Better picking

[akgem]

Have you noticed better picking at your local thrifts?  I have!  I don't know if people are clearing out after the holidays or donating for tax reasons but I am finding some GREAT stuff.  How about you?

[valleythriftshopper]

December & January were good, especially December, even the crummy Sal Army put out some good stuff.  February has been a little slow.  I hope the thrifts here aren't going into the usual dead zone after all the unwanted xmas gifts have dried up. 

[akgem]

Really good thrifting here in the Boston area since December.  I noticed that the prices are inching up again. 

[stewardmmj]

Hi all,

Are you encountering lackluster merchandise lately?  I visited a local Salvation Army yesterday and all the clothes were very worn and no exciting housewares, accesories, toys, etc.

$2.99 and up for very worn clothing, come on!

StewardMMJ       

[valleythriftshopper]

I saw this ad on Craiglist:

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/gms/1693086276.html

A local Goodwill is having their 1 year anniversary, I was surprised to read that they having been saving items since the opening for this event.  Seems a little strange.  I hope it is as good as they make it sound. 

[valleythriftshopper]

Oops, I realized I read that ad wrong and that they have been saving items since the beginning of this year, not since they opened last year.  That is still a long time to be holding out on the good merchandise, I bet the place will be mobbed. 

[Jay2TheRescue]

Shopping in the DC area has been unexciting at best the past few months.  Hopefully spring cleaning will bring some good stuff out to the thrifts.  The only purchases that were noteworthy that I've made in the past few months are as follows:

Late last year I purchased a Castro Convertible table from the 50's.  It converts from a coffee table to a dining table that seats 8 in less than a minute. $20

Set of 6 Anchor Hocking glasses.  Nice midsize glasses, about halfway between a juice glass and the large iced tea glasses.  I'm guessing they're about 12 oz?  They look like they came straight out of grandma's kitchen.  $6/set

American of Martinsville vintage modern corner end table.  Was in awful condition but had nice lines.  Spent about an hour with some finish restorer and #0000 steel wool.  Looks spectacular in the Tiki Lounge now.  $20

American of Martinsville vintage modern night stand.  Another piece that had a finish in poor condition, but had nice lines.  Olde English scratch cover, #0000 steel wool, and some orange oil have restored this to its former splendor.  It is the same type of wood, similar style, and same color as the dining room set.  It now serves as a printer stand beside the small computer table in the dining room, and fits in perfectly.  The printer sits on top, and the supplies (paper, stapler, tape, ink cartridges, etc) fit inside the 2 generously sized drawers with room to spare.  $10

No cool appliances, telephones, or any notable pieces of Pyrex have been located in quite some time.

[valleythriftshopper]

[quote author=Jay2TheRescue link=topic=1590.msg15825#msg15825 date=12714177

Late last year I purchased a Castro Convertible table from the 50's.  It converts from a coffee table to a dining table that seats 8 in less than a minute. $20

American of Martinsville vintage modern corner end table.  Was in awful condition but had nice lines.  Spent about an hour with some finish restorer and #0000 steel wool.  Looks spectacular in the Tiki Lounge now.  $20

American of Martinsville vintage modern night stand.  Another piece that had a finish in poor condition, but had nice lines.  Olde English scratch cover, #0000 steel wool, and some orange oil have restored this to its former splendor.  It is the same type of wood, similar style, and same color as the dining room set.  It now serves as a printer stand beside the small computer table in the dining room, and fits in perfectly.  The printer sits on top, and the supplies (paper, stapler, tape, ink cartridges, etc) fit inside the 2 generously sized drawers with room to spare.  $10

No cool appliances, telephones, or any notable pieces of Pyrex have been located in quite some time.
[/quote]


You have a tiki lounge?  That sounds pretty cool you should post a pic of it.

Those table sound nice too.  I recently gave up on a vintage puzzle table I found for free on the curb a few years back.  It had a top that you could turn.  It needed a refinish and I never got around to it.  Also I had really had no where to put it.  So it went back out on the curb & someone took it.  I would like to find a vintage card table that I can fold away or a convertable table.  

It sounds like for alot of people all around the country thrift shopping has been dead for the last few months so I guess I don't feel so bad.  There is a big church rummage sale here tomorrow though so I am excited about that.

I picked up a large 4 qt yellow primary Pyrex bowl yesterday for 3 bucks.  Very good condition also the old 1940's trademark with no numbers.  I was surprised to see Primary bowl prices kind of lackluster on Ebay though.

Bought a pair of funky MCM drape panels a while back, just got around to Ebaying them recently, they did OK all the bidders were from Japan interestingly.  They really needed a dry cleaning, I always wish I had access to a cheap dry cleaner when I find these things, they are all expensive around here.  

[Jay2TheRescue]

You have a tiki lounge?  That sounds pretty cool you should post a pic of it.

Those table sound nice too.  I recently gave up on a vintage puzzle table I found for free on the curb a few years back. It had a top that you could turn.  It needed a refinish and I never got around to it.  Also I had really had no where to put it.  So it went back out on the curb & someone took it.  I would like to find a vintage card table that I can fold away or a convertable table.  

