Thrift Share Monday :)

Vintage New Kids On The Block sleeping bag :)

I've been thrifting like a fiend lately, thrifting good art, bad art, pants, dresses, vintage shoes, and everything in between. I have a big pile of packages in my front room, ready to be sent out today. I haven't been blogging because I've had nothing to say. I've been housesitting and reading good books, swimming and combing warehouses for new and interesting things for my shop. But I need to be back out on the blogging scene again. I need to write, and find reasons to write. I need to work on my novel that I began over the summer (maybe none of this will happen, but I will at least post pictures of my finds).

I would like to post daily over the next month or so, to increase visibility to the reality of Syria and the needs of Syrian refugees. Please take a moment to read up on the most recent news, and donate to Mennonite Central Committee. MCC works to supply the basic needs of Syrian refugees through food, shelter, and the education of children. They are currently working towards raising $1.5M.

Thrift Share :)

Anyone ever heard of Molyneux? Twas new to me :)

The only thing that has inspired me to write in the past two weeks is Serena's Thrift Share. I have been working really hard to pay all my bills so I can go to Canada in July. Frankly, I'm exhausted. But not so exhausted that I can't do my thing and thrift like a mofo.

All of these Vogue patterns are size 16, bust 38", and uncut! So awesome.

Modelesque in every way. Look at those cheekbones!

 
I have been having so much trouble buying pants lately, not because they don't exist, but because I am particular and I want to be thrifty about it. These things make it really difficult. I think I might spend some time this summer making some long linen pants and maxi skirts. Unfortunately, due to the exhaustion, I'm finding it difficult to do much more than feed myself, and go to work. Yes, I understand why celebrities get hospitalized for exhaustion. You're tired and you need an excuse to just lie in one place and do nothing.

I just thought I might keep this one - wow :)

Maybe someone will make me long linen pants and maxi skirts? A girl can hope.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

Small quilted wall hanging - doll blanket, perhaps

There's a hospice thrift shop in town that moved to a much, much larger location, and has made their prices much, much bigger. So a store that I used to go in weekly is now only a store I go in maybe once a month. This month, I was in luck! I got two of these quilted pieces. They're beautiful. I don't know what someone would do with them, but I hope they find a loving home.

Vera scarf - this makes me think of a square dancing group :)

This is one of two vintage Vera scarves I found. This one is a lighter fabric, cotton maybe, but the other one was from the 1940s and silk. It had a huge stain in one corner, looked like coffee, and I thought I could wash it out. Oops. The scarf was like thick paper, and tore [insert Megan railing to the heavens].

Vintage 1978 Columbia Minerva Crewel Pillow Kit - "Primrose Garland"

This is such a beautiful kit, and it's complete. This past week, I finally sold a Paragon kit that had been listed for quite a long time on eBay. I could only find one other identical kit listed anywhere online, so I listed mine for 40% less, but even with that, it took a long time. I'm always trying to walk that fine line between getting a higher price, and moving inventory.

Vintage Diane Von Furstenburg jumpsuit

I found this DVF jumpsuit at a Salvation Army a few days earlier in the week, but needed to wash it, so it got posted with this other stuff. I honestly do not know how people make these look so freakin' cute. I am not one of those people. I cannot rock a jumpsuit. Oh dear lord. With shoulder pads?! Epic fail.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

Vintage health, fitness, and nutrition book for teens

I went out of town today, forty-five minutes in fact, and even though I went to a town far from home, I saw thrift store employees I know. How funny is that? They were of course surprised to see me as well, and we shared some awkward moments.

A little while later, I traveled downtown to the nicer "boutiquey" thrift store, which is always very clean and high priced. I thought I might find some work clothes. They were having a "25% off" sale on some items, and a woman came to the counter to ask the volunteers how much she would pay for an item that was $10. It took them five minutes, they couldn't figure it out, and gave up. I kid you not. I ended up explaining it to them, and they replied, "Oh, math was my worst subject." I wanted to claw my own eyes out.

