Wallowing in Wedding Stuff

Wedding prep continued with a site visit of the mothers. There will be some amazing images from this event. 

The thrift shop holy grail has been these small flower vases. One more, a Princess House flower vase, was discovered at hospice thrift in Placerville, California for $4.99. Back in the day, Princess House parties were held to purchase these specialty items. Was surprised to see they are still in business princesshouse.com. I have a few of the small crystal lamps. 

Here are her chosen colors. Below is the fabric pull for the fabric flag banner. I watched one YouTube tutorial but the creator just used scissors and a fabric ruler rather than a plastic template ruler and a rotary cutter. Creator then hot glued the fabric to the cording. 

Bought some solid burgundy fabric at Wally World to supplement the fabric pull. I probably won't use the three brightest orange ones. 

 

The fabric flag banner will be used outside at the bridal shower and draped around the wedding cake gazebo at the location. 

I found this tutorial from across the pond for making a wedding bunting. This method will produce a banner that will look polished and professional. 

Summer is Here and the Naughty Spotty

New puppy's AKC name is Belle Starr, but her nickname is Naughty Spotty. She is the biteingest dog we have ever had for the naughty part. The spotty part is she is looking more and more like a Dalmation! 🐶 You don't see many of this breed-German Wirehaired Pointer.

M'kay not officially summer but my eBay sales reflect it. My weekly payouts average $150 per week. This week's payout - $15.60. 

Greenhouse update: The deer did get to the garden before I fenced it off. The Jack-in-the-beanstalk sunflower is a giant variety. I admit the structure is cobbed together. It has withstood numerous storms. Panels have flown off to into the sunset never to be seen again. 

Thrifting update: It pays to visit hospice thrift on a frequent basis. Even though I had been there the day before, there were delightful finds for me the next day. Metal painted rooster for the garden ($3.99) and two packs of orphan quilt blocks at 99 cents each. 

A few of the orphan blocks and pieced patchwork. 

These blocks were the best of the last that I opened. It appears there was an appliqued quilt block exchange in 2001. Some of the blocks were signed and dated. 

Cuteness overload!

This artist's quilt block is a favorite of mine. Not sure how I will use the other orphans. 

Gaggle of Dinosaurs and the Lady Head Vase

Did I ever need an excuse to buy toys? Now, more than ever. This may be older child toys but this gaggle of dinosaurs bagged for $2.99 at thrift had to come home with me. 

Don't care if you are a girl or a boy, even I had fun with these plastic toys. 

I actually appealed to the good graces of another thrifter to purchase this lady head vase ($1.99). He already had her in his hands and I mistook him for a thrift shop worker. He was kind enough to relinquish her to me. I even kissed her. I will cherish her always. 

I also bought the Lefton figurine girl with poodle (99 cents). 

I bring home about 6 figures a month.☺

On the topic of money, and people of a certain age, I recently saw a commercial where an older gal was jumping out of a plane for a tandem sky dive. The investment slogan was "Get Good at Money so you can be Bad." I like that. 

Latch Hook Rug Project

Getting closer to my hook rug project. Bought a bag at thrift $1.99 of remnant rug yarn. The colors cover quite a range so I will have a lot to choose from. Included in the bag was the pattern for a 2013 kit. I will list that on eBay for $5.00 and make a profit on my secondhand purchase. 

My daughter's gender reveal party is in a couple of weeks. That will give me a better idea which way to go with my projects. The fairy quilt has been quilted and is headed back to me for binding. 

Seller update: The best of the sewing pattern listing session. Impulse shopping on my fav online auction site, I bought a slew of Christmas-related ones. Those I will feature in six months. I also bought another Christmas publication from the 1980s. Trying to recreate the holiday craphts with a touch of Tami. 

EBay sewing pattern listing session included the pattern of the day from 1990. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187287573959

We have had our hands full with the new baby announcement, and the Mr. and I have added a new puppy in our lives. 

She is the reason working on a latch hook project upstairs is so much easier than sewing downstairs.  

Wedding Update and Greenhouse Gardening

Blogger is back up and running! There have been issues ... 

Wedding update: Future MIL and I have the quota of plates and champagne flutes. This is the place setting my daughter has chosen. 

These small decorative bottles are the next thing to find at thrift. They will be used as table number holders. 

Future MIL has observed that I have been having too much fun shopping for this wedding. Most delightful thrift shop find of 2 small Lenox crystal vases (with certificates). 

Pattern of the Day is one listed for sale on eBay. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187264509749

Gardening update: Getting a late start with greenhouse gardening. Or I should say partial greenhouse since it is missing quite a few panels. 

Mainly tomatoes and squash, watermelon and peas. 

