Thrifted!

 

I swear it seems to me that it is an unwritten rule in my life that if I chose to go out with a.) hair uncombed and hastily thrown up in a bun, b.) sweats and c.) no make up, I will without any hesitation run into someone I haven't seen in 10+ years. Yes, this was the thrifting equation for the weekend.

 

The thrifting theme, on the other hand, was books. I found the stack above, featuring subjects that are near and dear to me, at several thrift shops in my old hometown . This was were I ran into two people I used to work with many years ago. I ran into them separately at two different places. And, to make it a bit more exciting, these particular people are people you wish you looked as though the years had no effect on you (you do know the type I'm talking about, right?) And I was clad in sweats with uncombed hair. Sigh, Life of Gina.

 

 

I also found cheap frames this weekend. I collect the vintage metal ones (like the one peaking below the top one). The one on top was difficult to photograph as it is a pair of deer in 3D. I am not wild about the frame, but I thought the print was pretty cool.

 

 

Another found book was this one on milk glass. I have collected milk glass for years and have quite the collection. I really should share more of my collections. I also found the milk glass leaf and a large hob nob vase. I've noticed lately that the once plentiful white vases are now starting to dry up at the thrifts. I think I find more at the flea markets these days, so I was happy to find this pair (and on 50% off day to boot! I guess this is the karmic pay off for looking scrubby on a bad day!)

 





 

And, not to be outdone by lovely milk glass, are these two gorgeous Johnson Brothers transfer ware plates. While in the process of photographing them, I noticed a tiny chip on one the edges. I'm not sure if I bought it that way or did it while getting in the car. I know I slightly bumped the bag on the door. I really need to use best practice in handling these old things, both in spying imperfections at the time of purchase or hastily throwing my purchase in the vehicle. I seem to have this happen a lot. Thankfully, this chip is hard to notice and will be alright in my personal collection.

 

All in all, yesterday was a relaxing day of thrifting. I also learned a couple of valuable lessons, but the most important one to me: Ditch the sweats once in awhile! 

 

 

Sharing my weekend finds at Sir Thrift A Lot's Thriftasaurus #17 and Apron Thrift Girl.

The Stuff of Sales

(Franciscan Earthenware--Madeira)

I normally avoid all shopping the weekend after our Thanksgiving holiday. I am not particularly fond of crowds, DH works (which means dragging my young sons around) and i love the idea of lounging around the house for a change. This latter bit was feeling especially tempting considering since September I have been driving back and forth between Indiana and Kentucky* and everything feels so rushed and busy.

We spent Thanksgiving at both sets of parents and both sent us home with leftover turkey. I decided to make a tortilla soup (with the turkey) and then discovered we were completely out of tortillas. Sigh. This meant I had to go to town (it was the part of the soup that sounded the best!)

Well, I am going to say it was purely coincidental I chose to go to the market that happens to share a strip mall with a Goodwill. So, after buying tortillas and milk (the store's receipts often have coupons for Goodwill printed on the back), the boys and I ventured into the crazy, busy thrift store for just a teeny peak at the merchandise.

Almost immediately my eyes spied the gorgeous green and chocolate brown stoneware dishes. Like many of you, I have a long-term addiction love affair with dishware. I have had/have many sets and my ideal dishes range from stoneware variety to the fragile and beautiful china sets. I have no alliance to any one type (my favorite set is a gorgeous blue transferware set of Wedgewood, but I love, love, love all of my stoneware for it's durability!) Anyway, back to the weekend, I turned the beautiful and heavy dishes over and learned they were Franciscan Earthenware. With a little further research, I discovered the pattern is called Madeira and were manufactured in the early 1970's. I gathered up the available pieces (a large oval platter, dinner and bread plates, and a creamer). I shuddered to think I would be paying Goodwill prices for them (creamer was cheap at .75, but the plates would be $1each and the platter was marked $2. I was looking at paying roughly $18 for the set, but I loved them so!)

(Orange Stuff)
Earlier I had put a set of orange (USA) leaf-shaped dishware in the cart. I ended up putting it all back in order to buy (yet another) set of dishes. The orange items were marked quite high (two-tiered stand ($3), ashtray ($1) and bowl ($8); in fact, I only had the first two items in the cart since the bowl was marked so f-ing high! I also put the bread plate (depicting the Last Supper) back on the shelf because it was marked $5. i just didn't want to spend too much.

I found a few more items like several blazers (vintage-like, but newer), a couple of skirts, Shiny Bright ornaments and the boys had each found an item or two. I went up to the check-out and told the sweet cashier I had a coupon. She replied, "You can't use your coupons on 50% day..." WHAT? I had neglected to notice the fliers posted all over the register.

