Thrift Finds

Another painting

2010-04-07T19:17:00.002-04:00

Found this today for $3.50. It feels like Florida and the price was right, so....

Rock specimen

2010-03-18T11:49:00.003-04:00

Does anyone know what this really is? I found it in a thrift store yesterday and thought it was pretty but can't identify whether it's a rock, geode, pretrified twigs.... For me it's a bookend but still I would like to know what it's a specimen of. Thanks!

Silver trees and vintage stocking

2009-12-19T16:35:00.004-05:00

Erin found me this neat vintage stocking with a flirtatious (sleepy?) reindeer this year. Love her.(The daughter and the reindeer too.) The small (18 in. silver tree) was from Patricia last year and this year is surrounded by some of the thrifty goodies she collected for me this year. I am not crazy about the way I decorated it this year but I was pretty distracted.... by the one she just brought me today! It's about a four footer and revived my will to decorate more. Jack and Jeff put even more lights outside the house while I got all the rest of my ornaments out and went wild. Even added about 100 more to the big, green tree in the living room. We agreed here, you really can't get too many ornaments on a tree.

Santa Work in Progress

2009-12-13T20:24:00.003-05:00

My Santa and his sleigh need some help. The elves are ALL OVER IT. But really, the collection of reindeer goes on. Thrifty friend Pat just came by and gave me this new assortment of goodies for my eventual display. She used styrofoam to hold everything in her gift pack together and totally inspired me... for next year. I need to save styro slabs and get the whole Santa/reindeer show under control. Anyway, here are my new additions from Pat (what a handsome reindeer!) and my last year's collection on the counter. By next year they will all meld together, and maybe the elves can give Santa and the deer some space.

Pat: Thank you, thank you! You are the best.

International Santa Bonanza

2009-11-16T11:37:00.004-05:00

I was thrilled to get one Int. Santa this weekend. But if you collect those guys and live anywhere on the Treasure Coast, better drive fast to the Hospice Thrift in St. Lucie West. I got eight new ones, in original packaging today. They are charging $3.00 each, but so many were ones I thought I'd never find that I started thinking I'd have to get them from Ebay. Except from there they start around $5 for what I was looking for, and then you get to pay twice that on shipping. Well, I did leave about FIFTY for anyone else. I'm just astonished. I've been wanting Latvia and Estonia forever!

Top row: Estonia, Romania, UK, Latvia. Bottom row:Germany, Patriotic USA, Russia's New Year's Eve Boy and Morocco.

I am a happy camper this morning! I also located a Billy Idol CD I think JB will love, and a Charlaine Harris book for Erin that I've never, ever heard of!!!

Sunday at Goodwill

2009-11-15T13:24:00.003-05:00

We wanted to walk the beach this morning but we found there wasn't much to see. The surf was so rough, there was little beach to comb. So since we were close to Stuart Goodwill, we decided to pop in. Boy am I glad we did! I scored $.69 International Santa (USA) for my ever growing collection of those. Then a great planter shaped like a seashell (guess I still had beach on the brain). Goodwill is charging lots more these days for books but friend Mary and I have both been searching for copies of The Orchid Thief. Well, My heart skipped a beat when I located a pristine, lovely copy this morning. Then I opened it..... SIGNED!!! And the final find as I was leaving, this great old Santa. He is about nine inches tall and makes me happy. What a nice Sunday morning break.

Wednesday Finds

2009-10-29T08:12:00.002-04:00

I hadn't been having much luck lately at the thrift stores, and then yesterday, score. A tour of Jensen Beach and PSL yielded four Vera cloth napkins, a great round vase, bought for the pretty dragonfly painted on it, brand new Dexter flower sandals in my size, and a 100% silk blouse with a flattering collar and best of all, fritillary flowers on it! Not shown, a couple of spectacular finds for E & B to be given as a "thrift gift". Just a hint on that purchase, got them home, looked them up online and discovered I "saved" over $150!!!! Great considering I spent $12 to get the secret items!!! They will LOVE them. (and I love teasing Erin well in advance of Christmas....)

Wicker Goodies

2009-09-17T12:11:00.003-04:00

Last week, before the flu overwhelmed our home, I found this great old wicker fern stand at Dogs and Cats for $7.00. I know that is a hoya in it, there are no pretty, fresh ferns to be found right now at the garden shops. But I keep looking. It was white and gray peeling paint, and I had a can left of Nutmeg satin spray paint left from when I did last year's wicker table (which the kitties think is a very pretty cat bunkbed). So on the pool deck, pretty, freshened up, nutmeg colored wicker goodies!! The cat bunkbed/table was even less than the fern stand, if I remember correctly, about $5!

Fossil bag and Agatha too

2009-09-05T12:55:00.002-04:00

Yesterday at a new (to us) store in Vero called Serendipity I scored. It says thrift store on the awning, but it's thrifty upscale consignment. Beautiful clothing, all designer, but too much in sizes 6,8,10 for this crowd! I fell hard for the Fossil bag. Suede and leather, numbered etc, and still with the key in super pristine shape for $12.00. And three great old Agatha Christie books, nicely bound, from the 1960's. They were all three for $5.00. Not my lowest priced thrift trip, but I am in love with all.

Back in the Thrift Zone

2009-08-28T15:18:00.003-04:00

The last couple of trips to the thrifts, I have found nothing. Nada, not one single thing. Then today!!! They had the grand opening in Jensen Beach of the Goodwill Boutique. I was number thirty eight in line, and was astonished that photographers were there to record the event. Anyway, I got a book. And a couple of secret Christmas Thrift Gifts. But then, we moved on. The sweater is amazing. All knit in Peru from cotton, and with hand painted ceramic buttons. And little tiny Peruvian dolls in all the hot air balloon baskets? Well, that one set me back a whole $1.90. And the books? Thrifty pal Patricia is currently in school and taking a class called "Teaching Music to Elementary Students??" Well, no brainer there. If she already has the books, she will at least adore the 1961-1963 art in them. La la, happy thrifty day!

And all I got was this stupid T-Shirt

2009-08-17T20:45:00.002-04:00

We stopped at this thrift store yesterday (Angel Aid on Beach Blvd, across from WalMart) And it had a huge sign that was 75% everything in the store. It was crazy.

Sometimes I have this dream. I'm not proud of this, but here it is. I'm shopping, and the store has all this stuff I love, and it's all CRAZY cheap. I mean cheap enough that even my husband would say, "Of course you should get ALL of them!". Well this shopping trip was like that.

You can click this to see these bigger. Almost all the kid clothes were 25cents. Books were whatever 25% of 50cents is. The girl dress was 25cents. I had to buy it for my friend Annette's daughter. I mean I HAVE to see a little girl in that dress! Then the work type shirts for my husband. They are all exactly his size. That never happens! Then they are mostly fancy designer name brands. AND about half of them had original store tags!

Jacksonville will miss you, apparently dead guy with Brian's same size and taste who donated all your clothes to the Angel Aid thrift store. We will take good care of your entire wardrobe. Yeah, that book is Blubber. That book has special secret meanings for me. (NOT because I'm fat either) But it's a secret and I don't want to kill you so I'll just go now.

Books, Kitsch, Ben and Jerry's Tour

2009-07-16T11:34:00.005-04:00

It has been a crazy summer with our two week vacation, one family wedding in St. Augustine and the second family wedding in Vermont which left little time for thrifty adventures. Tomorrow we set out on the Christmas in July thrift store tour. But for now, a pile of books from yesterday, two little acryllic seashell goodies, Yankee collectable pillows for Jeff and a photo of a Ben and Jerry's tour ticket. That is in here because if you get near Stowe, Vermont, don't miss that place. The tour is a laugh a minute, and thrifty because admission is only $3.00! The fresh air and mountain scenery is all free.

Free Shopping at my best Thrift Store!

2009-05-04T15:53:00.003-04:00

So a few weeks ago (actually about two months now) we adopted a dog from the Humane Society Animal Shelter. Every few weeks they send me a survey about him and if I fill it out I get a $10 gift certificate to the Animal Shelter Thrift Store. (Which is my favorite one in town)

I went today and got the kids a weird wheel shaped container that is for storing matchbox cars, a pile of magazines and a few T-Shirts that have the Animal Shelter logo on them. Then I saw it. The most lovely chunky necklace ever. Two dollars! And it goes with almost everything I own. I really love it. I'm not a huge jewerly person, but I've been wanting to get a piece like this that would go with a lot and make a nice touch to my outfits. I wear a TON of solid colored shirts that are similar to this one. I mean I have like 30 shirts like this and 3 other shirts. So this is perfect. And it was FREE with my gift certificate! And I'll get another gift certificate in a few weeks! And I have a dog.

The dog is sort of a thrift find, I mean I got him used...
His name is Wilbur. I picked him totally based on personality. He is super gentle with the boys. That was pretty much my only criteria. He's friendly and super smart. He's pretty cute. He's also a bit of trouble. He is still a puppy (9 months) and he chews a lot of stuff. He also digs holes in the yard. I'm working on doing lots of training to keep his mind active to help with these problems. In good news the kids NEVER leave their toys out anymore! My home has never been more clean. And I never skip my morning walks. There is a huge difference in his behavior if I take him on my morning walk or if I don't.

New Computer, hope it works

2009-04-21T15:35:00.008-04:00

I have just uploaded photos from the "old" camera, onto the very new computer. Whole new way of doing this, and soooo much easier. Let's see if it works. First, a sweater. perfect for sister Sue, Sigrid Olson. It was $1.98 at Goodwill. And mine, a Christmas sweater, lightweight and blue, and perfect for FLA winters, same cost at Vero Beach ..... works for me.

Goodwill Gurley Greatness!!!!!!