Ending the post with an observation about earrings. For months I have lurked at a certain online auction site seeking simple gold post earrings. You know the kind you wear right you get your ears pierced. I was being outbid over and over until finally! I won a pair of 14k gold ones for a mere $30 inc. shipping. 💙

Baby Boy Quilt

Now y'all don't assume we know the gender of my daughter's baby. We don't. Because the fairy print quilt is nearly complete, I need to have a baby boy quilt queued up for the gender reveal party. Yet to be scheduled. This wedding and baby stuff is a gas! I like all of the parties and prep. Baby announcement has hit the socials. 

Found a new-to-me fabric store Cali Quilt Co. in Rancho Cordova, California. Beautiful layout, and wonderful fabrics. Image below is the new and improved fabric pull for the baby boy quilt. Got the "adorable" stamp of approval from my daughter. 

I always believe simple is better so I may just cut the dinosaur fabric in squares and border with the blue plaid. Thinking about cutting cornerstones of the dinosaurs. 

This is the addition of my solids from my stash. Lead off image shows what I'm working on  windowpane or crazy quilt blocks to highlight the dinosaurs. The brown striped fabric is auditioning as the binding. 

I nearly thrifted back this group of wooden puzzles bought at thrift a couple of years ago. Glad I didn't - they are destined for storage until Baby is big enough. Love the unicorn one! 🦄

Seller update: I took crocheted blankets off of the eBay listings. Their moment in the sun had passed. Crochet squares still sell though.  

Just a few CDs to be listed and then two sewing pattern listing sessions are queued up. 

China Dish Syndrome

 

I’ve got China Dish Syndrome. This kind of syndrome came on abruptly when I went to check prices on some China pieces bought for $2.50 at Day 2 of a rummage sale. I had just begun my search for plates for the upcoming wedding.

Turns out I have a discontinued pattern Fine China Wyndham Japan Valencia 364, creamer ($19.99), sugar bowl & lid ($39.99), 10” round vegetable bowl ($39.99), and 14” platter ($39.99) (online valued). I was going to thrift them back. I haven’t even valued the plates of dinner and dessert.

Upside to this type of product, it can be stored in the shed outside. I do not have room inside of the house to store any more. Other tidbits gleaned from the internet, best to list the items individually or in manageable sets 4, 6, 8. They are a long tail item meaning you could sit on that inventory for a long, long time. 

I am also listing this product from my iPhone. I also used the AI description. What is the phrase "Work Smarter, Not Harder?" 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187252434245

I stumble on to these different categories. A few years ago, I began selling yarn and it has been a profitable venture ever since. 

After my daughter's wedding, there will be many, many sets of China plates listed for sale. 

Becoming a Grandmother

Most exciting news my daughter, Rachel, who is getting married in September, has announced she is pregnant. The baby is due in December. Hard to image in about 6 months there will be a new addition to the family. 

There will be a gender reveal. A baby quilt has been requested. I already have the fairy quilt in to the longarmer so a girl quilt is nearly done. The lead-off image is the fabric pull for the boy quilt. Recently, I went through a fabric destash and gave away all of the baby flannels. Thinking there would never be a baby in my life. What is also wonderful about the news is that this is the first grandchild for both sides of the family.  

I had always wanted children, and of course, grandchildren. This one scene from the movie Terms of Endearment (1983) always cracks me up. 

Segueing to China pattern news. I continue to update the pattern I keep for my own. These amazing 8 German porcelain dinner and 11 dessert plates came through at hospice thrift for a song! 

I have learned so much from watching the Dr. Lori series on YouTube. These Rosenthal Evensong plates are bright white, and numbered editions! 

Being A Dog Mom

The Mr. and I went back and forth whether to get another dog. Our last German wirehaired pointer crossed the rainbow bridge in January. She lived a good, long life. Now Belle has joined the family. Another German wirehaired pointer about 6 weeks old. 

The breeder had two young girls and they had named the puppies after the Disney princesses. That is how Belle got her name. 

Pooped out puppy

It has been many years perhaps over 20 since I have had a puppy this young. 

Sequeing into art - This ink wash drawing I did not post because it is my least favorite. My professor said it was his favorite. You decide.  

Not even close to the reference image. I had visions of a lovely ink wash, it was so hard to control this medium. 

There won't be any sketches for awhile with the summer break, classes to resume in August. 

I have upgraded my China dishes. Soon I will have to devise some kind of storage for those I will list for sale after the wedding. I kick myself for not buying more of a certain set when it came through thrift. 

Wedding countdown is 4-1/2 months away. Nearly all is set with the exception of the groomsmens fittings. 

