You've been holding out on me. Yes,
YOU! For years I've been showing you
every single treasure I exhume on my thrifting adventures, sharing
tips for success, interviewing
thrifters around the world, and helping you with your
reselling ventures, and more...yet you remain silent. My stats list my followers at 921 on blogger, 1,800 on
Twitter, and 1,014 on
Facebook, yet I've only met a proverbial handful of readers. I'd love to get to know
you! I'll start...
Hi, I'm Vanessa, but I go by
Van! I thrift in Jacksonville, but occasionally explore thrift stores all around the picker's paradise that is
Florida, USA! I was raised in Naples, Italy and have been quirky and thrifty
my entire life. (More on that later.) I was a marketer/writer (
writing career confession), now I'm a freelance writer and reseller (
story here). A former slave to The Man in
Cubicle Hell, I'm now a bohemian artsy-hippie (
join me!) and a unrepentant nerd. Here are
seven more random facts to make you laugh!
Hell you can even have a detailed look inside my purse!
But that's enough about me, today I'm dying to know a little bit about
you.
Leave a comment on this post and tell me: where do you live and thrift in this diverse world of ours, and what's the thrifting like where you live?
(By the way, if you're new around these parts check out my World Thrifters series where I interview thrifters from Australia and Asia to the Arctic!)
Share a link to your blog and tell me a little bit about you in the
comments below!
I'm looking forward to meeting you! Don't be shy! Demographics tell me you readers are from all around the world!
Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on
Twitter and
Facebook.
Hi, I'm Anna in Texas. I shop goodwills and antique shops and garage sales. Wherever and whenever I can. Some of my best finds are from small town antique shops with garage sale prices. My favorite find ever is probably an antique coffee grinder I got for 25c at a yard sale but I see similar ones for 80-$100. I love fiestaware and other vintage dishes
ReplyDeleteHey again Anna! I love your blog (http://anna-kiwiintexas.blogspot.com/)and thrifting style and must make time to scroll throught your archives again. I love that you're a Kiwi, a New Zealand expat.
DeleteWhat was thrifting in New Zealand like?! I WILL visit NZ someday...
Hey! I'm Robbie from Jersey. The thrift around here are hit or miss with the kind of things I like, but there always tons of great estate sales. I'm a full-time student and retail slave working on my first book, due out in August 2013. Check out my blog @ www.knitxcore.com <3
ReplyDeleteHey again Robbie! Had no idea you were working on your first book! So exciting! Definitely going to check out more of your blog archives.
DeleteI've got two good friends in Philly, I might be thrifting in Jersey before I know it :D
I have lived in the US for 13 years, so most of my thrifting has been done here. On my last trip "home" though I did do some thrift store shopping - http://anna-kiwiintexas.blogspot.com/2011/06/antique-store-fix.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Anna! I love those photos!
DeleteHi, I'm Courtney from Michigan. I thrift around southeast Michigan, which is hit or miss. The stores closest to me are often pretty picked over (we have a lot of hipsters/thrifters/vintage hunters in the area), but if I drive to some lesser known spots I can get some great finds.
ReplyDeleteMy dad lives in western Pennsylvania (where I'm originally from), and I love thrifting out there because there's a ton of old people. Old people = old stuff. :)
Hey Courtney! I've never been in that area of the USA, so it's nice to know what it's like!
DeleteOh hi there, Van. Well you know me. Tis I, Jackie Jardine, writer, blogger, photographer and avid thrifter from Philadelphia, PA. My favorite thrift stores to haunt would have to be Impact, which has 4 large stores in Philadelphia suburbs. I've also found strange, quirky wares in 2nd Ave Value Store and the local Goodwill.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to make a name for myself as an expert on thrifting, not necessarily as a means for better finances, but out of pure entertainment value. It's a treasure hunt! And the low, low prices are a bonus of course.
It would be lovely to have a museum or gallery to house my vintage curiosities, so that others may view the things I've unearthed. Hmm, maybe someday.
In the meantime I'm just thrfitin' bloggin' photographin' and working on the idea for a book. Woo woo!
http://letsgothrifting.blogspot.com/p/about.html
<3 Jackie @ Let's Go Thrifting!
