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You are here: Home / Decorating / The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping

The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping

April 16, 2020 by Kristine 16 Comments

A vignette entirely made-up of Thrift Shopping Treasures. www.redshuttercottage.com

The joy of treasure finds by thrift shopping is practically the theme song of my life. I was recently visiting the blog “The Wicker House” and she had written a post showcasing her treasures from yard sale shopping.  Since I consider myself a Hall-of-Fame-level thrift shopper, I was immediately intrigued and made a beeline to read her post.  And she did not disappoint!  She showed her collection of garage sale treasures and then walked me through her home showcasing how she incorporated everything and how it added to the beauty and enjoyment of her home.

I had honestly been thinking about doing a post along these same lines for quite a while, but I thought it seemed a little self-indulgent.  Interestingly enough, though, when I saw the same kind of post on another blog, I was very interested in reading it.  And I didn’t think she was being self-indulgent in the least.  On the contrary, since I am such an avid fan of thrift shops, estate sales, consignment stores, and yard sales, I was very interested in what she had to share.

And so, I present to you the joy of treasure finds by thrift shopping!  Where to begin…how about the kitchen?

These 3 vegetable plaques.  My niece swoons over these every time she comes over.  I love them too – I think they have a timeless and unique quality to them.

Vegetable plaques from my favorite thrift shop. I think these are older, but still find them unique and timeless. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

On the walls,  these 3 rooster plates. Who am I kidding?  Rooster anything grabs my fancy!  I especially like these because of the black & white pattern around the edge.  And these roosters are proud of themselves, not silly or whimsical in any way.

Rooster plates from a thrift shop that I visit monthly. I love these subdued colors and farm-style backgrounds. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

My collection of hen and rooster sets…

More rooster indulgence - a pair of black and white speckled hen and rooster.A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.comI found this vintage-looking pair in an 'antiques barn' in the California central valley. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

More roosters…..!  I featured these two in my Early Winter Living Room.  For a long time, I held back from letting the roosters out of the kitchen to roam the rest of the house.  But I couldn’t help myself when I saw how their colors and patterns just punched up the cozy factor in my winter living room.

This thrift shop rooster pitcher is a favorite, not just for the image itself, but for the fall colors and cheerful sunflowers. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

Rooster or a hen..?...doesn't matter! Charming and cheerful ! And a great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

On to the white pitchers in the hutch.

And still another part of my white pitcher collection, including white pitchers found in thrift shops and consignment store. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

And in the display case in the living room.

Another part of my white pitcher collection, housed in a glass display cabinet. Many of these pitchers are thrift shop finds. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

Also on the shelf unit in our entryway.

One part of my white pitcher collection, decorating my Grandmother's mahogany shelf unit. Some of these garage sale and estate sale finds. Another example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

Marian Parsons of Miss Mustard Seed is to blame for all of this.  She introduced me to ironstone with her posts about her ironstone plates, pitchers, bowls, serving dishes…you get the picture.

I knew without a doubt I would not be tripping over ironstone anything in the thrift stores of Southern California. So I settled for collecting white pitchers.  And I have clearly gone off the rails.  In the early years of my collecting, I grabbed anything and everything that looked like a white pitcher.  (My white pitcher collection is a combination of Home Goods, thrift shops and garage sales.) When I (finally) realized I actually have a rather robust collection, I became more selective and only bought white pitchers that spoke to me.  I also began editing out any pitchers I do not truly find beautiful.

And surprisingly, I recently found an ironstone pitcher. In a consignment store. And it wasn’t even expensive.  No one is more shocked than I am! (It’s the little pitcher in the center.)

My one and only ironstone pitcher (center) that I stumbled onto in a thrift shop. A great example ofA loveseat, captured at a consignment store for a steal! A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

A couch.  Actually, a love seat.  But still…I bought a couch at a consignment store.  I wrote an entire post about it here.  It is the focal point of the little ‘she cave’ I share with my cat, Lucy.  She snoozes on the love seat all day.  And then we watch HGTV My Lottery Dream Home on Friday nights together!

A loveseat, captured at a consignment store for a steal! A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

When I bought the love seat I mentioned above, I realized that blue and white porcelain pieces mixed into the bookshelf in my ‘she cave’ would be very pretty and complementary to the blue and white love seat.  And I am very proud to say this collection is one 100% thrift store finds.

