WHAT I DIDN'T BUY :: INDY

Hey everyone... I'M BACK! Sorry it's been a YEAR since I last posted. I'm not sure why I stopped updating the blog, it's not like my hands got cut off in some crazy bad ass honey badger accident and I couldn't type.

Anyhoo, I'm just going to start right back in with another edition of WHAT I DIDN'T BUY (at the thrift store)...

A few weeks ago I went to Indianapolis for the weekend to see a friend perform as the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods (she was amazing!) I went up in the morning and spent the day thrifting. I found some great stuff! And I will show you that great stuff at the end of this post. But first, you cheeky monkey, I need to show you WHAT I DIDN'T BUY...

This hutch was great. And it was only $70. But I have no room nor reason to purchase said hutch. So I took a photo and away I went. 

This little guy with a cork head looked like he was supposed to be something vintage and amazing. But I didn't know if he was vintage or retro or something that's worth a billion dollars because he's rare and Scandinavian or something. So I left him. And the large tumbler was fun, but just didn't get my juices flowing (see what I did there).

The wooden tray bowl hybrid was awesomely mod, but it had a nick. And I like the clock, but not that much to buy it for the shop.

Ok, so now on to some of the amazing things I did find in Indy...

Why yes, that's an Alvar Aalto designed Iittala votive candle holder. It's not vintage, but it was only $1. I also found an amazing "TOTE" bag that's perfect for my MacBook. I also kept that brown and blue and tan mod vase. And also that giant paperclip. The black and multi-colored pot, the Orchids of Hawaii tiki mugs and the white enamel kettle are all in the shop.

What DIDN'T you buy recently at the thrift store recently?

WHAT I DID'T BUY :: ART

I'm always on the look out for unique vintage wall art. It sells fairly well in the shop and is a great way to decorate my own place. It's an inexpensive way to add some original art to your home which can make a huge statement especially when it's larger or when you group it together on one wall.

Below is some art I found while thrifting but didn't bring home with me...

I collect hand painted portraits. But that doesn't mean I buy everyone I see. It depends on the price, then condition and what my gut tells me. This is a great thing to keep in mind for other collections that you might have... don't buy everything just because you want a collection... only buy what you love.

The two portraits above were alright, but they didn't speak to me. I liked how jolly the man was but it just didn't have that certain something that I want to see. And the child was just kind of creepy.

I don't mind prints, especially when they are kitschy and quirky like these. But these pieces are more Shabby Chic/Bohemian than I like. They'd do well in the shop, but they were too expensive.

I'm always attracted to string art. My dad made a bunch and hung them in his office. Whenever I see one I always think of him. The two above were in poor condition so they stayed at the thrift store.

I love mod, abstract art. The mirror above was cool, but also had a county-fair-not-cool vibe that I didn't like. The Japanese style print was also cool, but it was really big. I didn't love it enough to buy for myself, and it was too big to sell in the shop.

What DIDN'T you buy at the thrift store lately?

WHAT I DIDN'T BUY :: FURNITURE

I have a bunch of "what I didn't buy" photos backing up on my phone. So, I thought I'd put together a few installments by subject. Today... furniture.

These tables could all be great in the right environment. The silver glass combo on the left would be an awesome dining table with some super mod chairs. The green plastic side table could be either super BoHo or minimal mod. The mirrored side table on the right could be totally glam in the right setting.

The wooden chairs on the left would look great around a Saarinen tulip table. And I can picture the yellow office chairs in a mod design or architecture office.

I've always wanted a French-inspired sofa like this. I love mixing antiquey with mod. It would have to be reupholstered in a neutral fabric like tan or gray and maybe the frame repainted.

I always love a good, mod hutch and I see them fairly often. I don't have a need for one, but these two would be great for a dining room or living room. Or how about an artist's studio... I can see two of these sitting side by side holding fabric, paints, etc. It would be cool to paint them something bright, like pink and orange.

