Show your thrift store finds

[annielinz]

I think it would be fun to show pics of your thrift store finds in their before and/or after forms. All of you have found some deals and this could be the thread to share pictures. This way they'll be in one place.

I haven't had much luck lately but I have been tight with the penny. I have a few from last year I'll share.

I found the planter and plate holder and painted them a happy green.
I was on a silver/silverplate kick. Found the sugar and creamer at the corner thrift shop--loved the shape.I found a little tray that I sprayed with blackboard paint to make a little message board.

And the little silver dome that I loved.

Who is next to share their deals.

[Lisa S]

You really have talent. I never would have thought of painting that green ~ and it's so fresh and beautiful. Love, love, love the chalk board sign.

[annielinz]

Thank you Lisa!

I forgot to add these candlesticks I found and redid.

[Gigi]

OMGooodness~ I LOVE everything! Oh the blackboard is so darn clever....
my address is....:D

P.S. How did you paint the candlesticks????

[annielinz]

Thanks Gigi. Re: the candlesticks, I had some old wall paint around and just haphazardly painted it on, let it dry then sanded some off. I had some silver rub and buff and applied that to the area that was gold. To tone everything down I went over it with Old English scratch cover to age it.

OMG blackboard paint is just the coolest thing. I've been looking for a larger silver-plate tray to spray.

Lets see some of your finds, don't be shy.

[RoseMary]

Those are great, annielinz! You really did a fantastic job on those candlesticks, too!

I'll try to post some of my finds in a day or two~nothing really spectacular, but I enjoy looking for things I can use.

[shabbychick]

I found a great picture of a rooster at a local antique store today. I bought the oil painting on sale for about $28 and bought the frame on sale at Michael's for $14. I decorate with chickens, and this guy was just perfect. It's got the pinks, yellows, and purples that I decorate with instead of being too barnyardy. I fell in love with it. There's a little bit of damage at the bottom of the canvas, but I figure that just adds to its charm. I love collecting other people's old artwork. I photographed it, but I'm not sure how to get the picture into this message. I tried pasting it in, but that didn't work, so I'm trying to add it as an attachment. We'll see what happens.

[shabbychick]

Annielinz, I love your pictures! Painting that silverplate green made all the difference, didn't it? And the candlesticks are to die for. Good for you! Long live thrift shops!

[RoseMary]

That's a great find, shabbychick~I love roosters:). I'm like you--when an items is damaged it just adds to the charm!

[Gigi]

Shabbychick~ What a wonderful find~ it's just beautiful. That's great it has the colors that you want~ it was meant to be yours! :)

[Lisa S]

Oh Shabbychick~ that is just too cool! You totally lucked out!

[annielinz]

Shabby that rooster is just great-love the colors. It looks like its sunrise and he's ready to cock-a-doodle-do.

[cheapdiva]

I think it should be a "law" - you have to post at least one photo a week. Preferably something you have found and want to share with everyone.
Promise to get my camera busy this weekend and share the treasures I found with Memmey and Linda last weekend.

[CohenCottage]

I'm getting my camera out this weekend too and will post photos of our yard and living room. So far, I haven't bought anything fun, so no photos of new things.

In other, very excellent news, I sold a dog training package to a guy last week that owns a painting business, and we are going to trade out services! This means that our house will no longer be a Halloween special and I don't have to paint it myself OR pay someone else! Woo hoo!

[Gigi]

Well not a Thrift Shop find---but FREE from my dear son's mother-in-law. She had it stored in her glass porch ready to go to the dump....and when I saw it-and she told me that it had to GET OUT OF THERE sooner than later-then asked if I WANTED it....of course I said YES!!!!!

I would love to paint it white- and it went perfectly on a wall in our beach house. It has plenty of storage, etc...I'll need help- okay hand holding to do this....Memmey---Lisa!97

98

[annielinz]

Gigi, Free is the best kind of find. Now get that paintbrush out, it'll look great painted white!!

CohenCottage can't wait to see your pics.

Cheapdiva I agree, I like your new law ;)Can't wait to see what you found on your adventure.

[shabbychick]

Gigi, what a FAB hutch! A couple of coats of paint, some new knobs, and it'll be a whole new piece! Have fun with it!

Hm...a picture a week. I don't think I have that much interesting stuff to photograph. Guess I'd better go shopping.

[Lisa S]

Ready, set? Now PAINT!

It's cute!

[Breezy]

annielinz - love the pictures you posted. What neat stuff you found!

shabbychick - love the rooster pic! I have some in my kitchen.

