Won't Stop, Can't Stop

Darlings, you know I can never stop. It isn't the things, but the hunt, that drives me. The thrill of the find! But you all know that, so I am preaching to the hunters. The past week had been pretty long and the week prior I had been traveling, so I was looking forward to some thrift therapy on Saturday. Even though I got a late start, there was still an array of wonderful things. And no matter how full the cupboards are, how stuffed the shelves are or how many things currently live in boxes, there will always be something I can't resist...

Dishes. My weakness. Even though I don't care for the color, I swooned when I spotted these amazing dishes by Ben Seibel for Raymor. I didn't buy them, even though I should have bought them and resold them or something. That just isn't how I thrift, but with the bounty of West Texas thrift, I may have to change my plan.

I loved this chip and dip and candelabra! What a unique, and challenging, serving piece. Late in the evening you would have to be careful not to burn yourself as you reached over the burning candle for some spinach dip.

This Pyrex cheese cracker tray was difficult to pass over, especially with the new cheese knives I recently purchased...

Apparently they always have an array of beautiful glass at Trade-n-Treasures, but Saturday it was even more splendiferous. I found myself thinking of my friend Michael in Chicago and his amazing collection of glass, wondering which of these pieces he would try and carryon if he were visiting? Thoughts?

Faux. You know how much I love faux. And faux shells? Reader, it was so hard not to buy these. I mean, I could find a place for them, of course. And I have been having visions of my a mantle covered in faux shells as my collection grows...but....still...I passed. Sigh.

This punch bowl was more than I want to pay, but a GEORGES BRIARD punch bowl?!? I love Briard and some of us never stopped serving punch, but I would also have to find all new punch cups. And also sell my current bowl, which is quite amazing and on a stand. Having TWO punch bowls is just ridiculous, right? Curiously, the image was printed on the interior, so the signature was reverse.

I did take home this little log planter. We have one or two already, so a small collection. Plus, succulents look very cool planted in them. I couldn't say no.

Lastly, this set of eight owl glasses was hiding on a shelf at Tradarama, covered in dust. Otherwise, the gold was in perfect shape and I couldn't pass them up. I don't really need more glasses that can't go in the dishwasher, but I bought them anyway. Perhaps they'll be a gift for someone else.

After running a few errands, I got home and did few things around the house, including unpacking the finds. After a while, I gathered up my stuff and returned to the store to buy those blasted shells. I couldn't stop thinking about them and was just glad they were still there!

Let Me Be Clear

I just want to be very clear: I wasn't just good, I was very good. I could have returned from this little outing with a station wagon filled with amazing items, but instead I only bought five. Five. And to prove my point, I have plenty of photographic evidence. Observe...

I started at the Salvation Army, which I believe I have mentioned is in a shady part of town, but does have pretty good things. Today was no exception...
You often see these salad bowls in other colors, such as bright blue (I have a couple of those), but I had never seen them in this color; is that grape or aubergine? I'll go with aubergine. But, I passed on them rather than create an extreme paradigm shift within 'la collection.'

This dog statuette was amazing and challenging to resist.


The most gorgeous space heater I have ever seen. Isn't it fantastic? It makes me think beads in doorway, bing bag chairs and spherical radios with the Carpenters playing while you iron your hair.

Although the photo might suggest this rabbit could fit in your palm, it's actually life-size! Like those white cats you see a lot? I thought it would be wonderful, sitting around in some absurd place (kitchen counter?), but obviously there is already plenty of wonderful things sitting absurdly around my place, right?

Next, I headed to Tradearama, which I hadn't been to, but someone in my seminar on Friday had mentioned. Tradearama is one of those very classic second hand stores in that, while there is a general sense of organization probably created five or ten years ago, it is slowly dissolving with each object they add to the pile. In other words, you have to dig. It is a place my mam-ma would have loved and they had some wonderful treasures...

A truly fantastic canister set that was in very good condition. Easily snatched up.

This gorgeous platter.

An amazing array of coffee cups.

Rice bowls! Service for twelve! Perfect for the 'broken down bus full of Buddhist monks' scenario! And so much more...old typewriters, a separate room full of old books and magazines guarded by it's own old lady, planters, lamps...so much.

After that, I headed up the street to Trade-N-Treasures which is a thrift store that is on almost the complete separate end of the thrifting spectrum: everything is beautifully organized, with signs for each section. Heaven.

An amazing sideboard, simple and elegant.

This lovely tea canister reminded me of something Jonathan Adler might sell today.

The egg cooker I already own, which matches the most beautiful toaster in the world.

A record cabinet in an Asian-ish style.

A George Briard platter in the Persian Garden pattern. I was strong, I was strong...the price was okay, but not a bargain.

Perfume bottles in every shape imaginable!

Vintage soaps in their boxes....and more cologne bottles!

A weird photo of a high school musical: Damn Yankees? What other show involves a baseball team? I don't know, this is really out of my scope of knowledge.

Soup tureens! Movie stars! Black gold!

It was heaven.

What did I buy? Five things; or two, depending on how you look at it.

