packing up

hullo! i hope you're enjoying the august break posts around here. one of the reasons i decided to participate in this project was so i could devote a bit more of my free time to getting things organized around the ol' apartment so i can begin packing. i'm moving to a rental house in another city (not too far away) in early- to mid-october and if you remember the pictures of my apartment, well... there's just a lot of stuff to sort through. *ahem*

as i clear through my things, i'm setting aside a few items to list in the shop. i'm going to try and go with a bit more of an edited look at the new place. still kitschy and kooky and colorful, but edited kitsch and kook and color, you know? of course that doesn't mean i haven't picked up a few new things for the house.

(source)

i fell in love with rachel's idea for a vintage school desk as a table for a record player (i have the same player), so i've been on the lookout for a similar desk at thrift stores. this past week, i found not one, but two turquoise metal school desks. of course, one was $50 (insanity!) and the other was $20 (much better, but still a little high?). i picked up the less expensive one and i actually really love the shape more than the expensive one.

it's a bit difficult to convey the greatness of the turquoise - it's almost a pearlized metallic bluish-green. it's perfect. i'm not loving the front pink panel, but i think i'll have that side facing the wall.

one of the things i can't wait to do at the new place is create a paint by number wall. nothing too crazy (and definitely no paint by number clowns), but a cohesive grouping of my small, but growing, collection. i found this paint by number at the same thrift shop as my desk and i love it. i'm not too attached to the frame, but i was thinking about spray painting all the frames a matching cream to add a bit of consistency to the grouping. we'll see.

okay, back to packing. have a good weekend!

thrift store finds // 06.27.2011

i haven't had a monday off in awhile, so i took advantage of today by (what else?) hitting up a few thrift shops. i went to five stores and found not a single thing; however, when i got home and looked in the back seat of my car, i realized i've been using it as a thrifted finds storage space (this is reasonable with a small apartment, yes?). i had a clear-out and found a delightful/disturbing trend amongst the items.

i will always be a pisces, despite the astrological nonsense announced earlier this year. my sister shook her head at this slightly unsightly find.

i think i bought this because it reminded me of texas. i don't know how i feel about it post-purchase.

i'm conflicted on this little lady. i've never been a holly hobby fan, but i cannot deny the appeal of that striped floral background. it makes me squee a bit.

i may be undecided about the others, but i totally love this small sentiment ♥


i obviously cannot leave behind embroidered pieces or what i've come to call yarn art. i already have too many pieces hanging in my apartment and i have nowhere to hang these new additions. maybe some will make their way to the shop?

to prove my devotion to this art form, here is a book i bought this weekend.

yes, i originally picked it up because my beloved grandpa called me muggins. but the reason i paid for it instead of just having a sentimental moment or two?

this illustration on the first page. it's foolishness, i tell you! but, seriously, how happy would i be to find a real-life framed yarn art in those colors and in that style? the dainty squid is sooo lucky...

have you found anything great lately? or stumbled upon any personal trends? let's hear them!

tips & pointers // thrift stores

i've had a few comments, e-mails, and face-to-face questions about thrifting and estate sales, so, even though i am definitely not an expert (like, at all), i thought i'd do a quick round-up of tips that work well for me.

because thrift stores and estate sales are two different creatures, i think it'll be easiest to split the pointers into two posts and, when possible and when pertinent, i'll sneak in some advice about buying for reselling. i think that's it... so, let's talk about thrift stores today!

✧ if you are shopping to resell, keep up with design trends. i read a lot of vintage, design, and lifestyle blogs for inspiration, which makes spotting upcoming trends in vintage wares easier (hello, old thermoses, chevron patterns, and floral sheets). if you aren't shopping for reselling, it's still fun to browse pretty blogs and you'll get tons of ideas for your personal style.

✧ keep and update a vintage and/or thrifting wish list. jot down items you'd love to own one day in a small notebook and keep it with you. pull out your list before you go into a thrift store (or while you're standing in the middle of an aisle) for a quick refresher. it's easy to become overwhelmed in a space crowded with junk (and hidden treasures) and, though it sounds odd, a short glance at a list can help focus your search. and i just like making lists.

($2.49)

✧ research thrift stores. checking in at your local thrift store is probably your first stop, but try mapping out thrift stores just outside of your normal route. i am willing to drive about twenty minutes to visit a good thrift store. also, check out thrift stores in or around older neighborhoods. more often than not, the items in the thrift store have been donated from their surrounding neighborhoods and older neighborhoods are more likely to have older (vintage) items.

✧ bring a pen and scratch paper. you never know when you'll want to sketch a potter's symbol for further research or write down the name of a beautiful vintage china pattern (from a chipped or cracked plate - i hate when that happens).

✧ if you have one, bring a internet accessible smartphone. i use my iPhone for instant and basic research literally every time i go thrifting and, if you plan on reselling an item, it's extremely easy to check etsy and/or ebay for comparable pricing.

✧ bring hand sanitizer. trust me, things are dirrr-ty. 

✧ go often. my local thrift store is restocked on an almost continuous basis -- there are always volunteers milling around, stocking the shelves from full shopping carts, so there's always something new. i try to stop at least once or twice a week. the people working there know me; this was something i just had to get over.

✧ if you have the time, go slowly. it's easy to miss a good find when you're just scanning the surface.

($0.40)

✧ this seems redundant, but if you have the time, look again. i usually inspect an aisle or a shelf twice. some of my favorite thrifty finds were missed on a first look!

