Manic Thrift Store Shopper

Omaha Ne Regret Pas

2012-01-15T13:59:00.002-05:00

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!

Won't Stop, Can't Stop

2011-10-30T11:24:00.001-04:00

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!

Let Me Be Clear

2011-10-09T10:09:00.002-04:00

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.

Houston Spots

2011-10-08T19:16:00.001-04:00

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.

Juiced

2011-08-20T22:35:00.001-04:00

I dropped a few things off at the Salvation Army today--nothing of note, just a some odds and ends from the stationery drawer. But of course I couldn't resist poking around a bit...

I love this pattern from Franciscan--but I love just about any pattern from Franciscan! Even that bloody Desert Rose. We used to have a tea set in this 'autumn leaf' pattern, but I think we sold it at the garage sale when we left Kansas. I resisted this huge pile, but had there been dinner plates, I'm not sure I could have. It would make a lovely everyday china.

These two coffee cups are from Duralex. I always see the little prep bowls, but never anything like this. I probably should have grabbed them, but I didn't. Maybe if I go back next week they'll still be there? Doubt it.

Alright dear readers, altogether now: "vintage items in their original packaging are the best things ever." Perhaps I should start a spinoff blog? I already have an electric crepe maker and since I can easily find crepes from the store now, who knows if I'll ever use it again?

These, however, I could not resist: lovely juice glasses in a "milk glass" that is thick and having and white. Only five, but a bargain and I had to have them. They aren't marked, but have a Glass-Bake vibe to them. Who knows? Do you?

MTSS Writes Again

2011-08-14T10:13:00.001-04:00

Dearest reader, I apologize for my long absence, but rest assured I have thought of you often the past few months and wondered how you were, what you were doing and if you were missing moi. My only excuse is that other business and moving have kept me from you, but I promise to post when I can and update you on all thing thrif-wise and stylish.

First things first: the MTSS corporate headquarters have relocated once again, this time to West Texas. Strange, but true. I look forward to interesting thrifting out here and I do have a few things to share, although no amazing new purchases. Just some browsing and photos of older finds as repositioned in the new abode.

Voila!

Despite being in an interesting neighborhood, the Salvation Army promises some exceptional finds. I didn't purchase anything, but this vintage baby food dish in the original packaging was exciting to find. You know how anything in original packaging strums my soul!

At Goodwill, I came across not one, but two boxes of the classic IKEA tea lights. I think everyone bought them, but no one uses them, as I have found many, many sets over the years. Enough to open a store devoted solely to IKEA tea lights!

I'll have more for you very soon. I promise not to stay away so long...

Soap

2011-02-07T19:10:00.001-05:00

Nothing, I repeat NOTHING, makes me sadder than seeing an entire collection discarded at the thrift store. I really feel for the person who owned the things, even though they are gone or somewhere they probably don't care about them anymore. My instinct is always to buy them all, but I never can...

When I was shopping with my mom on my birthday, we came across an entire collection and my heart skipped a beat! At this point I can't even remember everything that was there, but the corner display shelf was busting with vintage hostess soap set in their original packaging from Avon. I imagined the little grandma who had hoarded them, saving them for special occasions and visitors. I wanted them all!

But, apparently vintage soap is pricey. The Salvation Army wanted four or five dollars per set! Honestly. I settled on two:

An Aristocats set for Danette.

And a set of racing boats for Mitchell. I want the graphic from the boats on a t-shirt...with a memorial to the soap saver on the back!

Snails on Parade

2011-02-04T15:23:00.002-05:00

In 2006, I predicted the quick rise of snails as an interior design motif. I'm sure you remember it and the feeding frenzy that followed. Snail objets everywhere were snatched up with such abandon that it became almost impossible to find the obligatory snail figurine traditionally purchased as a wedding present by Okies. But, as quickly as the fad shot through the blogosphere, landed in the pages of the NYTimes and was featured in a story in the now defunct Metropolitan Home, the passion for snails vanished. Without a trail.

Still, many of us remain devotees of the classics and aren't swayed by the whims of design world. My collection of snails is très important, so I present them here for your viewing pleasure, including a couple of fairly recent additions.

This lovely Italian planter started it all. The largest and most elaborate of the snails, it is the queen of the collection. I realize I use the phrase 'queen of the collection' or 'queen of the household' fairly often, but I want to be clear these are literal, and not honorific, titles.

These little guys are Japanese and I would buy at least twenty more of them, given the opportunity. The glaze is amazing, earthy and very...intentional.

A very tiny white one, like several of the others it crawls around the china cabinet.

This extraordinary fellow is a snail AND a bank, meaning he straddles two collections. But, as he prefers, he lives with the other snails in the china cabinet.

Mom bought me this lovely green snail planter when we were thrifting on my birthday. It is really my favorite color of green. Plus a snail. Equals very nice birthday find. Thanks mom!

And a couple of non-thrifted snails...more proof of the snail phenomenon...

My new predictions for interiors? Simple:
1. Cat hair is the new throw pillow.
2. Asianalia. Like Asian-ish, but more about the tchotch.
3. Library book presses. You should have at lease three or four for a room to look complete.

Can you?

2011-02-02T16:31:00.001-05:00

I'm quite surprised I have never come across one of these before, since a little web research shows them to be quite common--a Sylex candle warmer! patent pending.

It's quite simple: a small candle in a lovely glass container warms the metal lid, keeping you pot of coffee or tea warm. Lovely!

On a cold, February day, what more can you ask for? I certainly could not resist it. I'm sure with a little flame inside, it's even more lovely...

Well?

2011-01-28T09:09:00.000-05:00

1. What does perfume in a frog-shaped bottle smell like?
2. Who, at Avon, says, "You know, I think perfume in a frog-shaped bottle will sell really well. Something in a lily pad scent?"
3. Why is the frog wearing a chef hat? Wouldn't a crown be more appropriate? Like a frog prince? And if you wear this, you'll find him?
4. Instead, it's a frog chef. Is he going to cook you something fantastic? Frog legs? Wouldn't you be disappointed if you kissed a frog and he turned out to be a short-order cook? Instead of an aristocrat?
5. Why is the hat red?
6. Is it some sort of food-based flavor of perfume? Is the scent 'fried?'
7. Is it something people would really like, since it's a rather large bottle? Like an everyday sort of scent?
8. Why does the frog look unhappy?
9. Why do I want this?
10. Is it the contrast between the red, plastic hat and the white, glass bottle that makes it so appealing?
11. Or is it just the frog? That it's a frog perfume bottle?

White Away

2011-01-23T13:50:00.002-05:00

I used to think plain, white dishes were just boring. I would never look at anything at the thrift store that was just plain white. I wanted bright colors, atomic patterns, coordinated (but not matching) serving pieces and a mix of everything. And I have that and it's really funny, because even when I try to do an 'eclectic' table, it all seems to coordinate and vibrate in some unconscious, magical way. But then one day, I reversed my stance on white dishes and I began to be kind of be obsessed with them.

I remember it well: it was the day I found the Schonwald--such a magical moment it inspired a drawing and a poem. The dishes are simple, gorgeous and have a heft that make them amazing to hold. I have four pieces in an ovoid shape: large and small serving bowls, platter and sauce boat. And after that, I began to look at white differently and to find pieces that were unique in treatment, shape and design. Some are pedigreed, others are not. But, what it means is that I can easily mix in serving pieces with any of my chinas (the family grows) and simply coordinate a table.

But, what worries me is that guests think my lovelies are "just a white bowl from the restaurant collection at Kohl's or Macy's." They're not. They're vintage, gorgeous and special and I assume those who know me well realize that. But, I was thinking about the whole farm-to-table phenomenon the other day and how you can't just have an egg anymore, rather a Meadows Farm of Happy Chickens Egg. What if I did that at parties and made little cards that read, House-made French Onion Dip with Expensive Potato Chips served in White Porcelain Bowls from Schonwald, Germany. Affected? Well, of course.

Anyways, here is a parade of the white dishes including the last super-find from Russel Wright. Enjoy.

The Schonwald gravy boat, with attached under plate.
It has made multiple appearances, here at MTSS.

These two bowls make me believe I am
a shaman and can work magic in the kitchen.

The platter is simple, with just a slightly turned up edge.

Altogether now.

This plain, white lotus bowl probably came from Pier 1,
but as it's the largest in the collection and the only white one,
it is the Queen of Lotus Bowls in this household.

Yes, you can find Paul McCobb's Contempri all tarted up with various patterns, atomic and otherwise, adorning it. But, the plain white example has been stalking me across the country for years and evidenced here and here.

Eva Zeisel. What can you say? These simple white bowls could be used in a Sci-fi film today, decades after they were made, and still conjure 'the future' in the mind of the viewer.

Ben Seibel's Impromptu line says it all, simple and elegant;
always ready to entertain or to be entertained.

This Russel Wright divided bowl says to me,
"Fill half of me with pretzel M&Ms and the other half with plain M&Ms." What does it say to you?

Back. Sort of?

2011-01-23T12:53:00.002-05:00

I love this blog and it's been very fun to write the past few years. I don't think I'll ever give it up, but I guess the posts have become rather infrequent. I know, you're all sitting at home just waiting for more MTSS, so I apologize.

In all honestly, I don't shop like I used to. Like a koi, I have reached the size of my pond. Perhaps in the future, when I find myself in a larger place, thrift shopping will return to the manic fervor of years past. For now, our small place, which I really enjoy, is packed to the gills. I'll still shop, but as I've mentioned before, I've become infinitely more choosy.

The big thrift shopping news in Terre Haute is that Goodwill is opening a second store. Just down the street from it's current store. Not sure about the logic on this, but those are the facts. Stopping this week at the current store, several things were obvious.

1. Someone who collected bird objets had died.
2. Someone who collected Asianalia* had also died.

Question: was it the same person? I'm not sure, but it always saddens me to see an entire collection dumped at the thrift store. Someones life work, their passion and pleasure, dumped in a box. I know, their heirs couldn't keep everything, so I'm assuming (hoping) they kept the best of both and what was at Goodwill was just detritus.

This is all to say, I've begun plans for my mausoleum. Like the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt and many other cultures, I intend to take it with me. All of it. I'm picturing a modest construction in limestone, my glass-topped casket and carefully preserved corpse in center, with glass covered shelves lining the walls. Everything will be organized and displayed in small vignettes. My estate will provide for perpetual care and the salary of one registrar who will maintain the collections in perpetuity.

That said, I made one small purchase at the Goodwill that straddled both of the collections (birds + Asianalia, to circle back to the middle), leading me to believe they belonged to the same person: two small plastic bird figurines that were made in Hong Kong. They look fantastic on the Quan Yin altar and make me think of spring during this very bleak season.

Happy thrifting.

*Asianalia: items from Asia that make up a collection. E.g., "Like many late 19th-century artists, Whistler was a great collector of Asianalia."

/ˈCHo͞ozē/

2010-11-02T21:53:00.002-04:00

As I've mentioned, I've become rather choosy of late. Sure, I could just pick up any odd little treasure and be happy, but then where does it go? Where does it live? At what point does one cross over from collector to stylish hoarder to full-on hoarding madness?

These are the things I worry and think about. So, on a short little thrifting trip in Omaha (capital of all manner of fabulous things as noted here and here.), I looked at many things, but purchased only three:

This large ceramic statue of Quan Yin had a couple of minor nicks on it, but the price was right and it is just pretty gorgeous. I'm trying to find a place for it that is appropriate, beautiful and spiritual. What do you do to lovely things that are nicked or chipped? Rather than try to touch them up with paint, I've thought about highlighting the flaws of a couple of beloved pieces with gilding. Yes, gilding. Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?

An actual piggy bank that goes with the crazy, day-glo bank collection. What was three has grown from the noted eight to a large group of ten. Lovely all....including another relatively new inchworm...

Finally...
...two sets of six multicolored fondue plates in the original box. You know how I feel about things in the original box! In one of the boxes, the plates were even still in their plastic sleeves with the sticker, 'Japan,' unmarred on the back. Let's do the fondue!

