Treasure Box Wednesday: A Short Holiday Wrap-Up

We've talked a lot about holiday decorating lately, so tonight, I thought we'd gab about gifting. As you know, I'm a big supporter of finding great gifts at thrift stores. It supports reuse, it's cost-effective, and best of all, you can find amazing, unique items.

But really, you have to know your recipients when you do this. I'm fortunate to have friends and family who understand that just because something was pre-owned, doesn't make that item any less wonderful, or my gifting intentions any less sincere. So I understand, thrifted gifts may not be for everyone.

Today, however, I thought I'd share with you a little overview of some of the gifts I'd thrifted this season. Fortunately, those who will be receiving these goodies, are not online this week. (HA-HA.) So I can tell you folks in real-time about the fun finds-- while the recipients can still enjoy the surprises of the season.

But first, I wanted to share with you a truly crazy, creative and beautiful gift my friend Kitty made for me this year. Kitty is known for her sense of humor and crafty side, and has, in the past, come up with rather wacky and extremely thoughtful Christmas gifts for me. And this year was one I thought would make you all smile, as well; Kitty made me a Thrift Shop Romantic logo needlework sampler!


Here is a close-up of the detailed stitching... She did the curliques, lamp fringe, and all!


I am not handy with a needle myself, but I do know the intricacy and time that goes into a piece like this. Plus, she made her own template from a print-out from my web site header and chose the specific (and eerily accurate!) colors. It's a little hard to see in this photo, but she even went to the trouble to make the background have the same textured feel of the pale green damask graphic.

The last little nuance to the piece was in choosing the frame. Kitty's personal taste runs much more streamlined and silver than mine, so it is a big credit to her talent at gifting that she chose such a burnished, old-fashioned-feel frame for my decor.

I was speechless when I opened it, and I'll be hanging it in the just-right spot in my home.

Most of all, I feel lucky to have friends who care so much.

Speaking of excellent friends, another bud-- the infamous housemate, Scoobie-- will be receiving a couple of thrifted gifts this season, too. (She's away for the holidays now, so I can tell you all about it!) You all saw her French blue Christmas decor the other day, so you may understand why these handpainted plates leapt out at me...


I was particularly surprised to find a set of four! I also found this beautiful transferware and hand-detailed luster plate from Germany.


I think it's fairly old, and she'll be happy with it. Lastly, in the house she doesn't yet have (she's planned a lot for it, it's going to be astounding someday), she hopes to have a bit of an Old West/Victorian theme. So I thought, what 1800s saloon would be complete without a nifty mirrored beer sign?...


At the very least, I thought it will give her a good chuckle.

Now, what Victorian home wouldn't be right without a big, yellow robot Transformer?...


Um, yeah: I know. But still-- he works! He's "Foot-stomping Action Bumblebee," they tell me. And he makes one heckuva lot of racket (particularly when I was driving him from the thrift store to home! Every stop light there seemed to be an explosion). But a young Transformers collector on my list will be one totally happy dude.

Other thrifted purchases over the season for gifts include a huge milk glass collection (including punch bowl set!), comics, collectible dolls, character glassses, a wide range of books, and a number of Garfield collectibles. How fun is that?

Lastly, there are two thrifted finds this week I thought I'd show you. Like these paintings?-- "Pshaw!"....


Or rather "P. Shaw." The artist. But as you can see, the artist took liberties with his/her signatures on the watercolors. A great find at just $1 a piece.

And then there was Scoobie's early 1900s rocking chair coup. This was at the St. Vincent de Paul in Monroeville for around $40. It will need some reupholstery, but it isn't a difficult piece do redo...

And just look at that gorgeous tiger oak!

Anyway, that's all for this week's Treasure Box. I hope those celebrating holidays right now have a happy one, and I wish good tidings to everyone in general this season. Thank you all for reading and for being a part of it!

