THE ONES I THREW BACK

Just as in fishing, sometimes in shopping, there are those you have to throw back in.  As you probably already know from my earlier blog post today and the post from yesterday, I went second-hand shopping yesterday with stops at Goodwill on the east end of Belleville and at Unique Resale, also in Belleville.  In addition to the killer wedding dress I found (but didn't buy), I also found all the items below at Goodwill yesterday.  I must have timed my visit  just right because I have never seen so many great items in one visit there before.  Unfortunately, none of these items were on my "shopping list".

Homer Laughlin "Diner" China.  Buck a piece.

Vintage look Cocktail Pitcher from Pier 1 Imports, just $3.

Just a few of the large assortment of wedding cake "toppers" in stock!  Too fun!

BEST find at Goodwill that day:  Beautiful Antique Chest of Drawers in great condition and only $80!

Ok, don't know what this is for but its made of coconuts and it made me smile!

Trestle table, 4 chairs and a neat bench, all a set.  A little rough but could be painted up so cute!

Metal twin bed head and foot board, not old, but has that look.

Retro-riffic vintage desk in great shape and I think it was only $25!!!

Vintage pottery vase in great condition and only $3!

Old metal cabinet for $20 makes for great sturdy storage!

WEDDING BELLE

I need a Wedding Belle, a bride-to-be, to buy this dress!  If only I were younger, oh and single and much skinnier, I would have bought this dress.  Heck, even if I didn't have a groom, I'd buy me this dress and then find me a groom to go with it (not that its not equally as hard to find a good groom as it is to find a good dress).  I saw it at the Goodwill on the east end of Belleville yesterday.  Truly the most beautiful vintage wedding dress I've ever seen whether it was in a thrift store or an expensive vintage shop.  My guess is its from the 50's but I'm no expert.  Take a look at the photos and judge for yourself.  If I were also to guess size I imagine its around a size 6 in the waist but for a girl that has some of a bosom (cup C or D), again, no expert.  I SO wanted to buy this dress, it was only $30!!!!!!  But just didn't know what I'd do with it (yes, could resell it for much more but then I have to work to find a buyer) so I resisted temptation yet again.  Do you know of anyone?

This is the bust.  It has a pleated straight across front underneath and then the appliqued lace sits out in front on top of that, just like a lot of the dresses you see on the red carpet these days.  Just gorgeous detail and so in style!

Front of dress, of course my photo isn't doing it justice!

Upclose of bust on hanger, again my photography skills leave something to be desired.

This is a better photo of the upclose detail of the front of the dress.

Full front view of dress.

Will you just look at all that luscious tulle and wonderful applique, its uber beautiful!

Oh yes, you're reading that right, just $30!!!  I need to google "Will Steinman" and see what I learn, just so curious!

BIRTHDAY SHOPPING SCORES!

As a birthday present to myself I visited one of my favorite resale shops in Belleville (IL) today.  That was after my sister treated me to pizza at Papa Vito's on Washington Street in Belleville.  My favorite pizza and then my favorite shop, it was adding up to a great day!  And it got better from there!  Green Diamond  Emporium Unique Resale Shop at 732 South Illinois Street, in the old train depot, had just gotten in a load of new "stuff" that morning.  All from one donor - and there were some amazing finds!  As much as I wanted to, I couldn't take them all home so below are the two killer pieces I brought home and then all the other items I took a pass on.  But you might want to rush out tomorrow and try to snatch some of them for yourselves!  

If you need more information such as prices or if one of these items is still available, give them a call at 618-235-8431.  They are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Another bonus is that you receive $5 off a purchase after you've gotten 10 punches, 1 punch for every $10 spent!  Their website is www.greendiamondemporium.org.

  

I scored this vintage concrete base, metal top sundial for just $20!                   (It came with its own bird poop!  LOL!)

