cool colour mood though since they’re all bluey and greeny.

Scrap Swap Time!

Sooooo who wants to scrap swap?!

I’ve done a bunch of summer sewing and hope to do even more during the fall so let’s revitalize our stashes!

Leave your name here, make sure there’s an email address/blog/contact info and I’ll find you a buddy.
Sign ups are open until Sunday night, September 22nd, and then I’ll match us all up and let you know Monday who your partner is.

The keep everyone happy guidelines:

– scraps must measure at least 2 inches by 2 inches, there is no maximum size
– scraps must be clean and in usable condition
– scraps can be new fabric or vintage reclaimed pieces
– fabrics should be of relatively the same weight (cotton preferred) to allow for quilting, or mixing with other fabrics and use in the same project
– be ready to send 10-ish ounces to your partner by Monday October 1st.

Swap is open to everyone so please be aware you may be shipping internationally unless you tell me otherwise.

Friday Create Along

Ok here’s what’s up next this patchwork bag,

Part of me really wants to try this pouch, then the other part of me says “Isn’t that bias tape/piping? . . . oh.”

I’ve been collecting projects on my To Create board on Pinterest.

Go check it out, add more to your To Do pile, please, someone join me in this madness!

Red Boot Barn

Well, I had a great little trip into the U S of A on the weekend. Me and my BFF went over Friday and did some Target shopping and Olive Gardening that night. Then Saturday we hit numerous stores, Joann’s included, and did some epic thrifting.

I learned a few things about the thrift stores in the states – the prices are insanely cheap, things aren’t marked super high prices just because it’s got a brand name and the AS IS section at the Salvation Army is a bizarre and magical building. I’ll have to post my finds and adventures in more detail. Right now I wanted to share Red Boot Barn, where some of the Wednesday night with my best friend finds are ending up.

Lovely little gems like these,

Look at the blue of this bag! It’s amazing. I found one very similar on Saturday, a slightly different blue, for $2.95. I repeat $2.95! Insanity.

This bundt pan is great too. Again, an awesome colour. It would be a great kitchen decoration, or one of those handing lights that people seem to be turning pans into lately.

This luggage is great too. We saw a bunch of similar items while thrifting in the US, sadly it’s so tricky to find interiors worthy of actually picking up luggage either for resale or to use.

Now I’m inspired to share my finds from the weekend. I hope tomorrow is a sunny photo worthy day.

My latest crush(ES)

Honestly, I’m in love. ModCloth rocks. Here are some of the new things I’m drooling over. The worst part, they get new stuff daily. It’s horrible.

Paws-itively Pals Dress
Sail With Me Dress
Slate of the Art Dress
Met Your March Coat