STITCH-Bound by the BOOKS From Inside "THE BOX" - Part 3...

"ONE" OF THESE DAYS, WE'RE GONNA *HAVE TO* OPEN UP A "CRAFTING"-LIBRARY!!

Because, between Us, MOTHER and I quite *Literally* have a TON of TOMES on ART, CRAFTS, SEWING, NEEDLEWORK, KNITTING, CROCHET, PAINTING, WOODWORK... And, in the Form of "HOW-TOs", Historicals, Exhibitions... A boundless Bibliographic LEGACY of LEARNING!!

So. Whilst MOTHER's "$2.-BOX" held Several Other varied BOOKS, These THREE were in MY "$5.-BOX"!!

Helen M. STEVENS' "EMBROIDERED BUTTERFLIES"

Better Homes and Gardens - "BEAUTIFUL CROSS-STITCH"

Joan FISHER - "The Creative Art of NEEDLEPOINT TAPESTRY"

Anyway, ALL are most Informative! -- "Needle"ss to say, I will Likely be Referring to THEM *When* and/or *IF*, I EVER get around to Tackling Yesterday's Featured "EMBROIDERY KITS"!!

MEANWHILE, a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to My Late PATERNAL-"GRANNY"! -- Although, She might not have been in the Same "CREATIVE"-League - [GARDENING was always more of Her "Thing"] - as My MATERNAL-GRANDMOTHER, I will always REMEMBER "GRANNY" for having a Profound *SKILL* for DARNING Socks!

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The *Contents* of "THE BOX" of BARGAINS -- Part 2...

BUT FIRST... An ITEM that *wasn't* in "THE BOX".

As it happens, This EMBROIDERY KIT ended up being My *LAST* Purchase-of-the-Day for only a DOLLAR!

Initially, it was the THREAD-COLOUR that caught My Eye... However, I'm somewhat "TEMPTED" to actually - SOME DAY, *maybe* - "DO" This KIT! -- To be Honest, I've NEVER Done ONE of This TYPE before - [with Threads INcluded]...

Although IT's been DECADES, "THIS" - [BELOW] - is the Version that I'm *more* Familiar with... This TAPESTRY "KIT" *was* in "THE BOX"!

IT has TWO PATTERNS... The SECOND One was never Started and I actually prefer IT. -- I would try to Finish up This FIRST One, but, the STITCHING-TENSION on IT is *WARPED*! - I don't think the PERSON Who began IT, used a Proper HOOP to Secure the WORK..? And, the BACK-SIDE STITCHES are kinda Weird-Looking, too...

*IF*, I "ever do" DO the OTHER ONE, I might just consider taking THIS ONE "apart" and RE-do IT..?

Anyway... An additional "CURIOSITY" about IT -- The *DESIGN* has a *1942* COPYRIGHT, yet, the SCREEN and WOOL-YARN are near PRISTINE..?! -- So. Either IT's all been Remarkably PRESERVED or, the "MATERIALS" were more "Recently" acquired!?

The YARN is apparently "U.K." Made -- So, IF Any of YOU from THERE happen to Recognize IT and can place a "Time-PERIOD" on IT - PLEASE - let Me KNOW!

MEANWHILE... A Couple of OTHER "THE BOX" ITEMS...

I Love the SHADE of This BLUE BOTTLE! As well as that "COIL"-Design. The Other VASE's SMOKY-EVERGREEN HUE was also *most* APPEALING!

BTW, so You *Know*, I had "PLANNED" on POSTING a Few *MORE* PICS, "but", the CAMERA-BATTERIES *died* on Me! - AGAIN!! -- ggrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Will TRY to GET it Done, Tomorrow!

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We've been FRAMED into "SHOP"-mission!!

OH! AND, **HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIG-D**!!

Despite the Scorching-Sunlight, a Perfect-Day for the usual SATURDAY-SALE-SCAVENGE! Thankfully, most of the Humidity had been blown away by the brief, yet *quite* VIOLENT, STORMLINE that swept through the Local Area just after Dinner Last Night. - [a Teenager died from a Lightning-Strike!]

We actually had a "TORNADO-WATCH" WARNING! - Not a common occurrence in These Parts. We get some Severe-Wind-Storms, but Twisters are a bit Rare... Anyway, We had several Inches of Flash-RAIN, but IT drained off soon enough. I think a few of Our LILAC Bushes got beat-up though.

Whatever... BEACON HILL was having a "Community" YARD-SALE Day..?

-- You know, I remember the Days when THAT meant Every-Other-House had a Sale!! - "NOW"
...not-so-much! Nevertheless, We had a FULL DAY of "Shopping"!!

