July Weird and Wacky

Socket and plug mugs were the weirdest of this month at hospice thrift. 

Admittedly, I am out and about less since my retirement. We are reverse hibernating on the North Coast to escape the Sacramento valley summer heat.  

Update on the audit of my sewing patterns for sale. I have completed the brands Burda through See & Sew. Any product I had laying on the floor is now on the rack. Once I complete my audit of the Simplicity patterns, I can further reorganize the product on the shelves. At first, I thought I needed another 5 tier rolling wire rack. Now that is not necessary. 

Because I have held my promise to myself on making such awesome progress in the audit, I engaged in a couple of sewing pattern session. Sewing pattern of the day is a fairly recent one from 2002. Kudos to the costume designer. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186589057264

Now that I have priced half of the patterns in a competitive range, this old stock is starting to sell. 

I hope to find more weird and wacky for August. 

Quilt block find - a lil bit o' Mickey Mouse

A happy day thrifting is finding 6 partially completed quilt blocks half off ($2.50). The lead-off image include some vintage Mickey Mouse print. 

The backing was included but I will probably choose a different material. 

The only plants to survive the heat and critters were the sunflowers. 

The battle over the grapes is not over yet. The vine is almost fully encased in chicken wire. The grapes are almost ready - and they are most delicious! 🍇

Back at home again and I have slipped back into my work schedule even though I am officially retired. Now I am working for myself. I have completed the audit of my McCall's sewing patterns listed for sale on eBay. The audit of Simplicity patterns will take much longer as the bulk of those listed are that brand. 

Slow sellers in the sewing pattern category are costumes, baby layettes, home decor, and doll clothes. I removed nearly all of the cut patterns from my listings. The only ones kept up for sale are the truly unique or rare. 

I have reorganized my 5 tier wire rack. Product on the floor in baskets are now up on the rack. I am kicking around the idea of eliminating books and CDs from my listings. I may eventually lot up the patterns for sale. 

On a side note, we lost our oldest cat Xena to the heat/predator. She was laying near our front door step when we last returned home. I have stepped up the cat sitting schedule for the remaining two cats when we are out of town.

I Have Landed in Hippy Land

Spending most of my summer in Mendocino county. These ceramic mushrooms adorn the beginnings of my hippy garden. The reason I call it hippy land is there are quite a few counter culture 60s-type people in the area. 

I couldn't resist buying a whole group of plants. I could never have a flower garden back in the valley because we are overrun with deer. 

The ceramic mushrooms have been rearranged in the new planter grouping. Beginning in the back with Mystic Illusion dahlia, Apricot Lemonade Cosmos, zinnias, Cherryberry Nemesia, Elise Mix Lewisia, and the combo pot with Trixi Night Watch of bidens, petunia, verbena. 

I found the aquatic center and will bring my swimsuit next month. There is a water walking session down the "lazy river." It all sounds intriguing to me. 

The Mr. and I checked out the senior center where lunch is served daily. The food was decent. We will visit again to try another dish. 

There is a Figure Drawing Collective at the Mendocino Art Center. After I complete my drawing and composition this spring, I might give the collective a visit. Talented artists seem to congregate in these awesome surroundings. 

I aced my Women in Art class and earned an A. Not only did I read the entire book prior to the class starting, I completed the extra credit. That is the method to employ to earn high grades. At this stage in my life, it also takes longer to absorb the material. I am finally learning history through art classes. 

On a totally different subject and something I found humorous - www.comicsands.com/drew-carey-contestants-drunk-high no one is surprised that contestants in The Price is Right are in altered states on the show. 

Seller update: The audit of the Butterick sewing patterns listed for sale on eBay is complete. I found some to be underpriced in the main most were overpriced. When I first began listing patterns, I just had to guess on selling price. Now when I draft a listing it generates an average sold price. I then price my patterns a dollar or two more. 

Not much selling has been going on since I have placed my store on Time Away. The summer heat is too intense in the Sacramento valley so we have escaped to the North Coast. 

Just as I have suspected, I have spent the beginning two weeks of my retirement, with the exception of a couple of days ocean sport fishing, doing nothing. No reading, no puzzles, no sewing, no craphting, but most importantly not working. Our average daily temperature high is 60 degrees. This morning conditions are cool and foggy along the river.