'Twas another light hunting week for me. I hit up the nearby Goodwill by-the-pound store, where you dig through bins of wares assorted by type and buy the items at a set rate per pound, and did little else. I need to do that more often, my non-thrifter friends cringe as I describe competitively digging through dirty bins filled with random craziness- but admire the outfits I put together from it for pennies on the dollar! Risk rewards the brave! (And ran out of time to photograph, oops, next time!) Here are the other random finds:
This is the second time I found an amazing 1960-70s retro travel bag in great shape at the pound store. HOW did it get by so many shoppers before my vulture eye spotted it? On Etsy
McMansion family had a couple of boys who'd outgrown books an clothes so I scooped 'em all up. (The clothing was swiftly given to my three nephews, adult-sized ones to my boyfriend, before I could take photos.)
I sold some of the books to the local used book store, some are on Etsy here, here, and here (more to list still) and others will be kept to scan for art prints. I have hundreds of original vintage book pages to get online as soon as possible!
This beautiful blowdryer case was another lucky pound store find. Super cute to use as a storage or travel case, it's chilling on Etsy.
Holy crap, me and my mugs, make it stop! I have to stop picking these damn things up, but Care Bears is a bit safer. It's on Etsy and eBay waiting for a new home.
And how about these stunning white milk glass vases? Such a fun instant collection, great home display. They're on Etsy.
Anyone have an ID on these mod mugs? Love them, I love to use clear mugs for fancy tea infusions so you can admire the color. On Etsy.
And to round out my damned cup obsession (Gotta stop, but they're so cheap and plentiful here. No more, no mas! My expedit unit explodes with mugs!) I couldn't resist this awesome retro striped tumbler set. It goes perfectly with my primary/secondary color love and blocky 80s robot obsession. On Etsy.
Had to get this groovy Nasa bag, bought me back to simple times looking through telescopes after school in Astronomy club. And the Nasa logo os gorgeous. 2001 is certainly not vintage but bah! Beautiful bag. It's in my Southern Crossing Antique Mall booth and if no one buys it I'll put my name on it and wear it with pride!
Many more vintage find and things to come, for now it's 1:05AM, I have a 9AM shift, time will myself to sleep. Do let me know if you found anything awesome this weekend! Thank you all who shared tips for transition to eBay last week, still working on switching over. I want to add as many items as possible this week and will update on the process. Trying to clear all the vintage outta this apartment!
Linked to: [Nifty Thrifty] [Thrifter|Maker|Fixer] [Sir Thrift a Lot]
Free books-- can't beat that. I have the same shorter white vase. It was my mom's from the 60s. I always liked it and figured it had some value due to its age until I saw another one at a thrift store years ago for 75 cents. I hope it was just underpriced! I didn't find much last week, but will post about it tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI believe someone gave those both to me for free, but they've been sitting for a while. Hard to find the market for them. Love how they look though, very sculptural.
DeleteLast week was good for me as well. Lots of good stuff at the stores, hopefully, this week will be just as meaty. I passed by one of those Goodwill outlet stores, but I when I peeked in the window it was like 1000 vultures fighting over one dead rat! It belonged in a movie-total chaos! I wasn't going in there unless I had a taser gun! Besides the one I went to only had clothes, no big interest there. If the "by the pound" sale you went to was anything like I saw...girl, you got balls!
ReplyDeleteOurs used to be insane but they hired extra security and use an organized system so now it's not so bad. They bring out the new barrels, people stand back and wait until security says they can dig, then they go at it. I stand back and wait, then pick when all are done. I still find unpicked treasures this way. I will never fight anyone for a thrifted thing, ever. Too much to go around. Unless they are literally trying to take it out of my hand or something.
DeleteThe Goodwill down the road has a by-the-pound store behind their regular store.I love it and go a couple of times a week.You're right though-you cannot be clausterphobic or a germaphobe and go in there.I've gotten tons of great things in there,but I have friends who have walked in and walked right back out.When people ask me about it,I start off saying,"If you don't like digging through dirty things or having complete strangers in your personal space,this is not the place for you."
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff btw.I totally owned that "if you lived with Sioux Indians" book when I was a kid.I tried to get my mom to make me a teepee,but she wouldn't go for it.I'm 42 and I still want a teepee.
I had a minor Native American studies obsession from 3rd to 7th grade so I couldn't resist those books, they bought me back. The dig is definitely not for the weak. A nice lady let me have an extra pair of her gloves. I'll remember to bring mine from now on. I'm not a germaphobic in the least BUT one day I'll have to a share a particular grotesque reason why I don't like to dig into things I can't see without gloves. Involves two different kind of human excrement on my bare hands...
DeleteWait WTH is on the front of that ship? Captain Crunch?! Almost everything you see put up on my web site is from the goodwill outlet store. Unless I specifically mention its from a estate sale. Its where I get about 90% of what I sell. But I sell new clothes too so its definitely my bread and butter place. At this point, I only get a tiny bit freaked when I run across underwear that are wet (probably from rain its Portland but your brain still does a OH MY GOD!). Other than that, meh. I also might add as everyone one around me has been knocked out by at least two colds this winter. I'm still going strong. I got the immune system of a true junker. Booya! PS its very very rare to see underwear in the bins but it can happen.
