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 is precious! I’m not so certain about the marketability of those bunnies, but you can sure appreciate the work that goes into those things. She is keeping busy and you know that is important at this time in her life. Maybe it would be a nice gesture to take them around to the nursing homes and hand them out to people there for this Easter season. Another thought would be to donate them to the hospitals for the children that may be there over Easter or even in the ER’s for the one’s that unfortunately may have to visit there for some reason! The dogs could be for the boys and the bunnies for the girls. That is if Grandma agrees, of course!
I have a grandaughter that really plays with and acquires lots of stuffed animals. She won’t play with her dolls she has but absolutely loves playing with stuffed animals. She’s 5 and has about a “million” of them and never tires from picking out a new one. So, Eleanor would have a customer around here!
I laughed when I got to the end and saw the chair sticking out of your trunk (b/c earlier you said you didn’t have enough room in your house for another chair. giggle-I do things like that all the time)
Also, my little girl would LOVE those bunnies so yes, I think there is a market, but no clue on prices…..
PS–I wasn’t a stuffed animal person either, but my daughter is. hmmm
I opened this with my 3 year old on my lap. 10 minutes later I finally got her to stop crying for “the bunny in the dress”. I am not a stuffie lover either, but these are just too cute! I think they would go well on Etsy. Bravo to Grandma Eleanor! She did a great job and I think it is wonderful that she is still so industrious at 91. Heck, I am not that active at 47!
What a character she is. She has so much spunk, I’m sure that’s what keeps her young.
AS for the bunnies….I think they’ve been around for a while. I had one many years ago. The dogs are cute though, she may be able to sell some of them. I liked the brown dachshund, he was really foxy.
I know what you mean about the prices at those places, you can always find it cheaper at a yardsale.
Rhoda, what a beautiful lady Grandma Eleanor is, to think she is 91 I want what is in her gene pool, amazing lady!! I would love to see some pictures of her when she was younger. Maybe another post??? I think some little church bazaar would be the place to sell these. Good luck,sweet post, Kathysue
Rhoda, I think it’s great that Eleanor has such a wonderful hobby. If she doesn’t have a market to see them, I suspect she could find a home for her bunnies at a local shelter for abused children or perhaps the Ronald Mc Donald House or a local children’s hospital. There are plenty of young children that would be thrilled with one of these bunnies. Great post!
I shared a story today about a group of retirees who are knitting for a small business. I love these stories of happy, productive elderly people.
Rhoda, when my grandmother moved to Florida after retiring from teaching first grade for thirty-five years, she joined a community center and made a bunny just like those when I was pregnant for the first time. I still have that bunny and treasure it so much. Have a wonderful Easter!
I always enjoy visiting Grandma Eleanor. I love her!
I made some of those same bunnies back in the mauve and blue days:-). Mother had a pair of them in her room. She loved stuffed animals. Xanti had a pair for her room. I think three pairs was all I ever made. Xanti’s and Mother’s were about three feet tall…BIG!
Happy Easter, Rhoda!
You’re so sweet, Rhoda, to spend time with Grandma Eleanor. I’m sure she thoroughly enjoys herself, too! I think my favorite piece is that green cushioned bench ~ love that and I’d snap that right up for my house. Can’t wait to see that chair!
I’m drooling over the vintage pyrex bowl and casserole dish.
Not really into stuffed animals either, but maybe they would appeal to those who decorate in a country or primative style. Maybe she could donate them to a children’s hospital or Ronald McDonald house. Loved the green and yellow tables she didn’t care for. They appealed to me because they were painted.
if Grandma Eleanor ever wants to part with the little train set in picture #3 please let me know. I know that you and Grandma Eleanor had a great outing.
I can’t believe your grandma is 91! She looks like such a sweet lady. I hope she finds a way to market her bunnies! She could donate some and sell the rest!
I think they are really cute, especially the dogs! You should really think about putting them up on Etsy! Great job Grandma Eleanor!!
the green end tables would have been mine had I been shopping with you and Grandma Eleanor that day!
I think donating some to a childrens shelter for Easter is a great idea that someone commented about.. God bless her, still has it at 91. And i just about peed my pants when i saw the chair hanging out the car. You r hilarious. I kept wating to see what u bought and then when i almost thought,” she did not buy anything, strong women”, ha, cause u already had your treasure….lol… mishelle
I just love Grandma Eleanor! It’s amazing that she pursues the sewing hobby at her age and is so active and alert.
The bunnies might sell on Ebay, or if you could find a shop that takes craft items on consignment, that might be a good choice. Of course, she’d have to pay a commission, but it’s a thought, anyway, for a possible market.
Best video I have seen in ages. I love your commentary! Bless her heart …you are so blessed to still have a grandma. My has been gone for over 30 years and I still miss her. As far as the bunnies go…not my thing either…but might sell this time of year, IDK. I was never a doll or stuffed animal person, but in the past dozen years or so I have come to love cloth dolls. By the way, I am over fifty, way too old to be collecting dolls of any kind! I suppose I am drawn to the primitiveness of it. Love your blog..it is on my favorites menu! God Bless you and Happy Easter 🙂
Rhoda, my grandmother is 93. I only wish she were able to do half as much as Eleanore. I think she is just adorable and it is wonderful she is still so crafty and active. Little girls might enjoy the bunnies, but why not suggest taking these to a nursing home or children’s hospital? You might have to make a few calls and see if that is okay. Maybe even a children’s home or a shelter? I bet there is someone out there that would love one of those cuddly bunnies.
I love your Eleanor stories!
tina