We're truly kindred spirits, Jackie. Call me when you get that book deal and museum grant and drag me down into the thrift abyss with ya. My "thrift expert" status was accidental but it's fun, ain't it? :)
DeleteMy name is Bill and I live in Central Massachusetts. I am a picker and find most of my items at estate sales and flea markets (when the weather cooperates) but also do some "cold calls" from items on Craigslist. I have spaces in 3 antique stores so I need lots of new merchandise and price my items to move quickly. My best find was a 1903 mutoscope movie reel I bought for $10 and flipped for $900 - that one will be tough to beat.
ReplyDeleteI started my business after losing my job of 15 years and instead of sulking and mooching off the government I decided to start pickin' and that is how Found Again Treasures came to be.
Since weather shuts down most yard sales and flea markets from November - March I have learned a lesson that it is easier to sell but harder to buy in the winter and easier to buy but harder to sell in the Summer. So when I buy during the warmer months I often squirrel away 4-5 items a week so I have inventory during the colder months without having to pay higher prices.
If you are wondering what's selling in the Northeast just like my Facebook page and keep track of what I have and what's moving out of my shops. Thanks.
Your facebook link didn't work, can you post it again? LOVED reading your story, Bill. I love the reseller stories where people made the most out of their unemployment by reselling and it evolves into a fruitful career.
DeleteI've never had a turnaround like your $900 one...just...wow!
Hi Van - is this any better?
Deletehttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Found-Again-Treasures/193853193979994
Otherwise you can search on the name but I know that is a little extra work! The best (or worst) part of the big score is I really didn't know what I bought at the time - it just looked cool and had an early patent date so I scooped it up!
Keep up the good work - Bill
Yes, now that works. Beautiful!
DeleteI'm Rae and I live in nashville. From what i've seen online it seems like our estate sales are pretty amazing, but our thrifts have become pretty high priced. i only thrift at the goodwill outlet, and it is hit or miss. my husband goes daily and has been reselling on ebay for the last few weeks (mostly backpacks and bags) and has been doing way better than i expected! I have been junking for years just to satisfy myself, but i'm just a few weeks from starting my space at a local antique mall, so i have a reason to keep searching. i want to start small, but i would love for it to become a major source of income, so i can go down to part time on my current job, mostly to keep my insurance. we'll see. i blog, and if you go here: http://raesock.blogspot.com/search/label/vintage
ReplyDeleteyou can see my thrift reports and estate sale finds. i love your blog!
Thanks Rae! Definitely going to check out your blog in more detail. Good luck with your antique mall space, it's definitely a challenge starting during traditionally slower summer months! (Like Bill mentioned.)
DeleteHi, I'm Christine and I'm in Greensboro, NC. I have good luck with the Salvation Army & Goodwill stores in my area, better luck with Value Village, and my best luck of all at a tiny little thrift called Blessingdale's. They're associated with a Christian-centered drug treatment program, and tucked away in a residential neighborhood well off the beaten-path. They have a 10 cent rack where all clothing eventually ends up if it's been in stock too long, and I've found some truly amazing finds there. A few vintage pieces to resell, but mostly current, brand name stuff for myself or friends/family. This week I found a women's dress shirt for $5.25 that still had the $650 Saks Fifth Avenue tag still attached! I have high hopes for that one on eBay. My best vintage find there was this: http://www.gtk.at/auxilium/showshop.php?LFD=11828 It's a hand-signed print by European illustrator Paul Flora, matted and
ReplyDeleteprofessionally framed, for $5. I don't know what it's worth, but I'm never parting with it because I love it so much.
10 cent rack! Dreams do come true ;) I love the finds off the beaten path, I always find the best deals that way.
DeleteThanks for letting us in on thrifting in Greensboro, NC!
I live near Toronto, and that's where I thrift shop generally. I think Canada is probably expensive for thrifting when compared to the US. But, I recently found a volunteer-run store that is cheaper! Like you, I also am a freelance writer. My husband's family is from Italy. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteNice to know! Thanks for sharing :) Things seem to be more expensive in your area in general, but I hear it's beautiful up there!
DeleteMy name is Heather and I live on Long Island in New York. I mostly garage sale and estate sale with my best friend, Katie! I am a reseller and she is a collector, but we like totally different things, so it works out great for both of us - using two pairs of eyes on everything and knowing the other person's taste! I resell on etsy, because there aren't a lot of antique malls or awesome consignment shops, but we've been dropping by a couple of newer ones that might be a great place to start selling in person.
