$2.25

Oh ever-elusive creamer, why don't people donate you more often? These are Mikasa brand and modern to boot - I'm branching out!

.95

A lucky little made in England score.

$2

Before:

During:

In waiting:

After:

Switchplate facts:

• Heavy.
  
• Brass - We aren't a brass people. I may have mentioned this before.
• Steve spotted it at the Goodwill.
• Made in Spain, Lauren.
  
• Teeheeheehee.
  
• Must paint our switches! Or something. They look a touch dingy.
  

$50 (part two)

Regarding the previous post, Lauren asks: What does it say on the bottom?
Dude!
Thanks for reminding me!
It says absolutely nothing...but I took this photograph a long time ago because the sides of the shelves do in fact say something: numbers.

$50

This is probably the single most fabulous thing I have ever thrifted. It is so fabulous, in fact, I haven't quite decided how to use it (you probably recognize some of those things on the shelves, no? This is where I keep my mom's plates I find for her collection, and other little homeless do-dads). I am a rotator by nature - I don't like to keep things the same for too long, so anything I put in here won't be the last word. I think someday when my white pottery collection is big enough, this would be a fine place to store it. I also thought, since it is in the kitchen nook, I could put some pantry dry goods in here - cans, glass jars filled with bulk foods, etc. I like showcasing my vintage tablecloths here, so they might stay for awhile.

Bonus: The glass doors are wavy! And the paint is such a great color I am definitely not going to touch it. Ever.

$3.95

I realized only after I brought this up to the counter that it wasn't 50% off like I thought it was - but I bought it anyway. It reminded me of my grandma's decor. The back is marked 1962, made in USA, by some gift company...it smells a little like roses, which is better than smelling like poo.

.95

So dainty. Missing the teacup unfortunately, but now that just means I get to hunt for it. It's from Bavaria, marked US ZONE (meaning, I think, it's from post-war Germany, between 1945-9).

.95

I love copper! I cleaned this miniature tea kettle up with a vinegar and salt scrub. I don't really know why I bought this, other than I just couldn't leave it at the thrift shop. It sort of communicated that to me when I picked it up for initial inspection - Don't Leave Me!

$7.95

Perhaps this will be the only Vuitton I ever own; I'm fine with that! Since the Louis Vuitton City Guides debuted in 1998, I have had a distant longing for them. This set, dated 2000, was "behind the counter" at the Veteran's thrift store. I was so surprised to see them in wonderful condition.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm busy planning a trip to Antwerp.

P.S. Can we talk about the fabulousness that is the color combination of orange and navy?

.59

Here is my downfall as a thrifter: I am quite discriminatory when it comes to dishes of any kind! I immediately flip them over and see where they've been made - I love anything USA crafted and/or made in England. I pass up a lot, even if I like it, and it doesn't come from either place. How crazy, right? I'm retraining myself to snag things I like - not for labels, but for their function and design. This little pitcher/creamer has no markings to speak of on its underside, but I thought it would make a sweet bud vase for my tiny roses.

$7.95

Again, for my mom's collection.

(The Fiestaware platter underneath is mine; it wasn't thrifted. I love Fiestaware.)

$15

EEEK.
Pricey! But when you start planting dozens and dozens of herbs, they need a future home. And it would be here, in these faux terracotta pots (Rubbermaid brand; extra sturdy). They look small in the picture, but I will get sufficient use out of them for years to come...because they have so much room!

$5

I almost passed these up, but I think I would have kicked myself in the long run, so I bought 'em. I probably shouldn't do this, but instead of hanging them, I think I'm going to turn them into flower pots.

.99

I like to buy new-looking paperbacks from the thrift shops. It doesn't matter if I've read them or not...if I see them in good condition and the price is reasonable, then I buy them. In this case, I was able to get Memoirs of a Geisha for ten cents. I read and passed on my copy long ago (this reminds me, I still haven't seen the movie...). Anyone want this copy? I will ship it to you if you e-mail me your address.

As far as Cold Mountain, The Dive from Clausen's Pier, and Running With Scissors...I haven't read these but they have been on my list for a long, long time. Now they are in my collection, like new!

$2

And from above:

Usually the new doesn't speak to me, but this tealight holder was so heavy and sweet that I picked it up, turned it over and saw the original Pottery Barn price tag on its underside: $19.00. Knowing I would never go into a Pottery Barn and pay $19 for this, I thought I should have it for $2. It's in great shape. Nice and clean. If the Goodwill employees didn't write their price with black marker over the Pottery Barn tags, I would have considered giving it as a gift! But truth be told, I sort of fell in love with it. So it's mine!

