The Brass Paperclip Project

Thrift Store Confessional No. 10

A week or two before Christmas, I treated myself to a stroll through one of my favorite antique malls....which I guess means that today's post is not technically a thrift store confessional...just a straight up shopping confessional.  ;)

Antique malls are just as fun as thrift stores to me because you never know what you will find and there is always a find to be found.  On this particular day, I took my time, peering into every dark corner...digging through baskets of linens and keeping an eye out for vintage beaded purses.  I came up short in the beaded purse hunt, but did find a cool retro evening bag, a silk velvet muff purse, some awesome doilies and a funky piece of shell art.

The doilies are already washed and in the process of becoming flower girl baskets.

The shell art has been deconstructed and the shell flowers are all ready for a project.  Remember my last shell project?  These will be used in a similar way. I have to admit though, I did feel bad cutting this piece apart...and I found myself silently apologizing to Opal, whose name was signed on the bottom, for destroying her creation. Hopefully, my new designs will do these pretty little flowers justice.  Better to have them out where people can enjoy them than stashed in a dusty old antique mall, right??

If you're still feeling sad about me cutting up this picture, here's a fun image for you to play with that I made from a photo of the shells...looks like it's 100 years old, doesn't it?? And it's even got Opal's name on it.  Just right click on the image to save it to your desktop...and shoot me a picture if you do something cool with it.  :)

The purses are available in my shop now...click the links below the photos for more information about each one.  I will tell you that the muff is one of my favorite recent finds...it is so unique and in fantastic condition...a lucky find, I tell ya!  I dressed it up for the photo with a vintage brooch...I may not be able to part with this thing... 

 

Vintage Brown Velvet Muff Purse

 And the ever-so-chic mid-century purse...I love how streamlined this is and it's really clean...a plus!

Mid Century Gold Lame' Clutch Purse

So, that's my confession for this week.  I hope you enjoyed it.  I've got some more great finds to share from my Christmas trip to Indiana...always find great stuff in the heartland!  Where is your favorite place to treasure hunt??  XOXO, Cindi

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Thrift Store Confessional No. 9

Forgive me readers...it's been waaay too long since my last confession.  But I promise I'll make it up to you!  I did a lot of shopping over the holidays and have lots of fun stuff to share.  Today's confession actually comes from thrifting I did back in October.  As you can see from the photo above, I scored a pair of PRADA shoes!  ZOMG...they aren't even my size, but for $8 I simply could not leave them on the shelf...LOL.  They were obviously well loved and are a bit shabby, but they have found a new home in my photo prop collection.  You can see them on display in my shop showing off a gorgeous pair of vintage rhinestone shoe clips. Aren't they purty?  (Click the link below the photo for more info about the shoe clips.)

Vintage Rhinestone Shoe Clips

Some other fun finds included three vintage purses, a pile of antique books and two gorgeous vintage Italian rosaries.  Two of the purses are available in my shop now...one, a sweet white beaded bag and the other a funky navy blue one.  I'm saving the third one to embellish. 

Vintage White Beaded Purse

Navy Blue Woven Fabric Purse

The rosaries have been photographed and will be in my shop soon.  Not sure what I will do with the antique books.  I did buy one to give as a gift, but still have four left.  They had a place in my Hogwarts Halloween tablescape, but are now stashed on the floor of my office.  Any ideas?  Well, that's all for now.  Hope you'll stop back next week for sneak peeks of my most recent finds!  If you don't want to miss out on anything, go ahead and click the links below to follow my updates all over the web or subscribe to this blog to have posts sent directly to your e-mail inbox.  XOXO, Cindi

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Thrift Store Confessional No. 8

Forgive me readers, it's been one week since my last confession.  I did sin, but this week's shopping spree wasn't really my fault...it was all about conserving resources.  My hubby's van went into the shop last week - half-way across town - so I had to pick him up at the shop after he dropped it off.  Then, since the shop was nearly half-way to one of my favorite thrift stores on the other side of town, we had to swing past...since we were nearly in the neighborhood and all. No point in wasting the gas it took to get half-way across town. Conserving resources, you see?