Gigi - beautiful hutch!

[memmey]

Geeg..Zinssers primer sealer. Works like a charm. I think you should remove all the hardware and wipe it down with something that removes the furniture polish. Maybe a soapy rag with Dawn dish liquid.
Oh it will be so cute painted. It doesn't take long to do .:)

[Lynzee]

Annie ~ I love what you did with your finds! Such great ideas!

Shabbychick ~ The rooster is a great find. Love the colors!

Gigi ~ The hutch is great! Can't wait to see the pictures when it has been painted. Like Memmey said, Zinsser's Primer. It works magic!

[Evelyn]

Annielinz, I love your blackboard plate!!!!! I didn't know the paint could be used like that....where did you get it?

Evelyn

[annielinz]

Breezy, Lynzee and Evelyn thank you.

Evelyn, you can buy blackboard paint in either a can or in spray, its great stuff. You can find it at a hardware store or Home Depot. I'm thinking of painting the door going out to the garage with the paint and having a great place to leave notes. They also sell magnetic paint that you can paint on and magnets will stick.

While everyone is out looking for thrift buys, keep your eyes peeled for a old painting that may have an interesting frame and you can spray paint the picture with blackboard paint and then you'll have a cool message board.

[chyna]

I think I would suggest that you paint the back of the painting instead of the painting itself unless it is a print otherwise the blackboard will have loads of dips and peaks. I also cringe at the thought of anyone painting over a painting. :o anyway the back would be smoother or better yet replace with a piece of mdf or piece of that nasty paneling we all keep pulling off out houses. :p

[annielinz]

Chyna, I agree about painting over a painting, but I have seen some that are really reproductions and not even hand painted so they are smooth and a perfect candidate for the blackboard paint.

[Lynzee]

One of these--the chalkboard frame--is a $1.00 thrift store item. The rest are hand me downs.

I had BPG cut a piece of 1/4" plywood for the chalkboard. It has all of the little ridges and grooves and they show, but I love it.

I got the picture with the great frame I used for the platter shelf out of the dumpster when the tornado destroyed my daughter's house. I loved the frame but hated the picture, so I tossed the picture and had BPG build me a box. The platters were flea market finds, too. A buck each, I think.

The chairs belonged to my great grandmother and were passed down to my mom and dad. My dad upholstered them in gold velvet during the late 60's. I couldn't afford to have them reupholstered, so I tried my hand at it. There is a matching marble top table, but it hasn't made its way into the house from the garage yet.

[Lynzee]

This is the project I'm toying with now. Everything in this picture came out of the dumpster at my daughter's. I pulled as many old windows, shutters, and other architectural pieces out of the dumpster as I could during the demolition phase. Funny that no one but me wanted anything badly enough to dumpster dive in the dark every night after the contractors left, but now everyone wants me to share the stuff that I nearly killed myself for! :eek:

[annielinz]

Lynzee, lovin' those frames and what you did with them-great finds and prices!

The chairs look great too. Those are wonderful hand me downs and you did a fine job recovering them.

I have a chair that was my grandmothers that was a blue velour and I with my trusty staple gun and glue gun recovered it. Its not perfect but the cost to have it redone was not in my pocketbook :)

Here's a pic

[annielinz]

Oh my gosh Lynzee you posted another find, you are the dumpster diving queen! Great job and you are a brave girl.

[Lynzee]

you are a brave girl.

I'm not sure "brave" would be the right word. Looking back on it now, I can think of several others that would fit though. :D

Your chair is absolutely beautiful! Stunning! You did a wonderful job covering it. I should have had you cover mine!

[Gigi]

Lynzee- OMGooodness- I love your pics- so creative with the frame and shelf behind it- also I love the chair.

Anne- You too what a wonderful chair to have! Lucky you- and special.

[RoseMary]

I haven't found anything really special at the flea market lately, but I did find this set of cannisters for $5. I am going to use them for planters. The same trip I got the green striped planter ($2) and the two quart Blue Ball jar ($3). I also found this cute rooster cookie cutter ($2)~my favorite thing I found that day!

[Lynzee]

What great finds, RoseMary! Those cannisters are sweet!

[Breezy]

Lynz ~ everything is so pretty ~ those chairs are gorgeous and are especially meaningful since they belonged to your great~grandmother!

Annie ~ what a romantic chair ~ just beautiful!

RoseMary ~ you hit the jackpot with your finds ~ love the spring colors!