2009-03-17T16:16:00.004-04:00

I was in the right place, at exactly the right time today. That would be Olso Road, Vero Beach, Goodwill, at just about 2:00 PM. The man is putting out a yellow bin of new stuff. And RIGHT THERE ON TOP!!!! a whole set of Gurley Thanksgiving candles. No wear, unburned wicks.... they did ink out the original price of ten cents on the little ones, and 49 on the big, but hey, I paid $3.70 for this whole group of real live Gurley candles!! I am over the moon.

Free, Pretty, Pretty Planter

2009-03-15T11:19:00.003-04:00

I had my stepdaughter Katie with me yesterday, so Patricia , Katie and I headed out to a community wide flea market. I can't put in the photo of the delicious Woodland Pyrex mixing bowl we got for $2.50 because it's already full to the brim of leftover corned beef and cabbage dinner. We got a book and a pair of shorts to wear in the garden. But the story is, we are in the first aisle and a nice but frazzled lady grabs me and says, "are you the lady that just bought my golf clubs?" I assured her I'd just walked in, hadn't bought anything yet. A few aisles later she grabs me, "are you the lady that bought my golf clubs?" I told her, no, you already asked me. So she goes away. Finally we are leaving, outside in the foyer, and here she comes AGAIN! "Are you the lady.... oh, wait, haven't I asked you already a couple of times?" I assured her it was not me who bought her clubs! So she says, "But it was a lady in a brown shirt with her daughter.. just like you". Turns out that mystery shopper was so excited about the golf clubs, she left this darling porcelain planter she had paid for. The poor frazzled lady just gave it to me for free. She was totally relieved to be done with her search, and I am quite sure she really thinks I bought her golf clubs too. Ah well.

Getting crafty

2009-03-13T15:48:00.006-04:00

I want to share a few things I have made with my thrift finds and a set of recycled glass!

First is a plain old record!

You can make a cool record bowl like this:

Super fun and easy to make- pre-heat oven at 200 degrees. Get a cookie sheet and an oven safe 9 inch bowl. Put bowl upside down on cookie sheet place in oven then center the record on top of it for 5 minutes. Take it out and shape it. Don't like how you shaped it NO problem but it back in oven and heat it up again and re-shape it. Records are super cheap at my local thrift store- 99 cents! Then you still have the album cover to use in another project, maybe a journal cover???? So, for my 99 cents I can made at least 2 cool projects! These would be so fun to use as a gift basket. Think of all the possiblities!

Another thing I think is super fun is to make a terriaum out of old jars that you get at thrift stores. Here is one that I made with the plants for around $2.00.

I took the lid of to get a better photo of it! Another sweet gift in my opinion!

Then finally, I will show you the glasses that I pick up for .49 each- I got all 4 of them that they had. They are made out of the bottom of a beer bottle! So cool and GREEN (in more than one way...lol)

Oh yes, that is Lil William that I got at the thrift store too! He is saying HI! He makes me laugh!

Have a great Friday!

Books and My Sad Camera

2009-02-26T14:33:00.003-05:00

My wonderful husband is working "remotely" which means he works all day, but from home. They get to do that now and then and he always gets twice as much work done. But I try to stay out of his hair on those rare days he choses to do that. So I grabbed my friend Carol and we were only going to the Home Depot to "look" at flowers. Right. There are four great thrift stores right there within seconds of Home Depot. So, I got ANOTHER stack of books. Two things about me, I LOVE BOOKS, and I hate my camera. But anyway, Carol, who is something of a professional shopper (working in another career right now, but darn she's good) did not share our love of thrift stores. Till once I took her and she got two brand new thermos bottles for something like $2 each. She was stunned - and awakened to thrifty goodness. So today, we hit Goodwill, Dogs and Cats and St. Vincent DePaul. My "non thrifting" buddy got stacks and stacks of books! Stuff she wanted from the library and they never had in. Stuff she always wanted to read, but.... She is converted. She spent less than $10 today and it took a good while to unpack her thrifty goodness from my car. And yes. We got some plants. And soil, and manure, and paint and..... at Home Depot.

Anyhow, here is my today stack. The "Nightmares and Dreamscapes" is an old fave, but I only had it in paperback. And this one is still in plastic shrinkwrap. Hmm. And I included a shot of one of our bedroom walls, which probably won't come out (darned camera!) and you can see that I have to get new bookcases. Those are FULL!

Finally something to post

2009-02-26T13:16:00.002-05:00

I just hate WI in the weather no thrifting :( I did hit up my local goodwill this weekend and scored this desk and chair of my oldest son's room! Only 10 bucks and he loves it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Garden Art, Indoor Art and More

2009-02-25T16:54:00.003-05:00

I didn't even think I felt like hitting the thrifts today, but I am so glad I did it! Great new shirt for me in the prettiest colors, with palm trees on it. The usual pile of books, one new Hamilton for Erin's collection. Then I found this neat tin which I bought (fifty cents, I mean really!) just because the colors are beautiful. Then at a used furniture store I found these three stone birds! That thing weighs a ton, and is going either in the garden or maybe on the pool deck. Finally and maybe my favorite thing of the day, this old watercolor print of pansies. The paper on the back says "A Turner Wall Accessory" over and over on it. Does that make it a "Turner print"? I didn't really care, It is beautiful and was just $7.00. So.... happy day for me!

I have to get a new camera soon, this one just isn't doing what I want. And I apologise, Gypsy Kitten seems to have found her way into at least two photos. She loves when I bring new things into her home. Grocery day is beyond thrilling for her.

Thrifty Job for me!

2009-02-21T12:28:00.003-05:00

I sorta got a thrifty job! Well it's volunteer. And come as you please, no schedule. But ANYHOW I signed up with Friends of the Library today and was looking at their books. (got 7 of them) So I ask about volunteering and the lady was so excited to have me. So Saturday mornings, when I can, I will go down there and sort books. There is a huge warehouse and just gobs and gobs of books. Tens of thousands of books. Can you believe it? So I'll go in and sort them into grouped by author's last name, Like a box of A's and so on.

AND I get first crack at the books I am sorting. AND every 3 hour shift I work I get to take two free books. Not that they are expensive or that I mind paying for them, but still FREE books? SWOOON.

I don't start until after the super huge Friends of the Library book sale that is in a few weeks. Until then it's serious working going on, getting the 5 semi's ready to take books to that. Oh and I get to go to that the day before it opens! That's because I joined, not because I'm a volunteer.

I'm way excited, I've wanted to get involved in something that I could do without cutting into family time. This is perfect, if the family needs me I simply don't go. If we are just haning out I do go, and it's just in the mornings.

I thought you guys would appreciate it. :)

Mostly Books

2009-02-19T13:38:00.002-05:00

I recently decided that it's silly how I keep checking out the Laurel K Hamilton books out of the library over and over. So I want to own them. ALL of them. The Anita Blake Vampire Hunter ones and the Merry ones. I don't like short stories, so none of those.

I have these great bookcases that are half empty, so it was time to hit my thrift stores for books. (note the thrift find mushroom, which Mom hated, and all my Atlas books, also thrift)

Me and the kids have been sick so I only did one store today. I got all these. (Oh Mom, I want the Mammoth Hunter books now too. I apparently have Plains of Passage) The Feast for All Seasons and the Stephen King one are for mom. I got TWO Hamiltons! And oddly they are both from my library and discards... I wonder if there is a list I can get on, "If you discard any more Hamiltons please call Erin because she wants them" list? I also got this shirt. Not much to look at, but I have FOUR skirts that needed this shirt. You know, to make them winter wear.

Here is one of the skirts. I decided it works with my Ireland tee shirt too but the cream looks even better and will carry it to church for me. I share the skirt pic because that's also a thrift find... as is the table and chairs in this pic. LOTS of thrift stuff here at Casa De Kellogg. (Stephen took this pic, I think he took it at the most unflattering angel ever. I promise I look skinnier than that in MY mind at least. I thought I looked pretty hot today... ) All my finds (well the books and shirt, I can't keep track of tables and odds and ends like that in photos) are from the Humane Society Thrift Store on Beach Blvd in Jacksonville, FL. It's an awesome store. They did paint over the awesome mural though. I keep forgetting to ask why, it was BEAUTIFUL.

Thrift Store Ambiance

2009-02-16T12:09:00.002-05:00

I got caught up this morning on that addictive website The ThriftShopper. Some people were telling awful stories about nasty smells and dirty things found in the local thrift stores. Well, we must be lucky here on the Treasure Coast. I've never run into the awful dirt these folks are talking about.
But I do have one neat story to share. I was in the Goodwill store a few months ago. This shabby, confused looking young man walks in and goes to the back, to where someone had donated a beautiful piano! ($150, bet it didn't last long). This guy sits on the bench --- and started to play the most wonderful music! It wasn't long before people were all gathered around just listening to him. He played for about half an hour, then got up and walked out of the store. It was just amazing! I think about him from time to time and wonder who he is, if he's okay.....what a talent.

Rhinovirus Recovery Thrift Trip

2009-02-13T16:36:00.005-05:00

I haven't been out of the house in over a week! I caught a really ugly cold. People who think we don't catch colds in FLA are just plain wrong. That was yucky! Anyway, thrifty friend Pat said we had to get out, since it had been at least twelve days since my last thrift! Plus we were dying for lunch at the Cracker Barrel. And boy was that good!.... I could not resist these beautiful shorts for my sister Sue, who's coming to visit all the way from Massachusetts, in June. I love them so much, I'm getting her two shirts, non-thrift, that will match from the local Bealls. Then... same store, Hibiscus House Treasure....(where everything is always at least 50% off the marked price) a great wool sweater for her husband Fran who is apparently out of sweaters up there in the north. Silk shorts and pure New Zealand wool sweater, total $4.00. I'm on a roll.

I found the two Corelle cereal bowls in a pattern I've never seen for $1.00 at a new place in Port St. Lucie, and along with those, this 250 count box of baseball cards for Jeff. Those were $2.00.

Then a quick visit to Goodwill who had one luncheon plate, Old Towne pattern for Erin's collection.

