Photo: Great grandparents at their farm in Blandinsville, IL, with five of their six children .. my grandpa was yet a twinkle in grandma's eye. Stable boy and governess also pictured. Hodges farm, circa 1903-4

Thursday, July 16, 2009





Thrifty Home Finds.

I spotted a Kitchenaid mixer paddle yesterday at a vintage store. Price $2.99. Mine went missing about a year ago .. or did I throw it away when the paint started coming off (?). Anyhow, the perfect replacement just happened to appear .. so I purchased it today. Ann (my daughter) had her wisdom teeth removed (ouch), and while waiting for her prescription, I dashed across the street to some thrifty/vintage stores. Another item on my 'to find at bargain basement prices' list was a nice pair of off white king size pillow cases for my bed. At the Hospice store, they had a pair of barely or never used luxurious Egyptian cotton king cases .. asking price: $.50 ea. A christmasy pillowcase for a quarter was had to repurpose into a holiday apron .. some scrap material totaling $.50 to make new kitchen table napkins ... a pressed glass shaker bottle for storing baking soda in my bathroom for cleaning the sinks ... $.25, and a dainty little glass syrup/cream pitcher with lid .. $.45. How about a Hepplewhite (shield back) chair from the Salvation Army for $7.99 (I already have fabric to reupholster the seat) ... some mismatched tea cup saucers (vintage of course) ranging from .$25 to $3.99 will be perfect to 'repurpose' as soap dishes this Christmas with a bar of homemade soap. Christmas shopping in July. Repurposing inexpensive castoffs into new and usable items. Very rewarding. Total spent .. under $20. I would have spent at least that much to buy a new mixer paddle with the cost of shipping. No, I didn't buy all this stuff while my daughter sat in the car (silly) ... some was purchased yesterday ... what kind of mom do you think I am? ;)

Do you shop at used or vintage shops? Tag sales? One man's junk is another man's treasure :)

Wall art photos: Little Girl Eating Biscuit .. Rumford Baking Powder vintage advertisement framed (copyrighted 1885) $1.25. Little girl rocking her dolly .. $.75

10 comments:

Kathryn said...

Wow. You got some great deals. I love the pictures of the girls. And a great replacement part for your mixer. Oh, & all of it. That is fun.

I shop thrift/consignment stores or yard/garage sales if i'm looking for something fairly specific. I've had a clutter problem in the past & don't want to get to that point.

I love old things. I really, really love old things, but if it is something i can't use every day (currently vintage table cloths & napkins or a good size pic for the one spot blank) i don't get them. The only collections i have are things that can fit in a jar: Buttons, shells, rocks.

This works for me. But we've friends who have their house filled with antiques big & small & i love visiting. (Have to admit when i visit my thoughts usually are "So much dusting!" I'm not much of a house keeper.) :)

Cindy said...

It's so fun to find deals like that. I'm curtailing my spending so right now I'm avoiding yard sales and thrift shops but I do love the idea of buying vintage or used things that can be recycled as gifts. Love the idea of saucers with homemade soap. A few years ago I bought some cute antique canning jars with the old zinc lids and made coffee mixes to put in them for gifts.

LynnS said...

You have some fantastic finds! Lucky you!!

I am not much of a shopper but have stopped at a few yard sales if it's on the way to or from a destination. I have gotten some nice treasures, my favorite 'find' being a $2 McCoy vase in excellent condition.

Sometimes I shop at thrift stores, yes, and do enjoy being there even if it's just looking around. I love the vintage era and most items from the 1800s, so an antique shop will also turn my head.

I confess that my biggest weakness is a country auction, though. Especially when the auction is an estate sale and you can learn the history behind the items being auctioned.

Pat said...

I just went to a thrift store today. No sales though. I like to browse every now and again, you never know what great buy is waiting for you!

DarcyLee said...

You found some real treasures! Even if you had only found the paddle for your mixer, your trip would have still been very successful. I, too, have a king size bed with the king size pillows, but the pillowcases aren't as easy to find at the thrift store, so good for you!

Mr. H. said...

It's garage sales for us...well my wife. I think over half the supplies we use in the garden have come from such sales. Oh, and the books I have found at used stores, some of my favorite reads to be sure.

Felisol said...

The Hepplewhite chair blew me off.
I'll have to go the USA just for the many good bargains.
I do shop second hand all the time.
Not just for the low prices, but one get items otherwise not found.
My daughter bought a tin bos for fourty dollars the other day. It sure was worth it.

I'm the kind that can many many cheap things for the price of one quality item.
That is not economic in the long run.
Your pictures were so adoring.
This is shopping therapy on its best.
From Felisol

Mrs. Mac said...

Having a newly built home affords much wall space to add decor. My inspiration began as a little girl about age four ... my mom took me to a ladies home ... big old country home with stonework and many rooms. At that young age I was impressed at the 'trash' finds she had repurposed. A wool Persian style room size rug she bought for a few dollars cleaned up beautifully. A Victorian style sofa that was missing a leg .. she carved a new leg and upholstered the sofa herself. Can you imagine as a young girl getting inspired about junk :)

Rebecca said...

Yes, I shop thrift stores! Not as much as I used to since our house is filled to the brim - but sometimes just stop in for the "therapeutic" benefit :) THIS week when I stopped in they were having a $1 sale on ALL clothing. I bought 24 items including some new men's polo shirt with tags on, 2 jean jackets for me, 3 pr. of Docker slacks for my husband. No wares this time - just "wears"!

Mrs. Mac said...

Sounds like a good deal, Rebecca! Thanks for stopping by.