I Guess It's Better Than Nothing

Want to hear something so sad?  It's the middle of July and the sale season still hasn't picked up in my little corner of the world.  What the heck is up with that?  My husband even mentioned it to me yesterday.  He reminded me that last year at this time, we were having to tag team sales because there were so many good ones that started at the same time.  Uh, like I needed that reminder.  Now, there are a lot of sales each and every weekend but they are either A) your typical sale full of Dollar Store castoffs and kid's stuff or B) given by someone who should probably just have a booth at an antique mall with the prices they are charging.  And although my favorite estate sale companies still have sales every weekend, not one has promised the vintage hauls like last year.

But you know what readers?  It's hard to keep a good treasure hunter down.  I may have to hit up way more sales than I normally would and dig a little harder but I do manage to bring some things home.  Maddie & I went out Thursday, Friday, and yesterday and had some pretty decent luck. 

This picnic basket was marked $10.00 which isn't a bad price at all.  But evidently Maddie thought she could get it for cheaper so she marched up and offered five bucks.  The lady smiled and didn't even hesitate.  I wish I could lend her out to some of you guys!

I have had the little pitcher on the right for a couple of years.  I didn't realize that it also came in a bigger size and was happy to find it.  The guy told me he had the matching glasses for it too and promised to call me if he found them. 

What better time of year to find a picnic tablecloth than Summer?

When I was in 6th grade, our music class performed South Pacific for the Spring program.  I remember watching this movie with my Grandma Gloria who absolutely loved every musical there ever was.  Singing In The Rain was her favorite.  I don't have a record player so I am going to have Sister bring hers down the next time she visits.  I wonder if I still remember the words to "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair?".  God help us all if I do.

I already have this Kitchen Glassware book so I am passing it on to Hanna.  The little tin is marked Germany and was in the Free Box.  Those Gurley Candles are reproductions but dang if they don't look EXACTLY like the originals.  They will be perfect for wreath making.

Want to see my lone Pyrex find of the week?  This came courtesy of my favorite antique mall and was only 3 bucks! 

Normally I would be pretty bummed to only find one piece of Pyrex for the week.

But this little beauty completed a set for me!  Woo-hoo!!  So funny story about this set.  The first three pieces I bought as a set from the exact same seller that I got the orange 501 from.  What's up with that?  Why didn't she have them all together at the same time?  Oh well. Doesn't matter.  They are all reunited and displayed with my other completed sets in my Laundry Room. Yes, I did say Laundry Room. You gotta come up with some pretty creative ways if you want to display your Pyrex!

There's more but I will save it for next time.

Linking up with:

Sir Thrift-A-Lot & Junkin' Joe

Happy Sunday!

Erica

It's a Miracle!

Well, it finally happened.  I finally got myself up and to an estate sale early this morning.  I know, a miracle.  I think Erica threatening to call me at 5 am was enough push.  Or the fact that there are rarely estate sales around here, let alone ones that sound half way decent.  I got there an hour and 45 minutes early and was #2.  I also made today the day I made friends with my competition.  It was fun to chat with people that have hoarding problems such as mine :)

I kept saying, "I hope this was worth the wait!."  I got inside and wasn't really finding anything.  I headed upstairs to a tiny little closet and squeezed in next to an older man and started digging.  I'm happy I did, these are my favorite finds.

Erica and I have Tik Tok of Oz from our father, so I was excited to find these 2 books.

 The birds paint by number and the other little book below were in the free box.  The Burgess Bird book is in a little rough shape, but it obviously had to come home with me.

A few other books I picked up.  I wish people would stop putting tape on books and paper items at sales!  The True Dog Stories book is so cute, but the cover got ruined.  I found one single Valentine stashed away in the closet so it came home with me too.

I also grabbed some animal friends.  The little deer aren't anything special but they needed to join me for Christmas.  I finally found my first Easter egg, which was exciting.  The Favor Ware bird is a little chippy in the paint but I love it anyway.

When I was checking out I got a little distracted because of what I saw.  I battled with myself for a few minutes, trying to decide if it was too creepy or not.  Finally I gave in.  The box is a little rough, but I decided it was meant to be.

 Spooky.  I know.  Once again, estate sale people, stop taping boxes!  This would have been perfect.  If anyone has a trick of getting tape off of paper, please tell me.  I was VERY careful.  My husband is going to freak out when he comes home and sees this on the coffee table.  Maddie says I shouldn't use it, I probably wont.  But, the shock factor of my husband will be priceless.