We were not ready to quit so we went to a new "antique emporium" in Fort Pierce, and I think I really scored there. Erin wanted a 2.5 qt Pyrex casserole with lid. Well, there it was calling me, the Crazy Daisy pattern that I believe is supposed to coordinate with her Corelle Spring Blossom.. Two and a half quarts, pristine condition with lid, for $8.00!! I think I did well on that. All the other Pyrex I see does not have lids. Or it's smaller, or scraped to death. Anyone think $8 is pretty darn good on that large casserole???? And I almost forgot, Erin's long awaited butter dish. Milk glass, perfect condition, $1.00 (??? hooray) at Goodwill.

Gosh, it's good to feel healthy again, it's good to get out and thrift!!!

And it was really quite thrilling to see our blog here mentioned on The Thriftshopper! One of our friends asked Erin, "is that you guys?" Yep, we enjoyed our little bit of fame there. I'm in mid south FLA. Erin, my daughter, is in Jacksonville. My stepson Jeff is here with us and with his mom in Stuart FL. Then Kim, our dear friend, is up in Wisconsin! I still stay envious though. Looks to me like the best thrifting ever seems to be done in Philly, Pittsburg, that general area.....

Monday Thrifting and Goodies for Erin

2009-02-02T14:04:00.003-05:00

Erin just mentioned this morning, she wants all the Laurell K. Hamilton books. I hung up the phone and was out the door for a short thrift expedition. And the first book I found was Danse Macabre by Hamilton! Lucky Erin. Got a few more books for me, then it was all about Erin again. I found the two linen hand embroidered, never washed dishtowels for fifty cents. Then I found her three giant navigational maps which she can cut up (twenty five cents). One is even of Jacksonville and Palatka waterways... but then, TADA, six cool old dessert cups! They will blend nicely with her growing out of control Pyrex/Corelle collection. I can't tell if they were Fire King, Pyrex, or what, but they are just right for pudding, jello, or little ice cream sundaes...

Almost time to visit Erin and, the car will be full of thrift find goodies again this time.

Fifty Cent First Editions. And Santa

2009-01-31T14:54:00.002-05:00

Goodwill today had all the hardcovers for $.50 each. I got a few I've read and want to own now, two signed first edition Heller books (she is a fun read), and a neat coffee table style Heisman book for Brian, dear son in law, who complains I never get him thrifty goodness. I bet he will like looking through this one.

I also found the cute Santa pepper shaker for thirty cents. He looks happy. And is dated on the bottom 1960.

Saturday Thrifting in West Palm Beach

2009-01-24T16:55:00.002-05:00

Everyone says that more and more people are shopping the thrift stores and it is true here on Saturdays. There was nowhere at all to park at World Thrift, Goodwill.....And the cars in the parking lot ranged from old trucks to new BMWs.

I still found a few good things today. Two paintings of flamingos, acrylics and very large. The huge one with the two birds, approx 3.5 ft by 2 ft. was $5.00. The smaller, (just slightly smaller) was $4.00. Unless I get decent frames on them, they will perk up our laundry room.

I found three great oval plates with blue and lime pagodas on them marked "Jackson China, Creighton's International Restaurant". I'll probably never find more of those.

One luncheon plate in Erin's green Corelle (there must be a huge gang out there collecting this stuff, it's nearly impossible to find now.) And three first edition copies of books I've always loved.

Pretty good day all around.

Dinnerware Addiction

2009-01-20T19:24:00.003-05:00

I admit it. I have a dinnerware addiction. Thankfully I am allowed to collect Corelle for my daughter. But two friends just discovered their own Fiesta addictions. Hmm. So I started looking at Fiesta....and I'd almost convinced myself that I could live without it.

Today, five dessert plates for Erin in Corelle, actually four of them Woodland, which it seems, I now love too. She has an 86 piece set here in my den waiting till I go up to see her again....she does mix and match solid colored border, no rim, pure white background....

Anyway, in a thrift store, I fell over. Real live Fiesta! We needed bowls. I have wondered what brand, what color.... all that ended today when in Hibiscus House Treasure... four real Fiesta, in the pale yellow, "rim soup plates" for..... $12.00 the lot. Perfect condition! I have never seen real Fiesta in a thrift store..so I am happy. And now, I am probably addicted to Fiesta. Worse, probably the "retired colors"... argh! These will work for stew, pasta, soup, salad....... I am happy.

More Corelle for Erin, Super Score!

2009-01-18T16:40:00.003-05:00

Today I found, at an antique mall, a thirty five piece set, for Erin, of her beloved Corelle, Spring Blossom!!! It was wildly CHEAP!! And had the saucers and teacups, and they would not sell me the set without them.... but I guessed, ELF can find a way to use them, or make a wonderful gift basket of the cups and saucers...... Anyway, Spring Blossom all, including the very, very rare serving bowls... Two??? and, the Pyrex gravy/sauce boat and matching gravy boat plate?? We went to another antique store after this and saw the gravy boat and gravy plate, for $14.99 each right after I made this SCORE! Seriously, for the thirty five piece set, I paid almost what the gravy plate cost!!!!! Wild score. There are dinner plates galore, luncheon plates... the smaller (fruit) bowls...... Amazing find.

SCORE!!!! Corelle for Erin

2009-01-17T13:31:00.004-05:00

So Erin was in love with Crazy Daisy/Spring Blossom Corelle and I got her some a few months ago. She loves the 70ish Corelle so much, she's decided to mix and match it like some do Fiesta. Opened up whole new worlds of thrifty fun for me. BUT, it has to be the white based smooth! And no cups, mugs, etc. No saucers. But a butter dish would be wonderful. So today at Goodwill:

and Dogs and Cats Forever, it's CORELLE DAY!!! (Not anymore because I got her twenty one pieces...) Every piece $.49. What a deal.

In Butterfly Gold: 4 cereal bowls, 5 lg dinner plates, 3 luncheon plates which are hard to find and one lonely dessert plate. AND, in the blue Corelle Oldtown, 4 dessert plates. Then the big score, 4 Corelle Burgundy, which I've never seen in person, only on the websites.

International Santas

2009-01-16T15:06:00.004-05:00

I found all three of these International Santa Claus Collection figures at the Goodwill yesterday. All perfect condition and still in their boxes - from left to right, The Three Magi SC19, Santa Claus SC65 New Zealand, and St. Nicholas SC48 Poland! Only $1.59 each!!! I had a few already from long ago and couldn't believe I was able to get these at this price.

Kitten Update - She is Half Manx!

2009-01-09T20:30:00.005-05:00

Turns out we are keeping the kitten. We are "kitten smitten". It is awful. We love her and she loves us. And she's made great friends with the other three cats.... Of course, now that we are all in love here, two sets of friends, and even our vet- want the kitten. Her name is now Gypsy, Sneeky Pie Brown. Jack and Erin named her... we just call her Gypsy. "She came from far away with pictures in her eyes...." Our vet says she never was a long tailed cat, she is MANX! How funny. We didn't know, we just worried about her bob tail! He says by body shape, coat, face, personality... She was born with one tail vertabrae. No old wound there! (thanks for that, we always wondered....). He says if she were show Manx, she'd not even have that short stub. But apparently, her mother or father was a non-Manx.

Also turns out she's never been spayed.(no real surprise there) She now has all her shots and was to go in for spaying, but ...went into heat instead! Nice. Constant howling, there is nothing we can do to comfort her.... and then more howling. Great. Spaying is set up for Jan 22. The Doc says she will be fine. Argh! And we are really in love, because mostly, we are okay with this howling!

Thrifty shopping, and Mom's buying!

2009-01-06T15:41:00.003-05:00

Mom is up and we hit the thrift stores. She found some Shenango China dishes. Apparently they were quite the find.

Here they are all so you can see thier tops.

I found this adorable mushroom wall hanging. Mom hates it, but she doesn't have to have it.

I also found this skirt. Well technically mom found it but it fit me so I win.

And we found this cute kid. No wait we had him, Mom found the chair, got me two of them. I love them. Solid oak. They were $5 each. Cha Ching!

And the rest of my loot, some pillow cases to cut up and sew, few b ags of polyfill and T shirts for my kids.

We also got the boys linen covered boxes for their "treasures" Gotta have somewhere for those. Oh and mom got me some capri pants too. I'm spoiled. We all knew that. :)

FLA and MASS Clothes for Sue!!!

2009-01-02T15:30:00.003-05:00

Okay, today I got the best ever sweater for Sister Sue. Croft and Barrow and only $4.00. Then went to Vero poking around and got a great new outfit, top, capris and a Fossil bag, all together $6.00!!! She is going to be styling down here in FLA this year!!!

Sister Sue, A Good Thrifty Day

2008-12-31T19:23:00.003-05:00

So today Patricia and I went thrifting in Vero. Sadly, as it is New Year's Eve, many favorite shops were closed or closed early.... we still made out well.

First, I saw this jacket in Oslo Road Goodwill, the very best thrift I've found in a long time! And then minutes later I found designer capris (in white which is never good in thrift??) in perfect shape ALL in Sister Sue's sizes. So, since her son, my nephew Nik, is getting married in St. Augustine (at the Lightner!) in June, I felt Sue needed new FLA friendly stuff. I think I did very, very well here! Total outfit, which she is in love with, head to knee, $4.00!!!????!!! Insaneooooo perfect!

Also got a lovely, lovely thing for Erin, which is, naturally, a secret. And jeans for me that fit like they were tailored to me, in a khaki brown.... for $1.50!!! Very cool day of thrifting. Except for the part where among her other lovely things, Patricia got a bottle brush tree, vintage.... for $.25? How on earth did I miss that one?

Anyway, loves to Sister Sue. You cleaned up today......And Happy New Year to ALL!!!!