I did not buy the six dozen punch cups for $3.97 in their original box. I DID NOT BUY THE SIX DOZEN PUNCH CUPS FOR $3.97 IN THEIR ORIGINAL BOX?! Mine are 'milk' glass, so these don't match anyways. Plus, Barbara has my Mam-ma's which are numerous and match her giant punch bowl. IF I were to ever need such a large number of cups.

A little boy in a rabbit suit that was oddly appealing, but I already have so many things that are 'oddly appealing.'

An Asian BVM? Or is this some Buddhist deity? Advise please.

A Frankoma mug like we used to have when I was growing up. Sam would crunch up crackers or crumble day-old biscuits into these big mugs, top with buttermilk and a some pepper for a snack. As children, my brother and I were amazed our father would eat such things.

A collection of shampoo bottle in a variety of shapes and sizes, but primarily Snow White.

A lovely electric organ.

There was also a large stack of overpriced vintage games and two owl bookends that were green slab glass I should have bought. But again, overpriced. Looking at eBay, they appear to be Blenko and quite ubiquitous. I would still like to have them.

Bounty Beauty Booty

2010-08-08T14:15:00.000-04:00

There were so many beautiful things to be found in Omaha and the more I put in the cart, the more I wanted to find. It's very hard to pass something up, especially when you are traveling and you don't really have to worry about where it goes at that particular moment. It just goes into the trunk of the car, in a big box the thrift store so kindly provided and you can just worry about it later. I couldn't say no. I couldn't resist. I had to have all of this!

Can you identify this item? Like the handy peanut pourer, I have seen it before in the thrift store and just had no idea what it was. Jewelry tree? Utensil holder? Fondue fork stand!

That's right, fondue fork stand. So lovely and elegant, it matches some of the other green items we use for entertaining. Plus, it's in the original box. And I don't have to go into that again, do I reader?

The Lovely and Talented Miss Nettie Jackson loves her new little baby ducky! This sweetly painted china duck is just one of the absurd things I see at the thrift store that I am strangely attracted to. No provenance, nothing that special about it. But something made me want it.

Somewhere, someone wrote of this blog something to the affect of, "Lots of great thrifting finds and no photos of cat or what he made for dinner." We DO try to stay on-brand and on-mission here at MTSS, so I do apologize to that person for this gratuitous photo of the cat.

Back to the show: You know I love food specific serving pieces! I already have a mixed set of bowls similar to this including three bowls with pretzel in different scripts, a 'nuts' bowl and some with flowers on them. But, I've never seen a complete set with a lid. What to to put in them? Potato chips, pretzels, snacks and nuts! I love the ambiguity of 'snacks'...

...and the fact that they stack! Fantastic.

A lovely tin for the tin collection; number three hundred fifty-two. Not really, but beginning to feel like it.

I have been collecting 'frogs' since I was in high school. I know, it's crazy, but I was brought up right going to antique malls, junk shops and thrift stores by my Mam-ma. Somehow, I got started on the glass frogs and have a small collection of them. Mostly glass. For those not in the know, they're used for flower arranging and many vases came with custom frogs that sat in the top, allowing you to arrange more without worry. I think this ceramic iteration will work well in a low dish with some little mums or something. Plus it has that faux bois affect...

Mom had a sewing box like this when I was little. I believe it was green and two-tiered. I remember there were little scissors in it, needles and thread and it had some sort of fascination for me. Who knows. It was very tactile. This yellow one may not have ever been used, but Mitchell will put it to good use.

H is for Hurricane. And sadly, I broke this glass right after washing it!

This salt and pepper set is very mod, with metal clad over glass. We couldn't get one of them open at the store, but thought we might be able to at home. No luck. Any suggestions?

These guys came from the same store as the fondue forks and stand. Barely anything had a price, so when I asked how much the fondue forks were, the checker named a very affordable number. Then we asked about the banks, expecting a similar affordable number and she hesitated and then said, "twenty-five cents a piece." What?! A steal. The hippo and cow appear hand-painted, but the king is from a company, 'Lego, Fine Quality Japan.' Most of the ones we have are from Japan and these fit right into that very strange aesthetic.

Surely this wall plaque had a partner (Pepper? Is there pepper on that?), but it was nowhere to be found. Regardless, this one came home and will probably find a place in the kitchen. Eventually. The kitchen is small and already packed full of kitsch.

I spotted this coffee carafe perusing the kitchenware section. It was nice, with a great design and mod, Jetson-like handle in a pleasing plastic. But, after discarding a large collection of these when departing Wichita, it's hard to start adding back to the stash...

...UNTIL, I spotted the triangular warmer for this triangular pot on the other side of the store. As soon as I put them back together...."REUNITED and it felt sooo good," I had to have it.

So yes, when it is snowing outside I'll be sipping warm coffee from this pot.

Last but not least, an open divided vegetable by Georges Briard. Sigh. It has a hairline crack, but was just too fine to pass up: the shape, the size and the pattern. Fantastic. I wouldn't serve anything liquid-y in it, but it's perfect for...M&Ms! Pretzel on one side and plane on the other?

"Mmmmmm! M&Ms for dessert."

And that, my friends, is how we shop Omaha-style.

Salon de Refusés

2010-07-29T18:04:00.002-04:00

Reader, you know there has been a dry spell, but the clouds have broken and a sweet bounty of thrift has been poured about the earth! Rejoice! Rejoice throughout the land!

From whence did said bounty appear? Omaha. Omaha, Nebraska. The new promised land of thrifting. Every time we visit I find the most amazing and beautiful things. One store in particular yields a trove of treasures and I have said before, I could furnish an entire house in one visit. Or at least get a start. Before I get to the good stuff, I thought I would share a few images of the things I did not buy to prove the point that I am selective and I do not buy every dusty, dirty relic my pinky finger grazes. No matter what you might think...

I'm really not a seasonal cookie jar type of person, but I love the color and design of this one. IF I were going to buy a seasonal cookie jar, it would be the one. I'm not, so I didn't.

Can you imagine if you came to my house and after each course I got out the silver plated crumb knife and pan and cleaned the tablecloth? I'm sure you can, but don't worry, it isn't going to happen. I'm reading The Help and just such an item was referenced as a detail relaying the pointless accoutrement of the bourgeoisie wedding register. This one was monogrammed and looks like it might actually have been used.

This lamp is over the top, with four faux candlesticks fitted for light bulbs. You know how I love my faux, but there is no place in our home for such a large and ostentatious lamp.

A pricey and mint condition big yellow bowl, but I already have two...

I have been asking the universe for a Georges Briard tea kettle for a while, but one that is mint and usable hasn't turned up. This one looks fantastic on the outside, but the interior was a mess and I had to leave it there. A lot of the Briard enamelware was produced in Terre Haute, so you would think there would be more of it appearing at the Goodwill, but not so much. Come one universe!

Temporama, the 'wedding china.' They had a sugar bowl, some cups and a few bread and butter plates. I think the only pieces I'm missing from this set is a butter dish and the salt and pepper, so I left all of these where they were. I culled the set down to service for twelve during the move to Austin, TX, so it's pretty much stabilized at this point.

Jessie hates clowns, so it's all I can do not to take a picture of every one I see and send it to her. I resisted, but I'm posting here for your amusement. Hopefully it'll still give her a good fright. This looks like paint-by-numbers and if it really were, then I would have snapped it up. But, it's just a printed piece.

Hey there pretty, elegant lady. Fancy.

This bizarre curio cabinet was plastic and rather shaky. Something about it was very attractive though...

I should have bought this table. I don't know what I was thinking. Even if I didn't use it, I'm sure I could have found a good home for it.

Georges Briard Pyrex, but a pattern I could resist at a price I would never pay.

I was so excited to find this double vegetable by Ben Seibel in the Impromptu pattern and greatly disheartened to find it was chipped on both ends. I have the open vegetable in this same pattern and this would have made a great addition to the amazing white dish collection.

Who could ash in such a cute little ashtray? Isn't she saying 'Please quit smoking' with her eyes?

And that was what I DIDN'T buy! Are you ready for the good stuff? Drum roll please....

Lots of Thrift in Omaha!

2010-07-24T12:09:00.000-04:00

Can't wait to update you!

One or Two Lil Things

2010-07-10T11:13:00.000-04:00

Again with the finding just enough to satisfy my thrift shopping lust:

A glass coaster, with a gold rim and three little feet. The underside is pebbling and it's perfect for a teapot or coffee pot

A new Lady, which was placed immediately by the door, replacing Our Lady of Ventriloquism. Now where will she go?

Just Buy It

2010-07-10T08:30:00.000-04:00

After last weeks little finds, I had the fever. I wanted more, knowing full well there was no room at the inn. No room in the closet at the inn. And definitely no room in the storage unit that is behind the inn where this is no room.

"That doesn't matter," I told myself, "You'll just find something small and delicious like you did last week." I was thinking something that could be tucked into a drawer or maybe stored in something that was already somewhere. I didn't know! I was just trying to justify it.

So, I did find something. Something that hangs on the wall! Something that, actually, is a spot where something else can go and hang on the wall. So, double brilliance. Right? Right. But, it was like $1.29 and I was cashless and thought, "Ok, I'll buy it if I find something else to buy also," not wanted to debit $1.29. So, I continued to walk the store. And found nothing. Nada. Zip.

Okay fine, I'll put the cool hanging shelf thing down and just forget about....wait. What is that, tucked under that table over there? Um...

That's right. A Heywood-Wakefield end table. For nothing. Granted, it needs a little loving care, but for the price? Not a problem. But an end table? Now reader, I'm not part of the Hey-Wake Church of the Rising Eagle, or whatever it is they call their cult. I used to have a 1960s H-W china cabinet, but it wasn't the collectible style everyone loves so much. I LOVED it, and it loved me. But it was nothing special to the collector.

I don't know, to me H-W always makes me think of late 80s vintage. Pretty in Pink sort of cat-eye glasses and big bouffants. It seems old-old fashioned. So I debated and debated and finally, just bought it. What the heck. I'll fix it and use it or fix it and sell it or fix it and find a home for it with someone who loves it. Someone with cat-eye glasses and a big bouffant with an altar to Heywood-Wakefield built in their living room.

So I bought it and the wall hanging shelf thing which looks great with the new arrangement of found art and objets in the office.

This started with just Juan-Carlos, a portrait that some love and others despise. Then we added the horse (yet, unnamed) and the little yellow owl. Mitchell gave me the trees for my birthday and they are from Home Interiors and I love love love them, but couldn't decide where they go. The yellow wall hanging shelf thing looks great with the group and provides a place for a changing array of little bibelots. Just buy it.

(That cat on the floor still needs to go somewhere, but one thing at a time.)

Tiny Treasures

2010-07-09T17:59:00.001-04:00

Dedicated reader, it has been a while since I have posted and for that I apologize. But, in my defense, I must say that it isn't my fault. I have done a little bit of shopping around town, but just haven't found anything that was covet-able. When your home, closets and storage unit are filled to the brim with luscious finds, you begin to become more choosy. Or I do, I guess.

I remember when I would go to the thrift store and always find something that was pleasing to me. It didn't have to be by a well-known designer or worth more than the price on the sticker. I could easily find a small plate or a cup that struck an aesthetic chord in my person and go home completely pleased.

But now, I am spoiled. I look at things and think, "Is there even room on a shelf for it? And if there is, will it offend the sensibility of the other things already there? Is it cute enough to go next to the Russel Wright dishes? " It is difficult to find something that pleases me and also pleases the things I already own. Perhaps I go too far, but I come from high-hoarding people on both sides of my family and I am very naturally able to easily personify even the inanimate. And it doesn't bother me to do so, even though it may creep you out a little. But yes, I do think my things have personalities, likes and opinions. They just do.

ANYWAY, so that's my excuse and my sickness. But, last week I was at the Goodwill and I just felt like I was due something fabulous. Something wonderful. Something that would suit the members of my familie de objets. As always with the thrift store, expect to be surprised, because what I found wasn't an Eames chair, an Eva Zeisel bowl or a gold-plated berry server. It was something else entirely...

A circus tent, made from fiberboard and plastic and decorated with all manner of baroque designs. What? Yes. I think it was a display for perfume or some other cosmetics. And what would I do with it?

