Thrift Store Finds

Thrifty Thursday

December 11, 2014 Karen 4 Comments

Fabgrandpa and I went to the Pea Patch, a local antique/vintage shop in Tallapoosa yesterday. We found several treasures that we could use. It was a very good day for junking or thrifting.

I love this little fellow. It is probably about eight inches top to bottom, and made of cast iron. Two little twigs coming out of his perch to hold potholders. So cute, and only $6.

Metal trash can for my bedroom. CIrca maybe 1960's? My sister would like this because it has a french horn on it. — Metal trash can for my bedroom. CIrca maybe 1960’s? My sister would like this because it has a french horn on it.

Next, I saw this metal trash can with a French Horn on it. I haven’t seen trash cans like this in years! Again, only $6.

Fabgrandpa's metal storage cans — Fabgrandpa’s metal storage cans

Fabgrandpa spotted these two neat metal storage cans with lids. The are unpainted metal on the bottom, and black painted lids. He jumped on them as soon as he saw them. He doesn’t find things he likes often. I like these too. It must have been $6 day at that store, because the smaller one ws $6, the larger one $9.

This is my favorite find of the day. It is a large plate holder, used for displaying plates on the wall. I put the lid from a hat box that my daughter painted for me years ago on just to show what it would look like. It will hold two large platters.

This is a close up of the detail of the top of the plate holder. I think it is beautiful. The bottom looks like this:

This was marked $19.99, but I don’t think that is what she charged me. Altogether I spent $36. What did you find this week?

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Thrifty Thursday: Apple Barrel Antiques, Bremen, GA

September 24, 2014 Karen 8 Comments

Fabgrandpa and I decided that we needed a corner cabinet to put by the sofa in the living room. So, we did what we usually do when we are looking for a particular piece of furniture. We went thrifting!

We stopped by our favorite place, The Pea Patch in Tallapoosa, Georgia, but they did not have anything that would work for us the day we were there. The next stop was Apple Barrel Antiques in Bremen, Georgia. We have been to this place numerous times, and have bought things in there before.

This day, we found the corner cabinet we were looking for. It is a little black cabinet, with built in bookends. It is rather small, but fits the space we had. It will give us a place to put some photos out, something we haven’t done yet. I think it was a steal at $32.

I also picked up a jar of bobbins, all filled with black thread. That is something you rarely see in a thrift shop. Maybe spent too much, but I am a sewing freak. $20

The last thing I bought there was a McCall’s Needlework & Crafts Magazine from 1962. The cover is so classic 1960’s, with the model wearing a sleek red knit pant suit, red flats, with a huge bow in her pouffy hairdo. I could not walk out of the store without it. A real treasure at $1.49

What did you thrift this week?

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Thrifty Thursday

August 21, 2014 Karen Leave a Comment

A couple of weeks ago when we were coming home from the Birmingham VA, we decided to take Highway 78 instead of going on the interstate. We stopped in at 7 Springs Ministries Thrift Store on Hwy 78 in Oxford, Alabama. They had a lot of furniture and clothing outside in the parking lot in front of the store.

They have a pretty big store. They are also building a church camp next door. It looked like they mostly have household goods like furniture; lots of clothing; and kitchen supplies.

On the day we were there they had a washing machine and a dryer, and some exercise equipment out front.

If you need a new mug or coffee cup, this is the place to go. They had bunches of them!

That's a nice table and chair set — That’s a nice table and chair set

There was a really nice curio cabinet in pine, and a pretty good black table and chair set. There was also some living room furniture for sale.

Of course, I was atrracted to the fabric and patterns. They had a lot of fabric for sale, but I only had $10 in my pocket. I got these three fabrics and a cute pattern for cowboy outfits size 2-6X. There is about a yard and a half of the plaid flannel fabric; about 5 yards of the blue cotton print; and about 1 yard of the striped fabric. That is a pretty good deal for $10.

7 Springs Thrift Shop located on Hwy 78 in Oxford, Alabama. If you are interested in volunteering, or for location and hours of operation, please contact Colonie Hughes 256-770-4089.

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Thirfty Thursday

April 3, 2014 Karen 5 Comments

While I am waiting for the right time to plant a garden in my area, I am busy gathering supplies. The thrift store in Bremen, Georgia yielded a ton of flower pots in all different sizes and shapes.

I also found this great metal shelf unit for the front porch. It is just the right size to hold grilling supplies, and maybe a plant on the middle shelf.

A rusted decorative shelf for the front porch

This rusty decorative shelf will hold some flower pots of petunias and a trailing vine once I get the plants potted up. All these things cost a $20 bill at the thrift store.

