My peeps! I had no idea there were so many of us trash wading, dumpster diving folks out there. Thank you for sharing your stories of treasures saved from the nasty garbage truck.
The photo above was taken from my front picture window one morning this past week across the street toward a little upholstery shop. Fabric for sale! Oh, do you see the sign though?
Look closely.
Yep, FREE!
I put Wyatt's boots on as quickly as I could omitting socks because they take too long . I slipped my uggs on (yes, we in the great white North are still wearing our uggs) and we raced on over before any of the other neighbors knew what they were missing.
As soon as I got there, the owner of the shop met me as she was bringing out a few more items out. I guess they are going out of business. It always makes me sad to see a small business go out. Especially the kind of business like this...so many people would rather toss their furniture out to the curb than have it refinished or reupholstered (see post below). I guess she and her husband are getting older and the business just isn't making it anymore, so they are going out. At least she sees the value in what she has and offers it to others before trashing it. Because then I would have to get my uggs all dirty going through her big green metal dumpster in the back of her store to rescue it. See how nice she is? She makes it easy for us dumpster divers.
Here is what I found on the table.
There was several large rolls of cotton lampshade fabric with the tiniest of pleats and about 3 yards of the softest orange velour (can you say 1973?)
And then as we talked she invited us back to her back room to see what else there was that had not been brought out yet. 
There were shelves and shelves of rolls and rolls of bias tape, cushion piping and lampshade binding. Linen, burlap, cotton, velvet, silk, tapestry ... oh, it went on and on and on.
Oh, and don't think I can't hear you nay-sayers saying to yourselves, "She's crazy! Now what in the heck is she going to do with all of THAT?" Well of course, as all dumpster divers do when they are knee deep in the goods...I have a plan! Of course I do.
All I can say is watch out new Virginia Beach house. I see walls covered in pleated lampshade fabric and bias binding. He, he....not quite! But I do see many pillows for the new house in my sewing future. Who knows, maybe a few to sell.
The shop owner and I had a nice little talk about what all you can find if you really keep your eyes pealed. She said that she too is a dumpster diver! And she has found many an antique chair to bring to her shop, recover and put in a corner. Eventually someone will ask if the newly recovered chair in the far corner is for sale and she will, with a smile, sell it to them. All the while knowing that it cost her almost NOTHING in the first place. And isn't that the real fun of it?
Dumpster Divers Unite!
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Thank you to Whipup and Craftzine for the mention of my rag rug tutorial, and whoever told them about it. I had a gazillion emails and comments to answer over the past few days, so if I haven't gotten to yours yet, I will. I promise.