Do pieces of artwork "speak" to you? Are you drawn to pictures and paintings that you really can't explain why you like but you just know you do? I am all over the map there. I remember being in an art history class in college, just knowing I'd be an art museum curator someday. It didn't turn out that way as I am nothing more than a dilettante. But I rather enjoy being a curator in my own home.

Over the years I have been collecting thrift store art. A far departure from the great works and not the most masterful of paintings but some are beautiful and interesting in their own right. I'm not sure it was a deliberate collection but just like anything else you like, you begin to gather and it grows around you I guess.

Of course when you are only paying from .35 cents to my most expensive bank-breaking purchase of $7.99, a collection is easily doable. Once they are displayed together, it looks more substantive. Boom - art curator in da house.

So on to the details of a few. Ok, maybe ten.

I love water scenes and muted colors. $3.99, thrift store. I still need to change out the frame.



Nature prints and pictures are on my list too. This one is a vintage print of El Capitan, which is in Yosemite, one of our favorite places. $3.00, yard sale

Another water scene, $2.99 thrift store

This I purchased for the frame only, but when I took it apart to clean and insert a family photo,

this print was behind the cardboard. $.35 cents, flea market.

Sweet, pensive girl, $.50 cents, yard sale

Paint by numbers, which I originally purchased for Charley's room when she was little, was $5.00, eBay. (I recently saw this very painting in a magazine featuring a designer's own home so I felt vindicated buying these weird birds.)

Watercolor fields, $1.00, thrift shop.
Also on my radar are old group photographs, $1.00, flea market

I also look out for vintage photographs of places we have lived. This is a picture of the Salt Lake valley. The price tag sticker said "Colorado Rockies." $7.00, found at an antique shop in Maryland.

So there you go, art for under $25.00. Now check back on Wednesday when they'll be up with a few other things in a new display.

Have a great Monday!

Treasure hunting on vacation - Day 1, the Flea Market

As you drive toward Gatlinburg, TN you'll see many signs for antique shops and a few flea markets. There were so many that I could not decide which one to hit. The car was in much need of a good cleaning evidenced by a few days of the kid's snack wrappers in the back seats. So while Jon was at the car wash, I decided on the flea market. The huge sign boasting that it was the area's largest was the hook.

I had no plan on what to buy. I wasn't really looking for anything in particular. Those markets can be hit and miss so I usually stay at the booths outside where you are more likely to find odds and ends and not the year round booths indoors that sell everything from puppies to velvet Elvises - I was tempted on both counts. Oh, yes I was.

But I settled for this yellow vintage pyrex bowl - $3.00. Not only for looks or color, they are actually usable items. I saw the same bowl later on at an antique shop in Comfort, Texas for $23.00. I love it when that happens.

Pyrex

The old fan - $18.00

I regretted passing up on a fan at a garage sale about 5 years ago because I thought it was too large and not in better shape. I should have gotten it anyway since their prices have only increased, even for those types.

This one was marked $20.00. I saw others for 25.00 and 12.00 but this one was the nicest and smallest. So I came back armed with my standard question, "Is this your best price?"

He knocked off 2 bucks but it was better than nothing. The fan is heavy with a great flower design and cast iron base and it actually works. I need to clean it up a bit but not too much.

Vintage trouble light - $5.00.

Many times prices are not marked at flea markets so you have to ask what price they want for their items. I usually like that better so I can strike up a conversation about their booth. You'll find that some are really willing to tell you stories which is one thing I enjoy about the people there. This seller had piles of things to dig through - my favorite.

I didn't hesitate when I asked how much he wanted for the light and he said just five dollars. I have been looking for one forever but didn't want to go the ebay route. I love industrial design elements but they don't always come cheap. This light would not be less than $150.00 if I bought it wired and ready to go.

After successfully rewiring another light, Jon and I think we can do this ourselves and then it will hang over the kitchen sink. Since the bulb is visible, I'll replace it with a reproduction Edison bulb so it's more interesting and fits the modernism era of the light fixture, like this.

Also purchased that day: a hot pink dog tag for Charli dog, aka, Ruffy. - $5.00

a 1956 Home design book with good graphics - $2.00

a bunch of 45's (records) for church dance decorations - $5.00

2 pairs of new sunglasses - $6.00

Coming up:

Tuesday:

Treasure hunting in Texas with my favorite find of the trip

Wednesday:

quotes

A visit to Garden Ridge

Linking to Apron Thrift Girl

Coastal Charm

Have a great Monday!

Tales from the road

We're enjoying the sunny weather here in the Lone Star State.

