Thrift Shop Commando

Kitty Cats and College Classes

2024-11-04T15:08:00.002-08:00

On the thrifting front, I was able to pick up 60 sewing patterns from the 80s/90s. These two patterns have lept into my personal collection. I have two beloved kitties of my own, Lucky and Susie.

Lucky is the little grey peeking out beneath the shed door.

Susie, otherwise known as Miss Hiss, hisses whenever she is displeased.

College classes have finally posted for Los Rios Community College. My declaration as a dance major was all for naught, even though Tap Dancing is listed in the course catalog, it is not offered at any of the campuses.😒

On the flip side, the drawing and composition class I thought I would have to take in person at a different campus, is offered fully online through Sacramento City College. Sweeeet. While I would enjoy an in-person class, online saves time and gas and allows for remote study. Here is hoping I can register for that class before it closes.

Novemberness

2024-11-01T14:25:00.003-07:00

Lead-off image is a peacock jewelry picture that was offered for sale at hospice thrift.

I see so many things at thrift that are interesting, but rather than buy everything I see, I capture the image.

I was going to jettison my eBay listings of CDs and books but decided to keep them on the boards. Fifty CDs just joined the active listings. I only concentrate on a few categories so there is no need to limit myself. Other than books and crocheted blankets, the items I list are easily stored. The next six months will be good ones for sales.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186756854433

Queued up listing sessions include Boy Scout memorabilia, a Lot of lanyards, and a Lot of holey cashmere sweaters. A certain type of crafter loves those types of sweaters. I sell my worn-out ones and buy new retail ones. The lot listed below sold the next day. 💰

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186759762571

If you have any inclination to sell items online, NOW is the time to list them.

There are few things I have discovered since my retirement 5 months ago. What I have done is continued working for myself on eBay (2,600 active listings). I have taken up tap dancing (which is a blast). I have spent more time gardening, a delight being outside.

What I haven't done is read a book, work on puzzles, or travel extensively (on my bucket list). Quilting, an activity meant to keep me home and inside, has fallen by the wayside. I have been giving away the fabric I have accumulated. There will be sewing projects, just a select few.

Countdown to Christmas is one month away. I have spent a lot of time preparing those posts. Including completed crafts from holiday magazines adds to the time commitment. Ending the post with a Christmas tree picture offered at thrift.

Happy Halloween! It is October Weird and Wacky

2024-10-31T05:00:00.010-07:00

I haven't highlighted baby doll mugshots in awhile. This group popped up when I was searching for a ball gown on shopgoodwill.com.

Going through my photo archive, I found this double exposure. I was doing photo shoots when I found unusual wigs or clothing at thrift.

Thrift shop painting face in a whirlwind.

This is the second quilt I have seen featuring toilet paper. WTH?

Painting of a Viewmaster. Probably the first and only of its kind.

Golf club bird seen at thrift.

Ending the post with a human hair doll and a throwback mask spotted at the Old Sutter Creek Antique Fair.

Have a Happy Halloween! 👻

Barbie Clothes and Christmas Crafts

2024-10-26T14:14:00.001-07:00

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186749272721

After saving up Barbie doll clothes purchased at thrift, I lotted them up by color. I think I am the only eBay seller to list them that way. I have nine bags priced between $15 and $25. They are fast movers in that category. I arrange them in pretty much the same pinwheel pattern as the yarn listings. I do it mainly for my amusement and to stand out among the other sellers.

Working away at Barbie clothes organization

A year's worth of thrifted doll clothes

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186749294327

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186749333030

Some of the clothes required mending, just a stitch or two here and there. Some needed missing snaps replaced. These two pieces land as keepers. The dress is Barbie labeled, and the top/skirt combo are vintage fabric. I have a sneaking suspicion that the black and white striped dress is from one of the original 1959 Barbies.

I am going a different direction in my Countdown to Christmas posts. Because I now have the time and energy (I am starting to like this retirement thing), I am re-creating Christmas crafts from holiday magazines. As of this writing, I have four posts with completed craft projects scheduled to publish in December.

