With Dave in England and our house on the market, it makes for a challenging thrift day. We had a house showing planned in the middle of Saturday morning which meant I had to take Cerys, Keiran and the dog thrifting with me on one of the busiest thrift days of the year. No where on any "rules of thrifting" have I ever including dogs & kids on the list. I'm usually a solo thrifter which means I can thrift in peace and quiet and on my own. I nearly had a playdate for Keiran planned on Saturday but that was canceled last minute. Luckily a new bookselling friend of mine, Katie, not only helped me by her husband taking Keiran for the morning, but she joined me to go to thrifting despite the fact that Elffin & Cerys both were joining us. And we had a delightful time together. She's energetic, clever (marks off yard sales on the list after we had been to them) and we shop at the same speed. We are both kind enough to the point where we didn't push or shove to get to the books. And I must admit it was so welcoming to have an adult to converse with after a week of just the children and me.
And while I did search partly for books, my eyes were really searching for anything mid century modern. And I found a few gems yesterday.
My first Jens Quistgaard salt & pepper shaker by Dansk.
a piece of unmarked studio pottery. It's a strange one but I think that's why I like it.
I have some guilt about this lamp. One of the services I offer on my website is a finder service. I locate items that people are looking for. A client of mine just recently added a lamp like this to her "in search of" list. But the minute I found it for her I started wanting it. Or needing it.
It's a three way lamp as well. And it fits perfectly in the living room. Sigh......and I do adore it. I suppose the honorable thing is to offer it to her and if she happens to say no I may just have to keep it.
The more I read and research about Mid Century Modern, the more items I seem to spot at yard sales and on Craig's List. I enjoyed going through Retro Renovation's blog roll list this week. I especially loved Atomic Tea Party. Collecting MCM is somewhat slow compared to shabby chic since anything old and worn can fit into that style. Last weekend when I was thrifting in Seattle, I went to a couple MCM stores and the prices are shocking. They certainly don't fit into this frugal budget of mine. I still learned a lot from visiting these shops. And the drool from my thrifted Free People shirt should wash out.
Some of my favorite Craigslist searches are Retro, Mid Century, Teak, Danish, Denmark & Vintage. What are your favorites?
Craigslist lover here too ; ) I usually type in Danish/Vintage... I adore that lamp by the way, oops! that probably doesn't help your parting with it!! Excellent pottery on burlap, how cool!
Posted by: gardenmama | June 21, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Hi Selena,
A blog on Sunday! Yippee!!!
Craiglist searches are sewing/fabric/bernina and free!
xoxo Amy
Posted by: Amy | June 21, 2009 at 05:34 PM
I know what you mean about it being sort of a slow style to collect. I think it also tends to be good quality (at least furniture-wise) and can be expensive too. I just found a triple lamp at an estate sale, how funny!
Posted by: Jenna Z | June 21, 2009 at 07:37 PM
My DH was reading your blog and commented to me about some of your finds (he's also a huge thrifter so likes your blog a lot) and we both honestly couldn't figure out why some things of this MCM style appeal to you (and others of course), because here nobody wants it unless it's from a really big name. Our conclusion was that it's so different from a lot of things we know/have seen in the US and that it's perhaps more rare to find than it is here in Northern Europe. Honestly, that pottery, I've seen boxes of it and it hardly ever gets sold. Or perhaps it's not popular here right now. :-)
Christine
PS: that lamp is nice, but if one of your clients asked for it, I would sell it. You never know how it will fit your new living room and it's not really the Waldorf style you mentioned of using in the new house, is it? :-)
Posted by: Christine | June 22, 2009 at 04:44 AM
Love all of your finds! I'd totally be keeping the lamp. I'm looking for one like that now myself. I usually add Eames and midcentury (no space) to my craigslist searches.
Posted by: Nikki | June 22, 2009 at 02:04 PM
Totally dig on the lamp. I understand why you want to keep it. I'm afraid I would want to too.
