While in Madison, WI a few weeks back I did a little thrifting with my pal Jessie. Unfortunately, I was traveling by air and had to be very choosy about my purchases. The place we ended up had some great things I would have loved to snag: a giant, orang-ish landscape painting, crazy throw pillows, a Limoges gravy boat (white and gold and lovely) and all kinds of dishes. The thing I couldn't pass up was this fantastic ceramic horse. I have named her Tallulah and she still lives in Madison with Jessie and David, until the time comes for her to return to me. I was going to be brave like my friend Michael who has no fear when it comes to packing glass, but I just couldn't risk it. Someday, she will take her rightful place on the coffee table of my front room and rule the space as she was meant to.
Jennie is such a sweetheart and picked up this fantastic coral for me. It's not just any coral, but a beautiful specimen that has been attached to a strange little Lucite base. Somehow, the base makes a great thing event better, lending a certain seventies vibe. It rests on the coffee table, calling out quietly, "Tallulah, Taaaaa....lluuuuu....laaaaaaah."
Molly visited from Wichita and brought a great housewarming gift: an image of Virgin that is three-dimensional! Not 3-D is a flashing kind of way, but slightly raised off the background. Not only is she fantastic and three-dimension, but she is also the Virgin with the Super Powers. (Okay, they all have super powers, but this one really shows it by shooting powers rays from her hands. Don't mess with her!) She looks great on the mantel altar with Juan Carlos and an array of her Virgin counterparts.Metal mid century magazine rests abound at thrift stores around the country, but I wanted the right one, the correct one for my magazines and life. I wanted the magazine rack of perfection. The one true magazine rack.
My main issue was that I wanted a rack where the magazines could lay flat. I do not want my magazines to stand on end, they get bent up and fall all over each other. Ick. So I found what I thought was THE one, but it was too curved and magazines just didn't work in it. I put a book in the bottom, which seemed to work, but then the book was warped. Irritating. (I'm sorry Dorie Greenspan, I'll try and fix it.) So at Saint David's Next-to-New (They still haven't moved into their new store, but keep promising it is any day.) we found what may turn out to be the one. It is a two-storied model that cradles the precious monthlies at a slight angle. For now, I am very happy, but it is still on a six-month trial.
Happy Thrifting!