So, CHECK OUT My "TRUNK-Space"....

"WOLF" NEEDLEWORK - 50-Cents - ATTEMPTING to Photograph THIS
"Properly" was a *challenge*! - [there's a lot more Colour-Detail going on!] - The actual "Canvas" is about 4x6", Professionally-Framed into a 8x10" matte under Glass. You have to see IT up-close to fully appreciate The "ARTISAN's" Skill in combining the Stitches with the Fiber-Textures.
-- MOTHER had thought IT was a "Painting", even from a close-distance.

My initial intention was to give IT to SISTER - since She likes Wolves - however, *IF* IT doesn't
"fit" into Her *current* Decor, then *I'll* KEEP IT! -- Then again, I *should* just keep IT anyway!.. IT really IS Well-Done!

hmm... IT would look good next to My NAVAJO SAND PAINTING - [SEE 28MAY2011 POST] - and that BISON PAINTING - [SEE 07MAY2011 POST]...

BUD-VASES
- *FREE*

YES! THESE were in a "FREE-STUFF" Box!! They're about 5-Inches High.

Nice "neutral" Shades
that can fit ANY where!

PEWTER FRAMES
- $10. - TOTAL

- The TWO LARGER FRAMES are 13x11", Made in MEXICO. The "backings" need Repair, but that's a *minor* Issue!

I love the AZTEC-ish Design!

- The SMALLER ONE is in good condition with ITS lovely *metal* Arm-Stand.

WOOD / CHROME FRAMES - $2. - TOTAL - We found THIS LOT after the Pewter-Place... These FRAMES are in Perfect Condition!! A Couple *still* have Their $20-PRICE-STICKERS on!! The Lower-Left one is Chrome...

-- BTW, the handful of Other-Ones that I passed on, MOTHER got for the SAME *Steal* of a Price!

COPPER
"ETCHING" of EDINBURGH CASTLE

- 50-Cents


- I got THIS with the WOLF Canvas. -- I've actually been to the Place...




And, I have a Few of These Type of "Etchings" - that should probably be more accurately referred to as "EMBOSSMENTS"..?

Whichever, I'm *trying* to Remember whether or not if I don't ALREADY *have* THIS ONE..?!

As for the OTHER ODDS & ENDS of My BOOTY...

Magnetized WIRE-WEAVE HOLDER - [upside-down] - 10-Cents - IT's only a Few-Inches in size, but I'm sure that IT'll be handy for Something!

Magnetized RECYCLED-GLASS TEALIGHT-HOLDER - 25-Cents - "Someone" certainly had a Thing for Little-Magnets and Glue-Guns!!

"IKEA"-esque PEWTER PULL-KNOBS - There were FOUR of THESE in the *same* Bag as the...

PINK CERAMIC DRAWER-PULLS - 50-Cents - TOTAL for 20 of THESE plus the 4-Pewter ones. Despite NOT being a big "Pink" FAN, I *do* love Ceramics-bits... Perhaps, One of The PROGENY will be in Need of Them at some Future Date..? -- Besides, at THAT Price..?!

DRAGONFLY SHOWER RINGS - $2. - A DOZEN of THESE. Brand NEW! Good quality.

RHINO PIN - 50-Cents - I "know" that I have ONE of THESE "someWHERE" in My
"COLLECTION"! And, in Silver-Colour, too... Whatever. IT's a *RHINO*!! -- I couldn't "NOT"
Buy IT!!


AFTERWARD, We stopped off at the BEACON HILL MALL, where We made Our "MOST-UNIQUE-FIND-OF-THE-DAY"!!

On the way Back to The CAR, MOTHER spotted what, I thought, was just a bit of a folded
"brochure"..?? - After I got Her into The VEHICLE, I went back to IT - if *only* to Satisfy Her Curiosity... Well, as IT turned out, IT was SOMEONE'S *PASSPORT*!! - A "Foreign" one.

Which, had NO Contact Info! Anyway, on the chance that Said Owner was *still* IN the Mall, I left IT with the "Saturday-Manager" of the Pharmacy - since, it was Their Parking-Area. And, the most "secure" Store that was Open! -- The Bank and the "Government" Departments housed there weren't...

Meanwhile, We still had further THINGS-TO-DO-PLACES-TO-BE!!

LONG-AFTERNOON-SHORT... MICHAEL'S - WALMART - THE MALL - HOME!!

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Venturing Into The VILLAGE...

HALF-PRICE DAY at VALUE VILLAGE!! MOTHER *wanted* to be There!!