ReplyDeleteI know, right?! I think it's the weirdest Hardey Boy's cover ever, it's like a racist 60s "Chinaman" drawing of Captain Crunch! I've seen bras but not undies in the bins, I do want to bring gloves from now due to the conditions stated in the post above. May have to tell that story on the blog soon. Scared me for life. Same here on the lack of cold, I credit it to all the fruits and veggies I stuff down.
DeleteAnother PS I think its funny when people say its dirty. About 95% of the stuff there comes from the Goodwill store you just visited the other day. So unless you think the store's are dirty why would the pound store be any dirtier? Sure you sometimes run across some stuff that obviously never made it to the store but its not a norm by any means.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I leave the pound store it's with renewed vigor to not visit retail stores again if I can help it. There's so much second-hand to go around for free or close to it, but as a small consolation, most of us reseller's customers are people who think the pound stores are gross. We do the dirty work and they pay us for it, win/win.
DeleteTHAT CARE BEAR MUG!! Such a sweet find! I wish I had a DL because I will be in Orlando for a Disney World trip and I need to check out some thrift stores. Oh well!
ReplyDeleteI went to a new to me thrift store over the weekend and scored on some rad stuff. They weren't vintage items (those were over priced!) but I scored some cool stuff!!
Thrifts are awesome for the non-vintage scores, too ;D I hear the thrifts in Orlando are awesome, people have bought me beautiful things from them even if I've never been while I'm down there. (I usually travel with friends that would bludgeon me if I tried to stop at a thrift store, haha.)
DeleteWhat a fun haul! Love that blow dryer case and the milk glass. Happy to be a new follower...need to see more of your junkin' finds.
ReplyDeleteThank you Betsy!
DeleteGreat finds! I love anything Hardy Boys! I found a Shaun Cassidy Puzzle recently and was so torn about keeping it, but in this business that's always a dilemma! I decided to put in online rather than my antique space and it sold quick! If you're ever back in Titusville, we'd love to have you come visit our new space at WildWood Antique Mall!
ReplyDeleteOh man, I need to schedule another long Florida road trip, that was awesome! Will definitely check it out when I make it to the area again. What's your booth # or would I just ask for "Violet Lemon Vintage"?
DeleteThe simplistic pattern & colours on the tumblers are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI have never visited a Goodwill By The Pound. We have one & it's in an extremely shitty area of the city, very poor, lots people in the area already act like they have been raised in a zoo, no manners, just inconsiderate selfish bastards. So I could only imagine what animalistic behaviour they might display behind closed doors to get a $1 shirt. Getting my hands dirty is no biggie, but having to act like an animal? Not gonna happen. Our Goodwills aren't very good to begin with anyways.
I thought the same on the tumblers! Ours used to be crazy like that and is in a industrial/not-the-best area but they really invested in the building/staff and now it's not bad. And surprisingly though the pickers were a tad competitive everyone was nice, some strangers were handing me clothes they thought I'd like! ha! :D But yes, same here, I always say I will never fight over thrift store junk and I mean it. Waaaay too much to go around for that.
DeleteFree? Hardy Boys? Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteAnd that yellow/gold travel bag is an amazing acquisition!
I love the travel bag! Got quite a collection of those to sell, now. Won't mind using it until it goes.
DeleteI have tried the by the pound which is located in the same town as my FAVORITE Goodwill and I haven't seen anything that I would want. I will dig, but the stuff that has been there is stuff that I have no interest in. Every time I go, I expect it to be better, but thus far, not worth the trip. Now, I figure I should try again but I wonder if all by the pound stores are the same. This one just seems like the stuff that doesn't sell in the regular stores comes here to die.
ReplyDeleteI found these mod Franciscan Starburst mod plates ('twas a shock!) at the pound store in their ceramics bin- unbroken- so rare https://www.etsy.com/transaction/149497730? And I've found plenty of mod train cases and suitcases. I rarely leave with nothing, it's a great place to hunt for replacement clothes, craft supplies and even furniture too. They don't do those by the pound, giving you a deal instead. Wish I'd have known that the first time I went and found a vintage typewrite in it's case!
DeleteI'd love to have a NASA bag!
ReplyDeleteMine's for sale if you'd like it. Let me know!
DeleteThis weekend, I spent both days shopping at a huge (as in over a million dollars raised) rummage sale to benefit a local museum and also at a warehouse sale put on each quarter by a local estate sale company. I loaded up on toys, craft-related stuff, books, Christmas ornaments, decorative collectibles, Halloween costumes, and costume jewelry. The best part was that on Sunday, everything was discounted, so I paid $6 and got a bagful of books and paid half price on everything else. Other departments slashed their prices 75% off. Needless to say, I will be busy for awhile, listing everything. (One of my reselling friends ended up getting enough inventory to last her through the summer). It was one of the best shopping excursions I've ever had. Looking forward to next year!
ReplyDeleteAw, that sounds amazing! I think I forgot to check out our local group sale thing, that reminds me. Inspires me to look out for things like that to load-up on merchandise.
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