Cirque de la Saints, of course. It's perfect as an altar for some of the BVMs, Saints and Jesi from the collection, most of which also came from the thrift store. I love them and I love them in this circus tent. An aesthetic chord was definitely strummed with this one and there was absolutely no problem integrating it into the family.

Likewise, I missed this plastic swan on my first past, but quickly nabbed it as I made a final scan. What was it for? No clue. But, it is the perfect carriage for...

A bevy of BVMs.

One Holy Family.

A single Saint.

Bastet (aka the Golden Cat Companion of the Chinese God)

While not groundbreaking, goal setting or over-the-top, both of these simple finds made my day. And yours too, I hope.

Shopping with Mo

2010-07-09T17:30:00.000-04:00

Way delayed, but with Melissa/Mo was here a while back, she found some treasures that couldn't be passed up!

Late Spring/Summer Bar

2010-04-17T16:08:00.000-04:00

(A Manic Thrift Store Shopper/bigYELLOWbowl crossover post.)

It's spring, how do you mark that around the house? Some people put different wreaths on their door, others change the clothes on the ducks on the porch, but I mark the changes of the season by changing out the bar ware. I like to think not just about color and motif, but also what kind of drink I might serve and what sort of glasses and accessories I might use.

This bar is my late spring or early summer bar. I have tall glasses for iced drinks, a sailboat themed ice bucket and a blue and white tray. I tried to carry the red and blue throughout the arrangement, balancing it with dark, gray stones and a smoke color drink pitcher. Note the West Virginia blue bird of happiness. This is a family joke I could explain, but it would take all day and probably wouldn't be funny to you. But, to those who play the game, it's worth two points.

I decided I needed something kind of tall and interesting, perhaps white? And what says spring more than a doe and her fawn? These little figurines haven't been out since I set-up house in Terre Haute, so it was nice to bring something new to the bar. The celery dish is Ben Seibel and one of my favorite things. With the exception of the tray, small blue bowls, stir sticks and red olive floaters, this bar is all thrift shopping finds.

So what will I be serving this summer?

Pimm's Cup
Whiskey Sours
Honey Girl Cocktails
Vodka Tonics
Mojitos for a crowd
Dark and Stormy
Something with pineapple and rum

Stop by for a drink...

An Easy Lesson on Making Things Cuter

2010-02-19T19:31:00.000-05:00

When I was thrifting in Omaha, I made a $.80 purchased that changed my life, my outlook on the world and my perspective on cute: a miniature sombrero. It's true. I picked up this little hat and began to put it on everything around the store, instantly amping up the cute-meter by five points with each switcheroo. How can that be?

Just look:

This little doggy was already pretty cute, but look how cute he
is in the miniature sombrero? Everybody say, 'ahhhhh."

You probably wouldn't describe the BVM as cute,
unless she was is wearing a miniature sombrero!

And Raggedy Andy? Sure, he is kind of cute in a saccharine kind of way,
so in this case the miniature sombrero brings his cuteness down to a palatable level.

Santa is always cute, but Santa in a miniature sombrero is excepcionalmente-cute!

This caroler looks super angry, like she is put out by having to wear the miniature sombrero. And the guy behind her doesn't look very happy that it is blocking his moment. Isn't that cute?

Our Lady of Ventriloquism looks cute too, and I'm sure it's the miniature sombrero.

What have we learned?

Accessories are everything.
You can have a helluva lot of fun for $.80 in a thrift store.
Everyone is cute at some point, even the BVM.
Smile, don't be so serious.

Look for the miniature sombrero to pop-up in future MTSS posts again and again until it becomes so funny you won't be able to stand it. Laugh, my puppets, laugh! De Nuestra Señora de la ventriloquia commands it!

Seal Low Wet

2010-02-16T20:43:00.004-05:00

On the same trip as the peanut pourer, a trend formed I could not ignore...

Break It Down

2010-02-15T19:22:00.000-05:00

What is this? A bird made from a clear, borosilicate glass. Yes, but what is it? The only opening is the beak, which extends from the body and seems to be intended for pouring. But what is it used for? When was it made? Why would it interest me?

I've seen it before and I thought, "Cotton balls?" Or maybe, "Creamer?" I guess it could be anything, but...

It was in its original package and it has a very specific purpose: it is a peanut pourer. Not a nut pourer, but a peanut pourer. Maybe late 70s, early 80s?

Why does it appeal to me? I'll break it down:

I love something in it's original package, especially one as fabulous as this. The rendering of said pourer is ne plus ultra. Someone in an office somewhere (Thailand?) created this drawing of the pourer that was supposed to appeal to consumers. Does it? Strangely.
And the box says so much about the object, but nothing we can know for sure. Perhaps someone cared so deeply for it, they kept the box it came in to protect it. What do you own in it's original box? Perhaps they cared for it so little they never used it and it set unopened on a shelf in a closet. What do you have you never used? That you are holding onto?
I love that it has a specific purpose. I love that it is for pouring peanuts and as I was looking at it at the Goodwill, I instantly imagined: cocktails. Perhaps Pomegranate Manhattans served over ice in my leave Georges Briard glasses? Some pretzels in one of the plastic bowls labeled pretzels and salty peanuts in the peanut pourer? Someone tells a joke or a funny story; everyone laughs. A handsome gentlemen with dark wavy hair lifts the peanut pourer and offers it to the guest to his left, pouring a few out into their palm. This object has potential.
I love that without the package, I would have no idea what this object was to be used for--the mystery. Like being an archaeologist. I love that this is something that isn't made anymore. You can't go into the home section at Macy's and ask the salesgirl, "Salesgirl? Salesgirl? Can you please show me your peanut pourers?!" They don't make these anymore.
Lastly, I love rescuing it and putting it to use, making it mine, adding it to the collection. To me, this peanut pourer is like a sad-eyed little puppy or a purring little kitten. It speaks to me. If you are one of the object people, you know it. You hear it too. Possession in nine tenths of the fall, the other tenth is finding a place to put everything.

And I want more of them. Instantly. Just like it. Three hours ago, I had no idea that a bird-shaped peanut pourer existed. Now I want a matched set of twelve to have for dinner parties. So that everyone could have their own, individual peanut pourer. Or maybe one for every other person?

It's a sickness, but one I have learned to live with. And, dear reader, your support certainly helps.

For the Birds!

2010-02-14T15:52:00.001-05:00

I missed one amazing item in the parade of thrifting from the holiday trip--this amazing bird bank seen on the bookshelf with a coordinating owl bank. Mitchell has a small collection of these items that is quickly growing and the bird was a great addition. It has a small sticker on it that read, "Chicken Feed Savings Bank" and another on the bottom that reads 'Imports Enesco Japan.' These items share a peculiar aesthetic and day-glo colors that, as a child of the 70s, resonates strongly with me. It's kind of like Schoolhouse Rocks and color-your-own-black-light-posters-on-black-velvet had babies that were banks. I don't know, it gives me a shiver. Here's a look at the entire collection as it currently stands in addition to a peek at the books on my shelves. I know you like it...

Train Bank

Jalopy Bank

Street Car Bank

Thrifting Through the Blizzard

2010-02-09T17:52:00.000-05:00

My darlings, I have for you a much delayed post on the holidays which took us on a long, snowy tour of the lower Midwest to see family and friends. The travel was dangerous and grueling, but as they say, "When life gives you lemons, make time for thrift shopping." And we did, finding many wonderful and amazing items along the way.

I popped into a thrift store in south Omaha that I only hope I can find again: there was so much it was unbelievable! I could have outfitted an entire kitchen and dining room with the wonderful items they had. And after you finish this post, you'll probably think I did...

I wish there had been ten--no twelve--NO TWENTY--of these bowls, I would have bought them all. They are low, but deep enough for soup, pasta or a big salad. And perfect for spaghetti and meatballs. I won't every eat spaghetti from anything besides these bowls again, I promise you. They are that perfect. And Pyrex. Did I mention they are Pyrex? With a lovely greenish-blue rings that match my favorite coffee cup. One of my favorite coffee cups--I try to remain impartial.

Say what you will about hoarding, but I will never pass up a chip-less, lotus bowl if it is a color other than white. These are the smallest size and I now have two in red, two in green and two in yellow. Traffic light! Plus, twenty or so in the slightly larger size in a variety of colors. For rice bowl emergencies. Geez, I've totally explained this to you before and it is completely logical.

This lovely little bowl is a very light gray and unmarked It reminds me a of a shape from either the 40s or the 80s and is perfect for some nuts, olive pits, sesame seeds, soy sauce, ketchup, flaky salt or anything else you might want or need to put into a small bowl. Hello, my name is Brian and I'm addicted to small bowls. I can stop anytime I want. I just don't want.

I'm calling this lovely 70s Madonna and Child wall plaque, 'Our Lady of Ventriloquism' because it does kind of look like he is her puppet. Sweet regardless, it's now hanging beside the front door which took some getting used to as I kept seeing it out of the corner of my eye and thinking, 'What the hell is on the wall!?!'

This fantastic serving piece is that Japanese-made plastic that is supposed to kind of look like lacquerware. It has six little trays that are removable and a center wooden section for....sauces, a fondue pot, condiments, a centerpiece....or whatever. Did I mention it's fantastic?

These trays are plastic, but made to look like a gold-veined stone. Very unique, I could not pass them up...

A silver tray shaped like a giant leaf was impossible to resist.

In Wichita, we did a little shopping with Molly, popping into the DAV at Central and Edgemore to find...giant piles of Russel Wright dishes! It was so strange, at first I spotted some creamer tops to the Iroquois Casual China and then some tea cups in a variety of patterns and colors. Eventually, saucers, bread plates and dinner plates began to reveal themselves in the mess of dishes on display in the store including: service for eight in the Iroquois Casual China in Pink Sherbet with cups, saucers, bread and butter plates and dinner plates. I have always coveted this pink. I'm not sure why as I'm not really a pink person (give me some fuchsia here and there, but not pink pink), but every time I see it I just think, 'That is the perfect pink.' So, dear reader, I could not resist when presented with the opportunity to buy such a large group at the thrift store.

When I got home, I realized that the pieces came from different production lots because of the variety of markings. I think all of this china must have belonged to some collector who might now be in the 'big Russel Wright shop in the sky' and their family didn't know what this was. Just a bunch of old china! So, I'm glad I rescued a collector's collection, or at least a little part of it.

This beauty was already featured in the gravy-boat-confessional-crossover post between MTSS and bigYELLOWbowl. But, it's still quite the find. Perhaps I should give it away in some sort of contest?

Returning home, I guess I was still hot and heavy for shopping (twas the season!), so I popped into Goodwill and found this lovely shell in a deep brown practically black for the faux shell collection. I think I'll fill it with BVMs.

Since then, I have kind of been ignoring the thrift store. Trying to be good! Fret not, it won't last...

Oh, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Gravy Boats...

2010-01-10T18:51:00.005-05:00

(A Manic Thrift Store Shopper/bigYELLOWbowl crossover post.)

Let's face it, I have a very acute case of dishmorphia. When I'm shopping at the thrift store or home store or wherever, I see something and think, "okay, I absolutely need ten of those." When in reality I already have twenty of them at home. Small dishes? Check. Chopsticks? Check. Asian soup spoons? I think we all learned our lesson about that last week. I really do have twenty-four more Asian soup spoons on their way to me as I type.

But perhaps the most ridiculous? Gravy boats.

First of all, how many gravy boats does a vegetarian need? Sure, there are lots of great vegetarian gravies or sauces out there. Case in point, the amazing gravy Jimmy made for our New Year's Day breakfast. But, how often do I actually serve gravy? On a very rare and special occasion, it's true. Raise your hand if you have been served gravy or sauce from a gravy boat at my house?

But when I was growing up, gravy was just something you always had. It went over the meat, it went on the potatoes, it went over the chicken and it went on the biscuits. Sometimes, it just went on torn up pieces of bread which I loved and always thought of as a special treat. We always had gravy. It was so important that when Barbara made crispy fried chicken, she would also pan fry some chicken in order to have the drippings necessary for gravy. And she still does.

