YARNing to SALE 2 the HEART of ART...

I COULD'VE BOUGHT A COUPLE MORE...

BUT, I would have gone WAY *over* "BUDGET"!! -- And then, there's that *LACK* of WALL-SPACE Issue...

Anyhoo, BEFORE We had wandered on over to that ESTATE-SALE Yesterday, We made a QUICKIE-STOP over to The SALLY-ANN. -- I wanted to CHECK-OUT the AUCTION LISTING. Several NEW-ITEMS had arrived Last Week, but I *couldn't* get a GOOD-Look at THEM, *Then*! - We weren't going to the AUCTION, however, I did want to SEE "WHAT"
I would have "Missed"!

AS IN, a FEW rather NICE "NAUTICAL" PAINTINGS! - Though, still a tad too Pricey...
-- We MOVED ON...

AFTER the ESTATE-SALE - and, on the WAY to TRAINYARDS - We stopped-by for a Short-Bit at Our FRIEND, BOB-THE-BUYER and His FAMILY at Their semi-Monthly CURBSIDE-SALE.

BOB buys and sells LOTS of ANTIQUE & ESTATE "TRINKETS" & CURIOS...

I'm thinking that He was likely a PAWN-BROKER in a "PREVIOUS"-LIFE

-- As I, was likely a CURATOR in at least TWO!!

He also, Posts TERRIFIC SALE-"SIGNS"!! -- NEON-GREEN, *Every* BLOCK - stating how Many Blocks "to go" in CLEAR READABLE-While-You-Drive-By-SCRIPT!

ANYWAY... He had a Few PAINTINGS that Caught My EYE... However, I just settled on the "ABOVE" 8x10-Inch ONE for $5. -- [Which I Suspect, might have been BELOW His *COSTS*?!]

He really Likes Us, and is always Offering Us STUFF *AT-"COST"*!
- A "Courtesy" that I try *not* to "abuse"...





So. I couldn't Find a "Date" on the PIECE, but from the Condition of the FRAMING and CANVAS-BACKING,
I think *over* 30-Years would be a "SAFE-BET"..?


-- Actually, at some point That FRAME *will* be getting TRASHED!



We only "Pilgrimaged" at MICHAEL'S for about an Hour... I just got - [SEE BELOW] - ONE BALL of PURPLE ROVING... Afterward, We headed to the ST.LAURENT MALL - I had a few Errands to do There...

Like, *finally* getting around to "Cashing-IN" My HBC-Points! -- Needless to say, I did a bit of "SHOPPING" LATER... BUT, *NOT* to Worry! - I *still* have MONEY "Left" on that HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY *GIFT CARD*!!

As We were heading to a CHECKOUT-COUNTER, We passed a "DISCOUNT-TABLE" of DISHWARE...

These TWO 4-INCH HEART-DISHES were just sitting there... Looking LONELY... I checked the STICKER. The PRICE was "Right". AND, THEY *were* from PORTUGAL... I really DIDN'T "NEED" THEM!

I walked away about 20-Feet... oh! what-the-hell! -- I SPUN *around* BACK and Snatched THEM UP! - After all, it was *just* the TWO of THEM... About to end up being for "FREE"!

-- HOW could I, Say "NO"?!

NEXT... We headed to a *Certain* ART-"SHOPPE", that shall remain Nameless! AS, Their "SALES"-PRICES really AREN'T *so* much!!

Their YARN was "20%-OFF"... Which, was still about 4% *ABOVE* MICHAEL'S -

[Who really *aren't* Noted for Their LOW "REGULAR"-PRICES, either.

Honestly, other than the FANTASTIC-STAFF and YARN-INVENTORY,

IT's Their SALES and COUPONS that keeps Me coming back!]

 - *REGULAR*-PRICE!?!

However, THEY also have a Couple of COLOURS that I haven't seen at MICHAEL'S... yet...

So, seeing as I had been getting BARGAINS and FREEBIES all Day, I decide to *SPLURGE* on These TWO BALLS of YELLOW!!

I think it was Those HEARTS that MADE Me *DO* IT!!

We FINISHED the Day with GROCERY-GETTING...

MEANWHILE, *Nothing* of NOTE for Today! -- Just the USUAL "SUNDAY-CHORES"...

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CHINTZY on the CHEAP...

"WHY?" I BOUGHT THEM... [seeing as I am, *more* into "SEASCAPES"..]

