2009 Summer Valley Finds Log

[valleythriftshopper]

I did plug it in & it rotates.  I didn't put a bulb in it but the socket looks fine.  I looked on Ebay & was surprised to see the prices have dropped off for these.  Maybe cause its June & not so many people are looking for them.  There were some that went unsold for starting bids of $9.99, maybe now is the time to pick one up there or other online sources.  

The early birds that show up at the church sales are usually pretty savy, so like I said I am surprised it was still there, although I don't know what they were asking for it originally.  There was some teenage kid who was all excited that he got a CD changer in his dollar bag, he was saying it would cost "hundreds" in the store, but I don't know how accurate that figure was.

At one of the sales they had a bunch of suitcases left over so the lady in that room said if you bought a suitcase for 25 cents you could fill it for a dollar.  I took that deal.  When the other ladies heard about that they weren't very happy.  There was a big box of records that had some cool titles, but someone had already paid for it & was holding it.  Too bad I would have filled my suitcase with some of those!

[daswitzer]

   I like the idea of filling a suitcase!!   Sounds like my kind of sale!

[valleythriftshopper]

It was alot of fun.  I never went to the dollar bag sales before because I always figured there would be nothing left by then but I guess I should go from now on.  Nice to see you posting agian, I was wondering what happened to some of the people who have posted in the past.  Enjoying the summer weather and spending less time on the computer I guess!

[valleythriftshopper]

I haven't found too much lately, but I have also been slacking with the yard saling for a few weeks.  From the thrifts I have found some cheap nice summer clothing and a few other things:

This 1949 sewing book with a nice embossed cover, $1.99



Today I got a Homer Lauglin Harlequin 11" platter in the mauve blue color in great condition for 89 cents.  These aren't hard to find, but I never see any Harlequin around here even at yard/church sales.  This is actually the first piece I ever picked up at a thrift!  I saw a creamer once but it had a chip.  I'm sure some of you have found many pieces, just weird that I never see any.  

[valleythriftshopper]

Had some good luck at the thrifts today.  Got two fridge dishes, one with fruit lid & one w/ veggie lid.  Not super cheap little one was 2 bucks larger one 3 bucks.  I debated buying these as they sometimes pop up at a yard sales for 50 cents, but they seem to be scarce these days so after some deliberation I caved & bought them. 

One item I didn't have to think about was the new set of Winsor & Newton watercolors for a buck, these go for about 20 bucks normally.  The hammered sterling silver necklace looks black in the picture but will look nice after I polish it- 2 bucks.  Also couldn't resist a super soft vintage pillowcase w/ pink & white crochet trim- 50 cents. 

[valleythriftshopper]

Scored a Harlequin gravy boat in the rose color today for 89 cents from the SA.  Funny because I was just saying how I never see any Harlequin & now I just got my second piece this week.  It will go with some of my pink dishes.  

Also got a vintage Dansk teakwood serving tray with bowls for 3 bucks at a yard sale- still new in the box and a new looking pair of leather slides with cushy insoles for 50 cents at a nursing home sale!

[Mattie]

One item I didn't have to think about was the new set of Winsor & Newton watercolors for a buck, these go for about 20 bucks normally.

Wow! Good score!  When I worked in the art supply store we'd get customers who wanted to "take up painting," and they'd buy professional grade paints and brushes instead of student grade.  I often wondered how many of those paints and brushes ended up unused in a drawer or donated to a thrift after the initial excitement wore off and harsh reality set in. 

[valleythriftshopper]

I rarely see any good art supply items at the thrifts, sometimes at yard sales though.  I did get a boxed set of Staedtler graphite pencils for a buck at a "for profit" thrift shop not too long ago.  A few were used but still cheaper than new.  Also got a new kneaded eraser for 5 cents at the SA.  I would love to find a bag of acrylic paints & nice brushes or something like that. 

[mccoysnina]

[
Wow! Good score!  When I worked in the art supply store we'd get customers who wanted to "take up painting," and they'd buy professional grade paints and brushes instead of student grade.  I often wondered how many of those paints and brushes ended up unused in a drawer or donated to a thrift after the initial excitement wore off and harsh reality set in. 
[/quote]  I used ot work in a fabric store and often when someone was bitten by the sewing bug they would come in adn buy materials to make some huge ambitious project, like a Stained Glass window quilt.  I could never seem to convince beginners to start with something small that there was a good chance they might finish.  Nope, had to be the biggest, baddest swing project on the block.  And I often wondered how many ended up at a yard sale cheap when the newness wore off and the project ened up NOT being a breeze.  NOt that I am complaining, as I usually get to buy stuff like that for cheap cheap cheap at the garage sale:)
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

I was coming back from the Boston area this morning and wanted to stop by the Wilmington Sal Army, but wasn't sure I had time, so I skipped it.  I did however make a discovery at my local Sal Army that made up for my possible missed adventure.  Peeking out behind two other pictures was a bit of colorful crewel embroidery.  I moved the two pictures & found this great vintage crewel picture:



The back reads "Designed and embroidered by Ada Pearlman", so maybe a one of a kind.  The stamp from the frame shop has a phone# of letters & numbers.  Anyone know off hand about when they stopped using letters in phone numbers?  

Paid 3 dollars, it is in mint condition too, one to add to the collection!

Also found an old Mt. Holyoke plate that might have some value, there was a mate too but another woman there bought that one.  

[valleythriftshopper]

Pickin's continue to be a little slim this summer, but I did find two great vintage aprons today at the food bank thrift for 75 cents each, one neat bib one with a geometric pattern.  Nice bib aprons are pretty scarce these days.  A couple down the street from me is preparing to sell their house and have been having random garage sales often during the week which is great!  They had one yesterday & today.  Yesterday I got some fun 60's brooches including a big enamel flower in mint condition for a buck.  Today I got a pair of brand new Merell sneakers for 5 bucks and the guy threw in the vintage Hawaiian towel I wanted for free with the shoes.  

On Sunday he said they are bringing tons of fabric up from the basement for a sale- I hope it is good stuff!

[valleythriftshopper]

Went to a few yard sales yesterday, including my neighbors who said they had so much fabric.  Turned out to be not so much, but I got a handful of vintage embroidered kitchen towels, an embroidered runner and a cute crewel embroidery picture of a squirrel in a tree.  The crewel picture has some water damage so I will have to unframe & clean it, but I think I want to paint the frame anyway.  I got all these plus a nice stained glass suncatcher & other little items for 6 bucks. 

Not much at the thrifts but I did find a nice big enamel flower pin in fall colors for 89 cents at the SA.  Now I have two, and I was just saying how I never see nice enamel pins at a good price at thrifts!

[thriftymama]

cute stuff! i love the little squirrel picture!

[Good Buddy]

Cookie collects those flower pins. When we lived in Phoenix you could ALWAYS find them in thrifts, they're very scarce no a days.
Cool colors..

[valleythriftshopper]

Usually when I see them the enamel is worn or something is missing, if they are in decent shape they will be marked 4.99 or something like that which I would only pay for a spectacular pin.