Huh? Am I Being Followed?

Has anyone else ever experienced someone watching them while they shop and actually commenting on what you have in your basket as choices.


Not such a bad thing, as in a sense it is a compliment.  But, twice, I have been approached when in a consignment shop or thrift store and the person in question has asked to buy an item that caught their eye.


The couple at the register: 
When I had the first approach, The cashier and I were being told a story about Hurricane Katrina and how they lived in New Orleans; were up visiting their son and trying to re-establish their household.  She said she used to have a pillow just like the wool crewel work one with roses that I was purchasing.  "I spent so long making that pillow and really would like to have that one".


In brief, I thought she was giving a performance and using Hurricane Katrina to make people feel sorry for her and give her a deal on whatever it was they were going to purchase.  So, I listened with caution and wasn't about to fall into their trap and was hoping that the cashier wouldn't either.


Interesting to watch them play out their hurricane survivor role or should I say, watch her act.  She's aiming for this floral needle work pillow with a matching velvet back, for whatever purpose, thinking it is worth much more and offering me more in front of the cashier.


Me, I have already unzipped the cover and realize it is handmade.  But, sold by Pottery Barn ;)


Yeah, you have to smile and just play along.


She ended up offering me approximently $15 over what I was paying for the pillow.  To which I responded, "No, I really like the pillow and was glad that she did, as well.  But, I am keeping it for myself."


Recently, I was in a store and this one woman was eyeing what I had and commenting on my finds and what a good eye I had. 


She didn't just stop there.  She continued to comment on other items I added to the basket and followed me when I went to ask the cashier pricing on a couple of items that did not have price tags.  She whispered something to me as I was standing there and I wasn't able to make out what she was saying and just ignored her.


While standing waiting for the cashier to return with pricing, she told me she particularly liked this large older piece of upholstery material that didn't have a price and was eager to find out how much it was being sold for and where I picked it up.


I told her it was in an old bureau or narrow set of drawers along with other rags and scraps of cloth out in front of the store.


Cashier gave me a a price and sure enough, the admirer walked outside to check the drawers of the furniture for sale outdoors.


What I found odd with this experience is that it was a while before I checked out, as I continued to shop, after the cashier gave me pricing on items without tags.  When I did check out, I was surprised that the woman followed me and approached me outside the shop with a story about how she had that exact same fabric at home and would love to have a matching piece and would pay me $25 for it.

Ironically, both times I have been approached, the items have had a rose pink background and floral pattern.


Sometimes, I am caught off guard and don't know what to say.  But, I quickly replied that I wasn't interested in selling and already had plans to use it to cover a sofa and walked away.


Heck, now not only do I have to guard those one of a kind items, as if left in basket or on the counter, I often have to stop other shoppers from walking off with the prized items I have found and am going to purchase.  Now, I have to also be prepared to say "NO" in a polite and tactful way to other customers that want what I have.


I just got a flashback of the man in business attire that approached me in a woman's lingerie department years ago.  But, that is another story.


Hint to the wise, when leaving a store, try and take notice of who is following you.

Update - 29 May 2011 - Encore!
It happened again this week.  I was at the register ready to check out and had items neatly folded in my basket.  An elderly lady that was in front of me asking the sales rep for assistance on a price turned around and saw a pair of hand made, heavy upholstery fabric drapery panels that I was purchasing.  She immediately dove into my basket and picked up a panel and started to unfold it and oh and ah about how nice it was.  Plus rattling along about how she made a laundry bag out of some similar fabric and was offered $20 for it by someone who saw her with it.

I am beginning to find some humor in this re-occurrence.

Cleaning Older or Antique Linens

Left to Right:  As purchased yellowed & stained.  New white linen tucked underneath as reference.  Cleaned napkin and matching table cloth.

One of the items that I enjoy finding and collecting is older or antique genuine linens.  I am especially fond of those that are embellished with hand embroidery like the set that I am showing here in the photograph. 

Amazed at the time and craftsmanship that used to be put into a piece like this and used as a part of everyday dining.

Of course, those linens that were heavily used developed stains and turned yellow over the years.  One has to wonder how much the heavy duty use of starch to stiffen and press the linens smooth contributed to the setting in of stains and discoloration.

Purchasing these items can be a bit of a gamble and if you are looking for perfection you may find yourself sorely disappointed.

I have read of a number of different methods for cleaning linens.  One of the more popular published methods is natural fresh lemon juice squeezed onto the stain and then allow the item to set in the hot sun prior to washing.

