Thrifting Tip~ No One Can Know Everything About Everything

No one can know everything about everything. Most of the time, this is the frustration I face when I'm out thrifting. I have many niches, (pretty much anything that'll turn a buck) but I know I'm passing things on the shelves and tables that are worth more. I just don't know it. Google and my Droid are helping though.

But what I'm talking about here is the fact that not every Thrift Store pricer, garage sale Owner, even Professional Estate Sale....runner...person...dealer...guy can know everything about everything that they put out.

And occasionally, that works to our advantage.

I went to an estate sale last Friday that was put on by family members. However, the nephew running the sale was in the BIZ. He holds Estate Sales for a living. So it was pretty professional. I approached the tent outside the house about 2 pm and took a look at the expensive jewelry, antiques and doodads that were in the glass cases. Prices were high...pretty much at retail.

Things were fairly picked over inside the house and what was left was expensive. I'm sure other 'pickers' were waiting for 20% off Saturday or 50% off Sunday.

Then I saw the above camera. It's a Polaroid SX-70 Sonar Folding Land Camera. And it had a nifty over the shoulder carrying case. It was $6.

Check Etsy for these and they are mostly all listed at about $100. They're a little bit less on Ebay.

I came home and listed mine for about $70 on Etsy (condition issues...and I can't test it...no film) and I sold it today.

So my point is, not everyone can know everything about everything. I don't. I just happen to know that Polaroid cameras aren't just old cameras. There are several desirable models and folding land cameras are one of them. Last time I saw a similar one at an Estate Sale, the owners had it priced at $150!! At an Estate Sale!! So that dealer knew. This one didn't.

Just a quick tip to remind you that there's usually 1 or 2 items at every sale or store that is underpriced. And we get the fun of finding it!!

What about you? What was your best under-the-radar item??

Mid Century Mondays- Gense of Sweden

Celery Tray by Gense of Sweden on Etsy

To all of you that are keeping track, I'm so sorry I missed Mid Century Monday last week! I even meant to write a post later in the week and apologize and didn't even get to that! This week I do have a few posts planned, including a Recent Finds and a What's Been Selling. I love reading these kind of posts on other blogs...you never know when you'll come across the same items in your own thrift hunting. So I thought I'd share my recent finds and scores!!

I'm going Scandinavian on Mid Century Monday again. I'll have to check out a different section of the world for next week.

Gense of Sweden began all the way back in 1856. It was founded by Gustav Erikson. The company is still going strong today and is one of the major cutlery/flatware producers in Europe today.

I like to read other thrifting blogs and see what the authors are selling. I think I may have come across Gense for the first time on Apron Thrift Girl's blog, or possibly in her Ebay store. In any case, I filed the brand away and was happy to spot this tray on a recent thrifting trip.

I love the tray's modern design. From what I've researched, it was designed in the mid 1950s by Pierre Forssell.

Vintage Modern Gense Forks Set of 4 by marthathehipster on Etsy

One thing I would love to find is some of their flatware. But I have a flatware obsession. I have a hard time NOT buying it. Gense flatware can bring a pretty penny on Ebay.

So keep your eyes open in all that stainless at the thrift stores. And it may be worth a dig or 2 through the silverware bins!

Linking up to Thrift Share Monday.

Fab Friday Finds...Somebody Pinch Me..

I just had such a wonderful thrifting day. I have to share.

I almost didn't go. I'm so glad I did.

I started out at one yard sale (they are getting fewer and fewer...so sad!!) and was happy to find this piece of Descoware. It's my first. It's Belgium's answer to Le Creuset.

I was happy enough with that. Then I turned and saw a table filled with...

Starbucks City Mugs.

There were 12. Nine are the original 1994 versions. I just sold my first one for $74.00. I'm happy. I should probably have listed it for higher. But I won't be greedy. :) I paid such a ridiculously low price for these. (See!! I may be gloating but I'm not hoarding!!)