Bought this wooden ornament tree at thrift for a couple of bucks. All of my past Countdown and some other interesting boards are available to view. https://www.pinterest.com/thriftshpcomndo/

Getting ready to launch eBay listing sessions for books, CDs, and those boxes of vintage Butterick sewing patterns.

16 Skeins and the Road to Nowhere

2024-10-21T06:04:00.000-07:00

That should be a song title! I am plugging away on my eBay listings and yarn was the latest. I get a kick out of arranging the yarn in different ways.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186740792526

I was going to swear off buying thrift shop CDs but then all of the music I had ripped to my laptop has become inaccessible for some reason. Thankfully, I saved some of the CDs that were my favorites. On the subject of CDs, I also bought my 25 Christmas-themed ones in one fell swoop for my Countdown. There is the largest hospice thrift in Placerville, California, and CDs galore $1 each.

Maybe it is dumb luck or just persistent thrift shopping that I found two more Americana patterns for my eventual quilt.

I will use parts of From the Ashes, but not the grey fabric background. That is too 911-ish. Liberty Angel would be perfect for a top and bottom border.

I am at my happiest when I am thrift shopping. I discovered that the Cameron Park Hospice Thrift has gone upscale. All of the crafting items were moved to the Placerville store. There are three thrift shops on my route in Placerville - hospice thrift, Goodwill, and New Beginnings Thrift. In my area, there are four thrift shops. Not one but two of them are open on Sunday now! 💙

Putting in a plug for my Countdown to Christmas beginning December 1. I've got the CDs and each one will be featured on What I'm Listening to.

Adding in a dance update: I have had success at finding secondhand dancewear. All of those business suits and dresses have been replaced with dance clothes. My mom, even though she was active well into her late 80s, lost of the use of her legs. My theory, should I live into my 90s, is to retain the use of my legs through dancing.

Now I Am A Dance Major!

2024-10-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

I have posted about my college exploits from time to time. I earned my Associate in Science Business degree from Sacramento City College in 2016. Not only have I declared Art History as my major for my alma mater, I declared Dance as my major at another. 💃

I didn't even know you could do that - attend two different colleges. The Los Rios Community College system allows you to do that. I am like a kid in a candy store. Since I have earned my degree, I don't have to take any of the prerequisite classes only the fun ones!

There is a Priority Registration system. Depending on how popular a class is, and where you land in Priority, you may land a spot in the class you want.

Back to why I am now a dance major - I have completely fallen in love with tap dancing. What better way to stay active than learn new dance steps? The college offers tap, modern, hip hop, oh yeah 👌

Another reason I look to the college for these types of classes is there are few offerings like this where I live.

Course offerings for Spring 2025 will be posted soon and I cannot wait!

Wanna-Be Americana Quilt

2024-10-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

An Americana Quilt has been on my project list for years now. The lead-off image is from a 1980s quilt magazine.

While I won't be able to recreate that quilt, there are some blocks I wish I had the pattern. My newest Americana-themed block to score at thrift was Liberty's Eagle.

The pattern I found before that was Brave Eagle. These types of patterns are not the easiest to find.

Seller update: Yep, it's yarn. If I can find yarn at rock bottom prices, then I will list them. Sometimes the thrift shops know what they have and price it too high.

I deal in a lot of "littles." The average price range for my listings $8 to $15. I buy items for a quarter to a couple of dollars. All of those littles add up.

Because I am a frequent shopper at hospice thrift, I was able to use my $10 off to purchase more sewing patterns, fabric, and a vintage cookbook. It was fun spending $6 total for all of those items! 🙋

Costume patterns are finally selling. I have quite a few listed - Berenstain Bears just sold!

Pretty Plants and the Gaza Dress

2024-10-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

Highlighting this succulent I have tended for years and never knew it could blossom.

My latest round of flowers are yellow lantana, Gerbera daisy, and wagon wheel ice plant.

And a few more plants for a pop of color! Now it is starting to look like a flower garden.💮

Weather is finally cooling to usual temperatures for October.

Seller update: Inserting a yarn listing session in between my sewing pattern sessions. Lotting up Barbie clothes is queued up as the next task.