Chair for Patricia

2008-12-13T11:33:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I saw this chair at Dogs and Cats thrift. I described it to Pat who is still in ALA, but I knew the chair wouldn't last till she got home for Christmas. So I went back when they opened and snagged it for $35. The lady had Jack help her learn how to set up their new store CD player, so she gave me the icicle ornament (Erin's style) and the elf free. He is either Snap, Crackle or Pop, anyway he lives with the other pixies now.

Pat's doing the FLA house over in "vintage Florida comfort style". Not kitschy, just relaxed old tropical sort of. Anyway, this chair will match everything she's got going on in the living room. Also, can you see in the close up, the needlepoint is signed, 1930 GS! Cool. And comfortable beyond belief.

More Christmas Finds

2008-12-12T19:04:00.005-05:00

I stopped at our newly relocated Dogs and Cats Forever Thrift and it was great! Mrs. Murphy the cat came from there about seven years ago, so I have a fondness for the place.

I got totally great stocking hangers for $1 each! And never had them before because I always used my painting easel to hang them off, often unsuccessfully. But it finally dawned on me, huh, hang them off the bar counter...... I can be slow...

And I saw the card hanger at Bealls yesterday for $29.99 but half off. I thought about it, but got this one today for $1.50. Perfect. THEN, TA DA!!!! A real, REAL UFO ornament! I have several of the bell shaped ones, never had a UFO!!! The price was not on it, the lady at the counter says, " you want this?" Kind of in disbelief... so she charged me twenty five cents.... WOO HOOOOOOO

Little Finds

2008-12-12T10:20:00.002-05:00

I stopped at Goodwill yesterday and found these goodies for ten cents each. A different kind of elf, I love Mrs. Santa, and Erin collects these beaded ones.

Christmas finds....

2008-12-04T09:19:00.008-05:00

Here in WI with it being 7 degrees out and no yard sales in sight for a long long time. I took a trip to one of my thrift stores. Finding a few Christmas goodies:

- I think I know someone in need of Reindeer ...hmmmm

- I love this gnome/elf guy!

-I found this set of hand painted wooden ornaments that I thought were so cute.

One of my favorites

-Another one of my favorites!

I am hoping to get to this wonderful consignment shop downtown tomorrow! I have a hair appointment across the street from it! Wish me LUCK!

Animal print

2008-11-30T13:23:00.001-05:00

Mom's friend Patricia gave me TONS of this animal print. Isn't is the most fabulous retro looking animal print ever? It's heavy weight too. I'm nto sure what I'm making with it, but it's gonna be great. :)

Buttons

2008-11-30T10:41:00.003-05:00

Ok, my thrifty procurements over the past week will take me MONTHS to blog. It's insane.

I have pics ready of this box of buttons though.

Mom thinks that a lot of these are that bakelite buttons, apparently they are worth something. I just like pretty buttons. That's all I know about buttons. Here is a list of other stuff I got, NOT a full list:
Literature Anthology.
about 50lbs of fabric
zippers
binding tape
tons of books
textbooks for my kids learning time
clothes for kids
shirt for husband
two sweaters for me
stroller for pushing kids (actually handles really well, way better than our expensive one)
games for kids
toys for kids
blankie for ethan
a bike
a Kate Spade purse
3 vintage sheets
a bike for Stephen
a swiffer carpet flicker thingie (which I actually like)
an atlas, which my mom stole. :) (kidding I gave it to her)

See? A LOT of thrift finds I need to update.

Some favorite finds all together now

2008-11-29T19:57:00.002-05:00

This is the silver tree Patricia gave me this past summer. And ornaments she found me, along with vintage Gurley caroller candles. And some of my pixies. I think I might have a couple more still in the attic. Anyway, this was what I've been collecting some of this stuff for all along!

Great World Atlas

2008-11-27T10:34:00.005-05:00

Here is the atlas Erin gave me. I love this thing!. And I'm happy it's not going to be cut up. Lilith is apparently fascinated with it too, especially Greenland.

The clippings are dated Sept. 30, 1938. One is Hitler chatting with Mussolini. One is Hitler, Neville Chamberlain, Mussolini and Edouard Daladier captioned "Gathered at Hitler's invitation to find a peaceful way out of the Czech-Sudeten situation" and the third "German troops as they will march into Czechoslovakia tomorrow". They are evidently from a PA newspaper because on the back of one there is a home for sale "Public Sale, Intercourse Residence" which I assume is the town... Brand new brick homes with "six rooms and hot water" for $3900.

$100 Atlas... shrug

2008-11-25T20:28:00.002-05:00

So I buy atlas's (I don't appreciate pluralization of words ending in "s") So anyhow I buy them. Whenever I see them. I cut them up and make envelopes out of them. It's an obsession.

Today I got a lovely red one at one of the thrift shops down here near mom's house. $3 which is about tops for what I'll pay.

Bring it home. Now it's LOVELY, red cover, the most beautiful art ever. Make some real nice envelopes. Mom protests. I offer it to her. She accepts.

Inside the atlas are news paper clippings just prior, days prior, to WWII. Mom will have to share those with you.

I go online to see if the atlas is worth anything, it is from 1963. Well at least one sold for $100. Mine, no, mom's, is in near perfect condition. Sigh. I guess she's right, no business cutting up $100 atlas for the making of paper crafts right?

shrug.

I also got a huge box of buttons, apparently some are bakelite. By some I mean like 50-100 of them. So that's fun too.

I'm MOST excited about this little scrap of vintage fabric I got though.

Pics when I get back home.

Mom promised to blog the red $100 atlas.

Oh we named the cat, Sneaky Pie Brown. And it's not looking for a home any longer, it lives here at mom's.

hugs everyone in blog land. sorry to blog such cool finds with no pictures, I can't figure how to do them on mom's computer.

Name That Cat!

2008-11-15T19:47:00.002-05:00

So, we are evidently keeping the little Halloween kitty. We are suffering over her name. I'd like to avoid "Halloween", "Spooky" etc etc. And I'd like to avoid references to her sadly shortened tail! So feel free to post "Anon" and send potential cat names. Most of the family and close friends have been solicited to suggest names... now it's time for LURKERS to suggest names. Be nice. She is fantastic...

Art

2008-11-15T15:58:00.002-05:00

I saw this in Goodwill today and had to have it. It is beautiful! It measures 24" X 23" framed. It was professionally framed and there is a card on the back identifying the artist as Billie Waters, the title is "The White Doe" and the framer (at least about forty years ago) was located on Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles. Whether it's a print or an original, I love the thing. Already hanging up here.

Wednesday Goodies

2008-11-12T12:41:00.005-05:00

I just felt like getting out and hit three thrift stores near home this morning. Not a big haul, but a nice medium sized vase in colors in my living room. Two books, for Erin of course, one old Grimm's Fairy Tales from 1961 with cool illustration, and a Literature book. Now it's not a Norton Anthology, which she really wanted, but has some good stuff in it with art plate photos.

Then, best of all for me, silk espadrilles from Spain that fit perfectly! I see a head to toe Christmas party outfit here. The white silk tunic and black silk pants from a thrift six months ago and now these. I think they are pretty.

More random junk

2008-11-10T07:48:00.003-05:00

I love random junk! :)

Saturday we took the kids and went to garage sales and one Thrift Store. We are on the search for a new toy shopping cart for our Ethan who loves his even though it's falling apart. (got the original at a yard sale too!)
Some games (a little too old for our kids but we all love games so couldn't pass them up) a White Baby Tiger for Ethan, who loves tigers. Not shown is a plastic daggar for Stephen. The hair curlers are for Brian's Gram who can't find this type anymore. Fabric for me. (LOVE gray fabric) And these two cool boxes.

here is what they look like. One is for Kim, one for me. I think they used to have chocolates in them or something, but they are really fun and I figure we can hold some art stuff in them or something. Heck, they are almost cool enough to be hung on the wall. I feel like we got more... Oh a coffee pot. We don't drink coffee here at all, but when my parents come they like it, so I got a pot so they can use it when they come. Maybe something else I can't remember too.

We are having a garage sale next Saturday. It's thrown in with the neighborhood association, it will be in the parking lot of the radio station on the corner of Glenlea and Atlantic. Apparently tons of people participate and sell stuff and buy stuff. We are selling TONS of really cheap random stuff, not too much large stuff, just lots of random stuff. Books, kids toys, clothes (kid and adult) a few games, and then lots and lots of junk. Brian has some sports garbage in the pile too. It's from 8am to 12pm so check it out!

Kitten, Yes Really, Kitten

2008-11-03T13:27:00.003-05:00

So, I don't know how many local readers I have, but! If you want a kitty call me!!!! Some teenaged trick or treaters in our neighborhood picked up this darling kitten and were carrying it all over. About two weeks ago, Jack had to slam on brakes because this "black bobtailed kitten" was going all scared in the middle of the road near here! So sure enough, the cat is the same one. The kid holding it said it's a stray and all the neighbors feed it.... So yes, there is a new kitty in the Casa Brown holding garage. We took it to the vet to check for a microchip, alas, no luck there. And he totally de- fleaed it, which was a blessing to all of us. It seems to be a female, about five months old, cut off (but totally healed ) two inch tail stub, and charming as anything. She is a love bird, lap cat. She has an amazing personality, is friendly and purrs constantly. She also likes to "talk" to us.

We can't keep another cat, we have three already, who on good days only tolerate each other. Four is well over our limit. Animal control says I can hold her till next weekend and then try to adopt her out on my own. Or they will pick her up. And she will go to the pound. Where they will surely put her to sleep.

So local buddies, please help out! If you want her, call me! If you can find anyone who would give her a good home, call me!!!

Linda B

Raincoat, Guitar and Unusual fabric

2008-11-03T13:13:00.002-05:00

I always say I'm going to STOP buying more fabric for Erin, and along comes more I just can't pass up. The green is about a yard and a half, and I think it's Moda. A steal at $.50. And the large piece says Made in the Netherlands, but I got it for the huge flowering cactus print. I have no idea what she or I will do with it, but there's at least 1.5 yards, closer to 2.0.

