A Korean jade pottery duo on our mantle. The small piece was bought in Korea, for lots of won. The bigger, more ornate piece was bought at a Goodwill in Florida for $8.50

Since we journeyed to Korea six years ago to pick up our daughter, I’ve been in love with Korean Celadon pottery. We picked up a couple of tiny vases while we were there, but recently I found a gorgeous Korean rice wine decanter with fish , crane, and chrysanthymum inlays and details. I found this exquisite piece at the Goodwill in Jupiter, Florida, and just had to bring it home to my mantle. It was $8.50, alot for something at Goodwill, but not alot when you consider a comparable piece would be between $55-$200. I know, a big ballpark, but I can’t quite find this exact piece online. Does anyone know how much this might cost? At any rate, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than flying to Korea and picking one up!

A hammered copper vase, displayed with pride on a bookshelf parallel to the fireplace

Another decor find: This hammered copper vase, $2, picked up at Goodwill here in Grand Rapids. I love copper, and this vase was just the thing to add lustre and texture to a built-in bookshelf by our fireplace. This vase also kicks up the Arts and Crafts era vibe I’d like our 1924 house to exude (exude cheaply, that is).

I really love both these pieces, and they both look fairly expensive to me, though the copper vase is probably worth less than the Korean pottery (I found a similar one online for $45).

What kinds of heart-stopping decor finds have you come across at thrift stores, flea markets etc?

Sometimes, I surprise even myself with how cheaply fabulous clothing can be bought secondhand. I’m talking crazy, silly wacky prices, just for popping in here and there at your favorite thrift store to see what the people have dropped off in big boxes. Recently, I saw that my favorite little thrift store was closing down. Boo hoo for me, but wait! On second thought, the sign outside said 60% off everything. Wouldn’t it all be picked over to smithereens? I wondered. But my newly Amish-inspired thrift made me take a look anyway.

Well, I became positively ferhoodled (Amish for “loopy,” or if you’re Canadian, “spinny”) at the deals I found. Because kids’ clothing is usually $2 across the board, and they were offering 60% off THAT price, I made out like a bandit in a bonnet. A Hannah Anderson top for Phoebe: .80 (would’ve been $25 new). A Columbia zip-up fleece for Ez, .80 (around $25, new). And the Deal of the Day? A very handsome and hip Diesel shirt for Jonah, my teenager, EIGHTY CENTS! It would have been at least $40-$50, new. And yes, all three items were in good-to-great shape! [Read more...]