Thrifting

I got out yesterday to do a little junking.

I wanted to make sure that I put concealer on in case I got accosted by another cosmetics counter salesman. 

Him: "Can I be honest?" 

Me: Ummmm. I'm not sure?

Him: You have such dark circles.

Yes, thank you for pointing out that I look like death warmed over because that is how I feel after being cooped up in the house for three days not feeling well. 

I didn't say that but I certainly didn't buy his make up.;) Which, by the way, sunk into the fine lines and tiny wrinkles around my eyes making them look not so fine nor tiny.



So armed with concealer, I hit the thrifts on the other side of town.

 Oh, Jerry Jones has done a bang up job trying to clean up that side of town. 

Fortunately, the growth and development hasn't put the junk stores out of business. 

My first stop is always Thrift Town. 

It is the nicest of the lot. 

I have bought books, lamps, chandeliers, bedding, and clothes here in the past. 

Now, I almost always stick to the china. 
I've gotten a little more squeamish lately. 
  

Thrift Town's china is organized by color. 

I usually check out the white first. Then I'll look at the other shelves hoping to find something in one of my accent colors.

 I found 5 big off white ironstone looking platters for 99 cents each.   

I also saw a cute blue and white teapot from the 50s or 60s and a pink rose creamer. 
There was nothing I couldn't live without so I left. 

The next stop was Collins Park Thrift. 

They still had some Christmas items but everything was really picked over.
But, 

I found a new big Starbucks mug and a little stack of plates.

The plates didn't look that interesting until I recognized a brown transferware pattern close to the bottom. The stack was all taped together so I couldn't get a good look at it but I was willing to gamble for $2.98. 
 I always run my finger around the edges of china to feel tiny cracks or "fleabites", as they are called.

Unfortunately, there was a naughty child in the store near me. I wanted to give her one of my best teacher looks but she must have sensed a disturbance in the force because she wouldn't look at me. 
She was a little sassy pants.
I realize now that I must of stretched the limit with my children when they were small as well. There is only so much shopping little ones want to do.

I hit the toy section just as they were heading to some other section.  

It was a good day for toys. I guess all the moms in town have been cleaning out the toy boxes because I found two bags full of little trinkets. One bag was full of little plastic pets which will make a great pet shop for one of my teachers. The other bag had some stuff that will replenish our dwindling prize box.

In my attempt to avoid "Varuca Salt", I rounded the corner and there was a cart with stuff fresh from the sorting room. I spied a beautiful silver pitcher and an adorable red and white hotel china gravy boat.

The water pitcher is Wm. Rogers silverplate. It was only $7.98. I love buying silverplate at thrift stores because most of the time it is black with tarnish. Polishing it up is like unearthing treasure when it is clean and sparkly.
My favorite thing to use right now on silverplate is Bar Keepers Friend. 
It is a very mild, slightly abrasive cleanser. It does the job without scratching. 

I could have hit Texas Thrift or the Goodwill store on the next block but I was feeling a little peaked so I headed home. 

The total thrift store route can take all day and it encompasses 7 stores. I have done it before when my brother comes to town but it wears me out.

 I was tickled to find that the taped up little plate was actually a turkey saucer in the His Majesty pattern by Johnson Brothers.

 It will look cute tucked in with my vintage turkeys next Thanksgiving.  

  

I spent the afternoon resting and reading in my big comfy leather chair.

What have you been up to?
Happy Friday!

Katie