The raincoat was from a consignment store, not true thrift, but pretty thrifty for Stephen at $4.00 in great shape. We have been looking for these, they are hard to find. And last, but not least, a Barney guitar. Ethie will love this, actually I do. And if he doesn't, well Katie may have turned 17 this year and is college bound, but that girl does love her Barney.....

Dishtowel Addiction

2008-10-22T16:18:00.002-04:00

So my mom collects these dishtowels. She loves the botanical ones. I recently got her a Brussles one and she rejected it. So I used it and LOVE it. Then today I found this Cornish Pasties one.

Now there is a story about Cornish Pasties. My husband Brian served a mission for our church in England and Cornwall was part of his region. He LOVED Cornwall. Tons, I think he wants to visit there more than anywhere. He brought home all sorts of Cornwall turns of phrase and such. I have it in my mind as the most darling and charming spot of land in all of the British Isles. His favorite food from there are Cornish Pasties. He brought home a recipe. I tried to follow it but it was impossible. I don't know why but I got super heavy bland blobs.

So I saw this and had to get it: So I offically collect these. My unifying theme is "Place" As in I want them about places, cities, countries, states and so on. This one is really about a food, but the picture looks like Cornwall to me and it's a food deeply associated with a place for us.

Kim, heads up, these rock and we expect you to start collecting them too. I assign you "Birds". So to review, Mom = "Botanical" Erin = "Places" Kim = "Birds"

Welcome to the addiction.

Lots of Thrift Gifts

2008-10-22T11:34:00.003-04:00

Good friend Pat just came back to FLA from her second home in ALA. She thrifted a good deal while there and came home loaded with thrift gifts for everyone! She found Florida My Eden up there for me to give my nephew who recently moved here to FLA. She found the perfect hot air balloon beer glass for Jack, a Yankees book for Jeffrey, ornaments for me, and remember the teacups Erin got me? She located this sweet little covered pot in the exact same pattern! She says, "I see the beginning of a collection...". And the big banker's box? Filled with fabrics, zippers, ricrack etc, all for Erin! What a great friend!

And the other photo is of four Corelle Spring Blossom patterned dessert plates I located for Erin. She loved this set growing up, so I'm collecting her a few from my thrift travels. We all love what we had when we were kids.

Military Maps

2008-10-04T16:30:00.005-04:00

I went back to Marianne's garage sale today. She knew she had some military maps but could not get her hands on them yesterday. Today she had them. $1 each and they are so very cool. Three different ones. Here are pics:

What's extra cool, besides just what they are, is that they are some cool material. You can't tear them and they can get wet and stuff. They are super wrinkly. I'm not sure if that's part of just how they are because they still read just fine. They are HUGE too. Almost as long as I am tall. Maybe they'd just bunch them up and stuff them in their bags? I don't really know too much about these, so if anyone does please share in the comments. :)

I have no idea what I'll do with them. Mom, Kim, do you guys think you want one? What would do you with it? They are HUGE. I wonder if my grandfater who is a military buff would like them for Christmas?

Kim, I did think about sewing them into the coolest pouches EVER you could totally sew this material. But I'm afraid it would be offensive to sew a tool that may have kept someone alive into a cute tote. Right?

Oh and Marianne had a KITCHEN AID MIXER. I didn't even ask because I already have one and I don't want to know how much I could have saved. Nope, don't want to know. It was white. She said she had a really fancy atlas (I love a good atlas) but she couldn't get her hands on it. She's one who buys stuff all the time just to sell it in garage sales. I'm not sure how that makes money, but whatever, I love her for it!

Super Thrifting

2008-10-03T16:05:00.003-04:00

Well it's Friday. Yard sales start on Friday. I don't know if there is a schedule, but it generally goes here that everyone is having one, or no one is. Today everyone is. Some of this stuff I got at yard sales, some at thrift shops. I can't keep it straight.

New (original tags) bike helmet for Stephen. Note that it's YELLOW, his favorite. Now if he falls the 30 inches from his tricycle he won't die. This box of toys. Marianne has a garage sale every few weeks. I can only assume she's some sort of garage sale shop-a-holic. We love her sales because she's CHEAP and super friendly. Today she insisted the boys take this entire box of toys for a dollar. It's a TON of toys. I wasn't sure I WANTED this many toys...
She also had this 1968 sears catalog. LOVE that sort of thing. The box with the glare is 500 tounge depressor sticks (for crafts) 25 cents for each of those. The Jags thing I'm saving for Brian for Christmas, 25 cents. The puzzle books were in the giant box. Oh that's like a MILE of twill tape, 25 cents.
A huge nice atlas, this was $3 at one of the thrift shops. The sewing book I can't remember, must have been about a dollar.
Inside of the beautiful atlas.
Let's see here, a pillow form, looks brand new, I need one to accompany a quilt I'm making. Odds and ends of fabric. The green think in the back is a puzzle roll for a puzzle lover I know. A kids game, the whole toy box. That box of paper is actually pattern transfer paper. (I'll send you some Kim) The afgans were $3 for the colorful one and 90 CENTS for the black and white. Ethan loves them, I've never seen a kid love an afgan so much. They are pretty large too.

Hmm, another atlas, another kid's game, better view of afgans, the tube of paint thing you use them on glass or plastic then pull them off. Not totally sure how it works, it was 25 cents though and will occupy us for a few hours so I got it.
This crabby lady book is by the same indie publisher who wrote my MUCH loved Oozy Octopus book I got for like $8 at a museum gift shop. So YEAH! The other book is a science book for kids. A text book. Very basic though I think I can use it now some with the boys.
Here is one of the games, the dog runs around and gets the cats some how. We are game loving FOOLS around here.
Inside of second atlas.
And that's it.

I somehow lost a HUGE bag of fabric scraps for a dollar! :( I"m gonna go find it tomorrow I swear it! And also the Marianne lady HAS but could not put her hands on actual COMBAT MAPS of Iraq. I MUST have them, She thinks she has 3 and she will charge me a dollar each.

More crafty at the same place.

2008-09-29T12:33:00.002-04:00

I need to save "I got all this crafty goodness at the Humane Society thrift store" somehow so I don't have to type it. Maybe we can use IGATCGATHSTS? hmm maybe not.
Glue sitcks. I host a craft playgroup and we need lots of these. Random things. Silver and gold cording stuff for Mom's Santa bag she wants me to make. (Mom, silver or gold?). Also those clips are for holding the binding when I'm ready to sew that on a quilt. and a tiny green spring loaded embroidery hoop.
All pillowcases are 50 cents, even if they are hand embroidered in a darling bear pattern.

I know this woman who collects these... Is this a good one?
More pillow cases. I'm for sure going to let Stephen use the sports one, I might use the others for the fabric.
And I'm going to back a quilt I'm making Ethan with this fabric:
Close up:

Recent finds, in a crafty way.

2008-09-25T16:14:00.003-04:00

A lot going on here.

I got a weird appliance cover at my thrift. It was 50 cents. It had the BEST fabric. Brown grapes, green strawberries. It didn't fit on anything I wanted to put it on. So I sewed it into this little clutch bag. (made the piping with a thrift find, pics of that in a moment) Mom got this deer a while ago. He had no eyes though. Which made him look like a zombe deer and sorta creepy. So I painted him some new ones. He's for pulling a sleigh and Santa and all.

close up of painted eye. Oh and the deer is stuffed with straw!
I also got these random goodies. Mostly embroidery thread and pearl cotton thread here. That might not be how you spell the pearl in pearl cotton? Anyhow here it is. The ball of string I'm using to make piping. I LOVE piping.
This is the fabric. I'm going to make it into some monkey plushies for little girls that I know are either about to be, or just born.
This came with the string stuff. Something about this is sad. I'm sure this took a while to make, then they abandoned the project and gave it to the thrift shop. Then I purchased it for 25 cents with the ball of string. I'm not sure what I will do with it. I don't really want it, but I can't bring myself to throw it out. Anyone want a tiny little crochet string thingie?
This might be my best find of the day. It's a vinyl apron. Apparently from Herrods Department Store in London. or maybe just made to look like that.

Close up:
Tag, see is SAYS Harrod's. So maybe is is from there. My guess is it was part of some promotion or something. "Free apron with $50 of kitchen garbage." something like that.
Another close up.
And a final close up:
And there you have it. Another great day at the SAME thrift store I always go to. There are like 20 in town, I go to one all the time.

One That Got Away (and one that didn't)

2008-09-19T13:42:00.004-04:00

First of all, no photos today. I can't tease Erin anymore. Know this, I went back to Holy Family and got lots. She will be happy. But no interfacing. Apparently someone else figured out that $2 a bolt is a good deal.

The one that got away: I am in Goodwill. This lady walks by with a vintage white basketweave Wilson WilHold sewing box, STUFFED with thread, embroidery thread....for $3.59! I followed her around the store, lurking almost. She finally put it down to show someone and I pounced. Actually I very nicely asked if she was really attached to the box or just the stuff inside, planning to buy it and give her all the stuff so I could have the box. No way. But we were really nice about it and she REALLY feels she has a bargain now. And boy, does she ever have one. Boo hoo.

So I am sitting on the patio unloading the latest haul from Holy Family and seeing just what I got when I realize the cat under my feet is freaking out. A pygmy rattlesnake in all it's glory, trying to bite her and shaking it's little tail just like National Geographic. Thankfully Jack came running, the cat and I are safe, and THIS is the one that didn't get away.

Thrift Gift for Erin!!!

2008-09-19T13:42:00.003-04:00

I had planned on saving all this fabric to surprise Erin, but can't stand it. I have to show you (and her) now. Yards and yards of great fabric and another bag stuffed full of crafty stuff, all total a whopping $9. The large photos are Key West HandPainted fabrics. Apparently very, very pricey but mine was two yards each for $1.!!!!!!! The story is at Holy Family Thrift that a lady passed away and they got the entire contents of her craft room. And there's loads more not priced and put out yet!!! I will be back there over and over in the next couple of weeks.

