Treasure Box Wednesday: Half Off, Fully Fun

Oh, it was a great day to be a cheapskate antique-lover this weekend, my friends! I don't know if it's the economy... the close of the summer season... or just a big ol' coincidence... but it seems everywhere I looked along my favorite Route 30 haunts, there was a sale!

Sure, antique-fiends know that a nice 10-20% off is likely to happen, sometimes just for the asking. But this weekend marked 25%, 30% and even 50% off whole booths at antique malls.

I need a vintage hankie just to be dainty about all the drool! :)

It was a weekend of big finds, too. So I think this Treasure Box Wednesday might expand into next week, just to accommodate it all.

We'll start with these delicate Victorian chocolate cups I found at the Goodwill Thrift Store in Greensburg...


They were undoubtedly part of a chocolate set with a pot at one time, but two pretty cups remain. The nice thing about this kind of transferware is that is looks good with other non-matching pieces of the type. So I already have a few pieces they should work with.

At the L&L Fleatique in Adamsburg/Jeannette, I got this pair of McCoy bird vases, and at 30% off!...


Perfect along a table or on either side of a mantle!

And yep, I don't want to forget this next item. This was from the Greensburg Goodwill, too. A very kitschy 1940s Asian figural lamp in terrific condition...


I'd seen these in high-end antique stores which have a lot of mid-century modern furnishings... But I'd never expected to see one at the Goodwill. Anyway, it's made of plaster, and handpainted. And it came with the original shade you see there.

My regular readers know that I am powerless against the grip of a good vintage thrifted lamp.

And do you want to know how much it cost? Do ya? G'wan, ask me!...


Okay, since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you. But hold on to your Kimonos... It was $6!

I know it's a really strange piece, and not everyone's taste. But a great example of 40s kitsch. As you can see, right now it's on my bedside table, cheering me immensely with the warm glow that reflects through its angled lampshade...

Also that $6 price tag. :)

In one of the other best deals of the day was this ornate basket-weave Carnival glass bowl, at 50% off...


It's not marked, but judging from the pattern, my collector's book seems to lean toward it being either made by Northwood or Fenton. They both did basketweave patterns, though I couldn't find a bowl precisely like this.

And just for a bit of variety, my thrifting bud Scoobie let me take photos of a few of her items. She's got quite a lot of blue enamel kitchenware already, and based on this weekend's adventuring, I'd say her set's about complete...


There's a roasting pan, a couple of bowls, and even a pasta strainer! These were all thrifted at different places.

And last, we have another half-off beauty-- her etched-mirror cowboy shelf. Scoobie's favorite dude at her imaginary Home on the Range will be able to hang his hat, lassooo and, er, other cowboy accoutrements there. (You can tell I'm not the Western officiando... better ask Scoobie for that sort of thing!)


Anyway, she's got the pots for the vittles and some purty decor, too! Yeeeeee-haw!

But, friends, this wasn't all we found-- can you believe it? So next week, I'll include those items in a very special Part Two Treasure Box Wednesday.

It's good to pace ourselves. Being this excited about cool, old weird stuff can get kinda exhausting; it's important to take breaks. Breathe deep. Stretch.

• Oh, and if you need a laugh and missed Sunday's humor post on some totally far-out 60s knitwear, click here.

And if not? Maybe I'll see you Sunday!

No Time like the Present: Repurposing Christmas Decorations

It may be a new year, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to salvage from the old one! In fact, a thrifty shopper can find some great deals out there, if she's fleet-footed, discerning, and plans ahead. So today I thought I'd show you a few of the post-Christmas sale finds I'd gotten in non-thrift stores, to squirrel away for the next holiday season-- and to repurpose for everyday decor!

One thing I'd become fascinated with in the past few years were glass tree-topper style decorations. So, with markdowns of up to 75% off in stores like Michaels and Target, now was really the time to get them...


I went with silver, because they reminded me most of the old mercury Christmas ornaments. The little forest above was accumulated from a couple of different stores.

I couldn't resist this cloche tree. The Victorians were so big on displaying things under these domes, so this somehow seemed just right at home in my house...


Here are a couple of purple and silver tree-topper-type stars from Tarjjjjay...


Then at K-Mart, I picked up this richly-done tree skirt for my bedroom. That room has a lot of Eastern/Indian influence in it, so I think this will go around my faux potted palm which I decorate with ornaments...


I also got a number of post-Christmas bottle brush trees, which otherwise would have been entirely too pricey for me... I love their vintage look, but I don't see why such small items need to be so costly.


And my friend Scoobie let me take photos of her discounted angel and Christmas stocking in icy blue and brown. She'd had her eye on these before Christmas, and was pleased to find them so on sale after the holiday...

But it's always good to remember that Christmas decor doesn't always have to be used for Christmas. In fact, more and more there are interesting items for Christmas that work really well in a Victorian home, year-round, or repurposed for other holidays.

For instance, these pretty crystalline glass flowers, intended to decorate a tree or wreath, look lovely in a vase, long after Christmas...


And choose wisely, and some Christmas decor works equally well for Valentine's Day! Like this tree from Target. Intended for Christmas, the circular metallic leaves will be just as appropriate for the holiday o' hearts...


In fact, I was seeing things already in the stores very similar to this, only without the Christmas label. Why not reuse and repurpose?

Depending on your color scheme, so many Christmas items can be used for other things throughout the year....

• Plain red tablecloths and placemats from Christmas work equally well at Valentine's Day or the Fourth of July, depending on what other colors you pair them with.

• Candles can be used at any time!
  

• Having trouble finding hunter green? Not at Christmas! Throws, pillows, handtowels-- even curtains-- become easier to find in specific colors around the holidays.

• And don't forget, you can use that green for St. Patrick's Day, as well!
  

Yes, it always helps to think flexibly when you hit the post-Christmas sales. I'm particularly fond of textiles from this time of year, because things tend to be made in more luxurious fabrics-- velvets, jacquards, brocades and tapestries-- which say Christmas to some, but Victoriana to me!

Ah, as the Christmas decorations come down, the house suddenly seems so empty... And that's why I'll be getting started soon on my Valentine's Day mantle and tablescape. I did this last year, and it really helped to wash away the winter "blahs." It gave me something cheerful to look at until the trees began to bud and the grass began to green.

You can see the box of decorations just waiting to find their place...


Of course, I'll keep you all in the loop on how that comes along!!

• If you missed last Wednesday's post on Thrifty New Year's Resolutions-- click here.

And otherwise I hope to see you this coming Wednesday, when take a peek and what's in this week's Treasure Box!