Thrift Share Monday - January 14

Well... it's official, after 11 1/2 months I am no longer unemployed.  Finally I've acquired a job, and start orientation at my new job today.  Yay?

Bitter sweet it is.  I've come to enjoy my peace from procrastination, sewing, thrifting, to not having to be somewhere at a specific time besides at school to pick up my kids (that in itself cuts a day down to almost nothing).  I use to always think I'd never be able to not work and be just be a homebody, that is if I didn't have to. I would think I'd go stir crazy, but boy did time fly the second the kids were both dropped off at school. Sadly, all this time I didn't miss working one bit.

My sister has joked with me, telling me to say "good-bye" to thrifting/estate sales, but don't worry, I was doing this whole thrifting/blogging thing a year before I lost my job.  However, there might be some truth to that, as in say good-bye to Friday and Saturday morning estate/garage sales,  but I should be able to make it to them later on Saturday or Sunday.  I know, I'll miss out on some really good stuff, but I need to do my best to not think of that (it'll make me sad).

Alright, enough with all that.  Time to share my thrifted goods.

There was only one estate sale I went to this weekend, and I came out with a few good items, but nothing big.  I'll also include some small bits from the previous weekend that I didn't squeeze into last weeks post.

I think these were my favorite finds this weekend, some metal pieces.  A really awesome Viko aluminum pitcher, a stainless steel butter dish (?), chrome ladle, and a Danish bowl.
 

I do LOVE these old school aluminum ice trays.  



Some vintage canisters.




And here are some books from last weekend. I really try to stay away from books, mainly because I don't know which books have value.  When I first started out I bought a whole bunch with no knowledge and ended up stuck with them.  I use them now as elevation display pieces in my vintage booth where I sell my goods.



Oh, how I love the movie "The Graduate", and when I saw this 1963 book I just had to have it.  I'm sure it will make an interesting read by figuring out what's in the book that wasn't in the movie.  This shall occupy my free time this week at orientation, during breaks and lunch.  

The shorthand dictionary, from 1943, was really a surprise.  I had no earthly idea that shorthand was like this.
 

I always thought short hand was just an abbreviation of a word or words, you know like our current "LOL", not squiggles to make up words.  That's amazing that you would have to learn a whole new language to take shorthand. 

And I couldn't pass up this giant World Atlas.

Whoa! Texas is big!
 

When did the moon and constellations become part of the "World"?

At $2, I just couldn't leave it behind.  It was interesting to run though it once I brought it home, but now what?  Side table?

There you go.  That's all I got for now. 

This weeks I'm linking up with...

A Living Space
Sir Thrift A Lot 
Apron Thrift Girl










 

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Thrift Share Monday January 7

Whoa! Time flies when you're doing other things....and nothing at all.   Where did December go? We are already a week into 2013.  Holy Cow!

I did very little thrifting last month, I was busy running all around town...or so it seemed.  As I mentioned last month I was accepted to be a part of a 28 day art/craft show, Blue Genie Art Bazaar, where I sold my handmade goods.  That alone kept me busy sewing (or thinking I should be constantly sewing), not to mention the driving to the venue every couple of days to stock up and straighten up my space.  I also had to make regular trips to another shop, Austin Gift Company, where I now have a booth space to sell my vintage finds..  Plus there was the Austin Flea last month, where I sold vintage.

On top all that running around for shows, shops, and sewing (I made a lot of trips to Joann's), I still had to run around shopping for four birthdays AND Christmas.  It is always a tricky time of year.  All the running around and shopping for birthdays you tend to get fooled and think you're almost done with Christmas shopping, but then the birthdays pass and your left with no more gifts to give.  Yikes!

Then I ended up on the "desired" potential employee list in my job search, after 11 months of unemployment.  (It's amazing how desirable you become once you cut off a big chunk from your salary.)   I got scheduled to take two test, one for the city and another for the US Post Office. Then I got schedule for two interviews...then a drug test....then another interview at a second post office.....then offered a job at the first post office(then also by the second), then an appointment for new hire paper work, which then sends me to DPS for finger printing.   

So, at this point in time I think I have a job with the post office.  I've passed my drug screening (no surprise there), and now I'm just waiting on my criminal/background check to come back.  There should be no issue there either, it's just you never know how or when someone else with a similar name will get linked into your info and tangle up your history (I watch to much tv).

So there was my month/end of year chaos.  Crazy, crazy, month, sadly with very little thrifting.  However, this last weekend has made up for it.  So here we go.

These beauties were actually scored at a garage sale mid-December, 13 Kimberly Fire Kings mugs, and they look to be practically in mint condition.

I purchased these from what I would guess was a vintage, seller, hoarder.  She indicated she was clearing out stuff, and many of the items still had thrift store price tags on them.  As I asked for prices on some items she would quote what they would sell for online....then give me a price.  Some stuff was more than what I could/would sell them for so I passed, but these colorful mugs I couldn't resist.  She did initially put a high price on them individually so I walked away....just to come back and ask for the whole lot at a much lower price, and I scored.  Thank you Frank and Mike (American Pickers), bundling is like magic. 

