What's new in the world of thrift shopping?
Well here are just a few finds from last week. 

  This ceramic faux bois platter, I looove. It's originally from Crate & Barrel 

but I found it at the Goodwill for less than 3 bucks.  A Faux bois design that's ON a platter? It's pretty much my dream find. Of course I'll say that about the next thing but for today it is. 

Again with the candlesticks.
 I can't help it. Aged brass is my favorite 

and they come in so handy for all kinds of tablescapes and decorating.
Primarily they just sit in a smaller group
on the credenza though. (They number around 20 I think overall?)
I should pare them down but in due time. I can't be rushed into that process.
The large one on the left, I bought in Hot Springs, Ark last year for about $5.00.
But the other two are the most recent at $2.47 and $1.00

I like it when the candle melts and drips all over. It can always clean up. Nothing is that precious around here.

 I don't really need another vintage blue jar but the color is so great and I can't pass them up when I find them so inexpensively. If for nothing else I can use them as vases. A keystone jar has eluded me but I found one and since I live in the Keystone state...well it's kind of a keeper. The other one I found is an Atlas jar with a presto lid (on the far right) I love it when they keep their lids on ;)

 

I always wonder about their ages. If you do too, here's a handy tool found I on Minnestrista 
that gives the date and distinguishing features of the jars.

A handy guide, isn't it?

We'll see what I stumble upon this weekend. Happy hunting!


Linking to:
 Chic on A Shoestring | I heart Naptime | 
Flourishing at Home | The Dedicated House

Intelligent Domestications

Friday Finds: Goodwill Outlet, the Hunger Games of thrift shopping

Do you have a Goodwill Outlet near you? It's the craziest thing I've seen and I am absolutely hooked.

It's a semi-large building with big blue containers of stuff that you just have to dig your way through. All of the bins are separated in basically two departments: one side for clothes and the other for everything else. You pay by the pound which is usually really low. Mine is .59 cents a pound for clothes and glass but I don't bother with clothes. I head straight for the other side, digging into the dishes and household bins. (Update* I went there today and the price is going up to $1.19 lb)

Let me just tell you that people are not careful about tossing dishes when they dig. I've had to duck a few times when people get a little feisty. Not kidding. When a new bin is brought out people run to it and the workers have to tell everyone to move out of the way. Some days it's hit or miss on the finds but this day was definitely a hit and not as busy as usual.

Now for the finds:

I had this Robinson Ransbottom canister in my cart and a woman came up to me and said she had the lid to it so she brought it to me. I found two pitchers at a yard sale once and put them in the shop so when I saw the canister I knew it was from the same collection. The company began in 1856 and merged to become Robinson Ransbottom in 1920. They closed in 2005 so it's a good time to hunt down the older pottery pieces. Interest in it is gaining. It's well made and the farmhouse utilitarian look is certainly in demand. Be on the lookout for it!

Another favorite was the vintage glass candlestick. I have a collection of candlesticks which I tend to pare down every now and then. I also got the silver one there as well.

I loved finding this vintage paperweight. Any type of ephemera is right up my alley.

Another silver pitcher? Why not? I put this one in the shop.

How about a vintage ironstone platter? I tend to collect those as well, along with cutting boards. The one I found (top) has more crazing and discoloration than the others but I never mind that. It's a heavy 16" platter in the Loop and Line pattern, with no chips or cracks.

J.F. stands for Jacob Furnival and Co. and he produced Earthenware and Ironstone from 1845-1870 in Cobridge, Staffordshire, England. I always love to see markings.

I also found a bunch of mismatched china, some old goblets and a small silver trophy cup. Another person handed me an item, a glass heart candy dish (not pictured) with a large hobnail rim. For the life of me I can't remember the pattern name. She told me that she was married in 1953 and got a 16 piece set (that the candy dish was a part of) as a wedding gift. Regrettably she got rid of it. I told her she should keep the dish but she insisted I have it. Nice, right?

And in all my total was $12.61. 

A quick snap of the outlet

Have a good day!

Love, 

L

Linking to

French Country Cottage | Clairejustine

What about Co. |  Chic on a Shoestring

Tidy Mom |  Shabby Art Boutique

The Girl Creative | My Sweet Things

Friday thrifting Finds - Ironstone china

It's hard for me to pass up white ironstone china, especially when I find it so inexpensively. This seems to be the one item that thrift store personnel don't seem to know much about so it is usually priced really well.