Vintage book for kids about the human body - fun times :)

I ended up bringing six items into the dressing room, four tops and two dresses. Everything looked huge and made me look like a weird angular mannequin. The last thing I tried on was a vintage wool Pendleton shift. It made me look like a bad Mad Men knock-off. I know that everyone feels this way sometimes, but I'm having a hard time with my body right now, and feeling freakish.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

Ah yes, ol' cousin Ren :)

So I have a routine of going to the local Amvets after church because they have 50% off everything on Sundays. But, as you can well imagine, it's a mad house, and once I decide to make a purchase, I am also deciding to wait in line for 20-30 minutes, always surrounded by screaming children. But this got me Battleship and Guess Who, and a myriad of other wonderful things, so I make the choice willingly.

All of them are at least twenty years old - 80s/90s

But yesterday, I just didn't want to do it, so I went somewhere else (DAV baby! I love the veterans - What can I say?). And I'm grinning because it was like, the best decision ever. I found a total of nine (9!) of these stocking kits. They're already all listed, even though it was Sunday. I worked the rest of the day anyway because, hey, I wanted to, and I had the time, and there was a seven-year-old's birthday at some point, so I even got some cupcakes on a break during the afternoon.

I am really not very crafty - sorry folks

For whatever reason, December has been a great month thus far. I feel so much calmer, so much less anxious. There's nothing in particular that I'm looking forward to. I'm just, I dunno, better overall. But I also have a lot of paperwork that I'm avoiding, so maybe that has something to do with it. On to that now...peace out.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

Kilbran sheets - Cats with sneakers (so they can run away!)

I always like to create a theme with my thrift shares. This one shall heretofore be named "vintage linens". There's not much else to say. I stayed up really late last night to have a test done this morning on my brain, so I took the time to get a bunch of stuff done, which is super out-of-character for me, but Anna Karenina just wasn't doing it for me in the helping-me-stay-awake department. These photos are proof of my supreme productivity. I was super loopy and making myself laugh by the time I went to sleep. We have a good time together, myself and I.

Vera sheets from Burlington - "Springtime"

I went to see the dogs tonight. We went on a long walk and then we had lots of lazy snuggling time. They were lazy. I was snuggling. There was also some playing of Rock Band, and let's just say that me singing Jethro Tull is not pretty. Not pretty at all. I cut out as lead singer before Pearl Jam came on, but we were all singing by that time ("Alive" from Vs.). Eddie Vedder is my aeroplane.

Vintage curtains with Peanuts characters playing sports :)

It's late and I need to go to bed, because I didn't get enough sleep last night, and I need to go to work in the morning like the excellent grown-up that I am.

Peace out :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

Maroc Cologne Spray

It's been a while since I've bought (and sold) perfume. Sometimes I have to guess, and sometimes I take a chance. For example, this purple bottle is not labeled in any way, but I bought it. If anyone has any guesses, I'll take them. Under the "Pi", the bottle reads "1.2 oz".

Unknown Fragrance - I think the initials are "Pi"

I'm going to yoga now. Yoga has saved me over the past month and a half, as I've struggled to become this professional person who always does the right thing, and says the right thing, and never makes anyone mad.

Well, that person doesn't exist, and yoga, for whatever reason, helps me to forgive myself. I'm not perfect. I certainly don't forgive myself as often as I'd like, but it probably helps me stay calmer in general. I've decided to stop freaking out in general. I don't know if it's possible, but I'm gonna try. I'm kinda neurotic.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

Stocking kits are always a big deal :)

So I bought a few Christmas items. I haven't listed my Christmas stock yet. I figure it needs to dip below the triple digits before I do. I know that people might want to start working on projects, though, so I listed this kit yesterday.

Onion River Pottery

Whenever I see these mugs, I buy them. I just think they're so special. I've totally become a mug person in the past year. I've come to believe that the first things we look at in the morning should make us smile (and that definitely includes bedmates).

Florsheim boots

The elementary school across the street started ringing its bells this morning, even though the kids aren't back in school yet. Personally, I'm not ready for the school bells to start ringing. Somehow, in the midst of a summer of neverending heat, vacation has ended and regular life must return.

Peace out :)

Thrift Share :)

Valentino of Italy

This summer, I have been the happy recipient of some thrifty gifts, given specifically for my store. Perhaps people are beginning to worry about my poverty, or maybe God is good and providing for me, and all that jazz. Whatever. I'm not a big fan of the Almighty right now. I think I had some expectations about what my life would be like after I graduated from seminary, and those don't seem to have panned out, so I'm pouting, in perpetuity.