My hubby is actually the one who first introduced me to thrift stores when we were first dating.  When we have the chance, we still love to go together and see what we can find.  In the beginning, I didn't like the smell, wouldn't touch anything and sort of stiffly peered at whatever those things were on the shelves...my, how things have changed! 

But I digress, back to my confession...check out the pretty little stash I found this week...a vintage beaded purse, assorted jewelry and three vintage doilies.

Here's a close-up of the jewels.  The red earrings are Czech crystal...probably from the 1930's.  The green brooch is a Coro...love that large stone in the center.  The little tear-drop earrings are new and are destined to become hair pins.  The rhinestone ring is a stretchy thing that I'm going to experiment with.  The pearls are a gorgeous champagne color and have a sterling silver clasp which is a real surprise.  And they are heavy too!  Not sure what I will do with those yet, but they were too nice to leave behind. The earrings have already sold, but the brooch is available in my shop...click the link below the photo for more info.

Vintage Emerald Green Coro Brooch

And check out this darling vintage white beaded purse.  I fell in love with the shape!  It's not often that I find round beaded bags.  I guess technically, this one is more of a pear shape, but isn't it sweet?  The chain was a cheap-o replacement that didn't match the frame, so I removed it.  I'm happy to put a new chain on it, but I figured I'd wait and see who buys it...sometimes people just want a clutch and don't care about the chain.

Vintage White Beaded Clutch Purse

Last, but not least are these three sweet doilies.  I've been collecting doilies to replenish my doily flower girl basket inventory this spring.  In the meantime, I've got a whole bunch listed in my shop, so be sure to check them out if you are looking for a unique flower girl basket...

Click here to see my full assortment of vintage doily flower girl baskets

Finally, I always find some treasure that I can't justify buying, but have to share.  This week it's actually about the one that did NOT get away...this funky rainbow sailing ship kite.   My hubby tossed it in the cart for our rainbow loving daughter, so I pushed that crazy thing all over the store...good thing I didn't need much room in the cart!  People commented on it every where I went in the store...nothing like talking to people in thrift stores...never a dull conversation, I tell ya.  It is now hanging in the garage awaiting the blustery skies of spring.

So, that's my confession for this week.  I'm feeling the draw of the thrift stores pretty strongly today, so it seems silly to try and fight it...LOL.  Thanks for stopping by...I hope you'll stop back next week to see what else I confess too.  XOXO, Cindi

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Thrift Store Confessional No. 7 - Vintage Clothing Event

Forgive me readers...it's been 34 days since my last confession.  And I have beans to spill!  This week's confession comes from a vintage clothing event that BLEW MY MIND.  A local estate team managed to get their hands on the entire estate of a woman who had been a costume designer for over 50 years.  To give you an idea of the magnitude of this sale, the woman had over 9000 sewing patterns.  NINE THOUSAND.

My husband and I managed to squeak in with just 45 minutes left of the sale...I could have spent the entire weekend there sifting through her fabric, notions and accessories, not to mention the decades worth of over-the-top vintage fashions. To put it very simply, I wanted it all. 

But I was soooo good...I only picked up a few choice items and am hoping for a second crack at the collection the next time it goes on sale.  There were literally thousands of items left at the end of the sale, so the team who is managing it is planning to open a brick-and-mortar shop to sell the rest of it.  I will keep you posted on that as I hear more...or maybe I won't...{wink wink}

The top photo shows most of my haul, including 5 pairs of long white gloves, feather boas, vintage milinery flowers, antique Victorian purse, antique Victorian lace wedding fan plus a vintage wig and a gorgeous white cape (not shown.)  The flowers are shown below...I love the colors and will turn them into something fabulous.

The antique fan is museum quality and is in perfect condition in it's original box, labeled "1909, Vienna Austria."  There is a calling card inside the box with the name of the woman, a doctor's wife, who probably bought the fan as a souvenier on a European tour back in the 50's.  (At least that's the back-story I'm imagining...) I'm still researching the fan, but hope to have it listed in my shop in the near future...if I don't end up keeping it for my daughter... ;)

And how gorgeous is this Victorian mesh purse?  German silver with an art nouveau frame...probably circa 1900-1910.  So in love...it's even got a ruffle!

