Mother Lode

Hi All, I just feel like chatting about my great finds at the Sally Ann yesterday. My daughters and I had fun chatting over belts and shoes. The 15 year old loaded up on jeans. The 10 year old gazed longingly at the purses. When I told her she couldn't buy one unless she got rid of one, a lengthy discussion followed about the merits of this and that purse and it was eventually necessary for me to define the term ambivalent for her.

I browsed through the boys things and came up with some cozy fleece pants and some shocking orange shorts.

I wandered towards the furniture and curiously lifted the lid on an ottoman, just to see if it would lift, when what to my wandering eyes should appear? My heart leapt into my throat at the site of a plethora of sewing notions! I glanced furtively around to make sure no one else was eyeing my treasure. I poked at it. It was too overwhelming to take in all at once. I tentatively opened a tin and it was full of BUTTONS! I took a deep breath and opened another tin full of THREAD! I frantically searched for a price ... to no avail. I had to have this treasure.

I glanced around for a staff person and was dismayed to see no one within reach. I beckoned to my 10 year old daughter and ordered her to stand guard while I sought out a staff person. A couple of lovely staff ladies came to my aid. I explained that I couldn't find a price and that I was merely interested in the contents of the ottoman. I held my breath. They poked at the treasure and did some mysterious calculations in their heads. The more authoritative staff lady apologetically offered, "three fifty?" I coyly replied, "Well, I guess that will be ok." I held my happy dance inside and helpfully held the lid of the ottoman while the treasure was loaded into a bag.

The loot: 25 spools of thread, about 3 cups of buttons (including the kind you can cover with fabric), knitting needles, crochet hook, seam ripper, needles, zippers, grosgrain ribbon, seam binding, snaps, velcro, thimbles, etc, etc, etc.

Oh happy day! I rejoiced and sorted buttons for hours.

Treasure Island

Click on any picture for a larger view.

My silly little camera makes me SO MAD. I just can't get the colours right, so they're kinda all over the place with this bag.

For some reason, I can picture a great pirate ensemble from these fabrics: deep browns, dark sage greens, and that fabulous geometry patterned upholstery print!! Is it just me that sees pirate ships and pieces-of-eight in that pattern? Melanie G. donated a treasure trove of gorgeous upholstery samples; the magnificence of these pieces have really intimidated me - until now!

The front flap features the upholstery piece and coordinating pieces of sage green velvet and corduroy - topped off with two earthy wooden buttons.

The front and back of the bag are dark brown denim from Mystery Pete. The sides and bottom are more of the upholstery piece. And I just have to point out that fall is coming as evident in the picture to the right. Also evident in the picture is the fact that my back lawn is so terribly neglected that a baby oak tree (top right of photo) is actually growing in it.


The side pocket is more sage green velvet, trimmed with brown cotton. The back double pockets are more sage green corduroy, also trimmed with brown cotton.

The straps are a dark brown sturdy weave from my grandmother, lined with a lighter sage green from a shelf curtain I made many years ago.

Just for some contrast from all that earthy, treasury goodness, the inside of the bag takes us out to sea with a steely blue print covered in tiny embroidered shapes that look like little ships (another donation from Grandma). I jazzed it up with some of my ziggity-zaggity stitching. And a pair of pockets made from an abandoned high school project ties it all together.

I don't think I missed anything ... oh yes ... "Ahoy maties!"

Bid on this bag by leaving your name and a bid in the comments section. Bidding starts at $25 and increases by whole $s please. Highest bidder at 8am (PDT) on Saturday, September 20th gets the BAG! Postage extra (from Abbotsford, BC). This bag was created by Jennie C.

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