Monday, January 20, 2014

Thrift Haul: Retro Art, Mod Carafes and the Sexiest Silver Robot Lamp You Ever Saw


Now that my clearance project is abandoned I'm excited to schedule more Estate Sale, Yard Sale, and Long Distance hunting trips. It feels better to focus on the new. I took one flea market trip this Sunday and came back with some unique goodies. Isn't the robot lamp above glorious? I'm going to repair it and add a vintage shade soon.

I found a cute little curio shelf that would be right at home in my apartment holding my hundreds of "smalls". ---->>> On Etsy


This was an impulse, I need to control myself better! I love anything vintage gun related and took home this somewhat shabby old gun decanter. I sold a similar Avon one so I may see how this does in my antique mall booth. Selling it for $12.00 if anyone's interested. (E-mail me)

Another plaque~?! I'm not supposed to be allowed to buy these but this one's huge (16" x 16") for a mere fifty cents, how could I resist? I remind me of the Dream Horror House (A Victorian painted glossy black by set designers) I wrote was my muse a while back. Or Foxworth Hall from Flowers in the Attic, just love the bold geometric shapes in this and solid color, it's a bit Halloweeny but could be up all year. I'll be writing more about the new Flowers in the Attic soon me-thinks, I'm excited to watch it for the set and costume design. I know it will be awful in some so-bad-its-good ways, too! See the plaque On Etsy.


I found a Libbery Carafe with the percolator (I believe it's called) and lid intact, a rare score for me! ---->>> On Etsy

I went back and worth on this one and went ahead and bought this "Etc." sign. I may paint it bright red-orange but it's on Etsy in it's original form for now.


Woah and yet another impulse was this nifty mushroom planter. I try not to buy more glassware but damn, a mere $1.00 to make it mine? I need more will power! It's on Etsy for a low price so it moves fast, hopefully!

Isn't she BEAUTIFUL!? She's quite similar to a souvenir lamp from Kyoto so I won't mind her being around in the meantime. I adore unique Japanese vintage pieces and love the mix of mediums here with paper, fabric, wood and glass being used and nice green detail, too. ------>>> On Etsy

And a final rule-breaker! Some big eye art plaques. For $1.00 each yet again they were hard to leave behind even though it's something that's a tricky sale. ----->>> On Etsy

UPDATES: If you didn't catch my new blog schedule I post on the weekends now. I posted two from the soul posts, one on Indie Biz Money Probs
 and one on my Project Progress for the week.

Also for those who've been asking, I still do blog design, banner design, product/business photography and freelance consulting. I just made a banner for the awesome Dharma Citta blog. E-mail if you wanna chat and get your business rolling. Don't let progress stop for the new year!

What did you score this weekend? Do share your finds and posts in the comments.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

42 comments:

  1. I usually go out to Orlando twice a year (I live in Tampa) for a thrift store run. I have had stellar luck there in the past. This time, however, ugh! Worst luck ever! Three of the best places ever (from past experience), were closed down and empty! What a bummer. I drove all the way out there (1 hour, 45 minutes) and I came back with a small grocery bag worth of mediocre finds.....At least I had a good day out with my son (he loves thrifting with me. My daughter, on the other hand HATES thrift stores!) So, needless to say, I think I wont be back there for thrift shopping for a while! Going to try Spring Hill next, its full of retirees, and I can get there in an hour. I love love love that robot lamp....its okay to break rules sometimes, cause you never know....I sold a fondue post last week! Anything is possible!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dayum on the fondue pot sell, miracles happen! I haven't experienced the Orlando stores myself but my mom came back with beautiful high quality clothes I really liked, still love this artsy bathing suit she found me there. Seems there's a more "trendy" lot there which results in some nice clothing finds at the thrifts. And more of culture of wanting "new" things. This from what I can tell from visiting and people I've known that have lived there.

      I'm going to take a trip to Gainseville and stop and many thrifts/vegan eateries (I'm told they're abundant in the free-spirited college town) along the way. The Devil's Millhopper and the UF museums there are awesome little stops in that direction too. I've often passed it but will finally explore the legendary immense Waldo flea market hopefully soon!

