Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Thrift Store Treasures


Over the weekend I was able to get away for a bit of thrifting, my favorite style of shopping! 

Sometimes I don't find anything, and other times I find some real treasures. 

This time I was really lucky! 


These beautiful hand crocheted laces were only a few dollars for the lot. 


Two of them are identical and most likely used for pillow slips. 

I can't wait to make myself some pretty pillows with these beautiful laces. 

I will be able to slide some ribbon through the open work at the edge. 

One of them already has some vintage ribbon. 


I also found this lovely woven cloth with fringed edges. It has never been used and still has its stiff 'sizing'. 

I am picturing it as a table cloth, what do you think? 


I also found these hand embroidered napkins, never used. 

There were only 3, so I think they may be made into pillows, or used to line baskets. 


You can see the detailed embroidery and cut work here. I would say these are heirloom quality. 

You never know what you will find! 


This beautiful piece of lace is a very soft blush pink. It is edged on all four sides with scalloped lace. 

I will also use this as a table cloth or just to drape over the edge of the bed or chair in the bedroom.. It is very soft and fluid. 

I think it may have been a shawl for a wedding or other special occasion. 


Vintage sheets are something I never pass by. I only buy roses. 

They are so lovely for decorating, crafting and sewing. 


I couldn't resist this little basket. I have to be very selective with baskets, because I do love them and would have too many if I allowed myself to take them all home. So I only take home unusual ones in pristine condition. 

This one is perfect for the embroidery floss and wooden spools of thread I also found. 


I have been looking for some of that 'baker's twine' that is so popular now to craft with. But I couldn't justify the nearly $8.00 price tag for one small spool at my local craft store. 

But I was in luck when I found this yarn that is very similar! It is thin and there is lots of it. And the 50 cent price tag was right up my alley! 

The pale pink yarn came home with me 'just because'. 


This pattern caught my eye because of the lines of the dress. With a little tweaking, I can turn it into something up to date with cap sleeves and a shorter hemline. 

Not bad for 30 cents! 


I am always on the lookout for craft books, too. 

The shoes are not my style, but are perfect for an idea I have for planting succulents. 

I will show those to you when I am done.


These wooden hangers were a steal for 50 cents each.

I can't wait to 'girly' these up with paint and ribbons!


Hand Illustrated books and cookbooks are always on my list. 

Here I have found a Christmas Cookbook by Susan Branch, one of my favorite Illustrator's and cookbook author. 

It doesn't hurt that it is a first edition, too! 


How lovely is that? 


Here's another example. 

The whole book is illustrated, every page. 

Be still my heart! 


I am always on the hunt for vintage silk and paper flowers. 

So lovely to decorate a package with or add to a wreath or tuck here or there. 

Even the leaves are pretty.


Thrift stores are also great for finding seasonal decorations for holidays. 


This little rabbit had all the criteria I look for: beautiful, small and useful to hold candy at Easter. 

Blue glass is my favorite. 

My Dear Mother collected these glass, nested candy dishes, mostly chickens. Sadly, I don't know what happened to them. 

The hand painted wooden eggs were just for fun. 


They came all packed together in a bag with all of these. 

They will look sweet dangling from a flowering spring branch in a vase. 


And as a final bonus, I found these perfectly white, unused tea towels with an edging of hand embroidered daffodils! 

I couldn't believe my luck. 

I do love the feeling of walking into a thrift store and not knowing what treasures I might find. 

I do have to search diligently for these little surprises among some truly ugly things. 

Thrift stores can be a little bit daunting. 

But that is why it is like a treasure hunt! 

In among the rocks, you can find some beautiful gems. 

xoxo

Have you found anything 'thrifty' lately? 

Linking up with Young Heart  for 'The Weekly Thrift'

http://www.youngheartoldsoul.com/2013/02/thrifted.html

48 comments:

  1. Gosh Karen, I would love to go on a shopping with you... Such lovely finds on this trip.... Love the crochet lace!! Wonderful tablecloths & books... Looking forward to your future makes.. Hugs May x x x

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    1. Wish you could come with me, May. We would have fun together! xx

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  2. Lots of cool items! I like the wooden hangers. I recently got some awesome wooden soda crates at a thrift store and I love them!

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    1. I have soda crate envy, Tammy! I have only one and I keep finding new uses for it all the time. xx

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  3. Wow! It looks as if you really did find some great articles! Isnt' it fun shopping for this stuff.

