YHL's Unofficial Macklemore Thrift Store Challenge

What? What? What?  Yo, Young House Love is hosting the Unofficial Macklemore Thrift Store Challenge and I'm here to tell you that it's like date night, Christmas and a little like walking through a fun house all in one!  The Petersiks, inspired by the hilarious rap song, Thrift Shop, by Macklemore & Ryan,(if you haven't heard the song, you can listen to the (clean) version here):

came up with this excellent and clever idea (not surprised; they are DIY superheroes) to host a thrift challenge!  Here's the sitch - there are three things you gotta do:

1. Take $20, head to the thrift;
2. Spend your $20 however you like and photograph your spoils; and
3. Find one or more of the things Macklemore & Ryan raps about and snap a pic and post it.  And of course, blog about your adventure.

Easy Peasy - Oh I got this.  I can thrift like a bargain biotch.  Challenge accepted.

Dan and I started off like this:  $20 bills in our pockets, fly specs, and a rapper's attitude, CHECK

Local Thrift Store...in the snow!...double check

We headed to the Savers in Woodbridge, set to blow the lid off the place with all the crazy thrifting - hecka yeah.  It's a superstore yo, bring on the cheap quirk.  I couldn't wait to start shopping but one look at the price tags, and I was like:

What? What? What?  Savers' wants HOW MUCH for this secondhand stuff!??  You can tell I'm totally irked cause I'm making the disrespected duck face.  Whoa, the prices were ridiculous!  Case in point - these creepy masks:

Twenty-FIVE dollars... EACH!  I'm sorry the picture is blurry but I was getting swindled and pimped.  $25 spondoolicks for these creepy artiWHACKS that could possibly put a curse on my house?  Definitely NOT.  There were no thrifty deals here.  The thrift superstore was a super disappointment.  I call that getting tricked by a bizness...although...

There was this cute beaded monkey:

FIFTEEN bucks.  Sorry beaded monkey, I'd go bananas for you if you were, say, $2, but $15?  My cart must roll on.

Then, there was this other stuff from the song - a Big A$$ Coat, and it was dookie brown:

It was fun cause it was made out of  Muppet fur.  Wait a tick, has anyone seen Fozzie Bear, lately? No?  Uh oh!

My ace man Dan found some super-cool kicks.  They are not alligator but they sure are green:

But green don't have a thing over these:

Ah, he got the Velcros!

I found where old knee boards go to die:

And then, we found Macklemore's Grandpa's keyboard:

Pops can really stunt and floss with his electric chord organ (yeah, I heard it; it didn't sound right)....Anyhoo, Dan fired it up...

(Lucky for us he was in the "electrical testing area") and he rocked the house phantom of the opera style.  But, for $25 our cart stayed unoccupied.  We decided to try our luck at another thrift.   As we headed for the door, right at the check out, I saw these flashy glasses:

They are really flashing!  The saluting price tag is really hot, too.   Don't hate.  They had 5 settings, "steady" as shown, "sequenced," "chasing,"  "random," and "blinking".  Cool.  I wanted them *but* $5 is too much for a few chucks (and then tossed in the junk drawer).  So, out the door we went and headed over to:

B Thrifty - that's exactly what we were trying to do but Savers fibbed.  But B Thrifty pulled through!  Lo and behold, it was a great thrift store!  I was happy to have gotten my pics at the other place because I was in the zone and hunting!  So many cool things here!  Here's my haul:

And in the spirit of keeping it real, here is where I FAILED the challenge (I prefer to think I overachieved, thank you).  I was supposed to spend $20 and well, my chair alone was $30.  So I was definitely able to spend $20 (twice).  If I hadn't bought the chair I would have been fine but it's just too cool to have left it behind.  Here's a closer look:

Oh so sweet - I love the scroll back and semi-circle frame!  It's in desperate need of a bath; then paint, and then something delicious for the upholstery.  That big green glass globe?  I've got plans for it too.  I'm thinking table lamp!  I have a soft spot for large chunks of glass and this was definitely coming home with me.   I was thrilled to find these two pieces:

Pyrex Delphite.  This baby needs some scrubbing, but once it's cleaned up, I'm using it for a casserole for the next work-sponsored pot luck!  This particular pattern/piece was a promo during winter 1961 - this is peanutbutter&jelly Awesome

My constant readers know I am an all-out glass hound.  I have been after a piece of this glassware --the pattern is called "Chandelier" by the O'Hara Glass Company.  This is the first time I've ever seen a piece in the wild!  It is roastedmarshmallow&chocolate Awesome!  This plate is gorgeous:

It looks like the Katy pattern from Imperial Glass.  Here's a closer look at the silverplate basket:

It will need some polishing.  A silverplate basket seems like a great idea.  Easter is around the corner and we live on Easter drive.  Done and done.  I'm set with my basket and bobble-head bunny:

I had to, it was 99c.  Spring-y ears AND its head bobbles - win/win.  