My latest eBay listing session was "bigs," sewing pattern packets that measure larger than the usual-sized ones. Folkwear is one of my favorite lines of ethnic patterns. This one seems especially appropriate given the times.

The war must stop. There has to be a better way.

Sutter Creek Quilt Show

2024-10-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

Being in town meant I could attend the Sutter Creek Quilt Show. The lead-off image is a close-up of Daughter Dresses.

If you zoom in on the images you can see the creator information.

There is always a freebie table and I picked up three sewing patterns just missing their clear packets. All kinds of fabric and kits were for sale.

Some Octoberness

2024-10-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

Wood duck decoy joined my collection $4.99 from hospice thrift. I almost missed him, I was doing my last pass and there he was on a bottom shelf. A spot of Pledge Revitalizing Oil really brought out the shine.

I am engaging in another sewing pattern listing session. This group is mainly vintage Simplicity. I have a few of the "bigs" in sewing patterns that will have their own session. Next up then will be yarn. Another quick session with just a few skeins to list in that category.

Pattern of the Day is from 1968 Simplicity Misses Jiffy Robe - a keeper cuz it's cut and I like the graphic.

Sharing my reorganized shelving for most of my product. I found that turning some of the plastic tubs sideways gave me even more room.

Books and CDs are in another location. I am on the fence whether to continue listing in those categories or not. On the wooden shelving are crocheted blankets, Boy and Girl Scout stuff, and tarot cards.

I have gone through a quilting dry spell again. I was going great guns on the Lava Lamp quilt project. Then, in the blink of an eye, I lost interest. I am either going to have to push through or put the project away.

It is almost here! The Annual Countdown to Christmas. Each day in December is counted down until the Big Day.🎄

Crusty angel was spotted for sale at the newest Amador Thrift in my area.

I am queueing up those posts now. I wish another platform other than TikTok were trending. I don't want to invest in posts on that platform because of the China owner controversy. I might do some videos for the Countdown and put them on Instagram.

Bunches of Butterick and a Bit of Purple

2024-10-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

For my latest eBay listing session I am working on 40 vintage Butterick sewing patterns. This group and two more boxes are from a pattern collector. I picked through a 5 drawer cabinet at thrift and snagged all of the uncut ones.

Sharing some of vintage Pattern of the Day - featuring one of my favorite colors PURPLE. What first drew me to collecting patterns were the graphics.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186709821007

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186709805518

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186709789608

Not necessarily purple but I like the look, esp. that maxi skirt.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186709811412

October is one of my favorite months, but not at thrift. All of the thrifted Halloween costumes and decor take over the store.

Our high temperatures in Northern California have been trending to 100 degrees. The last blast of heat before we head into fall.

September Weird and Wacky

2024-09-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

This fabric amalgamation has bumped the weird and wacky thrift shop paintings for the lead-off image.

This piece of artwork was high on a shelf at the Ark Thrift Shop in Fort Bragg, California.

The recent trend of my Weird and Wacky posts continue with thrift shop paintings from Fort Bragg, California.

This piece was spotted at Amador Hospice Thrift, I call it "Dog and Cat Chillin."

Mushrooms being magical.

This large abstract I kinda liked at the Placerville hospice thrift. I could see it in an outdoor patio area.

Sharing the reconstructed rock art mermaid, pictured in store window at Fort Bragg, California.

Pattern of the Day hails from 1976 - A Forest Family.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186706563083

Do you hear a tapping sound?

2024-09-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

Still having a bit of heat in our area. I skooch out early in the morning to do some gardening. These two, a dahlia and cosmos, traveled back from the coast to the valley.

Still working my way through my sewing pattern eBay listing sessions. Pattern of the Day is this unusual dress.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186697562961

I am delighted with the adult tap classes I have begun. At first, I considered a Zumba exercise class. Tap is so much more fun. It is held in a stunning historic schoolhouse. Recently installed full-length mirrors in the room complete the atmosphere. Attendees were all retired women.

The instructor advised against watching any YouTube videos to learn tap dancing. I think it is an exercise that needs an in-person instructor.