• honestly?! That 50-Cent-EACH Price certainly *didn't* TWIST My *BAD-ARM* the "WRONG"-Way!!
• They'll go well with My "COLLECTIONS" of FLORAL NEEDLEWORK CANVASSES and FABRIC REMNANTS. And, GLASS... CERAMICS... Little WOODEN BOXES... TINS... - [btw, just STOP Me at *any* Time here!] - VINTAGE FURNITURE... That B&B I'll never Own and aren't "Domestic" enough to Operate *anyway*!!
• You know, I just Remembered... I have an ANTIQUE TIN that I'd gotten off of My Late-PATERNAL-GRANDMOTHER Decades ago that *would* also MATCH!!
• Besides, with *better* Frames, Their diminutive 8x10-Inch size will make Them even more "DECORATIF"..?
• DON'T need to be "Watered".
• and, oh yeah, did I mention..? *50-CENTS Each*!!

Meanwhile, This 6-Inch SUNFLOWER TIN-BOX only set Me back 25-Cents.


-- Just a little "COUNTRY"-CHINTZ!



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"NEEDED": WALL-*SPACE*!!

THAT ART-"CURATION"-GENE WAS ON THE *SHOP-FARI* AGAIN...

Being TEMPTED by the Several Worthy CANDIDATES for My "5. & UNDER"-THRIFTY-ORIGINAL-ART-COLLECTION that had crossed My PATH Today...

Alas, as ALLURING as THOSE TWO "$6.99" Ones at The SALLY-ANN were, They also had a tad TOO Much "MINOR-DAMAGE" and GRIME to make *Exception* to My current COST-"Criteria"... A Pity... One was actually on the OLDER side and from ENGLAND!

No matter... I made up it with The ABOVE WORK...

BTW, Remember LITTLE-OLD-ASIAN-NEIGHBOUR-LADY from Several Weeks ago..? - [SEE 19MAY2013 POST] - Well, We were Back THERE again...

Actually, She's had a Few MORE SALES since Then... We didn't get Anything at Them, BUT, *should* HAVE - MOTHER keeps harping about the Small-POWER-HAND-SAW that They had Last Week which She had Passed on!

Whatever... THIS was Where I had Picked-Up The PAINTING for $5. - after "Negotiations"...

MOTHER - [a Former ARTIST and somewhat Skilled-COPYIST] - *hates* IT! And, to be Honest, I'm not exactly *drooling* over IT, either... HOWEVER, IT *is* almost 60-Years-Old and in FAIR-Condition... LOCALLY Done, and, well, You know... "$5."! -- Besides, I don't believe that MOTHER has ever been a great "Fan" of the "IMPRESSIONIST"-Style anyway.

At any rate, "WHENEVER" the Day comes that I can Display "THE COLLECTION", THIS ONE will nevertheless "BLEND-IN" just Nicely with The OTHERS...

LATER ON, over at The SALLY-ANN, They were having Their MONTHLY-AUCTION.
-- We didn't Stay, as We still had OTHER-Stuff to do... Although, upon reflection, I Wish that We HAD! - As there had been a LARGE "Rural Winter" PIECE that had Caught My Attention which had been MIS-Numbered, with NO "Paperwork" in the AUCTION BOOK!

I really would have liked to have Known *HOW* Much IT had eventually gone FOR! -- IT would have made a rather Lovely "DECORATIVE"-Piece... AND, have went well with a Couple of My Previous - [SEE 15SEP2012 POST] - *ACQUISITIONS*!  - nuts!

Then again, I probably *wouldn't* have been ABLE to FIT IT "into" THE CAR!! - Not to mention, PAST FATHER!

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Leaving a Legacy of THRIFTY-*LOVING*!

*MANY* A TIME, IN MY "EXPERIENCE", the FINAL-Bargained-Down-Agreed-Upon-PRICE of a "THRIFTY-TREASURE" is *more* often than not, Achieved with My PROMISE that Said-OBJECT "...WILL be *LOVED*!" -- EVEN, if IT ends up being Packed-Away for DECADES!

AS usual, We didn't Leave until LATE! - [12:30!!] - There was that Large "Charity" YARD-SALE a few Streets over... I got a Few ITEMS. But, I'll save THEM for Tomorrow.

After, a Few Other Stops on Our Way to BEACON HILL around 2:30-ish, We got Lucky and found ONE *still* OPEN! -- A NICE-30s-SOMETHING-LADY and Her TEENAGED-DAUGHTERS...

Where, I picked up THIS "TOLL"-PAINTING for $2...

IT's been done on a WOOD-PLANK that was supposed to be atop of an UNfinished Bench... Since IT wasn't "attached", She KINDLY let Me have IT. - The PIECE, along with Several Other ONES had been Painted by Her MOTHER...

Personally, as Pleased as I am to *have* and Cherish IT, I find it Disconcerting that The-GIRLS wouldn't want to "Preserve" ANY of Their GRANDMOTHER's rather Skillful WORKS!? -- Doubtless, in a Couple of Decades from Now, They'll probably be Wishing that They HAD!

NEXT, We continued on a TRAIL of ORANGE "ESTATE SALE" SIGNS... And, the Day's "GOLD-MINE" of *TREASURES*!!

Although, the PLACE had been "picked-over", the Remaining Items still gave Evidence of a Home that had been - [mostly metaphorically] - RICH in ART and CULTURE. -- I came across a Formal NAVAL-OFFICER's Dinner Jacket in one of the open Closets. Which, explained the "Source" of many of the House's more "EXOTIC" Items and READING Material...

There were Lots and LOTS of BOOKS! And, SOMEONE was also a KNITTER - [I'll have "Stitchy"-Type Pics Tomorrow] - and a Lover of the NEEDLE ARTS...

As indicated by THIS *AWESOME* FOLIO BOX of *Actual Size* PATTERNS!! - IT's Dated from 1963. The Heavily-Papered Contents are in Excellent Condition! -- For ANYONE into Replicating AMERICAN "Historical" Needle and Textile Crafting, THIS is a MOTHER-LODE of INFO!

And, of course, MORE Additions to MY ART-"LIBRARY"!

Plus, THIS Addition to My "REFERENCE"-LIBRARY... The TOME literally contains a TON of Biological Knowledge, AND *WEIGHS* as much!!

So... And how MUCH was This STACK-of-STUFF..?? -- well... Along with MORE STUFF - [that I'll show Tomorrow] - IT *ALL* came to JUST "$5."!!

THEN, as I was Paying for IT, I noticed THIS PAINTING on the Wall...

Despite being Originally Priced at $18., and since the PLEASANT-ESTATE-AGENT-LADY Liked Me - [MOTHER had been Chatting Her up!] - an Offer of $9. was made... Which, "normally", I would have GLADLY Paid...

HOWEVER, I *REALLY* wanted to ADHERE to My LIMIT on My "$5.-and-Under"-THRIFTY-ORIGINAL-ART-COLLECTION... I "mentioned" Such, with the added Incentive, "...IT'll be LOVED..."

...By Me, and hopefully, ALL of YOU as well?!

Now, I just NEED to *FIND* some WALL "SPACE"... And/Or, PROGENY *willing* to Properly CONTINUE The LEGACY..?!

Speaking of My MUNCHKINS...

**HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEP-NEPH-PRETEEN**!!

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Made it BACK to "HARBOUR" in the *Nick* of Time!!

WE'VE BEEN *WAITING* FOR THE RAIN! - If only, to Melt-off the HUMIDITY! Luckily, the SKIES were SEMI-Overcast and far LESS *SCORCHING* than Yesterday!

Another *LATE* Start... However, *most* of the Day's YARD-"SALE"-ing was in OUR Neighbourhood! And, the NEXT One over to the WEST. -- Although, We did pop over to BEACON HILL for a Quickie-LOOKSEE afterward.

Anyhoo... My BEST "CATCH"-of-the-Day was THIS 18x24-inch PAINTING for $5. by "P. DYBLE"..?

The Largest Addition to Date to My "$5. and UNDER"-ORIGINAL-ART-COLLECTION!

-- BTW, I absolutely HATE the FRAME! That will definitely get *tossed*! - Unless of course, I find Time - *some* Day - to "Creatively" RE-do IT..? I've yet to really Check-Out ITS "Quality" and Condition.



Meanwhile, in Keeping with Today's apparent Purchasing-"THEME", I also picked up THESE TWO CERAMIC FISH DISHES...

The FIRST, 11-Inches, Made in ITALY -- for 50-Cents... I Found ITS SIMPLISTIC-"Construction" to be INTRIGUING.

As I did the GLAZING on THIS ONE-DOLLAR 16-Inch DISH...

*ONE* of these Days, I'm probably going to HAVE TO *LEARN* "HOW" to Properly COOK *WHOLE*-FISH!! -- I certainly have ENOUGH "SERVING"-WARE for a FISH-FRY!!

oh. And, I also got a Bunch of THESE 9-Inch TIN BOXES for 25-Cents Each... FOUR BLACK Ones and THREE in BROWN. -- Now, I just have to Decide on *what* STUFF to put IN Them!

whatever...

Later on, GROCERY-GETTING was had. Along, with a Visit to MICHAEL'S... It's been a Few Weeks since MOTHER has been There. And, I was *hoping* that the NEW YARN-"TURN-OVER" Shipments would be *IN*..? -- NO Luck... Perhaps by TUESDAY..?? - I'm *eager* to get a "PRE-View"!

RAIN-CLOUDS were gathering CLOSE-by when We *eventually* GOT HOME... About 20-Minutes AFTER I unloaded THE CAR, the HUMIDITY-*SLICING*-DOWNPOUR finally Happened!! - Accented, with a just a touch of THUNDER...

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My Version of "P-B"...

