new site!!

For the last month, I've been in the process of re-launching my blog on Tumblr. The new domain name is shorter, so just drop the "blogspot" and use www.modernthrifter.com. I finally finished my logo, and all of the posts have been moved to the new site. I'm still working on the search feature of the new site, and there are a few other kinks to iron out, but overall I think the new site will be a much better experience for everyone. I'm particularly excited about how quickly the mobile tumblr sites load.

Starting tomorrow this blog will redirect automatically to the new site—if I get my coding right, that is. Until then, hop on over and test it out. Don't forget to update your bookmarks and RSS feeds, too.

www.modernthrifter.com

until next year

We say goodbye to my beloved home state today. The car is packed with suitcases, thrift store goodies, and a few boxes of memories that I unearthed at my parents house. We even packed three dozen eggs that we bought from a little farm near the Highwood Mountains. As we say farewell to the treasure state until next year, I'll leave you with a few photos of our visit to the farm.


Alden quickly befriended the two boys, Caleb and Jacob, who's family own the farm. They showed him their swamp, their fort, and their horses. My little city girl was a bit afraid of the horses at first, but she quickly warmed up to them.


Patrick and I both share the dream of someday having a little bit of land in an area like this and erecting a little pre-fab like this one:

thrifting in montana - day 2

The local thrift store was finally open yesterday, so Patrick and I left the kids with grandma and dove in. My mom had warned us that the store was so disorganized and overstocked that it would be nearly impossible to navigate, and her description proved accurate. The store was extremely small, and there were sections that almost required climbing. Much of the clothing was piled on the floors in the aisles, and there were spots that were impassable. Lots of items weren't priced, but we found that the owner was friendly and very willing to negotiate.




We came away with these two ceramic teapots and a few other small items. The blue one is labeled "Home Style Finlandia Ironstone" and is made in Japan. It's my favorite of the two. The brown one is unmarked, and a little more traditional looking. I think I'll use it in the colder months for serving hot chocolate or cider.

(Sorry for the picture quality on this post. I'm using the iPhone because Patrick took the camera to do some sight-seeing.)


I'm not a fan of the antlers-on-the-wall trend, but if I was, this would have been a good find:

thrifting in montana

We went to two little shops yesterday morning, and we'll hit the local thrift store today since they were closed yesterday. The first store we went to was River Breaks Gear & Books. It's mostly a used book store, but there are a few antiques & knick-knacks crammed between the piles of books, as well as used outdoor gear scattered throughout the store.




The little ceramic owl was hanging—unpriced—from one of the bookshelves. It was covered in dirt and had melted wax caked inside, but I don't mind having to clean off a few layers of neglect. The owner of the shop sold it to me for $4. Here's what he looks like with a candle lit inside:


Next we checked out a saddle and antique store. The owner repairs and sell saddles, and even has one of my parent's old saddles for sale right now in his shop. I hadn't seen it for years, but as soon as my mom pointed it out to me, I recognized the leather lacing on the back—that's where I used to ride when our family would take our horses out for the day. My sister always rode with my dad and I always rode on the back with my mom. I wish I had appreciated those rides when I was little. Instead, I remember being bored, hot, and repulsed by the foamy horse sweat seeping out from under the saddle.


There were some great wool blankets for sale at the saddle shop, most of them priced between $35 and $85. They reminded me of the blankets at the Ace Hotels. I'm still tempted to go back and buy one, but I don't know if I want to deal with the dry cleaning.

This yellow striped one is actually a saddle blanket and was smaller than the other blankets, but I loved the colors! Here's the blanket at the Ace:


My mom also picked up this glass hen dish as a birthday gift for me. I'm not sure what I'll put in it yet, the black and green iridescent glaze is peeling slightly on the inside, so I'll have to be careful with it.

home office: before and almost after

I had planned to post a few pictures last week of the new office shelves that I've been working on, but with all the laundry, packing, and errands that precede a road trip, there just wasn't time. I was able to snap a quick before & after photo, although the "after" picture isn't quite complete. We still have a few more shelves to put up on a different wall, so there will probably be more shuffling of the boxes and books that are in the picture. As for the "before" picture... well, let's just say I might as well show you a picture of my dirty laundry. It's pretty embarrassing to admit that this is actually what it looked like. It wasn't from a lack of trying, there was just no way to organize that much stuff on the old steel shelf. It was a temporary solution, and I'm so thankful to have found the new shelves at the thrift store. It's such a nice surprise to be able to tackle a project sooner than expected.

