Friday, November 6, 2009

Thrifting on a Thursday

Hello...my name is Heather...and I am addicted to thrift stores. 

Yesterday we were headed out of town to spend the day with a friend and the boys and I decided on a wee stop at a favourite thrift store.  Well...I had to get a cart!!  It wasn't all for me, mind, I was finding things I knew my friend would love too.  I gave her a quick call to be sure she wanted the goodies I was finding and, after a quick twist of her arm ("Want to come meet us at your thrift store?  We're here and finding good stuff.")  she zipped down to join us.  She got her own cart and we were off.
Colourful vintage pillowcases.

Thick woolen blanket.

And enamel goodness.  Love the colours.

Really, how was I to resist?

The reason I first called my friend from the thrift store was to find out if she wanted a pyrex dish.  I had found my own last weekend and there was one of the same style on the shelves just waiting for a good home.


Last weekend I also found a super soft merino wool blanket that I bought with a project in mind but I don't think I can bear to cut it up now so I might just add a soft trim and perhaps dye the blanket.  I have several packets of Tamarind flavour Kool-aid which I think will make a gorgeous natural colour.

I love seeing these old labels too, and things made in Canada or England.

Any other thriftshopaholics out there?  ;-)

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Me! Me! Me! I love finding a bargain. Loving all your goodies xxx

Lise said...

Oh, my gosh, yes! And thrifting with a friend is even better. Funny thing: I recently got a blanket at the Goodwill, and photographed the label for my blog, too. :-)

Jacqueline said...

i just posted about thrifting today too! it is so addicting! if you ever find a wool blanket that you don't really need, please keep me in mind! i want to use some on b and t's beds, but haven't been able to find any lately.
you found some great treasures!

katrien said...

Oh no, I stay away from those places! Must--must---resist----

Leigh said...

Me! waves hand. I love a good bargain. That merino wool blanket was a real find. And the rest of your loot was awesome as well.

Annie said...

Great finds! There is one thrift shop here where I live and it's awful. At least it never has anything good in it, most likely because of the great need for used/cheaper items. I miss being anywhere else I've lived for thrifting!

Marqueta (Mar-kee-ta) G. said...

Thrift stores are the best! Environmentally friendly shopping, I call it. I would LOVE to find some real wool blankets~What a treasure! And the enamelware, and the pyrex, and . . . everything!

Love,

Marqueta

Gigi Thibodeau said...

I come from a long line of antiques dealers, so I grew up in thrift stores, tag sales, and flea markets--three of my favorite places to this day! I love your finds, especially the blankets. I so adore vintage blankets!! Let's go thrifting together! xoxo

Gigi Thibodeau said...

I come from a long line of antiques dealers, so I grew up in thrift stores, tag sales, and flea markets--three of my favorite places to this day! I love your finds, especially the blankets. I so adore vintage blankets!! Let's go thrifting together! xoxo

The Queen of Fifty Cents said...

My weakness is the humble yard sale, but they go on all year around here, and you sure can't beat the prices. The grocery store is about the only retail place I go in any more!

affectioknit said...

Sweet finds!

CatHerder said...

ME ME ME!!! I am able to find some decent stuff where I live now (city/burb) but I made a KILLING when we lived rurally. I would rather have antiques than your run of the mill everyday stuff.

Heather said...

Thanks for all your comments. How fun to hear from other people who also love thrifting. I've always enjoyed it so much and get a kick out of seeing the goodies others have found too. I really do believe that I will find everything I'll ever want at the thrift store, and that belief has served me very well. I love that my boys are growing up with the same belief and also find joy in finding what they want second-hand and at great prices.

sheila said...

I hate to sound grim but I've been getting most of my treasured things from people who've died - that my parents knew! (I know, sounds totally grim, doesn't it) Pyrex, wool, Indonesian batik...you name it, it's passed through the door at some point or another.

Now all I need to see is your storage capacity...

Bibliocat said...

I love thrift shops. My local one use to be called Good Buys. I love that name. Now it is the Discovery Shop...good name too.
I always look for yarn, doilies, and tupperware.
One thing that breaks my heart is to see someone's collection... like bells, or tea cups, or anything ... end up in a thrift shop.
My grandmother worried about her tea cup collection ending up in a yard sale. My sisters and I promised that wasn't going to happen. It didn't we divided up the collection and now we have great memories of our grandmother.
Also, as a crocheter/knitter... I cringe when I see someone's hard work (afghan etc) ending up in a thrift shop. I realize that whoever buys it really wants it and will appreciate the work and warmth. Sheryl

Heather said...

Ooh, Shelia, I'm going to start calling you The Grim. ;-)

Actually I don't think of that as grim at all, I hope to know that one day all my old things I am so fond of will find their way into the home and heart of someone else who will love them too. ;-) (just hope it isn't for a good long time yet)

Heather said...

Hello Bibliocat, I know exactly what you mean about seeing collections (I often see spoon or thimble collections) or handiwork in the thrift shop. I feel the same way and it breaks my heart too until I realize that someone (probably me) will give that item a good home. The friend I was thrifting with found a handmade item and said the same thing as what you're saying. :-)

ThriftyAnnabella said...

Love the Sugar container - very cute and gotta love old Pyrex. Great finds.