After being cooped up for the most part since Christmas, it was time to take Grandma Eleanor (my hubby’s grandmother) out for a little shopping excursion. She wanted to go to Walmart, but I decided to detour by the Bama Flea Market in Leeds, just to check it out.
I picked her up and she wanted to show me her latest project. Stuffed bunnies and dogs. OK, so these are not my favorite things, but she seems to love them, so I figure it keeps her busy and out of trouble, so go for it. She’s got about 25 bunnies all made up. Even though Grandma is 91, at heart she’s still around 5.
Her bedroom is crammed full anyway and with the addition of all these stuffed animals, it packed to the gills. 
I have to admit that I’ve never liked stuffed animals, even when I was little. Tomboy, that’s what I was. I did love my Barbie doll, but baby dolls, I could have lived without. Stuffed animals just weren’t my thing either.
Grandma Eleanor’s Rabbits from Rhoda on Vimeo.
I did a short little video of Grandma Eleanor talking about her stuffed animals, so take a look at it. She’s an enterprising little thing and wants to sell them. 
Now, ya’ll tell me…is there any sort of market for these?? I’m not one to ask cause, you know, I really hate stuffed animals. Would a little girl like these?
Off to the flea market we went. I took you in here before, but of course, there are all new things now.
These pretty Staffordshire-like dogs caught my eye. 
I’m always attracted to primitively painted oil paintings and I loved the colors in this one. 
A child’s desk with chair. 
These are those vintage end tables that have display space, I’m sure you’ve seen them. Someone decided to paint them all with some lively colors. Grandma declared that they were ugly to her with THOSE BRIGHT colors. 
More white soup tureens. Hard for me to pay $30 or more for these when I’ve found them at yardsales for next to nothing.
A cute old rocking horse. This looks pretty old to me. 
Great looking old vintage fan. I think this was over $30. 
If your into tacky football displays for the front yard, you’re in luck, Auburn OR Alabama!
Pretty vintage china cabinet. 
And lookie here what we spied at the antique mall….more bunnies. Grandma’s got competition. 🙂 
This cute bench had a pricetag of $50, which I thought was great. 
I liked this white display piece too. 
You know when you’re out strolling and browsing and you see something that reminds you of a bloggy friend? This reminds me of my friend, Kim from Daisy Cottage. A big yellow bowl. 
This etegere was already sold, but wait til you see the pic I saw in a magazine of one of these painted. CUTE!
Another vintage china cabinet just begging for a makeover. 
Eleanor found herself a prize. She just had to have this denim purse for $3.50. You can see she’s still carrying her cowgirl purse too. She loves that thing! 
Pretty old bottles. 
Now here’s a prime makeover chair for $15. I was tempted, but I do not have room for another chair in my house. I’ve been seeing girls all over blogland makeover these old chairs with fresh new fabric.
An old industrial stool. 
Cute old red telephone table. 
Aqua tole platter. I always love these. 
I thought this old vintage Frenchy piece was a steal at $350. Where could you put this huge piece? 
Pyrex was abundant. That green flowered pattern on the left is one I found last year at a yardsale. 
Cute Frenchy bed. This would even be pretty painted.
Next, we head to Walmart…..yippee! 🙂 
Grandma looks mad here, doesn’t she? She really wasn’t, but she was focused on getting herself MORE fabric to make more of those bunnies. Oh my goodness. 
She picked out several from the $1.50 a yard table and had the girl cut and cut and cut. She’s got enough for a TON of bunnies. She is fixed up for quite awhile now.
On the way out of Walmart, Grandma said she wanted to buy me a milkshake.
So, we drove through Chic-Fil-A and each got chocolate milkshakes. And they were especially delish.
And look what I brought home! Remember the aqua slipcovered chair that was in Grandma’s attic that I told you about ages ago? Well, I finally asked her again if I could use it and she said yes, so I hauled it down from their attic and piled it in my trunk.
Now, it’s home and in the beachy guestroom. Show you soon! 🙂 Looks like I’ll be playing musical chairs again.
Grandma Eleanor warms my heart! Thanks for the lovely post 🙂
Health and happiness,
Angela
http://angelawalkerjewelry.blogspot.com/
I love hearing about Eleanor! It makes me want to cry seeing her talk about her bunnies and having $5 worth in the dogs!!! Love it! She reminds me of my grandmother.
Rhoda, I always love your posts with Grandma Eleanor! She is a gem. I’m so glad you get to spend quality time together! I worked at the ER and I think the comments about donating to any of those organizations would be wonderful!
I think Grandma Eleanor is so fun. 🙂 The bunnies remind me of my mother’s country phase from the 80s, but I actually think the dogs are kind of cute! 🙂 I also love the idea of some of them going to a children’s home!!
Grandma certainly doesn’t look 91!
Gradma Eleanor may have a following here in blog world and her bunnies may be a hit—I love the little dress and bloomers how cute—and to know she made it with her hands. I agree I am not a stuffed animal girl either. But I am sure you can find something to do with all the ones she has made and is about to make with all that she found at Wal-mart! I love the fact you spend time with her and even more that you video it!!!!! Thanks for sharing your outings with her it make me miss my granmother and treasure the one I still have here!!
Your grandma seems like a sweetheart! My 5 year old granddaughter loves stuffed animals and I think she would be excited about having one of grandma’s bunnies.
Grandma is a cutie pie! So fun.
Hugs!
Kat
Rhoda, this post just blessed my heart…..I miss my dear grandmother so very much. Your day with Eleanor was wonderful! And I DO think there is a market on Etsy for the bunnies and DEFINITELY the DOGS! I am pretty sure I spied a Snoopy look alike in her bunch of creations and the Snoopy fans will be all over THAT one, no doubt. Even though you and I are not collectors or fans of stuffed animals, there are many, many people who ARE and tons of children who will enjoy wagging around a little bunny or a dog. So much better than a child being given a real bunny only to be way too young for it and eventually have the poor thing wind up in a shelter or WORSE because the adult who gave it didn’t PLAN for it to have a LIFE with the family!!! I think for the right age group she could move some of those stuffed babies. Thank you so much for sharing your video. And I would have purchased that soup tureen with the fleur de lis pattern around it….it is a perfect match for some everyday dishes I have and love.
I just love the Eleanor posts. She is a delight!
Rhoda – IF Eleanor wants to donate them, you should consider the YWCA in downtown B’ham. They have a program called Kids Korner that is a daycare program for homeless children. It’s a great program to support. Please check it out.
Grandma Eleanor is an Institution….she is hanging in there with tons of gusto, grit and gumption as my Mama would say! I’m not particularly fond of those bunnies, either, but…if it keeps her busy, then I’m thrilled for her to find purpose and joy in this life (my grandpa lived to 99 because he was still working in his garden–I swear he grew the best tomatoes in THE WHOLE WORLD–that sense of purpose truly fed his spirit and it’s wonderful to see Grandma Eleanor’s spirit fed, too! It’s so awesome for you to take her out! I still fondly remember the slipcover episodes with her–she cracks me up!
Thanks for your return email–you’re a peach! (sorry i got so long-winded in that email….I’m Southern through and through!)
Hugs and HAPPY EASTER,
Lana
PS When I’m done with the chandelier, I’ll give you a shout….it won’t be for a few days due to celebrating Jesus…but it’s a priority to finish next week!
Your grandmother is precious! Bless her little heart…soooo sweet. You are so lucky to have her in your life and are able to still spend special time together. I say let her sell the bunnies. If others are selling them then she can to!