Monday 4 July 2022

Three Thrift Store Finds, Wheel Within a Wheel Block, Floral Motif Sampler

The American Robins love the bird bath. This is a young one who just wouldn't leave it one day last week. Despite his grumpy look, he took such enjoyment it put a smile on my face watching hm.

I had this very odd thing happen to my finger on Thursday last.  Felt a searing pain and saw a blood vessel swell very suddenly in my right pointer finger. As I was thinking I need to get to the hospital, it stopped as quickly as it had started.  I now have a reddish bruise in the spot.
 Google has told me I had a Paroxysmal Finger Hematoma. Never heard of it and did not know this could actually happen to people. Benign occurrence and two things -  being female and over 60 increase your chances of getting these, neither of which I can do anything about! Weird, huh? Any of you ever have this??

Out to a thrift shop with older daughter and had a good poke about...it had been a while. Here are three of my "finds". 

Love these two blouses. This first is Westbound brand, heavier feel cotton, a little longer in length with side slits. Very comfortable fit. I liked the paisley design and the pearl like buttons. A tiny bit dressier.

Daughter found this one below. She said perfect for you Mom...it's Olsen and has birds!
I thought that the little design would make an interesting quilt motif. Reminds me of Charley Harper. Who once asked the question...Can a nature lover ever find true happiness at the top of the food chain? So I love him.
And number three which we have had to press into service when our old teapot bit the dust. This matches my winter dish set, The Friendly Village by Johnson Brothers.
 It pours beautifully and Hubby likes the way it makes enough tea to hold him all day. He doesn't mind at all that it is actually a coffee pot. I enjoy admiring the little paintings with delicate colouring which feature The Village Green.  
I paid $14.98 for it and figured I could use it as a flower vase or planter.  I've found one online for $100 and at Amazon for almost $150 C.  I don't think it was used before now and when are we going to formally serve coffee in it. Like never.

I got one block of Wheel Within a Wheel almost finished. I really like the tiny American flags in that corner piece. A little nod to my American blogging buddies.
I wound up appliquing the whole piece onto the 4 piece backing block. Getting all the blades perfectly circular - well, tried to!, and lying flat was tricky for me for some reason. I learned a few things and think I've sorted how to make rest of the blocks go smoother. Hopefully, this will get its center circle and the corner quarters plus as well as another one finished this week.
Just look where I am with my Floral Motif Sampler.  Perhaps a finish this week too of this cross stitched piece. 
Some of you may remember that I enjoy using men's shirts in my quilting, ones that I find at the thrift store. In fact, the large center basket in my current OMG, Basket Case, is made from a man's shirt material and in the photo above, the top left stripe is from a shirt. 
 I came across this video and had to have a view. Here Cathy of The Catbird Quilts channel says so many things I agree with and I do believe thrift store men's shirts are an untapped source of both well priced and excellent fabric for stitching projects. Recycling is a good thing!

FYI   Frederique of Quilting Applique Patchwork and a weekly link up party has updated her 2022 QAL page. Here is the link.

 I've had a couple of questions about Michele's Basket Case pattern. Here is the link to Michelle's 2020 post where she shares the photo of her basket. She suggests we download her photo to copy the pattern. 

Hope your day and the rest of the week are wonderful!

So happy to link this post with Texas Quilt GalThe Inquiring QuilterCreations, Quilting, Art, WhateverAlycia Quilts and Quilt Fabrication



19 comments :

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I get the finger thing all the time - also can happen on the bottom of the feet or the toes - it started for me way back when I was in my late 20's - normally the area for me is when a vein is pressed just the wrong way- I will instantly get a stinging feel and the vein will kind of swell slightly and then bruise - the brusing usually goes away fairly quickly - my mom had it too - she always said a "vein popped" and it would go away fast.

Paulette said...

Love seeing your thrifted treasures. That coffee/teapot is so neat! Glad you found some nice blouses, too. What a freaky thing to happen to your finger! I have bruised my inner finger joint before, and although I don't remember how it happened, at the time it seemed like maybe I'd put some stress on it somehow. That's wild how you felt it happening. Hope it heals fast!