Instant rebate....

2008-09-19T10:09:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I went to Goodwill and got a couple of shirts and a couple Halloween items:

* Wilton silicon cupcake tray in ghost shape- 99 cents

* Matchbox haunted house- $1.99

Now for the instant rebate part of my thrifting. My husband had went to Goodwill a few days ago got a pair of Camo pants for hunting. These are GI issued pants. He paid $4.99 for them. Today he went to wash them. As he was checking pockets (Yes I have him trained well). This is what he found:

We both got a good laugh! Hope you do too!

Happy Thrifting!

More Christmas Goodies

2008-09-14T09:35:00.003-04:00

I stopped at the Vero Humane Society Thrift and finally hit the jackpot. Seems like it's been weeks since I found anything! Remember the aluminum Christmas tree Patricia gave me? These glitter covered glass balls will be great on that. And the red bells and one silver one are the original 60's ones like others I've collected. And best of all? That sweet pixie. I love those guys.

All this, $1.00.

Fabric goodness

2008-09-11T13:05:00.003-04:00

Here is what I got today. That pink thing is a HUGE amount of pink felt. The yellow stuff all matches, so I see some fun tote bags being made with it. The soft blue I'm going to use to back a quilt I'm making that is white and country blue. All this came to $10. My thrift store has raised it's prices. But still a good deal.

Weekend finds

2008-09-10T11:02:00.004-04:00

This weekend the hubby and I did a little thrifting! He went to an auction and I went to the thrift store! Together we spent under $20 :)

1. German candy tin
2 and 3. Pottery
4. Horse shoe- for good luck
5. Paints- think they are from a starving artist sale
6. Gum ball machine
7. McCoy pottery

Happy Thrifting! Hope you can find some good treasures!

Saturday yard sale day!

2008-08-16T14:33:00.007-04:00

Saturday is a great yard sale day in my town! My hubby came home from work with a clipping from the paper. He said I think we need to go to this yard sale in the morning! I was like OK! It had clothes for the boys and Thomas the Train stuff!

So, we headed out this am. I have to say that I hate going thirfting with my hubby. Not because he questions what I want to get, but because he does not stop at ones I want to stop at! We only went to TWO sales today! URGH....trust me there was lots of sales to pick from too! Tons of them.

The first one- the one that we had the clipping for. We got a ton of cheap clothes for the boys. I will not bore you with a photo of them. We got camouflage snow pants for Sam for $2. Yippee! Ben got 4 Thomas the train books-for a quarter a piece!

The next sale we went to was a GOLD mine. Well for us it was- they had tons of Playmobil stuff pretty cheap. Sam and Ben have wanted the airplane and airport for a while. The airplane is like almost $60 a lone! :FAINT: They had the airplane , airport, horses, kitties and doggies, boats, horses, and a then they say we have all this police stuff too....well we ended up getting everything for $16. Which is a total steal! Some thing are missing but you know they would have probably lost some of the stuff anyways.

We have everything all cleaned up and ready to play with! Yippee! What a fun night we are going to have!

Some Thrifts.

2008-08-15T22:10:00.002-04:00

Today at the Humane Society Thrift Store I purchased this awesome fabric. I'm going to make it into something for my mom. She just has to figure out what she wants. Isn't it FANTASTIC??? It was 25 cents.
I also got this book for Kim. She loves font and typography.

For me I got two zippers, and some buttons. I didn't take pictures of those though.

:)

Twice in two days!

2008-08-08T12:56:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I went to my Humane Society Thrift store. I didn't find a ton. I got my mom the Christmas Tree, I got Stephen a silly pool float because it was yellow and I got Ethan this tiger. I might have gotten something else but I can't remember.

Anyhow I noticed there that they had a digital programable thermostat in the package still and when I got home I noticed ours was broken! How odd. Anyhow I went back today to check it out. It looks good and was only $5. I peeked around more and found TONS more stuff to buy! I got two cake magazines, and one art book (which they insisted was a magazine because it's floppy so it was 25cents) A bunch of cool patterns, all the patterns there are 25cents. Love that! Also kit for making some nativity animals, stuffed ya know. It's cute, the fabric is all in there and it's screen printed, so I don't have to sew on details, they are on there. I figure it will be a fun quick project. A giant bag of kids crafts, something with a snowman it looks like. I'm going to donate that to Stephen and Ethan's Nursery class at church. And two notebooks of graph paper. I had been wanting some to sketch out quilt designs or whatever on. I noticed when I got home that one of them is actually two part transfer. Like if I sketch on one, it makes a carbonless copy on the second. so that's sorta cool. Oh and fabric, and a tiny embrodery hoop.... I think that's all.

Close up of the "magazines"
Here is the type of art in the art book
And another random page from the art book.
Mom's Christmas thingie she wanted.
close up of some sweet lace I got. 25cents for TONS of it.

Art and Thrift Gift!

2008-08-07T15:33:00.004-04:00

First, Pat found this aluminum baby Christmas tree for me! A thrift gift! I love these things. I can't wait to decorate it . I'm building my herd of flocked reindeer to pull my plastic Santa in his sleigh, and they will parade under this tree this year.

And the watercolor was at House of Hope. It's twenty six by twenty inches. I love the fall colors in it and if you look very closely, two people are walking to the right of the bridge! I bet Kim is going to want this one when she sees it!

While we were out shopping down here, Erin called from her thrift store. She found me another thrift gift tree that I hope she will post too. It's one of those ceramic light up trees. Can't wait to see it!

awww thift finds...

2008-08-01T19:38:00.006-04:00

Today has been a really hot and humid day! Causing us to have to stay inside all day! We did go out thifting for a little while and this is what we got:

Mostly crafting stuff!

Then I found this vintage tin from England! I loved it for $1.00. I started collecting German footed candy tins and England tins when I was out in California in March.

The last item I got was this handmade teddy bear! I :heart: handmade stuff!

Super Thrifting travel edition

2008-07-30T20:18:00.002-04:00

I'm visiting my mom. She has all these awesome thrift stores so I had to check them out.

Oh my goodness I found a lot! Here are all the crafty things. That huge thing is an entire bolt of fabric.
I saw the white skirt with flowers when I walked into one shop. Awesome featured things like this are never EVER in my size but today it was. When the girl saw that it fit she said the lady who donated it donated a whole stack. So I got three. The white and paisley ones are Liz. Hurray! Turns out mom had in there closet for me nice shirts that totally match these skirts! She was going to save them for Christmas but she let me have them now. (I'm a bit spoiled)
Here is a close up of the magazines and things. That top thing has all patterns for animals and dolls. Love that!
Here are some things we got the boys. The FSU thing in the middle is for a girl we plan to have some day.
And here is what mom got. BEAUTIFUL dish towel thing with plants and a lovely globe. I wanted the globe, but I don't have anywhere to put one so mom bought it. She collects these towels.
In other news she took me to a quilt store. I had never been to one. I am hooked big time! She spoiled me in there too! I'm fun to spoil. teeheehee. No really, I'm very blessed.

Toys and Books - Grand total today $2.25

2008-07-24T15:27:00.006-04:00

I've been having the best luck finding vintage, pristine condition children's books! Today I got Three Little Kittens and Twelve Bells for Santa. And in the same place, I located a whole big bag of those little peg dolls, I thought they were Weebles, but I think not. Anyway, they were Erin's favorites when she was little, and what a selection I got. The whole bag for a quarter.

And they also had the little dump trucks and forklift and steam shovel that the little people ride in. I was thrilled. Hope Ethie and Stephen are when they come down. No matter what toys or art supplies we have on hand when they are here though, the all time favorite is still Grampa Jack's wastebasket. Ethan wears it on his head. They toss oranges/grapefruit/anything they can find into it.......I should just get them a wastebasket instead of toys maybe.

But I bet they have fun with this stuff too.

Super Thrifty Friday

2008-07-18T15:16:00.004-04:00

Today we went to the SAME thrift store we always go to. It's super close to the house and I always find stuff there. Here's a photo of it from across the street. I'm waiting at the longest red light in Jacksonville taking this shot.

And here is the awesome mural on the side of it.
They are having Christmas in July at my Thrift Store too. Here's something cool.
Here are my kids picking out books:
And here is what I bought today.
Here is the check machine. At Kim's suggestion I tried it out and it WORKS! I can print numbers!
Here are some old books. The swimming one is 1960, the rest are mid 1950's.

While I was shopping a lady came in and donated this!! I freaked out! I made them price it right away and sell it to me. It's a pattern AND fabric AND all the tools to make that mouse! The pattern is actually printed on the fabric. It's beautiful! There is even a needle and thread and yarn for a cool yarn tail and all the felt parts and stuff. It's 1973. I paid an entire dollar for it. I want to cry I love it so much.

Fun stuff

2008-07-18T11:50:00.005-04:00

I went to my Goodwill and a yard sale! I sent a total of $7.00 and look at all this great stuff!

-Sock, old bottle, copper cookie cutter, check machine, and thing to hang on the wall that you put mail in ( I will use to put my handmade cards in)

Tomorrow is yard sale day. So I hope I find some good stuff!

Have a wonderful day!

I love the Polly Fill!

2008-07-18T10:42:00.003-04:00

I bought this stuff Wednesday. See that bag of stuffing! Just like my mom bought me a day later.
Also of note is that fish. What was I THINKING? It's a super loud squeek toy. Oh look, just now as I type it the kids are at it again. Sheesh. The straw hat Stephen's been eyeing for weeks. Then we have a pile of kids books all 25cents each. Craft string was also 25 cents. Flash cards were 25 cents too. I'll buy pretty much anything my kids ask for if it's 25 cents! haha.
I'm going again today. We shall see what I find. I'm especially on the lookout for super cute fabrics. SUPER cute ones. Painfully cute.