Sybil Connolly of Dublin

So these patterns came in a box that my friend found while she was moving out of her house, which had previously been owned and lived in by her grandmother. She called me up and asked me if I wanted a box of old patterns. Ever the shrewd thrifter, the first thing out of my mouth was, "How old are they?" She said some things that I don't remember. All I heard was "Vogue" and I said "Yes!"

Bill Blass of New York, I suppose?

There was a period of time in my thrifting where I found a bunch of Vogue patterns, but these are probably the nicest I've ever had.

Non sequitor alert! I just did yoga on my own for an extended period of time. I feel super good about it. Usually I get bored and antsy and don't do much, but I felt like I really got into it, and was able to get some work done. It may have something to do with my new car, or maybe the fact that I went to my chiropractor today, and she massaged my back with what appeared to be an electric sander. Sometimes I wish I could give her a lot of money, because she is so good to me. But alas, the poverty.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

Never opened - all other boxes I've seen only have 6 - this has 12!

These lovely vintage mirror tiles are in high demand on eBay. I knew that someone would want them, but I didn't know how much! I am quite excited to see what happens with them.

So it's hot where I am, and I imagine it's pretty hot where you are too. The heat has made me less than my best self. I spend several moments a day flipping off my computer screen for one reason or another, whether it be a frustrating customer, friend, or relative. I also send a lot of afternoons feeling cooped up in my house being bored, writing a lot in my journal, and generally thinking too much. I will be happy when my regular schedule starts, when I have somewhere to be every day, and I have an excuse to watch television before the sun goes down (boredom does not equal television for me).

It's been extra hard to go thrifting in the heat, so I am trying to make a plan for the day that will not kill me. I still have a lot of linens that could be photographed, but I still haven't figured out a way to hang them that will both have good light and won't have too much unwanted scenery.

Happy Thrifting! Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

Signed "A. Mountanos 1980"

I found this mug last week, and haven't been able to find anything like it. There is a Mountanos Coffee Company, and I have been able to find some strand of a connection between the Mountanos surname, and Turkey. It might just be a fluke, but I thought it was really neat, and maybe collectible.

This morning, I woke up to a hilarious passive aggressive email in my inbox telling me, in essence, how selfish and greedy I was being for not accepting offers of 25-35% of my asking price, and how the buyer would send me "[my] profit" as soon as I accepted the offer. Dude, if you only knew how I get by. It's really laughable. Sometimes I ask myself if it's ethical for me to buy low and sell high, even if the item is worth what I'm asking. Sometimes I wonder if I need to cap my profit on any one particular item. I don't know. I'm not making a lot of money. I'm paying my bills.

Last night, my car started acting up, definitely structural and not the engine itself (it was still running well), and now I'm sitting in my apartment debating whether I should drive it at all before my appointment tomorrow at my mechanic. I still have paperwork to wrap up for my work year, and I have to drive to my supervisor's office to get final signatures. I'm kinda trusting that the car thing will be fixable in one day, and I'll be able to finish the paperwork traveling tomorrow afternoon. Ah the life of a VW owner! It's blissful, really :)

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl.

Thrift Share Monday :)

Vintage tie lot - Six of seven were new!

I have been an excellent thrifter lately, but not such a great person. I guess we can't have it all.

But on a lighter note, I volunteered to do a presentation at my church's family camp on recycling, and the thought of it makes me very happy, a little nervous, but mostly happy. I think I'll make a powerpoint with a bunch of photos of stuff I sell, and then I'll talk about how we can be better reusers and recyclers. For example, I can tell everyone about my USB batteries, the man who fixes my shoes (or how I buy my own heel tips online), and how I made the most awesome dress ever for graduation.

I think that it's really important for recycling/thrift-lovers out there to spread the love in whatever way they can. I am not perfect. I throw things away that I shouldn't because I am not always at-the-ready with a plate, flatware, and cup. But I feel like what I do well is communicate my love of thrift to others. So, fellow thrifters, get out there and spread the love!

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Welcome back Selena :)

Vintage Vera scarf from the late 1950s

Welcome back to another edition of "Thrift Share Monday", a post where thrifting finds are shared with the thrift world at-large.