4 Things Every Thrift Store Shopper Must Know

March 25, 2014 Karen 2 Comments

Thrift stores are treasure troves of unique, affordable and unexpectedly high-quality items. From clothing to shoes to furniture you can almost find everything you need in a thrift store. However, there are a few things you need to know if you want the best selection, the best deals and the safest used goods. Become a savvier thrift store shopper and enjoy the bargains without any of the drawbacks.

Second Hand Furniture Isn’t Necessarily Clean

Perhaps you love the idea of an eclectic collection of furniture in a room. Maybe you luck out and find an entire matching set. Perhaps you’ve been furnishing a room bit by bit by finding pieces that go well together during multiple thrift store trips. The first thing you need to do whenever you buy upholstered thrift store furniture is contact COIT as soon as you get the furniture home.

Secondhand furniture may look clean because many thrift store owners try to surface clean everything they sell so the goods don’t appear soiled. However, furniture can come from homes with smokers, pets or excessive dust, which means invisible allergens get rubbed deep into the fabric. They could also be stained under the fabric. Luckily, you can make secondhand furniture as clean, sanitary and allergen-free as new furniture with the assistance of professional upholstery cleaners.

Store Location Makes a Difference

If you’re tired of going to secondhand stores and finding junk you’re not interested in buying, you might be shopping in the wrong locations. Thrift stores near more affluent neighborhoods are more likely to have brand name and top quality items. If you’re the type of thrift store shopper who loves labels, you have to shop where the people who pay full price for brand names are more likely to donate. See if there are any reviews of the specific stores online or use an online thrift store directory listing to get an idea of the types of items a certain location sells.

Season Changes Mean More Stock

Second hand women's clothing — Second hand women’s clothing

Keep in mind when people are most likely to donate en masse: when they undertake big cleaning projects. “Spring cleaning” is a regular activity for just about everyone. People are most likely to tackle big cleaning projects when seasons change, especially when winter turns to spring, but also when summer turns to fall and fall to winter. You might find more goods when spring turns to summer, but remember, the better the weather outside the less likely people are to want to stay cooped up indoors cleaning. If you visit your favorite thrift stores at least twice a week as seasons change, you’ll likely find new goods for sale every time you go.

Toys Could Be Dirty — and Dangerous

Kids burn through toys fast — they use them once and then move on to the next thing. If you bought brand-new toys every time your kids asked for them, you’d have to devote even more of your income to placating your children. Thrift store toys can save your family money, especially since your kids likely won’t be interested in the toys for long.

However, secondhand toys have dirt, germs and allergens on their surfaces. They might also contain lead, the dangers of which were not known until recently. Before you give a thrift-store toy to your kids, research the toy to make sure it wasn’t recalled for lead-related concerns or produced before lead-based paints were outlawed for use in children’s toys. If it’s safe, clean it thoroughly with anti-bacterial cleaner or soap and water.

There are plenty of deals to be made at a secondhand store. The National Association of Resale Professionals claims thrift stores and other resale shops earn a combined $13 billion in profits each year, all from previously owned items that could be yours for a fraction of the original sticker price. However, don’t be so hasty to buy whatever you happen to find. Plan your thrift shopping experience to get the best quality items and keep your family safer by thoroughly cleaning and researching your buys.

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Thrifty Thursday: I Can’t Believe They Think This Is An Antique

May 8, 2013 Karen 10 Comments

We saw this stroller in an antique shop in Cedartown

When we were out shopping the other day, we stopped in at an antique shop on Main Street in Cedartown. There, we saw this baby stroller that had a tag on it dated 1950. That may be old, but I can’t wrap my head around “antique”. I mean, really!

Me on the right in 1952, Fabgrandpa on the left in 1949

That’s Fabgrandpa on the left in 1949 and me on the right in 1952. I don’t feel antique yet!

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Thrifty Thursday

March 28, 2013 Karen 1 Comment

For once in a long while, I am getting my Thrifty Thursday post done on Thursday! We went to one of the junk stores in Bremen a couple of weeks ago to just pass some time before my doctor’s appointment. I found this really neat framed art print there for just $6.00 I think the frame itself is worth more than that, but I really like the print, too. I think it’s a great score! DSCN5118

Thrifty Thursday

March 21, 2013 Karen 7 Comments

When we got lost coming home from the in-laws last month, we also stopped at the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Chatsworth, Georgia. They didn’t have a real big selection, but I did find one thing that I liked enough to bring home.

I have been looking for something similar to this letter holder to hang on the wall. I don’t know why I wanted one, but I did. I found this one for $3.99. Right now it is hanging on the wall in the laundry room. I am thinking I may put it in my office and put greeting cards in it, sorted by month for three months at a time. Just pick out the ones for this month, mail them out, and move the next ones up. What do you think of that idea? OR, I could use it to save coupons. Hmmmmmm……

What would you do with something like this?