The Raiding Party

I feel sure that there would have been consternation in the op shops in the central North Island of our fair land this week following an audacious lightning daylight raid carried out by Mr Shoestring and myself when we swooped down and bought most of the available stock last Friday, on our way to Napier.  No sooner was the danger past and the worthy workers recovering their breath and restocking their shelves than we performed a daring repeat raid, this time on our way back home on Monday following the delights of winter deco.  No article escaped the searing gaze of our beady eyes as we searched for new treasure, and we were not disappointed!  Mr Shoestring was delighted with the purchase of virtually a new wardrobe for winter deco, including a fair isle vest, a suit, a pair of trousers complete with the buttons for braces to be attached, a pair of genuine button braces, and a jacket. 

Button on braces still in their packet!

A fair isle vest for Mr Shoestring's next deco foray

I found a burgundy coloured leather clutch bag and of course I am already planning a new costume around it for next year's deco.

We did not confine ourselves to art deco clothing though, oh no, far from it.  In my quest for pink glass I have been drawing a blank lately so imagine the thrill of finding this rather unusual leaf shaped serving dish complete with four small plates for $5 at the St Vinnies shop in Napier!  And not a chip or blemish in sight either.  

Also there was another terrier to add to the ever increasing collection, this one is clutching a hat in his teeth and has a roguish expression in his eye.

And then this lovely floral picture to add to the others in the gypsy room (the walls are groaning now, I must cease and desist soon),

and this embroidered scene depicting yet another terrier, this one making the acquaintance of a rather perplexed horse. 

I am undecided as to what to use this for, I was thinking of making another bag with it and it would be very capacious and useful for marketing, but some other idea may present itself before I take out my scissors and get started.  

This apron with the embroidered lady (who has a pocket cunningly concealed in her head) was too good to resist, though I fear the person who created her must have lost interest before the project was complete (a bit like me), and she has no lips, presumably for this reason.  I think I can detect a faint shadow where the transfer suggested lips should be embroidered.

Lips - who needs 'em?

Pretty border on the bottom of the apron

In one shop there was a cache of Czechoslovakian glass buttons from a shop in New York which closed during the 1970s and it was hard to know where to stop there, but I selected these ones thinking they will come in handy for deco dresses if I get the chance to sew some.  I have to admit I never did make the ones I planned for winter deco - must to better next time.  

Mr Shoestring dashed up to the counter when he spied this promotional bakelite thermometer, he is a softie for anything made of bakelite.  The text says, "Turn This Over and See Someone Important to Us".  Of course when you turn it over there is a mirror on the back, a very quaint marketing ploy.

I was pleased to see another pansy doyley, I had thought the first one I found was unusual - I feel a collection coming on.

When we finally dragged our booty home we were worn out after such an action packed weekend, but very pleased in the knowledge that no stone was left unturned in our quest for more treasure to line our bowerbird nest.  Probably just as well there are no more excursions planned in the near future because there isn’t much more we can fit into Shoestring.  Particularly as we have taken possession of an old cane sided lounge suite to paint and then recover – but more about that next time!