As an aside, be prepared to be a caregiver throughout your life. First, you raise your children. Next, you or your partner could be stricken with medical mishap. Then, you may have a surviving parent, most likely your mother. The reason I mention caregiving is that half of the class attendees were caregivers.

College class schedules for Spring 2025 will be posted next month. I sooo want to take more than one class but know better. The drawing and composition class I intend on taking will be full term one full day per week on campus. Can't wait!

🌠

About 1 in 100

2024-09-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

That is about how many sewing patterns I keep for myself in the hundreds I have listed for sale. Gonna keep this bow-legged blondie.

Pattern of the Day is McCall's 9362 Stuffed Doll from 1968. Instructions begin "Easy to make Doll from man's white T-shirt, tinted pink."

Here are other patterns in my keeper category. I picked up some project boxes at thrift, perfect for my type of crafting.

If I find other blocks for this quilt, that would be great. This 2001 Land of the Free is Block #1 of 12, Brave Eagle. I have a stash of Americana-themed fabric queued up for a quilt. I could use him as the centerpiece.

This 2002 French Roses pattern is adorable and I am a big fan of raw edge/soft edge applique. Love the disclaimer on the pattern packet, "Results are not guaranteed as the author is not responsible for differences in individual abilities."

Ending the post with 2008 Oopsie Daisy quilt pattern. Makes you just want to kiss it! 💋

I am working away on my eBay sewing pattern listing sessions. Total active listings back to 2,400! 💥

Tastes Change

2024-09-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Do I rearrange items in the thrift shop? Guilty. I had never seen Bradley dolls in the small version. These two cuties I moved to the Campbell's Soup display - just because.

Quilting update: My progress on the Lava Lamp quilt. I have many more "lamps" to make.

Dealing in sewing patterns, I come across a lot of project ideas. A few of the patterns I have saved for myself.

I keep certain purse/bag patterns. Have I made one yet? No. But it looks like something my daughter would like so I will keep an eye out for the right material for it.

Omgeeee! Squeals of delight. I just discovered the Amador Arts Council in my area. Just missed a sewing class but even better a tap dance and ballet class for adults. I am beyond excited. Not only will it get me out of the house, taking a tap dance class has been on my bucket list since childhood.

Ending the post with a tub of bears and bear clothing bought at thrift for $5.99.

None were exceptional quality so all will be thrifted back to the Great Thrift Shop Beyond. I will keep the Christmas themed ones for an appearance in my upcoming Countdown to Christmas posts in December.

Got Me Some Fabric and Going to the Gardens

2024-09-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

I have been more discerning in my thrifted fabric purchases. Now I don't buy all the bags of fabric, only the ones that look like potential keepers. This group I bought two bags at thrift for a total of $12 at the Attic Thrift Shop at the Redwood Senior Center. There are some nice fat quarters that will work in nicely in my Lava Lamp quilt project. The stuffed animal was a $1 purchase I couldn't resist.

A return trip to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens meant a leisurely walk with the dog. There are a couple of "Easter eggs" to discover.

The first was Headless Harmony. Man's suit and tie, woman's Peter Pan collar and dress ceramics slightly submerged in the soil.

The dahlias were in bloom.

Zipper in the pumpkin patch.

The second Easter egg was these two big blue painted ones in a gigantic nest.

Stumbled onto these money plant seeds that I gave to a couple of friends.

I will be spending the next few days on the coast and will check back in to the Attic thrift shop for more fabulous fabric.

Turning Into Fall

2024-09-02T05:24:00.000-07:00

A milestone was passed as we moved from August into September, it only took 10+ years - I passed the 1,000,000 total page views mark for this blog. Hard to fathom.

I have certainly segued during the 13 year time period on this blog. My first few years were spent linking up with other bloggers, completing blog challenges, modeling thrifted outfits, and revealing thrift shop finds. My OOTD (outfit of the day) posts have become few and far between (Christmas and random occasions).

The focus the last few years have been quilt projects, and selling tips on eBay. I still highlight thrift shop finds, but only the most interesting ones.

Art and art history continue to fuel my posts. Thrift shop art features prominently.

