Oh Happy Day!

The new Saver's opened!  Hurrah!  I could actually walk to it if I wanted to, but will never do so as that would mean I would have to haul my bounty all the way home on foot.

The Saver's on Branch Ave in Providence opened on Thursday.  The same day the Nor' easter hit. But I was not about to let a snow day make me miss the Grand Opening.  It wasn't until after lunch that I was able to motivate the kids to head out with the promise of a $10 spending allowance each.  I was a bit concerned that we missed our window of oppotunity--an empty store during those early hours of digging out from the storm--but figured we'd still have the store pretty much to ourselves. 

How wrong was I!  There was a line to get into the parking lot, a police officer pretending to direct traffic in the lot, and no place to park.  I was so discouraged I suggested we turn around and try another day.  But the girls were not about to forego that $10 so easily.  So we forged on and found a spot.

Meanwhile, there were people with bags loaded full of stuff streaming out of the store.  What could be left?  What had we missed?

In a matter of less than an hour, I managed to spend close to $100, so that should give you some idea of how much was left.  This was truly a GRAND opening.  Saver's must have flown in employees for the event.  I haven't had so many offers for assistance at Nordstrom. 

So what did I buy?

My best find was a girl's North Face down 3/4 coat for $12.99. Normally more than I'd pay at Saver's, but this was really a steal.  The coat is in perfect shape except that it's missing the hood.  Will save it for my younger daughter. I also found several Mini Boden dresses ($3.99 and $5.99), a Hanna dress ($4.99), an L.L. Bean girl's winter jacket ($6.99), and various clothes the girls picked out including a leotard, two hoodies, and a dress.

Then I found some crafts including these looms...

The flower looms (photo on top) were $2.99.  The Crazy-Daisy Winder was in a bag for ($2.99) which also included a Weave Easy Hand Loom and a set of Magic Looms.  All now up on eBay!

We then headed to the toy section and scooped up a few games and several vintage puzzles including these two 1957 TUCO puzzles ($1.99 each).

I also picked up a Wilton Tasmanian Devil cake pan ($2.99), vintage Koala painting ($2.99) and a few other items.  And that was without perusing the entire adult clothing section.  I will definitely be back--once the crowds die down!

I'm going to try to start posting twice a week--once with what I've found (or my ThrHaul) and once with recent sales I've made on eBay.  So look for a second posting later this week!

Trending Foul

We're officially in a bad mood here.  Snow, then rain, now snow is expected again.  Yesterday I was listening to CNN and heard that the big story TRENDING the airwaves was about Regis leaving Live.  Then the anchor said "we'll fill you in on all the other trending stories when we return."  Trending?  Really?  Hence, my blogpost title.  Everyone is annoying me lately.

Well, maybe not the lady at Goodwill who always charges random prices in my favor. 

Here's today's ThrHaul:

• This fabulous mint-in-box Kresge's hostess tray.  $1.49.
• A vintage latch hook kit to make a flower rug. $2.99.
• A brand new American Girl Doll jewelry making kit. $2.99. (Do NOT tell my kids!)
• A new Black Diamond fleece vest. $1.99.
• And a nice leather dog leash for $1.99.  We loose them all the time, so I find the thrift stores a great source for replacements.  I think Calvin will like this one.

My ThrHaul

Look what I found at Saver's today!  A vintage Boye Needlemaster kit in mint condition.  In case you're unfamiliar with such a thing, it's a set of knitting needles that can be configured in different ways so you can get every size and type of needle in one kit.  I paid $6.99. A similar one sold for $41 on eBay.

Other than the knitting needle kit, I'm still just stocking up on snow pants and jackets.  But I was thrilled to find a Columbia jacket for my daughter (her current jacket ripped and my repair was less than stellar) for $3.  She wanted a replacement from LL Bean, but when I checked the website, they were still selling at full price.  Just goes against my nature to pay full-price for a winter coat mid January.  So I dashed out to the Salvation Army and found this nice Columbia jacket in her size.  Her first reaction was "is it from a secondhand store?"--said with as much tween snarkiness as you can imagine.  But then she took a look at the jacket and said "Oh, Columbia!  It looks just like Rebekkah's!".  So we're back in business for $3 instead of $60 plus. That's what I call a good ThrHaul!

Bliss After A Blizzard

I was not a happy camper this morning shoveling the back-breaking snow out of my driveway.  But the kids had school (luckily!) and I had to drive them there.  The silver lining was that school was delayed an hour, which meant they'd be arriving close to 9:00, which meant the Salvation Army nearby would be open. 

