Thrifted Vintage Cosco Step Stool, Vanity Seat and more

Rooster Figurine

 I went out hunting for some fun at the local thrift stores, and I found it! 

Two thrift stores and four really neat items that make me grin from ear to ear! 

The first one is this lovely little rooster chicken pottery figurine! He sits about 5 inches tall and is the prettiest creamy color. There is a hint of yellow left on its legs and more on his beak. The red is a little worn on his comb and wattle, but for me it just adds to his farm house fun look! The little sticker on the front reads, "Carlsbad Caverns". That leads me to feel safe in assuming it was made as a gift store tourist item. I think he will fit in with my other chickens and roosters that I collect! He looks good in front of my cast iron cookbook holder, don't you think?

Vintage Cosco Step Stool

The next smile I got on my face was really big! 

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this little  vintage Cosco kitchen step stool! 

Look at that pretty pale yellow. This stool is in such good shape! 

If you look at the ways it is constructed, you will see that it is not a reproduction, but a vintage one! This is completely metal with no plastic. If you look at the bottom legs, there are 6 not 8. If I understand correctly all the reproductions have eight legs. But I am not claiming to be an authority on this. They do have some really cool reproductions that you can get on Target online in red, yellow, and black for about $70.00. Etsy and E-bay have Costco step stools going from $60-$150 (Vintage or not).

 But I got mine at the thrift store, and only paid $10 for it! It only needed a quick wipe down with Windex!

Now that is something to smile about!

Vintage Cosco Kitchen Step Stool

 But the biggest reason to smile is I have wanted one of these for years. When I was growing up we had the phone in the hall. And me and my sisters spent hours sitting on my mom's stool just like this for hours talking with our friends! Remember those days? Unfortunately, my mom decided that she was tired of her old stool and threw it out for a new chair for the hall. "Mom, please don't throw any more out without asking if one of us wants it!" LOL!

My next smile that I found was another nice place to sit. I spotted this lovely little vanity seat. The silver circular swirled wire construction is just so feminine! The pretty little soft cushion looks pretty in gold velveteen out in my fall yard! I think it will be recovered though, not sure just how yet! Do you have any suggestions! I would love to hear any you have. 

This is something I will use for my kitty in front of the window to lay and look out the window. 

Or maybe as a seat in front of my large closet doors to sit and put on my shoes. 

So pretty!

Retro Vanity Seat

Then my last thrift store smile for the day would be this. 

A cute little garlic bulb baker. It has a terra cotta base and has never been used. It came wrapped and with the instructions. As much as I love baked garlic, I couldn't pass up using it as a little decorative cloche! 

What do you think? Cute again, huh!

Garlic Baker Made Cloche

I just hope you are smiling as much as I am, because all these goodies are something I can love in my home. They only cost me a grand total of  $25

Big Smile!

Have you found anything that has made you smile lately?

Bless you,

Little Susie Home Maker

Now be sure to follow the links to check out these really fun party hops! 

Old Time Party at Cindy's Old Time Farm House
Share Your Cup Thursday at Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thursday Favorite Things  at Katherine's Corner
Vintage Thingie Thursday at Colorado Lady

Give Aways and Party Fun

Monday morning is a good morning! Today I went to visit one of my favorite new blogs, Old Time Farm House. This is Cindy's new blog she also has Old Time Pickers which is her other blog about her wonderful finds she picks up. Cindy is such a wonderful craft designer and transformer of old items into new treasure! And to prove my point look at this!

 

Isn't it beautiful? I have to announce that I was the happy winner of her first give away! Yes, this is what Cindy made and will be sending me! Now, I know you must be thinking.. "Why can't I win something like that?" Well, you can, because her new blog, Old Time Farm House has a new monthly party and give away! Yes, not just a party, but a give away!

 So if you want to join in, it will be on the first Monday of every month. See, I told you Mondays were good! I had so much fun at this party hop, and there are three catagories! So I am sure you can fit in!

• Pickers - flea market, thrift shop, curbside, any other thrifty outlet!
• Crafters - Your projects, involving glue, scissors, paint, and other creative tools!
• Healthy Home Makers - Show your healthy recipes, going green, gardening, homesteading, and maintaining a healthy balanced home skills!

So see what her rules will be next month for the giveaway, and maybe you could be a winner, too! If not, Cindy, has lot's of fun by just visiting as well. Thanks Cindy for letting me join in on your first party. I also, am so excited that I won the very first give away!

If you would like to make this pretty rake hanger, she also has a tutorial here so you can make your very own!