Now on to my ton of finds from this weekend. 

A fantastic Pyrex find, promotion 1959-1961 Blue Bird piece. 




What is that cute blue case? Well nothing more that a super cute Beauty Salon, hair dryer with cap.



Vintage mirrored vanity tray, textured amber glasses, and Granada sugar bowl with creamer.



Some  random smalls, plastic snack trays, melamine bowls, Anholt ashtray, and some funky shaped shakers.

Cute tiny vintage bags(?).  I'm not sure what these would be used for....your un-mentionables maybe(?). Giant check books?  Maybe I can start making some of these....if only I can figure out what to use them for.  Any guesses?



Not one, but two packages of vintage paper placemats.  A weird purchase....yes, but you know what's weirder?

These placemats were bought at two different estate sales, 50 miles apart.  How weird is that? Very weird.  My nice thought for when this happens, finding same items around the same time when you normally don't see such items, is that "they" get released into the "wild" at the same time...just scattered around.  The sad way to look at this, in all reality it's more along the lines of people of a certain age are passing away at the same time. *sigh* 

Ok, no more sadness.  Let's think of this as I'm helping get the things they might have once loved to someone else who will also love these items.  Right?  Like this fantastic McCoy swan vase, and dachshund planter.


 
Some more Fire King mugs.



 A super fab pot belly General Electric percolator.



An awesome vintage bun warmer. 



A very worn/distressed doctors bag, and a metal suitcase.  



And a pair of really fun 4oz shot glasses.  Silly rabbit, no liquor for you.



I think my thrifting new year started out pretty damn good.  What do you think?  Did you have any luck this weekend? 

I'm linking up with The Nifty Thrifty at A Living Space.

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Giveaway Day Winner

Wow!  What a great giveaway week.  Thank you to all who participated in Sew, Mama, Sew's Giveaway Day, and all who commented for a chance to win the vintage sheet fat quarter bundle I had up for grabs.

I just want to say a quick hello to all the wonderful new readers, and a thank you to all the wonderful readers who've been around awhile.

Ok, so there was a total of 311 entries and the winner is

Lindsay from PACountryCatfish, said "I have been eyeing up my mom's vintage sheets. I can't believe she gave most of them to my dad for dropcloths!"

O.M.G!  It hurt my heart when I initially read Lindsay's comment about her dad using their vintage sheets as drop cloths, and it hurt just as much when I read it again once random.org picked her as the winner.  I had the misfortune once of going to an estate sale where there were vintage sheets on the garage floor covered in oil.  So sad.

Alright.  Yay, Lindsay!   Congratulations on your new bundle of vintage sheets.

Thank you everyone who entered, and don't be sad I'll have another vintage sheet giveaway next month for my two year blogiversary.  

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Thrift Share - December 4

Holy Cow!  Where did November go?  I know I've been MIA here, but I think about posting all the time. Really I do.  In fact I did get a brief post up yesterday as part of Sew, Mama, Sew's giveaway day. 

The truth is I hadn't 't done much thrifting, therefore I didn't have much content for a thrift share post, and then yes I've been sewing like crazy for a month long event that began last week. I didn't want to bore you with sewn items I've shared in the past.  However, if you don't follow me on Facebook here is what I've been sewing towards.

This is my booth/display for the Blue Genie Art Bazaar that runs here in Austin from now until December 24.  It's a daily show from 10-10, and 10-6 on Christmas Eve.  This bazaar has a 100+ artist and crafters who display and sell their items at this event.  They even have a movie theater in this venue that plays Christmas movies all day (for free), and a bar so that you can drink while you shop.  How freaken awesome is that?

So with Blue Genie up and running, giving sewing a slight rest,  I had time to think vintage this weekend, and boy did I have some awesome finds.  Prefect timing too with the Austin Flea coming up in two weeks, I needed some fresh vintage finds.  Oh, and I haven't told you out there in blog land yet, a little over two weeks ago I got a booth at a local shop, Austin Gift Company, to sell my handmade and vintage items.  Here's a peek of my 2' x 6' space.  If you're in the Austin area go check out this shop, they have tons things/gifts to choose from new, quirky, humorus, vintage to handmade. 

Alright, I know you're here to see all my thrifted finds.  So lets get started.
First my favorite finds from this weekend and a little over a week ago.  PYREX!

Butterprint AND Pink.



Yeah, I know!  Some of the hardest beast to find out in the wild, and in such great condition.  The Butterprint is practically mint. 

Not one, but two funky adjustable industrial table/wall lamps.  Found at two different estate sales.



That's the weird thing with vintage items.  It's like vintage species are released into the wild at the same time.   I can't recall ever seeing lights like these before, and then my mom pulls out two at two different locations.  How weird is that? 

Remember to always look up, high up when thrifting.  I could have easily missed this awesome cake holder if I didn't look up.



I purchased this metal cake lid a few weeks back.   It was just too cute to pass up, even without a base, but you know what, I found a base that matches the pinkish copper top, and it fits perfectly.  Ok...ok...my mom found it. 