Would love to just wander around looking in flea markets & antiques shops but there's nothing close around here. Thank you ladies for posting your "finds" ~ seeing them is the next best thing to getting out and browsing. Well done!:)

[annielinz]

Rosemary, great finds, I would never of thought to use the cannisters for planters.

[RoseMary]

Lynzee, I love the $1 frame. And the platters look beautiful in the frame you saved. Your great grandma's chairs are beautiful--I love hand-me-downs!

[Danske]

Great finds! Lots of talent on this board!

[Gigi]

Rosemary-Every is special indeed! Beautiful canisters, the flower pot---and guess what for our September (on the water) wedding the same ball jars will hold shells, sand and a tealight by the water....

[RoseMary]

I love those jars, Gigi~I buy them whenever I see them. They can be used for so many things and purposes.

They'll look lovely with the sand, shells, and candles.

[Lynzee]

I got the idea from a magazine, Gigi--though I can't remember which one. Just one of the reasons I hate seeing all of these magazines cease to exist. :(

Funny thing about the chairs, Linn. I hated them! Didn't want them. Thought they were the ugliest chairs on the face of the earth. My mom made me take them. Now I wouldn't part with them for anything. :rolleyes:

I have an extremely limited decorating budget, RoseMary, so I tend to buy things that cost the least and see what, if anything, I can do with them. And I always accept hand-me-downs now...in light of my experience with the chairs. :o :D

[Gigi]

Hi Lynzee- Could it have been Martha Stewart- I now remember a article about adding a shelf behind a picture frame~ so cute!

[Lynzee]

Good morning Gigi. :)

I want to say it was either Country Living or Country Home, but I'm not really sure. Whichever it was, I'm glad I bought it. :D

[annielinz]

Found this at a second hand store , not quite a thrift store but its a pic of a cottage I wouldn't mind residing in.

[Lynzee]

Oh, wow, Annie! I love that picture. The cottage of my dreams!

[Lynzee]

Found this a couple of years ago. Don't know anything about it except that I love it. I bought it for the beach house and could not leave it behind when we moved, but I don't have room for it in my kitchen here. I'm using it as a storage cabinet in the garage. :(

[RoseMary]

I love the picture, annielinz--I would have snatched it up, too:).

Lynzee, that cabinet is so cute. I couldn't have left it behind, either. Maybe someday you will find another place for it.

[annielinz]

Rosemary and Lynzee thanks, I loved the picture too.

Lynzee, the color is beautiful on the cabinet and I love how the shelf drops down.

[Gigi]

Annielinz~ Ah pictures like that are very inspiring...beautiful.

Lynzee- I LOVE that cabinet- especially with the glass door. I would not have left it behind either.

[Breezy]

Annie the picture is great ~ my idea of a cottage!:)

Lynz ~ what a neat cabinet ~ hope you find room for it soon it's too nice to be in the garage!:)

[Lynzee]

Thanks, Ladies...I am really hoping to find a "home" for it.

The red board on the drop down door lifts up and there's a compartment underneath. Not sure what it's for--though someone told me once it is a pastry board and it's probably for flour? There's a tin compartment on one side behind the roll up door and the other side is ventilated? Apparently, at one time, everything painted blue was red. When I get ready to work with it, I may go back to that since I have a lot of enamelware with the red.

[Zuzu's Garden]

I don't have any thrift store finds, but I sure am enjoying seeing yours!!! LOVE all of the great ideas you are sharing too!
:D
Zu

[Gigi]

Not a thrift store buy-but almost- an Eastern Shore Antique store that has a mix of antiques and thrifty buys... Our beach house doesn't have a fireplace- so that will be a soon-to-be project. When I saw this mantel- I knew I wanted it. I waited a week-it was still there- so I grabbed it. :D So I ended up getting a very thrifty buy and it's an antique mantel taken out of an old home in the area.121

[annielinz]

Wow:eek: Great find Gigi.

[Lynzee]

WOW!!! That is beautiful, Gigi!

[Danske]

LOVE the mantle! Think of all the new horizontal real estate decorating possibilities:)

[annielinz]

Went to the DMV yesterday and when I got done there was a Goodwill store down the road so I ran inside to "just look". Lo and behold there was this silver plated champagne bucket. I have been looking for one and there it was just tempting me. Did I really need it?, heck no. *Sigh* so much for my simplifying:p, I am so hopeless. Please tell me how useful this is going to be:rolleyes:

[Gigi]

Annielinz- It was meant to be yours---it is just beautiful-a GREAT find!

