THE THRIFT GIFT

I've got your number!

2012-02-27T08:46:00.000-05:00

Who would have thought a few years ago that vintage paint by number paintings would become so popular and so difficult to find (with subject matter that wasn't some weird clown or poker playing animal). So, imagine my surprise while I was at the Webster Savers some weeks ago and came across this one! Only $6.00! It was in a terrible frame which I promptly switched out for a new black one (discounted of course). It now hangs prominently in the hallway outside of my bathroom. I love it! It makes me want to go for a long walk in the woods.

( p.s. Buddha was also found at the same savers $3.00 )

Weekend Finds

2012-02-20T12:20:00.001-05:00

I had so much fun this weekend spending a few hours thrifting again, and although I have far more to list on the store than I can get to at the moment, I'm still shopping. I've been primarily looking for fun objects for the new apartment. I couldn't have asked for better with our stops this weekend.

I was hoping to find some sort of cabinet that would work well in the apartment which had a cool mid-century mod type feel. I realized that I was going to spend money when there was an abandoned one in my garage at the old house. It needs lots of love and attention, but it's nothing I can't handle. It will eventually have a wine rack for mums wine, and glasses. She currently only has one lonely wine glass, and although I don't drink, I suspected it might be nice if someone who was over to have a glass too. I've been looking for glasses that looked just like the one she had, and on my trip to St. Leo's in Hilton, I found four for 1.00 each. The trick was to get out of the shop without the cashier lady breaking them. It was touch and go for a few minutes. I also found a vintage syrup jar (1.00), 4 yellow stacking bowls (2.00), a glass tray (1.00) and a red candle holder (1.25 (for Susan)).

We went from there to an estate sale that was a complete dud, but I left with a 1950's cork screw (1.00 (to go with the wine glasses)), and a miniature hat stand jewelry holder (2.00), that will be used for my craft table displays.

Our last stop was to Antiques and Old lace, a very crammed, dirty antique store. You have about a 50/50 chance of getting out without breaking something because the booths are hardly big enough to get into, but I found some fun stuff. I managed to come home with one half of a kokeshi doll (5.00), a single nesting doll (5.00 (missing her mates)), a wooden mushroom (3.00), a heart shape cookie cutter (1.00), and the frame from an old lamp (1.00).

All in all this weekend was pretty productive. We even managed to get into the store on lake avenue that is never open when we go by. I found two wooden peace signs to hang in the apt.(2@1.00), and a shell for Satan's tank (free). All in all it was a good day!

Back in the Saddle Again...sort of.

2012-02-20T07:51:00.000-05:00

(4" Dala Horse .99 cents)

I can't believe it's been so long since my last blog posting. Last year, 2011, was a horrible year, and I spent most of it, sleeping, on medication, unable to walk. It was no fun. I'm slowly getting back up to speed, but slowly is the key word. Even though I have a whole year worth of back work, and commissions to catch up on, I feel like I'm starting to get back into the saddle.

Mums and I have been able to make some runs to thrift store and such, but she's doing much better with her online store than I am. I just haven't been able to get to listing anything. Every time I go down into the new studio space I walk past a table stacked with fabric, and other treasures that need to be listed. I've done my best with recent excursions to thrift stores to not buy anything else I need to list. I already have enough. Most of my thrifting has been for the apartment, and that's been fun, figuring out what we need and seeing if I can get it at a reduced cost vs. buying it brand new. It seems to be working. I'll be starting to post some of those finds here soon, so stay posted.

Anyway, let me tell you a little bit about the Dala horse above. I'd told my mums that I'd been looking for one, and at a thrift store we stopped at in Henrietta, I wander the entire thing with no fun finds to my name. When I came up to her, she handed me this little guy. He was only .99 cents. Well of course I had to have him. He's only 4" high, and the girl at the register called him a "little donkey thing". When we got to the truck I looked them up online to show my mother that this little guy could be re-sold for up to $16.00. She swears now that if she ever finds a "little donkey thing" again, she'll be keeping it for herself to resell. I'm pretty sure I won't get away with this type of thing again. :)

Oh well.

Questionable Thrift Donations...You decide.

2011-08-27T19:23:00.000-04:00

On our lunch hours from work, my BFF and favorite partner in rummaging, Kristie (seen above putting some plates from the top shelf, next to the matching ones on the shelf below) and I like to puruse the aisles of the closest thrift stores to work. We have two that are amazing, and we try to go every other week or so. We always have a good chuckle at some of the random crap that ends up at these stores. Sometimes we even arrange items so they interact with each other too.

So what do you think of this lovely bobble head married couple below? I mean was this a wedding favor? Was it a cake topper (which is over the top)? Or has the Dick's marriage just gone wrong? You decide and who would re-buy it? Oh now that I'm thinking about it I could buy it, spray paint it and make them into zombies...that would be fun!

Scariness number two...

...family photos. What would possess a person to donate their family photos? She's a happy little one isn't she? I considered buying it just to start a fake family portrait gallery of my own. How awesome would that be? We could give them all names and histories too. Next time perhaps.

Check out my recent saga of the .99 cent chair!

2011-06-14T12:36:00.000-04:00

The story of my new .99 cent chair can be found at poetcharms.blogspot.com

Wood and Brass Sailboats

2011-05-19T20:18:00.000-04:00

It's been a long time since I last attempted to blog, but it's been a very long year for me. Five months of excruciating back pain lead to surgery to remove a disc fragment a week ago from my siatic nerve. No fun. I finally had a chance today to sit for a little while and be productive. I got some things listed on my store, had two sales and even managed to get here for a little post. I seem to have piles of things that are photographed and waiting to be listed on my store, so I'm sharing two of my favorites here. My little sailboat finds. The first are a set of really neat 1950's mod sailboat book ends. The sails actually turn slightly from left to right. I just couldn't resist them, and I'm trying not to keep them for myself. I absolutely love the water, and sneak down to the lake alot when the water is warm to watch the sailboats on the horizon.