I was ecstatic. I walked away from the sale wondering who to call first. But there was a sale across the street and so I held off.

At that sale I found these owls.

At a quarter apiece, I was happy. Nice little antique booth fillers and Etsy shop fillers. There are sugar bowls, salt and pepper shakers and a toothpick holder. Plus some way cute figurines. I love that Mod big one up top. It's a bank. The trio on the right have googly eyes. They are mostly all from Japan.

The one I was most excited about is the one right up front (the top blog picture). It's a metal sculpture. I was hoping it was a Curtis Jere but it's unsigned. I still managed to find one like it on Ebay that sold for over $100!!!

Ok. So now I was stoked. I could have gone home happy. But I didn't. I kept going, with Little Man in tow. "You said 2 Ga-wage Sales, Mama", holding up his little fingers. Although he wasn't complaining at the free toys he always scores from friendly Garage Sale people.
After fortifying ourselves on chicken McLugnuts, we hopped into Goodwill.
First thing I found were these American Girl items. A doll (AG of Today) and Bear (Miss AG). The outfits and the bear are all mid 1990s. Interesting! My first thrifted AG items.

Then I went down another aisle and saw this:

This is not a huge money maker...but it's one of those items to keep an eye out for. The fad may be fading, but Google 'circuit bending' and you'll see what people use these for. It's used but it's got a box and book! Sweet!

At this point I'm just shaking my head. I had already gotten some shoes and sandals on my BOLO list (Be On LookOut) and the finds just kept coming.

Next aisle, Portmeirion. Would prefer Villeroy & Boch. But you don't see toast racks everyday, do you?

Then I finished up the day going with my gut. Found this set of vintage children's books. Never heard of Rupert, but that doesn't mean anything. Did a quick Google search and figured someONE, someWHERE will want these books.

So those were my highlights. I found an Under Armour shirt for 25 cents and some shot glasses...some shoes...nothing I need bore you with photos of. I know days like this don't happen very often...so I'm gonna relive it in my memory!

What did you all find this weekend??

Linking up to Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday

Time for Letting Go

In this new phase of my life, working at home, building a ReSelling business, I've learned some things about myself. Which is a good thing. Every new challenge should reveal previously hidden skills or abilities. But that's not what I'm talking about here.

What I've discovered about myself is that I'm a...what shall I call it? Hoarder? No..that's not it. Not really. Just a little. I've always said that as long as I'm selling what I'm finding, I'm not a Hoarder.

And I like to sell. I buy shoes, I sell them. I buy shirts, I sell them. I buy silverware, I....hoard it.

Ok never mind. It's still not completely the thought I'm looking for. I'm a....Gloater? Yes, there is part of that. I love telling everyone what I found. And how little I spent on it. So, yes, that's a bit of gloating.

But I think what I'm really finding out about myself is that I'm a Hoarder-Gloater.

When I find things that are AMAZING, that are ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME, I have a hard time letting go.

Remember this post about that amazing end of estate sale, and the free items and the AMAZING Le Creuset finds and getting it all for dirt cheap? Well, that stuff has just been sitting in my ReSelling area. I was having a hard time letting it go. It's worth money!! I'm not planning on keeping it. It's just been sitting there.

I'm like some Scrooge character, counting his gold. I look at my finds and I'm like...'hee hee...look what I found!!'

So this week I listed some items. I started with the Heath pieces. They were free.
Immediately I sold this one:

And this one:

For $25 each. Duh!

So last night I got all my Le Creuset listed.

It feels good.
I'll make some money to go spend on my next ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME item. There's always another one. That's why I love this biz.

What about you? Are you a Hoarder-Gloater? Or are you a Churn-and-Burn kinda person?

Mid Century Mondays- 1956 Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book

1956 Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book for Sale on Etsy

Before I get into today's Mid Century feature, I have a couple things to say.

