Vintage bed sheets, band ribbons and VP booty

I have good news about my pumpkin pie: No one died from eating it. I was so relieved on December 26th when I woke up without getting any late night calls from the hospital. My dad had two pieces of the pie, so he definitely would have been the first to go.

It's been a while, so here are a few goodies that I acquired recently:

These are grade school band ribbons from Illinois:

I found four huge spools of trim at Goodeals in Delaware. There must be at least 30 yards on each spool. They are all the same pattern, but in different colors. Does anyone know why there are loops on one edge of the trim? I can't figure out if it is purely decorative, or if there is a specific purpose for the loops.

I told myself I wouldn't buy anymore Pyrex, but this is a no casserole dish. This is for my brother-in-law, Doug, who not only loves to dress up but is also a chemist. (I know...shocking, isn't it?)

Don't worry, Mom - I'll wash the jar that says "MERCURY" really, really well.
Edited to add: I threw away the jar the Mercury jar. Why the hell did I think I could just wash it out? Sometimes I need my readers to remind me how dumb I am. Thanks, ladies!

I found this sheet set at Goodwill for a total of $10. I normally don't look at the sheets when I am there, but I saw these from afar, and I knew that they would mix and match nicely with Maeve's pink & white polka dot sheets. 

 

My four-year-old daughter is a free spirit. She occasionally prefers to empty her bladder in her bed rather than conform to societal norms and use a toilet. So, I am constantly changing her sheets. I refuse to let her wear a pull-up, because I see this as giving her permission to pee up a storm. I already had an argument discussion with my sister, Heather, about this topic. She also has a four-year-old, so she is entitled to her opinion that is completely opposite of mine.

Pull-up or not, at least Maeve can have cute vintage sheets while she sleeps in her own urine.

Speaking of the free spirit, here she is fighting with Finn over the totally awesome vintage straw dispenser that Sue from Vintage Rescue Squad sent me in the mail. When we got together at Renninger's, I told her that I've been on the lookout for a straw dispenser because we use straws all the time. Sue and I saw a few of them at an antique shop in Adamstown, but they were outrageously expensive. Sue found this one at an estate sale and sent it to me. Is she the best, or what!?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How about this guy who found Joe Biden's solid gold cufflinks on a shirt he bought at a thrift store?  Last summer, I wrote about the fabulous yard sale that I went to in Joe Biden's neighborhood. Forget about politics, I just love that he lives in a neighborhood that has yard sales, and that he donates his clothes to thrift stores.

Anyway, let's get down to the real question: would you have kept the cufflinks? I mean, have you seen the price of gold lately?

Comments

[Wanda]

LOL Glad the pie turned out OK. I knew it would be. To check a pie, use a toothpick or a piece of spaghetti. Ooo. I sounded like Martha there. That's scary.

What are you going to do with the ribboned medals? I've got a few I'm trying to figure out how to use.

Do you think the loops on the trim are for buttons?

[Ahrisha]

No clue about the loops but the ribbon would be cute for a project I plan to do. Any ideas about what you are gonna do with it? Actually the spools would look really great in a wooden bowl just sittin' around. Nice bottles too. You had a really good day, Yeah!

[MagiaMia]

Oh, like a cool, tall drink in the desert, you have graced us with your presence and humor once more............it's about bloody time!

Maybe that ribbon and loops are for curtains or something?

Oh, and I would kill for those jars with those awesome stoppers!

Welcome Back!

[Vintage Sue]

Thanks for the shout-out. Anything else I can provide that your kids will fight over and therefore drive you batty?

And due to my close proximity, I'll see if I can snag you some VP swag.

[Suzanne]

Loved your post. I think the loops are purely decorative and If I'd paid for the shirt I would have kept the cuff links. SCORE!

[Margo]

I love your goodies. maybe you should research how to clean out the mercury bottle. That stuff is very toxic.
Your pictures are beautiful too, you have a great eye for display.
Margo

[kitschen pink]

I don't think soap suds will do the trick with mercury - don't you need storm gear to handle that stuff?! t.xx

[Sarah]

You are going to need the Ebay ladies for those loops methinks, they know everything.

I would have returned the cufflinks. Regular ole cufflinks? (Hard to do obviously), no. But those are probably semi-important to him.

[gabby]

Colleen -
That mercury stuff is bad news. My neighbors actually found a jar of it in a shed they tore down last year. They called the EPA to come take it. Also, if you haven't been reading Perez lately, did you know that mercury has sidelined Jeremy Piven's broadway career?

[mary]

Um, hello! I want that fabulous trim, and IN that great wire basket, please. Thanks!