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    1. It is fun, Jeanne, but I have to reign myself in now. No more thrifting for a while! Thanks for visiting! xx

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  4. Wow - I couldn't believe that the photos just went on and on - you made such a great haul. Love everything - you knew I would. That bunny and the painted wooden eggs - so sweet. And to find so many brand new vintage linens - what treasure - and the laces - ohh everything is so wonderful. Can't wait to see what you come up with. I need to find some of those wooden hangers to fancy up for things that slip off the hanger. I have some crocheted ones that a friend and I made in 1976 - time for new ones, you think? Maybe this weekend we'll finally be able to get to some thrift shops - it has been a long time.

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    1. I know, huh? I really did make a good haul this time! Now I have to do some crafting. I remember those crocheted coat hangers, too. My best friend and I made some one long summer week we spent together as bored kids. Her mom showed us how. Hope you find some of your lovely milk glass on your trip! xx

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  5. You really have a great eye when it comes to finding things!

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  6. I love to poke around thrift stores, but, alas, they conspire to eject me from their thrifty little selves by setting off my overwhelming allergy to dust. Oh well!

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    1. That would be a consideration, wouldn't it? Plenty of dust there. Garage sales are better and outside, so no dust. Can't wait for those to start! Thanks for visiting, Maureen. xx

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  7. You read my mind!! I was going to go today to try to find some things to turn into Easter decorations because we really don't have any yet...but the snow came so plans were canceled. Your finds this week are so elegant and lovely!! You totally scored on so many of them..and I think a tablecloth for sure!!!!

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    1. Oh, sorry about your snow, Nicole! I do think tablecloth, too. Hope you get a chance to get out and do a little thrifting soon. Always love when you visit. xx

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  8. Thrift stores are cool. My sis and I will probably be doing that this weekend when we get together for our birthday lunch in Longview. Last year we had a great time and found some fun things...this time will pick a different street to shop on. Last year I almost bought a table cloth and couldn't decide to buy it or not. Never did go back to the store. When I thought about it the store had already closed. Indecisiveness isn't a good thing. :0- The shoes, not good for my feet either. I like what you chose...good deals!

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    1. Hi Becky, sounds like you are going to have a wonderful weekend with your sis. I haven't been down to Longview in ages. I know what you mean when you can't decide and then regret it. Yes, do wear comfy shoes. Enjoy your birthday lunch! Hope you find some fun things. xx

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  9. Oh Beatrice we would have so much fun at a thrift store we are lucky enough to have many. My favourite places to shop support battered woman and a church basement thrift store. I love finding treasures like you have found her.
    I collect illustrated books mostly with old Lithographs prints, my passion, the high quality brilliant coloured dyes make my day, I have a few black and white but still gravitate to the bright colours. I think this is a great way to spend a day. Great finds. B

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    1. We would have a great time together, Buttons! The charity shops are the best, aren't they? It feels good to know that even with a little shopping you are supporting a good cause. Mine is one of those.
      Illustrated books are such treasures. I love the colors in the older books. I love old nature books, too, with the hand painted birds and animals. Oh, and botanical books. And children's books! Well, you can see we share a passion for these! Thanks for visiting today, Buttons. I always enjoy them so much! xx

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  10. So many great finds--now you have me anxious for yard sale season to start!

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  11. Wow, you found so many beautiful things. Love the crocheted laces and the decorative eggs! I don't see things like that at our local thrift shops. :)

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    1. I think it was just a lucky day! Thanks for stopping by, Jo. xx

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  12. Those eggs make me look forward to Easter :)

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    1. Oh, I do love those marshmallow chicks - 'Peeps' are my favorite! Thanks for visiting, Keith. xx

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  13. Oh, Karen! You hit the jack pot...everything is wonderful...especially the hand crocheted laces! If I weren't snowbound at the moment, I would be inspired to visit some thrift stores too. Hope all is well...

    Blessings,
    Dianne
    www.sweetjourneyhome.com

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    1. I know, Dianne, I did! I hope your snow melts as fast as it came and you can get out for some thrifting therapy soon! Blessings to you, too! xx

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  14. My oh my -- I need to go with you.. totally great and awesome finds.. Love to find books and patterns...lace how sweet of a find is that -- that rocks.. All wonderful finds -- and see sewing in the near future if so - show me what you will sew - wink!
    Hugs

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  15. Wouldn't it be fun to have Thrift Shopping vacation excursions? Now that's a vacation I could really enjoy! I do need to get to sewing....Thanks for stopping by, Kristeen! xx

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  16. You really have a gift for knowing what to do with something. I would say - it's beautiful, but what would I do with it? I take your ideas and tuck them away for when I have the things I need to craft again.

    My latest find was an antique bed that I purchased to "replace" my grandmother's furniture that I lost in Katrina. It has a great story attached to it - maybe I'll write a post on it! <3

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    1. Dear Stacy, I think I inherited this from my Grandmother and Mother, two very resourceful women with not a lot of money to spend, but a creative heart.

