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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Before I Leave for Vegas....

Sister reminded me that I haven't blogged for a very long time again.  I have to remind her, when summer comes you will probably not be able to keep me off here.  Or, if budgets get so bad and my school shuts down, the same may happen.  Until then, here is a little find for you all.
A few weeks back I found this yellow Pyrex Hostess casserole.  Not my favorite color, but it did catch my eye.  I was with sister, so she cleaned it up for me.  Then last night I figured it may be my last chance to thrift my Goodwill for  a few days, so I stopped by after work.  I got the four little bowls for $3.99.  They are definitely dishwasher damaged, but they will do the job for now.


Don't be surprised if there are some strange posts on here in the next few days, Sister and I may be doing a little thrifting in Vegas, with cocktail in hand.  Lets just hope we don't look like this:
In the words of Jenna Marbles, "Dog-faced wasted!"

Monday, February 27, 2012

Church Rummage Sale Goodies

When I headed out the door on Friday morning, I had a list of 9 estate sales that I wanted to try to get to before I had to pick up the kids from school.  Of course they all started at the same time and they weren't close to one another.  I decided that my best bet would be the 99+ family church rummage sale.  I thought it would be like a big flea market.  I knew that I had made the right decision when I showed up and my aunt who owns the vintage store was there.
I have wanted a Tupperware baking mat FOREVER and found one of the vintage ones from 1958.  I also found 2 Starbucks mugs, a turquoise drinking glass, a single book shelf, and this funny Big Boy Barbecue Book from 1963.  The illustrations are hilarious.  The prices at this rummage sale were so ridiculously cheap.  I got all of the items in this picture for $2.25.  There was so much stuff and so many people that I had to go through all the tables again to make sure I didn't miss anything. 

That was when I saw this........
You might remember in a blog I posted last month that I bought one of these from my favorite antique mall booths.  There are two differences between the one I bought there and the one I found at the rummage sale.  First, the one I previously purchased has Bakelite handles where as this one has the wood handles.  The other difference is that I paid $12.95 at the antique mall which at the time I thought was an awesome price.  At the church rummage sale I picked up this little beauty for, are you ready?  50 Cents!!  It is in perfect condition and it had been sitting on the table waiting for me for a good 30 minutes before I found it. 

Can I just tell you how much I have decided I love church rummage sales?

Not pictured is the gallon Ziplock bag of chip clips I got for a quarter.  Sister made fun of me about that purchase but little did she know that chip clips were actually on my Target list.

More later......

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Forgotten Pictures

I was just going through the pictures on my computer and I came across a folder of photos I took last week of things that I haven't shared with you all.  I've been getting over a pretty bad cold so my brain is still kinda scrambled (a little more than usual).  I just can't believe I forgot about all of these treasures!


My husband likes to call himself "The Bundler" when he is at a sale.  He also likes to call himself "Rattlecan Randy" when he is spray painting something.  Whatever gets him going, I guess.  I sent him to a sale last weekend that I couldn't go to and he picked up these three drink containers for $2.00.  The lady was asking $3.00 so he thought he scored pretty well.  He also found this Fire King sugar bowl.  I have the matching coffee cups for it that I found at St. Vincent's around Christmas.  He's a trooper.  You gotta love a guy who will drag his butt out of bed early Saturday morning to help feed his wife's addiction. 
I met Sister up in Corvallis and we did a little thrifting/antiquing.  I hit the Fire King jackpot at one antique store.  I know I've mentioned in the past that I don't collect Fire King.  I'm simply a Pyrex kind of girl.  BUT this utility dish in the Spring Wreath pattern is the perfect size for rice krispie treats and the coffee cups with the game birds on them were too cheap to pass up.  My kids like to use custard dishes as dipping bowls for barbecue sauce and ketchup.  I think $23.00 is a pretty good deal for all this useful stuff, don't you?  Plus, don't be jealous, but we live in Oregon where there is NO SALES TAX!
Sister brought me a planter and a pottery vase that she found while thrifting on the coast.  Miss Maddy got this cute retro Ferguson Ford advertising ruler at a garage sale for a nickle and the "To Hell With Work, Let's Go To Reno" milk glass coffee cup was too funny and kitchy to leave behind.

