Proud & Thrifty: 01

Vintage Mary Poppins Charm Bracelet

So, I spent a little over 3 years looking for this item.

My grandpa went on a business trip when my mom was young and he brought her back a Mary Poppins charm bracelet from Disneyland. They went on a fishing trip later that week and it fell off her wrist and sank to the bottom of the lake. Lost forever, probably eaten by a turtle. She was heartbroken. I remember her recounting this story a few times, especially after Grandpa passed away. It was one of the few pieces of jewelry he ever gave her since money was always tight.

So, I decided to use my thrifting and internet skills to try and find a replacement bracelet for her. It's obviously not the same as having the one Grandpa gave her, but I thought it would be nice anyways.



I severely under-estimated the rarity of this item. Mint condition, in box ones were so expensive. The only one I can find currently on ebay is seriously $550. Anyways, I checked ebay and etsy constantly while simultaneously checking local charity shops and antique stores. Eventually I lucked out and found one in box for $30 on ebay. 30 dollars!! As opposed to $500? Yes please. The box wasn't in perfect condition by any means but the bracelet was brand new looking, which was all that really mattered to me.

It probably seems silly to be proud of yourself for buying something off of the internet, but I worked so hard to find it. And it paid off! Mom seemed to really love it, and that's all that matters!

here are some links to ones I found online: one two



-Becca

Estate Sale + Daisies

I love estate sales. Sometimes I feel a little guilty going to them, especially since I know most of the time they're happening because of a death or because an older person is downsizing and moving out of their own home, and into the home of a loved one/ assisted living.

But I try to think of it as rescuing well loved items from being thrown away or in this specific case, being turned into a pair of pants.

The house was beautiful and incredibly well-maintained. So often you see houses in a state of disrepair, squeaky floorboards, ceilings cracked from shifting foundations, and a thick layer of dust over everything. Each doorknob was clean crystal and the walls were a bright white with shiny wooden floors. It was very much a "shabby chic" home -- I felt like I was walking into Rachel Ashwell's house. All of the items that were for sale were clean and in excellent condition. I saw this sweet piece of brass and knew it had to be mine. I've been needing things to hang on my walls, and this fits my style perfectly. Bows and all.



After exploring the house, I went outside onto the screened in porch to look at the linens and found these. Some are hand towels, others are mismatched curtains, and the bottom bit of fabric is a huge beautiful cream and silver woven table-cloth. At first I thought it was a blanket...and I guess it technically still could be. When I went to pay, the girl who checked me out said she was disappointed that I was buying the table-cloth. She said she had been planning on buying it and turning it into a pair of pants...


top to bottom: large pink crocheted doily, pink polka dot curtain, pink embroidered dishtowel, white embroidered dishtowel, silver & cream striped table cloth

D: I like to think I rescued it from becoming either a failed project (it would have unraveled) or some incredibly weird looking pants.



I also bought myself some daisies at the grocery store because they were on sale, and I'm so glad I did. They've been a real pick-me up these last few days.


art on wall (left to right): "Copper, my good friend" original by wishcandy // "Tilly" by me

I'm still trying to find the right frame for the beautiful watercolor I bought from wishcandy last month! Everything I find fits it weird or I'd have to cut it down, and that isn't happening. If you want to buy anything from her, I suggest you do it now! In two weeks or so, she's shutting her etsy down for a few months while she moves.

-Becca

Vintage Wants

I have a few items that I'm always on the lookout for when I'm thrifting or antique shopping. Apparently they're either bizarrely uncommon in north Texas or I'm just unlucky, because I have not been able to find any of them anywhere but online. And unfortunately I hate buying vintage things online. The shipping is always ridiculous and I always feel like I'm somehow being scammed.

This probably stems from the fact that last year I won a BEAUTIFUL antique agate locket necklace on ebay for $30! 30! Look them up, you're lucky if you can find one for less than $100. And of course, it got lost in the mail, never to be found again. British post said it was in America and it was out of their jurisdiction and the USPS said it was still in Britain and out of their control. "Tough luck, kid."

So I just really don't like buying one of a kind items online. I have too many control issues to not obsess over where the package is at all times.

Obviously it doesn't stop me from scouring the internet for vintage stuff anyways.

1. Vintage Stand-Mixers

I love the appliance colors of the 50's. The turquoise and pale pink, buttery yellow and mint green. My kitchen theme is totally based off of these colors. I throw red in too so it doesn't seem too easter-eggy though.

My goal is to find 4 of these to display in my kitchen somehow. Most of the houses I've lived in or visited have a lot of empty space above their cabinets and most are filled with vials of oils with peppers soaking in them or fake fruit and greenery. If I happen to have those spaces, I want old stand mixers to be displayed up there.

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2. Vintage Melmac Lunch Trays

I plan on having kids and if they are even a fraction like me, they will have the worst case of butterfingers anyone has ever known. I drop everything. So, I'd rather them eat off of awesome old lunch trays than breakable plates. Plus, I love the aesthetic. I'm hoping to eventually find a set of mint colored ones, preferably 4 or 5. Hah, we'll see.

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3. Celluloid Hand Mirrors

I actually already have a small collection of these. I remember seeing Katie's (from I go by Katie) collection and I fell in love with the aesthetic she had created on her wall with them. I copied her idea and started collecting and displaying my celluloid mirrors.

I haven't bought any new ones in awhile since I normally have to buy them online or in an antique shop since I've never actually run across one in a thrift store.

This is something pretty affordable and normally you can find a better deal on ebay but I hate posting ebay links since it's more likely that they'll be sold before an etsy listing.

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