Surplus Shop Sneak

Going to surplus shops has become my obsession lately. It was decided at first that those trips will just be done once a month. But oh, waiting for another trip is just too long a wait! So, on my trip to town last Friday, I sneaked into one of the shops and these are what I got!

Condiment server. My new and recent "will buy" items are serving dishes and I am just so happy with this find.

White ceramic dessert plate. Honestly, I wasn't too happy with this one. But well, there's nothing I can do but use and enjoy it.

Wooden Wise Monkeys. This one is a great find and more of a dream come true as I really wanted to have something to remind me of the "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" thing.

Happy thrifting indeed!
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The Scoop

Shopping, Vintage & Thrift Stores!

Vintage things always interest me. There is something in their beauty and craftsmanship that is just admirable. A trip to a surplus shop, a thrift shop, flea market and garage sale is always such a treat. When there is enough extra money to spend for extra things, I go to those places. Either I am searching for items that I collect or to look for some nice vintage stuff. Sometimes, I buy things like bag, belt, hats or dress for myself but most of the times, it is for the house, for the kitchen in particular.

My recent obsessions were teacups, plates and saucers (which to be used as dessert plates). I love mismatched ones! Here are some of my recent finds.

Recent finds. I just love the little ceramic rabbit and chicken.

So excited for my Escargot dish plate. I got it so cheap too!

With a help from a spoon collector, I learned that spoons I found were called berry spoon. I particularly love the Daisies on the handle of the butter knife. They are just so cute!

Wooden trays. This Okayama wooden tray is one of my great finds and great buy!

They were sake bottles/containers. The sake cup is one of the four cups in a set. It depicts an erotic scene but in an artistic way.

Vintage glass reamer and glass bowls.

Other finds.

For fabrics, I usually buy table linens, placemats, table runners and dish towels. I particularly look for those with seasonal designs. Oh my, I just realized when I took a picture that I have amassed such a collection already. They are not all vintage, by the way.

It was just a piece of lace when I saw it in a rummage sale. It must have been a part of a vintage dress or something. Looking it over, I thought that maybe I can use it to embellish future project. I asked the seller if I could just have it for free and she said sure. At home, I first tried putting it on a lampshade but it doesn't look okay. Then I saw one of our throw pillow with a plain pink case. It sure needs a little update and the lace perfectly fit!
When I bought this crochet doily, I did not know at first what to do with it. I just like that it's vintage and was on a cheap price. When I was looking for something to cover the top of our water dispenser, I decided to put the doily on it and see how it looks. It perfectly fits and it looked nice so I decided that the doily will be the cover during summertime.
Some fabric stuffs that I found were used for framing projects. There was this very nice tapestry which I got for a really cheap price. I just bought a simple frame for it and framed it myself. When I showed it to my hubby, my sister, a cousin and some friends, they were amazed because of the price and for how it turned out so well. Happy me!

Another fabric that I framed. Perfect for my Easter vignette. This was also the first time that I put up a vignette (as a result of so much blog hopping!). :) The beanie babies plush toys were also bought from a rummage sale. The bunny couple was from a surplus store. They too were great buys (price and cuteness).

Another fabric find with Peacock embroidery. I don't know what it's called, but I am guessing it must be worn on the neck by women. It looks like a bib. Anyway, I love the Peacock design and I am still hunting for the perfect frame. Isn't it beautiful?

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Flaunt it Friday

Dipping Sauce Bowls

About a couple of weeks ago, I received a beautiful glass bowl from a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) draw in Swap-bot which I luckily won! It was from Stephanie (Smadronia's Adventure). At the start of the draw, she said to write two of our favorite colors. So, the glass bowl is really very personal. It was made for me! Below is the picture. Isn't it pretty!

Anyway, having this bowl made me realized that I actually have a few assorted dipping sauce bowls. When I saw them grouped together, they look like I am collecting them! I bought them all from different thrift stores at different times and they are all really cheap. 10-15 Philippine peso.

Magnetized by Magnets!

It seems that I am being magnetized by magnets these past couple of months! How did it started?! My golly, right at this point, I can't seem to recall! I think it's true what they say, that a person gets to be forgetful after having a surgery with general anesthesia. Hmmmmm...still thinking...wait...think...focus...recall...

Yes! Finally, I recalled! I read somebody's profile in Swap-bot and she is offering privates swaps for wooden clog magnets from Holland. In exchange, she would like a touristy magnet that look or is shaped like postage stamp. I happened to have one and the wooden clog magnet sounds very interesting.


Around the same time, another Swap-bot swapper from Lithuania messaged me and expressed an interest to swap touristy magnets. She is a collector and she wanted one from the Philippines. So, I said why not. It would be nice to add new magnets in our fridge. Anyway, I like them too!

Wow, who wouldn't fall in love with these magnets I got from Lithuania? I wasn't able to take a picture of the magnet I sent but it was a typical Philippine Jeepney (Jeep) in 3D form.


A while back (even before I saw that post from Holland), somebody from Portugal has also proposed an interest for a private swap. I haven't confirmed the swap because at that time, I just got out from the hospital for my gallbladder surgery and that time, I still cannot decide what I want for the swap. But after my new sudden interest with magnets, we agreed to have the swap. She sent me a typical touristy souvenir from Portugal which is the Galo de Barcelo, of course in magnet form. Oh, and she sent me a lot of other items too! Actually, a lot lot more! She is such a very generous lady! For my part, I sent her decotapes and flavored teas.


