Monday, February 22, 2010

Score!

On Saturday, I sold some old and broken jewelry at one of those cash for gold places, and on my way home, I stopped at the local thrift store because I had 97 dollars burning a hole in my pocket. The store has some nice stuff -- pretty dishes and glassware -- but I never find any vintage treasures there like some of you do when you go thrifting. The last time I stopped in, they had some sewing patterns on the shelf, but other than a few books on sewing, there isn't a whole lot of craft-related stuff. But I like to go look anyway because you never know what you will find, right?

I headed for the shelf where the sewing patterns were the last time and guess what I found in a basket? Twelve or so Ziploc bags of embroidery floss!! SCORE!! It was all I could do not to jump up and down and make a scene. Some of it was wound on cardboard bobbins and some of it was still in skeins with DMC labels on them. I was sooo excited!

The large Ziploc was $1.00 and the smaller ones were 50 cents each, and I was so tempted to scoop them all up. I thought I should be nice and leave some of the floss for another stitcher, but I made sure grabbed the four bags with the skeins still wrapped in the DMC labels. I also took four of the Ziplocs with the cardboard bobbins. Most of the bobbins are hand-labeled with numbers and they appear to be DMC colors. (I compared some to floss I already have and they matched.) A few of them have Coates & Clark printed on them but I think it's still DMC floss.



This is not vintage floss. The DMC labels are very similar to the current one except they're using a different font now. Some of the skeins are only half full but a bunch look like haven't been used at all. I love how they grouped them by colors.



I've been wondering about the former owner of the floss and how her thread ended up in the thrift store. Did she have to give up embroidery or cross stitch due to arthritis or failing eyesight, or did she just lose interest in it and move on to some other craft? Or did she pass away? I know it doesn't matter but I think about stuff like that. And as thrilling as it was to discover these goodies, it was even better because somebody took the time to write the color number on those bobbins, and made sure the labels were still on the skeins she hadn't yet wound on bobbins. Obviously, a girl after my own heart because I would have done the same thing. And I do. I wish the rest of my life was as organized as my floss boxes.

It's crazy but I'm still so happy over this. I feel like I hit the embroidery floss jackpot and for only for $4.50. I keep taking the floss out of the bags and looking at it for awhile, and then putting it back inside. Some day I may actually use it.

15 comments:

Jane said...

What a great find. I am sure the previous owner would be pleased to know they have gone to a good home

barncat (Lisa) said...

Such a neat find! I always how these things end up at the thrift store too. :)

Loralynn said...

Nice score! I guess ultimately the only thing that matters is that you are going to put the floss to good use, no matter what the reason it was there. I can't wait to see what you come up with for the floss!

Barbara said...

I hear you on the floss. Nice find!

Anonymous said...

Pip, this is the happiest post I have seen you make in months. :) I'm so glad to see you in such good spirits!

(And I'm also glad you found the floss. lol.)

Busym1 said...

What a score! I love to find things like that! Hugs, michelle

Gina E. said...

LOL - we all think the same way! I've found bags of floss at opshops too, and if it's only been there a short time, I often discover the unfinished stitching project nearby. It is sad that they end up in thrift shops, and I am sure it has belonged to some old lady who has passed away, and her kids or grandkids have no appreciation of her work, finished or not, so they just chuck it.

Miri said...

That is a great find!

Diane said...

Major Score!! I completely understand the joy of thrifting... it's like a treasure hunt. Sometimes I want to sleep with my plunder under my pillow because I'm so danged excited about what I found.

I JUST blogged about a week's worth of clothes that I've thrifted. But I'm not really sure that it compares to your beloved embroidery floss :)

shirley said...

I agree with Gina. I get really sad when I see lovely things on stalls at the markets, and have often asked if they belonged to the stall keepers mother and they say yes. I have had some wonderful finds.

It makes me wonder what will happen to my "stuff" that is left when I go.

Perhaps it will end up valued by someone like you. That would be a nice thought.

shirley said...

By the way this is a great site. I have enjoyed reading the posts. Will make sure I bookmark this.

Melissa said...

I'm so happy for you! And it's good to have you blogging again. Your posts have always been a bright spot in my day. I "inherited" six floss cases jam packed with floss when my MIL's best friend passed away of lung cancer 7 years ago. She had no daughters and her DIL didn't embroider; so I was the blessed recipient of her crafting. I remember her everytime I embroider. I agree with the previous comment in that no matter how it came to you the previous owner would probably just be thrilled that someone is appreciative of their craft supplies. :)

Nishant said...

Such a neat find! I always how these things end up at the thrift store too. :)
underground hypnosis

Hadley Makes said...

Dude, super score!

Threeundertwo said...

That's awesome! I bet she got carpal tunnel or something and just had to stop. I think about those things too. I bet she'd be happy to know her floss found a good home.