ReplyDeleteIn my job life, I'm a librarian, so I love to research and learn about some of the unique items I find. I love to read about other people on the hunt, and what great stuff they find in their regions! I collect Walking Ware, which is hard to find in the US, and that is a collection that I won't sell. I also love to make things, and just moved into a house filled with treasures!
I've found some rare Pyrex (larger dots mixing bowls) and some Danish pottery, but mostly I just buy things that are kitschy and awesome, and sell them to people who have the same asthetic as I do. I enjoy them in my home before they sell, and the displays in the living room are constantly changing!
I love hunting with a pal with different tastes or someone who's just up for the adventure, too. No competition that way, and two sets of eyes are better than one. Thanks for sharing your story, Heather!
DeleteHi Van,
ReplyDeleteI'm Charlie (a girl livin' with a boy's name) and I live in Washington, DC but am from Texas. I thrifted and Goodwilled it all through college but once I moved to DC that changed. Not much here because it is all vintage shops and they do the picking, which makes it much more difficult to thrift the way I was once use to. But if you do have a car and venture out to Maryland or southern-ish Virginia you can find some stuff. We love your site by the way, big fans over at luri & wilma (www.lwmagonline.com). What a great way to connect with your readers!!
Thanks for sharing your story, Charlie! I've heard the picking is good throughout that area, and that the antique stores in DC are amazing!
DeleteHello, I'm Melissa. I live in the boonies of Northeastern Colorado. (think rattlesnakes and sagebrush) I have a blog (grannyshoard.blogspot.com) I have a writing degree, but went back and got my master's and am a kindergarten teacher by day. I have shopped thrifts since college, but really looked into it as a way to make money when my teaching job went part time unexpededly two years ago. (a week before school started!) I never thought I would want to be a stay at home mom, but the more I get into reselling, the more I want to stay home with my little one, so that's the goal I am working on. I get most of my thrifting and listing done in the summer when I am not at school. I always have a lot of inventory, more than I can probably ever list, but I like it that way!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog and I have learned a lot by reading it.
Glad that blog has helped, thanks for sharing your blog and your story!
DeleteHey -- I'm Pam and owner of Lamplight Antiques & Vintage. Three months ago I made the leap and got my own brick-and-mortar shop! I also sell quite a lot on eBay (ID: lamplightiques). I used to be an avid thrifter, but those thrift shops around here are pretty picked over. So now I am an auction addict! Actually I have several sources . . . as another antique dealer once told me, it comes from "the gettin' place." Don't you love mysteries?
ReplyDeleteI read your blog daily and love it. Keep up the excellent work!
Thanks for telling me more about your business, Pam. Congratulations on the brick and mortar! I'll be reselling online and in-shop when the B&M is launched, too!
DeleteHi, my name is Erica from New Hampshire! I am also a teacher (no teaching job this year, I work as an education assistant.) I don't resell, I just love thrifting! I am considering doing the etsy or maybe antique mall thing after reading your helpful posts, but as of now, I just decorate my little apartment.
ReplyDeleteI hit up the Goodwill on Sundays (my only day off) and earlier this month we got a Savers on the same street!
During this time of year, I usually do flea markets once in a while, but I've had a packed schedule. I work retail on Saturdays and help run an amateur wrestling promotion on Saturday nights where I perform as evil promoter, Moody Starr. I'm often too tired to haul ass out of bed on my only day off to make it to the flea market.
I'm going to Sarasota, Florida next week for a relaxing vacation with my mom and sis. I can't wait to hit up some of the shops!
Sarasota has thrift stores and vintage everywhere, you'll love it! I always feel so relaxed down there. You sound so busy, I wouldn't recommend reselling if you're already fulfilled at work with a full schedule ;)
DeleteLove your blog and I do read it daily :) I'm living in Southern Oregon, Ashland, originally from Southern California where I started my thrifting in the late 60s when I was a teen, remarkable finds back then, but of course as a teen I really didn't have a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteFast forward...I thrift at local thrift shops, yard sales, and estate sales. My best find was about a dozen 50s dresses in the savage yard of the Goodwill, $1.29 a lb, on metal wire hangers, most of those dresses sold to United Kingdom and Australia at a good(low)price. Most of my hats get shipped to Australia too.
My clothing and collectibles are on Etsy, Oso Victoria and Camron D. Another great find were the nine boxes of vintage patterns from the 30s and 40s at a yard sale, $10 a box, plus two Edwardian dresses, $1.00 each (for my personal collection), you can see these on my blog www.osovictoria.com
Thanks Van for posting your thrifting finds,tips, life of a thrifting seller, blogger, crafter, and fun gal.