Posted by: Not So Glamorous Housewife | June 22, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Some beautiful thrifting there!
Posted by: Feronia | June 22, 2009 at 06:27 PM
yay! you found my lamp! kev says it's a go. when can i pick it up?
Posted by: h | June 22, 2009 at 09:22 PM
I am in love with that salt and pepper shaker! Good find.
Posted by: Emma | June 23, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Well, that salt and pepper shaker is nifty. I love your Mid Century Modern finds! My furnishing style is more Beat Up And Crumb Filled. Five kids are hard on furniture :)
I think you should keep the awesome lamp and find another one for your client. It looks great in your home!
Posted by: Sheri (Green & Crunchy) | June 25, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I love the resources you share and I also appreciate how you explain your finds, and the history, etc.
Really interesting, Selena! :)
Posted by: sandy | June 26, 2009 at 06:23 AM
I think you are turning me Mid-Century Modern...
Posted by: Puanani | July 01, 2009 at 09:17 AM
I just wanted to tell you how much I love your blog! I've been reading it for about 9 months and love every word. :) I've passed on an award to you, in case you want to take a look.
Have a great day!
Posted by: kristen | July 01, 2009 at 12:28 PM
We just bought a 1963 house and are currently trying to do it up in a style suitable to the period. The one thing that continues to escape me is a floor lamp (*plenty* of table lamps out there!). I am *so* envious of your find--this is exactly what I've had in mind!
Posted by: ambika | July 02, 2009 at 08:36 AM
Oh no. I don't need another blog to fall in love with - but yours may fit the bill. ;) Very lovely. Thank you - I'm excited to read more!
Posted by: Melany | July 02, 2009 at 06:40 PM
Keep it! Find her a different one. I have one very close to it but it goes from floor to ceiling. You will find another one for her. Keep it!!!
Posted by: Poppy | July 05, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Lovely !
Posted by: Stéphanie | July 06, 2009 at 07:31 AM
You are making me look closely at furniture I used to dismiss. Probably because I grew up with some of it and since it was the 70's the pieces seemed dreadfully out of date compared to what my friends had, BUT now they are growing on me.
Posted by: Laura | July 07, 2009 at 05:36 PM
testing
Posted by: Selena | July 08, 2009 at 07:26 AM
Ohhh! Isn't it nice to have a friend with you who thrifts? And even nicer to have a friend who compliments your style but doesn't want all the same items as you??
I can't thrift with my mom she's too slow !
Posted by: Chelsea | July 15, 2009 at 05:35 PM
Sorry to leave a comment unrelated to your post - but I have a question for you. Some time back you wrote about a parenting book you really liked - I remember you talking about what not to say when your child spills oatmeal on the couch - does this ring a bell? I'm probably not making much sense. Anyway - couldn't find the post in the archives and would love the name of the book.
All the best,
Erin
Posted by: Erin | July 16, 2009 at 03:58 AM
Ok, Selena, where are you??
Posted by: Dime Store Thrift | July 16, 2009 at 07:51 AM
Hey!i like all your belongings.I understand why you want to keep them.its awesome to have a friend in thriftingand i love each and every word in your blog!keep up the good work.Btw, I really like your blog so I submitted it to Viralogy.com.
That will help more people discover it! If you want you can claim your blog at http://www.viralogy.com/blogs/my/1249 which will also help your ranking. Hope you get more traffic through that!Anyway, I hope you have a great week and that you will be successful in every activity you engage in!
Posted by: Josh | July 16, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Love that lamp! When I was a kid, I think every household had one like it. I know we did. Way cool.
Posted by: Deb | July 19, 2009 at 05:34 PM
hi! Love your blog. Wanted to pass on a blog lovin' award to you. Have a look on my blog and copy the award image and distribute as you see fit! http://abithomas.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Abigail Thomas | July 22, 2009 at 03:29 PM