Just wandering around

[dewdrop_me_a_line]

I went down to the coast today to see my Mom who is in the hospital. She's doing fine BTW.

When I left, I thought, gee it would be fun to drive up the coast and stop at some odd little shops on the way. The first was a doozie! The owner came up and hugged me like she knew me. I asked her if we'd gone to school together or something . . . nope, she just loves everybody. Whatever!

Her shop had one of those names, you know the ones that mean not a thrift store That would be Antique, which might be French for Anti Thrift. 

Continuing on, I thought gee, I wish I could find a thrift shop. Lo and behold, I just about missed it. It was a tiny little place in Rockaway Oregon, right on Hwy 101. It took me at least an hour to spend my $2.50. Now that's my kind of fun. As I was leaving the ladies (both volunteers BTW) told me of another just north (my direction) that was a branch of theirs. It was right on Hwy 101 also. I spent three hours there to spend $3.10.

Oh yea . . . I got a glow on. Glad Mom's okay. Had a great adventure. It was beautiful at the coast. It was a West coast paradise today.

Ciao!

[ChrisMiss]

Good to hear that your mom is doing fine.

We love driving 101, it is one of the most scenic drives.  We've stayed in a few places along the way there and I love some of those out of the way small local thrift stores.  You never know what you'll find in them.   

[Mattie]

The first was a doozie! The owner came up and hugged me like she knew me. I asked her if we'd gone to school together or something . . . nope, she just loves everybody. Whatever!

Remind me never to go into this store. 

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Dew, glad ma's OK.

So, what did you buy with your approxmiate $6? Inquiring minds want to know.

Yeah, I always see "Anti-thrift" owners in the thrifts here. Some are really nice and some are merciless. Thing is, folk seem to like their stuff when it's priced up 100,000,000%, so there will always be a biz for that sort of thing. 

Mattie you always make me laugh

[Scott]

Yeah, I always see "Anti-thrift" owners in the thrifts here. Some are really nice and some are merciless. Thing is, folk seem to like their stuff when it's priced up 100,000,000%, so there will always be a biz for that sort of thing. 

Its funny ... back when I was still thrifting in Minneapolis, I used to run into a guy I knew from the midcentury modern antique store he owned. I admit I'd go into his shop fairly often, and we got to be friendly with each other. I'd run into him in thrifts all the time ... and if I was first in the store, he'd just ask me if it was worth his while to even continue on. If the situation was reversed, I'd do the same. We knew we were looking for exactly the same stuff!

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Yeah, I always see "Anti-thrift" owners in the thrifts here. Some are really nice and some are merciless. Thing is, folk seem to like their stuff when it's priced up 100,000,000%, so there will always be a biz for that sort of thing. 

Its funny ... back when I was still thrifting in Minneapolis, I used to run into a guy I knew from the midcentury modern antique store he owned. I admit I'd go into his shop fairly often, and we got to be friendly with each other. I'd run into him in thrifts all the time ... and if I was first in the store, he'd just ask me if it was worth his while to even continue on. If the situation was reversed, I'd do the same. We knew we were looking for exactly the same stuff!

Yes, Scott, I have that experience with some dealers as well. As long as they know I am an "end user" they are kind and supportive. If they don't know me (or anybody else, for that matter) as an end user) watch out!  I look very non-threatening, too, lol. Geesh!

It has certainly helped me cultivate "non-attachment" to objects, I can tell you that, lol! Of course, there will always be stories about the "ones that got away".

[Scott]

I have a hard time with non-attachment sometimes. Especially if I see someone who has something I covet already in their shopping cart.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

I have a hard time with non-attachment sometimes. Especially if I see someone who has something I covet already in their shopping cart.

Yes, I can totally relate! It's a moment-by-moment experience, I can tell you that. As a matter of fact, I am dealing with it NOW.

It's been very windy here. Last night, my picnic table blew over and smashed to the ground. What else smashed: A beautiful MINT, perfect California Pottery planter with the most beautiful glaze I've ever seen. Smashed. To. Pieces. Smithereens. I got it for 50 cents and I had seen the exact piece on ebay for 40 bucks.  That doesn't matter as much to me as the fact that the piece was one of my favorites and I really loved it. I had a plant in it that was not doing well and put it outside, hoping it would survive. Alas, nothing survived. Like life.

Ahhhh well. I will celebrate its spirit, anyway. 

On a lighter note:  What has anyone seen in someone else's carriage that they wish they had gotten first? 

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

ACK! SeSo, that's lousy, I'm so sorry to hear it.

[Scott]

On a lighter note:  What has anyone seen in someone else's carriage that they wish they had gotten first? 

This may seem out of character for me (or at least out of my normal thrifting realm), but a couple years ago I had an instance of this that still stands out in my head.