It was first patented in the United Kingdom in the early 19th century but made its debut in the United States in the 1840s. It was a cheaper and more durable alternative to porcelain. I tend to be drawn to more plain, simplistic ironstone but do love transferware as well, which has a lot of pattern.

In my thrifting travels this week, I ended up finding an array of creamy whites: china, ironstone, pottery and porcelain dishes.

Why I love it:

The pottery piece: It's useful, has a great design, good size and sturdy, appears to be mid-century and was only .25 cents.

The plate: Not vintage but cute and useful.

The Platters: The top two are Johnson Brothers English ironstone. Fine dotted detail, slight crazing (which I don't mind) octagonal shape. The bottom one is a newer, everyday piece, sturdy, oval shaped, perfect condition. I used it tonight to bring the burgers off the grill. I have quite a collection of platters which I use all the time because of their versatility and I have never paid much for them, 2 to 3 dollars max.

Lotus bowls: Size and delicate shape, surprisingly useful and not just for Japanese food. But if they were, it would be ok with me - I could live solely off Japanese food. I have.

The little pitcher: Vintage Tepco China, USA. Tepco made restaurant ware from the 30's until 1968 for the hospitality industry. It's also called Hotel china. Sometimes you can find restaurant ware with the logo of a hotel, airline, restaurant or branches of the military. It's heavier than normal dinnerware because it had to stand up to a lot of use, which is why I love it. I use the pitchers to hold other items like vintage silverware or everyday utensils. I also use them as vases but put a glass inside if there is too much crazing where the water will leak.

Lenox Butler's Pantry vegetable bowl. Why I love it - it's a Butler's Pantry bowl. This is the pattern that I have been wanting forever. The whole line is beautiful and complements any simply patterned dishes, like my standard white. Keeping it monochromatic allows me to use all the different thrift store finds I have and is just easy to throw together for a fun, easy to use collection.

Happy hunting!

Linking to 

The Happy Housie

The Girl Creative

The Shabby Nest

Thoughts from Alice

Natasha in Oz

The Robin's Nest

The Casual Craftlete

Coastal Charm

Nancherrow

Little Miss Celebration

Friday Finds - reprising my weekly post

Despite the fact that flea markets and thrift stores are overpriced here, I was able to find a few things that left me feeling pretty good about my purchases. Even though we probably won't be living here very long, we don't want the house to look like squatters live here. So the first thing we purchased was a great, down-filled sofa off Craigslist and then found this massive clock at a church yard sale.

This cute little mid-century stool was a great buy. It just needs new fabric to give it a burst of life and a little Minwax stain pen for touch ups on the wood.

I found a large glass coffee table at a 2nd hand shop. The top is so large and heavy that it's still in the back of my car waiting for Jon to help me lift it. I'm painting the base to freshen it up with a new line of chalk paint. It's always nice to see what new products are out. We've used 3 different brands in the shop, and honestly, the only difference in them are price and array of colors.

Just the base

The leather side chair was a great find as well from another thrift store which may receive a coat of light gray paint. I haven't decided. Not everything needs to be painted but this may be a little too dull, especially with the yellow leather and the fact that we're drowning in brown.

And last but not least, I picked up this window from a flea market. I paid more than I wanted but liked the detail on it. I'm planning on a light white wash to marry the different types of wood but will still allow the natural wood to show.

So that is the round up this week. There are more but mainly just decorative items which don't need any rehab, thank goodness. So for all pieces, including the couch, we only spent $240.00. Not a bad start to furnish the living room.

Have a great 4th of July weekend to the USA and a great weekend the world over! :)

Love,
L




Linking up at Shabby Nest

The New Mrs. Adventures

 View from the Fridge

 Funky Junk Interiors

 Fine Craft Guild

Thoughts from Alice

DIY Showoff

The Casual Craftlete

The Happy Housie

@Home Again - A shop in a co-op

So a few months ago my friend Starr and I decided to open a little shop. We looked around for locations, mulled a few over, tossed around budget numbers and ultimately decided on opening a fairly large space inside a co-op rather than our own storefront for now. About 13 years ago I had a space inside a co-op in Utah. After working for an awesome interior designer, I felt that she had given me great inside info about how to start my own home accessories/vintage store and she really encouraged me to branch out. Not long after I began mine, my husband was transferred to Washington DC and I had to close out. Fast forward 13 years and I finally get to try it again!