We arrived just in time to be on the fringe of that bad band of weather in Arkansas. At one point our visibility was just about 2 feet and the wind was blowing the rain sideways. It was like those storms in movies that you think are a little unrealistic. The kind where the person goes out in the storm to check on something they heard and you are thinking, why do they do that?? Like that, only we were driving.

A little scary for 3 am on the interstate in the middle of no where. All was well though.

We've been visiting with Jon's dad and he's taken us out to all kinds of good food including real Mexican food just the way my grandma made. I have not done P90 X all week and I can feel it. I was doing so well too!
But it has been great to see him and we get to see Jon's mom for a few minutes each day. She tires easily so our moments with her are precious. That has been emotional but sweet at the same time.

I'll expound on that as soon as I formulate my thoughts. It needs its own post.

We nixed driving up to Austin to visit other family because 3 kids are sick so we are resting tonight. Tomorrow I'll stop by Comfort, TX which is the greatest antiquing town and see what I find. We did bring a trailer after all! While in Tennessee, I stopped by a flea market and bought a couple of things - a vintage pyrex bowl in sunny yellow, a shop trouble light that I am going to test my rewiring skills on - that should be interesting.

I was stopped about 6 times by men wondering what it was since part of it was visible in my tote bag. They all liked it and said the same thing - I should rewire it and sell it to a garage. One even showed me how easy it would be to fix. Their approval reconfirmed that I knew it was cool. Not that I need anyone's approval but sometimes when people question your taste, you begin to question it -human nature I guess.

That's all for now...I'll be home soon but am still enjoying this 78 degree weather!

Weekend thrift

I'm back with some thrifty finds and do I mean thrif-ty, as in free.

But first, I was taking Charley to play practice early Saturday morning and since I was close by, I thought I'd go to Saturday market. I did a quick run through because sometimes the booths are not that great and I don't like to waste time. I did see some good things but at antique shop prices. I always stop by to see the lady who has nice prices on her vintage jewelry and I found another cameo and an initial pin for Belen - 4 dollars total.

On the way home, I spotted a garage sale where I picked up these Pyrex beakers. One has a rounded bottom but I can use it as a hanging vase. I took all 5 for $2.00. They will be vases for the bathroom. I love their chunky lip and etched polka dot.

For 2 dollars I also picked up this black tray with silver trim. It needs a polish but I'll use it to hold my cooking oils. Right now I use an antique silverware tray to hold oils but I've been using it for 10 years so it's getting worn. In the mix of vintage tools, I spotted a heavy, steel domino. I was surprised to find it was just 25 cents. Items like that are always interesting shelf accessories or a weapon. It is a hefty thing!



Since I was on a roll, I thought I'd head to the thrift shop. There I found this cute planter in the shape of the United States and a Robin on it. I'll use it for a napkin holder in Spring and Summer. For $2.00 I couldn't pass it up.

Ok, on to the free part...A while back I signed up with Freecycle so I could get rid of stuff. It works out well. I set items at the curb, e-mail an announcement and it's magically gone a few hours later. So anyway, my e-mail in-box is always full of announcements and one happen to catch my eye about a metal grate. So I drove about a mile from my house, thinking it wasn't going to be much but then I found this: A huge, heavy iron grate. And some people say nothing in life is free. I can't decide which is my favorite find, can you?

I hope you have a good thrifting week. Let me know what you find!

Linking to Coastal Charm

House of Grace

Bargain shopping paradise

Bass giraffe

Tales from Bloggeritaville

Just a Girl

To market, to market

As each Saturday is filled with family activities taking us all over the county, I haven't been able to take a trip to the flea and farmer's market this season. With a few hour break in the early morning, I took the opportunity to go.

Aside from purchasing fresh local produce for the upcoming week's meals, there were also some other deals waiting for me.

One person just had everything in boxes so it was a treasure hunt. I only looked at two boxes because there were only two things that caught my attention: Fireking jadeite and an owl (of course). It set me back only pennies.

Lotus prep bowls - 4 for a dollar.

As I was paying for the plates, I spotted this typewriter.

I nearly reached muscle failure taking it to the car. The kids are so intrigued by this.

I also bought some picture props, a cool, old oil painting of a bullfighter, vintage army men and this die cast truck and trailer. The boys like little toys and I like it when they are not plastic.

