A New Thrift Store

I noticed a new thrift store on the way home from work. I have not had a chance to stop in so when Buster wanted to look for a bundt pan for a project, I suggested the Methodist thrift store that was new to me.

Oddly enough, I don't think that I have ever been in a thrift store that is run by the Methodist church. These folks do a really nice job of running the store. The prices are reasonable and they have a good selection of clothing furniture and housewares.

Well, Buster didn't find his bundt pan but I fell in love with a low coffee table. I couldn't talk Buster into buying the table (where are you going to put it) but it is still on my mind. Twenty-five dollars for an antique is always worth the price!

Afterward, we stopped by Goodwill, again looking for the bundt pan. I came across some aluminum trays that I especially liked, and I do have a place for them!

I love hammered aluminum and this is a really nice example.

This one is a bit smaller and pressed, not hammered, but the flower motif is nice.

 Here is a size comparison.

If you can't go on a road trip, you might as well hit some thrift stores! On the Backroads With Buster...

Long Weekend

With a three day weekend, we are back on the road looking for those beautiful fall colors...and of course some bargains as an added bonus.

We started toward Mississippi and ended up in Duckhill. Barbra and Ida run a little shop called The Thrift Den on South State Street. I found a couple of little gems there - a clear glass juice pitcher with a starburst design for $4, and four little dimpled custard cups for $2, also in clear glass. Barbra and Ida are a joy to chat with, and will definitely work you a deal on their already reasonable prices. Be sure and check out the items inside the little shop, as well as the tables outside.

 

 

We were back on the road and stopped in Elliott at a little roadside barbeque stand and thrift store. The barbeque smelled divine but it was a little early for lunch. Buster did spy a green glass bowl that he snatched up for me for $1. Won't it look nice filled with green and black olives?

 

 

 

On to Granada and Another Man's Treasure! As I have mentioned in earlier posts, I have a weakness for restaurant ware, especially pieces that have an air brushed decorative edge. I found three pieces in an absolutely beautiful blue! I have never come across this blue before. The two round bread plates and one small oval came to $6.

 

 

 

We traveled on to Abbeville and found The Abbeville Flea Market open for the last day this season. Unfortunately, they are not sure if they are going to reopen in the spring. That is such a shame as they have very high quality goods at very reasonable prices. I didn't find much to catch my eye but Buster spotted a hammered aluminum tray that I had missed. Look at the details in the tray handles and the fine lines in the tulips, and for only $4!

 

 

 

The uppermost stop on our trip was to Lobelville, Tennessee. A new shop was opening - 72 N. Main Antiques - the name and the address. The owner was working on the interior arrangement and not really open but let us browse around just the same. I found a lovely yellow dove vase for $16. Her shop is a true delight and I cannot wait to see the shop filled as her taste is very similar to mine.

 

 

 

 

 

As we started back down, we stopped in Bellmeade Antiques located in Franklin, Alabama. I didn't think this was really our kind of stop but Buster convinced me to get out and stretch my legs. I am glad I did. I found six Ballerina Ware coffee cups. The cups were 50% off so they came to $6. I love those 50's colors of burgundy, gray, yellow, and green.

 

 

 

Now for the find of the weekend! At John's Trading Post, a little open-air stand on the side of the road in Guntersville, I found Marcrest Daisy Dot pottery and Russel Wright! Four Daisy Dot beer mugs (which I use for coffee), a bowl, and a coffee cup came to $6. That works out to $1 each! Amazing considering that I have seen the mugs for $18 in antique stores. The Russel Wright divided vegetable bowl in blue was $2! Also amazing! Russel Wright is my favorite designer. In addition, I found a small mixing bowl for $1. Everything was covered in dirt and full of leaves but, at these prices, I don't mind cleaning things up a bit.

 

 

 

 

Be sure and say hello to Delbert when you stop. He is really a character and can tell some stories. Buster chatted with him and got in a few laughs while I browsed. I uncovered two matching 8x10 frames before I left. They were also $1 each.

 













That was our last stop before heading south. We had a long way to go but we enjoyed our long weekend...On the Backroads with Buster.