This vintage Vera scarf has been sitting in my storage for maybe six months. I haven't listed it, because every time I look at it, I think, "This isn't in good-enough condition to sell", but then I don't get rid of it. So today, I am listing it, and we'll just have to see what happens.

Coach purse

My first every Coach purchase. We'll just have to see what happens. Oh dear, I just said that. It's pretty much my new philosophy on life. It's hopeful, but not too deranged. It's mature without being a pain-in-the-ass. Oh wait, I think I am being a pain in the ass. Shoot.

New in package - unopened - So cool

I found this embroidery kit listed for $120 on someone's non-eBay site. I often wonder how people do when they set up their own online shops that are not affiliated with a larger entity. I know there are lots out there. I just don't think I have the kind of name recognition to go off on my own, nor do I particularly want to.

I've been thinking about closing my Etsy shop. It doesn't make very much money (I'm gonna go check on this statement right now). Well, it made $1100 last year, and $550 so far this year. Maybe I'm expecting too much. I don't know. I guess I am frustrated because it means that every time I purchase something, I have to decide where it would fit, and lately I have not been thinking about my Etsy shop at all. Does it even have a purpose, or a theme? What is it? I can't answer these questions, so I'm wondering if it's time to close it down in favor of putting all of my energy into my eBay shop, which I love and enjoy.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

I just want to give the world more beauty :)

 

Do you know that there are innocent people in prison? I just watched the documentary, The Thin Blue Line, and it reminds me why I wanted to go into law when I was a kid. I wanted to make sure that no one suffered for a crime they did not commit. I was a dreamer - I still am.

Are you a helper? How did that happen? What is the difference between a person who lives life committed to peace and justice, and a person who lives life for money and power? I guess that's one of the reasons I ended up where I am today as an adult, definitely not a lawyer. I wish I could understand why people decide to work for good, then I could pass it on.

I've named these "The Star Trek Shoes"

My newfound acceptance of science fiction and fantasy is evidence of my ability to dream a little more, to incorporate a little bit more un-reality into my life. I think dreaming is a really important thing. Sometimes we scold children for telling stories, and sometimes we need to be encouraging them to dream more instead of less. There has to be a time where imagination is fostered and nurtured. If we do not dream, we can never hope for something different.

Every one needs something big to dream. Dreaming keeps us alive.

Still linking up with Apron Thrift Girl :)

Thrift Share Monday :)

I think this first kit is so great. I can't wait to sell it so someone will enjoy it and hang it up in a hipster pub somewhere. If I don't sell it in the next month or two, I think I'll keep it and give it to my pub-owning friends ;) I just want it to be loved by someone. Is that too much to ask?

Erica Wilson!

Tree + clouds + wildflowers = pretty boring by Erica Wilson standards, but this crewel embroidery kit is lovely and complete, so I got it anyway. Because who am I to decide what people should or shouldn't like, right?

Not complete - just instructions :(

This map of Frisia is humongous! I really do wish that it could be a complete kit, but I hope some brave soul will see it and take the time to honor their ancestors through embroidery. This includes instructions in several of the languages that one might find in this area: English, French, Danish, Dutch (who knew there was a difference?), Dutch (another dialect maybe?), and German. Wow.

I really miss Flemish though. Come on, people. Flemish is the new Chinese. Pass it on.

 

I figured someone out in the world would collect this set of letters by Lanarte, but I was concerned that the all-Dutch instructions would be a turn-off. No biggie. I sold it this week, and it hadn't been listed but a few short weeks. Yay!

I think I've decided (inspired by my affinity for finding vintage embroidery kits) that I will spend some time stitching after graduation. Think of all that I will be able to create! If I decide to go to Central America for a little while, I will be guaranteed some soothing activity to bring with me on the trip. Also, this will put me in touch with my nine-year-old self, who I really have been needing to reconnect with.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl.

P.S. Sorry for my absence faithful readers. I am graduating in three weeks, and my life overflows. I lost all desire to blog. My apologies. So, in an attempt to be human and do the things I love at the same time, I am going to slowly transition back to the blog. Today is my first attempt.

Thrift Share Monday :)

 

I've bought several pairs of vintage Florsheim men's shoes in the past month. I was initially looking for a new revenue source, and looked for what brands were selling well, and I noticed that I wasn't purchasing vintage men's shoes. I'd been focusing on women's shoes. Here's a look at what I'd been missing.

