Top 10 Thrift Finds of 2014

Hello All,

This is the part of bringing in a new year that's light and fun--looking over the past year and highlighting the best finds!  Here they are in no particular order:

1.  All Glass Chandelier

It wasn't much to look at when I brought it home...

but a good cleaning and new wiring, paint, and crystals turned it into the swoon-worthy swan it was meant to be:

2.  Cranberry Flashed Punchbowl, 12 cups and ladle

This set is incredible.  The flashing is perfection.  I see cranberry flashed glassware A LOT but NEVER in this amazing condition.  I am totally convinced this arrived at the thrift store in its original packaging and it was opened and unpacked for the first time.  How sad that it's debut was a sit-in on the shelf at the thrift store!  Thank goodness I found it so that it could realize it's destiny as the focal point of a holiday party buffet table :)!  Those little footed punch cups do me in every. time.  $15

3.  Johnson Brothers Blue Willow enamel on steel whistling tea kettle

This tea kettle is a treasure!  From the little bird handle to its wonderful train whistle sound, it makes me drink tea just so I can use it -- LOL!  $4

4.  Eastlake Victorian mirror

I took the day off from work on my birthday just to go thrifting and I swear, it was like a surprise party set up just for me!  This mirror was one of the many amazing finds from that day.  I am totally convinced the day was divinely orchestrated because the things I found were incredible --not only are they exactly the kind of things I love, the prices were ridiculous!  It's funny too, because I had been neglecting the architectural section of the thrift store.  Since I had the day off and could leisurely peruse the whole store, I decided to check it out.  That's when I found this mirror.  I wasn't sure where it would go...and then I just knew it belonged here:

The wall at the end of my the dining room table!  It's like it was always meant to be there :)
It was $30.

5.  Crystal box with tiny key

This is another birthday find!  I love this heavy glass box with all the ornate details, including the tiny perfect key!  It was $4.50.

6.  Hazel Atlas Pink Crinoline luncheon set

This is THE birthday find of the day!  See what I mean about the divine intervention!?  One does not just "find" a near-perfect set of HA pink crinoline for $19.99!  God is good :)

7.  Antique cranberry glass tray and tumblers

Dan and I were in a hospice thrift shop in Winchester, Virginia, when I found the glass tray.  There is the slightest evidence that the rim of the tray was gold as was a delicate pattern in the center of the tray.  The glass is wavy and such a beautiful color!  A week later, we had gone back to Winchester and I found the glasses at an SPCA thrift!  The glasses also have evidence of a gold rim and decoration and because the color is so close to that of the tray, I'm convinced they go with the tray :)  I paid $4 for the whole set.

8. Rattan sea horse

This simple little sea horse makes me crazy happy.  I haven't come across anything like him.  I just love him!  He was also a find from my Birthday thrift trip for $1.50.

9.  Pie crust table

This little table is enchanting to me.  I have no idea of it's age or who made it, etc., but the detail in the construction blows my mind.  It was $30.

10.  Glass globe and sea horse stand

This is one of those finds that, at the time I picked up them up, I had no idea how they would be used or where they would go.  I didn't find them together.  The stand was $1 find from one thrift shop and the glass globe (also $1) from another.  When the craft room was ready for accessories, I was shopping the house for ideas and came across the stand.  I remembered the glass globe and viola!  a favorite display was born :)

I'm linking up!

Sir Thrift A lot:  Thriftasaurus #116
From My Front Porch to Yours:  Treasure Hunt Thursday, #187

Birthday Thrifting

Hello All!

I went thrifting last month on my birthday and it felt like a surprise birthday party just for me --look at the wonderful "gifts" I got found:

First up, this splendid cut glass box with working lock...

...and adorbs tiny key!

It was $9 but it was 50% off day (Happy Birthday to me, indeed!) so I paid $4.50.  I {heart} anything ocean/beach/aquatic-related so this rattan-wrapped wire sea horse is a delight ($1.50).

As is this tiny silver plate whale ($2):

When I thrift, I have my go-to areas--glassware and housewares first, always.  Then I check out lamps and furniture.  Usually, I spend so much time in these sections that by the time I finish, Dan has finished looking in his go-to sections and we leave.  This time, I ended up with extra time so I decided to spend it looking through the architectural section of the thrift store.  It hadn't been anything special the few times I'd checked it out before.  But now, I am now going to be sure to check it more often because of this:

A swoon-worthy Eastlake Victorian mirror:

(just a little side note--those faux hydrangeas came from Ikea!  They were a great price and are really beautiful.)  The cast iron bunny was a gift from Dan for Christmas. 

I think it's exquisite :) It was $30.  And finally, the big gift of the day -

Hazel Atlas Pink Crinoline luncheon set --almost complete!-- 6 luncheon plates, 7 saucers, 6 teacups (one with a beaded handle!) and 2 (HTF) berry bowls.  It is in lovely condition.  I really could not believe my eyes to see first--all this pink gorgeousness just sitting on the shelf and second--the incredibly low price.  I thought for sure it would be maybe $40 or $50 because these sets go for double that on eBay.  The cost was $19.90!  CRAZY and AwEsOmE :)

I'm linking up!

Southern Hospitality, May Thrift Treasures