Thriftin' Thursday

Surprise!!!  It's me again!  I decided that if I keep my posts small, maybe I can keep posting with some regularity before I get my new computer.  I am calling this Thriftin' Thursday, even though I know it is Friday.  But I usually go thrifting on Thursdays, and have thought of doing a weekly post to share my finds.  So this was from yesterdays trip to a favorite thrift, that offers a 20% discount on Thursdays to seniors.  And a thrifting find from a few weeks back as well.
I have been looking for another office type chair for my sewing room.  They are just the most comfortable to work in, and they slide so nicely around the acrylic mats I have on the floor.  My Mom and I had popped into one of my favorite haunts a week ago last Thursday.  Lo and behold, they had a chair.  I wanted it.  But it was 20.00.  I don't like to spend that much.  So I thought I would take my chances and come back in a week, to see if it was still there.  I went in yesterday, and not only did they have my chair, it was now 50% off.  So it came home with me.  I cleaned it up really good, even though it was already in very good shape.  It is my intention to recover it, but I need to find the fabric I want first.

It is very similar to the office chair I have had, which is now on the other side of the sewing table.  Both have the wood frames.  I am thinking about painting those in creamy white chalk paint.
I spied this lamp, and loved the size.  Upon further investigation, realized it was a solid brass Stiffel.  The label was on the red leather lampshade.  When I was cleaning the lamp at home, I tore that off.  The shade needs to be replaced, as it has seen better days.  I have a Stiffel floor lamp, that was my husbands in his room before we married.  His Mother had very good taste.  I toyed with painting it Oil Rubbed Bronze, as I have done with many other brass things in my house, but I am not sure yet.

I only have the one side lit.  The other side needs to have the bulb replaced, and it takes special bulbs.   While I am not crazy about the brass, it seems sinful to paint it.

Above shows the tag that came undone when I was cleaning the shade.   I paid 13.00 for this lamp.  I imagine it was quite costly when first purchased.
This cute little dainty spoon had to come home with me.

Can you read it?  How about now?

 It says TEXAS on the handle, with a Texas Longhorn on the top of spoon.  My beloved Grandmother, "Nana" was from Texas. She was a proud Texan, through and through!!  My Mother, although born in CA, spent a good deal of her time both living in, and visiting Texas as a child.  I saw this and knew it had to be mine.  I had the perfect spot for it too.
I keep a salt pig crock on the wine crate lazy susan next to my stove.  I like to be able to quickly toss a pinch into the food I am cooking.  I also keep black pepper in a little demitasse cup for the same purpose.

 Oh how I love it, sitting there in my salt pig.  I think of Nana all the time and miss her so much.  This makes me smile, and I think it would her too.

The other day, at a different place, but another favorite of mine for good finds, I spotted this sewing machine.  I took the filthy cover off, and was pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful, barely used, heavy duty, Sears Kenmore machine.  I plugged it in, and the light came on, and it seemed to operate effortlessly.  Everything in the store was 40%, and I brought this baby home with me.

I know, I know.....I seem to collect sewing machines.  I love them.  I think it is so interesting how they all work a little bit different.
I cleaned the hard case first with warm soapy water, and a magic eraser.  Aren't those things the best???
And then, took it apart, and cleaned the machine.  I sprayed out all of the dust and lint.  I removed the bobbin and cleaned the shuttle.  I adjusted tension, and shined up the machine.  Oiling it at all of the contact points. There was not a scratch to be seen anywhere on it.  I put some scrap fabric underneath the needle, and hit the gas to see what she could do.  What a beautiful stitch!  It purred like a kitten.  I viewed a couple of youtube videos that I googled, on the make and model of this machine, as it didn't have a manual.  The videos both portrayed this machine as a powerful workhorse, and demonstrated how it could sew up to 16 thicknesses of cotton, 8 to 10 of denim, and 6-8 of canvas.  It just hummed right through it, like it was a little Juki or something!!!
The case cleaned up to look brand new.

When I got married, 36 years ago, I bought a Kenmore machine.  It cost 99.00, and I paid for it on time, 10.00 a month.  I loved that machine.  I never did much other than straight line sewing, but when I learned to quilt, I began to use it for my free motion quilting.  It was a dream.  I made the mistake of loaning it out.  It never worked properly again.
These vintage heavy duty machines are a wonderful find, if you are lucky enough.  They don't compare to the new plastic basic machines that they sell today.
Oh, another great feature, especially for a quilter, is the button to drop the feed dogs.

I downloaded a manual for it, and played with the stitch options.  It is a gem alright.  And quite a bargain for 10.00!!!
These two little vintage cow glasses called out to me too.  I sure do wish there had been more! 

On a different trip, a few weeks ago, I found this beautiful Fall platter, for what I think was 3.00.
And what was my find of the summer, this fabulous quilt!  In PERFECT condition.  I saw the lady who worked there setting it out, and I ran right over.  I could not believe my eyes when I read the price tag.  14.99, but it was 20% off for senior day.  I quickly inspected it, and dropped that quilt down in my buggy and went straight to pay, then home to wash it!
It washed up so beautifully!  I spread it out to enjoy every puckery inch.  The dresden plates are all hand stitched down with a blanket stitch.

It graces the back of the sofa in my sewing room, and I love it!!!!!
And lastly, this cast iron door stop Roo.
People always say to me, that I find the best things, and have the best luck, and must have the best shops near me.  I don't know if any of that is true, but I know that I look for certain things in particular.  I look for brands.  I look for things that I know the value of.  I look for things that I personally like.  The list is too long to mention.  Sometimes I go into a thrift and come out empty handed.  Sometimes I hit the jackpot.  Rarely do I ever spend more than 20.00 total.  Do NOT be afraid to offer less.  I did that when I found the embroidery machine.  It was marked 65.00 dollars.  I knew that it worked because I turned it on.  But it didn't have the hoops.  It would be of no value to me, if I couldn't find a hoop for it.  So I offered them 20.00 and they agreed.  I was able to find the hoop for it, after some searching, and I have had an absolute ball with that machine!  Worth every single cent, for sure!  So next time you pass a thrift, pop inside.  See what you can find.  You just might be surprised, and find a treasure!
Til  next time.
XO  Kris
PS  Pat, you can find me at IG as KrisGrover  Hope to see you there!