Billy & the Bear plus new Thrift finds

Went to the Goodwill near work today on a mission to pick up some cheap flat sheets to use as drop cloths. I'm going to be painting the Craft Palace and I hate those plastic drop cloths. Of course, since I was there I had to check out the other stuff. Pickin's were a bit slim but aside from the sheets, I did manage to score a couple of goodies and have a PMP moment!

How awesome is this house? It stands about 30 inches high and was $2!! I'm going to paint it a pale yellow I think. but here's the best part:

It's a cabinet!!!! This is destined for the Craft Palace as cute storage!

Here is my PMP moment. This purse is brand new and was only $5!! Super cute for spring & summer!And here's the inside:

I decided since I was over on that side of town I'd check out this fleamarket I rarely go to. Mostly because it's a pigsty and you feel like you need a hot shower after you go in. And then there's the fact that the prices most of the dealers are asking for JUNK--and not junk in a good way-are often absolutely delusional. They act like they carry priceless heirlooms when it's Dollar Store quality. But I thought what the heck-why not buzz through. It was worth feeling like bugs were crawling on me cuz again-JACKPOT.

I hit a booth where everything was 50% off and the original prices were really good to start with. As you can see with my last post-I'm collecting vintage figural planters. All of these babies cost between 50 cents and $1.50. Yup-you read that right. THAT cheap!!

Love birds and Siamese cat planter

Porky Pig planter(probably from the 30's) and cow creamer(I also collect creamers)

Adorable planter with scottie dogs and a little elephant pulling a wagon.

I was cleaning  out some stuff and organizing it to give to a fundraiser for Haiti yard sale last nite and came across this stuffed bear. Billy pulled it out of the pile and has fallen in love with it. He carries it around (ok drags it around) and it's almost as big as he is. He like to lay next to it and kiss it. I guess that's a good thing. I had a friend who's shi-zu "romanced" a teddy bear in a pretty disgusting way if you know what I mean.

Billy trying to carry bear to his blankey.

Finally!! Bear is ready for a nap. So is Bill!!

Miss Kae-Kae working her "cute" She's not exerting herself to move a stuffed bear!!

Well, that's all for now. I may be a bit incognito posting for the next week or so--I'm getting ready to paint the Craft Palace and do some decorating in there!!  I'll be taking lots of pix to share!!

Have a Blessed Easter!!! Aren't you glad the grave is empty????

Tamera

Got my Thrift Store Mojo back!!!

I have a "circuit" of thrift stores I hit weekly between home and work. Total of 3 Goodwills, 2 Salvation Army's and 4 random ones. I don't know about how things have been with all of you "thrifters"  out there but pickin's have been SLIM. I mean threadbare. I haven't scored any goodies in weeks and was having the DT's!! So I went thrift shopping yesterday and hit the MOTHER LODES!!! Yee-Haw--got my thrift store mojo back and had a couple of PMP (pee my pants) goodie moments. Also ran into my friend Melissa of The Vintage Attic blogspot--who was also out thrifting!! Her booth at Valley Antiques is amazing-check it and her blog out!!

Anyway--this is gonna be a picture-heavy post. And all of this FUN cost less than $30!!!

We'll get the customary Stone Fence Cottage Random Cat Butt picture out of the way!!! As usual, Misty came running when she saw the camera!!

I love checking out the linens. The checked fabric is a queen sheet-brand new-which will become my spring/summer dining room tablecloth. The piece on the lower left is an embroidered pillowcase-no idea what I'm gonna do with it!! The floral fabric is a vintage sheet. It's destined to become the new curtain in the Craft Palace. I'm going to incorporate the neat blue bias scalloped edge!! I'm getting ready to redecorate the palace--gonna paint the boring white walls the color of Jadeite bowls so watch for the transformation!! This fabric goes perfect with that color! 

A brand new kit to make a snowman out of a 2 liter bottle--I'm going to give it to my daughter to make! I always check out the craft area at the thrifts!! It's amazing what you might find.

Lots of yarn-some for rug-punching, most for art classes at school.

Ton of lace and eyelet trims and a bunch of little wooden figures very similar to those that Elizabeth of Creative Breathing uses in her darling pincushions. I may see if she'd like me to send them to her.

A bunch of miscellaneous craft stuff-stencils, floss, small x-stitch kits.

Vintage trims and ribbon!! You can never get enough!

