Winter Thrifty Finds

Even though I have been quite busy during the winter we did manage to get in a few stops to our local Salvation Army.

I got this sweet little enamel planter with lace-y deer border for only at $1.   I'm starting to get into all things enamel and will definitely be on the look out when at flea markets this spring.

My husband stopped in at a Salvation Army one day without me and found these two solid wood tall but narrow book cases.   They now are on either side of my desk in my office and almost look like built ins.   There are a few dings in them so I may end up re-staining or painting them in the spring.   I think they would look nice in an antique white with a robin's egg blue in the back. 

Earlier in the fall my husband had stopped by at a yard sale and bought this tin painting for $3.   We added it to our foyer where we are trying to build a gallery wall.   The size of the painting worked perfectly over our front door.    You can also see the German Expressionist painting we had bought back in the summer.

Weekend Laundry and Cooking

A few weeks ago I went home to see my parents for Father's Day weekend.    My mom and I of course had to do some shopping.   She took me to this adorable consignment store in town.  The whole store is set up as if it was a living room/ dining room with items laid out on coffee tables and end tables. There were couches with pillows and blankets and hutches filled with dishes and vases.   It was so fun to look around because everything almost blended in so you wanted to make sure you didn't miss anything.

As soon as I saw this antique laundry drying rack I loved it.    I actually wasn't quite sure at first what it was.  It was in excellent condition and has this very ornate detail on the hinge and brass caps at the end of each wood rod.    I have looked on ebay and esty and found similar ones that were not as ornate or in as good of shape.   I'm thinking of putting it in my laundry room once we refinish it or my dad suggested it would look nice in our bathroom.

The drying rack is stamped with a patent date of Sept. 12 1871.     I looked into the patent further,  it was filled by Osgood Plummer of Worchester, Mass. as an improvement to the towel rack.    Below is the patent drawing and description.  

On our way out I noticed this mint green enamel dutch oven and I just had to have it as well.   My mom mentioned it looked like something either a relative on my dad or her side had but she couldn't remember who.    We soon got the answer when I got back to my parent's house, where above their cabinets was a tea kettle from the same maker in blue from my father's grandmother.   My dad said I could have the tea kettle since it went with the dutch oven.     I researched a bit more and found both are Dru Holland enamelware, made in Holland.    The company went out of business in the 1970's.    Yellow Dru Holland is the oldest, from the 1930's, and considered more rare.   The blue is from the 1950's.    I'm guessing the mint green is from the 1940's or 60's but haven't been able to confirm yet.   I will definitely have to make a trip back to the store next time I am in town.  

 

Thrifty finds at the Salvation Army Store

A few weekends ago my husband and I went to a local Salvation Army Store for the first time.  Can't believe I haven't gone sooner!!   We purchased a solid wood desk for only $39!    It looks like pine, and it has beautiful carved out edges.  There is also slots all the way across the top for organizing mail and papers.  Our plan is to refinish it in a darker stain and replace the hardware.   We have never stained or refinished anything before so fingers crossed it doesn't look horrendous after we finish.

I also found a little light blue pfaltzgraff creamer for only $4.99.  It's from the Mystic collection produced between 2002-2007... so not really vintage) but it had nice clean lines and a modernistic look to it.

Lastly I bought a milk bottle for $1.99 to add to my husband's "man cave".   The room is pretty large (30'Lx15'W) and has a shelf that runs almost the entire perimeter of the room, so we have been looking for different decorative items to add to the shelf.

Definitely will be making more trips to the Salvation Army Store in the future!