This purse is available in my Etsy shop now...it would make a great holiday gift or accessory...hint hint.

Silver Mesh Purse - Victorian - Art Nouveau - German Silver - 1890s-1910

Also available is this pair of white beaded gloves...of the five pairs I purchased, this is my favorite.  

Vintage Beaded Gloves - One Size - Made in Hong Kong

Feeling so much better now that I've confessed.  Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek.  I'll be listing the rest of the gloves over the next few weeks and will try to get the fan listed, as well.  It's sooooo gorgeous and would be an elegant alternative to a bridal bouquet.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  XOXO, Cindi

P.S. If you liked this post and want to say in touch, you can follow along at any of the links below so you don't miss a thing. 

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Thrift Store Confessional No. 6

As I mentioned in my blog post yesterday, I was recently treated to a fantastic girls weekend in Port Townsend, WA.  We stayed in an amazing B&B, ate good food, drank too much and even crashed a costume ball!   And, while we were there...we hit some antique malls and thrift stores.  This week, I am confessing to buying this sweet little stash of treasures including: a vintage wedding cake topper, vintage wedding picks and an assortment of vintage earrings.

I was very excited to find the wedding cake topper...they are very hard to find and are usually quite expensive.  This one is in amazing condition and the people are actually somewhat attractive...so often their faces are out of horror movies...LOL.  This one is chalkware, probably from the 40's.  I am in love with all the pleating.  The flowers are very unusual too...sort of plastic, but in a celluloid way, not the tacky plastic way.  I'm going to have to test them to see what they are.  This may or may not make it into my shop.  I have developed a true love for the old cake toppers and have amassed quite a collection.  I always think I will put them into my shop, but then I don't want to part with them.  We will see.  :)

The cake picks were another fun find, but I'm still not sure what I will do with them.  I have a few ideas, so I'll keep you posted.

The little pile of vintage earrings were dug out of a bin of junk jewelry at a thrift store.  The two pairs in the front are unmarked, but the two other pairs are Coro.  They are all clip-ons and screw-backs and are in great condition.  The green pair is available in my shop now.  (Click the link below the photo for more information.)  The other three pairs are destined to become something else, so watch for those in the future.

Vintage Emerald Green Coro Earrings

So, what did I leave behind?  Loved this little pin cushion...

And this metal hot water bottle circa 1915 was awesome...love that it's the same shape as those ugly rubber ones we have now...the metal is so much classier. 

Next week, I will be sharing a special Halloween costume confessional which will be fun, so I hope you'll come back and let me know what questions you have or what else you want to know about thrift store shopping.  You can follow along at any of the links below so you don't miss a thing. 

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Until then...  XOXO, Cindi

 

Thrift Store Confessional No. 5

What a day I had...all set up for a photo shoot and wouldn't you know it...too sunny!  I know.  Living in Seattle and complaining about the sun is ludicrous.  I should be kicked out.  But, you can't shoot photos in harsh white light with crazy hard shadows, so what's a frustrated gal to do?  You guessed it...go shopping.

In my defense, I had planned to hit the mall for some cheap white satin shoes I could use for photographing shoe clips on...and then to the party store for a good wig I could shoot hair accessories on...and then to the craft store for a large white canvas I could shoot all my other photos on...but the lure of the thrift store was too strong...and I am so weak.   I struck out at my first stop, but hit a gold mine at the second.

As you can see from the photo, I scooped up a great floppy hat with gorgeous old roses (which is already available in my Etsy shop,) some silver thread, a string of vintage pearl buttons, an aqua hanky keeper with a matching sachet, a tiny shell box and three more vintage purses...the one with the gold chain will get a little embellishment.  I'm thinking one of my special vintage hankies will get packaged with the satin keeper...how sweet for a bride to be??  The shell box needs to be a ring box and I'm not sure about the thread and the buttons, but you can never have too many supplies.  Right??

I used incredible restraint today and left a few things at the store.  The first being this smokin' vintage aqua blue Singer sewing machine...it would have looked so cute in my studio, but since there's no way to know if it works, I resisted.

The second was this little wooden stool that reminded me of one we had just like it when I was a kid. The little seat back flips down so you can stow the whole thing away.  So cute!

