Tuesday, March 15, 2011

MEGA picture post = Thrifting Update, A Collection + The SWEETEST Granny Rug E-V-E-R....!

Hello DEAR Friends...!

As ALWAYS, I hope this post finds you safe & well....!

Before I begin today's ramblings I would like to take a moment to refect on the tragic events we've witnessed in Japan over the last week.....I'm sure I'm not alone when I write of an overwhelming sense of helplessness when learning of such catastrophic events....I know I find it difficult to comprehend the fear & devastation these people must be experiencing....What I DO KNOW though is that there is merit to the saying, "Every little bit helps"....!!!!!

Now....This post has a LOT of pics....24 to be exact....So grab a coffee....A glass (bottle) of wine & get ready to witness the ECLECTIC 'gatherings' of Shabby Vintage Junk....!

My first pic is but a SAMPLING of Treasures sourced since my LAST post....Mostly thrifted, there are a few pieces I've found at fetes or the Market....OK....Are you ready.....??

*** sigh ***
This vintage slip was found today at an Op-Shop....I LOVE the detail & the pretty blue colour....Well....It's CLEARLY to DIE FOR....!
Two hand knitted jumpers (WOOL no less) in moss green & taupe....Just so happen to be MY colours....$8- each at the Op  :o) !!
SCRUMPTIOUS leather Doctors style handbag....This piece makes me SMILE EVERY time I see it....I've used it TWICE already since I bought it at the Market for $10-....SCHAWINGADINGDING....  :o)
ADORE this EPNS toast rack....PERFECT for postcards & 'what have you' in my office....And this style of Tupperware & retro colourway....Well....I just CANNOT get enough of it....
STUNNING Floral Card Basket....I LOVE these to pieces but they have to be PERFECT for me to part with my money....!!  This one was $10- at the Market on Sunday.... *** Happy dance *** ....!
Found this trophey engraved 1950 today at one of my FAVE Op-Shops....A teeny TINY $2- was all it took & it was mine....MINE....M-I-N-E....  :o) !!
Today was a GREAT day for scarves....I even found TWO Vera's....Can you say....WOOHOO....!
The watermelon & grey scarf is a YUMMY Oroton silk find.... ** sigh ** .... :o)
I just LOVE tooled leather bags & purses & always ALWAYS snap them up when they cross my path....I also ADORE the simplicity of vintage wallets & purses....The fact there are NO credit card slots makes me SMILE OUT LOUD....!!
How CUTEIFUL is this wallet with it's MEMO pad....LOVE IT for sure....!
The graphics on these games (from my ALL TIME FAVE monthly Fete) & Making Things book are just AWESOME....!
Now this ensemble consists of a YUMMY vintage wool blazer ($6-), grey corduroy a-line Country Road skirt ($5-) & brown velvet cloche style hat ($6- showing original price tag of $44.95) all thrifted today....Can you say....FASHIONISTA....hahahahahahahaha....Sorry....I crack myself up sometimes....And if you saw me in my paint stained falling down TRACKIES & torn grubby t-shirt you would well understand....  :o) !!!!!
Now here is a collection I want to share with you....I've been collecting these greeting card boxes for years now....My first one....The box at the bottom on the far right was purchased at the Market around 10 years ago for $10-....I've NEVER spent any more than $10- for one with the cheapest, the little rose one at the front setting me back just 50c at a garage sale 8 years ago....Oh & then there's the LARGE one at the bottom back left....That was a FREEBIE from the Hard Rubbish....The basket is another story though....It cost me $25- around 7 years ago at an Antique Store in Nagambie....Covered in orchids it is the ONLY one of it's kind I have ever felt DESERVED to be in my collection....It is just D-I-V-I-N-E....TRUELY....!!!!!
The ONLY blemish I allow when purchasing these boxes is DUST....So if the lace is grubby....I can deal with it....If the box is smooshed, the plastic cracked or the box lopsided....Nah....NO CAN DO....
They HAVE to be PERFECT....
In every way....
....Except....
....For....
....A little....
....Dust....!!
Now last but by NO MEANS least is this ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS Granny Rug....
It set me back $2.50 from an Op-Shop....It was discounted because it had....A SMELL....Not a MOULDY rotten kinda smell....More like a PEE smell....I took a chance knowing I'd be HEARTBROKEN if I was unable to get rid of the smell but I'm MOST PLEASED to report it is 100% G-O-N-E....!!
I'm HOPING the GORGEOUS Fiona over at Onabee (** NB: If you LOVE to crochet, knit & ALL things Granny Chic you must....MUST....M-U-S-T go visit this LOVELY CLEVER Lady....!!!!! ***) is going to help me repair the small holes that appear here & there....!!!!!

There you have it....A bit of Retro, Granny, Shabby, Romantic, Glamorous Chic that tickled MY FANCY this past week....I can't wait to see what's tickled YOU....!!!!!

Cheers for now,
Tamarah  :o)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Another day....ANOTHER jigsaw puzzle....!

Hello Vintage Enthusiastes EVERYWHERE....!

I hope this post finds you all feelin' chipper....I've been flat out like a lizard drinkin' gathering Treasures like there's NO tomorrow....Something to be said I guess for that old sayin'....Make HAY while the sun SHINES 'cause in a week or so I'm taking a wee break to go visit some Friends in 'faraway parts' & need to ensure I'm STOCKED up for when I return....  :o) !!