And then the search goes on. I really love magnets with kitchen/food themes. I particularly requested for these magnets and I'm so happy to have them! The olive oil jar is from Greece and the one that looks like pancakes in a frying pan is from Belarus. It is a typical pancake from Belarus and it's made of potatoes. The words said "Bon Apetite" in Belarus.


A lot more has arrived after then. It seems like it was raining magnets in my mailbox the last couple of months!


This is the first magnet I bought because I really like it. It's my favorite!


I also bought this magnets, but I don't put them in the fridge. I use them in my desk since they have an office/school theme.


I am glad they are growing! I hope you enjoyed reading and looking at my magnets. :)

Country Woman Magazine

I am currently reading a back issue copy of Country Woman magazine over breakfast. I really love that magazine! I enjoy reading it and I learned a lot about country living. More so, I learned how it is to be a "country woman" in deeds and spirit. It also gives me a lot of inspiration and motivation. I lived in the city (since I was born and) until I got married nine years ago. My husband came from another province, which is in the countryside and we have decided that we will live in his hometown since there is a house and a property already. So, I quit my job and moved. Also, I was not really domesticated at that time, especially when it comes to cooking, furnishing and decorating the house. So, I re-read my country woman magazines for ideas and they helped me a lot. It was also a good thing that I do love country style decorating.

Anyway, since they were special magazines and I am considering them one of my collections already, I keep them in a shelf in my bedside table. Sadly, two years ago, a very strong typhoon caused severe flood and our house was deeply flooded. I was not home that time and my brothers-in-law only saved appliances and furniture. I was so sad when I saw my magazines!

How I wish it is just easy and cheap for a subscription here in the Philippines. I only buy my copies from a bookstore that sells second hand books and back issue magazines. I first got my copy way back 2002 and I instantly fell in love with it. Since then, I hunt for other copies in the said bookstores. They were also being sold in a reasonable price. Some copies were even way cheaper. Of course, I also saw one from another bookstore where the price is way higher, but then, I really want it so I bought it!

I can say that I must have collected about 10 to 15 already. But now, I only have two! There is no bookstore like the one I mentioned above here and I just got my two copies during my recent trip to my hometown. This is why I am so happy when I am finally reading a copy again over french toasts and a cup of strong black coffee! Such a blissful morning!

Postcard Collection

Around late February of this year, I had the urge to finally sort and organize my latest received postcards. They were from postcrossing, swap-bot and some friends. While in the process of organizing, I was once again found myself drawn to continue my postcrossing account, as well as joined some postcard swaps in swap-bot. The anticipation of receiving beautiful images in a postcard is really exciting. I am waiting for at least about twenty cards right now and I hope they arrive soon!

As of the moment, I am drawn to state or country mapcards, the cartoonish style one. Sample of those cards is the one below. (I don't have this card yet, but I really want this particular card).

I also want to start on recipe card type postcards. Of course, I am still collecting lighthouse postcards.

Good thing postcards are not that expensive to buy and send. Otherwise, another collection of mine has seen it's retirement.

Link to my Lighthouse Postcards collection

Link to my Mapcards/Scenic Views/Landmark Postcards collection

Link to my Miscellaneous Postcards collection

Booksale Finds!

Recently, I find myself wanting and planning my very own recipe book. The recipes that I would include are those that I have cooked already, so I am thinking of making an art journal type wherein I will just print the recipes on the printer then paste them on a cardstock. I think I'm a little lazy to hand write everything right now! I hope I can start on it real soon, well, as soon as I decide how I would finally do it... on a ring binder or on a binded notebook! Decisions, decisions!

Since, I was looking for ideas on DIY recipe books over the internet, I also found myself obsessing with cookbooks. A trip to the booksale gave me these three great finds! They are second hand books but they are in great shape. Well, the Campbell, being vintage, seems to have seen some better days.

I am so happy when I found this Campbell cookbook. It's vintage and it's red! A real great buy, only 35 pesos!

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Framed Vintage Postcards

I have been blog hopping from different blog link parties this week and I have seen so many beautiful craft projects that I am inspired to do. I am so happy that I have seen a lot of ideas about decorating a wall or walls with framed printable pictures. Our walls are practically bare, there are only two framed artworks in our living room and two little frames in our kitchen. Admittedly, it was really boring! Last month, I made a Desiderata frame and since then, I am obssessing to add more framed items in our walls. Then, I saw a lot of wall gallery projects and there was one who framed vintage postcards. I also have some vintage postcards and I have always thought of framing them. Well, I guess, a lot of inspiration and a little push were just what I needed to finally have them in frames and up in those bare walls for others to also see and enjoy. Being vintage made them more interesting and the prints, as well as the captions also evoke a hint of humor! Here they are!

When I saw these red frames from a thrift shop yesterday, I knew the cards would fit perfectly. The Dutch Kid Comic and the one that says "Ripping day..." would be in our living room and the other one with the hotdog stand would be hang in our kitchen (since it has something to do with food). And I would love a red frame in our kitchen to spice up the room!

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