Years ago, as a vintage clothing-loving, punk-rockish, oddball of a girl (back when the 50's style had just come around again for the first time and bands like Dead Kennedys and The Smiths were considered cutting edge), my best friend and I would head to the Goodwills in the area for their monthly 50% off day (the third Saturday of each and every month). We would bring home bags of clothes and things for pennies. Now, the Goodwills in the area rarely have 50% off day (apparently on Black Friday), so I was truly surprised! Since the Internet made re-selling easier, the prices in the thrifts have slowly climbed to (sometimes) ridiculous prices. Some items I pay the price because I know if I buy it on Ebay or similar site , I will pay more with the S & H; however, I have seem chipped and damaged items priced amazingly high. And the clothing, I think, is not cheap (I've seen faded, shrunk t-shirts priced $4!) Of course the money goes to a good cause, but I miss those days of youth when I could spend my weekly $20 allowance on a whole plethrea of outfits (and most of it vintage!)

Oh, I also found this great set of red stemware (goblets? candle holders?):

(Blood Orange Red Goblets)

They are very heavy and a beautiful blood orange color. The bottoms are irregular in shape and they have no markings at all. They seem really familiar to me, but I have no idea why (maybe something from childhood). Anyway, with the half-off, I paid $1 for all four.

*Another post, another time...but I transfered to another position within my employment a few months ago; I have basically moved to Kentucky from Northern Indiana. I love it there and will be extremely happy when the houses are sold and family is moved down there with me. For now, I drive home every weekend...)

Suitcases Start Vicious Cycles

I'll edit this with photos later on...

I must be crazy. No, my work must be crazy to put me up in a hotel that is right next door to a Unique Thrift Store. Sigh. Of course I bought last night and now I cannot get it all in my small carry-on. This means I need to go back tonight and buy another carry-on (no use buying large suitcase because I rarely travel beyond a week). I am flying Southwest which means I at least get to check it on as part of the ticket price (a bright lining!!)

I'll add photos in a bit, but here is a sampling of what I bought last night:

Two Holland wooden shoes (a collection)
Vintage Samsonite suitcase (too small for packing my goodies :(
A scientific education tool of the human body
3 cups and saucers: a great Homer Laughlin pattern which will be my next dish set!
2 Japanese figurines (a Scottie and a songbird)
Hindu influences elephant figurine
Planter with flowers
Mikasa shell vase'
GORGEOUS wood vase
Asain influence wall pocket in turquoise
Small yellow bowl
Books: Gnomes (a favorite from childhood!) and Children's Guide to the Sky (DK book)

I think that is all but it is all wrapped for now. I am also next door to two Asian grocery stores and I bought a few neat things from them as well.

OK, I'll edit when I return home Friday!

To Go Forth

(Sept. 2010 Memphis Finds: Stoneware plates in pattern I have, vegetarian cookbook, stoneware mugs & Bowls for KY Apartment)

I am going to sit on this stick figure of a blog forever unless I make myself add flesh and bones and some life into it. I miss the old blog. The anonymous one I will not resurrect because my life, as life is known to do, has marched into the horizon of changes and I am not that person anymore. I am also still that person, yet changed by age and geography and the rotating world we all call home. I am changed by my gypsy personality.

So, on forth, I am coming out of my hiding and beginning Lime Kiln. One day I will let you all know about the mysterious name (and some may even have a clue), but I like the sound of it and I wanted something that reflected the notions of my reemergence into this bloggy society. I hope some of my old friends find me because I have missed you terribly. I hope I find some new friends!

As far as a theme here: I cannot say without any sort of promise I will stay on track. I am way too eccentric, too eclectic to talk about one thing. I am a blizzard of emotions and ideas and interests and I would bore myself way too early on if I made this a, say, cooking or shopping or frugal or homesteading or whatever blog. My old blog had a basic theme...one I constantly suffered from infidelity to and I strayed often into posts reflective of my emotions at any particular time (not always sunny and bright I warn you in advance!) and they were often controversial and ugly.

That being said, I do plan to have a basic theme here. I am going to talk a lot about thrifting. I am a thrifter from my teenage years on (a lot of years I might add) and I am a "collector" of weirdness. I want to share these finds. I am not a decorator by any means (I completely fail at any theme in that area as well), but I love vintage-y things. I often find myself with accidental collections! I may stray from this as I blog onward, but for now this is my chance at re-entry.