And, despite the Crispness, IT was a lovely Gorgeous Day! ...Once, One got "past" the Retinal-Damaging-Laser-Blinding-SUNLIGHT! - [..oh, yeah! Definitely a *massive* Hole in the Ozone-Layer floating around *This* Part of The PLANET!]

We eventually got There around 1-ish... Just at the Right Time to FIND Parking! Only stayed about an Hour - had OTHER Stuff to DO! -- Overall, I didn't really See Anything "exciting" in CLOTHING. Neither did MOTHER, who was in Search of Particular Items... We only found One that suited Her Criteria.

As for Myself, I like to scavenge for Things that I can "repurpose"... Or, get "Crafty" with... FOUND THIS STUFF --

[ABOVE] - I believe THIS is LINEN. Heavy with a Loose-Weave. About
2-Yards. - $3. - Would probably make Great little CURTAINS for a Kitchen or Breakfast-Nook Window? Or, even "Summer" Throw-Pillow COVERS.


[LEFT] - Just over a Yard - $2. - Feels like a WOOL GABARDINE..? And, This IS the Actual Shade of Lavender! -- I'm "thinking" about FELTING some of IT... [I'll have to do a Test-Swatch] - Whatever, I'll find SOMEthing to DO with IT!!

For just 50-CENTS, I *couldn't* RESIST THIS Wonderfully-done NEEDLEPOINT CANVAS!!

IT Reminds Me sooo much of CPL.TAT-BABE's "PUPPY-NATOR"! -- Despite being a slightly Different Breed and Colour...

No matter, I'll have to SEARCH My STASH
to see IF I can Find *enough* of the Same Dye Lot of
"Whatever" Colour that will go with This to Finish up the Background.





Another - $2. - Item... I spotted One of Store-Clerks putting THIS - [BELOW] - onto the Racks... GRABBED IT before Anyone Else could! -- HAND-KNITTED, WOOL, COCONUT-Buttons! Child-Size... Would eventually Fit LITTLE PRINCESS BIG-RED..? -- IT would also be great to Felt, however, being
HAND-done, I'd Feel "Guilty" about "messing" with Someone Else's  Meticulously HARD-WORKED CREATION!

Afterward, We headed over to THE BIG MALL... Had an Errand to run There. It was getting Late, so We only had Time to "Browse" the New "CHRISTMAS" Display at THE BAY. -- They have some really CUTE "Crafty" ORNAMENTS This Year! CHECK Them out!

Then, it was a quick Grocery-Getting Moment, and HOME *before* Sundown!

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My **100th** Day of POSTING!!

WOW!! Have I been at THIS for THAT Long?!!

ARE You Guys having *FUN* yet?

Anyway... I *had* hoped to "Celebrate" this MILESTONE with a "certain" BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT. But, alas, NOT quite yet... Which, perhaps is a good thing, as Today was already the 1st BIRTHDAY of PRINCESS PRE-TEEN's Other Half-Sister! -- It would have been waay too much DRAMA...

So, I settled for the $7. LOTTERY WIN, the lovely SUNNY Day, and coming across a rather gracious
"Shout Out" in an Interview Article from the wonderfully, multi-Talented *Celebrity* "MOMMY" of One of My "BABIES"! -- THANKS "R"!!

Meanwhile, as to Today's "Adventures"...

Quite often, MOTHER & I come up with a "THEME" Word - or Phrase - for the Day... Today's was:
INVASION of the SMOKERS!

Seriously, what's the Deal here, People? -- Every time that We came out of some Store and/or Mall EXIT, it was almost like some FLASHOVER!

And, BTW, FYI... it wouldn't HURT to perhaps be DOWNWIND of Everyone ELSE when You "light up" WHILE STANDING IN A CROWDED QUEUE!! Not to mention, when Someone standing NEXT to You, starts "coughing" Their Lungs OUT - that should BE Your first CLUE!

I'm just saying... *MANNERS*!!

Okay, moving on from My personal little Tirade...

After treating the Car to a stretch of FRESHLY Paved Roadway, Our first stop of the Day was at an annually held Church Bazaar in the MANOR PARK Area... For once, I got quick Parking and didn't get Rained on! Which, is probably "WHY" - what with Universal *Balance* being the way it is - We ended up in the Door-Opening-Queue being surrounded by Three SMOKERS!

Sometimes, I find *Karmic* ZEN, to be just a bit MUCH first thing in the Morning...

Whatever, We didn't stay too long, since it was more BAKE and BOOK Sale. However, that still didn't stop us from loading up a BAG of STUFF for about $10. between Us!