A small display of thrift shop blue & white porcelain filling the bookshelves in our TV room.A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

 

This fun little wine bottle carrier is filled with wine corks…..

 

 

A wine bottle basket, repurposed to hold wine bottle corks. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

 

 

…except when it’s filled with miniature pumpkins

A wine bottle basket, re-purposed to hold miniature fall fruit.A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

 

I had to rescue this mini-wicker ‘Bombay Chest’ from its previous life.  Apparently it had been contrived into a Christmas decoration with some greenery and a fabric ornament.  As soon as I got it home I ripped out all frou-frou and the ridiculous amount of Styrofoam that held it all together.  I love the beautiful detail, texture, and color.  And it’s quite petite – works perfectly on the window counters in the living room.

This miniature bombay trunk is both charming and useful. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

 

I have two of these French flower buckets, both from garage sales, and use them all the time!

A pair of suitcases from an estate sale, and a magazine holder flipped upside down from a garage sale.A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

When I saw this birdcage, I literally walked right past it. The original finish was an unholy mess.  But when I realized a can of spray paint would make that all go away, it came home with me.  Here is the post about its revitalization!

A bird cage with an unholy mess of a finish, before it was re-painted. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

A petite bird cage with a new paint color, containing berries, wine corks and a candle.A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

 

I did not walk past this corner shelf unit. I stopped in my tracks.  Instant love, in a style that works perfectly in my home.  My brain said, “no, you need to stop buying things”.  My purse said, “that’s a ridiculous price for it”.  Nonetheless, I found myself at the cash register, handing over $15 LESS than what the price tag said.  I did not question the decrease in price.  I paid it and ran out the door, fearing they would change their mind! Happily, it folds up and takes up very little space.  I know I will be using it in the future, and it will make a big contribution, in its own little way.

This charming corner shelf unit folds up into a flat size that is easily stored. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

 

 

This basket, which I initially walked past but backtracked for.  It is truly unique, and wish I could find ways to use it more often.

This is a very textured and uniquely shaped basket that I couldn't walk away from.A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

I also find lots of little support items; finials, corbels, wood bobbins, wire baskets, lanterns, candleholders.  And exercise DVDs!  At $3 apiece, it’s not a big deal if I do not care for the workout.  I have bought several over the years, tried them once, decide it’s not a good work-out for me, and I re-donate it back to the same thrift shop.  But many have been keepers!

Admittedly, these too-tall topiaries are a tad dramatic!  But a little drama, once in a while, is a good thing!  You can usually find these two flanking the window in my ‘she cave’, along with the blue and white pottery.

A pair of oversized topiaries from a thrift shop add focus to this little window nook.A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

But since the combined area of our living room and dining area is just one long stretch, I sometimes put these on the dining room table. Adding height to the dining room helps keep it proportional and balanced.

Too tall topiaries creating drama on our dining table. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

Craig’s List counts as thrifting too.  When I turned my mother’s bedroom into an office, finding a writing table became a priority.  Craig’s List came through with this desk.  Looking back I think I paid too much for it. But since I use it every single day, I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of it.  (See that post here!)

Writing desk from Craigslist in my Home Office. www.redshuttercottage.com

Speaking of Craig’s List, that’s where I found this beauty.  And it was money WELL spent. The owner was sad to let her go;  it would not fit into her new home.  I assured her I would love her bakers rack no less than she did!

This baker's rack is a lucky find from Craigs List. A great example of The Joy of Treasure Finds by Thrift Shopping. www.redshuttercottage.com

I adore baker’s racks; pure & simple.  I have three, and only because I have no more room in my house for another one.  Or so Sailor says.

Thank you for reading what feels like a very self-indulgent post.  If you haven’t started thrifting yet, then don’t.   It can become an obsession, in the best sense of the word. Actually… just go ahead! The hunt is the fun part.  The finding is just sweet joy.  And to help you launch your thrift shopping career, this post will help you get started:  7 Tips for Successful Thrift Shopping.

