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?

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!

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?

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?

WHAT I DIDN'T BUY :: ODDS 'N ENDS

It's another installment of What I Didn't Buy! This time it's odd and ends...

This Dansk pitcher got my attention, but it was in rough shape. Does anyone know if it should have a lid? I've been looking for a record player, but I don't think this Fisher-Price version would cut it. I'd love to find one of those elementary school record players with the speakers built in.

I've seen plenty of containers for coffee, tea, sugar and flour. But never one for grease. Eww, gross. I stood and looked at this owl-shaped jar for about 5 minutes. I finally decided to buy it since it is so unique. I knew I made the right decision because everyone in the thrift store was stopping me and asking about it.

I would have bought this piece of yarn art, but it was kinda big for the shop. Plus, I don't know, it just didn't excite me that much. And the peacock string art was great, but was in rough shape.

I kinda regret not buying the Last Supper paint-by-numbers. It was pretty expensive to put in the shop. Plus it was kinda big. I should have bought it. Oh well.

What did you find at the thrift store this weekend?

WHAT I DIDN'T BUY :: CHAIRS

Hello, everyone. I am back after a 3 week hiatus. I've been busy with other things in my life, including band camp with the high school group that I teach (yes, you read that correctly... BAND camp). I also had an out-of-town guest who happens to be from LA (more on this later).

I have been able to do quite a bit of thrifting, though. I didn't find too many amazing things that I actually purchased, but I did find lots of items caught my eye but that I left.

I love vintage chairs- they are the first items in the furniture departments that I notice. I like them because they are inexpensive, easy to take home and can add some funky character to any interior. Here are a few I liked but decided to not buy...

I really loved this Danish Modern looking armchair. However, it was in poor shape. There was a rip in the vinyl upholstery and the wood was nicked and scraped.

If I had an actual house with a back yard (instead of an apartment) I would have totally bought this great rocking lawn chair. Can you imagine sitting on this chair on a breezy cool summer evening with a glass of wine? AWESOME!

And I am a sucker for orange, silver and plastic. If I didn't already have too many plastic/fiberglass chairs, these orange beauties would have come home with me.

Speaking of silver, check out this pair of chrome awesomeness. There were six of the chairs on the right... totally easy to reupholster... can you imagine them in a black vinyl sitting around a Saarinen tulip table... wow!

What did you find while thrifting recently?