Don't sit still!!

That's right, if you are at my place and you sit still long enough you just might find yourself on a shelf at Vinnies a little tag hanging off you that says $2.50. For the last 3 Mondays I have taken huge bags of stuff to the op shop, this week the lady there actually said to me, "Having a clean up are you love?". Yep that would be right op shoplady!!


So to this weeks arrivals and departures (and a "shake it all about" aka recycling.)

In - 1 book Wool Pets, pig index cards, silver necklace, piece of Kokka Trefle fabric with little apples(not for immediate use), 3 mts fabric (for immediate use). 4 books "rescued" from work, 1 Homestyle magazine.

The pig index cards are so cute. They are very thin and they slide in between books on the shelf so it looks like they are going into and coming out from between the titles. The book I had to have because I have a very similar on in Japanese so I figured it would help with the instructions in that one so how could I not buy it, it's practically a translation aid. Really, I NEEDED it was not just a want.

And the "rescued" books? Well I work in a library and sometimes I just cannot bring myself to dispose of books that I have though of as precious just because they are the worse for wear. My house is like a nursing home for old books, they come here to rest for a few years, with nice gentle page turning and clean shelves before moving onto the big library in the sky.

Now for the Outs- 1 soft toy pig, 1 Piglet toy, 1 western style belt buckle, 1 small basket, 7 Hobbytex tubes from the 70's, vintage doll clothes, dolls bedding, 1 mermaid cushion, 1 shirt, 1 Minnie Mouse toy and they all went in 1 big mesh spotlight bag to the oppy.

1 pink jumper to a friend

and to the bin went 1 pillow, 4 dolls missing various limbs and eyes.

2 stopped watches went to a friend who uses the faces to make jewellery.

And finally a shake it all about. 1 mens shirt box now houses my Barbie clothes.

Out total this week 25

In -10

Boy this feels good.

Quack, quack

This weekend was a big one for the out pile. I had to make room for these gorgeous antique decoy duck heads. (Mr.D should be thankful that I pulled the heads off the ducks and didn't bring them home too. They smelt icky)

IN - 8 duck heads, 1 2009 IKEA catalogue, set of little Russian rubber stamps from here

OUT - 4 headbands 1 pair thongs, 3 pairs shoes, 3 pairs bathers 1 piece green fabric, 1 cap, 10 scarves, 4 pairs pants, 3 shirts, 3 t-shirts, 1 black wool scarf, 1 pair jeans, 2 makeup cases, 1 bra, 1 purse, 1 Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge t-shirt(never worn), 1 jumper. All went to Vinnies.

1 peasant top, 1 pair bead earrings, 1 shirt (donated to friend)

1 Madison magazine minus the free Napolen mascara (tearoom table)

And they all went out in 3 free magazine bags

assorted undies, socks, tights and bras too old, holey and shameful for anywhere but the bin.

Total OUT 44 !!! (plus the undies etc.. that I am not counting becasue they should have gone many moons ago)

My first quilt

This quilt is one I made for Mr. D for Christmas 2003. I finally finished it and gave it to him in March of this year! He's very patient.

It is the maritime signal flages because he is a yachtie (the quilt is draped over his little boat).It is the first proper quilt I have finished. I made couple of the shaggy types but realised pretty quickly when I stared this one that they aren't really patchwork quilting at all. No corners to match up, no binding, no quilting decisions etc...

As I had basically no idea what I was doing I jumped in at the deep end and made up my own pattern. Wow, how silly was I? The only request I had was that it be big enough to have a nap under! It is almost queen size and backed in chenille.The flags are outline quilted in dark blue and each piece in each flag is stitched too, the red side strips are quilted with yellow parallel lines.

After a couple of lengthy stalls, when I thought the flags were all different sizes, I did get there, and I must say that I am very proud of it. It does just the job at nap time!

In's and out's

IN- 1 pair of shoes
IN- 1 Real Living magazine
IN- 2 pieces of Japanese fabric
IN- 1 pair of jeans (ebay)

I'm in credit!!

Saturday

OUT- 3 Disney Wnnie the Pooh toys (donated to a friends little niece)
OUT - set of Winnie fridge magnets

IN - 1 vintage hand embroidered table cloth

Yay for me, it's day four and I've exited more that I've entered.

Monday

OUT- 6 pairs of shoes
OUT- 1 pair of novelty pig slippers
OUT- 1 box of paperbacks that have been waiting for 6 months to go to opshop
OUT- 1 Oscar the Grouch stuffed toy
OUT- 1 pile of old quilting magazines. All went to Vinnies

IN- 1 small etched ruby glass vase

INPUT MUST EQUAL OUTPUT

After reading the Shopping Sherpa's blog I have been inspired to follow her lead and have a Spring clean. The rules are simple- for every item that I bring into the home for the month of October, something has to exit. The best form of disposal is to donate them to a willing taker. Opshop donations are good too. What is not good is just throwing stuff away. (where is "away"?
Sounds simple yes, but I am a horder of the first order. I am sure the steady stream of "in" will be no problem. It's the "out" I'm worried about.
So here is my first day.

October 1
IN - 1 book (Printing by hand)
IN- 1 Paris stamp set.

OUT- 5 tops (donated to a friend)