From our home to yours!
Kristine

I am sharing at these link parties:

Calypso in the Country Best of the Month  // Across the Boulevard Snickerdoodle Create Make Bake // Finding Silver Pennies   // Create with Joy Inspire Me Monday   // Life and Linda Love Your Creativity   // A Pinch of Joy Busy Monday   //  Between Naps on the Porch Monday Metamorphosis   // April Harris Hearth & Soul Link Party //  A Stroll Thru Life Inspire Me Tuesday  //  Home Stories A-Z Tips and Tutorials    //  Follow The Yellow Brick Home All About Home  // My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Inspire me Monday  // Blue Sky at Home Tuesday Turn About  //  Gingersnap Crafts Wow Me Wednesday  //  Faeries and Fauna Waste Not Wednesday  //  French Ethereal Share Your Style  // Follow the Yellow Brick Home Thursday Favorite Things  // The Painted Hinge Farmhouse Friday  //

 

Filed Under: Decorating, Fall Vignettes, Fireplace, Furniture, Kitchen, Projects, Shopping, Vignettes

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Comments

  1. Cynthia says

    May 1, 2020 at 6:18 pm

    All your thrift score are lovely. Most of my items are second hand, too. I share your love ironstone and it is equally hard to find here in Canada!

    Reply
    • Kristine says

      May 3, 2020 at 6:58 am

      Cynthia – I had never even heard about ironstone until I started reading blogs and discovered how beautiful it can be. And really and truly, I never thought I would find ironstone here in Southern California. That little pitcher may be the last one too! Good luck with your search in Canada and thank you for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. Allyson says

    May 3, 2020 at 3:38 pm

    I enjoyed seeing all your treasures and how you used them throughout your home. I love thrift shopping as well and I really miss hitting my usual stops because of the virus.

    Reply
    • Kristine says

      May 3, 2020 at 6:34 pm

      Thank you Allyson – I am so glad you enjoyed them! I too miss my usual haunts for finding treasure. I think it’s going to be interesting when the orders are lifted and the thrift shops are flooded with both donations and shoppers! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  3. Michelle says

    May 4, 2020 at 8:07 am

    I love your thrift store finds! I also enjoy seeing how you use them differently in your home. I cannot wait to be able to go thrift shopping again!

    Reply
    • Kristine says

      May 4, 2020 at 12:24 pm

      Michelle – I am so glad you enjoyed this post! It’s fun to find new ways to use and display our ‘treasures’! I think there is a whole army of us chomping at the bit to get back into our favorite haunts! Thank you for stopping by!

      Reply
  4. angie says

    May 5, 2020 at 5:58 am

    love your treasured finds all so well themed and fit together. I love to thrift shop as well
    come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Kristine says

      May 5, 2020 at 7:05 pm

      Thrift shopping is the best, and I am very much missing it these days. I think that buying only what truly speaks to you helps your treasures all fit and work well together. Thank you for stopping by, Angie!

      Reply
  5. Rebecca Payne says

    May 6, 2020 at 9:18 am

    I love the roosters, vegetable plaques and bird cages. This is my style. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Kristine says

      May 7, 2020 at 7:17 pm

      Rebecca– thank you so much for your comment. It encourages me that I have reached someone who shares my appreciation for roosters and birdcages. And I promise to show even MORE roosters in the future!! And thank you for stopping by!

      Reply
  6. Marilyn says

    May 9, 2020 at 11:24 am

    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn

    Reply
    • Kristine says

      May 9, 2020 at 2:18 pm

      Thank you, Marilyn! I will be back! Best wishes for a wonderful Mother’s Day for you!

      Reply
  7. Kristin says

    May 12, 2020 at 2:27 pm

    This was so much fun to see your treasures! I’m so excited to get back into the thrift stores!! Thanks for sharing with Charming Homes & Gardens!

    Reply
    • Kristine says

      May 13, 2020 at 9:12 pm

      Thank you Kristin — there seems to be an almost universal urge to get back to thrift shopping. I’m feeling it too! Thank you for hosting Charming Homes & Gardens!

      Reply
  8. Kathy A says

    May 18, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    I really enjoyed seeing all your thrifted treasures. Now, at age 68, I would rather go to a flea market or thrift or antique store than a Wal-mart! Furniture is made of WOOD, china has quality to it, attention was paid to the details. I still haven’t ventured out to thrift stores although our local Goodwills are now open. Will soon, though!

    Reply
    • Kristine says

      May 19, 2020 at 6:18 am

      Kathy – I couldn’t agree with you more. Consignment stores and thrift shops are so much more interesting and fun! And as you mention, finding the workmanship, quality and attention to detail is so rewarding. I am glad to hear your Goodwills are open. Thank you for stopping by!

      Reply

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