I hope to finish up the rest of the office when we get back to Seattle next week, and I'll be sharing more photos when it's done as well as that acetone transfer project I've been promising. In the meantime, I hope to hit some local Montana thrift stores, and maybe I'll turn up some blog-worthy finds. If you'd like to keep up with our road trip adventures, you can follow me on twitter.

summer in montana

Happy 4th everybody! We packed the car and headed for Montana on Friday, so I've been neglecting my blog for a few days. We're spending the weekend in Bozeman and tomorrow morning we will head up to Fort Benton, a small town situated on the Missouri River where I grew up. A week of summer vacation in Montana is just what I needed—the hypnotic sound of sprinklers in the morning, thunderstorms in the afternoon, and chirping crickets in the evening.

Since we're in Montana for the week, I thought it would be appropriate to share a garage sale find by Kellee, a Modern Thrifter reader from Montana. She managed to score this wood cabinet for $10 at a recent sale in Great Falls. Kellee loves garage sales, but since she's planning to have one of her own this summer, she's promised her husband to only go once a month.

bozeman image by meganpru via flickr

birthday candles

My sister has probably the best memory, when it comes to buying gifts for people, of any one I know. She never ceases to surprise me on my birthday or at Christmas with thoughtful gift. Sometimes it's something that I might have mentioned a few months prior to the occasion and sometimes she picks out something that I never would have expected, but completely perfect.


This year for my birthday, she sent me five whirly hanging candleholders from CB2. I think I may have mentioned liking these months ago, during one of our many phone conversations. Of course, she remembered, although I had forgotten. We finally put them up, and I'm so happy with the way they look! It would have been nice to hang them a bit lower, but we probably would have found cars and dolls stuffed inside them daily—maybe we'll be able to lower them in a few years. I still need to figure out what to put on top of the nightstand, but I think Patrick prefers it bare.

two dollar throw pillows

I was so excited about my new shelves last week that I didn't even mention these great throw pillow covers that I found on the same thrifting trip for 99¢ each. I first spotted the blue one and was smitten with the color and texture. Thinking that finding a second one would be too good to be true, I almost walked away without doing a thorough search. I'm glad I decided to look anyway, because a few feet down the rack I saw another great textured cover. The orange one was slightly different, but when I looked inside, the tags were identical—"Fabindia" handwoven in India.

I purchased the feather pillow inserts about ten years ago at pottery barn with a 40% off discount. I've since ditched the original covers, and for quite some time, these have sat in the closet, waiting for me to sew them some new ones. The thrifted covers are much nicer than anything I could have sewn, so I think it was worth the wait.

The majority of our furnishings around the house are pretty neutral, so it's always nice to add a little pop color. I didn't realize how well these pillows would go with the handful of colorful accessories we already have until I put them on the couch. Here are some books that are sitting on a shelf a few feet away from the couch:


And these are some wheat-paste collages that we made that hang on the wall behind our dining table, directly opposite the couch.

beaten by a ballpoint pen

I like to think of myself as fairly proficient when it comes to the duties of homemaking. I can cook meals from scratch, I know the proper method of folding a fitted sheet, and typically, I can remove just about any stain that I encounter... until now. Recently, our new chair was tragically marked by a ballpoint pen. The sound of that might conjure up imagery of a certain little boy deviously coloring on his daddy's new favorite spot, but in fact, it was an accident and with the amount of sketching Alden does in an average day, it was bound to happen.

Apparently, Patrick had told me that he saw the marks one evening, and though I'm sure I acknowledged his remarks, they seem to have not stuck in my brain. The next morning I was surprised when I walked by the footstool and saw two 3" pen marks along with several smaller spots. Not to worry, I thought to myself, I've read more than a few stain-removal guides in Martha. I grabbed a bottle of rubbing alcohol and got to work. The black pen quickly changed from dark purplish black to royal blue. It was working! But after several more minutes of scrubbing, the marks were still bright royal blue. I had several other products that I thought might work, and after all, I had never really been beaten by a stain on anything important before, so I still wasn't really that worried.


I worked on the pen marks for two more days. Folex, hair spray, fingernail polish remover, Magic Eraser, toothpaste, and Simple Green all failed me. Though I didn't give up without a fight, I realized there was nothing I could do about those stubborn marks. They had won and I had lost, it was as simple as that. But what was more was that I had been humbled by a tiny ballpoint pen. I was faced with my pride as a homemaker and wife, and I realized that my "I can do anything" attitude was absolutely delusional. No one—except me—expects that I can be Super Woman. It probably sounds silly that a simple thing like a stain could send me into deep self-evaluation, but sometimes it's through those unexpected moments that our hearts are revealed.

new shelves & an eye patch

This weekend started with a friday find so big that until now, I haven't even had time to post it. It ended with a call to poison control and an eye patch on my right eye. If you're thinking that those two things are unrelated, you'd be wrong.