A good friend of mine had just told me in passing he was having a hard time finding a good birthday present for his girlfriend (now fiancee). The very next day I was at a thrift store and I saw the PERFECT thing for her. She collects these furry stuffed animals that I think were sold through JC Penney stores in the early 1980s called Furbles. I should say she vigorously collects them. The only one in the series she didn't have in mint shape with the tag was the yellow variety. So what did I see in said thrift store? Yup ... the yellow Furble in perfect shape with the tag still dangling off of it! Unfortunately it was also in the shopping cart of a mother and child. I actually kept my eye on them the whole time I was shopping, just in case they decided against buying it. No such luck.

Later, I told my friend the Furble collector about my experience. She said I should have snuck it out of their cart when they weren't looking. I, however, did not want to incur the wrath of the thrift gods, and wouldn't stoop to stealing a stuffed animal from a child.

Sorry to hear about your planter, SeSo. I can't tell you how many times I've broken some pristine vintage item ... and my heart at the same time. It doesn't matter if I paid 20 cents for it at a thrift shop. It feels like the eBay/antique price no matter.

[genuineimitation]

It's been very windy here. Last night, my picnic table blew over and smashed to the ground. What else smashed: A beautiful MINT, perfect California Pottery planter with the most beautiful glaze I've ever seen. Smashed. To. Pieces. Smithereens. I got it for 50 cents and I had seen the exact piece on ebay for 40 bucks.  That doesn't matter as much to me as the fact that the piece was one of my favorites and I really loved it. I had a plant in it that was not doing well and put it outside, hoping it would survive. Alas, nothing survived. Like life.

Don't throw the pieces away! become a mosaic artist immediately! it will be beautiful as a new bird bath or tabletop or other delicious art piece! create it's spirit ANEW!!!

[valleythriftshopper]

On a lighter note:  What has anyone seen in someone else's carriage that they wish they had gotten first? 

Yes!  A few weeks ago I was saw a guy carrying around a vintage electric train set in the original box, I think it was only priced at 1.99!  I guess he deserved it more if he was actually going to use rather than me who would sell it, but I was envious anyway.

Before Christmas I picked up a bag of old buttons and there was a woman right behind me who said, "I was just going to pick that up".  She went on to tell me how she collects buttons & asked if she could just look at them.  I think she was hoping I would give them up (Not a chance) I spent ten minutes listening to her talk about buttons before I could make a clean break.

Another time I was at the SA & a woman came running in frantic to find something.  I guess they had been pricing old buttons on cards & she came back to see if they were out. The good ones had all been snapped up.  I had one card of regular buttons & she said to me "Let me see those!" I showed her she said, "Oh those are nothing special." Crazy!  I guess you have to be a nut to be a serious button collector!

[Jay2TheRescue]

On a lighter note:  What has anyone seen in someone else's carriage that they wish they had gotten first? 

Yes!  A few weeks ago I was saw a guy carrying around a vintage electric train set in the original box, I think it was only priced at 1.99!  I guess he deserved it more if he was actually going to use rather than me who would sell it, but I was envious anyway.

Before Christmas I picked up a bag of old buttons and there was a woman right behind me who said, "I was just going to pick that up".  She went on to tell me how she collects buttons & asked if she could just look at them.  I think she was hoping I would give them up (Not a chance) I spent ten minutes listening to her talk about buttons before I could make a clean break.

Another time I was at the SA & a woman came running in frantic to find something.  I guess they had been pricing old buttons on cards & she came back to see if they were out. The good ones had all been snapped up.  I had one card of regular buttons & she said to me "Let me see those!" I showed her she said, "Oh those are nothing special." Crazy!  I guess you have to be a nut to be a serious button collector!

For a while there was this little old lady at my drycleaning store that would come in every 2 weeks and claim she's missing buttons, and ask to look through the button jar.  She took a handfull every time.  I'm sure she didn't loose all those buttons.

-Jay

[Mattie]

Don't throw the pieces away! become a mosaic artist immediately! it will be beautiful as a new bird bath or tabletop or other delicious art piece! create it's spirit ANEW!!!

Exactly what I was going to say!  It WAS a vase; it WILL BE something else. 

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Don't throw the pieces away! become a mosaic artist immediately! it will be beautiful as a new bird bath or tabletop or other delicious art piece! create it's spirit ANEW!!!

Exactly what I was going to say!  It WAS a vase; it WILL BE something else. 

You guys are great with your inspiration. I've never done anything like this before. Is there a website that will explain: "reusing beloved broken pottery for idiots" or "mosaics for dummies" so I can learn the steps in how to do this? I would love to learn, but I know NOTHING about it. Help! xoxoxo SeSo the craft illiterate