Never Overlook Smaller Thrift Stores

I almost never mention where I purchase my thrift store finds. I didn't want to give 'product placement' so I've tried to remain vague. But I think I've been looking at it wrong. It's not about selling for a business with no benefit to myself; it's about helping you find the perfect pieces!

So with that, I'm going to divulge my sources of thrift stores you may not know of. Which you will see include some great finds.

Bibles For Missions:

Canada
USA

A sample of what I've found at Bibles for Missions in the GTA:


$1

  

$5

 

$49


St. Vincent de Paul:

Canada - you'll have to google for your local SVP thrift stores...unfortunately they aren't quite up on helping us find their local stores...but so worth googling to find one!
USA

Some SVP finds: 


$90



$5 side table (yesterdays find!)



 Of course you all know about the Salvation Army and Goodwill. If they'd like links...they can contact me ;)

I'm going to keep this post updated so if you have any lessor known Thrift Stores in your back pocket let me know and I'll add the links.

*bisous*
Dane

Busy busy - but always time for Thrifting!

I've been busy with a couple of clients these past few weeks so I've had absolutely no energy to post a blog.

Makes this a very boring blog to visit...I'm quite aware and feel guilty about. Truthfully I feel like a poser due to my lack of posts. But I've promised myself and will promise you: 

I will NOT post just photos of other peoples work with nothing written but a verb.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy those posts for their beauty and simplicity but I think there are quite enough without my contribution.

So here is a quick peek at my latest find. Photo was, as usual, taken with my iPhone. Appologies.

I found the light at Habitat's ReStore last week for $95! You may have also noticed I painted my dining room...railings by F&B. I was feeling stressed from work so when I got home...I painted. One coat that night and the second the next morning. I feel sooo much better with the beige gone...and my new light up!

The dining room is currently a craft room as well for the kids & admittedly for myself as well but since painting and getting the light up I will divest the room of all crafting...promise! Then the table can go in the centre and the light can be lowered.

Some day, I'll style the place and take real photos. For now, however, you see how we live...the blue thing in the lower right corner of the photo is The Boy...tidying his crafts...in his new Cookie Monster wool winter hat. His pay for being my assistant yesterday at a client site. He has only taken it off to sleep :)

*bisous*

Dane

Thrifty mid-century finds

I've been busy on a couple of projects for clients so I'm superbly bad at posting.

But I just stumbled upon a great store here in Toronto so I wanted to take the time to post about it. It's called Guff and they have a blog they update all the time with new items fresh of the truck. Guffs prices are great. Seriously, I've seen people on craigslist privately selling mid-century teak pieces for 2x's as much as Guff retails their finds for.

If I had the cash I'd buy this sofa ($395) for the bedroom:

And this (~$500)!

And of course I wanted to show you a couple more finds I've gotten...that just happen to be mid-century.

I found a bedroom set for The Boy last week. Teak and rosewood in excellent condition! Photo is crappy (iPhone). I am wanting a new DSLR (Rebel Ti) but until then...iPhone photos.

Admire:

There is also the highboy and dresser with mirror! All in immaculate condition. Thrilled beyond belief. And all for $400 =)

*bisous*

Dane

Gone So Long

I've returned from South Carolina and miss it terribly...including the heat. Considering SC daily low temperature is generally the same as Toronto's daily high I definitely prefer the south.

I have limited access to the Internet while in SC so my blogging and keeping up with the great blogs I follow has been non-existent. I wish it wasn't so as I miss keeping up and conversing with everyone.

My first post back is to catch you up on some great (thrift store) finds I have purchased over the summer:

Drexel's Declaration:  Mint Mid-century mahogany dresser with mirror designed by Steward MacDougall (furniture) and Kip Stewart (upholstery). If you'd like to learn more about this amazing line I recommend Pam Kueber's Reto Renovation's blog as it seems to be the most comprehensive I've come across (note Pam's got a martini in her hand...my kinda lady).

Want to see more pieces of this Drexel line?

The dresser was going to go in The Boy's bedroom...till the gorgeous and oh so brilliant husband pointed out The Boy would destroy it. So it is now my new dresser. Just have to break it to The Boy. Btw, the thrift store also had 2 matching bed tables but sold them separately (and before I arrived). Grrrr.

Lee Industries rolled arm sofa! Paid $100 :)

You will notice the newest member of the family on the sofa. Tallulah! The photo was taken today. She's 16 weeks old and hails from Lexington Virginia. But more on her in another post. Some day I'll have a slip cover made or re-upholster it but for now it is Tulah's sofa so the floral stays.

Mid-century modern solid wood (mahogany?) Brutalist side table. I have no idea who's design this. Frustrating. I have tried to research it but have had no luck. I know it is from North Carolina but there is only model numbers and NC stamped on the back. Inside, it is the back is mirrored.

I've got a mirror on top to protect the wood and I use it as a bedside table. My water glass and carafe are always filled with ice water which means they sweat. Sucks. This is also where I hide the candy from the kids. This also means I spend my evenings stuffing my face with junk :(

Post Modern Tubular Chair

The Boy's new Post Modern chair. Evidently this was a day when The Boy dressed himself. He loves his new chair.

Well these are the major pieces I've found this summer. Can't wait to see what I find next!

*bisous*

Dane

Thrift Store Finds

Thursdays are my favorite day to head out to the thrift stores. It's also a day The Boy is not in school. Every Thursday morning after taking The Girl to school we climb in the truck and head out.

The Boy is happy and chatty...until we pull in to the first Thrift Store parking lot. 'Oh no...not *here* again'.

Funny he's not figured it out by now. He's always totally surprised. He's a good little shopper though; gets a cart (regardless of need).

I thought I'd share with you a few of my finds from yesterday.

Shinto Lion: $5
Bishamonten God of War & Warriors: $4

These are Japanese Shinto figurines. I got the Bishamonten as a place holder till I can find some more Shinto Lions. For $4...I'd have been crazy to leave him. He's also considered a god of healing, able to expel demons of plague (need that!) and he is the dirge of evil-doers! Yay!

I love my owl bookends! $7. They are very dusty and heavy. When I saw them I instantly thought I'd spray paint them white. Silly, They will remain gold. Trends shmends...my owls will remain as is!

Conch shells...I can't have too many. My favorite of the two is the gray/blue on the right. It was $1. The conch on the left was found at a different thrift store and was $2.

I've begun collecting globes for The Boy's bedroom. Till yesterday I just had one so it's been in our hall way (on my $25 hard wood credenza) for a couple of months. I found the second one yesterday. Paid $7. I'd like to find some smaller ones. Eventually they will be moved to their home in The Boys room.

The Boy made out pretty well himself. At the first stop he found a small keyboard that does just about everything. $20. Turns out I could plug it in in the truck...yay. So he played it (the whole time) on the drive between thrift stores. At any rate, he was quite happy to continue thrift store shopping...not once did he ask if we were 'going home yet'. Worth the $20...although I felt it was over priced when he asked for it.

*bisous*

Dane

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