What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

What's in THAT basket?

(I thought of something to talk about!  My junk!  Woo-hoo.)

Sitting beside my refrigerator, I have an old freezer basket chock full of kitchen-y goodness.  I don't think anyone, including me, knows how much stuff is in this basket.  Let's delve in and have a look, okay?
Here's the basket.  Forgive some of these photos - I took them with my iphone and I am still learning how to use that contraption.  (But, oh Lord, I love that thing...)

First and foremost, the infamous crocheted watermelon potholders.  I never set out to collect them.  I rescued them one by one from yard sales and thrift stores.  Some have even come my way from blog friends.  Tonight I counted and I have 51 of them.  Crazy, I know.  

Along with watermelon potholders, I love and appreciate anything utilitarian that someone put their hard work and time into creating.  Doilies and potholders are another weakness.  The SCT often puts a bundle of three or four out for 25¢ and I always snap them up.

I like red ones the very best.  Each one is different hand has a different use.  That ruffly one on the top is a pot scrubber.  Can you imagine scrubbing a crusty old pot with that beauty?
I have a few in orange.
A few more in yellow.  
This doiley is huge - it goes in the center of a table with all the Daffodils around it.  It is fantastic.  And a favorite of my Mom's. :)
Of course, you have to have green.  That lily pad potholder is divine.
And you really must have blue too.
Maybe even a purple or two.....or three.  The tiny one is a wee little coin purse.
Then there are some in all different color schemes.  I love the two pansy doilies in the corner.  I've never figured out how they made that swirly one in the bottom corner either.  So sweet.
 Wait!  Did I mention pink?  You have to have PINK!
These trivets are made out of bottle caps - each one carefully crocheted with tiny little loops around each bottle cap.  A couple of the grape clusters have gotten too close to the hot burner over the years, but that doesn't bother me - I still like them.

You would think that was close to the end of the basket, but you would be WRONG.
Hey - how did those wooden ones get in that basket?
A few more colorful items.  The red, white and blue one is a dishcloth.  Like I could ever use that beaut!
There are dresses and undies.  :)
And lots of potholders too.  
Feedsack potholders, kiwis from Australia, sweet embroidered apple faces and rug hooked houses.

 And the final addition arrived in the mail today:
Eight tiny aprons meant to be "worn" on a Soda Bottle with the straw tucked neatly in the pocket.  The 1950's version of Wine Charms.  I saw them in Beth's Etsy Shop last week and I tried to resist them.  They were still there three days later so I decided fate wanted them to be mine!  And now they are. Love!

Do you think I can put anything else in that basket?

I think I can!  I know I can!  I know I will!

Do you have any secret stashes?

10 comments:

  1. I knew you collected the watermelon potholders but who knew that much gorgeous crochet and other items were in that basket. Watch out if some of them go 'missing' if I ever visit you... :) Wonderful collection! hugs, Linda

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  2. Hi Shara,
    These are fantastic! I especially like the watermelons and the daffodils. Daffs are my birthday flower...I know when they start showing up that spring is on the way.
    xox
    Pam

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  3. What a stash! Am amazed at the variety of colors and patterns that were created..those women of yesteryear knew how to rock a potholder or doily! Love that daffodil one!

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  4. That is one bottomless basket! Love the watermelons and all the handmade potholders. I have some my Grandma made.

    Thanks for sharing with us!

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  5. That's like the Mary Poppins bag of refrigerator baskets. :) I'm seriously agog that so much fit in that basket!

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  6. could you make those watermelons into a bedspread/ quilt type thing, it would look ace !

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  7. Being a crochet addict, I have a huge stash of yarn. But it's not exactly a secre, just a closet full! Also, there is a lot of work represented in your collections. The swirly thing, as you call it, isn't as hard as it looks if you do how to crochet. I love the daffodils.

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  8. Shara, that is an awful lot of stuff for such a little basket. I am amazed at your super-powers.

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  9. Shara - Hi!
    I discovered your AWESOME blog a month or so ago. I am in awe of your mastery of collecting so many fabulous items. You are the queen! They are all beautiful. I don't know how you do it - I did not know that so many watermelon potholders existed within one person's range, or so many other fab creations. I am truly inspired. Thanks for your blog!
    -Eleanor

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  10. Loe the collections. You even have a few of my favorite heart pin keepers in there. I've only ever found one but I've made three that I think are really pretty. And now I know that the metal basket I have is a freezer basket. :)

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