Speaking of which....I thought I'd share a recent load of Treasures with you....Without further ADO....Behold yesterdays 'jigsaw puzzle'....

Hard to tell if there's anything to get excited about at this stage....
Some interesting shapes & textures to be sure....
Miscellaneous clutter....Ahhhhhhh....So THAT'S where my apple got to....  :o)
OK....So FIRST up....High....Like WAY HIGH on my HR shopping list has & will ALWAYS be vintage jars....ESPECIALLY Mason & Agee jars....Well yesterday for the VERY FIRST time in my 10 year HR history, I stumbled upon not one but TWO boxes filled with BOTH....Can you say....H-A-P-P-Y....???
These have all been cleaned & while I've kept the three Mason jars & this YUMMY jar at the front, the rest are going off to storage....For the time being.
This desk is GORGEOUS with GREAT bones....I've scrubbed it & am in the process of fitting some AWESOME door knobs to the drawers....LOVE the Willow tin on top & how's that RAD lamp from the 60's....!!

HEAP of 1950's frames....DROP DEAD YUMMY rusty metal table....It's been scrubbed & introduced to Poly....Sunburnt plant stand & Pope fuel tin....I've NEVER seen one of those before....!
Oopse....Almost forgot the Lloyd Loom basinette....Love....LOVE....L-O-V-E the chippy paint on this piece....SERIOUSLY....!
CUTIE PIE olive green vinyl travel bag & assorted vintage luggage....I never EVER pass up vintage luggage....It is FOR SURE a FAVE....!!

Resin frame has a break in it but some adhesive will fix this & then it will get a paint job....I think sky blue for this one....  :o) !
Now this IS A PROJECT....When I knocked on the door of the house this was in front of to see if it was OK to take it, the lady apologised for it's condition advising her Son had ripped off the doors when he put it out on the nature strip....hmmmmm....RIPPED is not an exaggeration....You can see a portion of a door frame HANGING off the cupboard underneath the drawer....!

Aside from this, the piece lived the last part of it's life in the garage & has oil throughout....I'll remove the ply & replace it with ply sourced from the HR, fix the doors & hinges which are bent & give it a clean....I'll see how it looks & will only resort to a new paint job if I HAVE TO....It has a GREAT colour combo goin' on with the grey, yellow & green which I'd like to keep....We'll see....!
Yeckkkkk....I'll keep you posted....  :o) !!

Can you believe it's Wednesday tomorrow....Where are the days, weeks & months going....?? What I WOULDN'T give for an extra FIVE hours in each day...hahahahahaha....I bet I'm not alone with that one....!!

HAPPY JUNKIN'....!

Cheers,
Tamarah  :o)

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

RESCUED & THRIFTED Treasures....I so LOVE my Job....!!!!!

Hello Friends near & far....!

I hope as always, this post finds you all well & enjoying your week....!  I'm having a STELLAR week on the Treasure front which I'm ITCHING to share....Below are just a FEW pieces I've managed to GLEAN since Monday....!!

This cabinet was JUST what I was looking for....Well not EXACTLY but close & I can make it more so by painting it....It's actually covered in a walnut laminate but I'm thinking of painting it white & using it to keep my vintage fabric stash in....  :o)  
This pink Willow bin is a RARE find....Usually when I come across these they are BEYOND salvageable however, aside from the light rust on the inside it's in WONDERFUL condition & the 4 x transfers are COMPLETE....YAYYYYYY....I'll introduce the inside to poly & we're good to go....! 
DELICIOUS frame, ADORABLE blue Willow Kitchen Tidy (oh how I LOVE me some Willow....!!) & one of two small galvanised bins.... 
Wooden tomato crate (keeper), childrens toys (LOVE the little bear....ummmmmm....keeper) & GORGEOUS Wuthering Heights style painting....I didn't take a pic of the back unfortunately of the home made frame braced with pieces of VINTAGE RULER....How neat is THAT....!! 
Two more paintings (on board), the other galvanised bin & a YUMMY Sorbent towel dispenser.... 
Isn't he ADORABLE....LOVE the patina on these two tins....!!!!! 
TO DIE FOR crinkly office basket & DROP DEAD GORGEOUS card box....I have NEVER in all my years RESCUED one of these from the HR....N-E-V-E-R....!!!!! 
SWEET 50's sewing book & wooden office tray.... 
*** sigh *** 
Now for some THRIFTED Treasures.... 
YUMMY wool skirt....Fits like a DREAM around the waist....Not so around my bum....Couple of weeks out in the HR should burn THAT off QUICK SMART....!!  A TINY $5.99 at Savers.... 
DROP DEAD DELICIOUS hand knitted wool shrug in MY colours no less....Absolutely A-D-O-R-E this piece....!!!! 
*** purrrrrr *** 
An old mans hat complete with fly (fishing lure)....You know I can't wear a hat to save myself however, I recently discovered this style SUITS my noggin' so I'm on the hunt & have TWO so far....!!

Well I MUST away....It's almost 12.30am here & I'm pooped....Can you believe it's Thursday tomorrow....And the 3rd of March no less....Where are the days going I ask....??

Cheers for now,
Tamarah :o)