The doll is a vintage Crissy doll with "growing hair."  It works!  Turn the crank on her back and her hair recedes into a hole in her head.  Press her belly button and pull her hair up.  Nifty!  How do I know so much about this doll?  I read a lot (and I may or may not have had one when I was growing up)  She has "1969 Ideal Toy Corp..." plus a patent number stamped on her tush.  Poor girl, she'll regret that when she's older.   Don't let the lazy eye fool you, she's in excellent condition (except for the bit of frizz in her hair).  $1.99 - incred-i-bul. 

Next up, a magic, 3 Dimensional world of Mermaids book.  A must have for all mermaids and mermen, alike:

It was 99c.    And last but not least, this truly pretty framed silk embroidery.  

It has been professionally framed (with a silk mat!) but it's water-stained (at the top behind the price) and the white silk has mildewed.  I am not sure I can salvage it but it's worth a try.  

There you have it.   It was totally fun and finding treasures is like opening Christmas gifts on Christmas morning.  Oh, and how is it like a fun house --well, because it's a little scary too.  Because of things like this:

At least this little...uh, hobbit/troll/gnome?? looks friendly, right?   Hmmm, even white paint wouldn't help this look chic.  Or would it?  See, imagining the possibilities is just part of the fun :)

Are you ready to accept the challenge!?

Thankful Indeed

Hello Everyone!  I hope your Thanksgiving was lovely and if you were out shopping on Black Friday Shopping, I hope you got some awesome deals.  Our holiday was really nice.  Jenna and I cooked together and had such a good time.   She is dating a really sweet guy, Beau, and he joined us for our traditional T-day breakfast and to watch the Macy's Parade.  We ate dinner together as well and everything went well except for the Sweet Potato Souffle.  It didn't set like it should have :(  It still tasted good, it just wasn't pretty - LOL.  Then, on Friday, Dan and I went out to get one special thing:  a 9ft Christmas tree (for $158!).  Once we got it home, I was a bit antsy to get started on the Christmas decorating.  Yes, the Christmas season has commenced in the Jackson household but, as usual, the time zone is quite behind in the Land of Encraftment so there's still time to share my Thanksgiving decorations.  (yup, my own little world....)

I used a lot of thrifted items and it is thrilling to see things come together and for such a small amount of money.  I started with the foyer:

The small pumpkin, beaded grapes and porcelain quail came from GW outlet.  I bought the painting ($3) at the retail GW and the vintage amber glass lamp ($12) came from Two Times New.  I bought the silk leaves at Michael's after Halloween for 80% off so it feels like it was thrifted :).  The "32" is our house number and I bought them at Hobby Lobby last season.  If you look in the mirror (bottom square) you can see the wreath on the front door - cool! :)

Next, I decorated the family room mantel:

There are a number of thrifted things here too -- two cut glass hurricanes, Murano vintage amber glass candle holders, vintage green Napco vase, silver mercury glass candlestick, the two large birch logs, firewood holder, and the basket with the fall arrangement.  The galvanized bucket is hosting a string of lighted fall leaves --also thrifted--and LED branches from Target also.  I bought the birch branches from Michaels last year.  My favorite thing here is the metal "FAMILY" from Hobby Lobby.  It was the cherry on the top of a lovely Thanksgiving :)

I set the dining table with vintage glass:

The centerpiece, vintage Indiana Glass diamond point green and amber goblets were thrifted as were the amber glass butter dish (which served cranberries for the big meal) and the large amber compote.  I bought the tablecloth at Kohl's last year.  My plates came from antique stores --with the exception of the Myott turkey plates which came ebay.  Here is a closer look at the plates:

I used candlewick salad plates (*love*), Queen's Myott Thanksgiving Turkey plates, and Federal Glass Patrician  (1933-1937) which I used as a charger.

The silverware is International Silver Rogers Bros., "Louvain" pattern (1918 silverplate).  I thrifted my first few pieces (from Class and Trash) and have added to it by finding pieces on ebay and antique stores.  The napkin rings are clear glass (Pyrex).  The pretty little metal leaf picks came from Hobby Lobby - 80% off :)  Here is the table all decked out:

Here is a closer look at the buffet:

The buffet was a Craigslist find for $125.  The picture frames, little shelf, candles, and tiny plate were thrift finds.  I framed an International Silver ad from 1920 advertising the pattern I collect.  I don't know what to put in the other

and just because I'm sappy and sentimental, here is my dining room last year:

And here it is now:

I'm linking up!

From My Porch To Yours, Treasure Hunt Thursday
Kathy with an E, You're Gonna Love it Tuesday

Have a great week!

Birthday Thrift-O-rama! (Part II)

Dan and I went on a Birthday super-duper thrift trip last weekend and the haul was so awesome, I needed two posts to share all the finds.  Without further adieu, welcome to part deux (see what I did there? LOL!)