Creating Great Gift Baskets from Thrift Store Goodies

You might think gifts courtesy of your local thrift store sound like a poor-- and even tacky-- solution to gift-giving occasions. But in fact, with a bit of planning ahead, some well-chosen items, and knowing your recipient's interests, it's possible to pull together lovely, unique gifts that are as meaningful as they are economical.

Like this housewarming gift.


Shirley, a fellow blogger (you can visit her blog, Proof Positivity here), recently had the good news that Habitat for Humanity would be constructing her a home of her very own, removing her family from the challenging and unsafe conditions they're currently living in. Shirley has always managed to look on the bright side of things, in spite of the significant obstacles put in her path. And it's the overall good nature and stick-with-itness she displays every day that inspired me to send her a little token of support and encouragement.

It all started by knowing Shirley's favorite color was blue-- and this cheery bluebird plate, found at the Salvation Army thrift store.


I liked the idea of a blue-bird of happiness theme-- something to signify this being the start to better days ahead for Shirley and her children. And the rest of the items seemed to fall into line from there. Like these happy bluebird drinking glasses...

A glass "art" bluebird to catch the sun... Some new, incredibly-soft dishtowels and dishcloths... A teacup, printed with delicate blue flowers... And all of it, to fit in a large blue vintage-style mixing bowl.

The real trick of assembling the basket was in not expecting to find all the right items in one day of thrifting. But for regular thrifters, making this sort of time is not only easy, it's a joy!

I've spoken in the past about the pieces of grape-patterned milk glass I've been accumulating for a family friend who'd wanted to supplement her collection.


I started early this year, thrifting interesting and useful pieces as I spied them at appropriate prices. In the end, I'll likely place them in colorful tissue paper within a large Rubbermaid tub, so the packaging will be just as functional as the dishes inside.

I'm making a list of the pieces I've found, so by the time Christmas rolls around, there will be a full set for at least 4. You can see here, I'm well on the way-- with four goblets, four snack sets with cups, a platter, two centerpiece bowls, a vase, candlesticks, cream and sugar servers, several saucers and sundae dishes and a few other odd pieces.

Another little gift collection is being assembled following the theme of author Frances Hodgson Burnett. The recipient collects dolls, and this little porcelain lady from the Red White and Blue thrift store looked very much like the character Mary from The Secret Garden. Assembled with a copy of the films "The Secret Garden" and "A Little Princess" and a book featuring the same tales, this-- and with, perhaps, some seeds, garden gloves and a trowel, will make a nice basket.


Another friend has, for some reason, become enamored with the character Hello Kitty. And given Kitty's recent big resurgence, this has empowered some very good Kitty-related gifting.


These post-Christmas sale Christmas ornaments were snapped up and put away for future gifting...


And this whimsical Hello Kitty printed purse will not only act as great built-in packaging for the ornament gift, but will likely give my friend a laugh.


For baby showers, there are a number of clever containers you can find at thrift stores and fill with brand new baby items. For a friend who was planning a Peter Rabbit theme for her child's room, I had fun repurposing Easter items into funny bunny decor...


I filled a metal basket made of bright orange "carrots" with fresh new cotton swabs. And the little ceramic rabbit below is a clever cotton ball dispenser!


The items were delivered to my friend in a small pine toy chest, which I woodburnt and painted with the Peter Rabbit theme. (You can read all about how that was done here.)


Lastly, the thrift store is ideal for delicate, one-of-a-kind vintage items.


The two pretty rhinestone covered boxes below contain vintage clip earrings in pink and blue. The luster cup reads "To a Friend," And the blue Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic book is a photo album that came from Goodwill. Even the packing material is a pretty vintage sheet, washed and cut to line the box. (You can read about that basket here.)

So whether you have sports nuts on your list, friends who adore vintage, fans of a particular cartoon character, or just someone you want to send some well-wishes, thrift stores can be terrific ways of pulling together smart, useful and even stylish gift baskets.

The only limit, really, is your imagination and a little time.

• Missed last Wednesday's post on Crazy Hats, Cool Grapes and Crystal Settings? click here.

• Missed Sunday's post where we went antiquing north of Pittsburgh? Join us here!