I've found that good photos are key to selling vintage shoes. The more photos, the better. Remember how much you appreciate the experience of touching the items you buy in a store. I think that research is key here. The same shoe can be listed, but only one sells. Why? Sometimes, it's just dumb luck. But most of the time, in my humble unlearn-ed opinion, it's because of the research that goes on before the item is listed.

For example, I found a website with all of the Florsheim styles and their names. Of course, now that I want to give it to you, I can't find it for the life of me. It's okay though, because I looked through 500 styles and didn't find the one I was looking for.

I have really started to pay attention to how I personally react (thought-wise) to how people are dressed. It ain't pretty. I have less respect for people who aren't dressed well, regardless of who they are. It got me to thinking that school uniforms are pretty important. When you feel good about how you look, you act differently. The social concept of dress is important. In Brazil, you did not go out, "into town", without your best clothes on, ever. How often do I walk out of my house looking less than my best? I haven't washed my hair in five days.

In sum, you'll feel better with a nice pair of long-lasting shoes.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl.

And it was all yellow...

6 yards of vintage upholstery fabric

What is significant about the color yellow? Let me look it up.

I got yellow roses from a boyfriend once, and then found out that yellow roses were for friendship and I wasn't sure if that meant something about our relationship or if they were just yellow roses and I like yellow. I'll never know.

I want to recover a couch with this material. Actually, I want to recover my couch with this material. I like yellow in my home. I also like bright blue and red and green, all atop a neutral background.

Handmade skirt with bicycles all over it.

I found this skirt ages ago, and it has sat in my Etsy shop ever since. I hope someone finds it and falls in love. It needs to be worn.

Unfortunately (and I noticed this the first time I saw it), the skirt does not appear to be conducive to riding an actual bicycle. Girls have it real rough, you know, trying to look good and love the environment.

Limey yellow leather boots.

These boots are the coolest. They're not lime green; they're more lime yellow. I also hope that someone finds them and loves them.

I wore my yellow raincoat today, and my hot pink rubber boots. It was raining. It's funny that I wore rain clothes, and I haven't fixed the broken window on my car. I guess it's better for me to take care of my own body than my car. At some point, I need to fix my car, but that's another task for another day. It just involves going to the VW wrecking yard and that takes time, and energy, and motivation that I just do not have. Someday, I will get a new car, and then that car will have its own unique needs. Life goes on.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl.

Thrift Share Monday :)

Vintage Galaxy mug

I love mugs. I drink coffee every day, and I have a NASA mug right now that I've been using regularly. It memorializes Apollo 13, and reads "Failure is not an option".

Sandra Boynton mug, "Keep Smiling"

I need a new travel mug, but every time I find one, it's not in good enough condition to buy and use. The last one I'd been using was broken to begin with, and then I fixed it, but it was never in perfect shape. Now I'm setting my sights higher.

Artist "Dale", Recycled Paper Products

Every time I see something from Recycled Paper Products, I like it. They're cute and funny, and I always need more smiling in my life. I've been trying to sell mugs lately. They don't always make a lot of money, but in adding them to my collection of tall pants, I have a regular stream of small sales.

Last month, I bought about ten of one thing: small plastic clocks made to teach kids how to tell time. It was a helpful thing to have a listing that didn't have to be updated, and just kept making me money (however little it was). So I keep that in mind when I'm looking now, just in case.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl.

Thrift Share Monday :)

 

 These things make me think of the eighties. I think if I wore anything like this, it would be only in the interest of nostalgia, and it wouldn't be pretty. It's too bad, because I think that some people can pull them off and look great.

Cullottes? Yes please! They aren't just for missionaries.

Why don't people ask me for vintage photos, because I have a lot.

I'm showing an inside photo of this one (Columbia Minerva Ski Fashions) because this sweater is so wonderful and beautiful and I wish it were still winter and I could wear it. OMG! I could keep this pattern book and make it for myself. Gasp. I'm graduating and will have time to knit sweaters. Holy bajoley.

Man sweaters? Lovely.

And now the best for last. Is this not the above sweater in wonderful blanket form? I L-O-V-E this afghan. Again, I think I might keep the patterns and make it myself, but I have no need for an afghan.

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl.