Friday, May 15, 2009

Green Thrifting

I haven't been to my favorite SA haunt in quite awhile. I've been avoiding it because, if I go, I WILL spend money and because I really do sort of hate going with the kids. (shhh!) I have a friend though, who is NEW to the whole thrifting business (can you IMAGINE????) and she is easing herself into learning to shop in this wonderful way. I say "easing" because when you weren't raised with used stuff and with a love of.... shall we call it, vintage chic?.... apparently learning to sift through a giant thrift store that feels a bit like a jumbly garage sale can actually be rather difficult.

She was going to hit 1/2 Price Wednesday this week, so I thought I would join her. And join her, I did. Although as my luck usually goes, nothing I found actually qualified for 1/2 price.

Cool bookends for the boys' desk:


A darling hardtop suitcase (3 bucks!!!) in almost perfect condition. I tried to air it out a bit in the sun and hoped baking some lilacs inside it would help with the "i've been stored in someone's attic for 30 years" smell. The suitcase is being saved as a trunk for all the doll clothes that I am going to (in theory) make for a birthday gift for Elle. OK, so maybe it will be for her 4th or 5th birthday... ;-)


And Ellie also got this sweet, vintage cardboard print for her room (that is, if I don't steal it for my "studio" -that's just fun to say!).


I LOVE it from the brushed texture to make it look like canvas right down to the fake-woodgrain, green plastic frame.


I don't know about "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," but I sure had a green day.


Oh, and I found THE MOST AWESOME Father's Day gift EVER!!!! But that has to stay a secret as I think Mike may actually read this....

Really can't imagine having to ease into this; I don't know what I would do without it.

10 comments:

Melissa Crowe said...

Thrifting is my only nearly guilt-free shopping, besides maybe grocery shopping and buying shoes for Annabelle. It's the only place where if I see something I really want, I don't have to "visit" it first. I can just buy it, so long as it costs less than $10. Okay, I have issues.

Leciawp said...

I'd love to shop with you! eek - Father's Day - I haven't even thought about it yet - thanks for the reminder. Hope you have a great weekend!

Kath said...

OK, those bookends are so cool! I'm really jealous. I am almost done with this semester and then off for a month --- can I come visit you? I'll give you a ring next week some time!

Sherrie said...

I never find anything cool like this!

mom said...

I love thrift stores...there's something exhilerating about thrift finds!

Nicola said...

awesome, elissa! i love love love thrift shopping. i love what you got, especially the book ends!

the kids and i went to our favorite place yesterday and got the exact coffee carafe we needed (finn broke ours earlier this week) and a set of enamelware dishes. score!

by the way, i am making a crown and cape for a young friend's 5th birthday, so i went to the local fabric store and happened to see your american jane fabric! it was $9.80/yard.

hey, email me and tell me what you got for father's day! i need ideas, although i am looking for a used garden fire pit/bowl and am thinking mike needs a gentleman's pedicure. :)

nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com

cabin + cub said...

Great finds! I love thrifting... you'll never know what surprise you will find. ;)

beemahoney said...

I LOVE the print! perfect*)

Dana said...

great finds!! And your poor, poor friend. Imagine all the lost years!

Sherrie said...

If your lilac in the suitcase in the sun didn't work.... I just read a hint that says a bounce dryer sheet will take the musty odor out of things....