Thrift Share: The Vintage Owl Haul

I'm currently thrifting for essentials only, but the vintage owl jars above were a happy accident. On the way to the thrift store with friends these owls sat on a table in a park seconds from my apartment; unique, beaming, tempting.

I stopped the car, shamelessly asked for a birthday discount and got the entire set of vintage owl jars for $10.00. The lamp was $7.00, perfect for my desk at work.

Book, bowls, snacks, apron, vintage fabric, tea, yay!

The Birthday: October 16th was my birthday. Above is a photograph of the birthday gifts from my friends. The small get-together this weekend was resplendent. We scarfed pizza, beer, wine and cheesecake while ruthlessly mocking the Nightmare on Elm Street Remake. I love each gift, my friends know me so well!

Owl Votive from a set of three, a gift from my friend Michelle

Goals for Thriftcore: Twenty-four is a strange age. It feels infinitely older than twenty-three; and I'm more driven than ever to succeed at my goals. The expense of this drive is loosing most of the perpetual happiness I used to feel (it's been replaced with stress, anxiety). One of my goal is to continue writing quality content for this blog.

Blog Giveaway Winner
I used a random number generator to select the winner of the Vintage Halloween Giveaway. Congratulations to Lara of My Adventures in LaLa Land. I can't wait to host more Giveaways in the near future! Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey!

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Thrifter Tips: The Top 5 Ways to Organize Your Bookshelves

My dining room/library/craft space in my small apartment.

Your eclectic collection of books and knick knacks is making your bookshelves look more like Sanford and Son than a dream library. I had the same issues, and applied the following solutions to organize my bookshelves.

1. Purge: Don't read it? Don't love it? Purge it! I sell my unused books and DVDs to Chamberlain Book Mine, our local pimp master of used book stores.

2. Facing: To project the image of a perfectly stocked store, retail chains practice facing; they pull all products to the front of the shelf or display. Pull your books forward so the books in your bookshelf are even all the way across to instantly eliminate chaos.

3. Organize: From here, start to rearrange the books on the shelf. All sets and volumes should be together, in order. Arrange books in order of height, color, or alphabetically; whatever pleases your eye and makes the books 100% assessable.

4. Think Groups: Arrange your collections in groups in the spaces between your books. Collections always look best grouped together. You can do common objects, shapes or themes. You can play with mix-matched items and work it until you have a balanced arrangement.

5. Bookshelf Backdrops: Use fabric, paper, or paint to give your bookshelf a backdrop if you crave more details or harmony.

Using these bookshelf organizing tips you should have a better balanced bookshelf in minutes. Thrifters can get out of control when the books and knick knack cost mere pocket change, but with a little artful rearranging (and purging!) you can make it work (and make room for more thrifty goodies)!

By the way... I'll announce the winners of my Vintage Halloween Giveaway on Monday. You have one more weekend to enter! Good luck!

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Thrift Share: Name This VintageThing

I bought this interesting mushroom-on-a-log-thing on impulse at the thrift store, it's so unique. It would be an ordinary knick knack if it wasn't for the strange indentation in the front (back?) I can't help but wonder what it's meant to hold.

Is this homemade, manufactured? It's hard to say. But I love the muted color of the tree trunk, the line design, and the mushrooms that are growing out of all corners of the log like remnants from a psychedelic hallucination.

What Do You Think This Item is?

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It's about 8.5 inches long and 4.5 inches high.
Sitting on a small shelf.

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Thrift Share: Records, Books, and Bits

Glasses, Records, Books, Vintage Things, Gifts for Friends...
This weekend my friend Fenna and hit up all of my favorite thrift stores in St. Augustine. I was highly selective and put many vintage pretties back, but still ended up with more than I intended...




I really like this clock and paisley wallpaper I found for .50 cents each. I might use them to line the back of shelves or other crafts. The clocks remind me of Alice in Wonderland somehow.