Here's a thank you photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/osovictoria/7410517510/in/photostream
I looove the robot photo! Thank you. I loved reading more about your thrifty story. Thanks for always reading and commenting, Victoria!
DeleteHi Van,
ReplyDeleteI'm a long-time follower of your blog.
This is a great idea, I'm really enjoying reading about other people's thrifting, and discovering some great new blogs.
I live and thrift in the Midlands in England. Nottingham is my closest city.
Funnily enough I've recently blogged a "Thrifter's Guide" to a couple of my favourite local places, so if you'd like a peek inside some English charity shops pop over and take a look.
Definitely going to have to check out your guide in-depth! I love all the thrift store photos- they are so organized and clean! :) Thanks for sticking around for so long, custardino!
DeleteHi Van: I am Katie and I live in Temecula, CA, it is 1 hour north of San Diego and 2 hours south of L.A. I have been visiting your blog for a few months now but just recently have been sharing my thrift stores with you on your Facebook page. I am mom to 2 teenagers. My husband and I took the leap to be a 1 income family 12 years ago and have not looked back yet. I was raised by grandma whose section home was our local Salvation Army. My kids were raised on Sally's clothing but now that they are older it is a little harder getting them to visit. My most recent obsession is Pyrex, but around here it is hard to come by, but I have found a few pieces. After by children made the plunge from homeschooling to regular high school I decided to look for small ways to make money from home and started taking online surveys and signing up for free items in the mail. This eventually led to me starting my own blog http://momsfunmoney.com mainly to share all these great tips and finds with my friends, but I am happy that many others have found me and are now making some "Fun Money" as well. I enjoy your site and thanks for this post - it has been fun to get to know the other readers. Here's to lost of more great finds!
ReplyDeleteSecond home not section home - ha!
ReplyDeleteHeehee, I was confused for a moment there ;)
DeleteI'm Carrie Anne and I roam the great Central Valley of California for my thrifting needs. I go to estate sales, yard sales, church sales, charity sales, thrift stores, secondhand shops, and antiques depot. I once tried to purchase a coffee pot at an antique sale that was in the process of brewing coffee. Oops. Typically I thrift in the towns of Turlock, Ceres, and Modesto but whenever we leave town I always hit up at least one thrift store while we're out and about. I once convinced my friends to go thrifting in the middle of nowhere when we had just stopped for a bathroom break on the way to Reno. I'm shameless and I'm always the one who leaves the store with the most bags.
ReplyDeleteI used to be that person, Carrie. Somewhere down the line I think my vacation pals decided they'd rather gag me and throw me in the drunk to keep me from dragging them into thrift stores. ;) Thanks for sharing your Cali thrift adventures, I'm anxious to check out that whole area some day...
DeleteCheapchick from Vancouver Island, Canada. Just moved from Alberta. Looking forward to find all the thrifting stores in my new town Comox and a much longer yard sale season. Currently collecting vintage inventory for my future Etsy store which I hope to have up and running by September.
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting your Etsy store, happy hunting in Comox!
DeleteHi!! My name is Delia and I live in northern,NJ! I"m a new follower and happy I became one! I love to thrift but I don't have that much luck on great thrifting places around here! I 'm not giving up though! When I do find something I love it is the greatest feeling in the world!:)
ReplyDeletei'm over at http://inbliss01.blogspot.com/
Your blog is beautiful Delia, thanks for sharing! You should ask Rob to share his Jersey thrifting hunts with you if he's willing. I know Jackie of Things I Found at The Thrift Store would love to help, she thrifts all around Philly and NJ and even shared some tips in the comments of this post :)
DeleteHi, I'm B. and I live in Indianapolis, which is a wonderful place to thrift--the whole thrifting/picking/antiquing culture isn't considered very cool here yet, so there are lots of treasures.
ReplyDeleteI don't resell, but a good half of my clothes are thrifted. I also love finding stuff for my house, which I recently bought--it's my first and I have no budget for furniture or decorating or anything, so thrifting it is.
