Treasure Box Wednesday: A Little Shine in the Thrifted Finds

I got a chance to go on a little thrifting expedition with my shopping buddy, Scoobie, last weekend and I wanted to share with you my shiny (literally) new goodies. The first was this Kathy Van Zeeland purse I got for six bucks at the Red, White and Blue in Bellevue. With its mint green color and pearl finish, I think it will be really nice for spring.

I'm not much of a shoe girl, but handbags somehow really speak to me.

The other item I got was this large, Westmoreland/Smith glass carnival basket from the McKnight Road Goodwill. 

It's one of those things that leapt right out at me, and I had a feeling due to the busyness of the store, that I was absolutely the only one there who was going to get excited about it. I know carnival glass isn't for everyone--which in this case was to my advantage!

Wishing you happy days as our mild winter fades away into spring.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Thrifting, Stitching and Surprise

I'd caught a glimpse of the images as I'd passed the Red, White and Blue thrift store's hanging decor section. It was amid the art class paintings, the 70s mushroom plaques in plaster, dusty prints and framed posters. I got a sense of color, of intricacy, and, well... a lot of legs.

The section was crowded. I would have needed a cattle prod and more chutzpa than I certainly could ever summon, just to take a peek. I decided to pop back later, when the area was less... leggy.

So I bobbed and weaved around the store, and returned 20 minutes later to the spot, to find it much more managable. And that's when I got to see the first side of the three framed items that had been stacked and taped together.

The mermaid needlework had my attention immediately. Not only for its size, and color, but the fact that I knew how much work went into the thing...
At least a foot-and-a-half square, the design was chock full of mer-people...
...jellyfish, sunken ships and thready kelp.
On the other side was Rapunzel, letting her long hair down for the prince to make his grand entrance....

And this one had all the detail of the first... Castles and flowers and the great effort of the thing was remarkable to me...

I had no idea what the third one was (it was firmly taped inside facing the other two), but given it was in the same sort of frame and size, I expected it might be another Grimm tale. Perhaps Cinderella? Snow White? I looked forward to getting it home and finding out.

When I did, I was in for a big surprise. As it happened to be depicting my very favorite of childhood tales...

Alice in Wonderland.

What luck! And as you can see, the piece is as lush with detail as the other two...

Here's our friend the Hatter...
And even the Cheshire Cat makes an appearance. Albeit how much of him remains there at any time is up to him...
Moving on, at the Ohio River Boulevard antique mall, I found a Victorian luster portrait plate for just $6...
And at the Salvation Army on the South Side, I uncovered a McCoy pinecone patterned creamer (this had been a part of a tea set at one time), for just a few dollars...
It was a fun week of finds and very easy on the pocketbook in total... Perhaps this pocketbook...
Which was a whopping $1.50.

So that's Treasure Box Wednesday for this week. May you find your own delightful surprises, treasures, and perhaps even some Wonder in the days ahead.

Treasure Box Wednesday: Vamps, Lamps and Halloween Camp

As leaves turn from green to gold and swirl in the chill air, Route 30 takes on a solemn, almost lonesome tone. Yet the thrifting there this weekend was bright and inviting. It, in fact, marked an unheard of three-lamp Saturday.

Those who have read me for a while know I have Lamp Addiction. I fix them up, sometimes I give them to people. I see a good lamp and it needs to come home with me.

Well, at the Salvation Army near North Versailles, I got my prized lamp of the day. This transfer rose beauty, with handpainted detailing...



You can get a closer look here...


I loved the subtle tones of color-- and also that it absolutely matched my diningroom. I've been moving other lamps around to accommodate it. But that's the beautiful thing about decorating-- nothing is etched in stone.

My other lamp score came in the form of two vintage cherub lamps at just $4 a piece and completely rewired...

Take a look at these funny fellows...


And while we're on the subject, I was thinking I might paint these an antiqued white, instead of this gold-- what do you folks think? Leave them as is, or paint them?

