Friday, November 25, 2011

Good morning...let’s get started!

I know everyone has gotten up this morning with Christmas on their minds! Are some of you out there shopping?

I’ll probably look at a few stores online but I don’t like shopping in crowds so I’ll avoid the stores this weekend!

I do have a crafting tip to pass along!

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I walked through Walmart looking for things on my

shopping list and saw this fleece blanket!

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I have bought these before to use as lining in crafts

but this one is the perfect color to make stockings

and all kinds of Christmas crafts! It will work up just like felt!

It was $10 and that’s a LOT of fabric for that price!

And best of all.....Made in America!

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I hope everyone shops Made in America, small businesses and Etsy this year! And we can use what we have! Time to get the ladder down and see what treasures are hiding in the attic!

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This was a thrift store find! I hand washed them in lavender scented soap and they are so sweet! I wish the little dress opened at the top so that I could dress one of my dolls in it, but I think it’s meant to be an ornament!

Enjoy your day!

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What are you excited about today?

Is it time to start decorating?

It’s in the 70s here in Florida....very nice! Come on down!

42 comments:

The Bear's Blog said...

Hi Miss Lavender Dreams,

Maybe that outfit would fit one of your bears? Giggle.

Zoom, zoom, we are full speed ahead decorating. Mom is scream orders, Dad is knee deep in the big stuff that we can't do and the doggies are walking around sniffing everything. (o: Tis a house full of traditions.

Heaps of Hugs
Prudence

We don't go shopping this weekend.

hootnonny said...

Using the blanket for crafts is a great idea!

I'll shop locally starting tomorrow and will certainly Buy American!

Enjoy the warm weather; it's a bit nippy in the NC foothills this morning!

Debbiedoos said...

That is a great blankie to use Diane for crafting. I love the crocheted pieces, I just love crocheted vintage anything! We will be in the 60's today, the weather has been fantastic.

The Rusty Thimble said...

Hello Diana what wonderful finds, I too get the fleece blankets for creating sometimes

love the crocheted finds

excited about getting to work this morning lots of items to finish up before I can consider decorating myself

Hugs to you enjoy that warm Florida weather
Brenda

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

I love shopping but hate malls and crowded stores, so I do a lot of it before Thanksgiving. We live near a big outlet that will be JAMMED this weekend. Yuck.

We're putting the tree up this weekend, wreaths too :-)

Your new header is very pretty, nice photo!

Anonymous said...

thats a great way to buy fabric, I do that aswell.Beautiful ornaments, our neighbors, just left for Florida, 5 different couples, down to your beautiful part of the world,

RURAL said...

A very creative way to economize. It's something to keep in mind.

I admire the trend I am seeing on Blogs, and on FB. Shop locally, shop your country.

Here in Canada, we are hoping that people follow your advice, and start shopping Canadian....

It's amazing how many will go over the border to the States to buy everything. And then complain that the jobs here are not paying what they used to.

It's at the expense of our local retail employment, I know personally because my hours were being cut for years...due to all the Canadians who preferred to "get a deal, in the US" instead of supporting their own country.

Thanks for reminding us that shopping in another country doesn't do any of us good.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

DVArtist said...

There are a lot of us who dislike the "Black Friday" maddness. I refuse to take part. I do however shop with people I know on line and yes American Made.
Nicole/Beadwright

Jemm said...

It is time to decorate for Christmas. This season just zooms by, so if we wait too long it's gone before we know it. Hope your Thanksgiving was a good one.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I'm packing up the pumpkins and bringing out the snowmen! What a great idea about the fleece blanket! I am all about buying vintage, USA, local businesses and Etsy! hugs, Linda

Christine said...

Yes Christmas is very much on my mind!
What a great idea to use the blanket for stockings!
Happy crafting!
Christine

Donna said...

Good tip on using the blanket for fabric! I've done that before too. I guess I will start toting boxes down from our attic storage room and begin some decorating! I won't be doing much this year. We're going to be a bit sidetracked this Christmas season. Shhh... I spill the beans in a few days.

LindyLouMac said...

Would it surprise you if I said Christmas is not on my mind. :)
Have a lovely weekend.

Joanne said...

I love stopping by your blog and seeing all your wonderful finds and crafts! I try to support American made products too. today I am just going to rest up a bit, but later I am going to take out some christmas things...I'm in the mood!
Blessings, Joanne

It's me said...

I am realy not in the christmas mood...i hope it comes.....but i am affraid it won't...i miss my mom so much...the first christmas without her...is so hard for me.......love and a happy weekend...xxx..

Tammy said...

Thanks for the blanket tip, Diane. I love crafting with curtain panels, tablecloths, and blankets. You often get yards and yards of fabric at a fraction of the cost to buy it from the bolt. I'm not into the black Friday shopping either. Too much craziness for me! There's a huge craft show starting this afternoon in a neighboring town that I might go to. I think I need some crafting inspiration, and that might just do the trick.

Pam B said...

Good idea about the fleece blanket...I'm just getting into sewing and am learning all sorts of tricks from you girls!

It's not in the 70s here in Idaho, that I can tell you. But it's awfully pretty! ;o)

Hugs,
Pam

Anne said...

Great suggestion. Also, tomorrow is "Small Business Saturday' and Am Ex is giving their cardholders $25 credit if they shop at a small local business registered for the event. I'm going to!

Boo-Bah AKA Iris said...

