Terrariums

I've been pretty into terrariums for a while now. I was shocked last weekend when we went to Paxton Gate in the Mission and I saw they were selling terrariums in simple Strauss half and half bottles for $38.00 and up. Here are a few photos of the ones I've made - all with containers that were thrift store finds. I have a few more at work that are doing quite well, and I'll try to take a few photos of them soon.







I like to put little guys or structures typically used for bonsai in them. Can you see the doe, the penguin, and the bunny?

Antiquing Like Nobody's Business

I went to the Sacramento Antique Faire this weekend, which is the 2nd Sunday of every month. Sure, it's under the freeway, but it's a pretty great market. I was in search of a file cabinet similar to this one or this one. I'll start the post with some things I didn't buy that I thought were pretty ridiculous, including one that looks like a giant smiling piece of poo. I repeat I did not buy these things:

Now, on to things I did purchase:

1. A triple-decker glass candy jar that I will immediately turn into a triple-decker terrarium. ($4.00)

2. An awesome set of lockers for by the door to stash our shoes, keys, bags, etc. (I've been looking for the right set for some time and these are nice and small and therefore easy to move.) ($75.00, talked down from $95.00)

3. A cute little birdie! ($2.00 - probably too much but I'm always looking for little guys that are just the right size for my small terrariums)

4. Two brand new retro tea towels ($2.00 each, not pictured)

5. Large glass cookie jar, similar to these ones I found last time, but RED and with a painted flower motif ($7.00, also not pictured)

More Randomness

Antique Faire today! I went earlier than normal and everything seemed way more expensive than last time. I found two cookie jars (above - terrible picture, sorry) that I thought would be snatched up if I waited, so I walked away this week only buying these guys for $30.00. It was probably more than what I would have paid if I went later in the day, but I love them. I was originally only going to purchase the blue, but loved the combo of the colors together. I've never seen anything like them!

The below items are from earlier thrift store hunting trips:

(those ears are definitely not original, but still cute)

(love the two-tones of green on this one)


(everyone needs a big wiener dog figurine, no?)

Relegated to the Outside

I've been focusing my attention on things for the out-of-doors due to the lack of space we have inside for knickknacks. I need to put up a few shelves. Or, better yet, I have my eye out for a mid-century hutch that I think we can squeeze into the upstairs of our place. (I'm fairly certain the boyfriend would disagree, which could be a problem when I'm counting on him to help me move whatever I find.) Ideally, I want one that I can refinish White Attic-style. Until then, I've been keeping my eye out for great terrarium containers. Here are couple of the greatest finds thus far, newly planted, but still awaiting the perfect figurines:





And a couple of other finds for my stairs out back: a plastic scalloped-edged pot, a white milk glass thingy-ma-bob, and an etched glass other thingy-ma-bob-made-into-a-plant-holder.





Unfortunately, I kill even succulents (sad, but true), so we'll see how long these last.

Although I've not posted...

I have been SHOPPING! These are just a few of the trinkets I've had to find space for:

My zoo is getting bigger. I love these ceramic animals from Japan.




I've also been able to find another little guy from the same artist that made the two little owls I had from previous adventures. I'm still working on the display of this shabby shelf I found at the Sacramento Antique Faire.



I made my tiny terrariums that I've been talking about. I love them. I need to get more teeny tiny little animals or buildings for inside. Can you find the little doe in the one below?


The placement is also a work in progress. I have a lot of dust collectors, as you can imagine. And, these ones need a little light so finding the perfect home has been a challenge.


Have I mentioned my obsession with owls? Tim is beginning to hate them I think. The one with holes can be placed over a tea light. Love. The other I found at a thrift store in San Carlos - near my brother's house. I made Tim, my brother, and sister-in-law all go to this store on the way to dinner. I was hoping they would find a treasure so as to realize how great going thrifting is. No luck. Damn.



I've started to venture more into the linens. My thought is to use the flat sheets as fabric for various sewing projects. One day, perhaps I'll even stop collecting and start making.

A Few Goodies

And, hello. Happy New Year.

I've recently checked out a few new thrift stores. One was down the street from my one of my favorite Goodwill store. It was called Thrift Center and it was pretty gross. However, I found a few linens I thought were nice. I'm especially in love with the little hand-embroidered mushrooms on the napkins. I just couldn't pass up all the handiwork of these pieces.





The other day I forgot to post this little ceramic bell/wind chime from Japan. I loved her little face. However, I realized once I brought it home, when you hang it, it kinda looks like she's being hung by a noose. Ew. The slight tilt of her head adds to that effect. I'm debating putting this one up, for sure. Perhaps I'll add beads to the string to reduce that effect!

