Thrift Share Monday

Fire-King Mugs from the Santa Rosa Flea Market (thanks Mitzi)

Even after thrifting all morning on Friday, continuing on Saturday from early morning until mid afternoon and finishing off the weekend with two flea markets, I still want to thrift today.

Sometimes I'll sit and find myself dazing, my mind drifting back to the weekends sales and I'll wonder why I love thrifting so much. Why is this my passion? Or for that matter, why does it make up so much of my existence? I don't really have the exact answers. My dad is very nostalgic and I think I have some of that in me. When I thrift and find items from the past, it stirs my soul in ways that nothing else can do. While I wouldn't exactly want to live and stay in the past, I do love to surround myself with household items from another era. And a visit back to the 60's and/or 70's like Midnight in Paris would be an absolute dream.

New has lost any of it's charm on me.

Although I adore the store CB2 with it's mid century modern influence, I don't really want to own any of it. I touch furniture, decor and lamps while I'm in the store and I just feel nothing. I've even bought a few items only to regret my purchases. Yet I can simply hold a blue pyrex cup above and I can almost feel it's vintage essence.

I also live for the stories behind second hand items. The cups above were sold at the Flea Market in Santa Rosa. The seller told me that his mother used to sell antiques at the Cow Palace in the Bay Area. His mother stopped selling about 10 or 15 years ago and she died 5 years ago. Her son was finally getting around to selling her vintage goods at our flea market. I admired him so much for this. His mother would have been so proud of the fact that he took the time to sell at the flea, even if he was practically giving everything away. It's the stories that give our finds depth and meaning, connection with the world beyond something new being manufactured in a sweatshop overseas.

For me, life is all about making connections with people (especially other thrifters) and with vintage items that I find at estate sales. They fill my home with a link to the past and and bring soul into my life. In a strange way, it is what helps make me feel alive.

Tiki Mugs & Cups

More finds from the same seller.

Glass Necklace

Does anyone recognize this? It doesn't have any markings.

Nyemolle Tile

Vintage Slumber Party Invites

Did you go thrifting this weekend?

Thrift Share Monday celebrates the Art of Thrifting. As a community of readers and bloggers we are able to connect through the process of buying second hand, selling and sharing.

We Thrift  - We Share

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• Your Thrift Share Monday blog post should include your thrifted finds from the weekend.
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Don't forget to visit Her Library Adventures for Flea Market Finds.

Comments

[Van]

I love our job! I keep coming back to thrifting because it keeps me creatively fulfilled to seek, document, stage, and sell the relics from our past. I love all the cups and invites you find, I've got a fetish from them and can't resist scooping them up.

[Janell (Nell's Vintage House)]

That necklace is a work of art. Great find!

[Mitzi]

I think those cups are Fire-King Kimberly pattern cups actually... love the color, fun score!

[Selena Cate]

Thanks Mitzi! I changed it and gave you credit.
xoxo Selena

[Beatriz at Mid Mod Mom]

There is a bit of nostalgia for my childhood that motivates me to do what I do. I agree with you in feeling connected to the past by our finds. Great post.

[Heather@Tatter and Fray]

I absolutely agree with you...by thrifting vintage, I feel a little bit like an amateur historian. There's something so soulful about older things.

[Cheapchick]

Thanks for hosting. I hope your life is somewhat back to normal after your move. I completely agree. Buying something new gives me little pleasure but buying used, vintage or antique makes me treasure. Great post!

[Megan]

I've noticed that the bulk of vintage cards I find are invites. Those are the first slumber party invitations I've seen. How fun :)

[Sherry@Back2Vintage]

I have the same vintage addition as you and I don't know why! Thanks for letting us show off our treasures at your party!

[Jem @ Beautiful Clutter]

Ah the tile!! It is so lovely!

[amy]

the unknown picture reminds me of the artwork in the children's book "The Troll Music" by Anita Lobel (author & illustrator).

[Nikki]

I'm with you. I'd much rather own vintage! I love that tiki glass you found and the colors on that necklace are fantastic!

[Vintage Scapes]

You express our sentiments about vintage much better than I ever could! Even though I wasn't around in the fifties and sixties or even seventies, I yearn for those days where the pace of life was a bit slower and technology was not the be all end all of daily life.

[mini matriarchin]

The necklace you found is great. It could totally make a summer-outfit.
I'm linking up with you. Greetings from Germany!

[Joy P]

So happy you are having Thrift Share Monday again (and last week too). I really missed you while your internet was down. Thanks for hosting this week - my fav of your thrifted shares is the tile with the mother and children.

[Cap Creations]

you always manage to find such great vintage items! good eye! thank you for hosting.

[Jenn]

I love the Sea World Tiki mugs! I have a "now" not so secret desire to decorate at least one room in my house in a tropical style. Seems like all the stores lately, like Crate & Barrel, CB2, Pottery Barn, West Elm and Z Gallerie all have a Beach/Tiki/Tropical style that is in for summer.

[Amy Schleicher]

Thanks for hosting. I too have major love of the nostalgia of old things. I started thrifting for the deals. I can remember buying my homecoming dresses at thrift. Here I am 20+ years later...still thrifting. Someone at work was talking about buying new bedroom furniture. I have never bought "new" furniture. While I like some...it's just not me. The only new furniture in my house are wooden pieces handmade by my stepdad, everything else is thrift, curbside treasures, or family pieces.

[Heidi German]

I love that glass tiki mug and the glass necklace is just stunning! If you find out any more about it, please let us know!

PS--glad you're back for TSM and can't wait to hear more about your new house!

[Christine]

Beautiful story, I love how that man honors his mother by doing this. I know what you mean about feeling this way about vintage/used items. I always make sure to ask a seller where it came from or what the story is behind an item (when its something unusual, a pair of Crocs for my youngest have nothing to tell I'm afraid). When I hear a story, it makes the item even more special to me.

Christine

[jeu de voiture]

So nice! Thanks!

[Lisa Jackson]

I loved your post - it totally spoke to me. I am a fairly new convert to thrifting. I had always wanted *new* stuff and had zero interest in anything old. But then I fell in love with an antique Victorian mantel (I found on Craigslist and bought it for a song!) Since then, I have been fascinated with antique and vintage things. I can't imagine not thrifting :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Oh, and those Fire King mugs and Tiki cup are AWESOME :)

[Xenia]

I love the slumber party invites! Adorable! I've been coming across good mugs and cups lately, might have a chance to blog about it tomorrow!

[Jenny]

What a cool necklace. I would love to wear that. :)

[jeu de casino gratuit]

Verry beautifull, i like it!