Jenny said...

Didn't you do well at the thrift shop, and what a fabulous tea/coffee pot. You embroidery is coming along nicely too.

K Reeves said...

I just love reading your posts, they are like a chat with a friend!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I've never had that happen to my fingers but I suppose there's always a first time. Must have been pretty scary!
Great thrift store finds and I must say I love that new teapot! Such a lovely shape (and yes, I know it's supposed to be for coffee but I'd use it for tea too).
I use thrifted men's shirt material all the time - much cheaper than buying yardage.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Yes, that happens to fingers and is quite common, but dang it hurts. You did really good at the thrift shop, it's fun hunting up the deals.

Jackie said...

Lovely quilt block, and I really love that coffee pot. It is gorgeous.

God bless.

Nancy said...

Great thrift store finds, Jocelyn. It's one of my favorite places to shop, and I've been collecting shirts since the time I started quilting. A quilt pattern I wanted to make was all plaids but I couldn't find plaids--except in men's shirts. There are some great buys there sometimes.
You wheel within a wheel block looks great. It reminds me of a Dresden Plate except without the curves/scallops around the edges.

Anne Kirby said...

Jocelyn, I also get those bruises. My mom got them too. More of an annoyance than anything else.

CathieJ said...

I am always impressed with people who can find things at thrift stores. It is not my forte that is for sure. Many of the local thrift stores have closed near me. I even have trouble finding places that I can donate items too. I don't like to throw them in the garbage unless an item is unusable. I really like that coffee pot. Your quilt is looking great. You are so close to finishing that pretty cross-stitch. Have a great week!

Linda said...

That was a weird thing about your finger. Good to know what Google had to say about it. Those blouses are beautiful and perfect for you! But I LOVE that coffee pot/tea server - oh I'm jealous! :D When we had a better Goodwill to visit, I used to frequent the men's and women's shirts and the sheets for 100% cotton to use in quilting. I think it's a great idea.
Thank you for sharing with us at To Do Tuesday!

Ivani said...

OWO Jocelyn the young American Robin is so cute, He put a smile on my face also. The coffee pot is lovely but I wound use it for tea.
I am sure you will have a beautiful cross stitch finished very soon.

piecefulwendy said...

You definitely found some good items while thrifting! The coffee/tea pot is very pretty, and I'm glad it's keeping you well hydrated throughout the day! I didn't know our fingers could do that - ouch!

MissPat said...

I get the finger thing, too, usually when I carry a heavy tote bag with groceries in it. But then I bruise at the drop of the hat anyway. Reminds me of the first time I experienced a Reynaud's Syndrome attack while gardening on a cold, damp day. My fingers on both hands totally white and were very stiff.
How lucky you were to find the coffee pot that matched your dishes.
Pat

Carol in Texas said...

Jocelyn, what wonderful Thrift Store finds. When we lived in Austin, my church had a thrift store and I worked in it every Monday morning. We threw away a lot of garbage, but I brought home many wonderful finds and I looked forward each week to not only seeing the ladies I worked with but also to some shopping! Once again, thanks for the new contacts. The Catbird Quilter is great, and Michelle’s blog is lovely. How do you get her….through Facebook? I guess I miss a lot by not being on it. Your crossstitch piece is lovely and I know it was fun to work on with all those motifs. Good for you to be near a finish!

Nana said...

What lovely things you show us except your finger.

Nana

The Cozy Quilter said...

That has happened to my fingers too. Heals up quickly, thankfully.
I like the Charley Harper shirt!
Nice cross stitch project. I may start another cross stitch project when I finish my rug hooking.

Grams Jean said...

Wow, love that nice big tea pot. Would never use that for coffee here.

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

You had too much fun at the thrift store. Love all the things you brought home! And the basket pattern is a cutie also! Great post. I love watching our Cardinals taking a bath in the bird bath! Of course with the horrible heat we mostly see them in the morning and evening when the sun is lower. We are in for brutal heat the next week! Back to 114+ and no rain! Hugs

PS. I will get those "bruises" on my finger from time to time. So you are not alone. It is happens if I pick something up the wrong way - Fun getting older! LOL