Christmas in July

2008-07-17T16:32:00.003-04:00

Pat and I headed to the Humane Society Thrift for their big Christmas in July sale. Loads and loads of new and vintage Christmas stuff. I just got the pillow and cute little candles. She filled two shopping bags with ornaments etc. I just have so many ornaments already.....

And on to Hibiscus House Thrift, also doing Christmas in July, where I found some neat books for Stephen and Ethan, including Duck on a Truck, one of Jack's favorites from his childhood. The one called Petunia was printed in 1950 and is pristine. And the other, well the button on the lower right makes interesting sound effects to go with the story line......

The fiber fill is for Erin to play with, and there were quite a few more goodies but I can't put them on the blog or the "thrift gift" surprise for Erin will be spoiled.

Artistic Landscape and Happiness

2008-07-16T14:57:00.005-04:00

I can't resist art at the thrifts. Today's find came from Holy Family's store. I knew I liked it, and when I got to the counter to pay, the ladies both pointed at the signature and shared a happy glance. We were all yacking, and I forgot to ask them about that. My thrifting friend Marion is a member of that church, so when she called me when I got home, I mentioned the art. She was thrilled. Apparently the artist, "DeCapite" is a friend of hers, and long time church member and lifelong artistst! Marion can't wait to come over and photograph the painting, as she will see this lady this week at the assisted living where she has now moved! I have it in mind to make a gift of this beautiful painting to Marion. Though I love it, she knows the artist and loves her. I don't think I can keep this one, but I am so happy to have found it.

Random thrift junk

2008-07-12T18:22:00.002-04:00

We decided to stop in the Animal Shelter Thrift Store today on the way home from lunch and found all this great junk:
Stephen has actually been wanting this silly carrot for some time. Not sure why? Today I finally let him have it, if you want a 25cent carrot for long enough I'll buy it for you.
And what do you do with an enormous white tiger? You give it to this guy! Ethan has a huge collection of tigers, but this is his first white one.
Other than that I got a bunch of random books, Brian got a few ties and I got one length of cute fabric. Not a bad haul.

I need to start bringing a camera right into the store. There was this thing Kim would have freaked for. It was an old cashregister. Like really super old with stand up keys and I honestly couldn't quite figure out how it was used, it hand a pull down crank and all. Interestingly, it was in the "office supplies" section, not the "adorable antique" section. As if someone was to come along and buy it for their store or something. I wish I could have taken a photo.

OH and Brian went back and got some edger trimmer thingie for the yard. So that's a good find too.

Happy times on two dollars

2008-07-11T18:54:00.006-04:00

Yesterday my boys and I went to Goodwill. The first thing we found was a Thomas the train take a long set- with lots of extra trains! All for $1.98! If you know anything about Thomas you know an incredible deal this is! I happen to have a Thomas FREAK in my house!

- it folds in the middle to take with you!

-close up of Harold and his friends

Next was my favorite find. First, let me start by saying ...I love fall and I love watercolor. So when I found this water color painting of a fall scene...I got weak in the knees! It was only a $1.98 too!

Hope to hit some more sales this weekend! Wish me LUCK!

Big Bowl, Little Bowl, Big Mistake.....

2008-07-11T17:04:00.002-04:00

So today I had a happy thrift expedition with Pat. She got loads of books and a great tea towel. I found, first, the big bowl. It weighs a ton, is extra large and has seashells all over it. Seafood salad at a party? Pasta salad on surf and turf night? Great deal. Then I found the little bowl which didn't photograph too well, but it has fleur d'lis and pressed roses all around it! It is beautiful. And the little one was only $1.00. Katie loves all things French, and cranberry sauce, so I guess this is going to be how I serve her holiday sauce. Then the mistake.

I am almost out of gas. I think I have to call Triple A soon if I don't get gasoline. I go to a Citgo and the pumps will not reset or read my card. I'm flustered, so I leave, drive five miles and find a Hess which would have been perfect ($4.01????) but realize, I left my gas cap at Citgo. So I put some gas in the car and drive five miles back north and - no gas cap at the station. So, it's somewhere on US1. I look. Nowhere to be found. So now it's time for a trip to Napa Auto Parts, which, luckily, had my gas cap for a mere $6.37. I'm happy about this, but it sucked the joy out of my thrifty bargains. Oh well. I never have done that before, zoomed off in a huff and left the gas cap on the trunk. Live and learn. Nice bowls though.....

Hand Made Envelopes

2008-07-06T22:38:00.003-04:00

First I'd like to note that this post introduces a new category label for us. Both Kim and I make lots of handmade items from our thrift finds, so we have decided that it's appropriate to share some pics of those too. We both do have blogs dedicated to our crafts if you want to see more. :) So the new category is "Thrift Creations".

And here is mine for today. I found this book at the flea market. (which was suprisingly fantastic this weekend, I could have stayed there all day) I then made this stack of handmade envelopes from the pages inside. There are tons more pages, I just did the ones for the 3 Bears story. Isn't the art on this book fantastic?

Santa, Sauce Bowl, Ashtray

2008-07-04T14:06:00.003-04:00

I ended up at Gary's Old Curiosity Shop yesterday. He's going out of business, for a while anyway, and having 50% off everything in the store. I've been looking at this old 1950s Santa in there for a while and at half price, well.... And the sauce bowl/gravy boat is just like the one I grew up with, so that is handy. I didn't need the ashtray, but it has pressed roses on it and I do love roses. Big day of shopping, $6.00 grand total.

Gump in English and Cap and Plate

2008-07-01T17:40:00.003-04:00

Today, I had to go to Stuart on business. And there are great thrift stores there, so Pat joined me. She got a very cool Hello Kitty umbrella and a good quilt book. I was so happy to be done with my business, I enjoyed the thrifting later than she did. ( Or else Erin, I would never have let her get away with a 50 cent Hello Kitty Umbrella!!!) Anyhow, I got a neat book for myself, no photo, and I got Jeff an English version of Winston Groom's "Gump Ka Kumppani". Too funny, he got it on vacation because of the "Gump" in the title, and I found it later... anyway, one of his favorite movies. Turns out, this is the sequel to Forrest Gump. He will be thrilled.

And, I found a ball cap. Jeff wears them from time to time, but for a whole dollar, I got it. "Brown and Brown" turns out to be an insurance company specific to the real North. Anyway, Jeffrey, today was all about you.

And the plate: My pattern but pastel green. Hmm... And really Buffalo China. Pat found it to give me and says, "Well honey, it's Florida Green".... That works for me.

Towel and Plate

2008-06-27T12:23:00.003-04:00

I didn't thrift a lot on vacation, but got these at one of the many thrift stores in Fort Myers Beach. A perfect dishtowel for a gardener and another piece of "restaurant china", although this one is US Navy. I have several other pieces of military dining room (mess?) china so I was happy to see the plate.

Back from Vacation

2008-06-25T18:39:00.010-04:00

We just got back from Fort Myers Beach and Birmingham. I found three things, all in Goodwill. First, I found a book callen Gump Ja Kumppani. It appears to be either German or Dutch.

Second, I found a genealogy book made for someone named James R. Tarpley.

Last, I found a handmade camel. A sticker says he is from in India.

Bad News

2008-06-18T17:39:00.003-04:00

Went back just now. During rush hour. In the rain.

Stickers are gone. :(

"An older lady bought them about an hour ago, she was very excited, was going to use them on some big project"

She might have cleaned out the rest of the craft section, it was empty. Maybe they will get more crafts in there now? Does it work that way?

Anyhow "older lady" if you are a blog reader great steal... I mean find. :(

Crafty Stuff

2008-06-18T14:14:00.002-04:00

I really took the boys to the thrift store to kill time. Poor Stephen is still on his search for The Red Carpet book and Hungry Hungry Hippos game.

We only went to one store, the one we go to most often, The Humane Society of Jacksonville Thrift Store. Kid's book are all 4 for a dollar, so I let them pretty much get whatever they want. Today I did make them keep it to 4 each. I got a book for my Mother-In-Law, who loves those "search for the hidden pictures" type books. Then I hit the craft section. I found all this junk:

Let's see, tons of fabric. (been making softies, google it, there are TONS of sites on them) Polyfill for stuffing softies, a zipper in a fun green color, some nice buttons to use for eyes, and tons of the envelope size I use on my handmade cards. Oh and more silk flowers to rip apart and use as accents on cards.
Here is a close up on the fabric. I wanted to have lots of fabrics to be able to play with, but I'm not really good yet, so I didn't dare spend lots of money. This was perfect. One of those was just 5 cents! None was over a dollar. And some are fuzzy and stuff.

All this great loot was only $16! Gotta love that.

I need to go back though. There was this HUGE roll of stickers. I mean HUGE, must have been way over a thousand of them. They were large ovals with a rooster on them and they said, "Crafts with Attitude". How cool is that? I didn't get them because what on earth would I do with several thousand rooster chickens. Kim convinced me though. She said she'd take some off my hands, then I could sell them on Etsy too. You know, "20 craft rooster stickers for a buck" type thing. I really wanted like 100 of them. So I'm going to go back either after the boys wake up from naps or tomorrow and pick them up. Thing weighs like 5lbs.

If you need a handful of craft roosters let me know. I'll post here when I have them in hand and I can send you some. *yall blog readers can have them free*

Goodwill finds

2008-06-16T11:24:00.003-04:00

This weekend, I took the boys and we went to Goodwill. I got two to the best things. Ok, maybe they are just great to me and my art.

First I got a DYMO labeler kit: 3 wheels, 2 tapes, in a neat hard case.

* Price $1.95

Next I got this 13 x 15 3/4 inch Columnar book. This is a huge book we plan to use to press flowers and leaves. I will most likely take a few pages to use in my art too!

* price $1.95

Happy times for under $4.00!

