Finding True Love At The Thrift Store

Thrift store shopping is one of my favorite past times.

I love meandering through the aisles to see what treasure is hiding on the shelves.

However, recently, I've been in a major decluttering phase and collecting and purging don't pair very well.


So I've been trying to stay out of the stores.

Of course, quitting any habit cold turkey is tough.

Understandably, I've slipped a few times and popped into some of my favorite shops.

But. I'm happy to report that I've been extremely discerning. Thoughtful.

And downright picky about my purchases.

They had to be either very useful, a very good bargain, or touch my heart in some very strong way.

Exhibit A.

This is not a thrift find. It's a plate I've owned for 22 years.

*SQUARE DINNER PLATE*

My sister gave it to me as a housewarming gift when we moved into this house. I love it and have used it often as a serving piece. 

Well, when I saw this matching square cake plate in the thrift store, I gasped, for obvious reasons.

*SQUARE CAKE PLATE STAND*

Also, I love cake plates, next to pitchers, they're my accessory weakness. Keep in mind, I have way too many stuffed into this tiny cottage already, so $20 was too much and I walked away.

However, for $15, I said ok to the persistent shop owner. Pricey? Yes, but worth it for sentimental reasons and much less than what I saw it for online.

Plus, now I have a set...and the beginning of a collection - for better or worse. 😉

Another find for the heartstrings pile was this $1.99 paper print.


In the useful column, for $4.99 I found this very cool self adhesive lampshade.

I adore patterned lampshades, but they're expensive. I figured this would be foolproof way to make my own on a budget.

Especially since the directions were printed right on the paper.


It's a much easier way to make a custom shade than cutting the sticky styrene paper and mounting it to a shade frame. Now, I just need to pick a fabric.

Ceramic pots are expensive, so when I saw these two red beauties for $2.99 each, I grabbed them.


The original $8.99 price tags were still on the bottom, so I felt really good about that purchase. 

I felt even better about the .99 sticker on this red tin planter.

It came with a plastic liner, too.


Maybe that will encourage me to water my plants more often.

I don't have a great track record in that area, which means this may be the most useful purchase of the year.

I'll keep you posted.

The last finds were ones I was suckered into solely by price.

For example, this antique pie/cake /plant stand was $15. I've always wanted one, but hadn't ever seen one for less than $100.

Ten points for anyone who can tell me what the original use for these stands were...I couldn't find it.


Naturally, there was a reason this one was so cheap.


It was in disastrous condition. It was stained, chipped, scratched and there was some kind of glue bubbling up around the edges. Ick.

That's ok, I knew I had the DIY chops to revive it in some fun way.

This solid wooden sign was kind of the same.

Cute sentiment, but I really liked the shape and for $5.99 I could repaint it and turn it into a custom piece to fit my decor.

*SCROLLED WOODEN SIGN*

My husband and kids vetoed my makeover idea, they like it the way it is...so for now, it remains untouched.

But we'll see. I think it could be so much more interesting. I have to think.

Lastly, I have two items that fall into multiple categories. 

I bought them because they were bargains, one turned out to be super useful, the other tugged at my heart so much, I had to back and find another.

Useful first.

This $3.99 Pottery Barn shadow box came home with me, because it was a bargain.