      How's the hunting in Tampa? I haven't fully explored that area yet. I'm usually traveling with non-thrifters that would grab the steering wheel out of my hands if I tried to go to a thrift store! I did thrift in Sarasota/Bradenton and they had glorious abundant scores, nice retirement area with $$$

      Delete
  2. When I lived in Orlando, there was a place called "cheap charlies" it was a hoarders junk shop filled from floor to the ceiling! It was a diggers heaven...closed many years ago:-( There are a lot of vintage stores, but that is more of a retail thing, not for resellers. I have to say that the hunting here in Tampa is pretty good overall. Tampa is a young city, but we are surrounded by retirees. In fact, Pinellas county, right next to us, is the county with the heaviest population of elderly in the united states! So you know you can find some good stuff (Clearwater, st pete,...) I have a flea market about 1/2 mile from my house, that is a pretty decent place to check out. So overall, Tampa bay area is pretty decent. We have a ton of thrift stores...all over the place! I think I will check out Sarasota...Its about an hour away. I guess I didn't think they would have thrift stores there.....If you come to the tampa area, message me and I can let you know the areas and stores to hit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesome, thanks for the tips! I had friends going to college in Sarasota/Bradenton so I'd visit and explore thrifts/fleas while I was there. Jacksonville's a hunter's paradise with the large junk culture, the coming-and-going with it being a port/military town and the age of the city. I'm in a historic area, sometimes I can find vintage things on the curbs while bike riding.

      Delete
  3. That lamp is awesome,but the artwork in that picture is whoah, like a train wreck.I could not look away.Awesomesauce.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The art piece is my Kei Horiuchi who used to live in town, it's my personal favorite in the house me-thinks! :D Love it! It grosses/freaks some people out but that's part of its charm. It's based on a famous ancient Woodblock art print by Hakusai (Of "Great Wave" fame) where a fisherman's wife gets freaky with an Octopus.

      Delete
  4. That plaque would be a perfect piece for a crafter. You could multi media the hell out of it. I can't freakin wait for Flowers In The Attic. Its been a long time since I really wanted to see something on TV. You seem reluctant on a lot of the pieces you bought but remember there are levels. Like I could say jackets don't sell well for me and on the whole they don't. But there is always the exception. You learn the upper echelon. Like your mushroom planter. Its kinda weird, it grabs your eye. I bet it sells.
    There's my awesome logo! I love that logo!!:) I kept meaning to ask if you wanted me to put a link in saying where it was made.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thinking that about the plaque, there's so much crafting potential for it, and it's just nice as-is. I wanted shots of me holding everything for scale but my lack of autofocus on the camera (it's oddly broken) makes that nearly impossible for the moment. Such a cool piece. I definitely am reluctant to bring in anything else that won't move quick these days. A link back would be awesome! Thank you, I'm glad you like the logo!

      Same here on not being excited for much on TV in a while, all I watch is Mad Men/The Walking Dead when it's on. I loved the VC Andrews books as a young child (like, 9, haha) and re-read them every few years and evaluate from a different stage of life. My last re-read was recent and wow, those books are some horrible purple-prousey so-bad-they're-good patriarchy-filled bull, but they're kitschy fun that way not unlike Twilight or any other romance paperbacks. But I still like how the original book is heavy on mood and environment and how the oppressive Foxworth Hall is a character itself the same way Norte Dame De Paris is in Victor Hugo's classic novel.

      Delete
    2. I read them very young too. How I sneaked those past my very religious mom I will never know. What an education! I remember the first one so well and very little about the rest. I think I went off to Sidney Sheldon (ha!) land at the same time and they have become muddled in my brain. Ok I'll totally do a link back! Have to figure out how to get it at the bottom because i know when I'm interested in a web design thats the first place I look!

      Delete
    3. Thanks Kari! I have so much I want to write about that first book, such a weird phenomenon!