Bless you, Cindy!

Speaking of give aways, I have another give away that I would like to have you go visit and enter. If you don't already know Donna at Donna's Lavender Nest you have to go introduce yourself! She is a sweet lady that loves to quilt and collect vintage pretties, and do other pretty paper crafts! This week she posted about a new give-away from her Etsy Store! This is where she sells her wonderful quilting items, and this includes her very own Quilt pattern called Scrappy Love.

Donna is going to give away some Lecien fabrics from her shop and here quilt pattern! so if you want to win you have to go Follow her and leave her a comment. I want to support my friend Donna, because she has just been such a good friend to me. She is a wonderful quilter, and go see what it is all about. You won't be sorry!

Thanks to all of you for reading this post today!

Blessings,

Little Susie Home Maker

Antique Folding Chairs

 I had a good time
 "Getting My Thrifting On"!

 I just had to make a trip to my favorite thrift store to see what might show up. 

 As I walked through, kinda looked through the dishes. No Pyrex as usual, not any fun vintage table cloths, etc. Wandered around looking at all kinds of stuff, but you know nothing too great was jumping out at me.

So just as I make my rounds back to the furniture and lamps etc, for the 2nd time. I see them unloading these folding chairs. I tell my daughter, "Look at what they are putting out!"

There were these two cute little chairs, and I knew I had to get them in my basket fast! Okay, I degress here.. Isn't it funny how when you see something that you know you love, you feel like you have to jump on it and fight others off? Or is that just me? LOL, it's like I have to defend my find!

So my daughter is learning this behavior as well, because this particular thrift store we have women trying to take things out of our basket quite often! Yes, really we do!  So she helps me start to pick one up, and we have hardly looked very hard before I have her hands on one and mine on the other, because yes, we already have people smiling and coming over saying do you want those? Well, yes, that is why we are trying to man handle them into our baskets! Haha!

 

 See these really neat cast iron hinges? They are not only beautiful, but heavy! The hinges work great and do not stick at all. They move so smoothly.

  The chair on the left is a chair and the one on the right is a rocker. They are pretty small, but surprisingly comfortable. I am not sure if they are school chairs, or from a theater or maybe a courtroom? But they are in really good shape. The hinges and the wood look great. They are missing a couple of bolts that I will have to replace.

Antique Chairs

 I am thrilled with the compact size of these, as I can keep them with out using up a ton of space. I put the rocking chair in a corner in my living room, and it is sturdy and very supportive for my back. I like it quite a bit. Does anybody think they know anything about these? I think they were a great find, and I am extatic! Price for both of them..$21
Yay!

Have you found any great thrifting items lately? Do people want to sweet talk them away from you?

Blessings,

Little Susie Home Maker

 Come visit the fun parties!
Old Time Party at Old Time Farmhouse
Thursday Favorite Things  at Katherines Corner
Share Your Cup Thursday  at Daily Cup w/Mrs. Olson
Junkin Joe Vintage Thrift Finds at the Cottage Market

Sewn Bird Ornaments

I love birds and I really like the charm of a hand made ornament. I thought it might be fun to show you these little birds I am making. These can be done with felts or your favorite fabric scraps. 

Home sewn birds on my snow frosted tree.

These fit into my Christmas decorations, but any color would be so pretty!

I chose the red because I am doing a lot of red and white this year, and red is my favorite high light color any time! They are made of fabric and or felt.

So I started by getting out my paper and drafting a basic bird shape to use as a pattern for cutting out fabric. 

I chose pinking sheers to cut out because the raw edges are going to show.

Now I used a decorative stitch in contrasting color to sew on the wings.

So either hand stitched or used sewing machine, which ever you prefer.

I decided to try an embroidered french knot for eyes,

I also used buttons.

Next, I hand sewn in a looped ribbon hanger,

a dab of hot glue is helpful here as well.

Now it is ready to be sewn around the perimeter. Sew on outside with a decorative top stitch. Again, hand or machine, with ever tickles your fancy.

Be sure to leave open a small opening in bottom to stuff the bird a little to plump him up!

After, stuffing, sew him up on bottom and he is finished! I used cotton balls to stuff mine.

They look so cute just hanging around!

Added some more embroidery and some loopy ribbons on the tail.

 Here are a few close ups.

I really like the way way they look on my real snow frosted tree outside!

These little guys are fun to make, and I bet you could make them with many different little personalities.

I think they will be around for a while at my house.

Blessings,

Little Susie Home Maker

Linking with
Old Time Party at Old Time Farm House