How many gravy boats did my mother have? Only one that I can remember.

But, when it's 2010 and you're whipping up a curry, pasta or bowl of Asian noodles for dinner, you don't really need a gravy boat. So why do I have six? That's right, I have six different gravy boats. Six, different, beautiful and elegant gravy boats--each a star in their own right.

So, how does this happen? I'll walk your through it.

Well, I'm at the thrift store and I find a gravy boat (above) that is lovely and different. It's Sango and I'm a total bitch for Sango. I have a couple of plates and a set of eight, very low bowls in red. I'm pretty sure that Sango made nothing that was cute after 1968, but before that: LOVE-ly. Love it all.

So I find this gravy boat (above) and it's lovely and in perfect shape. It doesn't really have a handle, just a small indention at the back to slip a thumb in as your gingerly pour gravy (or sauce) onto whatever it is you are gravy-ing (or saucing). It's different. It's unique. I'm already hooked, but I think to myself, "You know, you don't really have a nice, simple gravy boat in the cupboard. This is really a useful piece and you really need one."

Say what?

It's like this: I look at my china cabinet, my sideboard, my front closet filled with Pyrex and my bedroom closet filled with china and I think, "I don't have ANY dishes. Nothing fun or interesting. It's a wasteland!" And you are looking at the same china cabinet, sideboard, front closet filled with Pyrex and bedroom closet filled with china and probably thinking one of three things:

He is crazy.
Is there a shortage in the China mines? Are the Pyrex trees drying up? Did a blight take out the tiny dish fields this season?
Maybe he is opening up a store.

I have dishmorphia. Pure and simple. There isn't a cure. I mean, there isn't a cure I'm willing to participate in. Intervention? Try it. I'll be out of the hotel suite and in the nearest thrift store before you can say, "We've all written letters about how your shopping and dishmorphia affect us."

But, I will walk you through the collection:

This gravy boat is très important because it is what began the Temporama madness--I mean Temporama collection! I found it at the DAV on Douglas in Wichita, KS and said to myself, "Someday I will have a china cabinet full of this amazing pattern." I didn't even know at that point there was a separate under plate in a lovely robin's egg blue that accents all this amazing china. If I had, I probably would have dropped to my knees at that very moment and sworn a lifetime of allegiance.

I was visiting my friends Susan in Dallas, TX and she offered me some colors and duplicates from her Russel Wright collection. I love the streamlined nature of this gravy boat and its amazing ergonomic form. Ergonomic before it was cool! It is a little crazed, but I could still never part with it.

This odd specimen has an attached under plate and was produced by Tamac Pottery in Perry, OK. This color is called 'frosty fudge' and while it isn't my favorite in their line, the loose organic shape makes up for the fact it is not avocado. No matter how strong I will it.

This lovely little gravy boat with the Aladdin's lamp handle and separate under plate is part of the collection of Metlox Shore Line started by a gift from the playwright and actress Helena Hale on one of her trips to Wichita, KS. It would do her memory a disservice were I ever to part with it.

Finally, an example from Schonwald in white, German porcelain. The under plate is attached and I also have a large serving bowl, a small serving bowl and a platter in this same ovoid shape. How could I break them up?

See? All six are necessary and important.

Get clocked!

2010-01-06T18:50:00.001-05:00

I don't know why, but there have been lots of fabulous clocks at the thrift store the last couple of visits. I tried to be strong, but ultimately couldn't resist...

This resin beauty is filled with quartz. It was large, heavy and had a rustic elegance. Rustic elegance? I'm not sure how else to describe it. If I had a mantle I would have bought it. Or if it had been cheaper, I would have bought it for a future, as-yet-unowned mantle.

On another trip, I spotted second smaller version (only filled with shell) and I would have snapped that one up, but the top was broken. What is this phenomenon? I've never quite seen anything like it...

I finally gave in to the clocks being pushed on me by the universe when we spotted this lovely wall clock. It is one of those classic sunburst-type clocks, but with the Rococo swirls that made it irresistible. Unfortunately, it is missing one of the little finials, (Oh, you didn't even notice, did you?) but I think I will find something clever to replace it with--or maybe Molly will make me a little piece of glass to go on the end! Hmmmm?

It looks brilliant with the trophies...

Black Friday

2009-12-09T19:16:00.000-05:00

I popped into Goodwill on Black Friday, but didn't buy anything. However, I spotted some fun things, including Heidi Anna's "sporty"cousin, Kris. Everybody say 'hi' to Kris.

These People Are Serious

2009-11-22T15:18:00.005-05:00

It wasn't enough that someone created a clock to
go on your mantel and made it a bright, flashy plastic-y gold.

It wasn't enough that there be a single unicorn or a pegasus,
it had to be a pegacorn: fiercest of the mythical beasts!

But, one pegacorn wasn't enough.
No, they had to flank the clock with pegacorns, in all of their magnificence.

But that still wasn't enough, they had to add beautiful,
realistic silk roses, frozen in time, to match the goldenish ones and adorn the clock.

This clock is the best illustration I could ever give you that
too much is never enough.

Left at the thrift store, I was unworthy.

Une Série D'Assemblages de Lapins (Thrift Shop Assemblage, Series #1)

2009-11-15T19:33:00.004-05:00

Going for a ride.

Shut up lady.
No you shut up.

The happy couple.

Collections & What To Do With Them

2009-11-12T20:15:00.001-05:00

So, you find something cool while you're shopping at the thrift store. And you buy it. Mesmerized by it's unique beauty.

Then a while later, you find another one and you buy it, thinking, "it's so neat to have two of those things." You keep shopping and a third one pops up and then you have a collection. And it grows. And your aunt notices, so she starts shopping for those things for you too. She also mentions it to your mom. Soon, you have TONS of those really cool things that you used to just have one of. What do you do with them?

If those cool things are dishes, you find the most awesome china cabinet you can and fill it with the beautiful objects until it is just bursting! Of course, you can't just put dishes in it, so you also include cute figurines. Or little statues of snails because they are so hot right now and it seems so incongruous to find them in a china cabinet. Then you even start putting beautiful objects on top of it. And people start to look at you a little sideways. But, you don't mind because it's your collection and looking at it helps you stay grounded. It makes you happy. It keeps you real.

But, what if those things aren't dishes? Or radios. Or books that can sit around in a cool pile with a vintage cast-iron library book press decorated with dolphins in front of it.

What if those things sit around and begin to gather dust. And pile up. And take over! What do you do then?

You hang those bitches on the wall. That's right, you heard me. YOU HANG THOSE BITCHES ON THE WALL. Everything looks better hanging on the wall. It says, "Look at me, I'm special." Hanging thing on the wall elevates the object to a much higher and more interesting thing. Think about Carl Andre.

Do you even know who Carl Andre is? Of course you don't, because he made art that goes on the floor. On the floor! And he even murdered his wife (Ana Mendieta) who was also an artist, but didn't go to jail. And you still don't know who he is. Now do you know who Vincent Van Gogh is, right? Of course you do, because he made art that goes on the wall. Like you are supposed to. Where people want to see it.

How do you hang things on the wall? Nails are nice. Screws and tape work too. Or a shelf. You could use a small decorative shelf. Plate hangers that adhere to the back of things are also awesome. And made in England where they know about hanging crap on the wall. They practically invented hanging things on the wall! Although some revisionist historians are now claiming it was the Chinese.

So, what is sitting around that you could hang on the wall? Huh? Do it.

What You Don't

2009-11-12T19:11:00.004-05:00

Sometimes, what you don't buy at the thrift store can be as interesting as what you DO buy. My recent stop at the Goodwill after a very long day attests to this. Perhaps I was just high on fatigue, but I was mesmerized by everything there--even though I wanted to buy none of it.

I love the handmaid and the discarded--and this is both! Someone went to a lot of trouble to create this seascape using shells and it is quite beautiful in its own special way. Maybe it represents a trip to the sea and a remembrance of a special day? Or maybe it's just a symbol of longing for the sea by someone stuck in the Midwest. If they had taken it one step further and made it a lamp, I might have been moved to buy it. Or if I knew who would have wanted it, I could have purchased it as a gift.

Would you want this for a gift? Let me know so the next time I see a diorama made from shells, I'll know who to buy it for.

Mitchell is almost as cute as these little puppies. He just needs to try a little bit harder.

What is it about bunnies? They are supposed to be cute, but so often come off as menacing. I imagine this replacing Joseph in the light up nativity scene in your front yard.

And this! This is just an altar to tacky presided over by three goddesses, angels and glass vessels for offerings. It made me wonder if someone set it up, as I will often do while perusing the shelves at the thrift store. A new series of posts! Thrift store assemblage.

Sundays at Goodwill are Made for...

2009-11-02T18:42:00.001-05:00

I don't know what to tell you, but the Terre Haute Goodwill is back after a dismal slump. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know. It's good in that it's fun to shop there again, but it's bad in that my china cabinet, hutch, closet, other closet and storage are packed. But, I could not pass up these finds.

And they happened on a Sunday.

That's right, the worst thrift shopping day of the week. Sunday is the worst because: it's after everything as been picked over on Friday night when everyone is on the way home from work; Saturday has seen people come and go and come and go and come and go; it's the day employees at Goodwill are hung over and doesn't do any restocking; there is nothing left but the odds and ends.

But this has happened before. And it happened again.

Exhibit A.

These lovely little lotus bowls are some of my favorite things and I have a huge collection. My grandmother had them in white, but I eschew those in favor of a myriad of colors I can mix and match.

These are a wonderful addition to the collection, but I was sad as there was also an orange one, but it had a chip I could not ignore. Yes I have....(one, two....seven....thirteen..)....twenty-one of the larger bowls in various colors and three smaller one in red and green, but you never know when I might need them for a dinner or emergency. I mean, what if a busload of Buddhist monks broke down en route to St. Louis and they called me to help serve dinner but they HAD to have rice bowls. Buddhist monks cannot be served dinner without rice bowls. I would be ready. Would you?

And one more orange would have helped too!

However, my sadness was lifted by...

Exhibit B.

This light wood salad bowl, imported from Japan, has the look of American modern. It made me think of Russel Wright or Eva Zeisel. Wonderful shape and color. And made me feel better about the loss of the orange lotus bowl. Until I saw...

Exhibit C.

A stack of white dishes that intrigued me and upon closer inspection, proved to be solid white Contempri designed for Jackson China International by Paul McCobb. You are asking yourself, "Does he really need another set of china?" And I am telling you, "Yes!" In a qualified way. Reader, I already own this set of china, it is just slowly being delivered to my house over the course of several years. I originally purchased an open vegetable and platter at an estate sale in Wichita, KS. Then earlier this year, I found a second open vegetable and covered casserole right here in Terre Haute which inspired a paradigm shift in the china cabinet. And now service for four? I think you can see where this is going. Someday, service for twelve with all of the accoutrement. Dost though scoff? My collection of Temporama began with only a gravy point and a dream.

Name it and claim it, that is what Oprah says!

Anyway, I think you can see that Sunday is not a bad day to thrift shop. Challenging, yes. But it still can yield a china cabinet full of treasures. Or two china cabinets full.

Yella

2009-11-02T18:06:00.002-05:00

It has been a little bit of a dry spell at the Terre Haute Goodwill, but that all changed a couple of weeks ago. Erika Doss was in town to give a lecture as part of program the Swope was doing with ISU and Art Spaces, Inc. At dinner after, we all got to talking about collecting and objects, and Erika and I decided we needed to take a moment to stop into the Goodwill in the morning. She found zilch (next time!) , but I found three yellow treasures:

A fantastic tin, covered in jewels for the tin collection. Mitchell has arranged some of these on the wall as you turn into our hallway and they look fantastic. Three or so more and it will be a brilliant arrangement. What did I tell you about more?

This lovely swirling glass bowl matches...

...this fantastic blue one that I already have! It will be great for dips next to the flower-power chip bowl. Or, I can put snack mix in the blue one and nuts in the yellow one for a party. Officially designated. Please mark the log.