Friday the Thirteenth Update

2008-06-13T18:20:00.005-04:00

So, after thirty min . or so, Jack cleaned out the dryer. And the laundry room. And I vacuumed the house. And the wonderful; and it really was, before I killed it, throw, is now in our garbage can. But! The whole day was not a loss. I got the great book! Back Roads of New England!. I love that this artist came close; really, really close, to my old starting place. So, the book was worth it! And, I get to show off my beautiful Cleopatra again, because if she likes it, it must be interesting.

And my Mrs. Murphy, the gray and white tiger. She is my favorite, but don't tell the other cats! We have three, and the black and whites tend to gang up on The Murphalator. I can't imagine why.

And the first kitty, the Lilith. She is a force of her own. But, supposedly she is Cleo's sister. Hmmm, except for the black and white thing, they have nothing in common. I love all three. And I will NOT let in, the black juvenile that is hanging around (all the neighbors feed it) and I will not let in the gray and white tiger kitten that eats here. ( Okay, we feed it, it must move on!!!!!)

Thrifting on Friday the Thirteenth

2008-06-13T14:24:00.005-04:00

I should have known better than to thrift on Friday the Thirteenth! Not all thrift stories are pretty ones. Well, this one was. Before I brought this beautiful throw home and tossed it in the washer and dryer (yes, on delicate!). Well. What possessed me to wash a throw with ten inch fringe in the machine?? Why didn't she stop when she was ahead of the game and only found a pound of cotton rag in the new washer? Why did she dry it for half an hour, create a snow storm in the laundry room, clog the dryer completely and then proceed to carry the mess through the house (with formerly dark green carpet, now spotted with cotton snow) and shake it in the backyard??

I did get a couple of cool books including one called "Back Roads of New England" with loads of hand drawn scenes of the old home area and local wildflowers. But I don't have time to enjoy it. I am going to be vaccuuming until tomorrow. And I can't wait for Jack to attempt to fix the dryer.....that job will involve the shop vac and a bent coathanger and maybe a roto-rooter thingy. What a mess. So anyway, I may or may not be able to salvage the throw, and that is not real snow all over my S. FLA lawn.

Kitty shirt

2008-06-12T11:02:00.002-04:00

I bought this kitty cat shirt to make my grandkids smile, especially Ethan who loves kitties. Works for me too! St. Vincent's thrift, $1.00 for many smiles.

Beach Horses

2008-06-07T19:08:00.006-04:00

The first horse is a plastic horse named Pegasus. I found Pegasus on a very stormy day at the beach. When he was flying his wings fell off and he crashed before me.

The second horse washed up on the beach. It had been decapitated. It was made of wax and was sticky from cooking in the sun. Linda wouldn't let me take it home because it was bodyless. The first thing we thought of was the Godfather scene.

My First Post

2008-06-07T17:36:00.003-04:00

I found this wonderful wooden Mexican man at Goodwill for $1.99. I call him Paco but, Linda is afraid of him because Dad said he probably hung on a Mexican restaurant bathroom door. He is dressed like a vaquero. When Linda takes a nap I sneak in and put Paco right near her face. HA HA HA...

Pile O' Junk for $2.50

2008-06-03T23:11:00.002-04:00

Gotta love thrifting! So I stopped in at the local Humane Society Thrift Store. Stephen is on an EPIC search for Hungry Hungry Hippos game. EPIC people! I just wanted something to do. No HHH today. :( for him. But I did let the kids pick out books. Stephen picked this "wonderful you" book which is sorta darling. Ethan had a hard time so I picked him this board book about Jacksonville (our town). Then I found these huge bags of silk flowers. More on that in a moment. Some craft sticks for, you know, crafting and a chipmunk card that I will cut the image out of and make a new card for Marcia my mother-in-law with.

Not pictured was a huge bag of clay that the boys are playing with here.

And I do something like this with the silk flowers. I actually made a card with my new ones and I'll replace this photo with that one when I get around to taking the picture.

A $2 dollar day

2008-05-31T16:34:00.005-04:00

Well, Saturday here in my town is yard sale day! It is the beginning of the season. So... I set out this am looking for some deals!

First stop- lots of stuff cheap!!! The only thing I had to have was this strawberry jar:

* 50 cents

Next couple of stops nothing. I really like old vintage things. My last stop and this is what I got:

* $1 for the milk container ( I will put flowers in it and place it in my garden) * 50 cents for the rusty shovel that will go on my porch this winter with greens on it!

Tomorrow is half price day at goodwill. Wish me lucky on some thrifty finds!

Welcome New Writers!

2008-05-25T11:22:00.002-04:00

I want to introduce you guys to two new ThriftFinds writers.

First is Kim H. Kim is a good friend of mine from my stamping world. She is a crazy brilliant designer. HERE is a link to her blog where you can read tons about her and what she does. One thing she does is hit thrift stores and garage sales. She gets all these wonderful odds and ends that she turns into great art. So of course I want her to share that stuff with us at Thrift Finds!

Second is Jeffrey Brown. Notice the last name? Yes? This is my step-brother. He's got a super fun eye for finding really, REALLY cool stuff. Seriously, he found a huge wax horse head a few weeks ago on the beach! Who finds that? Mom wouldn't let him keep it, apparently it was sticky from the sun. Anyhow that's the sort of awesomeness Jeffrey will be bringing us.

Friday's Thrift Expedition

2008-05-24T19:35:00.004-04:00

Friday was great. I took off with thrifty friends Marion and Patricia. We filled up the trunk of our car with goodies. Marion focused on clothes and got the capris that match the slacks, jacket and top she already had so she was lucky. She got lots of other bargains too. Patricia really cleaned up with all kinds of stuff, including a vintage hat stand/potential topiary form, beautiful glass lamp base.....

And I, naturally, found more art. I also got some great glasses (shaped like artichokes on stems), a robe, shoes (still for sale at Mephisto for $335, but I paid $5!!!), books... but yes, again, the art. I am obsessed with landscapes lately. Some of them seem magical to me like the huge oil I posted about two weeks ago. I agonized in Goodwill over two neat watercolors. One I loved, the other was clearly by the same artist but wasn't my favorite. But for $4.99 each I had to drag them home. Tonight I tore off the duck tape on the back of the frames, and realized it was there to cover rusty old nails. Got through that, got the back off the frames and found the paintings held in by masking tape, and something that looked like rotted electrical tape. You can see from the photo how the tape leached clear through the matting. I may have saved the art just in time. Anyway, flipping them over, they are signed D. Hill, Levittown NY 1951. Very cool since Jack had family there and still has one brother on Long Island that we visit from time to time. These are also identified as being studies of Nissequoque NY, which is very near one of our favorite towns on the north shore of LI, Port Jefferson. I'll be framing these up properly this week, and looking for wall space for them. Enjoy!

Vintage Aprons

2008-05-21T13:57:00.004-04:00

For my birthday my mom got me all these vintage aprons. Not vintage style aprons, actual vintage aprons:

*forgive my fat boobs, I gotta get back on loosing weight*

Florida Melodies

2008-05-18T11:24:00.003-04:00

Jack found this one yesterday when we stopped at the Hospice Thrift in Ft. Pierce after a morning of beachcombing. Twenty five cents, a steal just for the cover art! We still play our old vinyl on a turntable so there are crates and crates of old records here. About every other month we fire up the old "record player" and play the oldie but goodies. Even better for the light scratch or blip you hear now and then.

The back of the album is just chock full of information. This album was copyrited 1964 by YG records, Ft. Lauderdale and arranged for the 1964-65 World's Fair exhibit, "The Fabulous State of Florida". The jacket typos are great too, an example: " this album........."will long be remember for their hamonius cast......" two typos in one sentence! We are going to give this hamonius baby a spin this afternoon!

Heirloom paintings update

2008-05-10T17:09:00.003-04:00

We just got the family paintings home from the framer, and she did a fantastic job. The "Oriental Beauty" my mom did ended up with a handmade gilded frame, and I'm showing a painting Erin did as a teen, which they also framed beautifully. Some day Stephen or Ethan are going to love having that cemetery angel their mommy did! Syd, check out the frame on Mom's painting!

Monogrammed silver flatware

2008-05-07T21:05:00.004-04:00

Today's find, International Silver Company, 1950 Signature (also called Signature Rose) flatware. It's in great shape, and monogrammed. Service for eight (16 teaspoons which is nice) silver plated for less than stainless from a box store. The man at the Old Curiosity Shop even gave me a big discount when I pointed out that although the whole set is monogrammed "L", four teaspoons oddly are monogrammed "S". I figure since the L is for Linda (instead of my last name), the S is for my sister Sue when she comes down. We will have a tea party with the cups Erin got for me and Sue gets her very own monogrammed silver.

What is that oddly shaped spoon to the right of the knives for? I don't have another like it! Have I been serving some food incorrectly all this time???

Pillow (Cleo coming and going)

2008-05-04T16:28:00.003-04:00

Yes, Cleopatra inspired this purchase! Unless there is something really, really entertaining going on (note the crab climbing her pool cage) , it's impossible to get a photo of her from the front. So I saw this orange/pink/black batik pillow at Dogs and Cats Forever and had to have it. All handmade, it says "Ciao Baby" upper left, and is signed "Lane 92" on the lower right. "Lane" must have a Cleopatra!

More Paintings

2008-05-02T15:05:00.003-04:00

I found these two this morning at a thrift store on my way home from the framer's shop. If I keep this up, I will have to take up framing as a hobby! Anyway, the wonderful landscape reminds me of home in the Berkshires. It's just beautiful. It's signed "John" with a red circle after it. Whoever he is, I thank him. He made my morning. The landscape measures 20 X 29 and was a major investment at $4.00. I was thrilled!

The second painting looks to be acrylics. I am not a fan of the barn and the basket thing they sit on, but do love cardinals. I will live with this one in the spare room for a while, until my sister, who also adores cardinals, talks me out of it. I suspect she will really want this one. Sue, when you read this, e mail me and let me know if I can put a reserve on it for you! The cardinal painting came already framed and measures 16 X 18.