Well hello darling vintage Serva Snack set by Anchor Hocking!  $7 - for 4 punch cups with matching trays.  The box has the name "Mrs. Knox" written inside the lid.  Thank you Mrs. Knox for keeping your wonderful snack set in such pristine condition and please know it has come to a home where it will be loved! :)
Lookie at this cool thing -

Can't you picture this baby in black....say, like, a glossy "witchy" black??  It looks like a witch's boot to me and one I saw used in an Halloween vignette.  It was painted black and looked so cool and elegant, but try as I might, I couldn't anything like it.  Now here it is!  Yeah, it does have a crack but I'm hoping that once it's painted either you won't see it or maybe it will look like creased, old leather.  Probably wishful thinking but after searching for one a couple years ago, and to no avail, there was no way I could walk away from it.

Now, to avoid a third post for the thrift trip---even though it was a marathon thrift!---I'm going to show the rest of the haul in this next pic:

Wm. Rogers shell silver plate platter, poppy trivet, International Silver silver plate bread plate and candy dish, hobnail milk glass creamer, milk glass with fish scale pattern (and vintage glass Christmas ornaments inside), milk glass trinket basket, egg shell candles, hand-carved wooden cow, German "1/2" cup coffee mug, Home Interiors porcelain dove, vintage (1950s or earlier) Murano Summerso "drip" amber glass vase, antique milk glass cross, hobnail milk glass tumblers, swirled pattern milk glass bowl, mini milk glass candle holders, Avon milk glass vanity jar, Avon milk glass candle holder, English hobnail milk glass ball vase, milk glass urn, Westmoreland quilt patterned footed candy dish, crystal lamp made in Holland, milk glass lamp. 

 The silver plate trays are going to be used in a wall collage (like this one HERE).   The milk glass is a mix of a little of everything, hobnail, English hobnail,  scalloped, quilt - I cannot get enough of it :)  The cross is antique --it's also broken as it was a candle holder --but still it was a $1 and unlike anything I have so it came home with me.  Both lamps work - woohoo! - and the crystal lamp was made in Holland.  I have to find a lamp shade (?) for it but again, the fact is was only $2 landed it in my basket.  Here's another look at the lamps:

The pink glass alone made me want this :)  The metal on the hobnail lamp was gold at one point but it had flaked off in areas and looked pretty messed up.  Dan took the lamp apart for me so I could spray-paint these parts (I used Rustoleum ORB with primer).  100% improvement!  The milk glass lamp is going on the nightstand in one of the guest bedrooms and the crystal lamp will be put in the foyer.  

My final find for the day which makes it possible for me to present my Finale Find - LOL - AND for me, it's quite a doozy!  I have been looking for something like this and there, in the final GW we hit before wrapping it up for the day were these little beauties:

1950's Indiana Glass orange blossom 10 pc. snack set - $20!  Happy Birthday to ME.  Seriously, I couldn't believe my eyes; I saw them from across the room (ok, rack) and it was love at first sight.  Look at those delicate, sweet little blossoms!

Happy Thrifting! <3 Lisa

Thrifty Finds!

Hello All!  I hope your Easter was lovely!  Dan has been in Tallinn, Estonia all week and didn't get home until very late Saturday night.  That meant Saturday thrifting would be solo and it was...well...lonely.  I found great stuff --which is exactly why it was lonely because he wasn't there to share in the thrill of the find :)  I'm glad he's home and that the two-and-a-half hour ferry ride to Finland, the two-hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany, and the almost nine-hour flight home were uneventful!  We're looking forward to thrifting next weekend together.  Here is my haul:

I have mentioned before that I am a SUCKER for vintage glass and lo and behold, look at the INCREDIBLE pieces I found today!  The little blue hobnail ruffle dish is FENTON glass!!!!!  I am so stinkin' excited about that piece.  It was $10 but that's less than half of what I've seen it going for on eBay.  Here's the list of what I have here - Currier & Ives soup dish with handle ($1), blue Fenton dish ($10), 4 Anchor Hocking lace edge milk glass plates ($1 ea), Anchor Hocking lace edge milk glass bowl ($2), Doric lace edge (I'm hoping it's Westmoreland!) milk glass compote ($2), tulip candlestick holders ($2),  milk glass candlestick holder ($3),  tear drop milk glass vase ($3), Brody dimpled green glass vase ($1), two milk glass mugs - 1 with a faded letter "J" and the other has an Irish prayer, both were $1, silver plate dish ($2) and silver plate platter ($4), ceramic geese bowl ($2), stained glass & metal pineapple ($2), metal lantern with weather vane ($1), Ironstone bowl & lid ($1), and metal strainer ($1).

The shapes of the silver pieces are what caught my eye.  I cleaned both pieces; they were really heavily tarnished and my fingers are sore from polishing!  I want to make a wall collage with silver platters so I am always on the look-out for unique or pretty shapes.  The dish is Forbes Silver Company and I believe it's antique - total score!  The platter is a Crescent Silverware Manufacturing Company piece --possibly early 1960s? --but I adore those clean lines of it.  The ceramic geese is a vintage Holland mold.  It's unique and for $2 definitely has a place in my kitchen ;)

The stained glass pineapple must have been a lamp or lamp shade??  Not sure but I'd like to see it on a lighted base!  That beautiful glass HAS to be illuminated :) I have no idea what I'll do with the metal colander but it looks like summer to me so I'm sure I'll think of something.

Have you found anything great lately?