Maybe Someone Messed UP

On my way home from work tonight, I saw my landlord's car at her office (next door to my apt. house). Grimacing because I knew she would want to talk to me again about renting one of her houses (too expensive-I'd rather buy), I drove on by and ended up at the downtown Louisville Goodwill. Now the GWs in Louisville are expensive compared to other ones I've been through, but they often have practical, newer things like shoes, clothing, books and other items that are not necessarily vintage or neat, just useful. Only occasionally do I spot something unique and old, but the price tag reflects they know their vintage in this river city (or the item is broken). But, but...

Look what I found tonight!

I think someone really f--ked up on this one because there are three layers and each layer is full of vintage-y goodness. The box itself is old. Even the eccentric cashier (who I really think hates white people, but I am working on her and she called me "sweetie" tonight) said, "Wow, you found something I didn't see. I gave her the dark thread because she said she needed some.

Mending tape in every color (this is after I emptied the chaos and organized the contents).
Wooden thread spools, a great patch, needles; sewing accoutrements; buttons galore (side note: Did you know 'galore' is one of the few Celtic/Gaelic words that made it into the English language? I learned this while traveling last week on a NPR interview of an author from Newfoundland about his book Galore).

The best part (besides all the great treasures hiding in this wonderful amber box) was the price: $4.50! Yes, I know, I know...next week several of you will have a buggy full of great vintage prizes, including a sewing box full of old needles, wooden spools and copper buttons bought for only the few nickles scrounged at the bottom of your $1 bedazzled, yard sale find Enid Collins purse*, but by Louisville thrift store standards, $4.50 is the virtual same as 50 cents!

*Yep, spied an EC purse at a thrift in Louisville recently for about $50 (no decimal point)!

ATG's Thrift Share Monday: Thrift Therapy

Ended up thrifting my heart out this weekend and found some great, cheap items. Some I hope to resell someday and others I wish to keep for now. Definitely a keeper is Vern's 1999 'Mixed Tape'. I love mixed tapes! My friends and I used to make 'em in the day and trade our favorites. We would customize them for situations (e.g. break-ups, blues, new love, start of school, etc.) and I kept them for years. I have no idea who Vern is or hails, but I would love to be on his "mixtape" Christmas list. He has some great bluegrass and Americana on the one I found at a Goodwill in Louisville. Thanks, Vern!

I love the set of made in Japan spice containers all for $1.50. The set is missing one, but I know I have one back home to fill in the gap (it may be a repeat of one of the spices, but stranger things have been known to happen and it may be the exact match!) If I keep this set, I want to paint the plain wooden holder.

The little open mouthed bird (29c) and felted finger puppet (50c) are two of my week's favorite and cheapest finds. The bird fell out of my bag in the car (it was wrapped in a wad of newspaper by the clerk) and, later, when I took the items out of the bag and I couldn't find the tiny thing, my heart nearly broke! I found it, obviously, and it now sits on my bookshelf. At this great thrift shop in the heart of rural Kentucky, cash was the only currency they accepted. I had no cash on me that day, but, I guess to tease myself, I went in anyway. Right away I found the little bird and dug in my wallet for a quarter and pennies. While paying I noticed a pretty pearl choker in a basket. Price: $2. I went out to the car and dug around and actually found the money! It turns out the choker is a Sarah Covington necklace and is gorgeous. I left it at work or I would include a photo. The bird is still my favorite item from this thrift store. Maybe I'll make a new header with a gummy worm dangling over it's hungry mouth!

My other favorite and most expensive find: 1944 State Sewing Machine in pristine condition! See where the paint is slightly missing from the word State on the front? I did that removing the sign the TS put on it. Otherwise the machine looks like it rolled right off the assembly line in 1944. The sun in the picture is a sticker I think the store put on too (I forgot to remove it for the photo). It cost me $35 and even has the original (perfect) instruction booklet and parts. It is housed in a brown carrying case and seems to weigh at least 50 lb! For a split second I thought it costs too much, but I knew it would be a "regret" if I left it behind! I can't wait to try it out with some of my vintage fabrics.

Wanna play along? Visit Apron Thrift Girl and her Links O' Thrifty Fans!