I LOVE this park bench!  And I have been looking for one (check that, CHEAP one) for awhile.  I got it home and my husband said well I guess we can paint it - ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????  That's one of the great things I loved about it - THE PATINA!  I LOVE the "chippy" red finish!  And I scored this beauty for just $18!!! (Oh, and the fun quilt behind the bench was only $25 but I resisted the temptation . . . for now, tomorrow's another day)

Sweet vintage buffet/sideboard.  I think it was $40 or $50.

Fruit-topped ceramic canister set for $12.  I have a hard time resisting things with fruit!

Roseville Pottery Vase - said "as is" but for $40 (and knowing they usually go closer to $100 or more) it seemed like a great buy, but I'm not an expert on these.  I do admire Roseville pieces though.

Fun and funky vintage stereo console.  I don't remember how much this was but sooooo retro!

Vintage chifferobe.  Bad photo but cool piece.

Concrete birdbath.  That's a squirrel "climbing" up the base.  Loved this too but it was a little too steep of price for me ($80) and the condition of the bath itself wasn't great.  Maybe, if it goes to half price.

More creamware pottery but since I have around 60 pieces I decided I could resist.  But now if they go half price they may become harder to resist!

Vintage dining table painted gray with one leaf.

Nice old rocking chair with the rush (?) seat and back in very good condition.  I think it was  $40 or $50.

Ok, I don't know exactly what this is but I thought it was a fun and interesting contraption.  And just $8.

A pretty in pink hand sewn quilt for $50 (If I remember right).  Again, hard to resist but I have more quilts that I can use right now and I don't want to have to just store them away where they can't be appreciated.

Oh yes, I managed to get the sundial and the bench in the back seat of my convertible and off I drove.  That back seat holds a lot more than you think.  You just have to put the top down to get it in!

THOROUGHLY MODERN VINTAGE

Who's stuck in the 50's?  And I mean in a good way!  With a love of mid-century furniture design, memories from your childhood or the fun of the kitsch finds from that time.  If I've described you, then you'll want to check out Modern Vintage Decor on Gravois in South County (St. Louis, MO).  It is retro-riffic!  They just recently opened.  I shopped there a few weeks ago and went back last week to consign some of our vintage belongings.  I hated to part with them, but we're downsizing and selling the house so we had to say our farewells and hope that they will find a good home that will treasure them as much or more than we did.  So below are some of the finds from my first shopping visit and some of the items I consigned there last week.

I brought home this piece of marked McCoy creamware pottery to add to my collection of over 50 pieces!

Another drop leaf table - you know I LOVE these!  

COOL old projector - what a conversation piece!

NEATO camera!  8mm?

FUN vintage chair!  Can't tell from the photo (its better in person) but it has a metallic thread running through it!

One of our consignments.  We used it as a credenza in our office but could be used as a media center or bar.  Or how about made into a bathroom vanity?

Another piece we consigned.  From Lammert's Furniture Store.  We used it as a dresser but I think it would make a great tv stand/media center.

A blonde wood desk chair we consigned.  Its in great condition, so sturdy and heavy.  And stylin'!

On the left is a blonde wood with black legs file holder/magazine rack.  On the right is a beautiful wood and leather magazine rack.  Both were unusual finds that I haven't seen again anywhere but they're just not needed in the downsizing.  Sad to part with them though.

While some (or all) of these finds may be sold by now (I sure hope some of my items have sold) other new treasures have taken their place.  When I went in to consign this past week she had doubled her inventory since my first shopping visit.  For instance, last week she had gotten in a Heywood Wakefield Dog-bone dining set in wheat with table, 6 chairs and china hutch.

If you're interested in consigning, its very easy.  Take your items in, she'll inventory them and have you sign a contract and you're done.  You get 50% of whatever it sells for and she keeps 50%, a standard consignment agreement.  If you have further questions visit their website at www.modernvintagedecor.com and become a follower on facebook or twitter to be the first to hear about sales and promotions.