Green Alley Treasures

Twice in the last week I have gone "out and about." When I am leaving the house to do the regular shopping, I always tell Richard that I am going to the grocery store, or wherever. When I leave the house to go on one of my hunting and gathering expeditions (meaning I am need of therapy!) I always say I'm going "out and about." At first he had no idea what I meant, and didn't really care. Now, he knows it means two things - 1) I need a break, and 2) I'll be "dragging something else home" as he calls it. He has grown accustomed to these little expeditions, in fact, I think he now EXPECTS me to go on them. How fun is that?

Anyway, twice in the last week I have hunted and gathered! There are not a lot of hunting and gathering places here. And, not being one to drive far distances....I tend to be quite happy when I can go to my favorite flea market...Green Alley. Sometimes I go to the Goodwill store, but not often, as it tends to be quite short on things I want to find. I did go there last week and found the linen blouse included here. It's pretty and you know I can use that linen fabric to embroider on!!!!

Everything else in these photos came from Green Alley. I have two friends working there...Jessica is my "main therapist" and when she can't work, Melanie takes over, which makes her my substitute therapist. I love going there, as I do get therapy and also find some wonderful things to play with when I get back home. So, everything you see here is to play with.....I am so lucky.

There are some wonderful necklaces. You know I don't wear these...they will reappear in a new life on some embroidered heirloom item one of these days! There is a bit of a crocheted flower...meant to be finished...but not quite yet. I'll take care of that. There is a beautiful vintage embroidered table runner........as you know, I collect vintage embroidered baskets and/or the patterns for them.

There is a wonderful old dictionary. I love these as they always have illustrations that are cool. And, they just "feel" good.
There is also a beautiful journal. I thought this was a box when I first saw it, but upon closer inspection was overjoyed to find a journal. The pages are edged in gold leaf, very pretty. (My little Thursday art group is doing journal pages this next week!!)

There is a little pottery heart I have had a long time, but this week I filled it with small "bits' that came out of a jewelry box that Melanie brought in, and when she had taken out the jewelry, lots of little beads and that type of thing were left in the bottom of the box. She put them in a bag and saved them for me, knowing I would be happy to have them. Wasn't that a nice thing to do?

There is a wonderful and quite old lace table runner (it has a yellow flower running through it). It's beautiful. There is a length of crocheted trim...it came off a pillow case. I can never turn that kind of thing down...it's so pretty. A piece of cutwork embroidery is there too.....so pretty. I just love all these old things, as I know lots of you do.

I also found what I thought was a cross-stitched tablecloth, unfinished. I couldn't believe anyone would leave this unfinished after so much work was done on it...well, unless they died! But, I bought it anyway and brought it home. Melanie and I wondered about it aloud several times, but I felt it needed to be rescued. When I brought it home, I studied it and found that it was unfinished for a reason. The person making it had begun the stitching in the wrong place on the square and when he or she got to a certain point....the design had no where to go but off the fabric. After all that work! So, you know what they say about cutting wood....measure twice, cut once! Well, the same applies for needlework projects. However, it's beautiful and I will think of something to do with it....maybe I'll tell you when I do.

Last, but certainly not least....my biggest purchase! As I've mentioned here before...my house is really FULL. So, more furniture is really out of the question. But, I saw this buffet and I was a goner!!! The problem is, I have a perfectly beautiful buffet in the dining room. Where would this go? Not to worry, I also have a dining table in the living room (don't ask...it would take too long to explain!!). And, there IS room for it. AND, I love anything with drawers and doors!!! One day soon I may take a picture of it in place and show you. This is something I will use and really enjoy...you can see that it isn't in perfect condition. Nothing in my house is and that's the way I like things. It's important for me to know my "stuff" has lived somewhere before and had an interesting life. Yeah, I'm kind of odd.

Ok, you see the results of the latest therapeutic hunting/gathering expedition and I have enjoyed showing you. In addition to Jessica and Melanie being my "therapists".....maybe YOU are too! Take care. Pat