I’ve just realized
there’s been a theme running through this past week.
A friend of mine is looking for
headboards for the twins in her guest room and our entertainment one day was to
hit a couple of used furniture stores. (Followed, of course, by lunch. Neither
of us is so driven by thrift that we would skip a meal.)
In
one store, a consignment shop that sells both furniture and clothing, I ran
into an acquaintance. She’s a slim late 60s whom everything looks good on, and
she’s been know to wear some pretty kooky outfits, but she carries them off
with aplomb. I often wondered where she shopped. Now I know.
Maybe
in another day and age, we would have each been embarrassed to be caught
flipping through racks of other people’s clothes.
Friday
night, I was at a semi-monthly gathering of a few women from town where we
swill wine and talk about any number of things. Our hostess is a woman who was
once a mover and shaker on Wall Street, and who now sells beautifully
hand-crafted reclaimed wood objects. That night she was still euphoric about a
killing she’d made at an event featuring donated clothing and the “fill a bag”
concept. She modeled a stunning three-quarter leather coat that was part of her
$25 bag. We all oohed and aahed, and asked to be notified of the next
fundraiser.
Saturday brought
thoughts of people I’ve known who would think nothing of buying rickety – but
new – furniture, but who would never consider bringing anything used into their
home.
The Hub and I went
to the Brimfield Flea Market, acres and acres and acres of more things than I
can possible describe or than you can imagine.
This is arguably the largest
flea market in New England. I know for a fact that
Martha herself (the famous ex-con, not me) has shopped here.
I snagged a couple of necklaces and
a bracelet – two of them even new!
We also found a box of poker chips for $5
(never too early to set those grandboys on the road to self-sufficiency), and
two picture frames.
Fortunately, the
cannon Hub was eyeing stayed there.
What fun! I regularly shop at a local thrift store and shudder when I actually have to pay FULL PRICE for something. That leather coat sounds like quite a find. :-)
ReplyDeleteFun, fun! I would love to find acres and acres of a flea market...no such luck here, except for Canton, which I have not been to in over twenty years.
ReplyDeleteyou got me thinking, of our furniture, only the sofa and a futon, and a couple of book cases were bought new. everything else was either in the family or bought at an antique store or otherwise found or acquired but not new. I do buy clothes new, but not because I think buying clothes at a re-sale shop is icky, it's just too unorganized, but I don't buy them often and I wear them to rags.
ReplyDeleteSecond hand goods/treasures have become more socially acceptable again. For which I am grateful. We really, really don't need new everything and often the older goods are both more beautiful and more durable.
ReplyDeleteMost everything that comes into my house new these days is old. I love to use things with a story. That window in your last photo has many stories to tell, I'm sure. Hmmm, the old postal storage box screams possibilities to me!
ReplyDeleteI miss the abundant thrift stores and flea markets that Florida had. I never had a problem of snagging a great buy. Found many things with tag still on.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the title I was thinking that this would apply to you. I was interested to see if there was hope for me. People who buy second hand and used are a special kind.
ReplyDeleteI would have to buy that window and sign!!! I love bargains and looking. We have a shop where we sell our family's gathered stuff. It does quite a brisk business.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting. I'll not be selling Dad's flame thrower anytime soon.
I used to love browsing through secondhand shops and several of my furniture items are secondhand that I cleaned and painted. I don't go much anymore, I see too much stuff that I want to buy and I just don't have space to put it!
ReplyDeleteI spent years and years thrifting and going to Goodwills when I was younger, and even now I love a good flea market -- though I try very hard not to buy anything because I DO NOT need any more stuff. (I would be sorely tempted by that asylum window, though!)
ReplyDeleteI confess, every time I find some old stuff that reminds me of my childhood, I snap it, whether at a consignment shop, antique, thrift store... Clothes, not so much. My lifestyle is casual enough that I need very few new things anyhow.
ReplyDeleteI really like having and using things that have been 'pre-loved' as they call it. They have history.
ReplyDelete