Walking around looking at stuff and pulling out the hidden gems is relaxing to me. I'm very picky about quality, so thrifting allows me to indulge my whole champagne taste/beer budget shopping jones. I love it when others compliment my lovely clothes and pretty house; I love surprising them by saying, "Hey, thanks--it's from the Salvation Army!" or wherever. And finally, I have a thing for clothes and homegoods that have that beautiful vintage patina. It's true what they say: they just don't make 'em like they used to.
Soooo many reasons to love thrifting. Thanks for your blog!
I kind of miss the innocent days where thrifting was a pleasurable, innocent hobby, but there's going back now! I still enjoy getting all clothing and household essentials from the thrifts as well. :) Thanks for sharing your story, B!
DeleteHi Van! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm Harper. I live in the DC/Northern Virginia (NoVA) area when school's out and historic Williamsburg, Virginia when in school. I like thrifting, DIY, and I love talking about college life. I love art and writing and I'm currently a marketing intern at Gannett, the media company that owns USAToday. I actually sent a reporter, Ms. Tully, to talk to you today about an article she's writing on thrifting since she can't quote me because I work at the same place.
Thrifting in VA varies. The area I live in near DC is very ethnically diverse and is also one of the most affluent places in the country, so I've seen a lot of really fantastic stuff. In Williamsburg, the populace is mostly college students and retirees in a historic area, so there's a lot of clothes in my size and a lot of cool old stuff :)
I adore your blog, as ever, Van :)
Ah ha, so that's why I got that e-mail. Thanks Harper! College areas always tempt me to move in and start a low-priced pretty vintage shop and cafe for all the kids in town to get quality wares for their apartments/dorms and have a cozy space to do homework and make art. I definitely need to check out the VA areas as well, it's only a short plane ride away from North Florida.
DeleteThanks for sharing and keeping me in mind with your assignments, Harper!
I'm Jordan.
ReplyDeleteI'm from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I thrift in & around the city, including the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) & other areas in South Western Ontario on a regular basis. Toronto has countless vintage shops & the thrifting is decent considering the amount of competition.
❤ Sir Thrift-A-lot
visit: http://wwww.sirthriftalot.blogspot.com
Besides thrift shopping, I am a pretty darn boring person.
I call shenanigans, Jordan! Your kitschy pop culture tastes reveal a playful soul! You really find some amazing stuff, I'm always jealous of your nostalgic goodies!
DeleteI'm from the mountain community of Prescott, Arizona. I usually scour local thrift shops, estate sales, and the flea market. I'm the sole machine behind www.vintiquehomes.etsy.com and love that I have found your blog!
ReplyDeleteI love your shop, Jay! I think I need to look through it again for inspiration!
DeleteHey there. I'm Samantha.
ReplyDeleteI live in Melbourne, Australia.
I find most of my thrifting finds in op shops. Occasionally I'll go to a garage sale or flea market or vintage shop, but I find my best stuff in little community op shops run by little old ladies. They're always the smallest shops and it can contain lots of useless stuff, but they are always quiet and so it is where I find my best stuff and is always ridiculously cheap!!
XO Samantha
I love the little shops where the finds are cheap. I hope to visit Australia next year. Gotta pack light so I can bring back a thrifted find or two. And a wallaby. That's...legal, right? :D
DeleteI'm Lyndsey in Grand Rapids, Michigan (a suburb actually), and I thrift mostly at garage sales and thrift stores, there are many here. Usually they are pretty picked over, but every so often I find something awesome. I was born and raised in upstate NY, and would thrift at second hand and garage sales there also. Here in Michigan there are tons more thrift stores than in rural NY. Nice to meet you! :)
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you too! Thanks for sharing your thrifting history. :)
DeleteHi Van!! I'm Jennifer (Junky Jen) from NE Arkansas (about 35 miles from Memphis, TN) Lots of great thrifting, garage sales, and flea markets in my area. I am a preschool special education teacher from Aug-May and a serious junker the rest of the time. (Okay,maybe I'm pretty serious about it ALL the time!) I live in a very small town and actually own the old post office building which houses all my treasures. (Hence the name Small Town Treasures) I have recently put booths in my building and rented them out. My MIL just retired and is my "manager". We are open 3 days a week and business is good!! I have a 1969 red suburban lovingly known as Big Red to haul my junk around. I buy whatever catches my eye and I try to keep updated on decorating trends. I love just about every style furniture there is, therefore I have an eclectic mix in my store. (love to paint them wild funky colors too!) I am a terrible blogger but I do have one http:// www.smalltowntreasures.blogspot.com and I have a facebook page (Small Town Treasures) with a before and after album of my furniture makeovers.... Love your blog!! Peace and good Pickins to ya!!