I mentioned above I am not looking for a hutch, but I am looking for a smallish sideboard/cabinet like this one. I was standing in the thrift store considering it, when this woman wheeled her cart in front of me and said in a bitchy tone, "Um, I've already claimed that." Ok, whatever, you weren't even anywhere near it when I got there. It wasn't in the best condition anyway.

What DIDN'T you buy at the thrift store recently?

WHAT I DIDN'T BUY :: L.A. EDITION

I was in LA again a few weeks ago and was able to thrift in Culver City and Santa Monica and also around Pasadena and Arcadia. We hit up about 8 stores total... the pickings were slim. Seems like it's the same around the country as I've had very poor luck recently in Ohio, too.

Anyway, to all the stuff I DIDN'T buy...

We stopped at a boutique-y type thrift store across from Sony Studios in Culver City which had a lot of cool stuff. I bought a cool TWA carry-on bag but had to leave the great Mikasa sugar, creamer and mug and the HIS mug.

A few church related charity shops turned up some good finds, like a Dansk fish-shaped trivet that I bought for $2. I also found this cool rooster that reminds me of a Dala horse, this fun Copco Michael Lax style kettle and this groovy, folksy, neonish wall-hanging.

This Y plastic and styrofoam signage would sell well in the shop, but it was too large for my luggage. And this silver carafe is super mod and fun but too large to stuff in to my carry-on.

I find these Dansk pitchers all the time without their lids! And this soup mug set is totally fun and would do well in the shop, but again it was too much to carry home in my luggage across three time zones.

I usually see my friend Robert when I am in LA. This time we went to the Helms Bakery to check out some of the cool designy shops.

We saw lots of cool things, like these overpriced pieces of signage and this creepy clown clock.

There were also some amazing things, like vintage school maps and diagrams, some from Europe.

What DIDN'T you buy at the thrift store lately?

TWA

I'm loving this new TWA carry-on bag I found while thrifing in LA. It was only $5 which I thought was fair. It's the perfect size for my laptop and other odds 'n ends.

STRIPES

Yesterday I spent the afternoon thrifting. I didn't find too much except for this great Cathrineholm enamel striped bowl. It's only the second time I've found Cathrineholm in the "wild". Great find!

THRIFT FINDS

Lately, it seems as though things are picking up at the thrifts. I've been able to find at least one decent item whenever I go thrifting... which is maybe once a week at this point.

:: I love this little metal TEA container. I know it goes with a complete flour-sugar-coffee-tea set, but it's still cute on its own. I'm sure it will sell quickly in the shop.

:: I usually don't like to sell single mugs, but this one was too good to pass up. The pattern and its size makes it unusual.

:: Sets of mugs usually sell well. I couldn't pass up this set of six Japanese mugs. They are in great condition and the glazing is a really cool decorative element.

:: This little, but heavy, ceramic bird was too good to pass up. It has some condition issues, but I'm confident it will sell in the shop. It's signed, "1975 Hartwig."

:: These two pieces of pottery got my attention right away. The vase is signed "Turpin 1986" and the bowl has a West Germany sticker on the bottom. I contemplated keeping them, but I will put them in the shop... I can't keep everything I find!

What have YOU found at the thrift store recently?

WHAT I DIDN'T BUY

I find a lot of mod vintage stuff when I go thrifting. A lot of it is in bad condition or something that's cool, but that I just don't want...

These Rosti bowls are really cool, but I really don't need anything like this. Plus, they were at an antique mall and were pretty expensive. That TV is awesome, but in rough shape.

I find a lot of these Danish modern utensils, but they are usually in gross condition. Yuk!

This funny wooden bird thingy was cool, but I just couldn't bring him home with me. I liked this green glass, but I have a feeling it wasn't vintage and was from IKEA or Pier1 or someplace like that.

I love stuff from the 70s with type on it. But like the utensils above, this would be kinda gross to use. I know a lot of thrifters love these Josef Albers record sleeve designs, but I'm kinda like, "meh".

What DIDN'T you buy at the thrift store?

WHAT I DIDN'T BUY

I went thrifting last Thursday and hit up about 10 stores. I found some good things as you can see in the post below. There were a few things that didn't come home with me...