And finally, this beautiful yellow relish dish. It's smartly divided, with one large compartment and two small ones. I haven't used it yet, but it looks brilliant in the sunlight. And will look even better filled with olives, pickled okra, cornichons, caper berries and so on and so on and so on.

Yellow! I love thematic thrifting finds...

More Madison Thrift-consin

2009-08-10T20:47:00.001-04:00

Seriously, I mean if you didn't chuckle when you read the title of my last post, there is something wrong with your sense of humor. I had to use it again! Just to remind you...

A special treat for you this week: photos of Jessie & Dave's finds from the auteur herself, Grand Empress of Photographic Magic, Ms. Jessie Eisner-Kleyle. Honestly, when I saw these I gasped: they are all such thoughtful, beautiful pics of amazing finds. While she has many talents, I think that JE-K has a true eye for the objet. But, I only wish I had an MTSS book deal so I could hire her full-time to photograph all of my FINDS. I'm getting a new camera and making her put me through object photography boot camp.

Yo ho ho! New art for the wall...she is going to paint it some fabulous color. We'll see.

A double-shot of a single chair. Very elegant and one step closer to having four chairs for the cute new dining room table...

Beautiful orange Pyrex! I love this. I am going to steal it next time I visit.

Another lovely little casserole with pretty little birds. See what she baked in it here.

A round spinning thing for the new table. We actually invented a better name for it, but that brilliant new word slips my mind.

Success! The fourth chair!

Madison, Thrift-consin

2009-07-30T19:13:00.000-04:00

I don't what it is about Madison, but it is a thrifting mecca. Every time we visit, it seems we walk away with a trove of treasures. I promise you, with one visit to the St. Vincent Thrift Store, I could furnish and decorate an entire house. What a challenge! But, I could. And I guess it's strange, because Madison doesn't seem that big and its filled with hipsters and dirty hippies who you would think would be snatching up all this ephemera and driving up the prices (a la Austin, TX), but that isn't the case. I tell you, we thrifted hard, but the results were fantastic and I'm happy to share them with you here:

Jessie* spotted this gorgeous, faux-lacquer condiment set. She graciously presented it in tribute to me, recognizing how pleased I would be with the find. Would I do the same? I have given many a thrifting find to a thrifty friend, but I think it would be hard to convince myself someone else would like this particular item more than I. The set has a tray, three dishes with wooden lids and three little plastic spoons.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that it perfectly matches this mod little serving set I already own, complete with the spoon and tiny dishes. I love the diminutive aspects of all of this and of course, the bright, fresh orange color. (Thank you JE-K!)

She also snatched up this gorgeous Georges Briard cheeseboard! What an eye that woman has, perfectly honed from all of her beautiful photographic work. The tray is missing the little knife that it supposed to be attached by a chain to the side, but it's still perfect and I will use it the next time I entertain. If not before.

Before we started thrifting, I mentioned I was 'due' a couple of pieces of Pyrex. With Barb's help, we honed down the collection before moving to Indiana, but have lost a couple of things to breakage since then. You all know how it is when Pyrex breaks! But, I've been doing alright and working through it. However, I was pretty sure the only way to successful break through the pain and heartbreak was to replace my loss with new beauties. Voilà!

You can probably see by now, this post is really about completion: about finding objects that really belong with other objects. Not long ago, I found a set of eight, low sherbet dishes at the Goodwill in Terre Haute. I thought they were rather strange and can't remember seeing anything quite like them. Low and behold, three more appeared in Madison, Thrift-consin! (Yes, I had to say it again, I am too pleased with my cleverness.) Which brings the service up to eleven. I know there is another waiting out there...

...just like there was another one of these glasses waiting out there for me! Again, that makes nine (six in Wichita + two in Terre Haute + one in Madison = Heaven) and next time there is dinner, you can believe these delicious little fellows will be on the table.

Now back to barware: I have an eclectic set of bar glasses and I like to mix and match. The most complete set I have is six George Briard old fashioned glasses in a gold leaf pattern. Otherwise, it's a few of this and a few of that. So I didn't hesitate to pick up this lovely set of five, emblazoned with an Aztec calendar. Of course, they reminded me of the Aztec calendar incident at Michael and Ryan's house ages ago, but it's too long and ridiculous to explain here. Know this: party games that are based on absent host's peccadilloes only end in tragedy. The glasses will remain a symbol of that. You all know who you are.

Lastly, this little owl is a nightlight and just an amazing addition to the pad, with the bird cage lamps and faux deer heads: it's like she has flown the coop, but still watches over us.

The lesson: if you find something you love, even if its a single glass or plate ofrdish, buy it and appreciate the singularity of it. But, you never know when that one might become service for twelve, so also remember to keep your eye open--and remind your friends too!

*Jessie found some fabulous things of her own, but she hasn't sent the photos yet. Next post, I suppose!

ICT Thrift, Thrifted Gifts & the BVM

2009-07-29T20:56:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful time at Anna's house on July 4 and enjoyed seeing many friends and hanging out at their house. Emily and Brian came--with gifts! In the strange synchronic way, one of the items, a small George Briard tray, had been purchased at the estate sale at the very house where the party was! What more, Anna loved the dish, which reminded her of a childhood dish of her grandmothers and was thinking of it as the inspiration for her kitchen remodel: orange and copper. Hot!

Emily told how her mother did not like to give 'used' gifts and how she had a hard time getting over that herself. Thrifted gifts are the best! If you find something someone will love, they won't care where it came from. In our case, the thrifted gifts included the aforementioned Briard tray, a small tin for the collection and a diminutive Asian statue. Lovely, all. The Asian lady rounds out a couple of recent statues of the BVM I found to a nice little set of three.

The used gift question made me think about Christmases past: my mam-ma lived in a older neighborhood in Tulsa, one that had been quite rural when they moved into it, with the city growing up around it. In the 80s, there was a problem with flooding and the city elected to buy-up many of the homes in the neighborhood and build a water-retention area. One of the home belonged to Miss Brotherton. This had been her family home and she had lived there her entire life, never marrying and only adding to the accumulation of thing already in the house. All of these treasures had to go, so mam-ma volunteered to throw the garage sale of all garage sales. It was legendary. Of course, come Christmas there were lots of extras under the tree--everyone had more presents than usual and we weren't sure why. Then, we began to unwrap and all manner of odd items from the house were revealed. Everyone got something, or several somethings, from the sale. Unique things. From then on, that Christmas was referred to as the Brotherton Christmas. Used gifts! Do it.

We also did a little trifting with Molly, but it seems our karma was used up on a few things. Molly found a great tile topped table in limey greens and yellows. I found a bulletin board in a very 70s design. We also spotted several items of interest along the way.

This virgin and child was lovely, but strangely the same price as...

Huh. Virgin Mary or strange plastic people with happy messages? I guess the gist is the same.

And then there was this strange display:

I can only say: booty-licious!

Molly scored a beautiful tile-topped table in shades of green and citreen that looks fab with her chairs. We spent a little time merchandising them and I think the result was very fun. (Hello Dempsey! Your first appearance on MTSS.)

She also found this great chair which looks perfect with her orange ottoman. I think she has a fantastic orange and green story happening.

Love shopping in Wichita!

You Go Back

2009-06-30T18:52:00.009-04:00

Mitchell stopped by the Goodwill tonight to drop some things off, mostly just clutter from the pantry closet. But, one person's clutter is another person's...crystal meth? Not quite right, but you know what I mean. Of course, he ran through the store, but didn't buy anything, returning only with tales of the several cool things that were there. Sitting on the shelves.

Excuse me? Of course, we got back in the car and returned to claim what was rightfully ours:

In your house, you may call this a 'Lazy Susan,' but I feel that is offensive to Susans everywhere. And, I have several friends (a gaggle of Susans?) who are named Susan who are all far from lazy. So, in my house I use the term 'round spinny thing' which is non-pejorative and has a fresh, twenty-first century feel to it. Please don't say, 'Lazy Susan' around me as I will most certainly call you out on your named-based prejudice.

Anyway, this beauty is pressed aluminum in gold and green. It seems to be missing a lid, but is still totally functional. I was thinking: fondue. And the best part? The level the trays and bucket sit on is removable, so you can fill it with ice to keep the items on your round spinny thing chilled, as for crudités.

And this little log, a tiny planter. The faux fanaticism continues, what else can I say? But it will look cute with a small plant in it on the balcony. The best part: when we were checking out, the crazy checker guy said, "This is also great to have for your computer. You can use it to log onto the internet." No, I'm serious, he totally said it and then proceeded to check Mitchell's one dollar bills to make sure they weren't counterfeit. Are there a lot of people out there counterfeiting singles?

And Our Lady, who will be added to the array of deities when I can find them. Wherever they are, we ask for their protection and give them thanks for these blessed finds.

Peace be with you.

Which came first...

2009-06-19T21:34:00.001-04:00

...the egg or the toast? Right?

We carried this Presto Egg Cooker around the store trying to decided whether to take it home or not. Does it work? How do you time the eggs? And I'm supposed to be watching my egg intake, so do I need an appliance devoted solely to eggs? And aren't I the one who says things like, "I don't need a bread machine, I have one already: it's called THE OVEN." Isn't this the same thing? Shouldn't I be saying, "I don't need an egg cooker, I have one already: it's called a SAUCE PAN."

But, in the end I couldn't resist it. I just love the object. It's almost like a flying saucer for eggs, with the little blue parts and the dome cover. You can 'poach' four eggs in the white cups on top or 'soft boil' them as well: the little cups lift off to reveal seats for six eggs on the blue level below. So, it does two things. And, as an object it is so interesting to me.

Plus, once it arrived home, it was revealed that it was meant to be united with the most-beautiful-toaster-in-the-world: eggs and toast, right? And the colors go perfectly together. Have you ever seen a happier couple? Have you ever seen a more beautiful toaster? If you have, I want picture proof. E-mail a photo of a more beautiful toaster and I will be the judge. My qualifications are here. If I can pick Miss Arkansas USA 2004, I can certainly pick the most beautiful toaster in the world.

Change is Good

2009-06-19T19:30:00.000-04:00

Apparently, the obsession with wooden platters and other pieces never ends. I picked this up at Goodwill last weekend and was thinking it would be good to fill with nuts and other nibblies for an interesting mix and presentation. Olives? With the little end pieces for the pits?

But, then I realized it would work even better on the dresser with the Asian-ish tins to organize cuff links, change and the assorted pocket items that need to be dispersed. Lovely and curvy, it was very happy to see it in place.

Chaos/Order

2009-06-19T19:23:00.000-04:00

The new things from Paul McCobb inspired a slight shift in the organization of the china cabinet, which was easy, but worked out in the end.
I discovered I cannot live without Heidi Anna in the cabinet. She is a fixture and that little pop of strangeness I appreciate. Can you find her?
I was trying to do a Russel Wright 'story' on the upper level, but the bean pot is difficult to place. I might be able to make it work in the future...if I push on through.

Plan-table

2009-06-06T13:55:00.003-04:00

We have been working on the balcony, trying to make it a little more habitable and welcoming. Of course, now that summer is here that means plants. We added some window boxes and a few large planters and have flowers, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and a variety of herbs. We'll see how they do. But we also needed something to put some of the houseplants on that have gone to live outside for the season. I found this little table at the Goodwill for nothing. It's a little beat-up, but perfect for the balcony--it holds all of the little plants, but there is still a place to put your cocktail. Come on over for a drink and hang out for a bit...

Yes, I'm Short on Serving Pieces...

2009-05-31T18:33:00.006-04:00

....it's all relative. What is enough? When do you stop? I have no idea, as I can't give up the thrill of the chase or the fabulous finds presented to me. The Terre Haute Goodwill is a goldmine. There may not be tons of things that I have to have, but there are enough amazing finds to keep me going back.

Saturday, I suggested we pop over to the store and see what was around. Mitchell said, "What's the worst that can happen? We don't find anything?" In the case of our diminishing storage, that may actually be the best thing that could happen. But, that wasn't the case:

Hiding behind some glasses and other items on the top shelf of the housewares department? A covered casserole, plane white Contempri by Paul McCobb. (He was better known for his furniture, but these pieces [produced in Japan] are innovative in shape and details. I heart them.) Around the corner? A matching open vegetable bowl.