I nearly kept driving past the empty, poorly plowed parking lot fearing the store was closed due to the blizzard. Fortunately, I did not.  The Salvation Army store was open and (here's where the music would play if I could add it to my blog) I was the only one there! 

Nirvana struck.  Where to start?  In the knick-knacks room?  Arts and Crafts?  Upstairs in Women's and Children's?  I headed upstairs as my stock of snow pants in my eBay store is dwindling (OK, another silver lining to the snow storm). 

There on the rack were near-new Hanna Andersson bibs for $2.99 (green tag--making them $1.50), a Patagonia snowsuit for $3.99 and several more nice snow pants and jackets--nothing more than $3.99.  I spent around $20 and figured I'll at least triple my money.  More importantly, I experienced thrift-shop heaven with a good 20-30 minutes with no shopping competition. 

Just a few updates on previously noted purchases: I just sold the 3 pairs of Brooks Brothers socks for $30.  Probably could have held out for more, but doubling my money seemed good enough.  The Minnetonka Moccasins sold instantly.  And then unsold.  Yes, they were purchased by an Aussie who didn't think to ask about shipping before she repeatedly clicked the "BUY" button.  Good to know there are yahoos all over the world.  Anyway, I've had a few other inquiries so I'm sure they'll sell.  Again. 

Out With The Old, In With the Old...

Took way to long of a vacay.  Sorry.  Actually wasn't vacationing, but was madly working on my eBay store over the holidays.  Glad that's over!

Now on to the new year.  From one thrifter to another:  In with the old!  That's going to be my motto for 2011.

So I was listening to public radio this a.m. and there was a piece about "Haul Videos" on youtube, where people (women and girls) make videos of what they purchased on their recent shopping excursions.  And other people watch them!  Now some retailers are even rewarding these haul video posters with incentives like coupons and other freebies.  So, I've decided to regularly post my "Thrhaul" (or thrifting haul--and you heard it hear first, so if Sarah Palin tries to co-opt it for her "consignment" finds, you'll finally know she's a liar!)  Savers, Goodwill, Salvation Army--take note!  I shamelessly accept shopping incentives in return for free publicity!

Today's thrhaul:

At the Salvation Army in Providence:

• Brand new Minnetonka Moccasins for $8.99.  Yes, they're kind of ugly.  But they're new!  And if you can't quite tell from the photo, they're navy.  Some patriotic soul will want them.
• An awesome LL Bean boys jacket for $6.99.
• An Obermeyer boy's ski jacket for $4.50.
• An LL Bean kids fleece bathrobe for $2.
• Two vintage cross-stitch kits featuring new baby themes for $1.99 each. 

At St. Martin's Church thrift shop:

• Unopened puzzle of Block Island for $5.  A bit pricey, but I'm hoping all those rich Block Island vacationers will be suffering from cabin fever right about now and will gladly pony up a hefty price for a fun, fireside activity that reminds them of warmer times.
• A vintage snakeskin belt for .75.  Actually, I think the saleslady didn't charge me for this.  She thought it wasn't worth the 75 cent price.  I disagreed.  It's real snakeskin!  And it's a skinny belt--perfect for layering that cardigan over your shirt over your turtleneck. 
• Three pairs of brand new Brooks Brothers men's dress socks for $12.  Also a bit pricey for a church basement, but they're brand new, made in Italy, and mostly wool. 
• A vintage linen green floral tablecloth for $2.50. 
• An awesome girl's ski jacket for $3.
• A men's LL Bean fleece robe for $3.
• A boy's GAP fleece robe for $2.

Are you jealous yet?  Or inspired?  Not sure which emotion you're supposed to be left with.  Whatever it is, happy thrifting!

My Forray into Global Commerce

In all fairness, I've been selling to international customers for some time now.  But recently, my finds seem to be travelling further and further--to Russia, New Zealand, Finland, Israel and Slovenia (which I had to look up on a map).  Just as I love to imagine the backstory to some item I find in a box at Goodwill, I like to imagine its new home somewhere across the globe.  What will Dentist Barbie's life be like in Morelia, Mexico?  And those Robeez baby shoes that went to Slovenia--will the baby wearing them be the talk of the town (or village??), or are Robeez all the rage there already?

