Bad Deals (And One Good One)

Today let's talk about thrifted auctions that can be bad deals, like this Gütermann thread lot. I'm always on the lookout for Gütermann thread, as it's strong, never frays, and I think it's the best you can buy. I did bid on this used lot, which started out at $9.99, but quickly surged out of control as other bidders swarmed it. I dropped out at my maximum, which was $15.00. The lot ended up selling for $128.23 plus shipping, which was a bad deal.

Why? These are about a hundred spools, so it looks good, only they're used, so you don't really know how much thread you're getting. You can buy brand-new Gütermann thread in bulk pretty cheaply if you catch it on sale; right now JoAnn is selling 26 spool collections for $19.99, and a 42 spool basic colors notebook collection for $49.99.

Then there is condition, and how it is described in the auction listing. For this crocheted blanket the condition was said to be "used but good with spots." A close up picture showed one small dark spot that looked like soiling or rust transfer.

Here's the problem: see those big circular patches of pink in the center white panel? My eye tells me those are not photo shadows. They look to me like bloodstains someone tried to wash out and failed to remove, which if I'm right is probably why the blanket was donated. If you see large discolorations on an item and they're not mentioned in the listing, that's a red flag (no pun intended) and a bad deal no matter what you pay for it.

Here's a good deal: a lot of new and like-new themed journals, which run anywhere from $9.99 to 14.99 each. I bid $9.99 for the entire lot, which is about .99 each, and I'll probably win it* because there are very few bidders for journals.

*Nope, actually someone outbid me at the last second. :)

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Journal Find

This is a page from my 2010 poetry journal. My handwriting isn't the best, so I'll transcribe it: If my heart survives to tell all the secrets kept inside it will be an abalone shell in which the beauty did reside. But I think I will always be lost to the tides that rage in me . . . humbling and polishing . . . I don't write many self-portrait poems, but this one isn't too embarrassing. A bit overly dramatic, but the girl I was eleven years ago went through some tough times. I'm in a much more peaceful place today.

Stuff

After finding this Caron one pound skein of lovely peach yarn in my thrifted lot I raided my stash for two cakes of Mandala in Pegasus, which matches it perfectly. For practice and hand therapy I'm going to make another Worth Street Afghan with this free pattern , but this time I'll use the yarn that was recommended for it plus the one pound skein. I'm not quite ready to do the vintage/recycled linen quilt I had planned (still a bit too nervous about the idea), so I'm going to use some color therapy and make a quilt from these thrifted green fat quarters. I considered doing another Yellow Brick road patchwork pattern, but I might go with a split rail fence like this one.

Another World

Since I'm watching more Japanese dramas these days I'm able to find more hidden gems, like the drama Silent . This is a subtle, emotional romance series, and authentically portrays what it's like to deal with a major disability while trying to get on with life and fall in love. Here's the story: in high school Sou Sakura (Meguro Ren) and Tsumugi Aoba (Haruna Kawaguchi) are a young couple. They have the same quirky sense of humor, love music, and really enjoy being with each other. The fact that they're the most attractive couple in school is obvious, but the innocent and fun nature of their relationship is what makes it so perfect. They just like talking with each other. Then, quite suddenly, Sou dumps Tsumugi (by text, no less, making him a giant ass) and vanishes. Years later Tsumugi is now in a relationship with another guy, with whom she's happy, and is looking for a place where they can live together. By accident she runs into Sou, and discovers ...

Rayen

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