[shabbychick]

Annielinz,

Well of course you needed this! If you don't want to use it for champagne, you can stick a potted plant in it. It's a beautiful piece. I can see why you wouldn't want to pass it up.

[Breezy]

Gigi ~ what a pretty mantel!

Annie ~ what a great find and so pretty!

[Lynzee]

Of course you need it, Annie! It's a great find!

[Zuzu's Garden]

Annielinz,

Anyone who can get through the CA DMV and survive not only deserves a champagne bucket, but the champagne to go in it. :p I remember standing in those lines with three children and a backpack filled with toys and snacks for hours.

I'm looking at it and thinking it really would make an amazing plant container.
:)
Zuzu

[annielinz]

Thank you all. I love when others justify my purchases :)

Zuzu, I was smart, I made an appointment at the DMV, *phew*, because when I got there the line was out the door. Went to the appointment line and there were two people. Still it was stressful, had to anty up my true weight:eek: and have my pic taken. It had been over 25 years since my last pic and I had big hair and shoulder pads ala Dynasty.

I am thinking a planter too, when it's not holding my champagne :)

[Zuzu's Garden]

Or fresh flowers - very pretty!
:)

[Lisa S]

Gigi ~ Love, love, love the mantle! It's going to be beautiful. Are you planning to use a wood stove or is it for decoration?

Annie ~ that bucket has such an elegant shape. I wouldn't have been able to resist either.

[One Woman]

Great finds! It's so neat to thrift shop. I call it Goodwill Hunting -I don't know what I'd do without our local Goodwill! For me, it's so much more fun to shop there than retail. I think it's the thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of the getting things at bargain prices, and the creative challenge involved in fixing up and transforming things:)

Breezy, Lynzee and Evelyn thank you.
While everyone is out looking for thrift buys, keep your eyes peeled for a old painting that may have an interesting frame and you can spray paint the picture with blackboard paint and then you'll have a cool message board.

Yes! I bought a HUGE ugly painting with a nice wooden frame the other day with this exact idea in mind! Since bringing it home, I've also toyed with the idea of painting the background and then drawing in and painting a black or dark brown silhouette that I've downloaded and printed out. I would have to actually try to draw the silhouette to scale, so if I can get my courage up, I just might try it! I still want to do a chalkboard as well...need to be on the lookout for another ugly painting with a nice frame, hehe!

Here is an old dresser that I bought a few years back for just $25! It was quite sad looking but very sturdy and heavy.

I painted it with exterior paint and first used it on my front porch in the warmer seasons. I called it my "garden dresser". I hadn't yet put new knobs on it when these photos were taken.

Recently, I brought it in out of the garage (where we store it in the winter) and now it's in our living room. I think the next time I paint it, I need to fix that big gouge at the bottom of one of the drawers. I didn't notice it so much outside, but inside I do.

[annielinz]

Love that dresser Kim.
The third pic could be in a magazine, you merchandized it so well!
Its also very versatile to use inside or out, great job and thanks for sharing.!

[One Woman]

Thanks, Annie. I'd live to get that folding screen hung on the wall somehow. I have an idea - now executing it without messing it up is another story!

[BoisBungalow]

I know this is an old thread, but I love everyone's thrift store/antique store/dumpster finds!! I am constantly searching CL for cool old stuff... I just have to convince hubby that we NEED it! :p

[RoseMary]

If you learn how to do that, BoisBungalow, please share you secret:)!

[shabbychick]

I had a good day at the local thrift shops last week. I took a picture of a few of the items I came home with. I love the teapot lamp even though it's not really vintage. The Fuzzy Bunny book has a 1940 copyright date, but I bought it because it was pink and because the bunny on the pages in the book is actually fuzzy. When I was a kid we used to have a book about a cat, and the cat was fuzzy on the pages, too. I loved that, so when I saw this one, I couldn't resist.

[vintage girl]

Fantastic finds!!!! I am dying to hit Goodwill by my work, but last week my car that I keep at work broke down and is in the auto shop at the college. They only work on the cars two days a week (Tues/Thurs), so hopefully it will be done this Tuesday:)

[shabbychick]

Ugh. Car trouble. I hate when that happens! Do they do good work at the college? Finding a mechanic you can trust is one of the hardest things ever, but a good one is sure worth his/her weight in gold!

[RoseMary]

Great finds, shabby!! I went a couple of weeks ago, but didn't find much of anything. It was a very disappointing trip. Love the bunny book!!

[shabbychick]

I'm so used to finding something I like at the thrift store that whenever I go in and nothing appeals to me, I'm shocked. I'm always suspicious that I've just overlooked something wonderful.