At the Ligonier Fleatique I got this excellent tole cake box. It needs a bit of gentle cleaning, but at $5, it's going to be a nice addition to the kitchen...


At the Goodwill in Irwin, I found these tin deer-printed salt and pepper shakers. I may give them to a family friend. Right now, they need a good cleaning.


And at the Salvation Army in Greensburg, I uncovered this nice green Depression glass juicer...


Last of my thrift finds for the week, are these two vintage-style purses. You might be able to tell I'm already thinking ahead to summer, but it's better to plan ahead than be wishing I had them later...


Here are just a couple of closeups on the beadwork on the one...


And the needlepoint of the other...


And just for a change of pace, I thought I'd tuck in today some pictures of my Halloween decor as it's coming along. As you saw up top, this is in my entry way...


The black candleabra I found at the Goodwill. The raven was a Target find. The moving picture portrait of Dracula was $1 from the Giant Eagle grocery store last year after season. And the Poe book? That's just for readin'.

Here's a pic of my Halloween dining table in progress... You can see where those crystal dishes I'd bought went to...

I saw a set of them in one of the antique malls and they were listed as being candydishes/ice cream bowls. I hadn't thought of them for ice cream, but it would make sense why they would come en masse and in different colors.

And that closes the Treasure Box for today.

• If you missed Sunday's post on humorous ads from the 60s women's magazine, The Workbasket, click here.

And this coming Sunday, why, I'll be here if you will. Happy Wednesday to you!

It's in the Bag: Thrifting Vintage Purses

They carry our cash and a million other necessities. They're an extension of our outfits... our brand-savvy... the way we think, organize ourselves, and live. And for we lovers of vintage, who happily give a little nod to the past every day, the right purse can say a lot about our personalities, too.

The best part is, a savvy thrifter can find vintage purses with a ton of character and a small price tag, if the timing is right.

This was proven to me big-time yesterday when-- having already determined to write about this subject days before-- this remarkable vintage aqua mother-of-pearl lucite purse was waiting for me at the Good Samaritan thrift store in North Versailles, PA...

Talk about luck!

This Roberta DiCamerino handbag from Saks Fifth Avenue was another great vintage purse find...


It was from the Goodwill in Monroeville and cost me $4. And I knew it was a good price for a quality bag. But my fellow friend in thrift, TheSecondHand Sophisticate from TheThriftshopper.com forum, discovered that velvet purses of this type by this designer were running on Ebay in the $400 range! Madness!

(And to think I just bought it because it was made well, and I love velvet.)

This little number is a 1940s corde bag, from the Goodwill on the South Side...


I think it was about $4, too. What I loved about it was its great art deco feel, and the fun lucite trim. This ended up being perfect for attending the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy swing concert this summer. (Click here to read about how an entirely thrifted evening outfit ended up costing less than event parking!) Swell!

This vintage bag with a romantic pastoral scene on it was a South Side Salvation Army find...


It was a whopping $4.99 and is made by Soure Bag, New York. The figures on it are puffed out in an almost 3-D effect. They don't make 'em like that anymore!

And who remembers these beaded bags from the 60s? At just a few dollars, it's as great a little evening bag today as it was years ago...


So what's the key to finding vintage purses at thrift stores? Thrift often and take the time to look at everything. Notice how a purse is made-- strong clasps and wooden or other unique handles are detailing that can show quality. Mother of pearl or rhinestone accents can also hint at a vintage history and a better bag.

And if you visit a thrift and come up empty handed? Don't dispair. What's a total bust one day, can end up being a jackpot the next. So keep your eyes open and most of all, buy what you love. That's my two cents, anyway.

Anyone here have any vintage purse stories they'd like to share? Or a purse addiction? I'd love to hear about it.

And if you happened to have missed this last "Treasure Box Wednesday" post on that week's nifty thrift store finds-- and one wonderfully gaudy vintage lamp-- click here. Otherwise, I hope to see you again for this Wednesday's thrifty fun. Can you say "gravy boat," boys and girls? I knew you could.

As always, thanks for stopping by and being a part of it all!
-Jenn