Holiday Thrift Finds

It's an unusual post for me, but I thought why not? I am a writer, and I write about various things, clothes after all is only one part of it. I don't know whether it would surprise you, but I am not really a fan of in-person shopping, and I've never been. Big crowds, pushy/fake sales people, walking/standing on concrete floor and trying on clothes in changing rooms with very little air movement are all together not my cup of tea. I mostly shop for my clothes online, and it's a huge blessing in my book - the selection is so much wider since I can shop any store (even in other countries!). I can take my time and shop nationally and internationally literally sitting on my sofa, and try my purchases on in the privacy of my bedroom. (These are pros. The cons of online shopping also do exist, but it's a subject for another story.) But I do love going thrift shopping, it is one of my favorite hobbies. It's still shopping, with concrete floors and changing rooms, but overall it's a very different kind of experience. First of all, you just never know what you'll find, and there is a huge chance that what you end up bringing home will be rare if not unique. The thrill of it just doesn't wear off! In our antique malls and Goodwill, you can browse for hours and they just leave you alone at it, but always ready to assist if you need help. Finally, it's budget-friendly and good for the planet. Without any regularity, Justin and I go on a hunt to antique malls, and since recently Anya joins me for a Goodwill trip (also not regularly, maybe once a month or so). On one of the rainy post-Christmas days, we hopped in a car and hit the road, first having lunch at our favorite Thai place, and ending the exhausting but happy day in one of our best-loved Indian restaurants. We ended up finding lots of treasures that day - at two of our usual spots.

On the first photo, you see an exquisitely hand-crocheted round table clothes doubling as a wicker chair throw, and there is a smaller piece in similar hue (can be spotted on some photos). I've always wanted to add crochet pieces to my interior, and was happy to find two so beautifully done, in excellent condition and at the right price. The three little purses are from the same vendor (they have the best taste!). The natural color clutch is made in Italy and the beaded coin purse in Indonesia. The black clutch is genuine vintage, made in the USA by Harry Levine, just as my brown velvet purse HERE. The faux pearl and plastic beads are from another vendor, and they are vintage too (the natural color plastic necklace is from West Germany). I got 50% off on them. The three photos below show a metal pendant with vintage rose print from the same antique mall vendor and a few pairs of vintage earrings and brooches/pins that I found at Goodwill. My jewelry collection is growing fast, and most of my finds cost only a couple of dollars.

I love chunky & funky plastic earrings 

(the b&w will go so well with my Isabel Toledo bracelet HERE).

Enamel and faux pearl earrings and metal pendant with vintage print.

Brooches (I have quite a collection of enamel butterflies by now).

At Goodwill, I found luck with clothes this time - it was as if someone of my taste in colors and wearing my size donated a part of their wardrobe! I am over the moon with this India-made skirt, Old Navy corduroy jacket (such a good quality that I suspect it was made long before I started shopping at this popular inexpensive American brand) and gorgeous beads. I also bought a suede coat which I haven't photographed yet - I kind of forgot, but maybe for the better, I need to save something for the future posts, right? ;)

Some of my favorite things to find while thrifting are dinnerware and all things cooking related (I am an avid cook). So here I'll share the newest additions to my kitchen collections.

Such enamel tubs are quite popular and not especially rare, 

this one was in a great condition and fare price.

I collected the Mikasa Garden Harvest dinnerware set over the years, produced in the 1990s judging by the style and colors (though I am not an expert). This casserole dish with a lid goes at $70 on some websites. A steal at $12.99 at Goodwill! 

The tall green glasses (99 cents each) feel right at home with my collection of colorful vintage glasses.

The enamel plate and cup were just $5 - I love the whimsical frog design!

I have a strange weakness for crock-pots, I think I have three by now. This one has herbs all over it, and it's a rare design. Justin looked up online and found one similar to it for $75. At $12.99, it was a score! Herbs and berries are my favorite design themes for kitchen.

And a few decorative pieces found at an antique mall. Three boxes for my collection (I've been an avid box collector for years) - and yes, the two Victorian houses are boxes too! It's a Chinese technique applying colored bamboo pieces to create a beautiful collage-like design (I have two or three boxes in this technique in my collection). The tiny details are unbelievable!

This gorgeous large block candle with an angel, Justin said, is probably European (and he has a significant expertise in candles as well as glass). To me, the style looks Italian. It was $10 at an antique mall, a rare find, but what matters is that looking at it just melts my heart. I will not light it, just admire the beauty.

All photos are by me.

With this beautiful angel, I want to say good bye and thank you to the old year, which was both challenging and wonderful in so many ways. But I am not leaving the blog for very long! On January 1st at exactly midnight I will greet the New Year and you, my sweet friends and readers, with a new outfit and new Modish Matrons theme. Celebrate your way and come to say hello in the New 2018!

XO,

Natalia

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