This week I had my first sale to China. Two weeks ago (at my major haul--for those of you who have been keeping up with this blog), I purchased a slew of needlework kits for $1 each.  Mind you I don't do needlework.  But I love the idea of it.  And I imagine the life these kits had stashed in someone's craft basket gathering dust, and the new life I'm sending them to where they will hopefully finally be opened and stitched to completion.  This "Asian Bellpuls" was bought by "Waxdoll22" in Chongqing City.  Although her address originally showed up looking like several pillars--eBay obviously hasn't mastered Chinese translation.  I had to email Waxdoll22 and ask for her address in English.  I was a bit afraid she wouldn't pay.  She'd never bought anything on eBay before and bid $34 for my cross stitch kit.  Additionally, she purchased a Baby Sampler cross stitch kit, for a grand total of $55.23 including shipping.  But Waxdoll22 came through, sent me her address and her Paypal coin. 

But I'm wondering about the new home of these kits.  The baby sampler, after all, has a chart to personalize it with the name of the baby and the birthdate.  Will Waxdoll22 be able to translate without the chart?  Does Bucilla offer a chart somewhere online in Mandarin? (I actually have no idea if that's what they speak in Chongqing.) Or is Waxdoll22 an entrepreneur herself, maybe ready to design her own cross stich baby sampler to market to China?  And speaking of that Chinese market, in my urge to picture the Yubei District of Chongqing City, I googled it.  And now I know that Chongqing City is known as the Chicago of the Yangtze.  And that there's a huge Chinese middle class with money to burn.  I think it's time to do a little market research on eBay China and find out what they're in the market for.  Luckily, I have another "Asian Bellpulls" kit!

Hanukkah in October

In fact, Hanukkah is practically in October this year--starts December 1st.  I do need to get my butt in gear.  But today was Hanukkah for me. 

I had to hire a sitter so I could get to my favorite sale of the year--St. Theresa's Flea Market.  Go figure, Hanukkah comes at the Catholic Church.  Anyway, it was worth every babysitting penny I spent.  I couldn't grab stuff fast enough.  They have at least five rooms filled with stuff, plus a huge parking lot with tables set up.  And it's all staffed by elderly volunteers who charge 10 cents for things.  Who still charges 10 cents?  You can't even buy a gumball these days for 10 cents.  I bought two lovely vintage linen tea towels for 10 cents a piece.  Add in the cloth napkins and my total came to 70 cents.  The volunteer helping me was having trouble finding correct change, so I told her to keep the 30 cents.  She said she needed to go hit some one up for smaller change.  Or, I suggested, stop charging 10 cents for things.

OK, so here's just a portion of my haul...I also visited another church, so I really did look like Santa dragging my black garbage bag full of goodies into the house (FYI: did not enter through the chimney--we don't have one.  Not a big concern in a Jewish home).

Someone please help me out with these guys...I bought a box of them (yes, 10 cents a piece.)  They're from the mid eighties and when you pinch their shoulders their arms open. You can clip them on to things.  Anyone remember what these are called???

In addition to my box of 80s hugging plushies, I got a slew of needlework and cross stitch kits (had to spring a whole buck a piece for these).

I also found these old wooden shoe forms ($1 for both).  I think they looked like they hopped right out of Country Living Magazine. 

Also found a great vintage Vendome crystal brooch (in the middle of the top photo) for a quarter.  I love the blue glass Christmas balls I found (free--because they dropped as the seller was loading them into my bag and two broke).  I will be finding a new home for those as I don't believe in the Hanukkah bush.

I also will be rehoming the vintage Strawberry Shortcake ornaments (50 cents) and the unopened pack of Del Monte stuffed fruit ornaments (50 cents). 

Also purchased: and old badminton set for $2 (birdie is missing, but the kids can still use the rackets to smack each other over the head); a bunch of books (yes, 10 cents a piece); a 1960s round Springbok puzzle (shown above, picked for $1) which I now think I need to try to assemble to see if all the pieces are there; 4 new Mad Libs (for when the kids aren't smacking each other over the heads with the rackets, $2 for all four); a vintage ravioli mold (50 cents) and an old, but never used Wilton Marseilles cookie mold (50 cents); a few winter coats and miscellaneous other items.

All in all I spent about $40.  Good times, good times.

Oh, one last thing.  I did promise to report on the Jean Cocteau Limoges cat plate I found for $6.  It sold for $33.50.  Not the windfall I was hoping to retire on, but I'll take it.