The second is the little brass sailboat below. It's only about six inches tall or so, but it's super sweet. I found earlier this year at different estate sales. They are just so much fun!

Today I was featured on Garage Sale Girly's Blog...I'm so excited

2011-04-01T08:12:00.000-04:00

Vintage Housekeeping Little Girls Wall Plaques

Today my vintage plaster cleaning girlies were featured on another bloggers page. I was so excited when I got the note from her. She put together a whole story just from different items on Etsy and it was loads of fun. I was also excited to see that someone loved the little ones as much as I did. I've only just started to list all of the vintage things I've rounded up over the years, so it's fun when someone likes the things I find. You can see more of Garage Sale Girly's story here...

The Unique Bird Blog

Owls, Madonna's & Butterflies, OH MY

2011-03-24T08:48:00.002-04:00

Vintage Japanese OWL IN TREE bud Vase

In my past thrift jaunts I have come across a number of wonderful collectibles. It can become addicting very quickly. It's like that caveman "hunter gatherer" mentality when I walk in. My brain starts to say "I know it's here! I know it's here!" meaning that there is at least one really cool thing buried in all the piles. My eyes start scanning shelves at 60 paces, and I make slow movements towards the items I see, especially if someone is in the general vicinity. I don't want to give away my excitement until I have securely placed the item in my own basket.

This is exactly what happened with this little owl vase I found. I scanned the shelf full of crammed nick knacks and reached in to grab him. He's beautiful isn't he? He's in pristine condition too. Owls have begun to have a way of coming into my life. I'm finding them everywhere. I was never really attracted to them before but now they just seem to speak to me. I'm trying not, if I can help it to begin another collection of something. I have enough at this point, so I have listed him on my store. I would love to see him go to a great new home!

Owl Vase

Here's a few more fun little owl finds. Above is an owl pendant with three movable layers of feathers. The eyes are an amber color. I realized later that the estate sale I found him at had removed the chain in order to sell it separately for the money. If I'd have known in time I would have gone back because the makers mark on the back indicated that it was worth at least $45.00 resale. Unfortunately some of the gold has flaked off the back of the eyes and someone tried to use a black marker to darken it in, greatly reducing the cost, but you would never be able to tell from the front side. I hope to get it listed in the store soon.

Vintage Owl Embroidery Kit

Last but not least on the owl front is this really awesome late 1970's embroidery kit. It features an owl and wildflowers. I would take the time to make it if I didn't already have a million other projects on hold at the moment, so it's better that it also go to a new home where it will be completed and admired.

Madonna's are one of my personal favorite collectibles, right behind angels. When I saw this one, which someone made in a ceramics class, I knew I had to have her. She is slated for a coat of white spray paint, or maybe a fresher powder blue, haven't decided, and besides it's still to cold to spray paint anyway. She will then be featured on my shelf with the others. I just feel safer somehow having a bevy of Madonna's in my corner.

My second Madonna find was this vintage Japanese Holy Water vessel. She's designed to hang on the wall by a door. She's beautiful and already residing on the shelf. I just couldn't resist her.

O.K. last but not least, I found this really great, 1950's?, square glass butterfly dish. I don't know much about it, except it's beautiful. The butterflies are all in gold. One corner has a slight chip in it, but I don't think that takes away from the overall beauty of the dish. Does anyone know anything about this style of dish? I'd really love more information about it.

Thrift Art

2011-03-19T11:09:00.000-04:00

I must admit here that one of my favorite weekday lunch time habits is to peruse the Amvets Thrift store down the road from work with my good friend and co-worker Kristie. She is extremely patient with me as I wander the numerous rows of sheets, linens and curtains. On this particular day I wandered out of the linens and into a back corner of the store I seldom check since an hour at a thrift store is sometimes not enough, and I found this lovely print hanging from a hanger with clips. They were trying to keep it from getting damaged. This print is numbered and on a very heavy weight cotton paper. The colors are bright and cheerful, and the price was only $2.99. I'd been feeling like our front foyer needed something new for some time so I grabbed it. I have a stockpile of metal frames in the studio, that I have also found in my thrift store wanderings, so it was pretty easy to just trim it to size and put into the frame. $2.99 and 15 minutes of framing, and the foyer has a new bright spot. It's just like you are looking out a window on a summers day! Pretty, don't you think?

Thirft Purging

2011-03-18T09:41:00.000-04:00

My attentions have turned lately to the resale of items that I have spent a life time collecting. It's not hard to see right now that the economy isn't the greatest, so I made the decision at the beginning of the year, that there really wasn't any reason to hold onto the bins and tubs full of fun stuff I've accrued. I'm not a hoarder, please don't think that, it's just that I love to buy the fun stuff when I see it, and it's been stored for much too long. It's not fair to keep some of these fun things from the world. Also, there is really no point to hang onto it especially if it can provide a small buffer to my budget with the rising price of gas and utilities, rent and medical expenses. It really just makes sense. I'm actually frustrated by the fact that I can do it any faster than I have been listing on my Etsy store, due to current medical issues, and I hope to get to it on a more full time basis soon. At the same time it's very exciting when someone does buy and love the items I sell.

Two Vintage Mod Mushroom Curtain Panels (SOLD)

The main item I seem to collect is fabric. I am a self proclaimed fabric whore, no way around it. It's as if it seeks me out. I have collected vintage sheets, towels, curtains, clothing, you name it I have it stashed somewhere, and now there are bins and bins of fabric stacked nicely throughout my studio. I'm enjoying cutting up my vintage sheets into cute little quarter fat bundles, but in some cases the fabric I've listed has been hard to watch go. I have to remember however, that in the end the person on the other side of the transaction really wanted and loves it. Why is it we form attachments to objects?

Reclaimed Vintage Bed Linen Fat Quarter Bundle (SOLD)

I can't explain the attachment really, but I find now that my attitude has changed to purging it, keeping only what I think I will truly use, and sending the rest out into the craft world to become fun new things. It's time to let go a little and let someone else enjoy it.

