Recent Finds

I've had a good run of thrifting finds of late, so let's have a look inside the Vermont Basket Company hamper ($5.99-Hand Me Ups) and see what I've brought home.

 Hats galore!

The woman at the thrift store mentioned that I always buy such unusual items, and she wondered if I am an art teacher. It took me a second to reply, because I do teach art, but more from a history perspective than a, "get out the manila paper and tempra paints, we're going to make art!" direction. If my mother had been there, she'd have let loose with a boisterous laugh at someone mistaking me for an art instructor. My first day of school, I brought home some drawing we'd done in class expecting it to be displayed on the fridge like I'd see at friends homes. Mum took a look at it, binned it, and told me my time would be better spent doing useful things like cleaning my room. It was the era of "no colouring books for children because it inhibits their imaginations", but as mother pointed out to someone once in response to why I had such books, "She needs the lines." Sure, she could have been a bit more sensitive about it, but if I'm being honest, she had a point. Anyway, in Omaha wearing nice clothes and hats gets you pegged as the art teacher.

 

Speaking of tasteless art-a foil picture! I adore these, and this one must have been expensive as the owner went to the trouble of taking it to the expensive shop for framing. Mr. ETB groaned at the sight of it, knowing it will end up in the bedroom with the freaky lions and the pair of children painted on burlap (that will be another post). I offered to have him a poster of Barthes made, to reflect his tastes in our home, but he just shrugged and told me to do as I like. I like foil paintings, thanks very much.

 Tablecloths...

 ...paper laminated trays...

 ...Americana note cards...

 ...and a brass lamp that must weigh 25 lbs.

I also like a nice pair of mid-century wall sconces. You never know when the power will fail, and you'll be forced to resort to candles. Easier to strike a match in the dark than fumble for batteries in the torch, and let's be honest-Mag Lights are durable torches, but not terribly flattering to skin tone. No one ever says they fell in love by torchlight, do they?

Finally, I found this lingerie bag/mending kit/hankie bag in a last-chance bin at the thrift store. A bit of research about the company Victoria Vogue indicates they've been around for a while making things like makeup applicators and powder puffs, but I wasn't able to find out much about this particular rayon bag. Worth .25 cents at any rate.

 The original pins and needles are still neatly arranged in the case.

 Hard to imagine anyone darning hose post-war, but perhaps old habits die hard.

 The clothing finds have been exceptional of late as well, and hopefully I'll get a chance to wear some of them soon. We haven't been out much as Danny is still sick, and though the antibiotic took care of the sinus infection/lung stuff, the poor kid is now house-bound with a nasty reaction to the medication. This makes three weeks? He rarely gets sick, but this has been a doozy. He's getting tired of plain toast, baked potatoes, and ginger ale.

Anyone finding great items recently?