I haven’t been very assiduous about posting, but never fear,
the thrifting continues!
The very next day after my last post about all the art I’m
finding, I checked Craigslist and saw that the Episcopalian Church’s rummage
sale was happening that day. (They start theirs on Thursday, then on Friday
afternoon prices go to half, and on Saturday you can stuff a bag for five
bucks.) I didn’t find much, I think a scarf and a kitchen doodad, but as I headed
for the line to pay, I noticed that they had art propped up behind the tables
of their “special” items – nicer things with higher prices. And there was a
picture there that caught my eye, colorful windswept trees on a hillside. Sure
enough, the handwritten label proclaimed it to be an original, but the price
was $20.
Not a whole lot for an original piece of art, but I had already spent so
much in October I was really hesitant. When paid for my other things (a whole
dollar!) I asked if they reduced prices at any point and they explained their
system. I said I'd try to come back Friday afternoon and see if the picture I wanted
was still there.
One of the two ladies perked up and asked which picture. I
pointed and described, and she beamed. It was a piece she had donated. I told
her how much I liked it but that I was watching my pennies. She turned to the
other lady, whose name tag proclaimed her to be Carol. “Couldn’t we let her
have it for half today?” she asked.
Carol pursed her lips and shook her head. “If we do that,”
she proclaimed, “we would have to do it for everyone.”
I've heard this line before, and it always annoys me, but I kept
smiling. “No you wouldn’t. I'm not going to tell anyone, and I know you wouldn’t
either.”
Joyce, the one who donated the picture, smothered a smile. “Maybe
we could put it back for her until tomorrow.” Carol shook her head again. “We’ve
never done that before.”
“Carol,” I said, still smiling, “why don’t you go take a
little walk while Joyce and I talk?”
Carol hemmed and hawed a bit, but before long she turned
away, and Joyce and I walked over to the picture. She told me she bought it
from a local artist in Hood River and that it’s a cherry orchard (fruit is
the big industry up there). She had it framed after she bought it, and she was
really hoping that someone would fall in love with it when she donated it. I assured
her I was that person, ten dollars quietly changed hands, and off I went. She
seemed just as happy that it found the right home as I was to have it. I did a
little rearranging and had it hung in my living room within half an hour of
arriving home.
This is no amateur piece like some of the others (though I love
them too!).
The artist, Sally Bills Bailey, has apparently won lots of awards
for her watercolors and acrylics. I found three of her works online with sales
prices in the $1200 to $1800 range – and those are unframed. So I got an
amazing bargain, but no one could love it more than I do!
You know how when something lucky happens people will say
you should go buy that lottery ticket? Well, I think that’s the perfect time to
keep thrifting – you’re far more likely to ‘win’ than with the lottery!
A few days later KK and I made a foray to the Goodwill bins,
where I found a couple of beautifully made wooden toys. I knew exactly the
person who would love them, my friend Lonna’s brother Jeff collects (among
other things) wooden trains and cars etc. Sure enough, he loved them!
And wouldn’t you know, the next time we hit the bins I spotted
something else I knew he would love for his Mickey Mouse collection – a vintage
Mickey backscratcher.
He has hundreds of Mickey items, but didn’t have a
backscratcher. He does now!
In between those two trips to the bins, we happened on a
pretty good estate sale over near my old house. (In the really posh part of the
neighborhood.) On Friday all I got was this metal bunny;
it had lost its rod
that stuck into the ground, but I like it on the wall.
KK and I went back on Saturday. Way fewer people crowded
into the house, and still lots of interesting stuff to see. I walked off with some metal shelving for
my garage (too boring to take a picture of, and now it’s full of things like
paint cans.) More interesting is the adorable bunny hose holder – the paint is
flaking off a bit, but I've got a can of copper metallic spray paint that will
make it really spiffy.
My other find was a king size down comforter for five bucks.
(Picture a large white poofy thing.) I knew I needed a duvet cover for it
(white bed coverings and dogs are not a good combo!) so that was our excuse for
the second trip to the bins. Where I found an Eddie Bauer king-size duvet cover
in a dark red damask. LOVE! It washed beautifully, and is big enough on my
queen size bed to hang down to the dust ruffle.
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