I've never bought candles or scented-type things from the thrift store but these soy ones smell amazing and the colors are very vibrant. I'm going to send some out to whoever wins my Vintage Halloween Giveaway




I tried and tried to resist both "The Creative Family Workshop" and the interesting colorful art plaque next to it. Then I found out the books were half off just bit the bullet. They were $1.50 each. The unique art was $2.00.

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Thriftcore's Thrifting Essentials Part I

I approach thrifting like an archeologist excavation; you need the right tools to easily unearth treasure. Below are my basic thrifting essentials.

1. Notebooks and Pens: Have one notepad to keep your weekly thrift lists. Cross off each item you find and write the price next to it so you have a sexy tangible list of how much you've saved!  

2. Shopping Bag: Not all thrift stores have shopping carts of baskets. Keep a shopping bag in your car just in case.I use the beautifully designed recycled ones from Blueq.com.

3. Hand Lotion and Hand Sanitizer: It's handy to have hand sanitizer to clean dirt and dust until you access a sink. Hand Lotion is my essential because dust, dirty, and frequent washing saps moisture from your hands. Use a non-greasy formula or dust will stick to you!

 Successful Haul of Thrift Goods using my Thrifting Essentials (Details Here)

4. Measuring Tape: I NEVER leave the house without my rolled up bit of measuring tape. I'm always looking for frames, mat, and bits of furniture that have to be JUST the right size, so this is a vital tool.

5. Your Fancy Phones: Connect to the web and see if an item is valuable BEFORE you bring it home.

I never connect to the web via a phone. Call me old fashioned, but I like to take extended breaks from any internet usage. It's necessary because I work in internet marketing and use the internet ALL day every week day.

On to Part II: As thrifters we like to peek into the past and into other people's lives. We're part voyeur, admit it. Next time I'll give you an exclusive peek inside my bag of thrifty essentials and provide more detailed descriptions. If you have any particular questions about thrifting tools and goods you want answered in future posts, let me know!


What are YOUR Thrift Store and Junking Essentials? I'd really like to know, share your secrets! * * *  See Where Thriftcore is linked to

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The Japan-o-Files: Thrifting for Japanese Design

It's obvious from past posts and my art style that I have a fascination with Japanese Design.



My latest find from Japan is this beautiful lamp. Assembled in Japan, likely in the 1960s, it's filled with subtle details.


The scene from Mt. Fuji is hand-painted on glass for the background. Soft light emanates from the etched glass of the sides. The light bulb sits within the screened section. In the center is a beautiful golden pagoda, and beside it, a chrysanthemum.


The lamp really warms up the room. I added my thrifted 1975 Barry Ross Screen print of Japanese maidens in the garden and my small collection of kokeshi dolls to the mix for a bed-side Japanese still life.


When I prowl thrift stores I instinctively zero-in on the object from Japan, it's like I have a built in homing devise. It might not look Japanese, but I'll examine the object and note the "Made in Japan" stamp or etching every time.

I've decided to periodically post on my Japanese finds. I can't be the only Japanophile thrifaholic out there! Who else collects Japanese designs from the thrift stores? What do you hunt for?

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Halloween Thrift Store Goodies

This weekend we embarked on an aggressive Thrift Store Hunt for a chalk board. I didn't find one, but I didn't leave empty handed....



I found a bag of small wooden Halloween ornaments for $1.45. They're perfect for my black Christmas tree (Halloween Tree?)



The bag includes little ghosts, pumpkins, bats, and witches. Probably not true vintage like we crave, but still cute.



This large framed owl needlepoint piece came framed and it's in very good shape. I bought it to sell it but it's so lovely, I might keep it.



I'm also trying to decide if I will sell or make these charming needlepoint art pieces. I love the cozy home still lives and the retro mushroom art. I'll likely list them in my Etsy Shop.

I didn't find the object of my desires (chalk board) but that'll give me an excuse to get back to the thrift stores ASAP. Not like I need an excuse...



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