You can learn from experience or take my word for it.  Never, ever use full strength clorhine bleach to clean linens.  If the holes and damage doesn't appear right away, just wait and don't be surprised when little pin holes first appear and gradually increase in size each time you use and wash thereafter.

One of my favorite products is oxygen cleaner such as Oxyiclean.  Though, I have found that the not so famous brands and those similar products sold in the dollar stores are dead on equivalents in their ability to clean and brighten.

I recently discovered that Dollar General carries a half gallon, liquid refill jug and that has become my new favorite in my laundry room.

The powders work well.  Though, I'd recommend dissolving in a cup of hot or warm water prior to pouring into the wash water, as it can take some time for the powdered versions to dissolve.

When cleaning, one of the things I have learned is to have some patience and take my time.  That includes not throwing delicate items into the washing machine and having great expectations as to the results in 30 minutes time.

For items such as the linens shown I slowly cleaned them over a 4 day period.  Starting out with saturating the heavily started material with water in the bath tub.  Draining the water and then refilling and adding oxygen cleaner to the fresh hot water bath.

I let them soak a day and ended up with a dark yellow water.

Time to drain and press out the excess water.  Then rinse and start all over with another soak using the hot water and oxygen cleaner.

On the third day, the process is repeated with the addition of a very small amount of diluted chlorine bleach to the water.

Fourth day, drain, rinse, transfer to a bucket or a wash basin you can carry and transfer the linens to the washing machine for a delicate cycle wash with regular laundry detergent.

Once the machine stops, you can either remove and iron immediately, as it is easier to iron linen while it is wet.  Or in my case, I folded them up and will go through that process in the future, prior to use.

Crystal Chandeliers - Just Brilliant!

Growing up around antiques and older furniture made me sway towards more contemporary and modern, simple lines of furnishings and decorations, once I was of age and could make decisions about my own decor.

Now, look at me... Swaying back to the other direction, I am finding beauty again and again in the detail of more complex pieces, carvings and patterns, etc.

One of the items that I often search for when I am surfing my local craigslist.org site is "chandelier".  I came across this 18 light, crystal and glass chandelier back in early April.

The photographs are showing it in the owners newly redecorated dining room.  This was one of the final items to be removed prior to the new light they had purchased being installed and the ceiling being patched and repainted.

It took a couple of trips to procure this item.  One to view and make a commitment and another follow-up days later to pay and pick-up the chandelier and the plaster medallion.

I am not sure if the medallion will work on the textured and vaulted ceiling of my living room.  But, it might find a second life elsewhere, such as the adjoining dining room, as I am now in search of another much smaller scale and similar chandelier for that space (open to the living room).

This will not get installed right away, as the basement project is still in process and moving along well.  But, slowly.  That takes precedence at the moment.

It took an entire evening removing the crystals and the individual candle bowls from under each light fixture and cleaning them.  I am certain it might take just as long or longer to re-install.  But, for now the pieces are clean and stored away ready for installation.

Little factoid, this house built in 1983 does not have overhead lights in a majority of the rooms.  Mrs. O'Dea must have elected not to have them installed in lieu of using table lamps.

Personally, far too dark for me and when the sun goes down it makes me very sleepy..

Spring 2011 Flowers - Peonies

The house across the street, from where I grew up had a full row of peonies that bordered the edge of yard.  Huge, fragrant blooms each year were always a wonderful treat and a true sign that summer time was getting that much closer.

The friend that lived in that house as a child, tells me she truly misses the quantity and the beauty of that row of flowers. 

Can you imagine a 40 foot row of these densely packed flowers blooming in your yard?

I was chatting on-line with her and can only think that one of the previous residents (rental) of the house in their travel to the orient must have brought back a bounty of the rhizomes from one of their trips, as the attic above the garage had a vintage stash of oriental treasures that every now and then we'd get a glimpse of.

If I can figure out how to successfully move and propagate these plants, I will let you all know at a later date.  For now, I am just enjoying the wonderful aroma of these in my bedroom.

Remaining positive

A few weeks ago, I came across this ugly pile at the edge of a landscape and garden center parking lot.  Rather garish and looked like an old pile of discarded dolls at a distance.

Up close, I realized that it was a pile of ornamental angels, gilded in gold that could be used to decorate a garden.  Enmass they were negative and then when I moved closer to inspect and saw the reflections of lights and shadows and the cherub faces they took on a positive glow.

Even this photo below with the one figure broken has beauty and the fact that they are fully dressed in shorts and shirts can put a smile on your face.

One of those situations that reminds me to try and look at things from a different perspective, as there is often positive in what appears to be a negative situation.