This set of shallow, square dishes with a small gold rim is from Hall--and this was my second chance with them. I even carried them around the store, all the while debating whether to purchase them and what I would use them for. Is that what you do? Try to justify how you might use something? Like this would perfect to serve pound cake on? Or if I can use it for multiple things, then it's even better, e.g., "these would be great for sherbet, but I could also use them for a cold soup garnished with avocado in the summer." Then I can easily talk myself into things. But, these I could think of nothing....so I carried them around the store, finally giving up...until I spotted...

This incredibly dirty Quan Yin, hiding I'm the corner. Isn't it funny, once you find something you HAVE to have, it's much easier to talk yourself into anything else! So I bought the rectangular plates. Check and check.

When I got home, I cleaned up Quan Yin and got out the rest of the smaller ones, putting them all on the mantle altar with the mega-Quan Yin...

Voila. Happiness.

Well?


1. What does perfume in a frog-shaped bottle smell like?
2. Who, at Avon, says, "You know, I think perfume in a frog-shaped bottle will sell really well. Something in a lily pad scent?"
3. Why is the frog wearing a chef hat? Wouldn't a crown be more appropriate? Like a frog prince? And if you wear this, you'll find him?
4. Instead, it's a frog chef. Is he going to cook you something fantastic? Frog legs? Wouldn't you be disappointed if you kissed a frog and he turned out to be a short-order cook? Instead of an aristocrat?
5. Why is the hat red?
6. Is it some sort of food-based flavor of perfume? Is the scent 'fried?'
7. Is it something people would really like, since it's a rather large bottle? Like an everyday sort of scent?
8. Why does the frog look unhappy?
9. Why do I want this?
10. Is it the contrast between the red, plastic hat and the white, glass bottle that makes it so appealing?
11. Or is it just the frog? That it's a frog perfume bottle?

Salon de Refusés

Reader, you know there has been a dry spell, but the clouds have broken and a sweet bounty of thrift has been poured about the earth! Rejoice! Rejoice throughout the land!

From whence did said bounty appear? Omaha. Omaha, Nebraska. The new promised land of thrifting. Every time we visit I find the most amazing and beautiful things. One store in particular yields a trove of treasures and I have said before, I could furnish an entire house in one visit. Or at least get a start. Before I get to the good stuff, I thought I would share a few images of the things I did not buy to prove the point that I am selective and I do not buy every dusty, dirty relic my pinky finger grazes. No matter what you might think...

I'm really not a seasonal cookie jar type of person, but I love the color and design of this one. IF I were going to buy a seasonal cookie jar, it would be the one. I'm not, so I didn't.

Can you imagine if you came to my house and after each course I got out the silver plated crumb knife and pan and cleaned the tablecloth? I'm sure you can, but don't worry, it isn't going to happen. I'm reading The Help and just such an item was referenced as a detail relaying the pointless accoutrement of the bourgeoisie wedding register. This one was monogrammed and looks like it might actually have been used.

This lamp is over the top, with four faux candlesticks fitted for light bulbs. You know how I love my faux, but there is no place in our home for such a large and ostentatious lamp.

A pricey and mint condition big yellow bowl, but I already have two...

I have been asking the universe for a Georges Briard tea kettle for a while, but one that is mint and usable hasn't turned up. This one looks fantastic on the outside, but the interior was a mess and I had to leave it there. A lot of the Briard enamelware was produced in Terre Haute, so you would think there would be more of it appearing at the Goodwill, but not so much. Come one universe!

Temporama, the 'wedding china.' They had a sugar bowl, some cups and a few bread and butter plates. I think the only pieces I'm missing from this set is a butter dish and the salt and pepper, so I left all of these where they were. I culled the set down to service for twelve during the move to Austin, TX, so it's pretty much stabilized at this point.

Jessie hates clowns, so it's all I can do not to take a picture of every one I see and send it to her. I resisted, but I'm posting here for your amusement. Hopefully it'll still give her a good fright. This looks like paint-by-numbers and if it really were, then I would have snapped it up. But, it's just a printed piece.

Hey there pretty, elegant lady. Fancy.

This bizarre curio cabinet was plastic and rather shaky. Something about it was very attractive though...

I should have bought this table. I don't know what I was thinking. Even if I didn't use it, I'm sure I could have found a good home for it.

Georges Briard Pyrex, but a pattern I could resist at a price I would never pay.

I was so excited to find this double vegetable by Ben Seibel in the Impromptu pattern and greatly disheartened to find it was chipped on both ends. I have the open vegetable in this same pattern and this would have made a great addition to the amazing white dish collection.

Who could ash in such a cute little ashtray? Isn't she saying 'Please quit smoking' with her eyes?

And that was what I DIDN'T buy! Are you ready for the good stuff? Drum roll please....

These People Are Serious

It wasn't enough that someone created a clock to
go on your mantel and made it a bright, flashy plastic-y gold.

It wasn't enough that there be a single unicorn or a pegasus,
it had to be a pegacorn: fiercest of the mythical beasts!

But, one pegacorn wasn't enough.
No, they had to flank the clock with pegacorns, in all of their magnificence.

But that still wasn't enough, they had to add beautiful,
realistic silk roses, frozen in time, to match the goldenish ones and adorn the clock.

This clock is the best illustration I could ever give you that
too much is never enough.

Left at the thrift store, I was unworthy.