Treasure Box Wednesday: Christmas Comes Early


Deck the halls with stuff that's jolly! Fa-la-la-la-la, and all that jazz! Thrifting this week brought a bit of pre-Christmas joy in the form of holiday decor-- and much of it was of the shiny and brite kind.

Just come on over here and take a peek inside this big, copypaper box filled with thrifted ornamental goodness!...

Do you notice there, that lovely, lovely vintage box of glass bulbs? Oh, yes... it's full. Come see, come see...

This was just one box of a treasure trove of cheerful ornaments found at the Christian Layman's Thrift Store in Greensburg.

Ah, how exciting it was! I was perusing these fascinating World War II glass globes at the time, kneeling and examining their unusual paper foil hangers...

...When my shopping buddy, Scoobie (it's her birthday, today, by the way-- happy b-day, Scoobie, if you happen to read this!)-- anyway, Scoobie walks over with a bit of a cat-who-swallowed-the-canary look on her face. Clearly, a girl who was up to something.

"Whaaaat?" asked I, suspiciously.

Whispering like she was passing along some secret code, she said, "Shiny Brites.... Back room, far right hand corner."

Ah! It's always good to have a friend who knows what you're looking for. So, casually, and not at all ready to break into a sprint or anything-- I got up to investigate.

Shiny Brites! Indeed!

I could see the well-cared for ShinyBrite boxes right away. And inside, were jewel after jewel to go on the tree. But wait! What was in the shoe boxes?... I took the first shoe box down and...


More
Shiny Brites! Bells and tops and little chinese lanterns... Kerflumpets and wangsnoodles and other delights of Whoville! One was even just like a bulb which had died a sad death at my house last year, due to the strange and unfortunate migrating nature of last year's Christmas tree. I never thought I'd recover.

So after the first box, I was pretty breathless when I grabbed the second....

...Handpainted ornaments! I've never found any of those before. I was truly overjoyed.

Other finds there were these cute flocked vintage elves. I'll use them in this little area I set up in my entryway sort of like "The Land of Misfit Toys"...


And a flocked vintage King (Old King Cole, maybe?)... And I do believe that is Little Miss Muffet accompanying him, with her spoon, bowl and complementary spider...


Then at the Good Samaritan Thrift Store in North Versailles, I got this cute vintage paisley table cloth...

And this rather ornate peachy-pink vintage chenille bedspread. I love the pattern on it-- reminds me a bit of a decorated cake!...


Lastly, at Junk for Joy in Jeannette, I got these two small butterfly-shaped dishes in a blue and amber carnival glass.


Oh, it was really an exciting day on Saturday, folks. I felt truly lucky to find such great stuff for such little money. And knowing that money went to the charities, too, makes it seem even better. What a pleasure a good thrifting experience can be-- just all around!

Thanks for letting me ramble on and share the fun with you today!

16 comments:

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

Neat items...haven't been to Christian Laymans store in awhile. Never been to the store in Jeanette.

Jenn Thorson said...

Kim- The Junk for Joy in Jeannette is nice if you're missing a piece of a vintage place setting... things like that. It's sort of like a big junk shop/thrift store with some antiques in it-- some good prices, some higher, some really really reasonable. So it's good to know what you're looking for. I've found some good things there.

Traci said...

I know the feeling you had when you found those beautiful ornaments...I am a thrift store junkie myself...and I too collect those same kind of Christmas balls...I have one tree totally designated for those ornaments only...I was lucky enough to get my grandmas ornaments that where her mothers!!!! I'd much rather have the old ones rather than new ones...well, old anything for that matter, with a story behind!!! :) I enjoy reading your blog!!
Traci in Kansas...

Jenn Thorson said...

Traci- I was actually thinking of putting the ShinyBrites on a tree all of their own-- maybe something pink and tinsel, if I can find one that's not expensive. We'll see if anything comes of that plan.

I bet your own tree is marvelous-- and it's excellent how you've gotten to keep the ornaments so many generations in the family! I love that.

Da Old Man said...

For the Holidays, the king could be Good King Wensesclaussenpickledsauced or whatever his name is.
Nice find on all those bulbs.

Michele said...

Oh my...what great finds. I too, jump for joy when I find shiny brites in the thrift stores. People think I'm nuts, but oh well!

I've been searching for either a white or silver vintage tree just for my shiny brites, but I don't have an arm and a leg to part with at this point in time!!

Hugz,
Michele

Anonymous said...

Beautiful just beautiful. I was talking to a fellow garbage sale devotee here at work and realized. I didn't go to one sale this year. Not one!!! don't even want to think about all the treasures I missed!

Da Old Man said...

I read the post again, and realized I was remiss in wishing Scoobie the happiest of birthdays. A belated very happy one to Miss Scoobie.

Unknown said...

Da Old Man- Ah, yes, could be ol' Good King Wenceslaus (SP?), embarking on his Christmas Carol Song PR initiative. :) And if Scoobie reads the comments, she'll be tickled. My offline friends hear a lot about my online ones, so that will probably pleasantly surprise her.

CountryGirl- Our Family Dollar has small white trees for $10-- if you have Family Dollars in your area. Michaels may have the silver. Usually they're not terribly expensive. (Silver with Shiny Brites would be amazing, I'd bet!)

Chyna- I only got to the one in the neighborhood-- it's a big one, but other than that I don't hit them much myself anymore.

Anonymous said...

Those ornaments are absolutely gorgeous!

Carrie said...

How great to find so many and in such nice condition!

Janelle said...

Oh oh OH...I am salivating over the ornaments! I decorate my tree totally with vintage bulbs like those. The boxes are in fantastic shape, too. Nice score!

Essential Oil Premier University said...

Wow, those are some beautiful, vintage, ornaments!!



Blessings,

Sher

Carrie said...

Just stopping by to let you know about the Holiday Giveaway on my nativity blog.

Here’s the link:
http://carolanativitygallery.blogspot.com/2008/11/holiday-giveaway.html
Carrie

Deb said...

Wow....what a treasure-trove you brought home! Have you seen the faux cakes made from vintage chenille? Debbie

Anonymous said...

I am so jealous! Those vintage ornaments are so beautiful! I am now on my own hunt for vintage baubles for our tree. I love reading your blog! Keep up the good work!