solid cherry plans for montana

I haven’t had much luck lately at the thrifts (if I could have a dime for each time I wrote that!) – I get so discouraged during these droughts.  And by this I mean there is no Pyrex anywhere!  I’m turning into a rabid thrifter.  I could start foaming at the mouth.  Not cute, but a real possibility unless I find some good stuff SOON!

On a different note, I’m going to Montana for Christmas.  My husband’s family has its perks:  a beautiful second home in the Wild West.  Since I live in a very warm place, my stash of winter clothes is a little *pathetic*.  George doesn’t even have a stash!!  I’m planning on second-handing my winter wardrobe.  So I’ll let you know how that goes.  Here is my inspiration, from two Christmases ago, when I found myself celebrating the season in MT:













Looks like I'll need, in the very least, a dash of red. :)  Or, shall I say, cherry.  Cheery cherry.

$1

The Christmas finds continue…
I’m adding this to my so-far small ceramic tree collection (I posted about my other one here); I hope it one day grows large enough to fill my mantle!  This one is about eight inches tall, give or take (probably taller).
I saw a large one, decked with lights, at a Goodwill not too long ago but I left it behind because the tree didn’t properly sit in the base.  It was two pieces and I could just the tree tumbling over…over…over…and now that there’s a baby on the way, I thought the better of it. 
Why do I love these funny trees so much?!

$5

Pyrex is never out of season!  Ever!  I was delighted beyond all delight to find this holiday-ish piece a couple of weeks ago.  It is in great condition!  I already snapped its picture (as you can see) and put it up with my snowflake pieces.  See you come the wintertime, beautiful Pyrex!

$4

Pyrex, I love you.  But gol dang, you've gotten so hard to find!

I'd all but given up thrifting for rare Pyrex and then this turns up...I'm renewed!  You don't know how long I've been searching for this color combo in the snowflake pattern!  A long time; in fact, years!  Since I started collecting Pyrex in 2006, I've been in love with the snowflakes, but the striking white on black has been a long chase and I'm so thrilled to have finally scored it!

I'm having a lot of luck lately with the wintery goop.  Must be due to some spring cleaning?  Whatever the case, I hope it continues...

$5

I have always adored the Made in Germany Waechtersbach Christmas pattern. Always!  I grew up with one single piece of it that my mom brought out at Christmastime - a mug.  It was my favorite mug because it said 1979 on it, my birth year, and because it long kept my cocoa hot.  When I see the pattern now, and I know you can still buy it new in department stores, I get happily nostalgic.

Now, I've been scouring the thrifts and for the first time in months, this purchase is one I'd actually consider a score.   I found both bowls at a Goodwill, bottom shelf (I'm adding bottom shelf since I now have a belly; bending down is like an Olympic sport and mine was a gold medal performance).  There were two other pieces: a cupcake stand and a tray, but both were chipped beyond my liking.  Since it was "Christmas," both pieces were half price.  So the total came to a whopping five bucks and change.  Woohoo!

happy red & pink & white

Loving this Valentine's Day banner, homemade by mom.

.99

Here's the scoop:  I love Christmas!  I'm still growing my very small collection of decorations, therefore I do scan the holiday aisle(s) in the thrifts for small treasures.  My heart swells for homemade ceramics (see Mr. Jack-O-Lantern here), and I have this vision lately to find dozens of ceramic trees to put all over my "mantle" -- a.k.a. the top of one of my cabinets -- thereby creating a forest of fancies.  My grandma made a tree like this way back in the day, and it still fascinates me.  Anyway, this little guy, perhaps a napkin holder at one time, might hold my holiday cards.  Like I get that many!  But who knows...maybe he'll bring me tons this year!

$2.50

I said to Steve today, "I think I have a new thing to collect." He turned white and fell over. Just kidding! But I do have something new that I'm looking out for (and that I have been, actually). Retro jack-o-lanterns!

There's a story in all of this. Steve and I have the same birthday, October 29. It's close to Halloween, so, how can I not love jack-o's? Pumpkins are symbols of birthdays to me - and Fall, my favorite time of year. In fact, this very jack-o-lantern was made 10/15/1979, mere days before my birth (does that mean I'm retro?!). So it's a little kitschy, but I'm smitten for his toothy grin.

As we're in the process of moving, pardon the mess!

$1.50

A Fire King bowl holding some of my favorite things: painted Christmas light bulbs. I'll stash the bulbs for Christmas crafty goodness and use them in some way but the bowl has already made its way into my cupboard!

.99

Happy Easter, tulips and all...

$2.79

One thing I have noticed about myself is that I like to sublimely decorate for the holidays. And you ask, how are pastel bunny lights sublime? Well, they aren't. They're kind of out there! These were in a brand new box and I am always intrigued by patio lights; the tackier...well, the better!

...Now I'm off to eat my Cadbury Mini Eggs, which are giving me a not-so-sublime donut around my midsection. Ooof!

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I'm just doing this to cover my ass: I might not be posting much this week+. My sister is in town!

$29.50

I was able to give Steve an assortment of thrifted things for a Christmas gift. As promised, here are some of the treasures I found in Portland.

$4.99:
This toy printing press has so much promise - all of its little pieces seem to be accounted for; even the original bottle of ink and operating manual have survived its many years. When a weekend afternoon affords the time to play with this, we'll hopefully print something and I will post it here.


$19.95:
Earlier this year, I inherited this exact camera from my grandpa. When I was gone from Florida over the holidays, Steve told me he had been using it, a lot, and consequently had fallen in love with the camera. Not that we don't share (hah!), but when I saw a mint-ish Canon AE-1 for $20, I had to buy it for him. Now we have his-n-hers Canons...


$4.50:
In general, the merchandise at Portland thrift stores is more costly than it is in South Florida. Books were outrageously expensive in Portland! I guess I understand this by knowing the book culture in Portland, but I don't understand why men's T-shirts were $4.99! My mom found this one and insisted I buy it for Steve. I am glad I did. And I am glad she has white hair: I got the senior discount, so it turned out to be $4.50. It's brand-spanking-new. And, we love Michelle Shocked's song, Anchorage. So it was kind of perfect.


He loved everything!

cha-ching

...I have been thrifting in Portland. Why did I think this would not be a good idea? I have scored! I have vintage tablecloths to boot. A vintage toy printing press! A working Canon AE1! Cameo earrings! A brand new T-shirt for Steve from an Alaskan brewery. I cannot wait to show you my treasures.

Hope all of you had a beautiful Christmas! I have no idea if we are still in the thick of the 12 days of Christmas, but if we are, I am happy about that.

More thrifting seems likely today...believe it or not!

The same still goes for the New Year: cheers + be safe my darlings.

I miss it here!

*sob*

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I am really happy with the progress of my new blog.

That said, I will be sad to neglect Solid Cherry for the next coming weeks while I'm on holiday in Portland. I will not be actively thrifting while I'm there. 1) It is competitive!, and 2) thrifting in Florida is better (lots of old folks live in Palm Beach County - this is good for thrifting, but not for driving). Besides, my favorite thrift store, the St. Vincent de Paul store formerly on the corner of SE Holgate and 82nd AVE in Portland is no longer (hasn't been for some time now).

But I do have some non-photograph posts in mind if I have the patience to battle dial-up, so keep coming back! Or if you would rather wait, I will see you next year!

Cheers + be safe!

edit 12/18: get your thrifting fix at foolish girl

Happy Thanksgiving

Of course, the thrift shops are closed today, as they should be.

I'm *not* going to go shopping on Friday.

I would rather bake, photograph, do projects, paint, write, bike, walk.

(I am doing my best to make my holiday gifts and to buy resale).