End-of-May Thrift Store Finds

End of May here in the San Francisco Bay Area has been quite cloudy and gray which has rather dampened my spirits. So when Memorial weekend rolled around I wasn’t in the mood to do anything. I stayed home and puttered in the garden, made bread using a new-to-me recipe (turned out delish), journaled and watched my favorite murder mysteries.

But when Tuesday dawned, I realized I needed to leave the house and rejoin the world…if only for a trip to my neighborhood thrift store. So that’s what I did! But gosh this small thrift store gets so crowded these days. I recognized a few regulars but most I’d never seen before. And I know, I know, I shouldn’t feel proprietary, but I do. This has been my honey hole (more or less), MY store, for over 10 years. I miss my old thrifter buddies and I’m aggrieved at all these new folks clogging up the aisles. I have no right to feel this way. It’s ridiculous. Still there it is. I’ll get over it…eventually!

Well as I walked around I just wasn’t finding anything and I thought I’d walk out empty handed…again. And that seemed like the “perfect” cap to the somewhat dreary weekend. But in the end I surprisingly found a few things.

First I grabbed this group of five never-used cotton napkins with the intention of keeping them for our own use, but I discovered this brand, Couleur Nature, is a Paris one! Oh la la. A group of six sells for $89 retail! So I’ll list my five for a more modest $48.

This vintage red abalone shell on three lucite/acrylic feet was just too fabulous to leave behind. Likely from the 1960s/70s, it is prettier than my photos show. Perfect boho or beach decor, whether you smudge or not.

I always look at the purses, but many aren’t worth reselling when they have a $20+ thrift store price tag. But this unisex messenger bag was intriguing and the leather was so soft. Hmmm. M0851, made in Canada. I had never heard of the brand, but honestly when was the last time you saw something marked “Made in Canada”?? I was sure this was worth the risk before looking it up. And it is.

I may give this bag a try at my next flea market outing. It’s got pockets for cash, enough room for a few smalls and a long strap for slinging cross body. I’ll likely list it around $100.

Total paid after 10% discount: $28.66

Thankfully we are getting a bit more sun now and that always improves my mood and motivates me more. Maybe I’ll get to listing and spring cleaning today!

I’ll close for now wishing you happy hunting.

Karen