So for under $30.00 which included fruits, vegetables and maybe a Philly style pretzel twist, hold-the-salt, I came in under budget...and got some exercise.

linking to Apron Thrift Girl

Southern Hospitality

The Thrifty Home

Tales from Bloggeritaville

Finding fabulous

Chic on a shoetstring

I's so very Cheri

Thrift store picks of the week - week 5

Belen and I managed to make a quick trip to the local flea market and 1 thrift shop on Saturday. We wanted to escape the virus that was knocking 3 of the other kids out. Since Jon was home and the kids were sleeping, we went out for a while. Most of the market vendors started loading up by 2 PM so we didn't see much there. I did manage to pick up a few things though. I usually have an idea of what I am looking for so I quickly scan the booths and avoid perusing them too much. That keeps me focused and on budget.

My first find was this cute little bird. I remember my mom had a pair of these. Although it looks like a smooth finish, it actually feels a little rough with a porous texture. A light dusting made it look pristine. And for only .75 cents it came home with me.

In one of my last posts I mentioned that I like to buy things that are "native" to the area in which I live. Well, I couldn't do any better than this! This is going into the boys' room and Reese just loves it. I have a few other banners to display as well so they will make a nice grouping.

Next up - If I spot books that are in decent shape with interesting covers or in this case, spines, I like to use them to elevate other things, like this flower. You wouldn't even know that this candle holder came crashing down a few weeks ago. Apparently kicking shoes over the banister will do that to ceramics. Super glue was a good invention.

I don't always buy just vintage items at fleas or thrift shops. Take this glass candle holder for instance - it was a Target item that had been marked down twice in the store before the Goodwill bought its clearance items. I liked the chunky glass so I bought it for $2.99 with an extra 20% off. Charley said, "You got a discount on top of a discount??" Yup.

Speaking of Target, I spotted this metal sign at the flea market for .50 cents. It will also go in the boys' room. Reese thought it looked too new for him so I may have to run over it, hammer it or something.

So there you go - another round-up of fun finds. For all you fellow thrifters and flea marketers, as soon as I work on a link party, we can all link our posts together on one page. Then we can enjoy what each other has found.
Until then, let me know how your hunting was!

Thrift store picks of the week

I love the weekend. It's a time to hang out, tackle projects and have a little more down time, no matter how short that down time is. It's also the time I get to go to the flea market or thrift shop. There is always something waiting for me to re-purpose or display at minimal cost.
How can I not go? I think it's the ultimate in "reduce, reuse, recycle."

Reese and I went to a couple of shops and he enjoyed scouting for his treasures. He shares the same love of vintage that I do, as do his sisters, making our trips more enjoyable.
Being goofy is part of it...

So let me share this week's round-up with you:

I always have my eye out for transferware and ironstone so I picked up two brown transferware plates. They were marked "as is" because of the crazing. Lucky for me, I like the crazing effect because it adds character. I'm not afraid to pick up imperfect items unless there is too large of a crack or many chipped edges.

The vintage horse show ribbon from 1947 has great color and would add interest to a side table or bookshelf. I like to pick up items that are "native" to the area in which I live. This one is from an area not too far away from where we currently live.

The large pendant shade is the perfect size for my entrance. I was planning on spending a lot more for a new light fixture but I saw this guy, and at 4 bucks, I couldn't pass it up. I'll just use the existing light fixture, add the shade but change out the fabric. Although I like its texture, the metallic gold woven through just doesn't cut it for me and I've had enough of the"70's Harvest gold" in this house.

And rounding out the trip, I collected plates and candle holders to make more dessert stands like the one in the picture. I'm sure you've seen them before and they are just as easy to put together as they look. Not to mention, inexpensive and pretty. These are just a few I picked up but all of the plates and candle holders I have were between .25 cents - $2.00. So, if the kids knock them over, I'm not out anything, really.

So there you go, another productive trip that was easy on the wallet. I'll be scouting for more finds this week - can't wait. If you find anything on your excursions, let me know.

Happy hunting!

Thrift store pick of the week

Have you ever watched "American Pickers" on the History channel?

This show makes me want to pack up and move to Iowa. I know I could hang with those guys and hike all over people's property, make offers, get excited about a pile of junk and load up a truck. That is my dream job. Well, one of them anyway. Anybody wanna come with?

Today they were tromping through the farm of an 88 year-old American WWII Veteran. I love our WWII vets. I always have. This gentleman was frail and walked slowly; his voice raspy with age and at times barely audible. But he was so lovely in his hat and a buttoned up shirt tucked into his belted trousers. He looked like the perfect grandpa tinkering around his farm, enjoying 60 years of collections in the many barns on his property. I found myself wishing I had a grandpa like that.