$4

For the mom's collection...all made in the USA.

$4.99

I happen to love paint-by-numbers and still lifes. I found this one last week - isn't it great? The colors are wonderful and I love that I can vaguely see the number guides poking through the paint.

$2.99

It is hard to see photos like this in thrift stores because I can't imagine how they ever get there...so I rescue them.

$7.95

Just one look at this foo-foo lamp and I had to have it.

'Twas made in Holland (that matters to me).

As you can see, it works well in the daylight and with a 40 watt bulb, it throws off some sweet light in the evening.

*Note to Lauren: the curtain in the background? Tablecloth!

$2.99

...Oh, the potential.

For now, it's black:

I love to spray paint metals! Instant upgrade.

I say the guest bathroom is black and white, but it's black and creamy as you can see. I love black and white. Love. Love. Love. I have white tapers that look smashing in black candlesticks.

update

The found frog now has some hair.
I think he looks hawt.

update

One of the many found planters I finally got around to filling...
Had to drill holes in the bottom for drainage:

Ta-da!

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!

$0

The back of this 5x7 oil painting is just as charming as the front - it still has the original price artist Doryce paid for the canvas back in the day: 16¢. And if that weren't enough, it was a gift from my mom, who also left the Goodwill tag on the back of the canvas.

$0

I say this cost $0, but in truth, the Baby Jade plant cost around $3 and the soil was a few bucks too. But the real beauty - the sink - was salvaged from a home in West Palm Beach. Steve was going to use it in his darkroom, but then he ended up building his own sink (by the by, I totally live with + love a genius). So we turned this into wall art/planter. Umm, schwing.

$2.99

I went to a Goodwill Boutique today. You ask (or you don't and I tell you), "What is a Goodwill Boutique?" It's just a plain old Goodwill with ridiculously higher prices. Scammers! I usually never go to them. But I couldn't not buy a few things on today's impromptu visit. This is a box for 2 decks of cards, so if I ever figure out how to play bridge, I'll be able to keep my cards someplace cute. Or my crack. You know.

$3.99

My first thrifted pillow! I couldn't resist its colors and its vintage chenille glam.

Bonus: Even though it looks nursing home, it sure doesn't smell like it.

$2.75

Those were the books for decoration I picked up last weekend at Salvation Army; they were .25 each. And I picked up that espresso cup and saucer ($1.99) in Portland over the holidays - I love the color combination (it reminds me of Crayola's original Sea Green and Olive, no?)! It's restaurant china, so it's really sturdy and you know me, I love me some restaurant china. However, I'm not familiar with the establishment logo...which is very sassy, I might add.

update

And...for the bigger picture:

Remember these? Well, they look pretty awesome hanging in a pair of windows we salvaged for free earlier this year from a home in distress. It's nice to have that big wall in our living room finally filled up with something (pretty, to boot).

$0

When Steve and I moved into our current residence, we had a lot of work ahead of us - the house was filthy and dated. Because of the swell deal we got in rent, the landlord gave us the go-ahead to do whatever we wanted with the place. As you can imagine, we have done a lot and our efforts have harvested some strange treasures. Meet the following picture - one of many vintage plastic ornaments we've found around the home:

We found three of these plastic ornaments, or wall hangings, rather, and I thought they might look neat spray painted. So, months later, I've finally come around to painting them shiny bright white. They aren't hanging just yet, but I'm eager to share.

All three of them:


And solo:

.25

I buy a lot of books at thrift stores and I never post them here because I just don't for some reason. There's a Salvation Army store that sells hardcovers for a quarter and paperbacks for a dime - awesome prices! Used books should be that cheap everywhere! Anyway, today I bought 4 hardcover books and all of them are really more for decoration than for reading...all of them have copyright dates 1947 or previous. When they're looking righteous (did I just use that word?) I will post them.

Until then, enjoy this pulpy romance novel. Poor, poor Barbara.

Also, on the back of this book are other titles from the same publisher (Triangle Books, ca. 1943). In a hot, steamy voice kind of way, let me share them with you:

• Airman's Wife
• Cabin Fever
• District Nurse
• The Foolish Virgin
• Impatient Virgin
• Private Duty
• Professional Lover
• Secret Marriage
• Student Nurse
• Younger Sister

One can only imagine the hits I'll get!