We didn't go into this haphazardly, we really set goals and a vision of where we want to go with this which I'll address at some point because it may help if you're thinking of opening a shop. The market may seem saturated but there are ways of separating yourself from the crowd.

After frantically sourcing accessories and reworking/redoing furniture, we opened on April 1st and have stayed busy ever since. Its been a lot of work and so much fun, even with kids' chaotic schedules, family life and each of us holding down jobs outside of this venture as well. It truly is a partnership which I enjoy and appreciate so much.

We have a variety of new and vintage accessories and furniture and are constantly sourcing items. I try to really have one of a kinds. It doesn't surprise my husband when he opens the car door and finds another piece of furniture. Its amazing what you can fit inside of a Durango, like a 10 ft kayak. (That wasn't for the shop.) I do have a 1960's Drexel bar table in the back of my car right now, though. I couldn't pass it up after spying it at a thrift shop. A problem for me is that I mainly buy what I like and I want to keep just about everything. I also buy some things that are not my taste but I know someone would like it. Researching trends, antiques and guestimating what will be up and coming really is the fun of it I think.

I need to take some newer pictures but this gives you an idea of where we started. Lots more to come!

Getting ready to paint

Taken as we were setting up in late March. This is just a corner of the space. It's a little crowded now.

Have a great day,

L

Friday Finds - a little kitchen collection under $5

This round up of Friday Finds is all kitchen related. It just so happened that way. I don't usually set out to have a theme but I like it when it all relates anyway.

While I was waiting for one of the kids to come out of a meeting, I went across the street to the Goodwill and found this Orla Kiely canister which now holds my teas. I remember when these came out at Target and wished I had gotten the 3 piece set before they sold out. 97 cents was worth the wait. Even Jon thought it was cool.

Later that day I spotted an estate sale. You should never pass those up. Estate sales are usually way better than yard sales. There were a lot of things there but nothing that was of much interest to me; basically lots of collections of things I don't collect. But I did spy a folded up wooden piece. When I unfolded it, I realized it was a trivet. Love those unusual finds. They sold it to me for $1.00 and they gave Trae a Hershey's keychain. We both came away happy.

A while back as I was walking through my favorite antique mall I found this two-tiered tray and didn't hesitate. A faux bois pattern in matte gold for $3.00?? It was practically shouting my name. I bought some paper doilies and cut them to fit so it stays food-safe because who knows what type of finish is on it. I have to do some baking this weekend so it'll be full of desserts... for a minute or two.

 

 

Have a happy weekend!

xo

Laura

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Shabby Nest

Finding Fabulous

House of Rose



Friday Finds {Christmas style}

It's been a while since I posted any Friday Finds. It's actually been a while since I've been out on my scavenger hunts at all. I sure do miss them. Last week while I was out looking for ugly sweaters for a friend's party, I ran across this footed bowl. It was just $1.50. I loved the Jade green and thought it was perfect for holding some of my old Christmas ornaments since the glass jar I usually use crashed to the ground last year.

I also picked up this pine cone wreath for a dollar but thought it was too drab and tired but really well constructed. It actually looks better in the picture than it really was.

I needed it to be a bit more festive so nothing a little spray paint and highlighting some details can't fix! You know I love acorns...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My most favorite find was a faux bois tiered serving platter but I haven't taken a picture of it yet. Believe me when I say it's super cute and at $3.00 a steal.

 

It's good to do a little thrifting every now and then, don't you think?

 

Have a great day.

Friday finds - Guarding the pencils

Sometimes I'll spy something thrifty and have a very specifc purpose in mind, assuming whomever I use it for will like it too. But that can be a miss at times.

So when I saw this 50-cent-pot-bellied-thrift-store owl, I thought it was perfect to hold Reese's precious colored pencil set. He loves to draw with real art pencils.

But I also thought this owl looked a little scary so the plan was to spray paint it. I put it up in his closet to safe keep until then. I spent the entire afternoon on Labor Day cleaning out his room. Entire afternoon. Boys can quickly destroy a room with all their antics and what Reese calls his "Karate chop incidents."

After I cleared his dresser, I rotated some of his decorative things. Even boys like to display their precious items. His glass/rock frog collection took its turn in the drawer and all of the Beyblades went back in the minnow bucket. I pulled out the owl, plopped in the pencils and put it on his dresser. I was surprised that when I told Reese I wanted to paint it he said "Noo. I like his blue tie!"

