Great hauls from my favorite haunts. That huge Pyrex bowl almost made me squeal with surprise. Such a rarity to find a great piece in such good condition.
Some notes on thrifting:
When you find a good thrift store, ask the manager or pay attention to their in-store posters and ads for discount days. Some of my favorite places have certain days when certain departments are 25% off. Others have punch cards or member cards that are good for 25% to 30% entire purchases on certain days. And most will give you a discount coupon if you bring in items for donation.
Almost all thrift stores stock their racks and shelves throughout the day, so it is best to check back often. I tend to avoid weekends since they tend to be most crowded and pretty well picked over. The chain thrift stores (Savers, Goodwill, etc.) have some pretty strict rules, but the smaller independent shops can be a bit friendlier about checking in back for items not yet on the floor. I ask about sheets a lot at some of the independent stores I go to, and most are willing to look for me.
When looking for sheets, it is important to look through the racks carefully. I've found some great treasures hidden away that if I hadn't been aggressively looking, I would have missed a gem or two. This is especially true with pillowcases. They love to hide.
If there is a bin at the store with fabric items still in the packaging, look through! I've found several vintage sheets still in their original packaging by digging. Dig away, dear friends!
Spring and summer are great seasons for thrifting. Folks are spring cleaning and having garage sales and there's usually a bit more to be found.
And always carry some anti-bacterial wet wipes for your hands after shopping. My hands always feel dusty and grimy after manhandling the merchandise at thrift stores.
Oh, and for the book lovers out there, thrift stores are a great place to find those old-fashioned paper books for around $2.00. I've even found some awesome vintage Hardy Boys books for my hearty boy who loves to read.
Back soon!
Hi there,
We are going to be doing a silent auction at our rummage sale on May 17-19 to help raise funds for our adoption. We have been waiting over 2 1/2 years to be matched. I am wondering if you would like to donate something to bid on?
Our blog is www.campfunk.blogspot.com
Thank you so much!
Jill
Posted by: Jill | 05/02/2012 at 11:35 AM
i've been thinking about this since we went. you should talk to the manager and see if they would save back and give you first dibs of the old sheets, since you are such a good, regular customer. they might be happy to do that. also, i think i need to go through your stash and commission you to make a shower curtain for the kids' bathroom. cuz, you know, you don't have anything else to do. ;o)
Posted by: michele | 05/26/2012 at 09:22 AM
I love thrifting, and I miss all of the thrift stores I used to frequent back in Wisconsin. Sadly, Washington DC is lacking in the thrift store department. :(
Growing up, my mom had that whole set of green pyrex bowls! They're pretty awesome!
Posted by: amanda | 05/27/2012 at 06:46 AM