Got these neat items.  The one on the left is a 4-way liquor bottle, as in it holds 4 liquors seperately, and it has 4 openings in the top, only missing one stopper/cork thingy.  And I always love these green wine decanters.

 

 Some lovely vintage glasses.



Two juice(?) jugs?

 
 An awesome set of milk glass spice jars.



And last but not least. These ab-fab Disney records.  When my mom showed them to me I grabbed them right from her.  Hell yeah I'll buy them.  The records appear to be in fantastic condition and the covers are gorgeous.  I really need to find which type of needle our record player uses so I can play these when no one is home, because I know no one would want to sing-a-long Disney with me. 



I'm expecting vintage finds will start to be sparse this time of year, but I'll keep going and looking until I can't look no more. 

Have you had any awesome finds lately? 

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Giveaway Day - December 3 2012

This giveaway has ended.

It's time!  It's time!  Sew, Mama Sew's giveaway day is here again.  A week where bloggers and shops can gather to one location and have a giveaway hop.

Sew, Mama, Sew! has ingeniously broken down on how you can go to giveaways that appeal to you.  If you're just interested in bags there is a whole giveaway section for that, or if it's just supplies you want well there are giveaways for you too.  Just hop on over to Sew, Mama, Sew! to see the list of all the bloggers and shops who are participating.

So, what will I be giving away?  A bundle of 9 vintage sheet fat quarters.  Perfect for your last minute holiday projects.

There's so much you can make with these, including stocking stuffers or actual stockings.

You have up to three entries for your chance to win.

1.) All you need to do to enter is leave a comment.  Any comment is fine.  Do you love vintage sheets?  Are you feeling the crunch time already for Christmas?  What's on your to-do list?

2.) For a second entry let me know if you follow my blog (recent or old).

3.) Follow me on Facebook.

This giveaway is open Internationally until Friday, December 7th 5:00 p.m. PST.  The winner will be chosen at random that following Saturday, December 8.

If your email address is not set up in your profile please leave it with your comment.

Happy Giveaway Day hopping.

This giveaway has ended. 

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Thrift Share Monday...Um...Err Tuesday - November 6

 Whoa!  I'm back, after two weeks of being MIA.  Well...with thrifting that is.

I did have this post all typed up for Monday, but I was so busy with other things I never got around to taking pictures of my loot.  I've been hunkered down in my tower/cave (windowless loft) sewing away in preparation for the Blue Genie Art Bazaar that opens at the end of this month, and I've tended not to leave the house to roam aimlessly in hopes to score some vintage.  That changed this weekend though with a charity garage sale, The Settlement Home for Children (click the link to see their Facebook pictures from the sale).

Friday is when this sale started, and I was there ready and waiting in line with a few hundred others.  I was solo this day, my partner in crime (mom) was out and about on her own.  So I had to scour this huge space by myself in search of some great treasures, but I think I was either overwhelmed by it's greatness or coming down with the 24 hour bug my daughter had the day before, because 40 minutes into it I was tired, unfocused and just ready to leave.  Um...the 7 lbs of sheets/fabric handing on my shoulder probably slowed me down a bit too.

So here is what I walked away with on Friday.

This so awesome vintage ice bucket,

Vintage sheets...mostly pillowcases, but definitely some great colors to add more variety to my projects/production, and some random fabric.


I was a bit thrown off with the two pieces of fabric to the right.  One of my favorite vintage sheets are from this print, but in pastel colors.  So when I saw these as non-vintage sheet fabric I thought I was dreaming....or seeing things.  It was just weird...I don't know why but it was. 




And a super cute vintage travel iron.  

Sunday was a whole different story, 50% off day, and I returned with reinforcements, my mom and my two kids.  Of course my kids weren't to happy to find out we were being dragged here, but once we were in my 9 yr old son was in thrifting mode and looking out for things that would interest me.  The other two reinforcements had a head start, since I dropped them off out front so I could park,  and they already had items to show me once they found me inside.  This is what they had.

This super awesome vintage folding table, the legs fold underneath, and then it's all compact like a serving tray.  How cool is that?

Ice bucket,



As I was looking through the glassware this is what my son picked out.

These white glass wine glasses...not sure if they are milk glass....they look a bit different. 
 

And as I'm typing this I decided to Google them, and  HOLY COW, 2 of these PV France goblets sold on ebay for $50,....and as you can see I have six.  Damn! I think I need to take my son shopping with me more often.  

He also picked out these Krosno glass/mugs from Poland.  Does anyone know what this style of glass is called, or if this is a specialty glass for a particular drink?
 

These smoky gray glasses,

And he picked out this lone black striped/swirled glass, since he knows I like black.  It'll be a nice juice glass.  I have to say he does know my taste.

I grabbed these pink glasses, 


and itty bitty snifter glasses, because they are the babies to the two over-sized ones I bought a few weeks back. 



I also got this cute, tall, skinny pine tree that will be perfect to display the Christmas stockings I am making for the Blue Genie Art Bazaar.  Thank you mom for spotting this, and the other great vintage items.

Now back to sewing, and preparing for E.A.S.T(East Austin Studio Tours), where I'll be selling vintage and my handmade goods.

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