So now he proudly sits guard over the pencils and its colors and strangeness all seem to work, don't you think?

Here's to those simple things that can make you happy.

Friday (the 13th) Finds were not unlucky

I scored a few deals on some things that I didn't even set out to find in my travels today. They seemed to all be kitchen related too, except for the sweet Craftsman jig saw I got at a garage sale...

But the kitchen stuff had me extra giddy when I saw a Polka dot Pyrex. I won't even tell you how much because you'd cry. It was that cheap.

...and the old bottle holder. I scooped it right up thinking it could house some of my big oil bottles for cooking or maybe some colorful bottles as vases or just hold some water bottles for now. It's a little delicate so I can't really cart it around. She'll just have to stay put and look pretty.

and then there were some other things but they'll have to wait until next time. Tomorrow I may even see if the lucky streak continues. Just looking of course.

Back to the cutting board - DIY

This summer has been amazingly busy so far. My day job is occupying so much of my time and mind. Truthfully, I am at a crossroads but I have no doubt that a solution will come.

So right now I am taking a little break from emails, info. packets, and talking with people on the phone to get to a few other things that I really like to do. I might die if I don't do that.

So...the other day I found an older wood cutting board. I have always noticed them in magazines and wanted a few of my own, like this.

Leaning against the window

via Elle Decor

under the shelves, next to the stove
Domino magazine

left side, leaning on wall

Domino magazine

I've seen them at antique malls and pass by, figuring I'd get them another day. But you know what happens when you think like that? Yep, you snooze you lose.

So I'm at the thrift shop (where else) and spot it, thinking, 'Hey that's got possibilites.' so I snatch it up, turn it to see the price (a whopping .99 cents!) and take it to the counter thus ending my self-imposed thrift store purchasing hiatus.

But I wanted a better patina and to make it food safe. So I pulled out my trusty mouse sander to smooth it and then wiped on just like Mr. Miyagi, using Tung oil that I use on my counter tops.

Now it has a nice, warm glow and is so safe you could lick food right off of it.

Have a great day!

Linking to Under the table and Dreaming

Southern Hospitality

Knick of Time

Friday Finds - it's frametastic

I'm reworking the family picture wall and picked up a few more frames. They were only a few dollars each. The one on the left (from the local Mennonite thrift shop) received a basic white lacquer finish while the one on the right (from the G-dub) only needed a light coat because I wanted the details and antique finish to show through.

The pictures inside were not behind glass and were not made to swap out so I'll have to just lay my pictures right over top. That's even easier. Now to figure out who goes in what frame...

Here's to good finds!

Have a nice weekend

Linking to Craft Envy

Linking to Six Sister's Stuff

Linking to Be different, Act normal

Not so far off base - diy

As I was looking through Lonny Magazine, I came across this page and was really surprised to see the pear terrarium. It reminded me of my thrift store version but worth a whole heck-uv-a lot more moolah, $200-$1500.00

"Click" on photo to enlarge

Back then I thought it may have been used as a tealight holder but liked the idea of a terrarium instead. I'm glad I kept it because now I think I'll re-do it for summer with some succulents. It lasted a long time just sitting on my desk and receiving a spritz of water every now and then until Trae man decided to play in its dirt.

I'm glad to see I wasn't so far off base afterall...with the exception of the price.

Frame hoarding

is a disease and I have it.

But really, this is just because almost every wall in my house is empty. Some of the artwork, like the ones to the right, I have removed from the walls and haven't decided if they're going back in place. A couple are spoken for so they are getting new homes. There are actually more than what is shown here.

I may need an intervention.

What can I say? I like to swap out pictures and frames.

The frame to the left is getting a makeover but I have to wait another 7-10 days for a new poster print. The one I ordered for it was not the right size. I had trouble guessing the cropped size since I am using the center rectangle for the picture's placement. The fretwork will be given a new color as well as the solid background and then the picture will float in the middle. In my mind it is a great idea. But then again I thought it was a great idea to hike inside a monkey preserve.

We'll see.

Under 3.00 and free

This kind of stuff makes me happy.

A $2.12 jug with a little somethin' extra (details)

and a flowering tree - free courtesy of Mother nature...and the people who planted it before we moved here

makes it easy for me to bring in a little Spring cheer.

Linking to Funky junk Interiors