ReplyDeleteJunky Jen
Thanks for telling me your story Jen! Soooo very jealous of your post office shop situation, how lovely! Noticing a fun teacher trend in these comments, too!
DeleteI live in the Pacific Northwest. I know that is rather vague but I feel it’s safer if I don’t disclose my identity or location.
ReplyDeleteMost of my thrifting is at the St Vincent de Paul that’s just down the street from me. Their prices are reasonable, they are a little overcrowded but that means lots to choose from, their prices are reasonable, and not set in stone. At least once a month they have half off sales. I also make regular visits to the other second hand stores in the area.
I have a love hate relationship with garage sales they generally have the best prices (love) but I frequently don’t see anything I’m interested in at all and feel I just wasted time and gas (hate).
When I can find them church rummage sales and neighborhood garage sales are usually worth stopping at.
My greatest accomplishment thrifting-wise has been furnishing and decorating my new 600 square foot covered back porch on a shoestring. Tables, chairs, BBQ, artwork, sisal rug, door mats, hanging baskets, clothes line, wind chimes, shelves, the whole eclectic collection is thrifted.
I post often about the things I find while thrifting at Afrugalspinster.wordpress.com
Thanks for sharing your story and blog with us. I looove that I've outfitted my entire home on people's cast offs and lucky thrift store finds.
DeleteHI! My name is Nichole, I live in Tacoma, WA, and I usually stick to Goodwill. I find that Value Village is slightly overpriced - but have amazing vintage clothing, and St Vincent de Paul doesn't have a very good clothing selection - but usually has awesome prices on books, and sometimes amazing home goods, also.
ReplyDeleteI tend to stay away from yard sales in my area, because it mostly ends up being a waste of time. But if I do decide to hit up yard sales, then I go into the richer parts of Tacoma, or even up to Bellevue, WA (where there is a lot of money - thank you Microsoft!). It's amazing how an area is reflected in it's thrift stores.
My blog is The Aesthetic of Life (www.theaestheticoflife.com) where I document different things that make me happy - I'm struggling to find my very happy spot, so (as my title says), I'm finding the extra in the ordinary. :)
Your blog is thoughtful and beautiful! Thanks for sharing :) I love hitting up the yard sales in richer areas to see what I can yield. Retirement communities is a good idea, too.
DeleteI'm Zorah From Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thrifting around here is actually pretty good. I do a steady mix of thifting and sale-ing (estate and garage sales). I sometimes buy from antique stores but prices and sheer volume of stuff tend to make me more of an antique store window shopper. I usually stick to suburban thrift stores (though I love a good small town thrift store too) since they tend to be less picked over. I have a pretty regular route of 4 thrift stores in a suburb close to my house that yield some pretty cool stuff, as well as some thrifts that I visit occasionally that aren't as close to my house. I have a blog ( http://blackcatlies.blogspot.com ) where I blog outfits and vintage finds.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you Zorah! Thanks for sharing your story and your blog, it's adooorable!
DeleteHi Van - This is Victoria from Second Wind Cabin http://www.secondwindcabin.com/ in Maine. Wow great responses - love getting to read everyones stories. I'm new to the state of Maine so started a series on my blog/shop called Tour de Thrift which details our thrift shopping adventures around the state. If anyone is planning a trip to "vacation land" visit my blog and read reviews about our finds and favorite places to shop. I love the history behind a lot of the stuff we find and the thrill of the hunt - still trying to get beter at improving my selling skills. I'm really enjoying the yard sale scene here on the coast of Maine there are some really great finds. I'm currently fascinated with mid century modern, scandinavian design, industrial vintage, house ware type of things - love the little metal typewriter table with gooseneck lamp that works we found 1 for $.99 at Goodwill and another free on the side of the road! I get goosebumps from those kind of find...I know weird right? Like Bill I was laid off from my corporate job back in 2008 and have been working at jobs that are ok but not great and pay less than half of what I used to make....My big dream is to one day be able to support myself with my online efforts! I have a lot to learn but am super excited to make it happen and appreciate your blog and your generosity with sharing information.
ReplyDeletethanks...happy thrifting!
You'll make it happen one day Victoria. Good luck! And thanks for sharing your story and being a follower/frequent commenter!