• No, this is not becoming a Mid Century blog. I don't know enough about Mid Century and I have too much to say about other things! I just haven't had time to do any other posts other than this feature that I've started. That will change, I promise!
• Also, check out Late Night Coffee's blog. I'm a guest blogger today! See my post about ReSelling clothing. 

Now on to the feature!

I found this book at an estate sale and was super excited when I saw the turquoise cover! I knew it was harder to find and full of mid century decorating.

I know the web is full of images from this book so I won't bore you with tons of them.

I totally wish I had a large room...big enough to try this room divider/bookcase idea.

Love the chairs...the carpet's gotta go though.

Whoo hoo! Check out that atomic wallpaper!! Now why didn't my Grandparent's house look like this? Their decorating stopped somewhere in the mid-century but I don't remember anything MOD or ATOMIC in their house. Oh...it was more like this....

Early American or Colonial Revival. I remember plenty of eagles, butter churns and wagon wheels at Grandma's house. This style was popular in the mid-century, so this book has plenty of these images also. I REALLY hope the Colonial style doesn't revive again. Please, no.

Ok, lets wash away that image with another one.

Again...am loving the bookshelves!
The book is also full of these cutesy cartoons and helpful tips.

That's today's Mid Century Monday! What's your memory of Mid Century decorating??

Linking up to Thrift Share Monday.

Mid Century Monday Follow Up- An Orrefors Answer

I just received this email in response to my email requesting information about my Orrefors find.

Dear Shannon,


Your e-mail was forwarded to me regarding your Orrefors votive. Your
votive does not have a pattern name but the designer is Edvin Ohrstrom.
Your votive was introduced in the late 1940's and discontinued in the late
1950's.


I hope this helps and if you have any other questions, please let me know.
Enjoy your beautiful votive!
Sincerely, Jackie
Orrefors/Kosta Boda USA

Whoo hoo!! I'm so excited. I don't know why. I just love having answers! And I'm so glad this is really a Mid Century piece!!

Mid Century Monday- Orrefors

This week's Mid Century Monday feature almost didn't make it on Monday, but I'm squeezing it in. Got a last minute offer on babysitting this morning, so I ran off to the Labor Day sales at the thrifts!

Glassware has got to be the vintage area that I know LEAST about, so this week's feature will be short!

Orrefors is a Swedish glass company that began to focus on crystal glassware and art glass in the early 1900s. The company is still around and making pieces today.

The mid-century period of Orrefors glass is described on their own website.
"Intensive experimentation and a continuous search for new means of expression generated results. Orrefors participated in the New York World Fair in 1939 and launched the concept of Swedish Modern. The exhibition was a major success for modern Orrefors glass – colorful, vigorous and exotic. In 1947, Ingeborg Lundin became the first woman designer at Orrefors. She gave a new, dynamic aspect to engraved glass. Nils Landberg’s “Tulip Glass” and Ingeborg Lundin’s “Apple” illustrate the graceful, daring glass of the 1950’s, which together with Palmqvist’s centrifuged bowls created a worldwide stir. Gunnar Cyren, a silver- and goldsmith, came to Orrefors in 1959 and responded to the trends o the 1960s with such works as Pop Glass."

I didn't go out looking for Orrefors- you could say the piece above found me. Like I said, glassware is not my main area of interest, but being newly interested in mid-century mod style, I've been doing my research. I've been looking through shops on Etsy and reading blogs. So when I saw the above piece at a thrift store (I think it's a votive holder) I knew it had that LOOK.

I flipped it over and saw the signature. The name sounded familiar. A quick search on my phone confirmed it was Swedish so it came home with me.

My research continued but I've hit a brick wall. I can't find this piece anywhere. The only other place I've seen it is in someone else's mid-century modern webstore. They hadn't been able to identify it either. I'm hesitating listing it until I can learn more, so I think I'll email Orrefors and just ask 'em!! What do you think?

I'll keep you posted!!