I loved that brown chair but it was a bit expensive. Plus, it really doesn't go with the vintage bohemian vibe I have going on in my apartment.

The black chair was cool, but it was already sold.

That hutch was super cool, but it too was already sold.

I should have bought that cool bench, but it was in rough shape. Plus, I know myself... adding a bench to my home would only make me put too much stuff on it hoarder style.

What a groovy candle... with a gross layer of grime over it. I loved this mod cheese board/cutting tile but it was missing the knife. The owl trivet was fun, but was in rough shape.

I stopped at an antique mall and found this tulip table knock-off by Burke for only $250. I am thinking I really want to go back and get it. I don't have the room for it, but you know how that goes... I can make room.

UPDATE... I just bought the table! I will be picking it up in two days. Can't wait!

THRIFT SCORES

Over the past month or so I haven't had too many great thrifting trips. I've found a few decent things, but nothing really great to report.

Yesterday I decided to spend the day shopping. I visited around 10 thrifts and found some great stuff. Some were kinda pricey, but I was willing to pay the asking price.

I'm a sucker for kitschy wall-hangings. This cat and dog pair caught my eye right away. And the paint-by-numbers is in great condition and will do well in the shop.

I've found a few of the Polaroid one-step cameras with the rainbow stripe, but I've never kept one for myself. This one was kinda pricey, but I decided to splurge since I recently came across a pack of 600 film tucked away in a closet.

The two upside down light bulbs are actually salt and pepper shakers made in Japan. They were too cute to pass up and will be in the shop soon.

I collect white pottery and glass, and when I saw this hand/fist I immediately put it in my cart. I'm not quite sure what it is since it has a hole in the bottom as well as the top. I assume there is something missing. I dodn't care, I still like it.

And the ceramic glove mold was too cool to not buy.

I collect wooden candle holders, so when I saw this dove/bird piece I did a little happy dance. It looks like one of the "wings" is missing, but it's still cool.

I freaked out when I saw the Dansk Købenstyle carafe. It's something I've been looking for and it's in good condition. I will definitely use it instead of just putting it on a shelf and looking at it.

The Japanese apple canister will do will in the shop.

The splurge of the day was this piece of West German pottery. It was $28 which I thought was a good buy. If it had been white, I would have crapped my pants. But I still like red which will go well with my orange and red pottery.

What have YOU thrifted recently?

VINTAGE COLLECTIONS :: JARS WITH TYPE

I love anything with type... it's the graphic designer in me. So when I first found the "3 Liter" jar I did a little dance. Instead of putting it in the shop, I decided to keep it... and the collection started.

Most I have found thrifting. The "1 Liter" jar I found on Etsy. I'm hoping I can find a "2 Liter" jar and the "Sugar" jar to complete the two sets. I believe there is a set similar to the "Misc" jar, too.

What vintage collections do you have?

VINTAGE COLLECTIONS :: MCM CANDLE HOLDERS

I've been collecting mod wooden candle holders for about a year. You don't see many of them in this part of the country; I mostly come across overly ornate ugly ones and not the minimal mod ones that I like.

Regardless, I've been able to find some good pieces at thrift stores. I like all the candle holders above, but have a fondness for the silhouette of the one on the far left. I also like the Danish looking pair second from the right.

What vintage collections do you have?

WHAT I DIDN'T BUY :: LAMPS

I'm always looking for a good mid-century lamp. Especially one with a ceramic or wood base.

Mostly what I find is miles and miles of brass lamps, the occasional Irmi nursery rhyme lamp and the usual Wal-Mart made in China ugliness.

This totally hilarious owl lamp was ceramic and in decent condition. It maybe could be cool with a fresh coat of glossy white spray paint.

Irmi lamps usually sell well in the shop. This Jack and Jill version was in great condition, but was priced at something too high for a thrift store. It was, like, $30.

This cool ceramic lamp, which I don't need, has a nice mid-century shape.

I'm waiting for the day when I can buy ceiling/pendant lights like these two. I think the white mod one is IKEA, but it's still cool. The other has 1970s bar written all over it.