A couple random things I picked up at the thrift stores around town...I am going to have Rattlecan Randy paint this canister turquoise.  I'll post a pic if it turns out.  My husband is actually pretty good at the whole spray painting technique.  Did you guys see the cart he painted for me last weekend on the Pyrex Collective II?  It's awesome.


And some really cheap antique store finds with really good thrift store prices.  It was my lucky week.

Well, I'm all caught up with that folder.  I just got done taking pics from all the stuff I found last week and this weekend so stay tuned.  Head over to the Pyrex Collective II to see what the hubs found at the estate sale I sent him to last weekend, especially if you like Spring Blossom Pyrex (I don't). 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Thrifter Buddies!

(Sister, 4 days until our Vegas adventure.  Do you think the thrift stores are opened 24 hours?)

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Piccadilly Flea Market Finds

Every other Sunday, the Piccadilly Flea Market sets up at our local fairgrounds.  It's your average flea market with it's mix of antiques, tools, and an abnormal abundance of VHS tapes.  It's pretty small and I can usually work my way through it in about an hour.  But I am almost never disappointed when I leave there.  I ALWAYS find something.  Here is what I came home with last weekend.
1958 Holt Howard Kitty Shakers

I am not one who usually migrates toward cats.  Cats are more of Sisters thing.  But I have seen these Holt Howard Kitty shakers on other blogs and find them pretty hard to resist.  Plus the pink and turquoise go so well with all of my pink and turquoise Pyrex. 

Of course I can't ever manage to leave any kind of antique mall/thrift store/flea market/yard sale without some kind of pottery.  The turquoise bowl is marked Hull and it has an interesting little spout/lid on it.  Not sure if its old but it is turquoise so it's definitely a keeper.  The delphite tea cups are unmarked so I will have to do a little research to find out more about them.
I seriously need another pitcher like I need another piece of Pyrex.  Did I just say that?  But, my husband is from Arizona so I tend to gravitate toward any piece of vintage kitchenware that has anything to do with Arizona like this Arizona Barrel Cactus pitcher and matching tumbler.  Funny thing is, I got these from two separate booths. 

I love the Piccadilly Flea Market.  You would too if you could go spend a leisurely Sunday morning browsing vintage treasures, come home with great finds, and only be $15.00 poorer. 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Yum!

Finally I get to the dinner before Matt digs in & ruins the perfection!

On The Loose!

Brewski, my Black German Shepherd puppy
(14 months old is still a puppy, right?)
"Mom, I'll teach you to leave the front door open while hauling in your thrifting treasures!"
Piper, Sisters Baby
AKA Miss Piper Doodle
"Mooooooooom, stop antiquing that stupid shelf for Sister and play with me!"

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

A Peace Offering

Well, I managed to pick up Maddy's cold and since I feel like total crap I didn't feel up to making an exciting dinner tonight.  Lately the boy seems to be turning his nose up at anything that I make that is not red meat based.  So I knew that he wasn't goint to be too happy with the clam chowder I threw together in the slow cooker.  Maybe this will help...
Rice Krispy Treats in the Fire King Spring Wreath utility dish I picked up while antiquing with Sister last weekend.  If only I didn't have this dang cold, I could taste them too.

Is it too early for the Nyquil yet?

Cute Vintage Books

Before I met Sister up North for a little thrifting therapy, I stopped at an estate sale.  This house always seems to be having a sale and they always are advertising that they have new, never before seen things.  I have gotten some pretty good things at their previous sales.  Remember the Libby Gold Leaf glasses and all the pottery?  So I thought I'd try my luck.

Living American Stories & The Jolly Jump-Up Vacation Trip
I found these old pop up books from the 1960's.  The illustrations are so vibrant.