 I picked these books up at a sale last Friday, but thats all I found.  Sales have been few and far between out here on the coast.

And my Goodwill has been brutal.  A opal 401 and these bird hooks is all I've found over the last 2 weeks.  I wish my thrifts were better but I feel lucky that I had an okay estate sale.  The Oz books were totally worth it and it was fun to get out to a sale and bring something creepy home for my husband.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  I'm headed off on a trip for the week with my in-laws.  Hopefully it will be full of fun thrifting finds!

Until Next Time!

Hanna

Summertime Thrift Finds

Happy Tuesday!

During the Summer, I don't go to the thrifts as often as I do during any other time of year.  For one thing, I usually can get my fix from the numerous sales that I go to every weekend.  I also spend a huge amount of time outside catching up on my reading list and just being lazy.  Hey, they don't call it the lazy days of Summer for nothing, right?  But for some reason, the sales have been pretty blah this year.  Nothing compared to last year, that's for sure.  So I took some time to head out to the thrifts today to see what I could find and hopefully scratch that little itch that's been bothering me.

I love to browse through decorating books to get ideas.  I already had the Shabby Chic book so this one will go to Sister.

I picked up this atomic era coffee pot and warmer for really cheap.  Like cheap enough to make it worth my while to try and sell it. 

These glasses and turquoise pottery cup were in the cart of things waiting to be shelved.  The glasses aren't old but they are a really good size for ice tea and I won't freak out if I take them outside and they get broken.

 

I hit the jackpot on vintage pillowcases at two different thrifts.  It's been a while since I've found any.

Mod Kitchen is one of Hanna's favorite patterns of Pyrex and now thanks to a recent donation to my local Goodwill by someone who is obviously unaware of how collectible Pyrex can be, I now have my own piece!

Now for a late find that also fits in with today's finds. 

A few weeks ago, on my birthday to be exact, I found this beauty at St. Vinnie's

An Embroidery 443 Promotional Cinderella Bowl!  I was super excited to find this even though I already had one that I found last year.

Then today, at a completely different St. Vinnie's, I stumbled upon this

No readers, you are not seeing double.  And just in case you think I might be trying to pull a fast one on you

Two Embroidery bowls found within weeks of each other at two entirely different SVDP's.  What are the odds of that?

Hmmmmm, I may have to get my butt out of the lounge chair on the patio and hit up the thrifts a little more this Summer.  What do you think?

I'm going to head to the following parties.  Hope to see you there!

Sir-Thrift-A-Lot for Thriftasaurus
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Sunny Simple Life for Sunny Simple Monday
Knick of Time for Knick of Time Tuesday

~Erica

A Few Treasures

Hi Everyone!

Hope you all had a fun & festive 4th of July.  Although it was a late night here, that didn't stop me from sneaking out early to a few close sales this morning.  With it being a holiday weekend, there weren't a whole lot of options but I needed to get out of the house for a while to let all of the serious partiers sleep.  How in the world do kids stay up all night?  I don't think I ever did that when I was their age!

I love finding things to add to my collections like this old 7UP crate and tablecloth.  Two bucks apiece!

I actually picked up this trio of jars last weekend but forgot to show them to you.  The Chase & Sanborn couldn't have come at a better time.  It fit right in with my patriotic decorations.

I love the shape and print on these shakers but the lids are pretty bad.  I will probably end up using them for little bud vases.  I found this full box of flamingo decal border.  I can't wait to find something to do with it!

There were two sales across the street from each other.  Maddie spotted some kids stuff at one so she headed over to it while I checked out the other sale. Next thing I know, she comes running across the street yelling "Mom, I need 75 cents!".  This is what she came back with.  She was absolutely beaming. 

Yay!  Another pie bird and Hazel Atlas ivy bowl for more of my never ending collections!

So this morning was definitely more about quality over quantity.  Added some things to a few collections and got my vintage fix in the process.  Don't you love it when that happens?

Linking up at:

How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday
Jann Olson for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Cottage Market for Junkin' Joe
The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday

Have a great weekend!

Erica

Time for the Red, White, & Blue!

Happy Early 4th of July!

