There's More To Life Than Painting -- There's eBay And Goodwill

It isn't all cans of paint and rolls of wallpaper here at That Old House.
One must make time to feed one's thrifting soul . . . .

This past weekend, the Goodwill Industries stores in New Jersey

marked all housewares and pictures at 50-percent off.

Sadly, I only got to one GW, and that one on Sunday, but it was well worth my while.

Also worth my while, my annual Fall eBay search for vintage linens.

Grab a cup of tea, while I show you what my few bucks bought.

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Four vintage pillowcases with beautiful handwork embellishment, and a linen table runner with amazing filet crochet trim.  Each piece:  99-cents on eBay, all from the same seller so she combined shipping and charged me just $3 to ship it all.

One pillowcase with knitted lace:

A second knitted lace pillowcase:

 A hand-embroidered pillowcase:

I fiddled with this picture, below, so you could see the beautiful work.

I think it was originally done in blue floss, but the blue has faded to near-white over time:

Last pillowcase -- lovely heavy old percale, with sturdy crochet trim:

Now, about that table runner:

Ecru linen, worn tissue thin with use and washing:

Beautiful ecru crochet cotton work -- loads of filet crochet of roses, in perfect shape.

My plan for this dear old piece is to layer it with another piece of linen to reinforce the very vulnerable original linen, and then to -- maybe! -- cut it in half across the middle, and make sweet curtains for the window above my kitchen sink.  My heart shrinks from cutting it, but it can't be used as is without endangering the seams holding it together or actually tearing the linen.

If I'm brave, I'll show you the results!

Next from eBay, different seller, 5 perfect vintage table napkins, 22" square, for $2.99.  60-cents apiece.

Here's a hint to getting excellent bargains on eBay or even at brick-and-mortar resale shops:

buy odd numbered groupings.

5 napkins sells for far less than 6 napkins.

1 pillowcase is a steal.  2 matching pillowcases?  Definitely not a steal.

7 sells for less than 8, etc. . . you get the idea.

 Now, what about Sunday at Goodwill?

 I am always on the lookout for bowls, and found a really nice, perfect, maroon colored one,

definitely meant for the holidays, but I put a pothos in it because I always have more plants than cachepots.

At 50% off -- $1.00.

 A 15-inch long silverplated serving dish caught my eye.

 It has grapes and vines, and we love grapes and vines here at That Old House.

Because of our real grapes and vines!

 A wee bit of tarnish on the Art Nouveau style handles. . . .

 It even has grapes on its little backside!

 $2.00 for the tray.  Score!

Last Thursday I used pewter in a tablescape, and

decided that for Thanksgiving this year I'd use pewter candlesticks on my table.

And since I'm having trouble locating all my pewter candlesticks, I felt lucky to find these at GW:

$3.00 for the pair.  Sweet.

And if you are still with me, I salute you.

Sorry for such a marathon post!

My last GW bargain:

This is a large piece of crewel embroidery.

It's a Jacobean style, and I think it may be a pattern from a Williamsburg kit.

It is gorgeously and meticulously done.

It was professionally framed once upon a time in Texas;

how it ended up in New Jersey will remain a mystery.

It is self-matted, with a very plain and now-scuffed wood frame.

I am not sure what I'm going to do about the frame, but I'll think of something.

I just could not leave this lovely piece of needlework leaning up against the wall at the back of GW . . .

especially not for $6.00.

It would make a beautiful pillow, but clearly the stitcher wanted it protected and not sat upon,

so I'm going to keep it framed, as she wished.

It's bad enough that I might be cutting up some other woman's linen table runner!

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I've linked to 3 sweet linky parties today.

Check them out, below!  -- Cass

Visit Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for Three or More Tuesday.  Click here!

Linda at Coastal Charm hosts Nifty Thrifty Tuesday.  Click here!

 Bonnie at House of Grace is hosting her Twice Owned Tuesday Party.  Click here!

Thanks for visiting!  It's back to the paint cans for me: Thanksgiving looms!