Ringing in 2011 by buying Old!

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!! ;)