P.S. The fall colors were already past. We could not seem to time it right this year.

Fall Leaves and Vintage Finds

My job has not left much time for road trips but the weather was perfect and we squeezed in a weekend trip. We hoped the leaves would be changing color and we could combine a little thrift shopping with a little nature viewing. Unfortunately, nature was not cooperating. It was a little early for the color show but we did have a relaxing weekend and found a few nice bargains.

Our first stop was in Attalla. The shop was chock full of interesting items in every nook and cranny. Dishes and pottery were mostly outside on shelves next to the building. When the proprietor realized that she did not have many dishes inside, she exclaimed, "Well, I guess I need to go shopping!" and laughed gleefully! I did find one treasure to take home, a little green and yellow cat planter from the  1940's or 50's.

In Cave Springs, we stopped at an antique car show. Buster thoroughly enjoyed checking out the muscle cars. He picked up some fudge while I wandered around in the Cotton Patch thrift store. I found a green coffee pot and creamer. Although it wasn't a terribly unusual find, I had the matching sugar dish at home and it was only $2.

We moved on to the Goodwill in Rome, Georgia and picked up a LuRay sugar dish in blue. Next, we stopped in Brighton, Georgia at an old schoolhouse that had been converted to a thrift store. I picked up a Frankoma leaf dish for $2 and a gray Ballerinaware bowl for 50 cents. I love restaurant ware and found a platter with a green decorative edge for $1. A platter for a dollar? That was a deal!

Later, we came across the Flamingo Flea Market. The long buildings appeared to be a storage facility in a former life. The interior walls had been removed and were divided into thrift stalls. While there was lots to look at, I only choose a pair of salt and pepper shakers for $1.

Our last stop was at the Mountain Top Flea Market. While there was plenty of publicity, this was not our kind of flea market. The crowd was huge and the rows of stalls seemed to never end. Merchandise, however, was mostly new or fell into categories that didn't interest us - like used medical equipment - wheelchairs and walkers, or tools. If I lived in the area, I would have frequented the produce stalls. There was lots of variety in the produce stalls and many specialty items for people interested in Hispanic food.

We have to be back at work tomorrow so it was time to hit the road south...until the next time On the Backroads with Buster.

Quick Trip

A quick trip to the flea market for spring flowers to brighten the yard produced an added bonus - four old fashioned milk bottles. A friend needed a few for a decorating project and eagle-eye Buster spotted three in a vendor's booth. The vendor then knew of one in another booth and was able to get us a discount. Four bottles in one day was a nice haul for a quick trip to the flea market on a spring day!

3 pints and 1 quart

Not Much Time for Fun

I really haven't had much time for fun this summer but I couldn't resist running in Goodwill recently. I hate the way they have rearranged the store. All of the dinnerware and glassware used to be in the back of the store in nice, neat stacks on shelves. Now it is scattered all over the store in wire baskets on top of the clothing racks. Unless you are six feet tall, it is really hard to sort through items that are at eye level!

Enough of the complaining! On to my treasure for the day - a Vernon Kilns platter in one of their plaid patterns with not a chip or a scratch! Vernon Kilns has six different plaid patterns so I am going to have to figure out which one it is. At first I thought it was the gingham but the gingham is yellow and green. This one is brown and green. (Note: Turns out it is rust, deep green, and chartreuse. Who knew??) I will have to do a little research.

Vernon Kilns' Tam O' Shanter - Doesn't this just scream 1950s?

A nice find for a quick stop, On the Backroads With Buster....

A Few Local Finds

I picked up a few local finds this week. First, I have to say that I am a big believer in the local library. Each spring the public library has a book sale. They get rid of the old to make way for the new. And, boy, does the public benefit while helping out the library. I spent $24  and came away with 18 audio books and twelve paperbacks. The audio books were $1 each and the paperbacks were $0.50. That should feed my need for reading material for a while. Why so many audio books? I listen to them on the way to and from work, and on long roadtrips by myself. Audio books are stress relievers on the way to work, and keep me alert on long trips. (Be prepared to fight the crowds and bring your own bags or boxes for your purchases.)

