As my thrifting eyes scan the shelves, aisles, racks and tabletops, they are drawn to 3 things the most: Metal (especially painted metal and enamelware), Color and Containers (oh, and blankets and furniture-- but I've been cut off at a recent Sistervention).
Once it fits my style, I find deeper meaning & connection or purpose with each item and decide if it's special or useful (I usually make a use for everything in my head if I'm crazy in love so I can go home with it. Awesome bad habit). I'm a "widdler" when I shop. If I love it, I put it in my cart... then at the end, I go through my cart and decide what's coming home with me (plus, Keith often steps in with helpful reality checks when I've got too much). What I don't buy, I put back where I found it so I don't annoy storeclerks...and sometimes when I put it back, I see something new, lol.
On a recent shopping trip to Antiques & Funk on Main Street, I found 4 things that fit a few of my favorite sub-categories:
Kitchen // A mint condition Dansk Kobenstyle Dutch Oven that was on my Jackpot list. I vaguely remember diving across the store when I saw it out of the corner of my eye and there was squealing and little jumps (i'm not cool). This post on Modern Findings introduced me to my love of Dansk last year and I hope to collect it for life :)
Childhood Connection // 'The Acme Thunderer' Whistle with cork ball that I've turned into a necklace. My dad used to referree high school volleyball as a part time job and whenever I could get away with it, I'd take the whistle out of his Gym bag. It was on a cool silver chain that moved like a snake and I wore the whistle around the house (probably trying to boss my siblings). I knew I wanted a job one day that required a whistle (and where I could also write on a chalkboard). When I found this silver whistle in a bucket of metal objects for $5, I knew it was time to make that dream come true... we've already got our chalkboard at the office and now I wear a whistle on a long chain as jewelry. I made my dream job happen ;)
Container // Pond's Jar with twist-on turquoise lid and milk glass jar. I'm a big fan of compartments (my house has tons of nooks and hidden storage spots) and so I'm naturally attracted to containers of all sorts. Are you too? I've recently started a new collection of Pond's containers that I want to eventually cluster on my dresser with my perfumes... these jars are so pretty, I have 2 so far that are a little different from each other and I think I'd like to find 1 or 3 more:)
Repurposeable // Canada Motor Products hinged Fuse Box. It's a painted metal, colorful, container-- three of my categories in one, hello. So I stood there holding this little fuse box (pondering if I was becoming a horder) and decided how I could use it. It is now a little pill box in my purse ;)
What are your favorite methods for Thrifting, Fleaing and Antiquing? What's on your "Jackpot List"?
Looking forward to reading your comments!
Love Leigh-Ann