Waitlisted and Wedding Prep

After many months, I made it up to the large hospice thrift on Highway 50 in Placerville, California. I purchased a batch of China dessert plates, and sewing patterns. Mother's Day belated present to myself and destined for my project box. 2004 Phil Beaver Designs applique Hen  & Sunflower Mini-Quilt. 

Design: Fundamentals is the art class I am on waitlist for the fall session. It isn't the end of the world trying to register for a college class that is full, it just means you have to wait to begin the class. 

Still in the throes of wedding prep. The future MIL and I have been buying secondhand China dinner plates, dessert plates, and champagne glasses. The last of the bride's fruitcake has been baked. While I could bake more loaves, our weather is warming up I then avoid using the oven.

I could not pass up these flower quilt blocks offered on my fav auction site. I ended up paying less than $3 per block (including shipping cost) for the lot of 28. Definitely vintage fabric flower centers but I am unsure which era. 

After I whip together the National Park quilt, I will begin prepping these blocks for a quilt. They are varying sizes. Rather than trim down the largest ones, I will add fabric borders to the smallest ones.

Until next time,

Tami

Binge Watching on YouTube

I think I am like most people, when you find videos that interest you, you binge watch. My latest obsession is Dr. Lori. She provides tips on antiques. youtube.com/@DrLoriV

The reason she appeals to me is (1) her great personality, (2) I want to learn more about china and glassware, and (3) she snorts when something amuses her. 

I am winnowing down again, removing books and CDs that have languished for years. I don't mind storing sewing patterns and small items but books and blankets are coming off the boards. 

Going through another fabric purge. All of the fabric was purchased secondhand so I have no qualms about thrifting it back. With my quilt output slowed to 2 per year, I am only keeping my project boxes and the cutest of my fabric. 

Since my interests have turned to fine art, I will be creating more original works in different types of medium. 

This is the actual final project. A scene of our choosing that utilizes some of the compositional techniques learned during the semester. This is On the Front Porch graphite on sketchpad.

Below are the Sharpie night scene revised and original sketch. 

Still hoping to register for an art class in the fall semester. 

May Day and Follow Up to the Fairy Quilt

Merry May Day! Give those you love fresh flowers 🥀

Quilting update:

When I first posted about the fairy quilt, the top was partially finished. Now the quilt top and backing have been sent to the longarmer. The first image shows the added MODA Grunge green/gray border fabric. 

The backing fabric. I added one more print not shown here. 

It will be quilted in a Garden Fairies design through Flint Hills Quilting or kshilltopranch on eBay where I purchase her service. 

Hmmm, let's talk about the fabric collections that I hoard have, in no particular order. 

Americana
Patriotic (RW&B)

Plaid wovens

Christmas
Dog/cat prints

Tiki/Hawaiian

African prints

These are not stored in tidy project organizers, noooo, they are entire TUBS of fabric. I need to narrow down my project ideas and complete the ones that are queued up. Next up on my to-do list is the National Park quilt. That one I will use wool batting and it destined for the living room. 

Popping in an eBay listing update - this yarn is so pretty, wish I knew how to work with it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187184749942

College update: Nearly 2 weeks remain before I can sign up for my art class. One is given a priority registration time and date. Depending on which class remains open, it will be Design Fundamentals the shortened 8 week or full term.  

Posting my final sketch even though it hasn't been graded yet. Reference image below. 

The assignment was to only use a Sharpie pen on sketchbook pad. The task was to use 3-4 "marks" in the artwork. 
 

Ending the post with a Ted Talk on the importance of making art. 

Zest of Lemon

The last day of the April A to Z Challenge wraps up with the letter "Z." I am going with Zest of Lemon. It is some of that outer fruit skin that is scraped off for a lemony taste. 

Having said that, it is time to thank the hosts of this fun annual event. 

Founder Arlee Bird tossingitout
J Lenni Dorner jlennidorner
Zalka Csenge Virage multicoloreddiary
John Holton thesoundofonehandtyping
Jaden R. Vicente jrvincente.com adult content warning
Ronel ronelthemythmaker.com

Putting in a mention for a few new friends I discovered during this challenge. Link to my Friends post mentioning others from the challenge flowers-and-friends.

KarenMeg aglassatatime.ca

J-Dub's Grin and Bear it jilywily.wordpress.com

Lynne lynnelives.wordpress.com

wtfaioa.wordpress.com

Trophy to Me for Completing

the 2025 Challenge

Thank you to everyone that visited my blog for this April celebration. I can go back to my regular programming of thrift shop finds, eBay sales, and all of my other extracurricular activities. 

May we not only have zest of lemon in cooking, but also have a zest for living!