A Good Find?

After such a wonderful flea market mini haul on Saturday I’ve been on a bit of a sourcing high and I wondered if I would be brought back down to earth today at my neighborhood thrift store. (I don’t even bother taking a basket or cart anymore when I walk in anymore.)

And it was a typical thrifting experience…going round and round. Nothing quite good enough or priced too high. I was tempted by an olive green Sigrid Olsen leather purse at $26 and change, but the resale on these just isn’t strong enough. Here’s a similar one on Poshmark.

But even though it’s a tiny store as Goodwills go, I was determined to find something today…and I just might have. I spotted this carved wood tray on a bottom shelf. Hmmm…now this was rather intriguing, nicely done (all carved from one piece of wood) and in beautiful condition.

I was thinking it could be Southeast Asian. Maybe.

So I started researching online and I just wasn’t finding similar items at first. You know how it is. Then you tinker with different search words. Eventually I found some wood trays from Papua New Guinea that were so similar–from the shape of the bowl to the carving style to the small indents at the top and bottom of the bowl. Bingo!

Here’s a really fancy one inset with coral and mother of pearl.

Turns out these bowls were made in the Massim Trobriand Island area of Papua New Guinea. How cool is that?

Mine is likely 1960s/70s and definitely more simplistic, but handsome and would suit a mid-century modern or boho decor perfectly.

Listed and sold prices vary wildly (Sotheby’s auctions Massim pieces valued in the $$$$),
but I have listed this more humble one for a modest $90.

So I’m pleased. Not a bad little find.

I always try to balance my sourcing and business tasks with getting other things done. Today I started raking up leaves in our driveway and in the parking area in front of our house. A tedious, un-fun job, but it always looks so much better when I’m done. (And I do use some of our leaves as natural mulch…which is good for critters and the environment.)

Then I turned my attention to planting one of my Amistad friendship sages that I bought last week. My planting location is either going to be just dreadful or truly inspired! Even though I planted it under a tree and by a rock, I believe it will get enough sunlight and I love the idea of this sage growing big (up to 4+ feet tall) with its purple flowers looking fabulous against the white bark of the birch tree and spilling over and softening the rock…almost as though it self-seeded there. We’ll see if it works! (Hummingbirds love this plant.)

My shasta daisies on the other side of the tree (that tangle of plants) need serious pruning!
Once I prune them they’ll bloom again this year.

Here’s what the friendship sage looks like when it’s big….

Photo courtesy of Annies’ Annuals & Perennials.

What I am trying to achieve is a wild cottage garden look, though with the drought and water restrictions I can’t do the garden I want. Not anymore. That’s the reality these days.

One thing I’ll always do is keep my bird bath filled. It’s a busy spot and I’m happy to provide this service for our feathered friends. A few weeks ago I spotted a bird I’d never seen before. He’s been back several times and I finally figured out it’s a Pinyon Jay. We do not live in his normal territory. Curious.