Labor Day wishes for a delightful holiday!

August Art Offerings

2024-08-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

This sculpture resides at the Mendocino Art Center in Mendocino, California.

Metal sculpture near the Mendocino Theatre Company in Mendocino, California.

Thrift shop offerings of a painting

A rock print

and foot and jar obscura. All thrift shop residents.

Ending the post with Flower Guy - not quite sure what is going on here.

Auditing the Listings

2024-08-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

The lead-off image is yet another thrift shop painting. This one I have entitled "Eye See You."

This week meant each day was spent on the audit of eBay listings of Simplicity and Vogue sewing patterns. I brought up each listing, checked the details, and revised the price. Most were overpriced, some underpriced. All of the cut patterns were culled. Some were out of numeric order. Some were duplicates. Some weren't listed at all. Some needed pattern packet scotch-tape reinforcement.

If you are an online seller, I would highly recommend auditing your listings. I removed the reference to Vintage on my listings. I figure I will let the buyer determine whether a pattern is vintage or not.

Lockdown blips in selling were books and CDs. Sales in those two categories have come to a near standstill. I will start segueing out of those categories in the months to come.

I work each day on eBay now. My extra disposable income of $1,500 per month has disappeared as a result of the reduction of my state salary to a fixed income, and putting my eBay store on time away during the summer. I have more than enough inventory to list for the next three months.

There is a possibility for retired state workers to return to work without jeopardizing their retirement benefits. One must wait 180 days from their retirement date to return to work as a Retired Annuitant. I would be interested in working a couple of days a week. I have signed up for the CalCareers weekly notifications. California just went through a budget crisis (my suspicion is overspending on COVID-related programs), so there might not be many of those positions available.

I am still adjusting to this retirement thing. From legal analyst to caregiver. There is lots on the plus side, but I miss being around others.

Completion of the 2024 Fan Quilt

2024-08-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

The lead-off image is the center of the completed fan quilt done in a dragonfly quilting pattern.

Image below is the quilt in the wild.

I bound it in a dramatic fabric that brought all of the colors together.

Close-up of the dragonfly quilting pattern.

Next quilt queued up is Lava Lamp - king-sized with a wool batting.

Seller update: After I finish the audit of my sewing patterns, I will begin listing my quilt projects for sale. Other listing sessions queued up are Barbie clothes lotted by color, Boy Scout items, yarn, and CDs.

Pattern of the Day is from 1997 Butterick 5030 Woodland Elves.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186640198514

I reactivated my Instagram account Tamaschen. It was on hiatus for almost 3 years. I guess because I have an active Facebook account, the IG account easily reactivated. It is the most popular app and I like to enter the contests.

August Blogiversary

2024-08-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

Celebrating my 13th anniversary as a blogger. It has been a quiet summer in blogland for my posts. I spent the month of June finishing out my tenure as a state worker. July and August have been spent involved in a dispute over our summer home. The lead-off image was a painting at a Fort Bragg, California thrift shop.

Back to thrifting in my area produced a pair of Black Americana salt and pepper shakers. My most recent finds have been mainly sewing patterns, nothing as cute as these two!

Pattern of the Day is an undated Butterick raggedy clown doll. I had scanned in this batch of patterns for my listing session then I misplaced the scans! They were saved in another folder, so glad I found them! 😌

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186634084833

Getting back to quilting - my next post will be the completion of the 2024 Fan Quilt.

July Weird and Wacky

2024-07-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

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

2024-07-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

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

2024-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

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.

June Weird and Wacky

2024-06-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

This bumper sticker was spotted at my favorite clothing reseller Freestyle in Sacramento, California.

I watch a lot of paranormal-related YouTubes, funny thing is ghosts/demons never haunt the secondhand shops. These entities like to open cabinet doors, play knock knock, and occasionally throw knives and cutlery.

Not much to report this month in the thrift shop world of wacky. This painting was displayed at Old Soul Coffee in Sacramento, a place I frequented on my days in office.

These images are from another thrifting site on FB. Found at an antique store, a questionable laundry basket.

Ending the post with a cartoon.