After going to the gross thrift store, Thrift Center (which, I should mention, gives you 1/2 off purchases when you bring in your receipt from the day before), I went to the crazy Goodwill. This is the Goodwill where my hands have a tendency to get the dirtiest. Literally. I was looking for a couple little figurines to place in my terrariums I will be making. I found these cuties:


They were a few dollars each, but I think worth it. They are so sweet and will look awesome in my terrariums once I find a receptacle of appropriate size. So far, I've only found jars (below) that will make great tiny terrariums, but nothing large enough to house these guys.




I made a deal with Tim that if I drove down to Benicia for a friend's party, he would go to a couple Goodwill stores with me on the way. We only got to one because we were running a little late, but it was a good one. It was the Goodwill in West Sacramento. It was 1/2 off day!!! This was very exciting. I spent $27.00. I will post those purchases soon. I need to remember what they were...

Yesterday, I purchased my biggest second-hand purchase ever (besides my condo): my new car! After learning way too much about cars to ensure I would feel good about any purchase I made, I finally bit the bullet! I'm excited about it. Now, I will now have to go about the task of selling my little red Civic hatchback, Floyd. (He's named after the hurricane that came through South Carolina a couple weeks after I got him when I was living there. Luckily the hurricane didn't do any significant damage and my little guy was unharmed entirely.) He's been so good to me. We've been through a lot together. I'll be sad to let him go, but I know it's time.

But, I just couldn't end the weekend with a bad thrifting day...

Sunday I wanted to check out a thrift store near Arden Mall that I had not yet visited. It's called Weave Thrift . It benefits survivors of domestic violence and I wanted to love it. However, it kinda sucked. I was there 3 minutes and decided I needed to quickly make my way to the fabulous Goodwill nearby.

The first thing I found was this awesome Russel Wright casserole dish. It was expensive, but I've been reading up on this stuff and thought that even at $13.00 it was a pretty good deal. Plus, it's nice to look at.




Recently, I went to visit Tim's brother and his wife. They had a nicely organized kitchen, including old candy jar-type containers for their flour and other powdery goods. I was on the hunt for something similar. I found the exact thing they had. However, I decided I wanted something slightly more narrow for our flour to fit in-between our awesome breadbox (which I found at the same Goodwill) and the canvas box of food we have on our open shelves. A few moments later, I turned around and saw this 80s (or 70s?) delight:

Weird. Certainly, this was thrifting fate.


I also found a few other things I had to take home:

I've been checking out the clothing section again. It's been some time since I searched for clothing, and I really shouldn't but...

I've been looking for plates I love that come in more than one. I found these:

The green flowered one is vintage Mikasa (got 3 of these). The other is Franciscan Earthenware (found 2 of these) for about $1.99 each They are not worth a lot, but I like 'em! (Although apparently Tim prefers our boring white Crate and Barrel plates.)

Next weekend is the Sacramento Antique Faire that is every 2nd Sunday. Last time I found some great stuff that I'll photograph and post on my photo scroll soon. Hopefully it won't rain this weekend and I can get Tim to accompany me by bribing him with coffee and breakfast. Tim?

First "Estate Sale" Experience

I thought I set my alarm for 7:30am to get there early. Apparently, I didn't but I still think Tim turned it off. In fact, now that I think about it, maybe he did that on purpose...

The "estate sale" was not really an estate sale. It was an open warehouse with a bunch of leftovers from this person's antique business. Mostly run down pieces of furniture. However, I did find a set of folksy, hand-painted coasters for $1.00.


I then moved on to a thrift store nearby: Thrift Town! I'd been there once before and found a couple of cool things. Once I arrived, there was an announcement that everything with pink tags was 1/2 off. I thought I got a few pink tags, but apparently they were lavender. I spent a total of about $18.00. I forgot to pick up my awesome necklace at the counter. Boo:(



That print in the picture was found a while back at the Thrift Store Outlet in Woodland, CA. (Yep, outlet) for a couple of dollars. It has an awesome bamboo-style frame.

I'm pretty sure this is mid-century glass. Let me know if you know for sure. It caught my eye at the last minute and I spent a whopping $5.99 on it. I thought it was half off, otherwise I may not have made the purchase. I'm using it to put our remote controls in, atop our Lucite coffee tables Tim found in the garbage a long time ago.

I was hoping the painting I got was from some famous person. It was dated 1955 and framed in Michigan, and painted in Chicago so who knows its story. Turns out, it's not worth a million, but I still like it. I oiled the frame with a little olive oil. I've discovered that works nicely to clean up, smooth out and pretty-up vintage wood pieces I find.

You can find a few other photos of my purchases in the slideshow on the right-hand side of the blog.

Additionally, I purchased Tim an vintage pink t-shirt with kittens on it. I'll post it when he wears it. It should be pretty great. I like a man that's secure enough with his sexuality to wear such a shirt, even if he doesn't like my thrifting problem.