Two Vintage Juvenille Jungle Print Reclaimed Curtain Panels

Is there any item in particular that you gravitate towards when you are out on the thrift hunt? What in items have a way of seeking you out?

Thrifting: Good for the Environment and Your Stomach

2011-03-15T09:25:00.002-04:00

Vintage Seafood Cookbook

I was disheartened recently when I read a post from a fellow thrifter who had encountered someone who snubbed her for her thriftiness. As someone who has only ever encountered people who were completely in awe of the cute little collections, or amazing finds I came across and then was able to resell, I really took this persons snub to heart. Thirfing is a state of mind, and perhaps the majority of us who do it grew up in a different time when things were not so easy to come by, and you had to make do. My parents were by no means rich and my mother especially taught me the value of how I could have everything I ever wanted if I was willing to fix something up. There are so many things in my life I wouldn't have right now if I didn't take the time to dig through some bin or bookshelf. This lovely book is a perfect example. I'll admit I've had it far to long and have just recently listed it on my store, but wow isn't it just beautiful? Being thrifty is an conscious choice. As a proud thrifter, I know that I am helping keep a perfectly good item out of the landfill. I'm helping to provide the item with new life. All I can think to say to those people who are going to snub us for our creativity and good eye is "too bad for you! More for me!" :)

Um...why didn't I think of this first?

2011-03-04T14:16:00.000-05:00

Oh man! Why didn't I think of this first? I mean it makes complete sense! Cut doilies in half and sew them together using bias tape to make lacy pennant banners!! I plan to try this first chance I can. I'm also thinking she got them this lovely violet color by dying them first...hmmm...I'm seeing many interesting opportunities here! ;)

FAVORITE FINDS

2011-03-04T07:58:00.000-05:00

I have a habit of coming home from estate sales with items that initially I think that I might be able to resell, but on occasion, I actually do find some items that appeal so much to me that I end up not selling them after all, but actually keep. Recently that has happened with two items in particular. The first is a very large cone of 100% cotton string. It's bright white and super soft. I initially grabbed it (getting some chuckling from my aunt about carrying around a cone of string) because I knew the cost of cotton has been on the rise. I determined that there might be someone out there who would be able to use it to crochet something out of. Well it really didn't take more than a day before I decided, you know what I really want to keep that. It's a good thing I did, because a few weeks later I began cutting up vintage sheets into quarter flat bundles. I was trying to figure out how to tie them up when I remembered the cone of string. It was a very nice a-ha moment, as it felt like the universe had lined things up so perfectly. I like the simplicity of the look. Don't you?

Then there was this little guy! On a whim, mums and I took a ride to an estate sale that had a rare Sunday opening. We got there, and the house had very little in it, and what it did was marked so amazingly high, that when we did leave we were attempting to determine how the sale could actually survive a run until the next Tuesday. I didn't find much, but what I did find were small treasures, and they were actually inexpensive, as if the people who marked them weren't interested in them at all. This Japanese Plum Wine Bottle below was one of those overlooked items. It was fifthly!! The wine had been spilled down the front of the bottle, and had sealed the cap shut. It must have been like that for years because it took a few good soaks to get it clean. The cork cap was also so rotted that it crumpled away. I recognized what it was instantly and determined that at only $1.00 I could certainly attempt at least to clean him up a bit. In the end I was not disappointed, and he is now happily housed in my collection of Japanese Kokeshi. He may only be a bottle and cup, but I felt he certainly had earned the right to be on display in better attire. What are some of your favorite finds?

Can a vintage sheet have new life, even if it's seen better days?

2011-03-03T08:16:00.002-05:00

So technically these 4.5" squares featuring Dahla style horses were not from a vintage sheet, but I'm attempting to make a point here, stick with me a minute.

I have found that sometimes you don't always have that very long to look over a piece of interesting fabric when you are at a thrift store or estate sale. Sometimes you have to grab what you found and inspect it later, especially if the thrift store has it all folded, and in some cases the price tag is stapled through a few layers. My take on this is to check the outer edges of the sheets design. If they are brighter than the designs closer to the center, chances are the sheet is not worth spending the money on. You won't really be able to get any decent pieces out of it.

I've also learned the hard way to never ever ever buy any linens that have been folded and taped completely around the bundle. Recently I bought what looked like a beautiful tablecloth, only to find that it had large discolorations and mold. These stains, no matter how much soaking never come out completely.

Anyway, to get back on track, I find that sometimes it's still possible to salvage an interesting fabric for what I call "quilt cutters", or pre-cut, pre-measured pieces of the fabric, that can be sold to people who are interested in adding them to quilts. Recently I found a Raggedy Ann and Andy sheet that was a bit worn in the center, but almost all of the outer edges were crisp and white, and colorful. The characters designs were vintage and fun, so someone must want them. I ironed the sheet, laid it out on the cutting table and cut around my 4.5" clear square template. I could see the image through the square which helped and I eventually ended up with a decent stack of "cutters". They were only on the store for a few days before someone found them, and are hopefully now, being added to a quilt for someone new to love. Now that is my favorite kind of up-cycling!!

So the next time you find a sheet you just love but it's in a bit of rough shape, stop and say to yourself, is there any piece of it I can still use...and....is it worth the price I'm paying for it. ;)

Adventures in Reselling

2011-03-02T08:11:00.003-05:00

Vintage Vera Neuman Striped Linen Napkins (SOLD)

 I've begun to make a minute dent in the amount of items I've been storing in my studio forever. I estimate that I have been collecting items for at least a minimum of twenty years. Every time I collected something I would reason that I was buying it to either use in some sewing/crafting project or to resell it. Of course it hasn't been until recently that I've begun to start going through and listing these items. 

Reselling is a slow process sometimes, but it's been good. I do have to chuckle however at the circuit these items will take through the house on the way to listing them. They come out of my basement studio, at which time they are inspected, ironed and measured. They then go upstairs to a front room with good sunlight and a picture is taken of the item, and all the other items in the stack of items I plan to list. The camera and items then go up another floor to the computer room, where the camera is downloaded and the items are placed on a shelf until listing time. Pictures are edited and saved to a disc/thumb drive. Once I begin to list a bring the stack over to the computer desk, list it on Etsy, place it in a bag, close it and stick the inventory number sticker on the items. Then I complete the circle by taking it back to the basement studio, and storing it neatly in baskets on shelves, which are organized by type of item. 