      Oh, I am so sorry that you lost your grandmother's furniture - how very sad and in such a tragic way. I am happy that you have found something similar to remember her by. Yes, please do write that post!! Thanks for sharing today, Stacy. xoxo

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  17. Dearest Karen,
    Glad that you got to go out on your treasure hunt and came back with precious items! To me the most precious are those linen napkins with their intricate hemstitching and embroidery. How many hours are involved. Just try to purchase any of those from an upscale store nowadays, made in Italy from fine materials. I would keep them as a basket liner or use as doily on a side table. Your fringed cloth looks like it's a fine piece of quality fabric too. One can tell, lots of fringes, so it is not cheap loosely woven, in order to save on threads.
    The cut-out embroidered daffodils are priceless too. Wish I could do this kind of work! We bought us a tablecloth of cut-out embroidery in Portugal and later we found one in a Neiman Marcus catalog. They were really high priced. Yeah, but if you need to go all the way to Portugal it becomes expensive too.
    Such things are true treasures as they were lovingly made by some talented hands, using high quality fabric and threads. Not like the mass production from China, using mediocre fabrics and threads. Somebody will be smiling down from heaven because of having find new love for their cherished pieces.
    Those valences might have been used for small windows, on a thin rod that gets woven through the openings. That's the Old World way at least and I did recognize them as being just that.
    Enjoy your new found treasures!
    We're finally feeling a bit liberated after about 48 hours of non-stop running the wet vac for the flooding in Pieter's workshop. Those 6 gallons needed to be emptied out every 10 minutes and now to about 2 hours... I had night shift, Pieter did the previous night. Need to catch up on lots of sleep!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Dear Mariette, Thank you for all of your lovely thoughts. I love what you said - that someone will be smiling down from heaven for finding new love for cherished pieces. I always do think that when I find something so lovingly made. I always wonder, 'Who was this person, what was she thinking when she created such beauty, was it a gift, and why did someone give it up?' A little bit of sadness there for all that hard work, and wonder if someday someone will be thinking the same over work I have done.

      Your suggestion for the valances, yes, you are right and oh, it reminds me of my Grandmother who had just such pretties in her little window in her pantry. No doubt passed down from her Mother and Grandmother. Once I had a little shop with my Dear Mother and she decorated the little windows just that way. Such sweet memories.

      I am sorry for your flooding. Oh, what a terrible thing to deal with. You must be exhausted. I do hope there wasn't any lasting damage. Sleep well, my Dear. xoxo

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    2. Dearest Karen,
      No, luckily no lasting damage at all. Just annoying as it keeps you awake... Now we're getting out of it as we can have a lapse of about 3 hours. That is doable.
      Hugs to you,
      Mariette

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  18. These hand crocheted laces are really beautiful!!!

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    1. I do feel lucky for finding them! Thanks for visiting, Vicky! xx

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  19. Great finds!
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks for visiting today, Regine. Hope you are having a nice week! xx

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  20. wow!!!! score for you big time! what treasures! the embroidery is beautiful. Good for you!

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  21. You found some amazing treasures...I adore Susan Branch...I have many of her books.
    Thanks for all your sweet comments you always leave me! xo

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  22. Hi Karen,
    Well WOW, you have found a whole cart load of goodies!! Ineed some shopping therapy:-)
    Hugs,
    Bella

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  23. Wow, Karen! Your thrifty finds are beautiful treasures! I think I need to come visit you and your thrify store :)

    The last thing I found at the thrifty shop was a bone chine tea cup that I will share someday on my blog for tea time.

    Have a lovely weekend, my friend!

    Hugs,
    Stephanie

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  24. Beautiful! You scored! Now I want to go thrifting! We just adopted a new dog from a shelter, so my hands have been full lately. I need to take a break and do some shopping! :)

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  25. wow, some amazing things you found! i don't really get a chance to go thrifting much anymore. the only thing local is a goodwill...it's new and i've managed to find some things here and there. when we lived in ga, the twins and i would go to these awesome flea markets that were housed in an old cotton mill. it was close by so when my older 2 went off to school, we'd stop in there while out running errands! my favorite kind of shopping!

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  26. Um... WOW, lol. You most certainly scored some gorgeous pieces!!! I rarely find stuff that lovely. Enjoy, Karen and thank you so much for sharing these on the link up!

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  27. Fantastic finds! Wow! You found some gorgeous vintage linens and other items. Just loved getting to see them all!

    By the way, I was just a little Seafair Angel, not the Queen as I was only 4 years old at the time. I do remember it vividly! Little sequined costume with feather wings. People dancing in ball gowns. It was a neat experience for a little girl! :-)

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

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