My PMP moment. A selection of nice quilting rulers. All for $1. Anyone who quilts knows how expensive these are!!

Eight vintage perfect cocktail napkins and a new x-stitch kit with a cute teapot frame. It still had the original price of $14 on it!!

Two glass snacking plates--loved the flowers!! No clue what I'm gonna do with them but for 25 cents....

I've been wanting a pig cutting board-I have a chicken and a cow. Now I have my farm of cutting boards!!

An ironstone platter and salad plate. I love the salad size to put under plants.

Three English transferware porcelain plates. the color is purple and they depict castles in England.

Gorgeous bluebird planter that had the world's filthiest ugly plastic flowers in it. They went in the trash!!

I love planters and have started collecting them! Because heaven knows I need something ELSE to collect!!

More planters-love the colors in the green & yellow one!

And more planters!!! I'm really drawn to the whimsical figural ones.

This is a bit hazy- it's two small planters and a new orphaned creamer for THAT collection!!

Small bowl and vintage pedetal dish. I loved the colors!! Very autumn-y!

Some cute little figurines!!! I love the tiny bluebird salt & pepper-so wee and darling!

Cool vintage pitchers!!! I love me some jugs!! Actually the green is a tea-pot with the wrong lid-but who cares? It's got a neat shape and color.

As you can see- it was a super haul!! I'm hoping things are looking up in the thrifts--and of course now that yard sale season is starting. My hubby says he is thankful I DON'T have a truck because having a small car limits how much I can get. Yeah right! You'd be AMAZED how much I can stuff in a Dodge Neon-hehehehe!

Productive Thrifting to all my Blog-friends and thanks for stopping by!

Tamera

Feast-On Friday- Easy Pumpkin Black Bean Soup Recipe

It's a COLD rainy day here at the Stone Fence Cottage. I decided to join in on Blogland's Feast-On Friday and share my super easy Pumpkin Black Bean soup recipe. This is always a big hit at any gathering and I usually am passing out the recipe afterwards!!! This is also easy to double, triple or even half depending on how much you want. This version makes enough to feed my hubby and I a couple of meals and several lunches!!!!  It reheats great!

Ingredients:  (all the cans are the average 14-16 oz and are undrained)
2 cans pureed pumpkin (NOT the pie stuff)
2 cans black beans
2 cans corn
2 cans vegetable or chicken broth
2 cans diced tomatoes- I use the ones with chilis but either way works
1 10 oz box frozen spinach-thawed ( I do this in the microwave)
1 large onion- chopped into small pieces
2+ cups water
Salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder to taste
Optional- chicken, pork or keilbasa sausage chopped into bite size pieces

1. Saute the onion until soft (if adding meat-saute until done at this point)
2. Add all of the canned  ingredients and mix well
3. Add the spinach
4. Add the water-- you can add more to get to the consistancy you'd like
5. Add the seasonings
6. Heat until warmed through
7. EAT!!!

It's that EASY-- can be made quickly with stuff in your pantry!! Great with leftover chicken or pork!

Feast On!!!

Tamera

Easter Decor at The Stone Fence Cottage

The first daffodil has bloomed!! They are really behind and kinda stunted size-wise due to all the snow but I'm happy to see them!!

Here's our front porch. I got the banner on the door at Joann's-loved the vintage image on it. Yes, that is one of those goose you can dress up. Might be a bit tacky but I like it!!! This is the replacement--
my old one fell apart last fall and I just got around to getting a new one. We get lots of people walking by (especially during tourist season) and several commented about the missing goose!!

Closewr view of my shelf and arrangement. The bunny plaque on the side is from JoAnn's. The silver bunny is one I "tarnished" with black paint. It came from the christmas Tree Store--I LOVE that place!!  The vintage basket was a TS find for $1.50!!

Thrift store wooden bunny I got for $3!! I scored two of them--they are handmade and HEAVY!! They were unfinished so I white-washed them and then stained. I decided to forgo any features because I liked the sculptural look of them. I just tied on a pastel homespun ribbon!

The other bunny!!  That's the back end of our cat Molly. I don't what it is about my pictures and random cat butts in them!!

My little buddies Billy & KaeKae. Kae is stylin' in her new spring t-shirt!! They've been enjoying the warmer weather.

The patriotic painting is one I did on an old tin wash boiler. The other side has an autumn painting so I can switch it up. The flowers are FAKE!!! LOLOL

Well, that's my outside Easter decor!