I think the Joe Biden cufflinks are quite possibly the best thing I've ever seen. And I would sell, sell, sell.

[Barb]

I would try to give them back, but I'm thinking that Joe would say, "Ah heck, just keep 'em."

[KSV Woolfoot]

I love all of this stuff and your close up of the spools of trim is an especially great picture. I would wear those band medals on my winter coat - all of them at once - like a banana republic dictator. I might actually keep those cufflinks... Happy New Year.

[Natasha]

I almost wet myself reading the urine tales!!! My son was like that for a number of years after training and I felt the same way. He actually sleep pee-ed or dreamed he was in the bathroom but wasn't. I was always amazed he never went on his twin who sleeps below him.

The ribbons are drop dead amazing. My tactile self was really yearning to touch them when I saw the pic.

[kim]

great sheets!!
i never used pull ups on my girls either.
i just cut wayyyy back on liquids at night. for a while, i even made sure i went and woke them up after about four hours of sleep and made them go pee.
the straw dispenser is very cool!! i havent seen one in years!
i cant imagine finding such a treasure like the cuff link at ay yard sale. my "unusual" finds are limited to outdated lotions or vaginal creams!! eeww!! those yard sales are nasty!

[rachel carlson]

HA! i about peed my pants with your sheets story - you are my hero, the sheets are fantastic. i've also seen where you can make old sheets into lounging pants. that's not to say that it's okay for the girl to pee on the go too -tee, hee!

the spools of ribbon are fantastic. i'm a spool collector of sorts but like ribbon too at times, great find!

glad you made it through the pie season, you ARE done right! i'm not a cook or a baker so i do get it. although i do attempt and some times am successful...

cheers to you in 2009!

[denise:)]

your post cracked me up out loud several times- as always. great pics of great finds... again!
happy new year!

[Jessica Thompson]

Beautiful bed sheets!

[Mrs. B]

I remember, as a bedwetter, what a terrible feeling I had in the pit of my stomach, when getting ready for bed, knowing that I had no control and the deed would happen through no fault of my own, that I would once again wake up cold, wet and mortified and again be chastised and (unintentionally) humiliated, even in front of my very cool, in control and loving but obviously frustrated Mom. My self image would plummet, any confidence disappear and I just knew that "everyone" knew my secret...it was horrible.
I would have loved pull-ups, I would have walked over hot coals for something like that. Just saying.

[vintage chic mom]

I just recently discovered your blog. I just laugh out loud when I read it! You tell it like it is, and I appreciate that! It's also nice to see the things that don't always turn out so perfectly...hmmmm, I wonder if Martha ever experiences flops? It just goes to show nobody is perfect...who cares what it looks like, I'm sure it tasted delicious and it's the love that went into it. It's great to be able to laugh at yourself, too! I'll check back regularly. Thanks for the giggles.
Kelly

[Becky]

Just ran across your blog.
I wanted to tell you that I think you are hilarious.
Thanks for making me laugh today!
Have a great weekend...

p.s. 1 of my goals in life is to learn to make a PERFECT pie!
ha ha...

[Grace@PoeticHome]

I am very happy to hear that your family made it through the pumpkin pie. The life insurance companies are happy too! ;)

Joe Biden's cufflinks?! Is it unpatriotic if I would totally and utterly keep those babies?!

I always love seeing your stash of treasures, especially before the weekend :)

[Meredith]

I laughed when I saw the sheets. I bought the flat sheet with that pattern when I saw it at a yard sale this summer. There is also a blue/green combo--I bought both the pink one and the blue green one. What was I going to do with two twin sized flat sheets? I have no idea. But I loved them. I'll think of something eventually!

[Suzanne]

As usual I always love reading your blog. Love the sheets. Hope you have a great New Year. Thanks for inspiring us to blog. It's added a more creative flair to the business. I came on to peak at your Kimberton booth for the garland you made from old book pages. Using it for Sam's 2nd B-day with some old stamps and stencils. I am a rick rack junky so I have lots of that. Hope to see you soon.

[Toni]

I'm with Mary Swenson, I would have sold those JB cufflinks in a heartbeat!

[Kim Rae Nugent]

Hi,
I read about your daughter's bed wetting and I can relate. When my daughter was little she was potty trained. Then, for no reason to me,she started bed wetting between age 4 - 5. I had been having her strip her bedding and taking it to the laundry room. Her pediatrician suggested I also have her make her bed. No shame just having her take responsibility for her actions. She didn't like to make her bed and this helped to reinforce in her subconcious sleep to not wet the bed. The bed wetting stopped. Good luck!
Warm regards,
Kim