I love this china and already have one open vegetable and a platter, so I was thrilled to add a couple of pieces to the collection. In addition to white, this shape also came in several solid colors (I have some sherbets in green) and patterns. Somehow, I always find white, which is just fine as I can mix my Eva Zeisel bowls, my lotus bowls, my Schonwald dishes and the Contempri all on the table for an elegant, coordinated look. When I want one. Which is usually for the holidays, mixed with silver. But, my next dinner party is going to be served family style in the Paul McCobb pieces: curries, rice and naan. Coconut ice cream for dessert. Who wants to come?

The obsession with wooden fruit continues. This is actually two sets without a nice bowl. BUT, some new varieties were added, including some vegetables: corn, an acorn, squash and star fruit.

I could not resist this beautiful painting of a horse. I'm trying to think of great racing name for her. Any suggestions? So far, I've come up with 'Josephine's Lament,' but am not completely thrilled with it.

Lastly, a wee incense holder. Ours is still packed away in a box somewhere and this one was, of course, a bargain.

Bad Thrift vs. Good Thrift

2009-05-19T20:30:00.004-04:00

There are bad thrifting trips, good thrifting trips and extraordinary thrifting trips--and you can't have one without the others! But what is the difference? And when is the best day to shop? I've struggled with this and as soon as I think I have an answer, I'm smacked upside the head with an example that doesn't compute.

Last week I popped into the Goodwill on Tuesday, which is what I theorize is the best day for thrifting. The reasoning is that all of the fabulous things that were donated over the weekend are beginning to appear in the store, but there aren't that many people shopping. Not this Tuesday. There was nothing, but I did photograph a few bombs.

An electric ice crusher from Rival. I almost bought this, honestly, but where would it be stored? It's almost attractive enough to just stay on the counter, but I wasn't sure how clean it was. I should have bought it. Now I'm having not-buying remorse, which in my estimation is probably one example of a bad thrifting trip.

Another great example, finding something that is very cool, but then realizing there is a giant chip on it. Like this teapot from Hall. I mean, I could have bought it to just sit around and be pretty, but I already have enough things that just sit around and are pretty.

Or what about finding a dirty ashtray? Regardless of how semi-cool it might be, it's just disheartening and makes for a bad shopping experience. Blech.

--------------------------------------------------

But then there are those days that are brilliant. When you have to go back for a basket! When the sales clerk has to get a box to put all of your purchases in! Such was my experience on Sunday--a day I don't associate with good thrift shopping. I usually think that after Saturday, everything has been pretty picked over, but this week I decided to stop in on a lark and what a haul!

A little mustard pot, with a white and gold lid. Mitchell said, "Too bad it didn't have a spoon with it." I think I can fix that problem: what color spoon would you like?

You know about the two-plate rule: for dinner plates to be purchased, there have to be at least two of them. No singles no matter how cool they are. Of course, that doesn't apply to dessert/bread plates! I have a cupboard full of interesting choices that mix well together, but hadn't added anything to the collection in a while. This charming fellow with lovely yellow flowers was just the thing!

Reader, I know you are thinking, "Three of something? He bought three of something?" I couldn't resist, I guess. I was just so jubilant from all of the great finds so far, I could not pass these guys up. I don't have enough to include in a table setting, but they could be used for nuts, sauces or any other little old thing. Perfect and cute. And who knows, perhaps someday I will find more of them...

...like these guys! I have had six of these for years (original find, July 2005) and love to serve wine in them for a casual moment. Now, with two more added to the collection, they can be added to the slate for table service! Congratulation little curvy glasses, you are moving up into the big leagues...

...and replaced in the minor leagues by this little set of four wine glasses, perfect for the casual moment that used to be filled by the curvy guys, in an elegant and very modern shape.

I found the larger tidbit tray on one of my first thrift-shopping excursions in Terre Haute, and Sunday I found his baby brother and was so very excited. And I know you are probably wondering, "How many tiered serving pieces are enough? How many do I need for my own entertaining arsenal?" And I would say to you: when I figure that out, you'll be the first to know. (This is six.) And I have to say, when I got these guys together I was ready for some petite fours and tea sandwiches. Come for tea...

....which I could keep in this cute little tin, added to the the grand collection of tins. These become harder to find every day, so it's always a delight to pick one up for Mitchell's collection. For some reason, I find the ones that have a lot of black on them especially appealing.

And last, but hardly least, a set of eight, low, shallow sherbets. They aren't all the same, but they coordinate beautifully with one another--and I've never seen anything quite like them. Plus, I don't have sherbets for eight in my collection. I can do five or twelve, but the twelve are plastic. So now, I can do eight for a lovely little sit-down dinner with glass. Relieved?

Good shopping? Extraordinary shopping--a day for glass!

Can Fame & Fortune Be Far Behind?

2009-05-11T20:21:00.002-04:00

MTSS has accepted its first ever media interview: an exclusive with the Montgomery Blair High School Newspaper in Silver Springs, MD. It's true.

ABCs III

2009-04-06T18:14:00.002-04:00

Yes, I stopped in the thrift store the other night. Are you surprised? I needed a pick-me-up, and it was on the way to Starbuck's, where I was headed to finish reading my book from book club. I found two great things that I bought and one beautiful/gross one that I did not.

I would make this into a game, but I'm afraid the choice on this one would be pretty obvious. So instead, we'll add to the alphabet game started here and here. Twenty-three down, three to go. (O, X & Y.)

L is for Lost, as in, "Like many of the characters on the hit TV show Lost, the 70s kitten ring holder seems to have a multi-dimensional existence and travel through space and time." Molly found one of these on Wichita thrifting excursion, and I was so jealous. But patient. I was jealous and patient because I knew that someday Miss Kitty would find me. And she did. And our friend Julie has one as well. I'm convinced they are all actually the same ring holder, but we are simply experiencing it from different perspectives in time. N'est-ce pas?

U is for utopianism, as in, "Russel Wright's American Modern bean pot in cedar green truly expresses the designers dream of utopianism for the bourgeoisie hostess." I had to 'phone a friend' on this one. I have a passing familiarity with Wright and his best-known designs, but the marking on this piece was faint (I thought it might be a second) and the color unfamiliar (I thought it might be a reproduction.) But, a quick e-mail to Scott at Ars Longa, my expert on all things Wrightian (and Eamesian, it appears), confirmed that with American Modern the imprint is often faint or nearly invisible and also that this pot is cedar green. Did I mention its mint? And for less than the price of a value meal at McDonald's? Yes, I'll have fries with that.

V is for vacillate, as in, "This bizarre plastic tooth holder and bank, which was obviously used, caused me to vacillate wildly between excitement and nausea in the store. The frisson was dangerous and electrifying." Seriously, it was disturbingly beautiful. But I couldn't buy it, it just wasn't humanly possible.

Climmmmmb Every Mounnnnnn-tain

2009-03-24T19:56:00.004-04:00

I stopped into Goodwill today, on the way home from picking up the dry cleaning. There wasn't a lot, but I did see a salad set I got rid of several years ago in white (I had it in orange) and some other small treasures.

As I scanned the shelves, I passed this burnt orange box with the Hallmark logo imprinted on the bottom, so small you could have almost missed it. I thought to myself, "Probably just some crappy, ugly greeting cards," but my thrifting spirit guides said, "IT COULD BE SOME CRAPPY, UGLY GREETING CARDS!" Of course, they meant good ugly and I was thinking bad ugly. So I opened the box to find, some amazing cards: two decks of cards in complementary patterns. Lovely. Playing cards, not greeting cards. With a matching score pad.

As I've said before, you have to be an investigative thrift shopper. You can't assume the contents of a box are what its exterior advertises. Look in every box. Pick things up to see what is underneath them. Shop with your hands as well as your eyes. And keep wet wipes in the car.

And yes, I stood in the store and counted both (complete) decks. Always listen to your spirit guides.

You Never Know What You'll Find at the Thrift Store...

2009-03-14T14:30:00.002-04:00

...maybe a cat in the sofa you bought? For real.

Cat found in used couch is reunited with owner

March 13, 2009, 9:51 p.m.

The Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. - The mysterious mewing in Vickie Mendenhall's home started about the time she bought a used couch for $27.

After days of searching for the source of the noise, she found a very hungry calico cat living in her sofa.

Her boyfriend, Chris Lund, was watching TV on Tuesday night and felt something move inside the couch. He pulled it away from the wall, lifted it up and there was the cat, which apparently crawled through a small hole on the underside.

Mendenhall contacted Value Village, where she bought the couch, but the store had no information on who donated it. So she took the cat to SpokAnimal CARE, the animal shelter where she works, so it could recover, and contacted media outlets in hopes of finding the owner.

Sure enough, Bob Killion of Spokane showed up to claim the cat on Thursday after an acquaintance alerted him to a TV story about it. Killion had donated a couch on Feb. 19, and his 9-year-old cat, Callie, disappeared at about the same time.

Fondue, Do!

2009-03-13T20:25:00.003-04:00

I've talked before about how the Venn Diagram of my two blogs intersects with my cookbook collection. I love vintage ones. Let me rephrase: I am obsessed with vintage cookbooks and its always exciting to find something with fun and original illustrations. I enjoy reading the recipes and food suggestions from the past and occasionally take inspiration from flavor combinations I might see in an old text. But mostly, it is the thrill of the find and a peek into the old kitchens that fuel my pursuit.

There are several sub-groups to the vintage cookbook collection I would note as particularly important:

Anything by the trinity of 20th century cookbooks/food writing: James Beard, Julia Child and M.F.K. Fisher.
Pamphlet cookbooks from various manufacturers of food or kitchen products
Vintage Jell-O cookbooks

And a new subgroup is starting to take shape: fondue cookbooks! I had several (I have at least three others, but I think there are more. Part of the collection is currently in storage, so I don't have access to my full library.), but found an amazing one at the thrift store last week. Fabulous Fondues contains illustrations that are bold, graphic and utilize the unusual color combination of hot pink and orange. I love it. Plus, even though its small, this fondue cookbook has lots of wonderful advice and lore. Published in 1970, it's a keeper. It's also apt as I'm planning a dinner party around fondue for next week. A casual Friday night affair, I'll keep you all posted on the full menu and hopefully have some photos of everyone gathered around the pot.

Done

2009-03-08T13:37:00.001-04:00

The new egg plate and some other collected kitchen art has finally been hung, right above the sink. Now all I need to do is find a place for my 'Good Morning Brian' plate and all will be right.

Egghead

2009-03-07T11:44:00.006-05:00

A few posts back I mentioned I was looking for one additional 70s-inspired kitchen item to complete the arrangement that was intended to go above the sink. Found it: a far-out 70s egg plate which matches some coasters we have that say, 'wet.' I can't find them, but will post when they resurface. Strangely, this egg plate only holds ten deviled eggs. I guess that means you can eat two whole eggs (four halves) in the kitchen before you put them out for your guests! I've talked about deviled eggs on bigYELLOWbowl and the interesting parties we had where Molly would divide them among the guests in my post about pan-fried deviled eggs.

But, not only does this complete the arrangement for above the sink (I'll give you an installation view once its all hung.), but it also means I have a collection of egg plates. That's right, reader, three egg plates and as you all know: (repeat after me) "three is a collection."

The first plate is from the set of Canonsburg Temporama which features all kinds of great accessory and serving pieces. I call this the 'wedding china,' to differentiate it from the Metlox Shore Line, which is called 'the good china.' The Temporama egg plate is very specific in its use: for deviled eggs served when using the Temporama. It doesn't get mixed in with other things.

The second egg plate is pressed glass and has some lovely details. Since it's clear and glass, it is general in its use and can be mixed in with any matter of materials. It is the chameleon of egg plates.

The new egg plate, which will be decorative in use, could also be tossed into a very casual serving mix if you only had ten eggs. Otherwise, it will just hang on the wall and tell the world what it is. Egg.