Although my decorations have been out for a few weeks, I didn't actually get around to taking pictures until yesterday.  I can't believe it's already the 4th of July!  We don't have any concrete plans yet except for the usual barbecue and fireworks.  I am actually leaving the planning up to Alex.  Am I crazy to let my 17 year old plan my festivities?  I will let you know how that all goes:-)

On to the displays!

This is my buffet/side table off of my kitchen bar area.  I am actually planning on painting it this summer if I can decide on a color.

 

 

 

 

 

Some close-ups. I believe that you can't ever have enough cute vintage advertising and that you also can't have a real holiday display without a couple of Magpie Ethel's spun head creations!

This is my humble attempt at a patriotic table setting.

My favorite part about it being the vintage Alaska souvenir tablecloth.

A shot of our Great Room mantle.  Have I ever told you how eclectically our home is decorated?  Just steps away from this rustic-ness is a vintage decorated kitchen!

 

Lots more vintage advertising in the perfect patriotic colors!  I picked up those old ketchup bottles at a sale a while back.  They have stars on the lids and the bottles are embossed with American flags. 

Even though he is pink, my McCoy Uncle Sam planter is right at home in all his glory holding a bunch of thrifted flags.

My entryway table which also is going to get a little brightening up soon.  See that cute parade hat?  I picked that up at a huge thrift store when Rachel and I went to Farm Chicks.  I actually got a pair of them for a dollar!  I channeled my inner-sister and researched them and found out that they are pretty old.  They add the perfect height!

 

 

 

I totally forgot about the lunch box!  I found that last year at an awesome estate sale and tucked it away for the 4th.  Don't you love finding things that you have forgotten about?  The two books it is sitting on I actually just picked up at a sale on Saturday. 

This is the awesome picnic basket that I jumped out of the car for while Sister was trying to find a place to park.  Yes, the car was still moving.  I am not going to let a couple of bumps and bruises stand in the way of my prize!

I hope you all have a fabulous and safe 4th of July.  Eat lots of good food and have a festive cocktail for me!  Sister found me this one on Pinterest and I can't wait to try it

She is always watching out for me:-)

Until next time!

Erica

 

Gifts from Sisterita!

We have all established that Erica spoils me rotten.  It is like Christmas every time she comes to visit or I go to visit because she picks me up goodies all the time.  I know she feels sorry for me in my sad thrifting land but I also know she loves giving gifts.  During my last visit she had a whole bunch of lovely things for me and it's time to share.

First, she cleaned out her pretty pillowcase stash and gave a bunch to me.  She also picked up the pretty orange poppy sheet and orange rose sheet for me to complete a sewing project with.

She also picked up the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland record along with the Bambi record for me.  I found Dumbo and Puff the Magic Dragon at an estate sale a few weekends ago. Dumbo is told by Shirley Temple, super cute.

I love the Bambi graphic, it makes me smile.

Here are few more random goodies.  An embroidered parrot table runner, a vintage book about rocks and minerals, some squirrel friends, and more bird glasses.  Maddie also found me the Berggren Trayner cheese grater that says, "May the wind always be at your back."  I keep saying I'm going to stop collecting Berggren Trayner, but I just can't stop.  I will have to share all of that collection some time.

Here's a closeup of the Japan squirrels.  Such sweet little rodents

My collection of these glasses is getting big!  Erica picked up 2 more last week, one being a bird I don't already have.  I really love that they have their scientific names on them, although some of the names have changed since they first made these glasses.

Last, but not least, my patience paid off.  I waited for this Pyrex Woodland to go 1/2 off at Goodwill and it finally did!  I've looked at this darn thing for like 2 weeks, but never gave in to my urges.

Summer seems to be flying by.  I always think I'm going to have all the time in the world and then I remember that it is my time to play catch up after teaching all year.  I've been doing a ton of cleaning and organizing but it seems to be never ending.  There is finally some good news to share though.  I resigned from my teaching job last week, which was bittersweet.  The bright side is I will be teaching full time from home come fall.  It will be a huge change, but it has its perks.  One of them being, it is going to be easier for me to move closer to my Sisterita!  Lets hope my husband finds a job in the valley soon so I can enjoy more Erica time and better thrifting.

There's a chance Erica may come see me next week, I'm crossing my fingers!
Linking up at:
Thriftasaurus

Happy Thrifting!
Hanna