So as you all know I”m in the midst of the worlds longest maternity leave, and it’s glorious. It really, truly is. However, not shooting clients also means I’m on a bit of a spending freeze. Yes dad, I have found out that money doesn’t grow on trees. However, I do still need to get out of the house and I figure the best place to get my shopping fix is to do it via thrift stores. Sooooo, last week, after I dropped Miles off at preschool, Jocelyn and I headed out to do a little thrifting together. The antique stores weren’t open yet so we headed to the Salvation Army.

While there I scored some vintage children’s books (that Miles LOVES) for a quarter each, including a copy of Curious George from 1958. Miles gets SO excited when I bring home a stack of books from a garage sale or thrift store. It’s one of my favorite finds, when I come across a good stash somewhere.

On this particular day I had my eyes open for a children’s chair. I didn’t find one, but I did find this chair at the Salvation Army. I almost walked right by it as it was literally buried under a bunch of junk.

What do you think? You like? It’s officially going in the studio for a prop, but for now, it’s coming in handy around here. Someday I might paint the wooden parts white and do a fresh new fabric on it. (I do need a chair in our bedroom to throw clothes on instead of the floor…) The fabric is in great shape, but it’s a rough burlap-like fabric. I think the texture will be nice for photos, but it’s not so great for snuggling. So we’ll see. I saw potential, so I texted a photo of it to John on my iphone, he approved and home it came.

Sometimes when I get out of the house alone and I get to run an errand down town, I pop into my favorite antique stores and just have some “me time.” On this particular Saturday afternoon, in the dark basement of an antique store, I found what I have been looking for for years; a funky, playful vintage quilt that the kids can make a tent out of, have picnics in the living room on rainy days and I could use it in photos. I’ve never seen one priced right or in the right condition.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I found it. It’s not 100 years old, or even hand sewn, but the fabrics were perfect. Even the pink backing and trim turned me on. Oh, and the price? Totally right, even in the midst of a spending freeze. I was very torn as I really am trying to be good and not by anything these days, but I couldn’t pass this one up. This was a case of spend now, ask for forgiveness later.

What do you think? It has all sorts of different shapes of patches. We had fun just laying on the floor looking at all the different fabrics used. Here’s my favorite fabric swatch. That yellow, blue, grey pattern. Cool, huh?

I laid it out on the floor and Miles and John spent an hour just rolling around on it. They pretended to make Miles a cocoon (or as Miles would correct me, a chrysalis) and then he hatched into a butterfly. They are the CUTEST things on the face of this earth. I swear, they could find something fun to do with anything. Oh and John, who bless his soul, has to be the reluctant enforcer of said spending freeze, said, “It’s beautiful” as I unfolded it on the floor for him to see. He’s such a punkin.

Here’s miles, all wrapped up in his cocoon. I know all the white nubbies on the back of the quilt are gross, but it’s vintage, so I’m cutting it some slack.

So that’s my vintage finds as of late. Keep your eyes open for these pieces in future photos. You’ve already seen the quilt on the blog already.

Nighty night!