Two of my favorite finds of the episode were an antique Harley Davidson bicycle crank and a vintage carnival ride. The crank was made of iron and was very architectural and would look great on a shelf. The carnival ride was a small 5 car ride with old, heavy kiddie cars and was stored in a fold up track on its own trailer. It was awesome. I would love to have that and cart it around to birthday parties.

But since I only go picking in Flea markets and thrift shops, I'll have to settle for this week's find of a vintage Westclox alarm clock. It was front and center on a little out-of-the-way shelf and when I picked it up and wound it, the familiar 'tick, tick' sound made me smile. I think the sound is soothing at night. The little gold doors were an extra surprise. I never hesitated and into my cart it went.

Each week I will be doing a round up of my finds and maybe even show you what I plan on doing with them -once I find out what that will be exactly.

Ooh, now I have more of a real reason to go hunting - yeah. (Like I really needed one...)

To haggle or not to haggle,

that is the question...

(I'm reprising this post for Friday thrift store finds July 2015 as I'm often asked about this subject!)

By the time I was 9 years old, I think I had been to every antique shop in the greater Portland/Vancouver area. Not to mention abandoned properties to study heirloom plants or to old dump sites where my mom would take us to enjoy her bottle digging expeditions.

These experiences gave me a good idea about what to look for when it comes to antiques or vintage items. While I am not a collector of high priced antiques or artwork, I do enjoy them and I'm always up for a trip to the flea market or local antique store. Not only is it fun to dig around and find a cool item for your home, but saving a buck or two is even more fun.

So, if you are planning on going to the flea market this weekend, or any time in the future, I thought I'd share some key money saving "haggling" tips that work for me. These could apply to antique shops/malls as well.

I always scoop up a few keys 

First - Mind your manners.
Be polite. Don't insult the seller by offering too low of a price. For many, this is their income. If you see something you like, ask "Are your prices firm?" or "Is this your best price?" (Personally, I like the first question and use that one because no one wants to come across as non-negotiable.) Nine times out of 10 they will ask,"What are you interested in?" so you show them the item and they'll quote you a price. If you don't like the price, you can counter (with a smile of course) and they'll either accept or reject. If they reject, say "Aww, worth a try!" (still smiling) Any discount is better than no discount. I had to ask some ladies to leave my mother's estate sale because they didn't understand this. Also, be engaging, chat with the seller! Not because you want a better deal but because they have great stories to tell and you're probably like minded people. Yes, a better deal may come of it but that's secondary to a good experience where you both walk away with a win-win. I'm serious on that point. Imparting any bit of goodness makes this world better.

Second - Show me the money
Have a budget in mind and stick to it. 40 dollars can go a long way and always bring cash. Most outdoor fleas are cash anyway, At antique shops, they are more willing to give discounts when you have cash because they're saving on the credit card fees. Also, have an idea of what you are looking for. This will save you time and keep your wallet more full because you have a goal in mind. Of course there is the unexpected find but at that point you have to decide what you want more. When I get to this point, I have to think about which item I am more likely to run into again and then choose the more rare item.

Third - Be cool as a cucumber.
Don't appear too excited about an item and give away your bargaining power. Although the best items are out in the morning, sellers aren't going to haggle just yet. If you really want those vintage locker bins (I would) you may have to pay full price (I would again!) or else the next person will snag them. You have to decide if you want to take that chance. If it's something I have been looking for forever and finally come across it, I'm absolutely going to throw myself onto it. I've lost out a few times on the gamble.

Fourth - Hate the game, not the playah.
Don't worry that you are being cheap. Haggling is part of the fun and most sellers are expecting the game to be played that way. When I had a boutique inside an antique mall, the lowest price I would accept on an item was put into the computer so the salesclerk knew how much to discount when asked. Unless the tag has a ND (no discount) written on it everything is negotiable. Thrift stores usually don't haggle though as most of them are working for charities and already have pre-set prices. They are also getting into the silent bid game on more of the vintage items I've noticed.

Fifth - Know when to fold 'em. 
Be prepared to walk away. If an item is priced just too high or the condition is too poor, you probably don't need it anyway. You can always refinish or reupholster something but are you going to get to it in a reasonable time? I always think I am and end up keeping stuff for too long. I have to really ask myself that question on the bigger pieces of furniture. Remember, one man's trash is another man's treasure and sometimes one man's trash is just one man's trash. Chances are, you'll come across something you like better. And then the game begins again...
I'll see you at the market on Saturday! Play on!

~L

Linking to A Shabby Nest | The New Mrs Adventures