Summer thrifting...and jam.

Flea markets, thrift stores... it's like a treasure hunt! I am unlike many my age who partake in the hunt, in that I look for mainly housewares and less for clothes etc. I see cups, glass, mugs, plates, textiles, etc before I see shirts, dresses, shoes, etc.

I think it's because I would rather decorate my home than myself.

And it makes me wish I had a huge farm house to decorate!

This summer has been a nice one, in that I have been thrifting quite a bit. Don't get me wrong, we've made house improvements this summer that were not thrifted (but at the cheaper end of the spectrum - thanks Ikea!), but I've also picked up some stuff that I couldn't leave behind... and for the first time, I've also bought clothes! 

By the way, I will be sharing our updated interiors soon... just need to get rid of one last item!

This little set was at the higher end of the price range I am comfortable paying at a thrift store. 

Not to sound frugal, but this teapot and cup combo set me back 7 euros. ;)

They are worn, tea stained, and gorgeous.

If they were pristine, I would have passed them up.

They have an antique-y feel... stamped with "made in England".

I bought this excellent condition cake tin for 2.50e. 

This little green bud vase (or I'll use it as one) for 2e. 

This following purchase was made a few weeks ago. I about cried when I stumbled upon them. 

A set of two cups and saucers for 1.20e. 

They are the German retro heart set I've been looking out for for about a year now. 

Talk about excitement at the treasure hunt!!

Now I own a little tea set!! ♥

OMG -- I wonder if there is a heart tea pot out there somewhere?!?!

 This summer I've bought 2 dresses, 1 shirt, and 1 winter coat (not pictured, because I forgot!). 

The little summer dress was adorable, perfect print and colors!! Swoon!

The shirt on the left is a loose fitting summer shirt, kind of has a lace peasant collar thing going on.

The shirt-dress is a light blue pinstripe that I love.

My mom bought me this mug, pansies!! AAAAH! LOOOVE IT! It's the new design by Kultakeramiikka ceramics brand.

And my mom and I went halvies on our next blanket project. This one is for my Godmother. 

We're going to add a darker blue to the mix and perhaps a white or black border... Can't wait to see how it develops!

What can I say, I'm addicted to crocheting granny square blankets.

We were in a predicament since our last garden trip... raspberries don't keep well in the fridge and need to get put in the freezer asap. Well, it's not that simple when you run out of containers. 

So we decided we'll make raspberry jam!

And then we realized what goes into jam. 

Pectin, ascorbic acid, etc. 

Google and pinterest weren't helping!

Until I found the recipe for old-fashioned raspberry jam from Epicurious.

Two ingredients: raspberries and sugar.

Great! We had a recipe!

Ok, now for jars... well, we were short on those so we ended up raiding the cabinets and the fridge and emptying out all the ends of the jams, pickles etc we could find. 

Woohoo!

It was a heckuva night, but by midnight, we had jam!

Yum!

This morning, we were giddy with excitement to taste it.

Perfect consistency, perfect flavor.

WIN!

So that's a little story about thrifting...and jam. 

Lol.

But to join the two together, making your own jam is kinda thrifty...and we used recycled jars!

HAH!

Lastly, I'd like to share this moody photo taken a couple of nights ago.

The sunset lit up the apartment with a beautiful peachy light...and then the sky became this:

♥♥♥

Wow!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember, when life doesn't give you plastic freezer containers --- make jam!!