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?
Does an aquarium count as decor? (I think so.)
Just last night, at Goodwill, I picked up a hexigon shaped acrylic aquarium with oak stand, and all the necessary equipment. I knew it was a good deal but after getting home and doing a little research, I found out that one of the filters costs more (new though of course) than what I paid for the whole package. And… if the heater or any of the filters fails to work, it’s returnable. Not that the rest wouldn’t still be worth what I paid.
Now to get it set up!
And… I wonder if I can barter for the fish. First place to check: Craigslist
I am just starting to look for good finds @ goodwill and value village, but i usally find what i need, I do find homeschooling books and shoes for my kids they grow to fast, we find free stuff on craigslift use. or sell. thanks for chance to win a book:)
I found a wonderful 3′ carved plaque at a garage sale that reads “Sit long, talk much, laugh often” at a garage sale for $1.00! Perfect for over the doorway leading to our family room. (I also scored a year old Gorman’s dinette set, used 6 times, for $600! The previous owners paid $2300 a year earlier.). I LOVE http://www.estatesales.net!
I bought a sdacwinh maker at my GW yesterday. Had fun with it last night making grilled cheese! I’ve got my eye out for a new drip coffee maker.Got my Keurig there last year for $30!!!
Lots of home decore goodies … my fave is a candelabra. Metal which had been painted cream and just slightly distressed, perfect for the french country / shabby gal in me! Only $1.00
Love finding kid’s clothes, often new! I also love to get great finds for FREE! http://www.free cycle.org. We have received a like new electric guitar my husband plays at church, a brand new basketball hoop and lots more! Also love to bless people with things I no longer need or use and post them on free cycle!
Sue Thompson, you have won a free book! Congrats, and send me your address so I can get that out to you!
Lorilee, I just finished reading & reviewing your book. I loved it! So much of it I do already, but I think I got giddy when I realized that you did all of this in Grand Rapids. I live about an hour from there in a little village called Sunfield. I’m on the hunt for great thrift stores in the area. Do you have any recommendations?
Contact a local church They are nomlalry glad to take them off your hands! That way next year when it comes Christmas time they are able to give them to needy families in your local community!Or maybe even try your local domestic shelter or homeless shelters .they are always happy to have such sweet donations.God Bless
the last couple years, and particularly the last 6 months, I have begun to check out our local thrift store (and post about it now and then). I bring home treasures now and then, however it is more typical for me to bring home something to fix up.
Just dropping by to day hi…and that I just love your blog..
Natalia K – I love your vignettes. There’s no end to your cttieaviry this look is totally different than what you had at your old place (unless you just never photographed this part before). My favorite part is guess what the Alexander Dumas book collection. Also love the fond of photography tray did you paint that?
What’s cool is that not only are you all getting great deals, but as Lorilee points out in her book, garage saling is totally “green”! When you buy used stuff you’re rescuing it from a landfill, plus reducing your “carbon footprint” by not buying new stuff that has to be manufactured and transported to stores. Love it! For me, the thing I got out of reading the book and becoming more thrifty is the “why” behind it. Just saving money is nice, but if it also enables me to be more generous to others (and to the planet) then that is what really matters. Right?
Julia – Yes I painted the phogotraphy tray. And yes, I used a flash for the photos.. bounced off the ceiling (as usual). It’s true Natalia, I bought the books cheap at Goodwill outlet just because they were uniform and I wanted a stack of books to paint over. Yuriy convinced me that they looked good without me ruining them with paint.
Just about to finish your money secrets book in a few minutes and noticed you wrote something about having a blog, and lo and behold, here you are (or here I am). I already do a lot of thing you mentioned in the book: buy clothes and household items at thrift/secondhand shops, sell stuff we don’t need on Craigslist, purchase some items in bulk. I’m inspired to try bartering, though–fun idea! My MOPS group just had a big swap night that I missed–bummer.
Anyway, just to let you know–I heart celadon as well, and when we lived in Japan and I visited Korea for a few days, I bought myself a little celadon turtle chopsticks holder. I’m not sentimental about stuff anymore after our international moves but I do wish I had kept that darling turtle.
Off to finish your book and my cuppa.
I really like this. Shabby Chic is definitely a type of Feng Shui, giving a relaxed,
soft and feminine feel. A very loving way of decorating making people
choose to come in and relax, for that reason it can also be known as the cottage feel.