Magpie Monday - Some Crafty Buys

The happiness of buying from second-hand shops doesn't just come when you find something worthy of the Antiques Roadshow.

For me, I'm just as pleased when I find something useful, practical or something that's on my shopping list, and I can manage to save it from ending up in landfill.

Last weekend I went on another brilliant School of Craft workshop.  This time we were learning to make bunting.  Although we were taught how to make our own bias binding, well frankly if I can save the hassle and buy it, then I will!

I was stupid happy to find a stash of vintage binding in the first charity shop I went in.  They cost me 10p and 20p each - my haberdashery shop sells binding for 45p per metre so I didn't save a fortune, but at least these old school Wollies purchases will finally get used.

At the class, Jo showed us how to make super-cute tiny-tiny bunting from men's shirts.  I loved how something so masculine could be turned into something so pretty.

So far, I've resisted the urge to take a pair of scissors to the old man's work shirts and cut tiny triangles from them, but I have retrieved a couple of his old ones out of the charity bag!

I was on the look out for more to add to my stash, and managed to find 3 lovely ones on the sale rail in the Salvation Army shop - oh yes my friends, I'm not to proud to go through the reduced rails in charity shops!

Do I feel bad about hacking up Savile Row shirts? I do not.  They have already had a life with their first owner.  Then, they've been sitting on the rail in the charity shop for a fortnight waiting for someone with the neck size of a heavy-weight boxer to come along and buy them.  Finally, they were left languishing, forlornly on the pound rail, until I rescued them!

I picked up a woolly pully for £2 which I've already boiled the hell out of in the washing machine ready to turn into some Christmas Stockings using Red Ted's tutorial. It's only Florence & Fred, but its such a pretty colour and has a pleasingly Christmassy sparkle to it.  It didn't shrink hugely (perhaps because it was only 80% pure wool), but it does have that nice, thick felted feel to it now.  Hopefully I'll be showing you my stockings in a future blog post (wink wink).

I also managed to grab a bundle of crocheted granny blankets for £3 each.  I have crafty plans for these too...

A rummage through the odds n' sods box looking for more bias binding, brought up these beauties which will go in my Christmas craft stash.  Some silver metallic thread - maybe I can get it to take on my machine and run up a Kirstie Allsop-esque stitched paper Christmas card?

There was also a huge roll of this red and white, sold by the metre for 50p.  First of all I thought it would be great for Christmas wrapping - like baker's twine, but on closer inspection I realised it was actually elastic!  I'm not entirely sure what I'll use it for, but I'm sure something will come up. I resisted the urge to ask 'how much for the whole lot?' - least til I figure out what I can use it for!

And finally, something for myself and Ruby to do together.  Two packs of air drying clay for £2 each and a dinky little vintage wooden rolling pin for a quid.  Once I find my Angel Gabriel cookie cutter, the Christmas tree will be decorated in no time!

So, what have you been unearthing?  I'd love for you to grab the badge and link up.  I shan't be around much today, so if you could tweet #MagpieMonday a bit for me that would be fab.  Promise to catch up on all the posts this evening - I know you won't disappoint. x





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