Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Thrifty finds this week

I rarely stop by Goodwill or the Mission thrift store these days. However, I was out running errands recently so I made certain to visit both stores on my way to pick up a prescription. My timing was perfect!

I wanted to share these items to show how one can have lovely items for serving meals, pretty tea time "girly stuff", and good books at a very low price. Everything shown cost between 49 cents and $1.99. :)

I've been wanting to read Mitten Strings For God for awhile so I was so happy to find it.

I also found a Barbara Pym book I'd never read. If you enjoy British novels, you might like Barbara Pym. I have read two of her books and enjoyed them very much, Excellent Women and Quartet In Autumn.

She is often compared to Jane Austen as she is a great observer of people and her writings show an understanding of human nature in an often humorous manner.

This is called her "darker" novel so I must admit to wondering what it will be like. It was cheap enough I could take the chance to see if it is good. If not, I'll donate it to the library sale.

The silver and crystal carafe was my most "expensive" find at $1.99. I thought it added depth and height to my tea tray... even if I never use it to serve anything, it is pretty.

By the way, the teapot was a garage sale find from long ago.

I really don't need any more serving dishes but these were pretty and cheap. I could think of all kinds of things to serve in them.

It's hard to tell but the round platter is much larger than it looks. Hmmmm... crudites and dip?

I found the tea cozy at the Mission thrift store, on the shelf where they keep all the tablecloths and such. It is very well insulated and the brocade is even prettier in person.

The little old lady at the cash register had no clue what it was and as it had no price, she asked if a dollar would be fine. Of course, my answer was yes!

Even after I told her it was a tea cozy, she looked at me with a blank expression. Obviously not one who has been to enough tea parties... how sad.

17 comments:

julie king said...

you did find some great deals. i love to putter around in thrift stores and i have an overflowing china cupboard to prove it. hee hee

lovely blog!!

Betsy Brock said...

Lovely, lovely! You really found some great things! I need to take a trip to my local thrift stores soon. It's always an adventure! :)

Abounding Treasures said...

Fabulous finds Brenda, and you sure can't beat the prices!

Scrappy quilter said...

What great finds. I love thrift stores.

lady m said...

Brenda,

I have the same tall teapot. It comes with a burner and you lighted with a teacandle to keep the tea warm.

What wonderful finds...enjoy them!

lady m

matty said...

Lovely girlie finds! How can one go through life without attending a tea party?? I can't imagine!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Wonderful finds,Brenda! How fun! I love to find treasures to use for such a great price!

Oh and sad that the lady didn't know what a tea cozy is!

Beth said...

I'm on my way to the Goodwill store now! I have to meet my parents to give them somethings and we thought that would be a great place to meet! Hope I find something good. That's where I have purchased most of my clothes!
Have a lovely day! Beth

Nita in South Carolina said...

Oh, I love Barbara Pym. Made me mad that she died without writing a whole bunch more books! Sweet Dove Died is a little different from her others, but I still enjoyed it.

Anonymous said...

I was planning on going to Goodwill today, but decided I was too tired to deal with driving across town. Then, I read your blog, and it inspired me to go. I am so glad I did! I have wanted a Dooney & Bourke purse for years, but couldn't afford one. I found one at Goodwill, today, in great condition! It was a "steal"!
Thanks for giving me the motivation to go.
nancyr

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I haven't been to Goodwill in over a week! Just today I was thinking about all the great stuff I must have missed!! But then it's not like I need any more stuff! But still I love going!

Love the tea cozy! The material looks like vintage barkcloth in the photo. You found such pretty things and your thrift has much better prices than mine!

Manuela

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

I just finished another British favourite.... Rosamunde Pilcher's two books entitled A Voice in Summer and Under Gemini.

I don't think I've read any Barbara Pym, not that I recall, so I'll have to go and look for her.

I enjoyed my visit to your blogs.

Anonymous said...

SO fun finding good deals and surprize things you were not even looking for!! Thrifting is a great hobby!!
Elizabeth

Maggie Ann said...

What a lovely tea-cozy! And books are treasures aren't they. Life is made up of so many riches, yet the best is yet to come.

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Congratulations on your great finds! I love to check out thrift stores and yard sales for treasures. V.

Anonymous said...

love the tea cozy, and the new header picture! i was wanting to hint to you about changing it but didn't want to hurt your feelings! love the change! :)
jo

Heather L. said...

Love seeing your finds!!! how funny about the tea cozy -- those are extremely rare to find. Don't think I've ever seen one here in America in a thrift store. i went to salvation army last week and came home with a brand new all wool hooked looking rug (think Pottery Barn) for my back door entrance!!! Very fun -- oh it was $2. Also some matching punch cups for my punch bowl (20 cents each). Not to mention a yellow wool sweater for flowers -- been looking all summer for one.

Thanks for the book recommendations too.