buried treasure

Over the weekend I went thrift shopping, in search of chairs for the home office space DJ and I share.  I didn’t find chairs.  That’s the basic rule of thrifting; you’ll never find exactly what you set out to buy. 

But I did buy this antique wood tool chest.  It looks like it’s been buried for a million years, and I love it.  It wasn’t exactly thrifted, to tell you the truth.  It came from Praha on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago.  The owners, Todd and David, keep a well-curated collection of interesting furniture and knicknacks with some hostess-gift type things in the mix.  You pay a little bit for the privilege of shopping in a clean and interesting store.  But not so much that you feel bad about the prices.  Somewhere between thrifty and boutique.  

The thrifty purchase of the day was a stack of Irish linen handkerchiefs from an actual thrift store.  A dozen, with several different embroidery and cutwork motifs.  Fifty cents each, and all brand new.  I hustled them up to the counter before the brunette sifting linens nearby caught a glimpse. 

I may cut them up in quarters for interesting quilt squares.  Nearly-White #3?  Edges whipstitched onto white batiste?  They could make a really lovely baby quilt - if I knew anyone having a baby girl.  DJ suggested I make that quilt anyway, because by the time I finish someone will surely have a baby on the way.  He makes a good point.