[vintage girl]

Ha Ha Ha!!! I am the same way. If I find nothing, I have to walk the aisles at least 2-3 times more, because I am positive that I have overlooked a treasure:D

Normally my hubs does all the work on our cars, but since it broke down a block from the college, it was easier to have it fixed here, rather than tow it home 40 miles. They do very good work and only charge a lab fee of $25 and for parts, or you can provide the parts yourself. What is frustrating is that the timing belt broke, which happened just before christmas, and hubs fixed it himself. The problem was the waterpump he put on at the same time was aftermarket and it is faulty and sheared through the timing belt. So basically we are having the same exact thing fixed again, but had to buy all new parts. This time we bought the dealer part rather than aftermarket. Hubs, needless to say is not a happy camper. But paying another $200 for parts is cheaper than having the dealer fix it. They wanted $600+:eek:

[mac78]

Ahh the joys of owning a car.....I would be so much richer if we didn't have 4 vehicles.....one for each of us.....but, in our area, there is no other way to get around except to drive, and when 4 people have 4 different work/school schedules, we have no choice. Sometimes a horse and buggy doesn't seem so "out there" after all.:eek:

[BoisBungalow]

I thought I would share my Craigslist find with you guys because no one else will really appreciate it :p I was cruising CL the other day (looking for nothing in particular) and came across some amazing furniture for my front porch. The lady who owned them was using them in her living room, but I knew they would look great on our porch.

She said she bought them in the 70's and had recovered and painted them recently. Here are some pics of my new loveseat, rocking chair and ottoman. They are reallly comfy and solid :) AND for $75 for everything, you can't beat it!

[shabbychick]

What a steal! They look great on your porch (and your porch is beautiful!). Great sleuthing on CL!

[RoseMary]

What a great deal. I love to see cottagey furniture on porches! I'm so ready to do some porch sitting:). Unfortunately, it has turned cold and rainy, but we are supposed to warm up by the weekend.

Vintagegirl--I am like you--I go back and walk those aisles just looking for that treasure I overlooked. Sometimes my little shopping basket still comes up empty:(.

[vintage girl]

Those are absolutely darling!!! What a fantastic find. I love CL. I have furnished almost my entire house with CL finds:D

[mac78]

Bringing this to the top so it doesn't get lost.

[Carrie]

I'm not even sure what I was thinking when I redid this old sewing cabinet I got from a thrift store for fifteen dollars. I was looking a decoupaged furniture on the web and thought I'd like to try. The results were uhh...:eek: I am throwing away the Mod Podge, brush and scissors now. Might have to break out the paint stripper. Why did I do this? Groan. It's certainly shabbier than it was when I brought it.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d88/Shadowreb/000_0224-1.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d88/Shadowreb/025-1-1.jpg

[shabbychick]

I think it's cute. Put it on Craig's list. Someone will want it.

[vintage girl]

I think it is darling. You dig a good job:)

[shabbychick]

I thought you guys might like to see the toy toaster I picked up at an antique shop yesterday. I was actually looking for something else (which I didn't find) but this toaster was calling to me, so I had to buy it. If I could find a real one just like it, I'd snap it up!

[Gigi]

Shabbychick- What a great find! Don't you just love it when you find something that you weren't looking for!

[shabbychick]

Thanks! Yes, the ones you just stumbled upon and fell in love with are the ones you end up liking for the longest time, I think. I'm planning to rearrange a shelf in my dining room to give it a more 1940's vibe and put the toaster there. It just doesn't look quite right with my fancy china, but I do have some other things it would go with quite nicely.

[Carrie]

Cute toaster. I wish toys were still made like that.
I found this gadget in the glass case at the local thrift store. It was unopened in the box. I got a really retro looking juice maker for 4.50. It goes well with my Kitchenaid mixer. It works well too!
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d88/Shadowreb/100_0958.jpg

[shabbychick]

I like it, Carrie! Great find!

[vintage girl]

Great finds by both of you:) I found a bright fuschia juicer at my local Goodwill. I have to bring my camera home from work and take a picture. It is similar to yours Carrie. They work fantastic:)

[G Howard]

New (or new to you) furniture sure can give a house a new feeling. I love how you can change the look/feel/ and ambiance of a room or living space with new furniture pieces. Keep the ideas coming!

[RoseMary]

Great finds, shabby and Carrie! Those old toys are so fun to find and I love old kitchen gadgets--especially if they work:)!