Goodwill was full of great stuff last friday afternoon. We've been looking for some nice storage to use in our office, but we haven't been able to find anything in our price range until now. To my delight, I found these two Danish wall units for $39 each. In our old house, we had three rows of shelves above our desk that were about ten feet long, but we had to leave them when we sold the place. For the last few months we have been temporarily storing all of our art tools, books, and office supplies on a steel shelving unit. It has been a complete eye sore, but it was either that, or keep them in boxes and rifle through the piles every time we needed something.

Re-organizing the office has been a huge undertaking. We have piles of old artwork, sketchbooks, and paperwork that goes back who knows how far. The new shelves have a nice balance of drawers and cupboards for hiding the unsightly airbrush hoses and kids play-doh, and open shelves to display items like books, and Patrick's pipes.

Part of the sorting and storing process was examining our art supplies to determine what was still usable and what had dried up. As I was editing my box of oil paints, I came across a full bottle of linseed oil. At first glance I couldn't tell if it was still the same consistency as it used to be, so I gave the bottle a little shake and a squeeze (don't ask me why—I don't know). The plastic bottle instantly cracked and the oil exploded... right in my face. It wasn't just a little squirt, either. The oil shot about three feet in every direction. Fortunately, I was wearing glasses, which managed to protect my left eye, but somehow it made it into my right eye.

After a quick call to poison control, a few minutes of hot saline flushes, and an hour of sporting an eye patch, I'm back to normal. Now it's time to get back to organizing. Hopefully I'll finish up this project tomorrow and I'll be able to post some pictures.

charmed by a tea kettle

Last fall, I was making a quick run through Deseret Industries. It was late in the day, and most of the store had been picked over by the astounding number of ever-present antique dealers. But there, sitting on an old tattered couch, was a bright orange, classic Chantal tea kettle. Of course, I really had no clue about its make or model when I picked it up, or that the orange color was no longer in production, I just knew that it was beautiful. Heavy, enameled cast iron, and shiny, stainless steel—it would look great in my kitchen, and I was eager to take it home and try it out. I examined it to make sure the lid fit properly and the spout closed all the way. When everything seemed to be in place, I paid my four dollars, and drove home feeling quite good about my keen eye.

Patrick affirmed my new find when I walked through the door, and I headed straight for the kitchen to fill it with water to test it out. As the water began boiling, I stood there anticipating the classic whistle of the steam, but to both our astonishment, this little beauty let out the unique sound of a harmonica. The tune resonated in our kitchen as I squealed with delight. I then grabbed my french press, ready to celebrate this new culinary addition by enjoying some coffee. Patrick—always more cautious than I—hesitated, suggesting that we pour the water in a mug and examine it before imbibing. Reluctantly, I agreed.

A minute later, we both stood there staring at a white mug filled with steamy water and little black flecks of something. Not wanting to admit that the tea kettle might be worthless, I concluded that it probably just needed a good scrubbing. That method failed, and again the water was speckled with little black particles. We searched the internet looking for some solution in order to salvage the tea kettle. Every site said the same thing. The bottom had been scorched, and the kettle was ruined.

Since our house was on the market, and the kettle looked so stylish in our kitchen, I decided to keep it for a while. Every time we had an agent come through the house, I would pull it out of the cupboard and put it on the stove, wishing each time that it was usable. Sometimes I even boiled water in it just to hear the harmonica. After we moved, I had intended to throw it away, but somehow, I think it got mixed in with our donation pile! I think it probably ended up at Goodwill, enticing another poor victim with its charm, only to later disappoint them. I feel terribly guilty for donating it—even if it was by accident—as it goes against one of my thrifting principles.

For months, I searched the thrift stores hoping to find another Chantal. I even checked bargain stores like Marshalls and Ross, thinking that maybe I would come across one with a price tag lower than the $99 regular price. Nothing. Then today, my doorbell rang and a box sat outside on the doormat. It was a brand new Chantal tea kettle, this time in yellow, from my sweet husband for my birthday. I love happy endings.

garage sale of the season

Recently, a Modern Thrifter reader sent me a link to be what promises to be the garage sale of the summer. Mark your calendar for Saturday July 17th, and head to the North Seattle/Shoreline area. Here’s are just a few of the items they will be selling:

Funiture:
Hans Bolling teak 2 tier table
Folke Ohlsson upholstered Dux lounge chair
Danish teak side and coffee tables
and more

Household:
Dansk
Le Creuset
Descoware
Copco
and other enamelware and cast iron

Fabric & Clothing:
Marimekko (!!)
Sven Fristedt
Marjatta Metsovaara fabric wall panels
1940's florals, dress fabric yardage, prints & Hawaiian
1950's, florals, prints, dress fabric yardage, atomic barkcloth & childrens prints
1960's & 1970's cool midcentury prints, abstract, dress fabric yardage, nursery & children's fabric

Other:
Vintage kids books
Vintage Games
Vintage linens

The sale starts at 8 a.m. and if the prices are reasonable, I'm assuming this stuff is going to go fast, so get there on time! The craigslist ad didn't have the exact address listed, but it's near the intersection of Greenwood Ave. N. and 145th St.


