Wrappings

If you've ever ordered from Peasant Cottage, you most likely have noticed that I use recycled tissue paper to wrap up orders. While I'm not a "recycle everything!" kind of person, if the tissue paper has no rips or stains I don't mind reusing it. It helps keep costs down and it's fun to use various colored ones or prints. Not long ago I had a Victorian Christmas one and it was so pretty as I packaged up the apron, I almost took a picture of it. ;)

About a week or so ago I came across this fun masking tape at a favorite store of mine. Since then, I've had fun wrapping up aprons and tearing a few pieces of tape to hold the foldings together.

The other day I was working on an order and realized how LOW the shop is right now. Of course last month and earlier in this one some customers have made purchases, but even still, I apologize for not keeping up with it!  Hopefully soon I can get my hands on some fabric to start sewing for the shop.

Meanwhile, the top of my 1940s robe is completed (except for the button closure) and I'm hoping to finish it by Christmas, though it isn't a necessity.

Saturday's Treasures

It's hard to believe that in about a month's time I will be back down south for my second semester of college. Am I excited? Oh yes! :) I have been doing some deep cleaning again (I didn't realize how much I can be a pack rat!) and most of it has been thrown away or distributed to local thrift stores. Don't ask me how I ended up with way to many tote bags, ill-fitting shoes, or piles of old sheet music, birthday cards from eons (ie, to many years) ago, etc.

In the process of cleaning, I've discovered that I've needed a few new clothes to take along with me. There is only one thing in my closet that I have made myself (quite surprising to all you seamstresses I'm sure), and 99.99% of my wardrobe comes from thrift stores or consignment shops. Therefore, some items tend to wear out faster than normal being that they are used. Since this discovery over the course of a few years, this year I've made it a point to only buy quality brand names from thrift stores, and only buy when the color tag is 50% off that particular day.

My favorite brands? Banana Republic, The Limited, and Ann Taylor Loft. The quality is long lasting, and I love the classic, professional, and timeless styles that, for the most part, these stores offer. Today's treasures were two skirts: a knee-length pencil style silk one for summer, and a lovely cream wool (perfect for winter!) in subtle plaid that is mid-calf in length. While these skirts may not be from the 2011 collection, I'm thankful that they look to have been hardly worn, if ever, at all. My total bill was $8.

"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." Matthew 6:30-32

Free Storage

Last week Grandpa Fred brought home several storage containers that he found in a dumpster, and I happily received two of them, each containing two drawers.

Back home, we girls share a couple containers similar to this, but I have found that I have needed extra storage for all the vintage rick rack, antique lace, buttons & trims that I keep collecting. Having these will be a wonderful addition to the sewing room back in my parents home, but you can be sure that I will start filling them up here!

As they say, "One man's junk is another man's treasure."

Femininity Doesn't Have to be Expensive

"Oh! But I can't afford to wear skirts all the time! Do you know how many holes I get in my jeans?!

My reply is, have you ever looked into buying skirts at the thrift store? =) Two thirds of my skirts have either come from Christopher & Banks at a greatly-reduced price or a thrift store, and the other third have come from JoAnn's (ie, I made them myself).

Today I stopped off at a local thrift shop that "never has anything," you know. But I still frequent it every now and then when I'm in the mood. And am I ever glad that I went this afternoon!
I found this beautiful Ralph Lauren skirt that has easy wash instructions with the "twist to dry" method. It is a lovely cream and pink floral cotton and silk blend. Perfect for church or special occasions. I love all the godets (is that what they are called? The triangle insets?) that makes this skirt perfect for twirling in.

It even had the original price tag, which leads me to believe that it has never been worn!

With sales tax, I paid $4.26 for it. That's not to bad considering the original price!

If I Only Had a Thousand

I'm serious. If I had 1,000 zippers, I know that I could find enough fabric in my fabric bins to make a 1,000 of these little cosmetic pouches.

They're fun to decorate, and easy to put together! Not to mention they make a great way to use up some stashed scraps of fabric and notions.
Like 'em? They're in the shop...

Frugality - LOOK for what you just might have!

After stewing over a reply I received from an ebayer wanting close to $30 for less than a yard of beautiful vintage dotted swiss, I decided I was going to look in my collection of vintage lace collars that I have here at home.

And, wala!
A lovely vintage collar would fit perfect inside my shirtwaist, and it would even resemble the larger picture on the actual pattern!

I was quite pleased with how it looked, so I slipped my Folkwear Prairie Skirt on Arabella, and snapped a picture. Next time I will have a 1909 black linen skirt with a train, made for a period correct look.

For now that will have to wait, as I leave this weekend for some violin lessons down south and can't spend anymore time in the sewing room. =)