Trophy Life

2009-03-07T11:18:00.012-05:00

The Carmen Miranda Suite (installation view), 2004

The Altar of the Ascension of Carmen Miranda, mixed media, 2004

I have always had an affinity for found trophies. Its interesting to me that someone worked hard to accomplish something; was then given a plastic and marble object to commemorate the event; and that the object was discarded by them or someone else. I've used trophies in my art before, primarily in the Carmen Miranda Suite and always been excited to find something strange like a girl on her back kicking a soccer ball, a salesman, or (my favorite) a poodle.

Today at Goodwill there was a gigantic collection of trophies, probably thirty to forty. Most were for swimming, but there was a derby one, a couple of basketball ones and five beauty queen trophies. Five. I could not resist them.

They are all for third or fourth place and from two different years. It's apparent that the owner of these trophies tried really hard to win beauty pageants and was moderately successful. I am thinking she probably won first place at some point, but kept that one since it was the most important to her. Right now, they are just going to be decorative, but in the future they might become part of an art project.

To read about my experience judging the Miss Arkansas USA Pageant in 2004 click here!

Ice Bucket for the Seasons

2009-03-02T19:35:00.001-05:00

You probably have one ice bucket. Do you use it? Is it the ubiquitous deco one with the penguins on it? I used to have that one, but discarded it at some point during the migrations. The other day, I spotted one missing the actual lid (many are) which had been replaced by a glass lid. Very funny.

Of course, I think at our house we probably think about ice buckets differently than you might. Reader, do you have one for every season? We had an ice bucket for fall, one for winter and another for spring. But summer, summer was missing. As luck would have it, the perfect summer ice bucket presented itself this weekend and I now have an ice bucket for summer, fall, winter and spring. And I'm happy to present them to you here, now that the collection is complete.

Winter

Spring

Summer
Fall

Spring Bar

2009-03-01T13:35:00.006-05:00

I am ready for spring. I am ready for vegetables from the farmer's market, shorts and sandals. And spring and summer drinks. So, I decked the bar out in some springier barware. It made me feel better, despite the snow falling outside. Ugh.

Little Indy Thrift

2009-02-24T03:05:00.001-05:00

A little thrift shopping in Indy weekend before last landed some fab finds:

A new creamer and sugar for everyday use. Read more about my c&s problems here and here.

A lovely little tidbit server in pink and gray plastic. Pink is the new robin's egg blue, but only this pink or fuchsia. No others will do.

An amazing ice bucket with red sailboats, which completes the collection of seasonal ice buckets. But more about that later.

A lovely little plastic creche. Hmmm...

Lamp, Interrupted

2009-02-16T13:41:00.004-05:00

I appreciate all of your kind words about my near thrifting mishap. Of course, I knew you would want to see the lamp....resurrected. It's not the perfect shade in my mind, but probably close to what was on it originally and will work just fine until perfect comes along. I love the secret nightlight and how it glows from within.

Do as I Say, Not as I Do

2009-02-13T18:22:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure what I was thinking.

In my defense, the only thing I can say is that it has been a very long week. We stopped into the Goodwill last night and I saw this fantastic lamp. It's white ceramic with a cutout pattern overlaid with a cherry tree in full bloom. The interior is lined with white paper and there is room for a bulb inside. It sits on black wooden base, but had no shade. It was $2.99.

And I didn't buy it. Why?

We have been talking about needing an extra lamp for the bedroom to go on the dresser, but how could this white ceramic thing with a space for a bulb ever serve that purpose?
Both the other lamps have white ceramic bases in the shape of logs with black shades, so why would I ever want another lamp with a white base?
I have looked at lamps at Tuesday Morning and elsewhere for about $60, how could I possible spend less than $5?
The style of the bedroom is Asian-ish, reflected in the Chinese-red screen-like headboard and giant peony fabric curtains, so of course this vase-like lamp with cherry blossoms on it couldn't fit into that idea.
I guess I didn't think about those things and just walked away, in other words: out of my mind.

Huh? Yes, I walked away. And woke up in the middle of the night screaming.

Luckily, my shopping karma is pretty good and when Mitchell stopped by the store on the way home, it was still there. I need to find/make a shade, but otherwise it is absolute gorgeous. One of my favorite finds ever.

Do not hesitate. I repeat: do not hesitate. It will be your downfall.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

2009-01-18T12:51:00.000-05:00

Saturday's thrift shop thrift stop yielded a small bounty:

Friday, I had said, "What we really need is a small shelf in the hall for our landing strip." You know, the place for keys, wallets, mail and other things you pick up and put down as you come into the house. We have been using the ice bucket on the bar and it just looks junky. What did we find? A small shelf that will be a perfect landing strip. Of course, it's gold and will have to be painted. Orange!

Yes mother, I know I made you get rid of all of your Home Interiors decor items. Context, it's about context: one person's junk pile is another person's high style!

One of the few things destroyed in the move was the lovely white parrot that moved around the house, like birds are want to do. Sometimes he was on the entry table, other times in the bird cage. He is gone. But, the universe sent a replacement!

This sign seems like it should hang over the round kitchen table in your grandmother's kitchen. While it is not going in my dining room, I am going to hang it over the kitchen sink with a couple of other seventies-vibe kitchen decor items. Universe! One more, please.

Mitchell has a slight obsession with the lovely metal tins which you used to buy filled with treats, sweets or candies. This one has a hinged lid and is a great addition to the ever growing collection.

Rules Are Made to be Broken

2009-01-17T16:57:00.005-05:00

A few posts back, I made reference to the two-plate rule: we are allowed to buy dinner plates if there are two of them, but that is it. The reasoning behind this is that our Kansas kitchen was decorated with a large array of miss-matched vintage plates. When we moved to Texas, we kept all of the ones that were a pair and created an 'everyday' set of dishes that changes everyday. One for me, one for him

But, I guess rules are made to broken. Such was the case when we found this set of six Taylor Smith and Taylor plates at Goodwill when Jessie and Dave were in town over New Year's. The justification in the store was, "we'll keep two, then donate the other four back." But, once they arrived home, we used them for New Year's Day brunch then swiftly found a place for them in the china cabinet, as if hiding them away could disguise our shame.

Of course, the issue now is: what will go with them?

I tried the blue salad plates I bought to go with the Metlox before acquiring enough of the Metlox salad plates, but they were too big.

The white plates I have work, but aren't especially nice or complementary in shape. The olive lotus bowls really do work though, so I'm looking for: some smaller blue salad plate or some nicer white ones. We'll see.

MTSS Flat

2009-01-16T15:31:00.007-05:00

A short tour of the Terre Haute flat with the things installed,
some familiar and some new...

If the slideshow is jamming up (I have messed with it and messed with it and not sure what the deal is.) you can forward the slides manually or go here to see the set as on Flickr.

The Reveal: Thrifty Threads Mystery

2009-01-13T18:10:00.001-05:00

I was very excited to see how many of you proffered a guess as to what I bought on my last trip to Thrifty Threads. I think if I were still living in my house in Austin, I probably would have bought it all, but downsizing and lack of space has caused me to be even more selective than I was trying to be in Texas. Let's have a rundown of those fabulous choices again...

The dishes got one 'second guess' from a reader. I did love these, but ultimately I decided they wouldn't mix well with any existing china.

The fish plates got three votes. They were adorable and if they had cups along, I probably would have snatched them and ran.

The pile of blue ceramic fruit got three votes. I am definitely in the market for a pile of ceramic fruit, but even with a blue color scheme in my house, I'm not sure I want to limit myself.

The wooden leaf tray got two votes. A lot of people seemed to really love it. I guess I should have bought it and saved it as a present for a lucky person.

The ice cream plates got one vote. I did really like these and they would certainly brighten up the table during these dark times, but there were only four.

The Pyrex gravy boat got two votes. I was surprised it didn't get more, considering my awful and often-confessed obsession with Pyrex. Plus, look at that handle. Perfection. And it comes with an under plate. But, sadly no.

The daffodil tile got zero votes. Funny, because I was actually holding onto this as I approached the cash register. But, the crack made me say no.

The chair got one vote. Fabulous as the fabric is, Molly was right: there is no room at the Inn and the Manger is pretty darn full as well.

Of course, looking back at the post I spotted my 'tell.' I'm surprised no one else noticed it: pidgin French. When I start writing about something and getting excited, I start throwing out "n'est-ce pas," "mais oui" and "zeut alors" like I am walking down the Avenue des Champs Elysess. I think the other tell is probably when I start addressing you as 'reader,' in that sanctimonious tone I sometimes use. I did like reading all the justifications for your guesses, very fun. But, only one person got it right.

I waffled on these, because of the fuchsia. I thought they didn't go well with my other things, but sometimes reader, it is all about contrast. And they definitely contrast with the Temporama, and give a little 'pop' of color to the china cabinet that makes everything look better.

Scott, I don't think I have a prize fabulous enough for you. But, I will think of something. You probably want the salt and pepper, don't you?

MTSS Mythology: Peace Maker

2009-01-06T20:00:00.006-05:00

In the first world, the world called shat-a-quay, there was much light. The elders said the ancient ones told of how this first world, this shat-a-quay, was pink and green and filled with light. But there was war. An ancient war between the cats and the birds that waged ceaselessly.

The cats ran wild, up and down and all over the world. They had a freedom and a stealth that allowed them to do as they pleased. And how they hated the birds and envied them their secret palace called ave-ee-air-ee. "One day, a great clawed avenger will appear and we will win the war," they growled to one another, cleaning claw and cleaning paw. "A great clawed avenger," they all hissed together.

The birds flew high and above, lighting on this place or that place to find peace in their ancient way. "One day," they whistled to each other on the wind, "a great winged avenger will come and we will win the war." And how they hated the cats envied their freedom and their stealth.

But the war raged on, never ending. The cats would gain ground, fighting back the birds and taking a nest of little eggs here and there. Then the birds would win for a while, pecking the cats upon the head until the were driven slowly insane, more insane than they were. There was never a winner, never a loser. Just more of the same war and the same growling and the same whistling.

Then one morning, as the birds set upon a branch whistling to each other, they heard a strange rustling through the tree. Too loud and awkward to be a cat, they turned with curiosity to see a young woman with eyes as big as dinner plates and hair as golden yellow as the sun emerge, flowers in hand. She looked from one to the other, eye to eye, and then spoke quietly, "I am the one of legend, the avenger who was predicted. I avenge your foolish pride and your stupid war by bringing the peace." The birds stopped whispering and stood perfectly still listening to every word she spoke to them. "I am the peace maker, the love bringer...." she sang over and over again as she disappeared back into the woods. The birds did not know what to think or what to whisper to one another. They just looked, one to another with astonishment.

Later that same day, as the cats sat cleaning their claws and growling to one another on the floor of the first world, in that place called stat-a-quay, they heard a rustling. Looking up and expecting to be pecked upon the heads by the birds, they saw nothing. But as they returned to their claw cleaning and their gruff growling, a figure emerged from the woods. She had on a dress as blue as the sky and danced towards them in perfect pirouette with little white toe shoes gleaming in the sun. They stared, mouths agape and tongues akimbo. "I am the one of legend, the avenger who was predicted. I avenge your silly war and your fighting ways by bringing the peace." The cats could not respond. "I am the peace maker, the love bringer...." she sang over and over again as she danced back into the woods.

That evening, the queen of the birds, the most beautiful of them all of them with green and yellow feathers, found herself alone in the woods and landed in a clearing where she would normally have felt much fear. But she felt none. "I feel no fear of those cats," she whistled to herself.

At the same moment, the queen of the cats, the most elegant of them all with fur of the purest white, emerged on the other side of the clearing and spying the queen of the birds, purred to herself, "I feel no fear of those birds."

At the same moment they heard the song from earlier, "I am the peace maker....I am the love bringer....I am the peace maker..." and turned to see the young girl dancing into the center of the clearing. She came to a full stop, extended flowers to each of them and spoke in a voice filled to the brim with finality, "I am the peace maker. I am the love bringer. I am Heidi-Anna."

And so it was that peace came to the first world, the place called shat-a-quay and the war between the cats and the birds was no more.

