Surprise Thrift-Store Mini-Haul

I had a bank appointment two cities away (dealing with yet another tedious form for my brother’s estate) and I decided to pop into a Goodwill that I was on my way home. This particular store rarely produces anything for me and on my last three visits I haven’t bought a thing. Not one. So as I walked into the store this trip I decided not to bother taking a basket this time.

Well, this apparently stirred things up with the thrifting gods because lo and behold, I found a few things. Quel surprise!!

First was this fabulous artisan-made raku pot with pine-needle trim with a neat tribal, Southwestern vibe.

Turns out “Sayers Edwards” is actually the duo of Wendy Edwards and Bernie Sayers.

I’m not usually drawn to pretty-pretty objects, but this Russian Faberge-style glass egg was too good to pass up. Can’t you picture it on a mantel at Christmas time? If it’s not sold by then, it will be on my mine next to my brass candlesticks. Sold and listed prices for these eggs are all over the place, so I’ve listed mine at what I think is a fair, middle-of-the-road price

I told myself after I bought and sold my first and only Byers’ Choice Caroler (made $35 profit) that I would never again deal with them because I’m not into collectibles. Just no my thing. Then I found this sailor and though he seemed to be missing his prop (a piece of rope as it happens), I couldn’t leave him behind. Part of me was like, no, no, no, but I never set him down!! As it turns out he is not one of the more valuable ones…alas…but still a good bread-and-butter item.

And for myself I found a pair of Levis for $6.99. They are a size larger than I normally wear, but I thought these might be perfect for an upcoming six-hour flight. (Strange, even though I hardly eat anything on flights, I always feel 10 pounds heavier when I get off the plane!) And this 1963 edition of “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Maybe I’ll save that for the flight too!

This mini-haul was unprecedented at this store for me and I drove home shocked, which seems silly for so few things!

And closer to home I popped into my neighborhood thrift store and found this lovely vintage cloisonne vase. It appears to have been used quite often as the inside has a little corrosion and came complete with dried rose leaves! Likely about 40-70 years old, it’s pretty on its own, but would spectacular filled with red tulips or branches of cherry blossoms.

Then today on my way to the grocery store, I popped into my neighborhood thrift store and tried my new “no-basket” strategy and it worked again and I found a couple of things.

I bought this little creamer in the “Peacock” line by Hannah Turner for myself, but it turns out it resells for $19-$24. Hmmmm….keep or sell? I’m leaning towards keep!!

And this was the longest (18″!), most intriguing envelope clutch purse I’ve ever seen. It’s for the woman who is an unabashed fashionista and likes to make a statement. Made by St. Louis, MO, designer Cameo de Bore, she says, “I did not sew in high school but I’ve been crafty and artsy fartsy and took an interest in fashion. I’ve been a corporate girl my entire life. By I always tinkered and loved fashion.”

Her purses retail upwards to $265, though the latest ones have a large metal handle on the back and this does not.

So no Jackson Pollock paintings or Remington bronzes, still a few good, interesting items for real homes and real people…which is who I buy for after all. And I am thrilled to have found these at my local Goodwills. Lately, pickings have been slim there, but maybe that’s changing.

I spent $30.94 total for the: raku and pine-needle pot, Russian glass egg, Byers’ Caroler sailor, blue cloisonne vase, Peacock creamer, and Cameo de Bore purse. These items represent three separate thrift store visits and about 90 minutes of in-store hunting time. My items tend to be long-tail and these are no exception. Yes, some of these may sell within a month or two, but many will likely be around for a year or more. And while that’s not ideal, I’ve learned to be patient!

I’ll close for now wishing you happy hunting,

Karen