Here's some of MY Assortment..

• A Box of NOTE CARDS featuring a selection of 19th Century "Classical Romance" Art Pieces.
• A PURSE made of MOTHER-OF-PEARL Chips.
• A skillfully done FLORAL CROSS-STITCH on Satin - Ready to be sewn into a Cushion Cover.
• A HAZELWARE "Colony" BOWL - one of two that were later purchased at the nearby SALLY ANN.

Got THIS pristine NEW ZEALAND [been there!!] LINEN TEA TOWEL at the Bazaar too.



From the Church, it was a stop at the VANIER SALLY ANN, then on to "Grocery" Shopping... We spent the next few Hours with forays to TRAINYARDS, The BIG MALL, THE MALL, and Our local CANADIAN TIRE Store. Where, I met a VERY Strapping OZZIE giving out FREE Mini Tire-Pressure Thingies...

Hmm.. And, it was not long after that "interaction", that I bought that WINNING Lottery Ticket...


-- Okay. So. Perhaps, I am up a couple of Notches on that whole "KARMA" deal Today, after all...





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Trolling Amongst the BIG Fish...

ANOTHER gorgeous Autumn Day... Sunny, cool - *Perfect* - for having Yard Sales! At least, One would think... Apparently, NOT so many did! -- Hate that...

And, what's with ALL the SQUIRRELS that keep crossing in FRONT of Us?! ...Mostly BLACK ones - You'd think that they were CATS, or something! [FYI - The OTTAWA Area has the Highest Population of Black Squirrels in North America - or so, I've heard...]

Speaking of "Creatures" in the MIDDLE of the Road...!  I *WISH* that Yard-Sale-RUBBER-NECKERS, would PLEASE ***NOT*** "PARK" their vehicles THERE! Especially, on a well-used Street, just BELOW a Hill Rise! GGRRRRRRRR!!!

So. On to SALES with more spacious available "Parking"...

At one of the Better ones, We actually picked up a few Items... MOTHER was doing "Group" - [don't ask...] - haggling over 2 Mini-Food Processors with the 3 Women running the Operation. She eventually, bought them both for a total of $5.

Meanwhile, for a Dollar, I got the BELOW, Embroidery Kit. The Screen Canvas is for a "Sampler", of which I really don't care about, as I would use the lovely Belgian Linen for something Else! However, the FLOSS is certainly worth the Price. And, as it turned out, This was the ONLY Y.S. Purchase I made Today.

MOTHER, was somewhat more successful in Her Acquisitions... A rather nice Child's SEWING MACHINE for $3. It only does a few simple stitches, but that's all Anyone REALLY needs! THAT, I believe - IF it WORKS properly - will likely be going to PRINCESS PRE-TEEN. -- Seeing as She's just learned to SEW and doesn't have a machine at Her Place.

MOTHER also, bought a "CAT" CAKE PAN at that location - however, has since, regretted in NOT acquiring another Boxed-Set of other Specialty Cake PANS that were only for $5. There's sure to be grumbling about *that*, ALL Week!

Then, it was the obligatory Stop at That Neighbourhood Mall and a quick run through the SALLY ANN. We had skipped the Store last week. This was Where, I purchased the ABOVE little FISH Condiment Bowls.  -- For My "Fish Collection"... And, they have a simple, yet interesting Design in their Texture...

I LIKED THEM! Okay?

Afterward, on the way OUT of That Area, we headed to a MOVING OUT Sale over in the "Ritzy" Section. This particular Neighbourhood contains quite a few "Million Dollar" Homes... And the Sale, was at one - of a handful - which was located in a "Court".

You could almost smell the "REALITY-SHOW-SOAP-OPERA-WAITING-TO-HAPPEN"!!

We only got to see the Inside of the large Double-Garage and a lower level "Workshop" - MOTHER has a Thing for Power Tools... Whatever, we didn't buy anything. There were a few,
"nice" things, but over-priced for this type of Venue... And the rest, was gaudy. But, most of the Power Tools were rather tempting... Too bad, that We don't have a Workshop. I could really get AUNTIE "CLAUS" in no Time!

Discreetly, We slipped out of The Court and headed off for Groceries. We kept that task to the Local haunts, ending with THE MALL. MOTHER had COOKIES to delivery to TICKET WICKET GUY and CINDERIA.

Hmm... I had forgotten about The COOKIES... Think I'll go grab a couple, and THEN, Post THIS!


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[TODAY's Post is DEDICATED to *ALL* of THOSE SOULS Lost at The WTC.]