What DIDN'T you buy at the thrift store recently?

WHAT I DIDN'T BUY :: CALIFORNIA EDITION

When I was in Los Angeles in October I did a bit of thrifting with J. I've been told by several freinds that thrifting is better in the valley as well as east in places like Riverside. So, we headed off to the valley then headed over to Arcadia. We hit a few junk shops and thrift shops.

We first stopped at an independent thrift shop where I found some vintage tea towels and a few other items that were too big to fit in a suitcase. I liked the ashtray above, but do people still buy ashtrays?

I also found this fun southwestern style lamp which would be cool in a vintage-y eclectic interior. And the flour and sugar containers that were just so so.

This paper silhouette was fun, but too big to take home. The only thing I bought at this store were some kitschy tea towels which are now in the shop.

Next, we found two junk shops next to some train tracks (aren't the junk places always near train tracks). I don't normally go to junk shops and I was a bit overwhelmed, but they are J's favorite kind of thrift store.

That Plycraft chair is great and was only $200. I couldn't fit it in my suitcase, so it had to stay. And check out the robot... Totally 80s!

I didn't really see anything else I liked at the two junk shops. I did end up buying this totally 80s rainbow tin and a fun Aries zodiac mug, which have already sold in the shop.

Finally, we headed over to Arcadia because J's favorite sushi restaurant is there. After filling ourselves with all-you-can-eat sushi, we hit some Goodwills. They didn't result in really much of anything... nothing really even worthy of a photo.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed with thrifting in SoCal. Granted, I only went to a few shops. But the ones we did go to were very picked over. I was hoping to find some great pottery or some awesome wooden candlesticks... something that's mod. It seems like all of you that live and thrift in SoCal get lucky and find all that cool MCM stuff that I never find in the Mid-West.

Hopefully, when I am back in LA in the spring, I can try out some other locations and find some great stuff.

What DIDN'T you buy at the thrift store lately?

KITSCHY THRIFT SCORES

Some of the (few) kitschy thrift finds from September that were/are in the shop...

:: The child's clock on the far left fooled me. It's actually a reproduction from the early 2000s. Doh! I really need to read the fine print before buying.
:: I love the gold pirate ship. I had to talk myself out of keeping it for myself. It's currently in the shop.
:: The awesome apple clock was in the shop. It sold and was sent to Australia.
:: Anything rainbow sells quickly, and the rainbow tray went fast.
:: These granny chic red bowls are in the shop.

:: This print by Medeiros will be in the shop shortly. I couldn't pass it up because it has an uncanny likeness to a neighbor kid that lived across the street when I was little.
:: A child's suitcase in GREAT condition, in the shop.
:: Groovy lemon juice carafe, in the shop.
:: A unique Thermos container that has a handle, which I've never seen. In the shop.

WHAT I DIDN'T BUY :: CHAIRS

Well, hello, there. After a 3 1/2 month break, I am back! I was very busy during the autumn doing lots of things... teaching, working part time for my old employer, having great sales with the shop, and taking web design classes. I've finally been able to come back up for air.

I didn't do too much thrifting over the past few months. When I was able to find some time I didn't find much anyway. It seems as if no one is donating and the pickins are slim. Many items aren't what I am looking for or just not good enough to buy...

These stools all seem a bit too 50s/60s for me. The stool on the right is the most mod. I love the simple legs.

That green upholstered chair could be great in the right interior. I'd probably reupholster it. The wood Danish chairs would also be great around a Saarinen white tulip table, or that knock off version by IKEA (which I really want). The orange chair is fun, but looks too much like a bath chair and not enough like an Eames. BTdubs, did everyone see the American Masters Eames episode?

I have a soft spot in my heart for the wicker chairs in the middle since my parents had these when I was growing up. I remember rocking in the them at the dinner table and driving my dad nuts.

I love the chair on the far right... It'd be great if the cushion was reupholstered in cream or light gray then covered with a sheep skin from IKEA. Oh, and I really want a cow hide rug from IKEA... does that make me bad?

What DIDN'T you buy lately?