It's nice and sunny here too. Online shopping sounds pretty good to me. I might do some this weekend if I'm brave or stupid enough to go out in the crowds.

Love your thrift store finds.

Hugs
Iris

Della said...

That fleece is a great bargain, and I love that it was made here at home!

I've gathered up all of the fall decorations, and am waiting for my Christmas decor to come out of the attic! I'm setting up my tree today, and will work on it for a few days until it is perfectly shell covered and beachy!

Have fun setting up your Christmas displays, I can't wait to see them!

Hugs,
Della

Cindy said...

That is a good idea to use the blanket for fabric. I make so many things from felt and it can get expensive.

Yes, we are going to get the stuff out of the attic this weekend. I don't really need to buy any more decorative items, I've got so much!

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. It is in the 50's or 60's here and that's pretty good for November in Indiana.

Prims and Annies said...

I knew I should have bought the fleece blanket, I walked by them Wed. and they were $2.00, but I don't like crowds either and the store aisles were filling up with Black Friday items and they were wrapping everything on pallets with stretch wrap. It was so noisy that I told my self...it's time to leave while I still have some of my sanity left. I did Black Friday one time and that was because everyone was saying I should go. By the way, I slept
until 8:00 a.m. this morning and my favorite time to go Christmas shopping is the day after Christmas.
That's a good idea to use the blanket on crafts, I never thought "out of the box"

Lilac & Lavender said...

Hello, I'm a new visitor... had to stop by another 'Lavender' blog (my blog is called Lilac & Lavender!) Enjoyed your post... if I ever learn how to sew I'll try to remember your tip about the fleece blanket :) I'm another thrift/antique store fanatic... and I completely agree... if we get creative, we can find treasures all around us!! Have a great day!!

Unknown said...

Love the blanket, what a great idea for crafting!!! You clever girl you. I have been doing just as you said. Pulling out old stuff and reworking, changing the bows, etc.... Using fresh outdoor stuff too. Trimmed the White Pines, magnolia's and holly bushes next!! Can't wait until Sunday to be creative!!

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Cute stocking you made :) I'm trying to buy USA also and from the local shops and thrift store AND Estate sales! Went to 2 today and found a little bluebird picture for my Mom for Christmas!
Tomorrow is decorating day. YEAH!
Warmly,
deb

helen tilston said...

I Diane

I am looking forward to seeing your creations from the blanket.

I am not ready for Christmas yet. I will begin around December 10. Having said that, I must go and get some Christmas cards to mail to overseas family and friends.

Have a delightful weekend

Helen xx

Danice G said...

I love the post, Diane. Buying American made is very important. We have already started decorating for the holidays also, and are using some older tree ornaments from storage. Great find on the blanket- great price too at $10. here in Alabama, we are getting rain and more rain with colder weather.

Anonymous said...

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving too. I don't like shopping in crowds either. It's almost like my brain shuts down and I get this dazed stare that says, "Help me." ;)
Love the idea of stretching your dollars by using that blanket for projects, and buying American made is something we all need to be more aware of.
Enjoy your decorating.

Simply Shelley said...

That's a great ideal for that blanket....can't wait to see what projects you do with it...blessings

Unknown said...

I decided tot ake a break, have a piece of fudge & ask you to slow down, I am exhausted keeping up with you! Chuckle!

Have a beautiful weekend.
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon

Faith said...

I absolutely love the little red dress & stockings...what a find...I'm in love with those little dresses. I'm working on my shoppe....it isn't ready at all..it was an idea I had, you know a flash why don't I's..Now I have to figure out how to go about it....Thank you for reminding me to put opening soon...I forgot..and thanks for checking in on me...always a pleasure.....

Catherine Holman said...

What great idea! Thanks again for sharing my artwork. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Hugs,
Cathie

Unknown said...

lovely post. I like the little crochet dress and booties. I had a doll made for my gran-daughter, Jillian. I just received it in mail today. I love it. Hand made is so very special. Made with love and care and creativity of a true artist crafts person.

- KAT -

Completely Coastal said...

I wish I could come down!!! We stepped into a few stores yesterday (Marshalls and Christmas Store)..., and to our surprise, they were pretty empty! Maybe because it was so gorgeous out! I started to decorate a little bit!

Trace4J said...

Hi Friend
What a awesome idea from Walmart.
I just love the dress and stockings too. It was warm 60s here today in Pa. Too warm for me.
But I did get alot of decorating done.
Blessings to you
Trace

www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

Paula@SweetPea said...

Great tip on using the WM blanket for crafting. I wouldn't have thought about that.

VA has been really warm. I'm going to freeze when it finally gets cold.

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

What a great idea -- you're right, can't beat the price for all of that fabric! We just had our Thanksgiving yesterday as our daughter returned from studying in India in the morning! SO, today I will begin taking down the Fall and at least getting out the Christmas! Hope your Thanksgiving was grand!

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Oh and I'm with YOU! I avoid the stores and shop online AND I am definitely trying to shop Made in USA and small, independent stores this year!

Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking said...

Oh I wish it was in the seventies here! I so agree it is so important to always try to buy made in America! That is such a great tip about the blanket I would not have thought of that!

Wandering Thought said...

I love your fleece blanket idea, and have been shop for Made in the USA items these past few years.

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Great deal! That is so much cheaper than buying fabric. Love, love the stars! The little crocheted items are sweet also. Decorating my little heart out here in UT.

Candace said...

What a great idea to use the fleece blanket for stockings.