      Delete
  5. LOVE the carafe. And the "etc" sign. It will sell, I predict. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I NEED to thrift again. Since we've moved, I've not been once and it's killing me. Killing me! I love love love the ETC sign. I think I'd paint it cobalt and put it in my bedroom.

    xo Ashley
    thetiniestfirecracker.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never mind a thrifting break these days with so much in my house to organize, re-photogaph, list.. ;)

      Delete
  7. That carafe is lovely :)

    I've adopted the attitude that anything will sell, eventually. I just sold a dress (at full price) in my Etsy shop that had been on there for 5 years. Yes, 5 years! I still made a profit on it, even with the cost of regularly renewing it. Sometimes I freak out and re-donate stuff if I get tired of looking at it, or if I bring home an awesome haul that needs more storage room. But generally, I have found that everything eventually sells.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've found the same which is why I'm done with clearances, more than once I've clearanced something locally to have it sell online for way more, sometimes 4 times more! I have a feeling some better branding/photos will help me move some stagnant wares.

      Delete
  8. Ooooh…I collect percolators and carafes and I've never seen that one before! What a beauty! I think that the house plaque was originally made to put photos in? I remember seeing some like it but maybe not in that color.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what the plaque looked like to me, though it didn't have a back included or seemingly a way to attach one. I can never resist good carafes when I find them, they sell pretty well, too.

      Delete
  9. Everything you scored is beautiful, but that lamp is AMAZING! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! There'll be more of him soon, going to get a lamp kit tomorrow and fix him up his former glory. May re-paint the chrome in bits where it's faded, too.

      Delete
  10. Yeah, I think that is hands-down the coolest lamp. period. that I've ever seen! And that house plaque is so unique, I think it would be cool painted a bright color and hung year-round.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who could resist such a glorious robot lamp!? He shall be stunning once lit and displayed ;D I may have to find a spot for the house plaque, he continues to grow on me.

      Delete
  11. Love Love Love the print on that carafe! I've never seen one like that before. I got rid of my collection of coffee carafes last year otherwise I would totally buy that from you.

    Have an awesome week!!

    ~Erica

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My favorite carafe find was one with a gorgeous tribal pattern but this one was a happy lucky find too. ;D Thanks Erica!

      Delete
  12. wow you scored some great finds love the robot lamp

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, me too. Can't wait to put 'em to use!

      Delete
  13. I love that carafe/percolator. It is great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks :D I was excited to find it in a box full of rotting stuff. Always dig, you never know when gems are hidden away. A quick scrub and it was good-as-new.

      Delete
  14. that robot lamp is simply fantastic! I love the mushroom planter too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! The regretted the planter but he refused to be left behind ;)

      Delete
  15. Beeep. Bop Boop. That's Robot for...damn, that lamp! Love it. Oh I can't wait to read your thoughts on the Flowers in the Attic remake. Baaaaaaadd Lifetime movies are a much indulged guilty pleasure of mine.

    <3 Jackie @ Let's Go Thrifting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saaame here, I miss cable just for sitting with a glass of wine with friends and riffing the painful bad that is lifetime movies. FITA is a badly written book but it has a certain Twisted Gothic Horror Fairy Tale Over-The-Top Melodrama element that made in a page-turner despite the bad. But the new movie, holy shit upon reflection I think the old campy one was actually better?! The new one is SO BAD, worse than I could have imagined...

      And yes, Robot Lamp! Love! He will get a spiffy make-over post dedicated to him soon me-thinks.

      Delete
  16. Loving that robot lamp! And that carafe is a great find, especially with the lid.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, I bet it shall sell :) Eventually. Surprised how much these guys can sell for! Mr. Roboto is being taken out to the hardware store today for repairs.

      Delete
  17. Yup. Robot lamp rocks! Is it old or new? Never seen anything like it & now I want one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't tell yet. I'll take a harder look and report back. Soon it shall be fixed up and shining in my home :D

      Delete
  18. we need a curio shelf or cabinet in our home so bad. I like LARGE décor and my husband likes little knick knacks. little clusters of stuff all over the place made up of rocks he thinks are pretty, vintage pinbacks and figurines drives me bonkers. Lock it away!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Collections are definitely much better grouped together and out of the way to keep you sane! Will be sharing more collector's goods and how we keep them contained!

      Delete
  19. Van are you REALLY selling the robot lamp?? that thing is so cute and so right up your alley! Thanks for linking up and I pinned your robot!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for pinning. I'm working on repairing him!

      Delete
  20. Very cute robot, if you can call a robot cute.

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your comments. Thank you for adding to the discussion! I always reply to any and all questions.

Like us on Facebook

Related Posts with Thumbnails