Thrifty Threads Mystery

2008-12-22T23:24:00.009-05:00

I found the equivalent of St. David's Next-to-New in Indy, called Thrifty Threads and run by an auxiliary in the area to benefit the Julian Center. They have all kinds of wonderful dishes, furniture and clothes. It's not organized quite as well as St. David's, but I did find all sorts of things to consider buying: and one item that I did buy.

Vote for the item you think I bought and I'll reveal the winning item after the new year--plus send a special prize to those who voted for it.

Item #1
This set from Mikasa was decorated with a lovely pink leaf design and had cups, saucers, berry bowls and soup bowls.

Item #2
This diminutive set of hostess plates would be perfect for some little nibbles--and what is more fun and whimsical than a little fish?

Item #3
Reader, you know my passion for wooden fruit, but do you know how I feel about stacks of ceramic fruit? And the blue would look lovely in my living room, wouldn't it?

Item #4
Almost everything arrived safely from Texas, but my large leaf-shaped tray was broken while I was unpacking and sorting. Could I have replaced it with this?

Item #5
This lacquer-ware salt and pepper set is much more fuchsia than in the photo, but they are still intriguing objets, n'est-ce pas?

Item #6
You know I love specific-use items, and these ice cream dishes have a distinctive 70s flair.

Item #7
Molly was shopping for a gravy boat last week and I think she might have loved this one. I have several that match specific patterns, but none for general use. Plus, you know how hard it is for me to resist Pyrex.

Item #8
What better way to chase away the winter blues than with a daffodil trivet? The graphic sensibility is certainly appealing. Plus, it can hang on the wall, saving valuable counter space.

Item #9
The David Hicks-style fabric on this chair would look great in my bedroom, and I think I could paint the woodwork.

So reader, which item do think made it home?

Terre Haute Haul

2008-12-17T23:44:00.004-05:00

Molly visited a couple of weeks from Wichita for the trunk show we did at the Swope. Everyone loved her beads and jewelry and we had fun running around town over the weekend--including a trip to the Goodwill!

A vintage antiquing kit! Wow.

Molly considered this cake carrier, but she already has a pretty swank one she got with the Wichita diaspora.

Could anyone make this lamp look fab? I think it would be a challenge, but if you succeeded it would be a major triumph. I'm going to guess: State Fair, 1993. Any takers? Grrrrr.

I love this Hawaiian head, but she looks like she is on something. With the flower behind the ear, it's a little Billie-Holiday-on-some-junk-as-a-Hawaiian-lady-sings-the-blues.

Molly debated on some Asian-ish wall plaques that matched some she bought last time we were shopping together in Wichita. At $2 a piece, they were too pricey. I couldn't have resisted since my philosophy is always more is more, less is a bore.

This is a giant phone. Not really, but call me!

MTSS Diaspora

2008-12-17T23:32:00.001-05:00

With the move to Terre Haute, lots of things went to the thrift store, but many things also ended up with friends. It's wonderful to know that items will continue to be used and loved by someone else.

Katie was delighted to have a chair and ottoman where she can sit and read as she prepares for her tests and exams next semester. The ottoman was actually a find by Michael who passed it onto me when he left Wichita for Chicago.

My sofa, which I have loved for about thirteen years, even sent a note:

Dear Brian,

Thank you for finding such a lovely home for me. Its very cozy here and I'm already making new pals. I've become fast friends with a little blue end table and a funky vinyl chair. They're also from Thriftsville, USA, so we have a lot to talk about.

My only challenge has been the snobby Scandinavian coffeetable that keeps avoiding me. Other than that though , everything is really great. Here's a picture of Chair, Table & me hanging out this past weekend.

Peace!

The Couch

Thrifting ABCs (Part Deux)

2008-11-01T14:28:00.001-04:00

A second installment of the very famous and much-discussed post, Thrifting ABCs. Look for the final installment (only six letters to go!) in the near future and, of course, a reprise of the entire alphabet. Maybe a book deal? Don't you think children would love it?

E is for elegance, as in “Burnt-orange colored phones are a true mark of elegance and refinement.” I don’t have phone service, but still need a one to work the callbox in my building. This beauty does the trick.

I is for indispensable, as in “A killer collection of glass jars with amazing designs on them is really indispensable to day-to-day existence.”

K is for killer, as in “That wood bowl with spoon is going to look killer on the coffee table filled with M&Ms.” Can you have too many wood accessories? I don’t think so. I have platters, large and small, but this unique and funny dish is a wonderful addition to the collection. Killer.

M is for mine, as in, “Hands off that avocado Tamac casserole, bitch! It’s MIIIINE.” Honestly, that didn’t happen. I don’t think anyone else walking by even knew what this wonderful piece of pottery was, so I got it for a song. Some might consider Tamac’s odd, organic shape a little ugly and its colors a little gauche. Not me. It’s genius and it’s mine.

Q is for quixotic, as in “Quixotic kids covet all cool china.” Whatever. We have a two-plate rule: if you find a cool china pattern, there has to be at least two plates in order to buy it. Because of that, we have a huge ‘set’ of matching plates for dinner and always have something different to eat off of. Thankfully, the ‘two-plate rule’ does not apply to salad, bread or dessert plates and I have no intention of amending it anytime soon.

R is for really, as in “Really? REALLY? You aren’t collecting decorative tin platters and canisters? I took all of my money out of the stock market and put it into tin platters and canisters. It’s much more stable.” It’s actually more in canisters, but this little dish matches one of those, so it makes a nice addition to the portfolio.

Z is for Zen, as in “Zen is not a design-style you idiot, it’s a philosophy. Everyone in-the-know says Asian-ish.” A killer faux-bamboo ceramic box is the quintessential definition of Asian-ish.

Unmarked (but still Briard)

2008-10-18T16:04:00.005-04:00

The obsession with Briard continues and there is no end in sight. In one of the basement displays at the Vigo County Historical Society, I spotted a set of Georges Briard enamel canisters and was told that a company here (still in existence) had been producing enamel ware for over 100 years, including these. So, I'm on the lookout.

Meanwhile, Mitchell found this lovely tray with a geometric design. It screams Briard in style and shape, but is missing the curvy signature that is found on almost all of his work. But, the remnant of a sticker on the back confirmed it: classic Briard. Well loved and slightly used, it's still a beaut.

Why does the birdcage sing?

2008-10-18T16:01:00.006-04:00

There hasn't been a lot of good finds at Goodwill lately: just a lot of holiday junk. But Mitchell found this wonderful birdcage, which matches the one I found in Austin. (Just so you know, the Terre Haute cage was 75% cheaper than the Austin one.) Apparently, the previous owners of the new one had it hanging, because there is a little bit of color discrepancy between the top and bottom, but it's still lovely and the matched set is going to look stunning.

We have a light in the first one, so they may both become some peculiar lamps in our new thrifted apartment.

Sympatico

2008-09-07T19:31:00.008-04:00

Stephanie, the muse of MTSS (You did know there was a muse and inspiration, didn't you?), delivered some beautiful things to yours truly. Every time I see her, she has a goody bag of selections from her own thrift shopping.

Two of my favorite things: faux bois and a tidbit tray in one amazing combination. I can't wait to bake some delectable treats and show it off at work.

She sells faux shells in the thrift store. As Stephanie said, there are lots of faux shells out there, but most of them aren't worth owning. This one is a beauty.

There was also another treat, which is holiday specific and I'll save for a you as a special treat on a later date.

Thanks Stephanie!

Thrifty Food Animation

2008-08-23T11:59:00.000-04:00

http://view.break.com/534274 - Watch more free videos

It's a Collection!

2008-08-10T19:35:00.000-04:00

As my loyal, longtime Reader, you know how I feel about objects and collections: one is of interest, two is a pair and three is a collection. Well, I an happy to officially announce that I now have a collection of wooden fruit in bowls!

Of course, you're as pleased as I am, but I cannot helped noticing that quizical look on your face that seems to wonder whether or not I actually need another set of wooden fruit. Well, it happened most accidentally, I assure you. I was driving by the Goodwill and decided to pop in for a moment, knowing there wasn't going to be anything of interest on a Sunday afternoon. But, I was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I passed up treasure after treasure, so that when I came to the bowl of wooden fruit, all of my resistance was spent. I snatched it up without question, threw my money at the cashier and ran for the door.

Now, I also have some juistification:
1. This set is in a low, wooden dish. It will look perfect with the other two sets which are in compote style dishes.
2. It has a mango. And a persimmon. I don't have a set with a persimmon! Plus, some other exotic fruits I cannot identify. I love exotic wooden fruit I can't identify even more than just plain old wooden grapes, bananas and apples.
3. Photographic evidence of the things I did NOT buy, articles A, B and C:

I think congratulations are in order.

Carafe-tastic!!

2008-07-24T20:55:00.000-04:00

Also from Goodwill, this piece in in mint condition and ready to hold coffee in the morning. Come by for breakfast and I'll make toast and serve you Phyllis Dye Turner's homemade raspberry jam and a carafe full of delicious coffee.

Madison Again & Again

2008-07-24T11:56:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, I went to Madison, WI to see Jessie and Dave--Barb and Mitchell also came up. I am always surprised at how good the thrifting is in Madison. It's a college town, so you expext high prices and for everything to be picked over. Not so! Every time I am there, wonderful things abound.

Jessie knows of my love, nay obsession, with Georges Briard and did some preshopping in advance of my visit, presenting me with a lovely highball glass. Most of my barware is gold and black or gold and pink, so this will integrate perfectly. Come on over, I'll shake up some cocktails and we'll toast the mad genius of Georges. (I also found a set a Briard glasses when I was in Austin. No picture, but they are lovely and covered with leaves. I liked them and was wavering, but once I noticed that familiar signature there was no choice.)

This is definitely one of the strangest things I've ever seen in a thrift store, and I should have bought it. Surely someone I know would have loved it! This item hangs on the wall, but gives the appearance that you have installed a cask in your wall--like so many people do. But, hiding behind the secret door is your barware and booze. What could be more handy? The owner wrote was concerned about mistaking gin for bourbon in a drunken stupor, that they wrote 'gin' in marker on the bottle.

Can you say Jessie Brinker and the silver skates? Ms. Eisner-Kleyle found some sweet skates and will have some fun on the frozen ponds and lakes of Wisconsin this winter. Of course, only if she can take the time away from being the Mussolini of photography teachers!

Mitchell stopped in Wichita to pick-up Barb en route to Madison. He found this wonderful salad set in a thrift store there. It's dark, in a modern shape with six matching bowls. The only question is if I have salad servers to go with the set? I may have to do a little shopping...

Some Thrifting Goodwill

2008-07-22T08:44:00.001-04:00

The Goodwill stores in Austin, TX rarely provided any wonderful thrifting finds. They were filled with surplus merchandise: bottles of off-brand shampoo; not-so-cute artwork for the home; and an assortment of things one expects to pick up at the dollar store. Not so in Terre Haute! The Goodwill here is filled with an abundance of treasures at prices that are truly astounding. Below are some recent grabs:
--a lovely tin for the tin collection
--a small metal serving dish
--a wonderful Haeger pot in a very dark green

More to come!

Jesus, Mary and Joseph

2008-07-22T08:35:00.001-04:00

Well, Jesus anyway. And the twelve disciples! Rendered in a luxurious plastic that many people, with a less trained eye, might mistake for real gold. The background is mirrored, so as you look at the objet, it appears that a giant monster is looming over the last supper.

Miss me?

2008-07-17T19:22:00.002-04:00

Okay people, the rumors you heard were true: the offices of Manic Thrift Store Shopper were attacked by an angry mob of hipsters dressed in American Apparel and brandishing eighties candlesticks. They were jealous of our finds, so ran everyone in the office out of town on a rail. True. Of course, we lost most of our office equipment in the attack, but had luckily backed up a few things before narrowly escaping the vicious twenty-somethings.

Where to go? What place is perhaps the cultural opposite of Austin, TX and its rampant, roving bands of hipsters? Some place where no one cares about great vintage finds?

Terre Haute, IN. That's right fools, MTSS has relocated to the center of the thrifting universe: downtown Terre Haute, IN. If you come through, bring it because we no longer take crap from hipsters and we still know where the good stuff can be found.

Hold your breath, ya'll. New posts soon.