Wednesday, November 28, 2007

priceless

My boyfriend's grandmother prides herself on thrift. She's a bit of a hoarder, but if you ask her where she got that Cherub Novelty Candle set mint-in-box (even though she doesn't really need it), she'll happily tell you she scored it from her "favorite department store... the Salvation Army."

We all laugh, but looking around my apartment I realize that Salvation Army is my favorite department store, too. I've pretty much furnished a lifestyle with wares from various thrift stores, tag sales and, of course, the handy dumpster.


I know I haven't posted in two months, but it's slim pickin's out there, folks. Recycled garage sales (I mean, the third time I've been to the same garage this year), sparse estate sales and fierce competition at the thrift stores. We're all a bunch of dogs fighting over the same bone once the Autumnal Equinox arrives and the yard sales cease. I've taken an uninspired tour of the Milwaukee thrift scene and have left quite a few estate sales without so much as a 25-cent greeting card. And I've been spotting the same competitor of mine at the Brown Elephant every time I shop there. How does he always get the good books just before I arrive?


In short, thrifting hasn't been fun these past few months, but I hope to change that. To inspire myself and my readers to keep hunting for the bargains we just can't pass up, I'm providing a virtual tour of the priceless thrifting moments that now furnish my apartment, and my life:

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Paris Paint-By-Number(ish) Street Painting & Two Royal Haeger Clover-Form Ceramic Vases
Grand Total: $12.00
Source: Estate Sale, Yard Sale, Estate Sale



"Carefree" by Syracuse Set of 12 Plates, 9 Bowls and 1 Serving Dish, plus 4 Scalloped-Edge "Rancho" Salad Plates by French Saxon
Grand Total: $21.00
Source: Estate Sale



Set of 6 Stemless Wine Glasses (or Rounded Rocks Glasses)
Grand Total: $1.50
Source: Junior Leage Thrift Store



Wood & Steel Chicken Wire Hanging Shelf
Grand Total: $5.00
Source: Garage Sale (by professional junk dealer)



33" Solid Wood Stacking File Shelf and Green Molded Glass Bowl
Grand Total: $6.50
Source: Yard Sale, Thrift Store



Mid-Century Solid Wood Lamp Base & Lime Green Orb-Form Hull Planter
Grand Total: $7.00
Source: Junior League Thrift Store, Estate Sale



Green Haeger 9" Ceramic Vase and Unmarked Teak Wooden Fox Figural
Grand Total: $4.50
Source: Estate Sales



Green Silk-Screened Stretched Fabric Dandelion Wall Hanging and Shell Art Mobile
Grand Total: $21.00
Source: Yard Sale, Junk Shop


Green Hexagonal California Pottery Ceramic Planter
Grand Total: $2.00

Source: Thrift Store



"A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking" Signed, Framed Photograph
Grand Total: $20.00
Source: Estate Sale



Sand-Colored Shag Floor Rug
Grand Total: $4.00
Source: Brown Elephant Thrift Store



Size 7 1/2 Pair All-Purpose Black Dress Boots
Grand Total: $4.00
Source: Yard Sale



Skirt
Grand Total: $1.00
Source: Yard Sale



Really Warm Brown Button-Up Sweater with Pockets
Grand Total: $1.00
Source: Yard Sale



Awesome Snakeskin Bangle Bracelet
Grand Total: $0.50
Source: Garage Sale



Vintage Wooden Bangle Bracelets
Grand Total: $1.00
Source: Yard Sale



Shell-Art Clutch Zip Purse
Grand Total: $1.00
Source: Yard Sale



"Breuer Chairs" (2)
Grand Total: $60.00
Source: Estate Sale



Black Plastic Molded Chairs (2)
Grand Total: $0.00
Source: Dumpster



Vintage Halloween Black Cat Decoration
Grand Total: $2.00
Source: Garage Sale (by professional junk dealer)



Collapsible Three-Tiered Book Shelf and White Ceramic Planter
Grand Total: $1.00
Source: Dumpster, Garage Sale



Mother-in-Law's Tongue
Grand Total: $0.25
Source: Church Rummage Sale (Actually, it was in a Convent)



"Jumbo: The Children's Giant Pet" Hanging Wooden Circus Poster Placard
Grand Total: $2.00
Source: Estate Sale



Large Wooden Cutting Board
Grand Total: $3.00
Source: Garage Sale



Stainless Steel Dish Drying Rack
Grand Total: $1.00
Source: Block Sale



8" Wooden Salt and Pepper Shakers
Grand Total: $1.00
Source: Moving Sale



Danish Testing Tables
Grand Total: $40.00
Source: Garage Sale (by professional junk dealer)



Large Faux Black Snakeskin Purse
Grand Total: $2.00
Source: Yard Sale




Cast Iron Monkey Bank / Doorstop
Grand Total: $10.00
Source: Garage Sale (by professional junk dealer)



Leather FOSSIL Black Women's Clutch Wallet
Grand Total: $1.35
Source: Unique Thrift Store



Glass Fruit Bowl
Grand Total: $1.00
Yard Sale



Philips Stereo Headphone
Grand Total: $5.00
Source: Yard Sale





Entire Inventory For Online Bookstore That Keeps Me From Needing a "Real" Job
Priceless