Thursday, April 16, 2009

Latest thrift store/garage sale deals

Hubs and I have started a little tradition. We'll get up early on Friday morning, grab a coffee and chai tea latte and hit the garage sales. I used to always wonder why people had garage sales on Fridays, because I figured most people were working. Now that I'm on "forced vacation," I see the beauty of a Friday garage sale. We can get in there early and have first pick of all of the goodies before the working folk have a chance on Saturday! ;)

A few months back I'd found a chandelier at a thrift store for the kitchen. I've been really needing a new one for the dining room since it has the ugly builder chandelier up there..you know, that ugly faux brass number. This past Friday I found one! It was the last sale we stopped at for the morning. This lady had an awesome Pottery Barn chandelier that I knew would be perfect...not too fussy, very simple and straight-forward. She was asking $25, which you know, is a great deal for a PB chandelier (or any chandelier, really). Since we'd been to other sales that morning, we only had $21 left in cash. She took it. Yay!



I may or may not change the shades. I'll have to see what I think once it's hung up. They are currently a beige fabric. The chandelier also has removable crystals. I don't think I'll leave them on year-round, because my style is more casual, but I'll definitely put them on during the holidays. Do you think they'd look too fussy year-round?



That same day, I found the perfect little lamp to go on my foyer table. I've been having such a hard time finding something short enough. I have a grouping of black and white photos on that wall, and every lamp I tried covered up some of the photos. It's very cute as-is, but it's a little too country for my style. I'm planning on painting it silver and putting a dark red or black shade on it.



Yesterday I went to the Salvation Army thrift store. They always have nice things, and the store is very organized and clean. Wednesdays are half-price clothing days, but they also had half-price shoes. I scored this pair of adorable chocolate brown suede-like wedge boots. They looked brand new to me. I'm just afraid that come next fall when it's boot season again, wedges will be out of style. I hope not!



I have also been on the hunt for a basket or tray for my foyer table for a long time now. I just haven't found anything that I liked enough. Until yesterday. I found this little gem at the Salvation Army as well. The handles are wrought iron and it's nice solid wood. How cool is this?! I just need to clean it up and it's ready to go. I can't believe someone donated this. I could think of a zillion places to put it in my house! I guess some people don't have a vision. Or maybe they just have too much stuff. All I know is that their loss is my gain. :)



Hubs won't be able to join me tomorrow, but I think I'll still hit the Friday sales. Who knows what treasures are out there this week!

24 comments:

Kelli said...

Cute stuff! I used to love to go to flea markets and garage sales. I was always looking for something to repurpose. That tray is nice!

Joanna said...

What great finds! We always held garage sales on Saturday but the last one we had we did on Friday and Saturday...We had more people on Friday..We had lot's of people stopping by on their way to work. It was great.

Ally's Corner said...

I say leave the crystals on. But of course I love crystals.I love the little lamp, I have black and white toile in my bedroom.

Unknown said...

Don't you just love yard sales!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Oh my very cute!
sandy toe

Pleasant Living said...

great finds!

Shannon said...

Love your finds!! Great pieces! I love the chandelier with the crystals. I would leave them but I understand if you don't want to use them year round.

That tray is great!

Gwen said...

Great finds! I so need that little tray because I'm looking for a centerpiece for my dining room table.

I think you have the right idea about leaving the crystals off except for the holidays. That's a gorgeous chandelier!

Christie said...

I came over from My Home-My Life and am inspired by your thrifting finds... makes me want to take the day off and search for yard sales! It's amazing to me what someone else will donate that I think is awesome and love in my home.

Unknown said...

i LOVE garage sale season! i always find the best deals :)

be sure to swing by and enter the GIVEAWAY this weekend! It is SUPER cute and we are having 2 winners!

Nancy Bane said...

We always do one LARGE garage sale/sample sale (stuff donated by vendors) for my rescue group every year. Fridays are WAY bigger...we always take in about $2,000 on Friday and only about $5-600 on Saturday.

Lindsey said...

What a cute tradition you guys have!! Great finds!

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

You are totally making me want to go out thrift store shopping! You just never know what you're going to find, and that's the fun of it! Have a great weekend!
Carrie

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

Score score score! Sometimes I wonder why people get rid of this stuff. But their loss is our...well...your gain! Lucky you! That lamp is soooo cute.

Lucky in Love said...

Looks like you found some great things at really great prices! When I start to decorate the house...I'll need some tips :)

Ashley said...

I think the little crystals are cute- not too fussy at all! You have a very cute blog, also!

Amanda said...

WOW! what a great find on that chandelier! love it! and I sooo could use that black & white toile lampshade!! I have those curtains in my kitchen! I have a gold/red lamp shade I'll trade ya! ;-) You got some fun stuff!

Clean and Classic Interiors said...

I'm so jealous of your chandiler find! I wish I could score like that! I always do the slow drive by and then end up stopping when I shouldn't and not stopping when I probably should!

Mary said...

Great find on the chandelier and I love the tray!

WhisperWood Cottage said...

You know I'm jealous, right? Great find!!!

cherry said...

Great scores....I have the pb shades but not the chandy.c heryr

phillips phamily said...

Great finds! Love that tray. Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica said...

What great finds! I am also on the hunt for a short little lamp. I found one at a thrift store that I'm hoping will work, but it needs some paint love.

Kim said...

Great idea. I always knew there were Friday yard sales, but never thought of making that my routine instead of the hecticness of Saturdays! Thanks for the idea!