Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Frank & Betty.

Yesterday I presented myself with a challenge:
to spend 5 hours thrifting on a roughly-$10-budget.
My hubby was working a short shift that day,
(we only have one car) and since the kids are gone,
it was the perfect opportunity to tag along.
Or, as I prefer to term it, "wade knee-deep into endless thrifting perfection." ;)

So while Nate worked, it was my chance to take as loooong as I wanted
in the thrift shops. I always feel vaguely guilty, even if it's just him waiting
for me in the car. Even though I know he doesn't mind, I always feel a little bad.
I'm one of those people that can spend an hour no problem in a thrift.
At the same time, I was a little worried--5 hours, was that too much even for me?

Ummmm...no.
I pretty much used up every minute.

And, I actually like putting myself on a money limit (now and then, ahem.)
Even though my thrifting skills have sharpened significantly, I can still
sometimes make those "but-it's-cheap!" impulse buys.
And I love vintage so much, things can seem awfully appealing sometimes.

This vintage primary reader was one of those things--
do I need this---do I really need this?
It was just too cute to pass up.


I love that it is a teacher's edition, and has notes about each story.



The pictures do me in every time--
soooo cute!


Ah, how I can relate.


I just tell myself, "but they're for the kids room--"
when I get to decorating it vintage-style.


Vintage restaurant ware mugs.
One is different but they still make a cute set.




A small printing block letter, the first I've ever found at a thrift.
Yay!



These vintage shot glasses were just too 
cute and funny to pass up.



Apparently they originally came in a set of 3.
The last one says "just a swallow."
I've already scoped it out on ebay, lol!
I'll have to get that one.


A charming tray,
though in this pic you can't quite tell that.


I'm always wanting to find one of those vintage
metal hangers that are similar to this,
but older--as seen here.


This is the closest I've gotten.
I'll take it :)


Ok.
So I know I can be a little weird and really
err on the kitsch side of things sometimes,
but I LOVED this sign.

Frank and Betty, I bet you were one pair of cool cats.


An old photo, I'm guessing mom and daughters,
that captivated me because of their neat clothes
and the way they are posed.



A plastic glove form.
I'm going to try and cutestify it by
adding an image where the rectangle is, among other things,
so it can be a quirky decoration.



This is my favorite find from that day.
There's something so lovely about it to me.


I love the paper it's glued onto, and the orange
border going around it--


...and the clothes this Victorian woman is wearing,
her brooch, the umbrella and gloves.

The clerk selling it joked, "Do you know these people?!"
I get that a lot :)

But it's such a neat piece of history, an old photo.
A momentary glimpse into a life and time I can never know,
but certainly wonder and imagine about.


For more thrifty finds, stop by Harper's Happenings
for H.O.T.T.! 





8 comments:

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Great finds - especially the reading book - the illustrations are wonderful! I love the women in the photo, one looks as if she's inspecting the young girl's hair for nits!
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

Anonymous said...

All of these things are so cute & quirky! Love them. That book is wonderful... the pages would look amazing in frames if you were brave enough to tear a few out.

xo,
jessie

Cinderella said...

I loved the old photo of the mothers and daughters. Generational pictures always have a sentimental value:)

Chrissy said...

the photo of the ladies made me look twice... doesn't the girl on the left look like kirsten dunst? hmmmm.

i love the shape of the mugs. so perfect for saving space and great design.

i actually have one of those multi-hangers in my closet right now holding ties. yawn! your display is so much cuter that i think the ties may have to be relocated. =)

aimymichelle said...

those mugs are amazing.

★Carol★ said...

I like your junking style! And especially that the Frank & Betty sign seemed to call your name. Sometimes there's just no explaining why something appeals to us, is there? Oh, and I'm pretty crazy about that Virgin Mary piece of art that you created. She's stunning!
Happy 4th!
Carol

Anonymous said...

The photos are my favorite. Those clothes and details are fabulous. The attention the two older women on the one girl makes me nervous. Is that kid a total spoiled brat, or are they ignoring the other one because she's evil or what?

All that for $10? Good thrifting.

Anonymous said...

The photos are my favorite. Those clothes and details are fabulous. The attention the two older women on the one girl makes me nervous. Is that kid a total spoiled brat, or are they ignoring the other one because she's evil or what?

All that for $10? Good thrifting.