Thrift Shopping: Diamonds in the Rough

Yesterday I showed you some of the creeptastic items to be found at my local thrift shop. So why do I keep going back?

1. I love to find things my family needs, at a fraction of the retail price.
2. I love to recycle.
3. I like the challenge of seeing beyond initial appearances to rethink how something can be used.

In an earlier post I gave some general tips about thrifting. Today I'd like to take you on a trip down the aisles with me to get a feel for what you might find at your local store. I do not go to stores where you have to dig.

When thrifting, it's good to have an idea of what you would like to find (i.e. rollerblades for the kids), but also to keep an open mind, and preferably an open back seat, for the unexpected.

Yesterday I saw row upon row of American Flags people had donated:

I'm not sure whether this means people are getting more or less patriotic, but if you are looking to replace your flag for the upcoming holiday weekend, you should have no trouble finding one. I bought a gorgeous old cotton flag that was in perfect condition.

Then I lingered at the scarves:

While I am not a scarf lady, every few months I'll buy a pretty one to tie around my key chain. This makes my keys much easier to keep track of in my purse, adds some color to my outfits, and lets me hang the keys around my wrist when I walk the dog.

In addition to scarves and hats, you can also find loads of fabric at thrift stores, so if you have an upcoming furniture project to do, be on the lookout.

Speaking of furniture, think SHAPE and STABILITY. If you spot a shape you like, don't get hung up on the finish, which you can easily change. Stability is important unless you like repairing furniture, which I do not.

For example, check out these bistro chairs! What a classic shape, and a little sanding and spray paint will rectify the botched, drippy paint job. Bright red? Black? Yellow? They would look terrific!

Speaking of shape, this console table is gorgeous! It is as long as a couch, and would be great as a sofa table, or with garden stools tucked underneath it, or in an entry way. I love the clean shape, and can picture it painted in a glossy white lacquer.

In fact, at the grocery store today I saw this. Look familiar?

While thrift stores are the BEST place to find household staples, kids' clothes, and books, they are also a little bit of heaven if you like VINTAGE items! The sheer volume of merchandise coming into these shops means you are sure to find something vintage. I've written about my collection of off-white vintage jewelry boxes, which are a thrift store staple.

Other things have been catching my eye, too, like vintage aprons. Check out this cute strawberry number:

Of course, you'll have to make your way through the cheesy French Maid-type aprons to get to the vintage goodness. Ewwww...

And ice buckets! Elle Decor has a feature on lovely and pricey ice buckets in its new issue. Why not go vintage and get a unique ice bucket with a sense of history at a great price? Cocktails, anyone?

One last piece of advice is that if you think you might like something, throw it in your cart as you shop. If you don't, it may not be on the shelf or rack later. Then, just ponder as you shop.

Yesterday I found a 50's-style kelly green dress. I couldn't tell whether I loved it or hated it, but I threw it in the cart anyway. As I wandered the aisles, I had time to decide if it would work for me. They answer was yes, and for $5.25 I have a fun "new" dress for summer. If I had waited until next time, It may have been gone:

Well, that's it for today. I'm off to flounce around in my dress and contemplate the return of Mad Men.

I hope you are having a great day!