This process, depending on the amount of items, can take a day, or sometimes upwards of a week. Slow and steady wins the race right? Anyways, within the last three weeks I've made enough money to almost completely pay off my personal line of credit, which hasn't happened before ever. To those of you who are thinking about resale, I say be patient! It's an incredible amount of hard work. I am lucky only in the fact that I already have a house full of stuff that been sitting around. Hunting for items can be fun, but daunting. Personally I enjoy that part the most (obviously or I wouldn't have a house full of stuff). But if you can stick with it, and are diligent and set goals, oh yeah, and have a decent sense of how to time manage, there are opportunities to make a little money.

Vintage Vera Neuman Vegetable Fabric Napkins Set of Six (SOLD)

Vintage Vera Neuman Vegetable Linen Napkins Set of Two (SOLD)

Vintage Vera Neuman Lady Bug Yellow Rose Dish Towels Brand New Pristine

Vintage Vera Neuman Fabric Still Life Fabric Napkins Set of Two

Set of Six Vintage Waverly Food Word Fabric Napkins (SOLD)

Set of Two Vintage Waverly Word Fabric Napkins

Set of Two Vintage Floral Fabric Napkins in Brown and Yellow

This is how we.....

2011-03-01T14:24:00.001-05:00

Wash our Clothes 

 Clean our House

 Bake Our Bread

Little Housekeepers Plaques

Ok, so in this day and age are these wall hangings considered sexist or do we consider them just super stinking cute? At the most recent estate sale I went to, my aunt and I originally had plans to be there at about noon time. This was primarily to avoid all of the morning opening craziness of getting a number and being let into the house a few people at a time, but after looking at the pictures online, and seeing that there was a good amount of sewing supplies up for grabs, and a full linen closet of vintage sheets, I talked her into being there before the door opened. Mom went with, and we both had our empty bags in hand, ready to fill, fill, fill!!! Our game plan was that Mom would head straight for the linen closet and I would beeline to the sewing items. I accidentally somehow ended up in the basement doing that, so at first I missed these. I found the sewing room, grabbed vintage fabric, thread, a full box of scissors, and a little yellow vintage cabinet, with plastic drawers and once that was done I relaxed and took my time looking at the other items. I had everything I came for and didn't plan on anything else, but there these three little beauties were, sitting on the dryer, just being passed over. I snagged them up. I really do think they are sweet! They are very light, hang on the wall, and were made in Japan in I'm sure was the 1960's. The appear to be made out of cast paper. I hope to get them on my store by the weekend. 

Back to Life, Back to the Thriftiness, Back to the Here and Now

2011-02-28T10:19:00.002-05:00

(Vintage Wooden Thread Spools) SOLD

My new year got off to a bit of a slow start this year. Over the holiday my back ached so badly that no amount of pain medicine or heating pads seemed to appease the pain, and after about three days of work, my back hurt so bad I was unable to walk or sit for more than a few minutes without incredible spasms in the right side of my body. No fun! Come to find out that my right hip decides it just wants to go out of alignment every now and again for no explanation at all. What's a girl to do?

Well, I did a lot of sleeping, and a lot of list making, just getting ready for the day that I could race out of the starting gate again, and get back to life, and more specifically thrifting. I had plans to get my Etsy store packed solid of all the items I have been collecting throughout my life with the intention of selling, and the disability put a severe cramp in my ability to do that. I could imagine while laying on the couch where everything was in my vast studio of boxes and bags, and started to at least map out where I wanted to start first. I am happy to say that I have begun to make considerable progress, and feel that I've made a small gain on where I planned to be. So here I am back again! I'm ready to start the thrifty new year right. Here are some of the few items I've already added to my store. There's more to come and I couldn't be more excited about it! I plan on rewarding my last six visits to the Physical Therapist with a trip to the thrift store right afterward. I'll promise to keep you all updated on the progress from here on out!

(Handmade crochet doilies from the estate sale of a very crafty lady (SOLD))

(Brass Owl Trivet from Taiwan found at an estate sale somewhere in my travels) SOLD

(Brass Owl Figurine found from the same sale as the crochet doilies above) SOLD

(Vintage 1950's Deer Figurine from a massive antique hoarders estate sale)

Ringing in 2011 by buying Old!

2011-01-02T13:15:00.001-05:00

My friend Karla, who I've known online for about 11 years now, was able to come spend the week with me between Christmas day and New Years Eve. Before she came, she said she wanted to take three things away from the week which were:

1. Experience the cold

2. Learn how to crochet

3. Go to Thrift Stores.

Well it was certainly easy enough to accommodate her on all three. By the end of the week we had taken her to all the thrift stores we knew about between Rochester and Buffalo, for a total of about 12 stores when everything was said and done. What I think is funny about the whole thing is that Karla seems to be my good luck charm when it comes to finding all the things I've been looking for over the years. I firmly believe that there is really no point in buying anything new if you can help it. Let's face it, we are natural consumers and the avarice is just crazy, look at what we buy and then throw out/donate. I also know that sometimes you have to be patient when it comes to finding just that right piece, but who would have imagined that in the course of three days time I would find, the chair that would eventually go in my bedroom AND a full figured brand new dress form!!!!!!!!! Amazing, but it didn't stop there, I also found a slew of vintage sheets (which yes, I will be cutting down for resale), more vintage Mikasa dishes, a new lamp and mug to go with the chair, and a whole stack of Vera scarves. It just goes to show, with a little time and thriftiness you can have everything you have ever wanted and more, and not break the bank to do it.

Plus Size/Full Figure Dress Form $14.98(the cashier indicated it had only gone on the floor about 15 minutes before I had come into the store!)

1950's chair (I'll be having it re-upholstered with a bolt of blue/green fabric I found ages ago at another thrift store, it will also be losing the dust ruffle!) After searching for a decent chair for 3 years I didn't mind the $29.99 price tag at all. It's barely been used and with the exception of a little dust it's in great shape!!

At 1.99 I took a stab that this would work, and it did, so it will eventually go next to the new chair...

...as will this mug...I may never have to leave the room again! Only .69 cents

I noticed this set of dishes on the bottom shelf and debated if I should buy any more Mikasa. After checking the smart phone I noticed there is a golden rod set listed at $50.00 online. This set has more pieces and they were all only $8.99.

Mikasa Provencal "Dutch Treat" Dish Detail

I'm a sucker for Madonna's and just like angels we have them all over the house. This one is designed to look like wood but is actually plastic. It was only .99 cents. Now I'm debating on spray painting it or leaving it as is. I'm not a big fan of brown.

For some reason lately I've also been gravitating towards these little cutting boards. This one is marked Japan in the back. After some work treating the wood with a light rub of vegetable oil to clean and refurbish the wood, it's beautiful and ready for use again.

Hand crocheted doilies, this one features pink yellow and white flowers...

...and these two are just simple white. I've currently got them soaking in a solution of oxyclean and detergent to brighten them up a bit. I think they will look good as details on bags and aprons.

And of course no thrift store excursion would be complete for me without bringing home a few (dozen) vintages sheets. These are like gold right now in the crafting world so I don't even hesitate to pass them up. At 1.99 each on average, I can cut them down into a minimum of at least 8 quarter fats and resell them for 1.00 a piece. It's like money in the bank, and I'm investing...at least that's what I tell myself anyway!! ;)

Rescued LOVE: Repost

2010-11-17T10:35:00.000-05:00

One thing that mum and I love to do more than anything is hit up the local (and not so local) thrift stores for some discarded treasures. Those of you that know us, know we've pretty much furnished an entire house with some of these finds. I always enjoy when someone comes over and looks at our little collections. We are also usually on the lookout for items that can be up-cycled into new items, and since fabric is our medium of choice usually we spend a good amount of time in the sheets & linen areas (as proven by my previous posts regarding my vintage sheet addiction), so check out her post here: http://thecraftzone.blogspot.com/2010/11/rescued-love.html about the two pieces she's found recently. How sad is it that these things have so much care and love put into them, and they end up in the thrift store! What have you found at the thrift stores lately?

Hey Yo!

2010-11-11T08:59:00.000-05:00

The Holidays are Coming!

Mission Complete : Roadside Dresser Facelift Accomplished !

2010-10-22T08:28:00.001-04:00

There was a deep and profound sense of pride presiding through the house last evening due to the fact that another project was done, and looking beautiful! Watching the progression of this dresser, found on the side of the road one early Sunday morning, go from this:

To this,

decked out in all it's fall finery, has been an amazing adventure. It came out beautifully, and mom can be proud of the hard work and elbow grease she put into making it a lovely new addition to the three season room. In the end it only cost her about $40.00 for the new knobs, baskets and the spray paint to make the baskets white). Imagine what we can all do if we each just saved one piece of furniture sitting by the side of the road from going into the landfill?? Great job mom! It looks amazing!!!

Double Takes

2010-10-21T09:41:00.000-04:00

On Sunday we stopped at an Old Barn on 104 West almost to Holly. We stop there occasionally when on an a wanderlust jag. While there I spotted one of these pretty little teal vases for only a $1.00. We'll it's my favorite color, so I had to have it. About a half an hour later we stopped at a thrift store in Brockport, and wonder of wonders, there's another one for $1.49!!! Well of course everything is better in a pair, and for $2.50, it was as if they were meant to be mine. Now that's what I call a serious DOUBLE TAKE!!

Barn Price Tag

Thrift Store Price Tag

Roadside Dresser Just about Done

2010-10-20T10:51:00.002-04:00

It's almost done ladies, and gentleman! What do you think? It's had it's second coat of white paint, and now just needs a few days of good curing before the knobs can be attached. The baskets are in the early stages of being painted white as well, so not much longer now, and the Roadside Dresser will be done!

Vintage Sheets are like my Kryptonite....I have little or no power to resist them

2010-10-18T12:55:00.000-04:00

I mentioned recently on my other blog; Poetcharms, that I felt like clutter was a uniquely American problem. Well I know for sure that it's a problem for me. I went home and actually filled one entire box full of stuff that I felt great parting with, but then, ah...I almost hate to say it...then I go out this weekend and come home with of all things...MORE VINTAGE SHEETS!! I can't seem to help myself, this is a bit of a problem I think, but I am justifying it by the fact that one box went out of the studio and a stack went back in. My mother is right, I REALLY AM A FABRIC WHORE!! But, it's o.k. right????

No?? What do you think???

Roadside Thrft : Continued: Shelves, Primer, Baskets, Knobs

2010-10-18T10:25:00.002-04:00

There's been a burst of energy and the roadside cabinet is showing some major progress over the past week! I think the cold weather setting in might have a bit to do with it. Check it out! it's looking amazing!!

The dresser now has the second coat of whit primer paint. You can see from the photo that she painted the interior where the baskets are too, so it's pretty. The baskets were found at Joann Etc. for $3.99 each (60% off). It's coming along, don't you think? She has all the drawers sanded and primed also.

Close up of the shelf and baskets

The tools of the trade, wood glue, sand paper, and wood filler.

I've been assured the dresser won't be painted orange (the can was just used for weighing down the shelf after gluing).

I jokingly commented that after mom purchased these drawer pulls from Walmart we would find a bag at some thrift store, and oddly enough we did. They were almost identical but were gold. After some conversation about those, we decided we liked the brushed nickle ones better.

