Treasure Box Wednesday: Books and Other Bargain Beauties


You really never do know what will turn up at the local thrift store! And in all my years of thrifting, it still doesn't cease to amaze me.

Things long forgotten... always wanted... that needed missing piece... or an item never even imagined... you just can't predict the sorts of things that will be unearthed by a serious thrifty treasure hunter.

One of my favorite recent finds were these hardback vintage Trixie Belden books...


I still have the Trixie Beldens I enjoyed as a kid (along with my beloved Nancy Drews), but mine were largely softcover and a bit worse for wear... So I was pleased to uncover these at the Salvation Army Superstore.

You know, our friend Trixie there was the character who inspired me to start writing in the first place. It was because of these books, a twelve-year-old Me decided to try my own hand at writing a mystery novel-- And what do you know? I've been hooked on tale-telling ever since!

And talk about great tales-- The Secret Garden...


I didn't have a copy of this myself, though am a great fan of the story. And what a copy this is! The cover is done in a burnished velvet. Great texture! Now all I need to do, it pull up a good chair, make a nice hot cup of tea... ahh!

Or, when cold beverages are in order, I'll be all set with these aluminum 50s tumblers...


I do have a couple of these already, but at $0.49 a piece, I hardly could resist.

Now thinking ahead to Easter, those who have read this blog for a while, probably know immediately why I picked up these little fellows...

Yup, a couple of teeny '50s sheep planters (well, the one may be a poodle, it's hard to tell), to go with my Easter lamb extravaganza.

I'm planning on busting out the big lambie whammie again this year (I think the sheep have multiplied, too!) so it should be fun unboxing it all and seeing just how many sheep there may be.

And lastly, for no special occasion whatshoever, I picked up this pretty aqua glass candy dish...


It's got a little bit of luster to it and I just, well, liked it. I probably need to like glass less, actually. But it's a harmless little enjoyment. And hey, it matches my entryway.


And maybe you all will have some happy thrifting yourselves this week?

Take care!

11 comments:

Linda B said...

You realy are lucky with your lambie collecting and these are darling! I'd have jumped on the books also. My beloved Nancy Drew collection was purchased from a second hand store when I was just five years old and that was a long, long time ago. They (and I) are officially "antiques".

Kris said...

What cute little lambs. I'm new to your blog and will have to check out all your lambs.

I love the tumblers. Everytime I see tumblers like that I'm reminded of visit's to my Grandmothers house. We always had our iced tea in the tumblers and our lunches were served on paperplates in wicker plate holders.

Have a Happy Day

Kris

Heidi Ann said...

Oh, I love everything you found! I LOVED the Trixie Belden series, and hope I am lucky enough to find some, too, at a reasonable price one day. I have a collection of the aluminum tumblers, too. And the lambs - adorable. The glass candy dish is lovely - such a beautiful color!

Sonya --Dime Store Thrift said...

OHHHHHHHHH! I LOVE Trixie Belden! And actually, that is how I found all of my copies, at Goodwill! Somebody must have gotten rid of their entire collection (to 34!) and I scooped them all up squealing the entire time:)

Anonymous said...

Linda B- I do love the lambies... I'm a little afraid at what a flock I've probably accumulated. :) And I LOVE that you have a great secondhand Nancy Drew collection-- that is the way I got mine too. And ah, the hours of reading, when you're five!! So fun.

Kris- I really want to use the tumblers just as you describe, this summer. Cold beverages should be terrific in them! You describe some lovely memories.

Heidi Ann- Oh, I hope you do! Just keep your eyes peeled, and I bet you will find some of your own.

Sonya- That had to have been some day! I can only imagine how excited you must have been.

Da Old Man said...

I remember seeing those tumblers at every single party I went to with the 'rents back in the day.

I'm surprised you don't find them every week when thrifting.

Anonymous said...

THE SECRET GARDEN...EMBOSSED VELVET!!!! I'm so jealous! They would have had to pick me up off of the floor if I had found that book in a thrift store or ANYWHERE!
I love the book, love the different movies that have been made from the book...need I go on?
What are the illustrations like? Are you a fan of the movies? That should rank right up there as THE book-find of the year 2009. It may not be old (or is it?) but it is GORGEOUS with a capital G! Surely there are some other books out there from the same collection...maybe a purple velvet "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"
or a pink velvet "Alice In Wonderland". Please tell me who the publishers are....thanks!

Linda B said...

Those tumblers were always around in the sixties. I remember them well, with the pitcher, platter, dessert cups.... My parents did party hearty with their friends... and they ALL had those aluminum tumblers..But, interestingly, they are not easy to find in the thrift stores or garage sales. Those are keepers.

Marvel Goose said...

I had forgotten about Trixie. I remember reading my sister's copies years ago... along with The Bobsey Twins, The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew.

I hope these were in the original and not the modern versions that were "sanitized".

Anonymous said...

I keep an eye open for the Nancy Drews with the yellow spines so I can imagine your excitement at finding "your" Trixie's. Good job. As for the candy dish, I remember a clear one very similar to that one that was always filled with candy for when I was visiting at my honorary great-aunt and uncles. I really should ask for it when I see him sometime.

Unknown said...

I love those tumblers! They bring back memories!