Tamera

Tamera & Andrea Craftapalooza!!

The last few Friday's I've been getting together with my dear friend Andrea (babyimonmyway.blogspot.com) to craft. We decided to take on the challenge of creating a block of the month and the tagalong with Elizabeth at CreativeBreathing.blogspot.com. Check out her blog-it's AWESOME!!

For the tagalong elizabeth posts an image and we are to use it in a tag.  This is the March image. So cute!!

This is Andrea's tag. Please pardon my crummy camera-taking abilities. We have a new camera and I'm getting the hang of it. Andrea is NOT a "less is more" kinda gal. She loves her bling and embellishments!!

And here is Tamera's tag. As you can see-I'm much more minimalist!

Andrea's March block!!!

Tamera's March block!!

We actually did both our March and April blocks-but we'll save April's for next month!!

We had a ball getting together and crafting and are already planning our May blocks and waiting for the next tagalong image! Many thanks to Elizabeth for hosting this!!

Craft on!!!

Tamera

Shower Curtain 101

It's Tutorial Tuesday on Monday!!! I want to share how to make an easy-peasy shower curtain.  I can never find a shower curtain I like. I always have something pictures in my head that of course does not exist in retail land. I also don't like how "skimpy" some curtains are. I use double shower rods -one for the liner and another (the tension kind) that I place slightly above and to the outside of the other for the decorative curtain. I'm getting ready to make some new spring/summer shower curtains as I like to lighten it up a bit during warm weather. The guest/hall is going to be a small khaki/cream homespun, and the master bath will be in light blue and spring green. 

The materials you will need-for a standard size tub/shower combo:

• 
  
  tension shower rod in color you'd like
• 5 yards of your selected fabric (typical 43-45 inch wide)
• thread to match
• 4 yds 7/8 inch wide grosgrain ribbon.

I prewash and dry my material first. Cut two lengths 84" long. Then cut about 6 inches wide the width of the fabric. (just halve the fabric left over) This gives you two 84" long x 43+" wide pieces and two approx. 6" long x 43+" wide pieces.

EDITED TO ADD: If you don't like a center seam---split one 84" long panel in half. Sew the panels on each side of the other panel-making it have a wider center panel & two thinner side panels. Then proceed like before. I'm just too lazy (lol) to go the extra step if I don't have to!!

Sew the two 84" pieces together lengthwise using 1/2" seam allowance. Since the Fold over and hem the bottom by folding over 1/4" and then folding over again 1/4".
Sew the two 6" pieces together using 1/2" seam allowance. Fold over and hem the bottom by folding over 1/4" and then folding over again 1/4".

Fold the ribbon in half. Center one loop as shown on the center seam. Place the loops out towards the edges approx. 4" apart. Adjust the loop closest to each edge so it it 1/2" fron the edge.

Baste ribbons to curtain using 1/4" seam allowance.

 Place the 6" piece right sides together with the top of the curtain-unfinshed top edges together. Sew along top using a 1/2" seam. Sew down each side of the 6" piece using a 1/2" seam . Fold over and hem the the sides by folding over 1/4" and then folding over again 1/4".

 Flip the 6" piece over the top of the curtain. Iron flat so ribbons stick up. Stich 1/4" from top and along bottom of 6" piece to secure. 

Put ribbon tabs on rod-adjust rod height -I like mine to hang slightly off the floor.

Wah-lah-- a custom made shower curtain!!  If you utilize Joann coupons or sales- you can do one far cheaper then a store-brought curtian. I often buy 6 yards total and make a matching 18" x 18" "napkin" to drape over the back of my toilet to add some color.

I couldn't find the fabric I wanted for the master bath. I sewed together coordinating print to make my 84" length. 

And another even quicker way-- my winter master bath curtain was made from a pair of 84" long rod pocket curtains. I cut off the part at the top where the curtain rod was supposed to go. I sewed together the curtains using whatever the seam allowance that the sides were hemmed with. I also used that to sew together the pieces I cut off. Did the deal with the ribbons just like above. Then I took the piece I cut off and lined up the cut edges like above--didn't have to hem it!!! Sewed it just like above except for the sides of the smaller piece-- I turned it over and then lined up the edges and top stitched.  SUPER easy shower curtain!! And if you cna get the curtains cheap or at the thrift--yay!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Tamera