Vintage Sheets

2010-10-11T12:18:00.000-04:00

O.K. I swore a while ago that I would not buy another vintage sheet, since I have four containers full already, but what is a girl to do when you make a lunch time stop at a thrift store, and the universe hands you a stack!!! Doesn't that mean you are supposed to own them? Vintage sheets are great, because they have great designs, colors, and enough yardage to make just about anything out of. My favorite in this bunch is the vintage Holly Hobby, which has a bunch of different images of her doing all sorts of Holly Hobbish stuff. I'm thinking I might cut them down for individual panels, and either sell them by the the single panel, or re-sew them into a quilt, but that's a project for another day. The rest will eventually become fabric bundles for resale on the store.

GOOD Bones: The continuing Saga of a Roadside Piece of Furniture

2010-10-11T10:08:00.001-04:00

In the continuing saga of the roadside thrifted furniture piece, the dresser is now all sanded,and prepped for painting. Two pieces of wood were also cut to create a shelf area, where the two drawers were missing in the piece. They were then glued, clamped and later caulked (with paintable caulking), so that they will look like they always belonged there. The next step will be priming and painting. Mom is moving right along on this project and there's no doubt it will be done sooner than she expected. I think it is starting to look amazing! Stay tuned for more coming soon!

Detail of Wood insert for shelf

New Angel

2010-09-27T12:18:00.000-04:00

I don't know what my obsession is with angels, but sometimes they are just too hard to resist. I found this little sweetheart for .79 cents on a lunch time trip to Amvets. She's too big for our shelf at home but I grabbed her anyway. She was very dirty and had a candle stuck in her crown (that's what she is..a candle holder). I think she was meant to be painted because I've seen them out there in all kinds of lovely colors, but she was plain, so I gave her a coat of white gloss spray paint, just to freshen her up. Pretty isn't she?

GOOD Bones II

2010-09-20T13:01:00.013-04:00

Here's Round II of the roadside thrifty piece that we picked up two weeks ago Sunday. As you can see it made a world of difference just giving it a good scrub down. From what we can tell, it's a hand made piece because it's not perfectly square, but that's ok! Who cares right? It's only going to live on the back deck with all the summer supplies anyway. Here are some photos of it receiving a few coats of wood filler, which will eventually be sanded smooth for repainting. Initially this piece was missing the two large upper drawers, so the inside will be semi painted too, with a shelf for some future baskets. The remaining drawers have been reinforced, and will get a fresh coat of paint and new drawer pulls too. So far so good I think!

Cup Cozies from Ties

2010-09-20T08:22:00.000-04:00

I spent some time this weekend cutting down a box of old ties into re-usable pieces of fabric, with the goal of putting together a bunch of fabric cup cozies. I'm so frustrated by the amount of waste we generate, that I've been on this kick to try to reduce as much as possible. These are insulated with 100% cotton batting scrap and are washable. I keep a few in my glove compartment. This is one of the first experiments above. It's safe to say that if I could figure out how to make cups from fabric I might try that too, but so far, I feel good with the small start I've begun to make with reducing the amount of fabric that gets added to the landfills on my part. What do you think? Cute huh?!

Never Underestimate the Power of Spray Paint!

2010-09-10T12:12:00.000-04:00

I'm currently working (when am I not working) on display space for my craft tables this fall. This wicker shelf was from an estate sale and was only about $2.00. It was in great shape, but it was a hideous pink color! Behold, two cans of Krylon indoor outdoor white gloss spray paint and it's fabulous!!! This little guy will be used to display Jade's crochet octopi, lions and tigers during the shows. I think they'll be sweet in their little home. The top will hold a basket of up-cycled coffee cup cozies.

GOOD Bones

2010-09-10T08:19:00.001-04:00

Ever heard that saying "good bones"? I have always loved that saying or in other words, it's structure is sound even if it's not the most beautiful object in the world. Take chairs for instance, they can be covered with the most hideous fabric in the world, but if it's got a decent structure to work with, the fabric is only on the surface, and can be easily changed. Well that's how I feel about furniture. Real solid wood furniture is rare today, so it's heart breaking when it ends up on the curb! Hello people, wood is also a sustainable resource!! It can be recycled with a little creativity! 

This piece above was found recently along the side of a road while out shopping one Sunday morning. Who could beat the price for a solid wood piece of furniture right? FREE!!! Thank you oh grand and glorious god of thrift! The patio has been in need of a "sideboard" for a while now, and although it's not much to look at now, I can assure you that with some scrubbing, wood filler, new paint, a shelf where the missing drawers were, and some new hardware, this little cabinet will soon be bright and shiny again! Just washing it had made a world of difference to this piece that has some really good bones.

(See the round spot on top? That's the test to see if it would come clean!)

Considering Resale on a larger scale

2010-08-10T12:57:00.001-04:00

I recently sold on Etsy this lovely hand embroidered tablecloth. When I first found it in my thrifty adventures I bought it to cut up and upcycle. However the more I looked at it, and owned it, the more I just didn't have the heart to do it. I mean, it's simply beautiful!

We'll it came to me pretty quickly that I should really try to sell it so someone else could use and enjoy it, and so I did. It sold for $25.00 after about a year online, and I'm happy it's gone to a new home to be loved and enjoyed.

This has also led me to start thinking about re-sale in more depth. It's a pretty romantic idea to travel around hitting up different sales and stores and re-listing isn't it? We'll perhaps that will go away once winter sets in...we'll see.

Vintage Joan Walsh Anglund

2010-08-02T10:51:00.002-04:00

Here are some pictures of the Joan Walsh Anglund Books that I have aquired over time. This all started by wanting to replace the one I had as a child, called A Friend is Someone Who Likes You. Little did I realize then, that I would start to find more of them as I travelled along. I guess it's true that as adults we do try to recapture the things we've lost in youth. Anglund wrote these starting in the late 1960's and did all of her own illustrations.

Vintage Sheets

2010-07-29T07:27:00.001-04:00

I love vintage sheets and find them all over the place. Sheets used to be made out of good quality muslin and many of their prints were bright, vivid, and often times woven in with the threads and not just printed. I have three huge containers of vintage sheets. I've used them as chair covers, pajamas, bag linings and most recently dresses for little girls in Uganda. Here's a pic of just one of the finished projects that came from a vintage sheet, and for more fun ideas check out the Vintage Sheet Blog.