TODAY HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU, BY PURCHASES THAT START WITH THE LETTER "P"...

okay... *So what!* that the "WOOL" - [SEE BELOW] - doesn't *quite* meet the Day's CRITERIA - IT's **YARN**!! Same difference! -- Just work with Me here, People...

IT all began with the One & ONLY YARD SALE in BEACON HILL... Rumour had it, that there had been Tons of Stuff EARLIER..? HOWEVER, My "ZEN-SHOPPING" Motto - [If, IT's meant for Me to BUY IT, IT will STILL be There!] - prevailed as I quite literally, *SWEPT* through What-Was-Left...

WHAT I got...


"PAINTINGS"

In keeping with My "NAUTICAL-COASTAL-BEACH-ORIGINAL-ART-for-Under-$5.-so-far" COLLECTION, I picked up These TWO PAINTINGS. Both are 8x10" Canvases set into 14x16-Frames. $5.-Each.

I'm thinking that the ABOVE ONE will "Group" well with those 2 OTHER Little-PAINTINGS - [SEE 09JUN2012 POST] - I got Last Month.

As for the BELOW PIECE... I probably should have "passed" on IT. I'm not really a "YELLOW"-Person... And, the "Basket" IS a bit MUCH! I'm going to Blame the SEAGULLS on This One!

-- IT's going to be "Filed" under My "ART-THAT-I'M-WILLING-TO-PART-WITH-AS-IT-WILL-LOOK-BETTER-IN-SOMEONE-*ELSE'S*-HOME!" Collection.

ANY TAKERS..??

"PALM TREE"

At $2. I instantly Snatched This PALM TREE CANDLEHOLDER! -- Made in INDIA. Seven-Inches high. IT's Heavy... Could be IRON..? But, more likely COPPER or BRONZE? - "Whatever", certainly Worth *more* than I Paid!

BTW, I'm not a Big "CANDLE"-Use Person, either... Although, I *do* have a "Thing" for the odd, COOL-Looking "PALM TREE"! -- hmm... IT would be a Useful Place to put Loose-Change or Car-Keys onto.



"PLATTER"

Originally, This Heavy 15-Inch GLASS "HOLIDAY" PLATTER was going for a DOLLAR - BUT - *since* I was Buying ALL of the OTHER-STUFF, I got IT for "FREE"!!


NEXT, Time to Visit The SALLY-ANN... Briefly.

"POTTERY"





Honestly, I really don't remember *why* I ventured a Closer "Look" of THIS - As, neither am I *into* "Organic"-Style-Stuff. Per se...

Maybe, IT was the GLAZING Quality that *subliminally* Caught-My-Eye..? -- Whatever. I picked IT up...



"...CUBA..."


..and IT's "Signed"...



Both of those DETAILS
"suggests" to Me that IT's possibly "ART-Pottery" destined for the EXPORT-Market..?



- Tomorrow is going to be
"Reseach-Day"! Unless, SOMEONE recognizes IT..? IF so, let Me know!



Anyhoo, after MOTHER's
"Seniors' Discount", IT cost all of $2.69!! - I'm certain that I can get PAST *any* Qualms over My Personal
"Tastes" regarding Ceramics!

-- Actually, IT's beginning to
"Grow" on Me!











Meanwhile... I forgot to "mention", that MICHAEL'S was having one of those "LIMITED-Time-15%-Off-SALES". Hence, My SPEEDY-"STUFF"-Shopping!

We got THERE, with *just* Enough Time. Although, there really wasn't much that We "needed".
MOTHER found a Couple of Items, and I had a 40%-OFF-Coupon to Use on the WOOL - [SEE Way ABOVE]

As I made My way through CHECKOUT, MOTHER chatted-up the CAKE-DECORATING-DEMO-LADY.

Later, a bit more Looking-Around was done. Then, on the way to THE CAR, the "Witnessing" of the Two-30-SOMETHINGS-BFFs Who-Apparently-DON'T-Know-HOW-To-Drive-Their-SUV-OUT-of-a-Parking-Spot-*Without*-SCRAPING-The-CAR-NEXT-TO-THEM HAPPENED!!

Sooo GLAD I **DIDN'T** Park "THERE"!!

After THAT little bit of "Entertainment", We set out to Peruse the REST of The TRAINYARDS.
-- Mostly, Stores that started with the LETTER "B", apparently...

BED, BATH, & BEYOND
BOWRING
BOMBAY COMPANY

Then, FINALLY, over to WALMART... Where, We were Beyond-ASSISTED by "ANDREW",
a rather "Dedicated" CUTE-TALL-STRAPPING-YOUNG-LAD-SALES-CLERK! -- I'll definitely have to "Remember" HIM!!


OH!! - [..speaking of "Dedicated" CUTE-TALL-STRAPPING-YOUNGER-"LADS"..] - I almost FORGOT!! -- **HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOUNTIE-MAN!!**

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