I think these books are a great example of the simple family living that so many of us would love to experience (myself included!)

Santa's Cuckoo Clock
It's never too early for me to start hunting for "new" vintage Christmas items.  This 1954 pop up book came with it's original storage box.
Christmas On Stage 1950
A Book of Words in Rhyme and Reason to Greet the Magic Christmas Season

Look at the little faces on the children on the front cover.  Way too cute to pass up. 

Then it was off to meet up with Sister.  More on that tomorrow.

Until then......

Monday, February 20, 2012

My Goodwill is Out of Control!

I just realized it has been about two weeks since I posted, Sister I really need to get on it.  Well, there hasn't been a lack of thrifting in my life, that is for sure.  First, I want to share what I got last weekend when Matt and I were visiting Sister:



 No, not Hope the cat!  I got these pair of owls for $5 and I am going to hang them on my deck, by the hot tub.  They were too cute to pass up and since I think Hope looks a little owlish at times, I figured I would do a photo shoot with her in it.


I decided to treat myself on Valentine's Day, so I went to my local Goodwill, and what did I find?  Butterprint!  I went back on Thursday and found a black snowflake casserole with lid, which I've never seen at a thrift store before.  Then today was the jackpot.  I found a pink gooseberry  #503 refrigerator dish.  I'm not big on pink, but I am excited to have one piece of this pattern, because it is so pretty (and I had a lid for it!)  Then, out of the corner of my eye I spot Orange, my favorite color!  It was a #502 without a lid.  It only got better when I was checking out and after returning my $3.99 purchase from the other day they told me my total was 99 cents.  Sold, I ran out of the store as fast as I could!

After consulting with Sister I went back and picked up the complete set of Forest Fancies casseroles with lids, $11 for all three!  I will be selling these, along with the black snowflake, as I am finding that I'm running out of room.  There is definitely something amazing going on at my local Goodwill and I hope it doesn't stop!





Estate Sale-ing

Estate Sale season is really starting to pick up around here.  I hit a couple of good ones on Thursday and Friday.  I got pretty lucky at the first one I went to on Thursday.  Although I was number 40 in line I still managed to get some of the things that I saw in the pics on Craigslist.  Lucky for me, they let everyone in at once.

A few Gurley candles, a blow mold light up Santa, a spaghetti Santa, and a cute old tree skirt that's the perfect size for my 4' aluminum tree.  All the pieces to the Yahtzee game are still in the original packaging.  I bought it for the cute box. 

Before I show you what I got at the next sale, I wanted to show you a before and after of the 4 quart Pyrex primary yellow bowl I got.  Yes, you are seeing the tag correctly.  It was marked 50 cents.  Just look at what a little BKF and Mr. Clean Sponge can do.  It's not as shiny as it once was, but all the black marks are gone.
Next to sales that are in barns, my absolute favorite sales to go to are the ones in manufactured home parks for 55+.  Those old ladies always have the coolest kitchen stuff.  They never get rid of anything.  I hope for the sake of my kids I'm not like that.  This sale was one of the ones that  popped up on Craigslist while I was out at other sales on Friday so I was one of the first people there.  The daughters of the lady who was moving just wanted to get rid of stuff.  They weren't looking to make a fortune.  The prices were CRAZY.  There was a vintage Sunbeam mixer complete with the Glasbake bowls, extra beaters, and cookbook for $2.00.  There was a nice old man there and he was so tickled to find it that I didn't even try to get to it first.  He said he was going home to make muffins for his wife.  How cute is that?  I got everything for $1.50.  I told you the prices were great!  They didn't even look at what I got.  Just shot out the price.  My favorite thing is the dustpan.  My Grandma Gloria had a yellow one just like it when I was growing up.
When I went to purchase this old Burg scale, the lady asked me what in the world I would want such an old thing?  She said it was accurate but in such bad shape that she put the $1.00 price tag on it hoping that someone would take it just because it was so cheap.  I told her I loved it just the way it was.  She told me I was crazy, took my dollar, and walked away.  Take a good look at this scale, readers.  This is the before shot.  My husband, Rattlecan Randy (his name is really Brian but he likes to call himself this) is going to spray paint it for me.  Not sure of colors yet.  Any suggestions?
At the last sale, I got this 1 quart brown Pyrex casserole.  Definitely not my favorite color but who in the ?#%&? can pass up perfect Pyrex for a quarter?  I love old cookbooks and pie so this book was a no brainer for me.  Finally, my FAVORITE find from my estate sale hunts?  The PERFECT Samsonite Tourister train case.  Can anyone guess why I bought it?  Could it be the Bee-U-Tee-Ful shade of turquoise?  Oh readers, you know me so well.