Kokeshi

2010-07-27T16:10:00.000-04:00

Sometimes while I'm out I'll get lucky and find some tiny little Japanese treasure. I love Kokeshi dolls, geisha, nesting dolls, Dahla horses, basically bright colored wooden toys of any nature, but kokeshi are my favorite in the group. These little guys are only an inch high, and their heads bobble. Mom and I found them at an estate sale in a box with other little trinkets. The man saw our interest and gave us the whole box for only a few dollars. Since these are vintage they are worth a few dollars a piece. We did not pay that much. That was a great day, it's the same estate sale I found my little turtle bank. The little geisha picture they are sitting in front of I found at another junk store for .79 cents. I spray painted the frame from yellow to white (much better). It makes for a cute vignette doesn't it?

Roadside Thrifting = Garbage Picking

2010-07-23T11:22:00.001-04:00

Not all thriftiness has to be done at stores specifically designed to re-sell you knickknacks. Thrifty is about having an eye for reusing something, and nine times out of ten being at the right place at the right time. It's also about patience, keeping a mental checklist of what you need, like, want, or plan to do, and sometimes it does take time for the universe to reply, but it generally does. My motto is "everything comes in time"! Thank god I'm a type B personality, with a bit of creative moxie or this would never work. Case and point: for six years I've wanted to put a ring of bricks with plants around the base of our tree in the front yard, but focusing more on the inside of the house we hadn't gotten there yet, but I can see the finished project done in my head. Well what a awesome surprise to find these by the side of the road on the way home from work a month or so back. I ran home, had mom jump in the truck, and asked the people if they were really throwing them out! Yep! I then proceeded to load all 32 into the truck and take them home. At $2.75 a piece at the store, I saved $88.00 and some space in the landfill. Of course they still aren't around the tree yet, but the weather here this summer hasn't exactly helped that much, but I have high hopes that when it's done it's going to be beautiful!

Gifts of Thrift from Friends

2010-07-22T07:37:00.000-04:00

I want to take a minute to say that not all the thrifty things I own, I have bought for myself. Some have been from friends and family. This is such a fun thing when it happens, simply because it's a nice feeling to know that someone was thinking about me when they found the item. Plus I'm pretty easy, it doesn't take something expensive to win my heart. Here are two of my favorites:

Porcelain Hand

My Aunt Cindy found this for me last summer. She knew I'd been looking for one for a while. It's been almost a year since we last saw each other (Amazing how time gets away from you!) and she gave it to me at breakfast yesterday. As soon as I got home I put in on my vanity, and organized all of my rings. It's very pretty and makes my rings look more like sculpture, don't you think?

Ceramic 1960's Deer

This was from my friend Susan. She had been telling me that she found me a present, and when I went to her house for a craft day, I saw it on top of one of her displays, when I asked her where she found the sweet little dear, she said "do you like it?" and after I said "I LOVE IT!", she said, "Good! I bought it for you, that was your present!" I was elated that it was mine. I love to look at this little deer, she just makes me happy! What's even more fun is she said she only paid .25 cents.

Thrift in the News

2010-07-20T15:51:00.000-04:00

Laptop accidentally sold for $5 at thrift store

14 mins ago

COEUR d'ALENE, Idaho – The manager of an Idaho thrift store is seeking the return of her laptop computer, which was accidentally sold for $5. Sandra Bechthold said she was shocked when she learned her 2-year-old Dell Inspiron and case were sold on July 12.

Bechthold had to do some work off site that day, leaving the Women's Center Thrift Store in the hands of one staffer and a group of volunteers. The Coeur d'Alene Press reports Bechthold doesn't know how her laptop ended up in the donation receiving room.

A volunteer said she decided on a $5 sale price because she once saw a laptop with no software sold for that amount.

Bechthold has placed a classified ad offering to buy the computer back.

Vintage Banks

2010-07-20T07:54:00.002-04:00

Ceramic Owl from the Avon Flea Market $ 2.00

1960's Japanese Press Board Turtle from Garage Sale .50 cents

My oh my...Mikasa

2010-07-19T21:56:00.001-04:00

I think it's pretty safe, since I'm putting this out on the web for all to see, that I have a bit of a problem. My girlfriends laugh at my vintage bed sheet collection, but I don't think they know about my vintage Mikasa Dinnerware collection. These photos here are just a few of the ones I have. There's another stack in the studio, a box underneath the desk I'm currently at, and that doesn't even include my own personal collection of Mikasa Maggie that's in my storage bin.

You only become a hoarder when you can't walk through a room anymore right?

Seriously, in all honesty though, I have been meaning for years to put them onto my store for sale, I just haven't gotten there, until now. Some of these are also slated to be used in some craft projects I currently have in mind, actually it's more like upcycling projects. You'll have to stay tuned for more. I'm just waiting for some supplies to be delivered, and some of these lovelies will have a whole new life!

12 Tips for Thrift Store Shopping

2010-07-19T11:34:00.000-04:00

From Simple Mom: Great Thrifty tips that should be shared with anyone living the thrift lifestyle!

12 Tips for Thrift Store Shopping

by Tsh on January 19, 2009

in green & frugal living

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Photo by Barry Smith
If you don’t yet shop at thrift stores, I really encourage you to do so. If you picture dingy floors, bad lighting, and torn clothing heaped together, you might be surprised. There are a few like that in every town, I’m sure, but for the most part, they are a veritable gold mine of unclaimed wealth.
With the sketchy economy, it’s a no-brainer way to save money. But even when the economic situation is in full bloom, it is a practical, reasonable, and easy way to stretch your family’s dollars. If your family lives on one income, and you’re the home manager assigned the job of managing the spending, then consider shopping at thrift stores your income contribution – you’d be surprised at the money saved.
I always shop at Goodwill, Salvation Army, or St. Vincent de Paul’s before heading to the “regular” stores – and nine times out of ten, I don’t even need to hit the regular stores. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your thrift store shopping experience.