So, there you have it.  My soul has been cleansed for this week.  Here's a link to the series if you'd like to read all of my thrift store confessions.  I'll have more to show you next week, so I hope you'll check back. You can follow along at any of the links below to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

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XOXO, Cindi

 

Thrift Store Confessional No. 4

Thrift store confessional is a little different this week...instead of copping to my purchases, I'm sharing this awesome Macklemore & Ryan Lewis video featuring some of my favorite Seattle thrift stores!  Yes, people, this is where I shop.  Enjoy this rare opportunity to peek inside my thrifty world.  Seatown friends, see if you can spot the Capital Hill Value Village, Goodwill Outlet and Red Light.

P.S. If you're easily offended by adult language, skip it...or at a minimum, don't listen to this at work.

 

I'll be back next week with another confession, so I hope you'll check back. You can follow along at any of the links below so you don't miss a thing. 

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XOXO, Cindi

 

Thrift Store Confessional No. 3

I had to run across town for something last week, so I figured I'd hit up one of my favorite thrift shops while I was over there...you know, to save on gas.  It's all about the environment, people. ;) 

And lucky I did!

I scooped up a handful of great vintage gloves, a pink doily, lovely lace collar, an etched shot glass and two vintage plates which I believe to be for seafood.  They have sweet little wells for butter or cocktail sauce. 

The pink doily is going to make a sweet flower girl basket and the dishes will be part of a beach themed collection I'm working on.  The gloves will be listed fairly soon, but I'm planning to embellish two of the pairs first.  The gold beaded gloves are already available in my shop...click the link below the photo for more information.

 

Vintage Beaded Gloves - Size 6 1/2 - Made in Hong Kong

 

And then there's always one that gets away.  If I'd had $400 to spare and a place to put it, this beauty would have come home with me...

That's all for this week.  Hope you are enjoying my confessions.  If you missed No. 1 and No. 2, you might want to check them out...if you're into that sort of thing.  You can also follow me at any of the links below to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

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XOXO, Cindi

 

Thrift Store Confessional No. 2

Ooops...I did it again.  :)

Was feeling a little antsy during that last week of summer vacation...my daughter was at her last day of summer camp, hubby was home working on projects...I was anticipating big changes this fall.  Felt like I had to get out of the house and revel in a little retail therapy.

The day's haul was small, but good.  I was in the right place at the right time to snag a nearly mint condition vintage Whiting and Davis mesh evening bag with a gorgeous rhinestone clasp.  Favorite find in a while, actually.  Gorgeous! 

I also picked up a black patent leather clutch with a killer lining in spotless condition and a creamy leather clutch with a rich golden lining.  Both will be altered to greatness at some point. 

Final score was a small collection of vintage eye glass cases that I'm going to experiment with...have an idea in mind, so more to come on those.

Now that I've confessed, I guess I'm off the hook until next time.  I am so excited to be back in the swing of things.  And now that my shop has re-opened and I have my license to shop, I hope you'll check back for more of my confessions!  You can follow along at any of the links below...

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XOXO, Cindi

 

Thrift Store Confessional No. 1

I promised myself I wouldn't buy ANY new stuff until I reopened my Etsy shop and started selling again, BUT...promises like that are SO made to be broken.

It started innocently enough...strolling the aisles of my local thrift stores in search of cheap jeans and cute t's for my little one...and then I'm in the accessories aisle...and purusing the housewares...somehow, I found myself checking out the craft supplies...and then the weirdest thing happened...I was checking out and ended up buying all this stuff!

It was a good haul...two doilies to be made into flower girl baskets, a gorgeous vintage beaded purse, vintage compact and two change purses to be reborn as sewing/emergency kits, a vintage embroidered hanky, large shabby silk scarf and a box of gold sealing wax from Waterstons. The odd-ball find of the day was a retro red polyester scarf with "fringe" of mink tails that I have big plans for.  ;)

And, for the record, the score did not include this little gem...which could have been mine for a mere $19.99...just sayin'...

I'm so excited about relaunching my shop next month...September 10 is the big day!  If you want to stay updated and catch some more sneak peeks you can follow along at any of the links below...

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XOXO, Cindi