It sounds like for alot of people all around the country thrift shopping has been dead for the last few months so I guess I don't feel so bad.  There is a big church rummage sale here tomorrow though so I am excited about that.

I picked up a large 4 qt yellow primary Pyrex bowl yesterday for 3 bucks.  Very good condition also the old 1940's trademark with no numbers.  I was surprised to see Primary bowl prices kind of lackluster on Ebay though.

Bought a pair of funky MCM drape panels a while back, just got around to Ebaying them recently, they did OK all the bidders were from Japan interestingly.  They really needed a dry cleaning, I always wish I had access to a cheap dry cleaner when I find these things, they are all expensive around here.  

I love my Tiki lounge.  Its the room we fill with vintage furniture we find in our adventures.  What happens is that we find a piece we like, so something has to go.  We usually sell our discards at a decent profit, so the room is constantly being upgraded.

You know the funny thing about drycleaning?  In my day job I'm a drycleaner.  I get all my cleaning done for free    Also, I always look, but never find vintage curtains in thrifts.  I have a set, but they were bought at an antiques & collectibles show for $60 if I remember correctly.  

[liamaria]

I like those drapes. speaking of mid century drapes i got one large drape  and 2 smaller drapes and aprettty big remant of fabric. on the remant it says " ecology let it be"  an original screen print copy right bloom craft. they are very abstract with oranges mustard yellows beige and greens. they go very will with my green kroehler sectional. but since i just bought the other pink sectional. they wont work in my living room.im debating on selling the green sectional. but was thinking about moving it up to the bonus roomand using the drapes.                                                                                                                         speqking on tiki rooms is anyone familiar with the heywood wakefield ashcraft line? i thought i might of foundsome chairs on craigslist. they are advertised as antique rattan chairs from the 1940s. i might go take a look. its been slow pickings here. better luck at auctions thenthrifts. im on the look out for 1950s two tier lamps. no luck as yet. has anyone been watching  united states of tara? the house they are redoing is full of mid century i love it.

[valleythriftshopper]

I love my Tiki lounge.  Its the room we fill with vintage furniture we find in our adventures.  What happens is that we find a piece we line, so something has to go.  We usually sell our discards at a decent profit, so the room is constantly being upgraded.

You know the funny thing about drycleaning?  In my day job I'm a drycleaner.  I get all my cleaning done for free    Also, I always look, but never find vintage curtains in thrifts.  I have a set, but they were bought at an antiques & collectibles show for $60 if I remember correctly.  

I remember you talking about your dry cleaning business, that is the perfect marriage between a day job and thrifting hobby.  I pass up many an item because to have it cleaned would be cost prohibitive.  Being a furniture upholsterer would also be perfect.   I have seen so many cute chairs I would have loved to buy, but to have them reupholstered is like hundreds of dollars.  

[valleythriftshopper]

Thrfts are still dead this week, very depressing, but I had fun at last weeks church sale.  No huge finds.  I did get a stack of old knitting pattern books at 10 cents each and a collectible vintage cigarette case.  Those will bring in a few bucks for this weekends sales.  I did love seeing those 25 cent church sale items though and got a few Christmas goodies such as this tacky candelabra for the mantel and knee hugger elf ornament for my tree.  I also got a new umbrella and cute top for my daughter for a buck.  I saw a lady who found a nice vintage chenille bedspread, I was bummed I missed that one.




I then wasted my time going over the the Goodwill first year anniversary sale in a town about 1/2 hour away.  They had alot of new with tags stuff but it was priced accordingly.  Similarly all the collectibles were not cheap either, and most had some flaws to them.   I should have known better- I will stick with the church sales!

[liamaria]

Sorry u missed out on the chenille bed spread. atleast u got a few things.i actually found something that i have been looking for 4ever. i was so excited tuesday bc  of mythrift store find  i even braged aboutit on my facebook status. anyway i finally found2 pieces of franciscan starburst. i found the lidded cassarole dish and the divided serving dish. they were in great mint shape. i paid 8bucks for the two them. i asked the guy if there were any plates  or cups. he said he wasnt sure to check later. so on wed i drove back to this country thrift store in the middle of nowhere. but they didnt have any plates or cups. i asked the manager if he saw anymore. he said no  thats  all they got.however it wasnt a total wasteof a trip  i did score 2 mid century outside light fixtures and 1 swag lamp. happy hunting

[valleythriftshopper]

Wow, starburst is a great pattern, a set would have been great, but the serving pieces are harder to find so you got lucky.  I got a few Franciscan seving pieces in the autumn leaves pattern a few years back for a buck apiece, I put them out in the fall.  The lamps sound great too.  There is another church sale tomorrow I have found some goo things at that church before, so glad spring is here!

[elvisgurly]

Wow, starburst is a great pattern, a set would have been great, but the serving pieces are harder to find so you got lucky.  I got a few Franciscan seving pieces in the autumn leaves pattern a few years back for a buck apiece, I put them out in the fall.  The lamps sound great too.  There is another church sale tomorrow I have found some goo things at that church before, so glad spring is here!

I haven't found much lately either:).

The other day I did find two 45's with the picture sleeve.  I bought David Bowie's Lets Dance and The Thompson Twins Hold Me Now for $.50 cents a piece.