Thanks again to Marin for sending this my way!

local shop: birch paperie

It was a weekend full of cards—a preschool graduation card for Alden, a birthday card for me, and father’s day cards for the dads in our life. My new favorite card shop around is Birch Paperie in Tangletown—that hard to describe section of Seattle that isn’t quite Wallingford, and not really Greenlake, and is best known for it’s bakeries and coffee shops. Birch Paperie is located next door to Mighty-O Donuts, and if you blink, you'll probably miss it. But don’t let the size of the shop fool you, it’s packed with carefully selected letterpress cards, beautiful patterned papers, and a few other handmade and luxurious items.

The first time I went in the shop, I expected the prices to be pretty high, but I was surprised to see that most of the the cards were in the $4 to $5 price range with a few as much as $7, but several in the $3 range. If you've bought cards at Hallmark or practically any other retailer, you'll know that most greeting cards these days—even the most basic—are at least $2 or $3. I'd much rather fork over an extra buck to support a local business, selling the work of mostly local artists.

Patrick was able to stop by Birch on Friday to get the cards he needed (isn't the birthday card he and Tula picked out for me cute?!) and I had planned to slip in after our usual Saturday morning donut pilgrimage to pick up a father's day card—yes, I know I’m a procrastinator. Plans quickly changed when I woke up on Saturday, my birthday, with food poisoning. Instead, I spent the morning curled up in a ball, thinking my body was going to turn itself inside out.

Because the shop has very limited hours (it's generally only open Thursdays and Fridays 11–4, and Saturdays 9–2) I was out of luck this holiday. The kids and I decided to go the homemade route, and put together a card and some stories that they each wrote for their dad.

Good thing I have a few more family birthdays coming up, though, so that I can still go card shopping. Maybe the Father's day cards will even be on sale. Stop by and check out the shop if you're ever on the hunt for the perfect card. It's also a great excuse for a detour to Mighty-O for arguably the best donut in town.

friday finds: salt & pepper shakers!

Tomorrow is my birthday, which means I get spoiled by my wonderful husband and kids, but it also means that my driver's license needs renewing. Before I could do any thrift store shopping this morning, I needed to make a stop into the DMV (woohoo). I was prepared to spend all morning waiting to hear my number be called, but I was pleasantly surprised that the whole process—picture and all—took under ten minutes. Here's a little tip for when it's time for you to renew: go to the Department of Licensing on Aurora and 185th! They are so much better than any of the other locations I've tried.

Because the licensing office was so efficient, I was able to make two stops this morning to do some thrifting. First I stopped into Goodwill. There wasn't much there that I was interested in, but I did find some salt and pepper shakers for $1. They aren't quite as impressive as some of the other ones I've seen on Etsy and other sites, but I'm happy with how clean and simple they look.

Next, I stopped into what may have been the worst advertised church rummage sale I've ever seen. I noticed a sandwich board on my way to drop Alden off at preschool that said "CHURCH 9-3 Friday & Saturday, 8th NE." I assumed they had unintentionally left off the important words "Rummage Sale," otherwise, that would be one long church service. I drove to the church, and I didn't see any other signs, but I parked anyway, and walked around the building looking for the sale. While I was circling the building I saw this sign—on the ground, with some deflated balloons:


Finally, I found a back door with a little flyer and some arrows. The sale was about as good their signs, but I still managed to find a few nice things that were really cheap—a gorgeous wood bowl for $1, a super cute winter hat/scarf combo for Tula, and some other clothing items that I won't bore you with. Between both places I spent a whopping $3.50 this morning.


Send a photo of your most beloved thrift store purchase to modernthrifter@gmail.com, and I'll pick a few to feature each Friday.

teacher gifts - ABC3D

Tomorrow is Alden's last day of preschool, and he's loved his school and his teachers so much that we wanted to get them something special. You might have already seen Marion Bataille's pop-up book, ABC3D, because it's been out for a few years. It's been one of our favorite books since Alden was given one for his fourth birthday by his cousins. We thought it would be a great thank-you gift for his two teachers and we hope that the kids that come to preschool next year can enjoy it, too. Watch this quick video of how amazing all of the pop-up letters are: