Omaha Ne Regret Pas

 While in Omaha over the holidays (yes, I'm very late on posting), we took our niece Jakaylee out for a little thrifting.  Since we were traveling by air, we really couldn't shop, but if I had been in an SUV I would have bought all of this (including the clown photo op above for Jessie) and more.  Most of it was at the New Life Thrift store in south Omaha where there are always a million wonderful things.  Thankfully, Jakaylee is a good shopper and appropriately amused by the things we are, such as...

Sweet dear, dear sweet...

...look out!

The BVM with the super powers, that I love.

"Hey girl, hey."

I already have one of these warmers, but honesty nothing would have stopped me from buying a second one.

Peculiar and sad, like an idea for a short story.

Partytime!  Glasses in the original, fantastic box.  You know I love an original box...

Matching cookie jar and biscuit barrel I desperately wanted to buy.

Lovely blue stemware...

....or green stemmed goblets?  Both, please.

She was chipped, or I definitely would have wrapped her up and stolen her away to live with my other lovely Quan Yins.  And what did I buy?

This charming little Buddha, which wasn't chipped...and made it home in one piece.

...and these little melamine bread and butter plates (unbreakable) which match a set of eight I bought in Lindborg, KS many years ago.  

Later during the trip we were in Austin, where we ran into the cookie jar again.  It was just as difficult to pass on it a second time.  Sadness, but I know we will meet again and when we do I will place you atop the giant pile of fabulous finds in my limitless horse trailer of thrift!

 

Oct 30, 2011

Won't Stop, Can't Stop

Darlings, you know I can never stop. It isn't the things, but the hunt, that drives me. The thrill of the find! But you all know that, so I am preaching to the hunters. The past week had been pretty long and the week prior I had been traveling, so I was looking forward to some thrift therapy on Saturday. Even though I got a late start, there was still an array of wonderful things. And no matter how full the cupboards are, how stuffed the shelves are or how many things currently live in boxes, there will always be something I can't resist...

Dishes. My weakness. Even though I don't care for the color, I swooned when I spotted these amazing dishes by Ben Seibel for Raymor. I didn't buy them, even though I should have bought them and resold them or something. That just isn't how I thrift, but with the bounty of West Texas thrift, I may have to change my plan.

I loved this chip and dip and candelabra! What a unique, and challenging, serving piece. Late in the evening you would have to be careful not to burn yourself as you reached over the burning candle for some spinach dip.

This Pyrex cheese cracker tray was difficult to pass over, especially with the new cheese knives I recently purchased...

Apparently they always have an array of beautiful glass at Trade-n-Treasures, but Saturday it was even more splendiferous. I found myself thinking of my friend Michael in Chicago and his amazing collection of glass, wondering which of these pieces he would try and carryon if he were visiting? Thoughts?

Faux. You know how much I love faux. And faux shells? Reader, it was so hard not to buy these. I mean, I could find a place for them, of course. And I have been having visions of my a mantle covered in faux shells as my collection grows...but....still...I passed. Sigh.

This punch bowl was more than I want to pay, but a GEORGES BRIARD punch bowl?!? I love Briard and some of us never stopped serving punch, but I would also have to find all new punch cups. And also sell my current bowl, which is quite amazing and on a stand. Having TWO punch bowls is just ridiculous, right? Curiously, the image was printed on the interior, so the signature was reverse.

I did take home this little log planter. We have one or two already, so a small collection. Plus, succulents look very cool planted in them. I couldn't say no.

Lastly, this set of eight owl glasses was hiding on a shelf at Tradarama, covered in dust. Otherwise, the gold was in perfect shape and I couldn't pass them up. I don't really need more glasses that can't go in the dishwasher, but I bought them anyway. Perhaps they'll be a gift for someone else.

After running a few errands, I got home and did few things around the house, including unpacking the finds. After a while, I gathered up my stuff and returned to the store to buy those blasted shells. I couldn't stop thinking about them and was just glad they were still there!

Oct 9, 2011

Let Me Be Clear

I just want to be very clear: I wasn't just good, I was very good. I could have returned from this little outing with a station wagon filled with amazing items, but instead I only bought five. Five. And to prove my point, I have plenty of photographic evidence. Observe...

I started at the Salvation Army, which I believe I have mentioned is in a shady part of town, but does have pretty good things. Today was no exception...

You often see these salad bowls in other colors, such as bright blue (I have a couple of those), but I had never seen them in this color; is that grape or aubergine? I'll go with aubergine. But, I passed on them rather than create an extreme paradigm shift within 'la collection.'

This dog statuette was amazing and challenging to resist.

The most gorgeous space heater I have ever seen. Isn't it fantastic? It makes me think beads in doorway, bing bag chairs and spherical radios with the Carpenters playing while you iron your hair.

Although the photo might suggest this rabbit could fit in your palm, it's actually life-size! Like those white cats you see a lot? I thought it would be wonderful, sitting around in some absurd place (kitchen counter?), but obviously there is already plenty of wonderful things sitting absurdly around my place, right?

Next, I headed to Tradearama, which I hadn't been to, but someone in my seminar on Friday had mentioned. Tradearama is one of those very classic second hand stores in that, while there is a general sense of organization probably created five or ten years ago, it is slowly dissolving with each object they add to the pile. In other words, you have to dig. It is a place my mam-ma would have loved and they had some wonderful treasures...

A truly fantastic canister set that was in very good condition. Easily snatched up.

This gorgeous platter.

An amazing array of coffee cups.

Rice bowls! Service for twelve! Perfect for the 'broken down bus full of Buddhist monks' scenario! And so much more...old typewriters, a separate room full of old books and magazines guarded by it's own old lady, planters, lamps...so much.

After that, I headed up the street to Trade-N-Treasures which is a thrift store that is on almost the complete separate end of the thrifting spectrum: everything is beautifully organized, with signs for each section. Heaven.

An amazing sideboard, simple and elegant.

This lovely tea canister reminded me of something Jonathan Adler might sell today.

The egg cooker I already own, which matches the most beautiful toaster in the world.

A record cabinet in an Asian-ish style.

A George Briard platter in the Persian Garden pattern. I was strong, I was strong...the price was okay, but not a bargain.

Perfume bottles in every shape imaginable!

Vintage soaps in their boxes....and more cologne bottles!

A weird photo of a high school musical: Damn Yankees? What other show involves a baseball team? I don't know, this is really out of my scope of knowledge.

Soup tureens! Movie stars! Black gold!

It was heaven.

What did I buy? Five things; or two, depending on how you look at it.

This set of shallow, square dishes with a small gold rim is from Hall--and this was my second chance with them. I even carried them around the store, all the while debating whether to purchase them and what I would use them for. Is that what you do? Try to justify how you might use something? Like this would perfect to serve pound cake on? Or if I can use it for multiple things, then it's even better, e.g., "these would be great for sherbet, but I could also use them for a cold soup garnished with avocado in the summer." Then I can easily talk myself into things. But, these I could think of nothing....so I carried them around the store, finally giving up...until I spotted...

This incredibly dirty Quan Yin, hiding I'm the corner. Isn't it funny, once you find something you HAVE to have, it's much easier to talk yourself into anything else! So I bought the rectangular plates. Check and check.

When I got home, I cleaned up Quan Yin and got out the rest of the smaller ones, putting them all on the mantle altar with the mega-Quan Yin...

Voila. Happiness.

Oct 8, 2011

Houston Spots

Last week I went to Houston to celebrate a friend's birthday, which was fun. Of course we did some shopping, including an attempt to find a vintage headboard he might repaint and repurposed for his bedroom redesign. We didn't find the perfect thing, but did come across some other treasures along the way...


This chaise is exactly like one we bought in Austin, only blue and with metal legs!


The Junior League resale shop had lots of wonderful finds and had a pricing system similar to one my favorite haunts, Next-to-New in Austin. I absolutely loved this ferris wheel-style serving piece, but with so much of 'la collection' in storage, couldn't really justify buying it.


Another shop had a great collection of silver...


...and this amazing deco pendant lamp.





But the most amazing thing was this fly sugar bowl--the wings flip up to reveal the sugar! I would have bought it, but the price was just as amazing as the objet.