Why 'My Mink Betty'?

Why 'My Mink Betty'?
I'm not your common, everyday twenty-something year old and when I graduated from High School I got an equally uncommon gift. My parents found for me a beautiful 1940's mink stole at a garage sale. It had belonged to the woman's Great Aunt Betty who had married late in life to a man with money and had only allowed him to buy her this one luxury. The unusually styled stole has the name, Betty L. Jones, embroidered in the satin lining so that's what I call her. They never had children of their own and the mink was passed to Aunt Betty's niece and on to her daughter. Until it got to me, no one since Aunt Betty had worn it. Now Betty the mink and I go to the theater together on special occasions and I hope that someday I can take her to the Symphony or the Ballet. Although Betty hadn't been worn or loved for many years she was waiting for someone to love her again as are most other things I look for when thrifting.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

A Thrifty Start to August

August was a great month for Estate Sales.   There were several to choose from each week, and Mom and I were able to find quite a bit of useful and interesting stuff.  We went to the first sale of the month on Sunday when everything was 50% off.  Mom picked up some everyday stuff like measuring spoons and Tupperware for next to nothing. 

I found a Tupperware Jel-N-Serve ring mold for $1.00 and a silver-plated cake server for 50c.  I've had the ring mold on my wish list for some time.  It unmolds much more easily than the aluminum ones and is very easy to take to picnics and parties.


 They had a whole shelf of these bar glasses from a defunct bowling alley, and I would have loved to have taken a dozen, but they wanted $2 each, even at half-off.  Fortunately they accepted my offer of $6.00 for half a dozen, so I was able to bring some home.

 

 Mom bought this Corning petite pan in the "Wildflower" pattern for 50c mostly because it had the handle.  Isn't it cute?


 These wooden Christmas ornaments were 50c and will go to the gardener, roller skater and bowler in the family.

 

 We were surprised to find this vintage Wil-hold sewing box with it's tray for $1.50.  Sewing boxes usually sell on the first day.  We also bought the metal contraption.  I don't think the sellers knew what it was.  We certainly didn't, but it was interesting and only 25c..  It was marked "Tack-It" and when we looked it up online it turned out to be a very handy tool for marking fabric.


 Here's a picture of Mom using it to mark a dot on a skirt I've been sewing.  She folded a little piece of tracing paper around the fabric, and then slipped the base under the fabric and lined up the bolt with the dot to be marked. Next, she held down the bar and smacked the bolt head with a hammer.  Voila!  Both pieces of fabric were marked perfectly.  It's a wonderful tool.  If you ever run across one at a sale, grab it.

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8 comments:

  1. You found some really different items! I kind of remember those casserole dishes with the handle. Great stuff!

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  2. What great finds! I loved seeing all your fun Estate sale purchases. I sew, but have never seen a "tack it".

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  3. Love that red sewing box. I found an apple green color box, and saw a yellow one at Goodwill, but I love that red. And that Tack It probably can be used if you want to make a button hole on jeans. Awesome finds. :)

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    1. I wonder if that really would work. I know it's great for working out a little aggression, and I always seem to have some of that when I'm wrestling with a pattern.

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  4. Lots of great finds...those bowling glasses are so fun!

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  6. Love your treasures! Corning is a favorite and you got a GREAT deal!

    Found you on A TRAY OF BLISS

    I also am your 73th follower!

    I'll be back again,

    Linda

    BestoflongIslandandcentralflorida

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  7. Hi Betty....what a nifty thing that Tack-It is. I want one now...lol! Thanks for sharing at Five Star Frugal at A Tray of Bliss. Love, Mimi xxx

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