✧ use your smartphone and/or camera to take pictures. sometimes i just want a picture of the item and not the actual item. sometimes i spot things i know my friend will love, so i snap a picture and send it in an e-mail or a text. sometimes an item is so funny or so weird or so crazy that you just have to take a picture and share it on facebook. this happens.

($1.99)

✧ look through the whole store. so many times, things are misplaced or moved by other customers to a completely random part of the store before they are discarded (or hidden, more like). i found the 1950s pink plastic bread box on the office supply aisle of all places. you're also missing a lot if you limit yourself to the traditional housewares aisle. there are great vintage board games, toys, and books in the children's sections; amazing embroidery in the artwork section; floral suitcases in the luggage section; hand knitted or crocheted blankets in the linens section, etc.

✧ if possible, go alone or with a similarly-minded friend. this sounds totally anti-social, but really, there's nothing worse than worrying if your friend or spouse is having a good time. or knowing that they most certainly are not having a good time. this should be a fun outing for you!

if you have children, frecklewonder has great tips for thrifting with tots - check them out!

✧ if you are shopping with the intention of reselling, keep your profit points in mind. you don't want to pay $10.00 for an item that you can only sell for $15.00. or maybe you do, i don't know. in general, if i buy something to resell in my etsy shop, i'd like to make 3-4 times what i paid for the item to cover the cost of shopping, researching, photographing, listing, and shipping.

($1.49/set of 2)

i hope these pointers and tips are helpful! if you have any of your own tips, please leave them in the comments - i'd love to hear them!

(all the photos were taken at my local thrift store over the past few months. i listed the prices if i actually bought the item. see? wanting a picture, but not wanting the item!)




pickin'

one of my plans for the long weekend included a tentative trip to kaufman, texas, to pick, à la american pickers.

the tentative plans were firmed up late last night and i am so happy they did; it was the perfect little memorial day adventure.



the property was dotted with sheds and buildings full of hidden treasures (and wasps -- so many wasps!)



the first building we explored was called the museum and it really lived up to its name. most of our finds came from inside.



the other buildings and their surrounding yards were just as full of everything you could ever imagine...



old carnival rides.



more carnival rides.



appliances.



radios.



cash registers.



fans.



product memorabilia.



record players.



and tons of random crazy and cool finds. it was a bit overwhelming, actually. even i gave up trying to snap pictures of everything after awhile!

so, what made it home with me?



this amazing accordion. i am in love with it big time.



a much-desired tin dollhouse. i've been kicking myself for passing up a similar dollhouse a few months ago. it just needs a little elbow grease and then it'll be a perfect conversation piece.



a beautiful paint by number.



i'm going to use this old bicycle basket as a magazine holder.



an old globe, a pink clock, and three vintage cameras. the owner wasn't ready to part with the mannequin head just yet, but how awesome is she?



this initial didn't make it home with me, either. this time.



the sweetest guy ever? yes, for sure. he was so friendly and knew so much about all of his treasures. a total sweetheart.



i am a hot, sweaty, smelly, sunburned mess, but it was definitely a great experience and i can't wait to go back. maybe in the fall next time, though...

did you have any adventures this weekend?

megs

p.s. there's still time to enter the giveaway if you haven't already! 

thrift store finds // 03.24.2011

i have an inventory of thrift stores that i visit regularly. some every week, some every few weeks. this morning i went to one of the thrift stores that is more infrequently browsed (because it's a bit of a trip), but one that almost always has a good find or two.



i have a thrifting theory. if you find one good item (i mean one really good item) at a thrift store, keep looking because there will be more. walk down every single aisle and look at every single shelf. good things come in numbers.



case in point? (no pun intended) this amazing vintage suitcase. this particular thrift store has a little cubby with shelves for its luggage storage and, i kid you not, my heart beamed when i saw a flash of hot berry pink in the corner.



vintage luggage can be deceiving. the outside may be in fantastic condition, but the inside lining can often be torn, stained, or just missing. imagine my dizziness when i opened the case to find a bright acid green lining in almost perfect vintage condition ♥



i snapped up the suitcase and made my way around the store. hanging on a random wall near the used sheets (it sounds disgusting, but there are great vintage patterns sometimes!) was this gorgeous needlepoint on burlap. the colors were a perfect match to the suitcase.



it's often a huge frustration to sort through the tons of plastic bags of jewelry in thrift stores. everything is thrown in together and most of it is costume jewelry from the eighties. this store never has any jewelry on display, but today they had this sweet vintage enamel brooch sitting on a shelf.



i'm a sucker for vintage record illustrations. i don't care so much about the music, but if it has a great cover, i'll buy it. children's records from the 1960s are the best.



anthropomorphic vegetables steal my heart.



if i had a spare dresser top, i'd display all my finds just like this. it was a great thrifting trip and inexpensive, as well. everything pictured cost me less than $10.00.

now let me show you what i didn't buy, but probably should have.



this was the little cubby full o' luggage today. i have never seen so much vintage samsonite at a thrift store in one day. this stuff can go for a pretty penny on etsy and ebay. in fact, i got a duplicate of that robin's egg blue suitcase in the middle and it sold to a buyer who was going to use it as a prop in a broadway show. i'm totally kicking myself now for not snapping that one up, as well.



also in the luggage section? these two lady baltimore cases from the 1950s.



i love the font on this logo.



the cases were a dark green-ish black and the interior was a gorgeous lilac, but they were quite stained and, though it was hard, i left them for another vintage lover.



call me crazy, but i love this dining set. the pedestal bases for the chairs and the table have the most fantastic geometric vibe. it was a relatively inexpensive find, but i have nowhere to store it until i move and it is a tad too 1970s for my personal taste.



salvation army in famers branch, you did not disappoint!