18 audio books and 12 paperbacks - $24

After the stop at the library, I decided to hit a few favorite stops and try out a new one. Relatively new, Heron House is located on Hwy 90 in an old pharmacy location. As soon as you step through the door, you are asked to stow purses, diaper bags, ect. in a locker with a key. You keep the key with you as you browse around the store. The store is arranged in little vignettes. As you wander through the store, you are gently guided through the aisles from the beginning to the end so that you don't miss anything. The items are a little more high end than I usually look for but if you need a whole set of bedroom furniture or a sofa and matching chair, you won't have any trouble finding it here. These items are in great shape and are ready for living - no refinishing needed.

On to America's Thrift Store in Tillman's Corner. My daughter was just telling me that it is just "so tacky" that she doesn't have a sugar bowl to match her Blue Heaven dinnerware. Lo and behold - a sugar and creamer (minus the lid) for $1.49 in America's Thrift! (Don't tell Buster but I stole a lid from his yellow sugar bowl. It fits perfectly!) I don't usually get that lucky to find something that I need when I need it. Next, I came across a bread plate in a mid-century pattern that I love.

The Blue Heaven sugar and creamer - $1.49. The "borrowed" lid fits just right.

Mid-Century pattern (Taylorstone Cathay) bread plate - $0.50

I have to run in Goodwill when I am out this way. I happened to arrive as they were putting furniture on the floor. I spied a small dresser that didn't even have a price yet. The young man rolling it into place said he would send someone right out. The man came out and eye-balled it, and said, "Mmmm, it needs a little work. How about $15.99?" Oh, my gosh! How did I get that lucky??? A new finish and a little loving care, and it will be as good as new - or even better than new! It is a nice solid piece. This little dresser is definitely my find for the week. I love Goodwill!

The missing knob was in the drawer - $15.99

One more stop - a new consignment shop in midtown - Divine Consignment, an electic shop with lots of furniture and housewares. My favorite was the vintage linens. Anyone with vintage dinnerware needs a few vintage linens to show them off. These linens were in near perfect condition. I picked up two cherry blossom napkins to go with my daughter's cherry blossom plates. She will be pleased and surprised. I know I will make repeat visits to this store.

Two cherry blossom napkins - $5

All in all, today was a successful day of thrifting! I may not have been on the backroads, and Buster wasn't with me, but it was relaxing wandering around town and browsing at my leisure.

Spring in the South

Spring is short in the deep south. We usually see a week of beautiful weather and it is gone. This year we have had an extra long stretch of spring temperatures. These mild temps are perfect for treasure hunting and poking through the flea markets that dot the southern landscape.

On a Saturday morning in April, we headed north on I-65. We soon left the interstate for better hunting grounds - the backroads. We took W-158 and then N-45 to Citronelle. We stopped at Citronelle Furniture and Appliance. It was closed! Buster says this little gem has tons of dinnerware and I was looking forward to perusing the patterns. Oh, well. Maybe another day.

Next, we went to little tiny Toxey on Hwy17. We stopped at Nelson's Fabric and Variety Store. This place was a goldmine. As long as you do not mind tightly packed aisles that you might have to turn sideways to squeeze through, you could spend hours and still not see everything! Linens, and quilts, and dinnerware, and the list goes on and on. I found some Russel Wright salad plates for a dollar a piece, a green glass salad plate, and an oval platter and cup - also green. Do you think maybe I like green?

Six Russel Wright bread plates - Iroquois Casual in ripe apricot - $1 ea

Green glass bread plate - 50 cents

Granada oval platter - $2

Granada coffee cup - 50 cents

We were getting hungry and there wasn't much to choose from. We stopped at Hardee's in Butler and had tacos. A word of advice - if you want good tacos, go to a taco place. Buster did enjoy his chocolate milk shake.

We started toward Linden on E-10. We found a new place to stop. In what looked like a converted service station was a pleasant little shop called Scavenger's. It is only open on Saturdays. Minette Henson, the owner, had arranged antique and vintage items on large open shelves around the edge and down the middle of the shop. No squeezing down these aisles! The items were a priced for a variety of budgets, from odds and ends to the serious collector. I found a cute little round green planter, a yellow teapot, and two figurines. I don't usually go for figurines but they look right at home with the green and yellow that I love. I would be interested to know more about the figurines - I am thinking they are from the 1940's but they are in perfect shape so they could be reproductions. They have no markings so if anyone has a clue as to their origins, please let me know in comments.

Round green planter - USA - $4

Yellow teapot - no markings - $5

Two green and yellow figurines - no markings - $4 for both

Well, for some reason, we didn't find a lot of places open today but we did end up with a few finds. And most of all, it was a great day for a ride - On the Backroads with Buster.

Quick Trip Through Baldwin County

The trip started out as a quick trip to a new vegetable stand but the day was mild and the perfect day to put down the top on the BMW. We don't get many of those since this far south we get three months of winter, a week of fall, a week of spring and all the rest is summer. It quickly gets too hot for daytime rides with the top down. And some of you know how painful that sunburn to the part of your hair or the tops of your ears hurts!

With the top down and my freshly fixed hair now crammed into a ball cap, we began a ride in the country. Of course, when we ride, we can't resist stopping at an interesting place or two. There are many over-priced antique stores in Baldwin County but we did find a couple of bargains.

Ballerina Ware, berry bowl in burgundy, only 50 cents

We stopped in thrift store but I was astounded at the antique store prices! They had a cute little cat teapot and creamer. It was $60 for the teapot and $35 for the creamer! I thought that a little high for a thrift store! Needless to say, the teapot and creamer stayed behind.

On to the next stop! Buster is always looking for plant stands. He scooped this one up for $5.


metal plant stand, $5

with plant at the near end of the bench



The day wasn't much for finds but it was wonderful for a ride, On the Backroads with Buster. 

Go West!

We decided to shake it up a bit. We usually head north when we take off on a trip so we jumped on I-10 and headed west. Buster had heard of a flea market just off the interstate reported to be the biggest in Mississippi. We thought we would go check it out.

After an hour and a half, we left the interstate and immediately saw the signs for the flea market. The surroundings were very pleasant - trees, benches on the front walkways, and canvases at the back of each booth to block the sun. We started down the first aisle.

My first find was a Russel Wright coffee cup in blue. (Iroquois Casual)

A bargain at $1!

Soon I came across a whole bag of red buttons for $2 to add to my craft room. Buttons are so expensive that when I come across a good buy, I snatch them up.

Next, Buster came across his find for the day - two little individual creamers. Remember when your mom and dad ordered coffee in a restaurant and the creamer came in little individual servings? My mom didn't use cream and always let me drink it. Funny how the little things are special memories now.

Hall individual creamers, brown with white interior

One more fun find - a green and yellow platter to add to my plate wall in the bathroom. Yellow chrysanthemums on a white background - I don't have a clue to the pattern but it will look beautiful with my other yellow and green plates. Also, the platter was only $1! I don't think I have ever paid a dollar for a platter in perfect condition.

We headed out of the flea market and stopped at the vegetable booth on the way out. The vegetables were no special deal so we got back on the road.

We took a right and started for the beach road. We had not been on the beach road since Hurricane Katrina and didn't expect to see much of anything. We were pleasantly surprised to see more houses than we had imagined would be there. We stopped at an ice cream shop with a little girl's birthday party happened to be in progress. As we enjoyed our ice cream, another little girl came through the door about fifteen or twenty minutes later. She put one hand on her hip and looked at her mom and said, "oh, great, we are late" before marching back to the party. It was just so unexpected, and she looked about fifteen at that moment instead of five!

We stopped at a thrift store. Buster had just asked me if Daisy Dot Dinnerware had saucers. We didn't have any and had never seen any on the road. I really didn't know if any had ever been made. I was shocked to see one right as I walked into the store. For some reason, the store separated the saucers from the cups. I walked to the back of the store and spotted the matching cup. I thought it odd that there was only one cup and one saucer but I was happy to find something that I hadn't found before.

Daisy Dot, Marcrest, cup and saucer

We hit a number of different little shops but you don't find many bargains on the beach road. Time to head for home and the end of another adventure, On the Backroads with Buster.