1. Go in With a Plan…

Know ahead of time what you need. Sometimes they can be a bit overwhelming, and each location has its own organizing system, making it a bit challenging to find what you need. So if you go knowing you’re looking for 12-24 month-old boy’s khakis, and size 8 black dress shoes, it can be a lot less stressful.

2. …But Be Open-Minded

That said, keep your eyes open for any surprising deals. It’s hit-or-miss with thrift stores, so sometimes you really hit the jackpot of gear your family truly needs. If you weren’t necessarily shopping for swimsuits, but you see a darling one in your daughter’s size this summer, then snag it up. You need to make sure what you find is actually something you need – otherwise, you’re just buying clutter, and you’re not saving money. Even so, think outside just your immediate family, and consider your extended family, your friends, or unexpected gift ideas. You could find birthday gifts for all your nieces and nephews, or you might find throw pillows in just the right shade your friend is looking for.

Photo by Barry Smith

3. Look For Quality Brands…

The older I get, the less the inexpensive brands work for me – I wish they did, but Old Navy clothes rarely fit me well. Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, or Calvin Klein, however, usually fit me like a glove. Because over 90% of my wardrobe comes from thrift stores, I can afford these quality brands. You’d be surprised the amount of well-made, expensive clothing is hiding in thrift shops, just waiting to found. You have to dig for it, but it’s there. My kids can wear Baby Gap and Gymboree, thanks to thrift stores.

4. …But Also Try New Brands

Keep in mind, however, that there might be some quality pieces in brands you’ve never heard of, or with the tags completely missing. Check for holes, stains, missing buttons, and loose seams, and pass on something if it looks pretty worn or stretched out. But sometimes the brands you don’t know are actually really high-end European brands, well worth their money.

5. Try Things On

Always try things on. Just because it’s a beautiful silk Ann Taylor skirt doesn’t mean you should buy it. If it doesn’t fit well, then it’s a needless purchase and will only clutter your closet. And different brands size things differently, so you can’t assume anything by the number on the tag.

6. Don’t Go With Kids

Sure, you may have to bring them sometimes. But if you’re armed with a detailed list, it can be hard to get much accomplished at a thrift store when you have little ones to watch. Shopping at thrift stores means having to sift through lots of aisles of crammed-full racks. If you have to bring your kids, plan on just shopping one of the store’s sections, and then come back another day to shop the rest.

7. Know Your Local Store’s Sale Days

Many local Salvation Army stores have half-off Wednesdays. Other stores have similar days, so call and ask for their regular sale schedule. A $4 pair of shoes is cheap, but when they’re $2 – even better!

8. If You Really Need Something, Ask

If you’re in the market for a very specific item, and you’ve been returning to the store for several weeks in search of it, it wouldn’t hurt to ask an employee to keep their eye out for it. You can’t expect them to bend over backwards, because thrift stores usually have piles of items that come in unexpectedly. But if you let them know you’re looking for a light purple Ralph Lauren wool scarf, and then see one come by, then maybe they’ll remember you.

Photo by Cullen Barker

9. Find Ways To Repurpose

Think creatively when you thrift shop.

10. Stockpile, Think Long-Term

We don’t need to buy clothes for our kids for a long time, because my mother-in-law has containers of boys and girls clothes of all sizes waiting to be grown into. She stops by thrift stores weekly, and is always on the lookout for her grandkids’ clothes. We’re probably set for at least two years, because she thinks longer-term when she thrift shops. If you have the storage to stockpile, then consider your family’s long-term needs.

11. Go Often

If you don’t find anything one week, try again in a few weeks. A stores’ inventory changes constantly, so you might strike gold one week, and come up with nothing the next. Make thrift store shopping part of your regular home management routine.

12. Go With Cash

Finally, leave your debit card at home. When you’re armed with cash, you’ll be more selective with your purchases, and will therefore think more level-headedly about the value of items. When you stick to a budget, then thrift stores are a money-saver. When you go way over, then you’re buying more than you need – emptying your wallet and filling your closets. Aim for the opposite

Anglund Prints

2010-07-16T09:59:00.000-04:00

Joan Walsh Anglund has always been one of my favorite children's book writers. I remember having A Friend is Someone Who Likes You when I was a child, and as things often do it got lost along the way. Over the years I've collected the majority of her books, so when I was at the Avon Flea Market a month or so back, my heart skipped a beat when I found these two framed prints. They are original, still in the frames. They were very dirty, and flung on a table full of junk, but they were $5.00 for both. After a little TLC they now hang in my room. They are just so fresh and sweet.

The Guardians

2010-07-16T09:32:00.000-04:00

Every thrift shop or garage sale I pass I'm on the look out for fun little angels. I don't think you can ever have too many guardians looking out for you. Here are some of the fun finds, about eight of these have come from thrifty fun. My favorite are the little 1950's sitting kissers, and yes, the shelf is a thrift find too, but I don't get credit for that one.

Ele"prints"

2010-07-16T08:04:00.000-04:00

These four, miniature, 4x4", framed, letter press prints of circus elephants, which were signed and numbered by the artists,were found at a Salvation Army thrift store for only $.49 cents a piece. I brought them home, washed up the frames, and created an instant art display for $2.00, which I don't consider half bad! They now hang on a tiny divider wall in the upstairs hallway.

Thrifty Beginnings

2010-07-16T07:50:00.000-04:00

Welcome! I've been contemplating for a long time starting a secondary blog to house the pictures of all the fun things I find at thrift stores. Sometimes they are to decorate with, sometimes they are to craft with, and other times they are to clean up an re-sell. I live to thrift, and my friends say I have a knack for finding cool things. I don't know about that, but I do know that every vacation I plan includes stopping at the local thrift stores, and at least once a week I make the rounds. I've found some fun things and I can't wait to share them with you. My addiction lately has leaned towards angels and plates, but I'm equally on the look out for furniture, books, fabric, well anything is fair game really. Enjoy! I hope you stop back often.