That's all for now.  Hope everyone has a great, thrifty week!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Sister (And Brother & Miss Maddy) Saturday Thrifting

So Sister and I had the idea to spend a couple of hours on Saturday morning doing a little thrifting around my town.  As she has mentioned, she only has a couple of spots that she can thrift at in her coastal town so this was like coming to the big city for her.  Brother and Miss Maddy tagged along with us too!

Our first stop was an estate sale that started on Friday and advertised "50 Years of Collecting".  There was still so much there that I couldn't imaging what Friday must have looked like.  Bummer we couldn't have gone then.  The prices were great.  Each item in the first picture was 10 cents and the cute little advertising thermometer was only a quarter.  I love sales like that!
Then it was off to another estate sale.  Finally, a decent estate sale weekend!  There has been quite a dry spell here due to the holidays and the weather so even though it was also the second day of this sale, there was still a line to get in.  I got these heavy duty Pyrex custard cups and this little yellow Bauer planter.  I bought Sister the little bird salt & pepper shakers.  She has a Pepsi crate that she turned into a shelf at her house and it can only hold tiny things.  Sadly for her, she forgot them when she went home on Sunday. 


The advertisement for the next sale was on Craigslist and looked really fancy and professional but talk about false advertising.  Brother had his hand over his mouth the whole time and didn't breath through his nose.  Shack is a nice way to describe the house.  I did get this huge framed picture for $2.00.  You should have seen the looks my family gave me as I was walking out to the car with it.  I don't think its that bad.  I think sister was just aggravated because she knew I was going to make her antique the frame for me.
No matter what day of the week it is, I always check my iphone to see if any new sales have popped up on Craigslist since I left the house.  I have found some pretty good sales that way.  Well, as luck would have it, one was listed and started about 30 minutes before we got to it.  I picked up this cute shelf to display some of my teacup collections on (don't tell Sister, but this is also for her to antique).  Sister, when are you going to blog about the cute little friends you picked up at this sale?


Evidently someone just dropped off their collection of vintage baby planters at Goodwill.  I have a really hard time passing these by.  They are just so cute with their little faces and bright colors. All but 2 of them still have their original brand tags on them.  There were twice as many as this but a lot of them had chips so they got left behind (whew).  Funny thing is the little lamb in the top photo in the middle is the same lamb that Maddy got from my aunt's shop last week.
This is my favorite find of the day-A Hazel Atlas "Mixed Drinks" cocktail shaker.  I found this at St. Vincents and couldn't believe the condition it was in.  A lot of times you find these and they are missing the cap or the lid altogether but this one is complete.  I have been acquiring a serious amount of vintage barware.  Now I just need an actual vintage bar to put it all in.

Have a Great Thursday!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Mmmmmmmmmmm..........

My teenage son, Alex, has decided that he wants to start taking homemade snacks to school to eat during his break.  Evidently eating Eggo's off of a paper plate on the drive to school in the morning is not working out too well for my ravenous firstborn.  By the way, its me driving, not him.   

This is his favorite Pumpkin Bread.  It is a secret family recipe.  He thinks I whipped this up for him because I love him so much (which I do) but I really love any excuse to use my Pyrex.  I would love to share the recipe with all of you but I would like to continue speaking to my mother.

Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

A Quiet Day

Hello, Thrifter Friends!  I have been very fortunate today to be experiencing a really quiet and low key afternoon.  I don't have any appointments to run to, any groceries to buy, and no kids to pick up from school.  It's the perfect opportunity to sit down with a cup of coffee (in a vintage pink Fire King mug) and catch all of you up on what this Thrifter Sister has been up to.

We'll start out with the big auction site finds....
I got my 6" and 8" Fire King Swirl Jadeite bowls in the mail last week.  They arrived packaged perfectly and professionally.  But there is one problem.  I didn't realize that there are 5 bowls in this set!  Luckily,  I have a very generous husband who funds my thrifting habits!  Although his new motto is that I am no longer a collector, but a seller.

I finally found the Butterprint 442 that I have been needing to complete my set of Cinderella bowls.  Lucky for me the seller had it marked as "Amish Buttercup" on eBay so I didn't have any competition and ended up getting it at the unbelievably low starting price.  Don't you love it when that happens?
The same seller also had this bowl listed as "Aqua Bowl".  Hazel Atlas & Turquoise?  Three of my favorite words!

And now for the actual thrifted goodies for the last week
Check out these super cute Better Homes & Garden's cookbooks I found at St. Vinny's.  I am not sure if it was originally red, but the checkered binder cookbook in the front has faded to an awesome shade of hot pink.  Look at the illustrations!  How cute.  Better Homes & Garden's always seems to have the best retro cookbooks. 
I also found these cute elk highball glasses and this super retro ice bucket in Sister's favorite color!  The glasses are really heavy and perfect for an evening (or any time of day) adult beverage on the rocks.

Then it was off to Goodwill.  I found this orange rose full size flat sheet.  I am not sure if it is truly old but the pattern is very retro.  I will be a perfect backdrop for some future blogging photos.  I also picked up this vintage-y looking apron.  Not sure what I will do with it.  I prefer to just wipe my hands on my pants when I am cooking.  The juice pitcher has a story behind it.  Just that very morning I was this close to buying the exact same one on eBay but it had an orange lid and that would probably drive my OCD butt crazy (er).  I picked up the one that matches for $1.99.  My OCD saved me about 12 bucks.  I have seen this State Capital drink container in quite a few antique stores.  I'm not a big fan of the fogged glass so I will end up selling it but for $1.99 you can't go wrong.  The little coffee cup in the front is part of a set that I am working on.  I have picked up a couple others here and there in different flower patterns.  I don't think that they are old but they sure are cheerful!
I found all of these primary bowls in the last week.  The most expensive one was the red one for $3.99.  Watch for my post on the Pyrex Collective II later on in the week to see what I do with one of them.
I also picked up a few new planters.  I just love the bright colors.  They can really cheer up the dreary Oregon rainy days.  I'm not much of a gardener (or one at all).  That is more up Sister's alley.  I just stack these up in places that need a pop of color.  I also use them to store Q-Tips and cotton balls in my bathroom.

Remember last week when I posted that the hubs bought so much stuff at Goodwill they had to give him a box?  Well here is what he brought home.  The Verde lid is a double so once I find the dish for that, it'll get sold (I promise!).  The Trailing Flowers promotional is an awesome 2-1/2 quart size but it is also destined for the sell pile.  I only allow myself to keep the true vintage-y colors like primary, pink, and turquoise, etc.  I have to enforce rules on myself.  I can't run my family out of their home!  Along with the other two Pyrex items, he found a cute Telaflora hand painted colander from 1983 (older than Sister!), the Fire King Candleglow dish, the Mickey Mouse trivet/hot plate, and the cute retro canister.  He is actually getting better at his picking.  At least he has learned to call me first!

Then it was time for Sister's visit & Brad Paisley.  We were actually able to get up early enought to hit some estate sales and thrift stores even though we were out until around 1 am.  It just goes to show that you can't keep a good thrifter down!  I will post those finds later in the week!

Happy Valentines Day Everybody!