ReplyDeleteHi Van,
ReplyDeleteI LOVE you blog! My name is Jennifer and I'm the founder of ClosetRaid.co, a fun and social place to shop and swap your stuff with the ClosetRaid Community! We also let users donate items to our amazing charities Goodwill, Housing Works, WGirls and Room to Grow. Thrifting and swapping have so many positives...it's fun, cheap, green, exciting and economical! I've found so many awesome items from resales and Goodwill that I don't get why more people thrift! Plus you can always find more unique items this way.
I invite all of you to check out ClosetRaid.co (just request an invite and I will approve it) if you are die-hard fans of swapping and thrifting! Also if you are in the NYC area, come to our fun swap event on 7/7! Details at http://bit.ly/crswap
I love the idea behind your site, definitely must check that one out. Thanks for sharing and for the kind words :)
DeleteHey Van!
ReplyDeleteIt will be a year on July 13th since I started my Etsy shop, and your blog is one of the ones that convinced me to start my business! I've been hardcore thrifting in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (home of the University of Alabama). In my town, there is only one major thrift store, so that kind of sucks, but there are some fantastic ones about an hour away. The estate sales here are intense but plentiful, so I've gained a lot of experience with them.
Take care, and keep up the great work here!
- Dani @ Itch for Kitsch
www.itchforkitsch.blogspot.com
I looove your shop, funny I inspired you because now your shop inspires me as I sort through merch in the eternally long task of setting up my Etsy shop.
DeleteHello! What a surprise to read that you were raised in Naples, Italy -- part of my family comes from Castelamare (sp?) and my great great grandfathers artisanal carvings still reside in the kings (King Umberto?) castle. Someday I'll visit. Perhaps that piece of history started my quest, as my great grandfather was a clothing designer and I made my mother PROMISE not to rid his designs for my grandmother. She did (BOOO). I often think I'm still searching for those things whilst out thrifting! I'm in NY (Westchester Cty) which is pretty picked over, but if you know where to look, you can find deals. In the early 90s I had a flea market biz at the infamous 26th St Flea Market and the Garage in NYC, then opened a brick and mortar shop. Unfortunately the Marc Jacob-ization of the West Village killed it for all the quaint and unusual shops so out of biz I went in 2006. I've been collecting and selling for over 30 years (YIPES) and have a vintage clothing collection to rival any museum! Last summer I decided to try and get all my vintage lingerie photographed for the blog, I think I made it to two pic heavy posts then gave up as there was STILL loads more! I do still dip my toes in to sell, but mostly now I want things for my pleasure. And if they no longer bring me pleasure, they get sold. I travel the world extensively and pretty much hit up thrifts wherever I wander, always turning up a treasure or two -- but its so hard to leave the big stuff you REALLY REALLY want!! I'm also a professional published author, writer, blogger who for some reason has never written about vintage or thrifting (except on the blog.) I'm currently in the depths writing of a book, so sorry if my responses are sporadic! Love your blog, and really enjoyed reading everyone's view on vintage! XXX Suzanne
ReplyDeleteHi Van!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog!
I'm Charlotte & I live in Sydney, Australia. I have been into Op Shopping (what we call Thrifting) since I was at High School but have really stepped it up a gear in the last year when I started collecting Pyrex. And now it's a hard core bug I can't get rid of! Lol!
I love vintage Homewares the best but have also gotten into vintage sheets when I participated in a Vintage Sheet Swap and now I'm making a Vintage Sheet Quilt. It's so much fun!
I go Op Shopping at least once a week & we've got 5 small shops within a 10 minute drive of my house so I'm quite lucky!
I have a 1 year old son & I've collected quite a cool library of books and toys for him from the Op Shops too!
I love that the workers in my favourite Op Shops have come to know me & are happy to see me when I drop by!
Shaunie here, from good old Boston, MA. We have AWESOME thrifting /consignment/antique shops here. There are just random spots all over the city and throughout Greater Boston. When my friends from out of town visit I enjoy creating an itinerary for a day long thrifting spree for us. With that said, let me know if you're ever in town!
ReplyDeleteShaunie here, from good old Boston, MA. We have AWESOME thrifting /consignment/antique shops here. There are just random spots all over the city and throughout Greater Boston. When my friends from out of town visit I enjoy creating an itinerary for a day long thrifting spree for us. With that said, let me know if you're ever in town!
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