Wednesday, September 14, 2011

weekly thrift store finds

Remember when I said I was going to post my thrift store finds weekly? I apologize for taking a month to get started.

As I mentioned before, there's one thrift store close to my home here that I favor. I find most of my photo props there as well as other things (sometimes too many other things). I've been a little disappointed with other thrift stores I've tried in the city, so I usually just stick to this one and go about once a week. I don't know that most of my photo props are very interesting in and of themselves so in this feature I am just going to focus on those "other things."

Today I had some great finds! First I got these tall glass jars. I'd been wanting to find some large, lidded jars for terrariums to grow herbs in this winter (indoors), and I think these will be perfect. The herbs will have a lot of growing room to go up, but the jar's still wide enough for my hand to fit, which is good for maintaining terrariums. The tall one was $1.91 and the small one was $.90.

I don't really need any more coffee mugs, but I have this tiny mug from Italy that says "caffe" on it. It's about the size of a shot of espresso (see the picture for scale). Well, today, I came across this huge coffee mug in exactly the same style, which says "cappuccino." I thought it was too hilarious to pass up. I can't imagine having a cappuccino that large! $.90.

I also found this empty camera case. It's in great condition. I am a small purse kind of girl these days, so if I want to take a camera with me I have to grab an additional bag. This case is too small for an SLR but would be great for my 35mm point and shoot or any of my plastic cameras. Plus it's just pretty hip. I mean, who wouldn't want to be seen pulling a Holga out of something so legit? $.90.
And then...I found the Best Thing Ever. Okay. Back story. When I was younger, my family had a typewriter, and I would use it in collaboration with my mom to write little stories, which we would then illustrate. I still have a few of these! I don't know what happened to that typewriter, only that it's no longer around. For the past few years I have really wanted one, but being that I have a more modernized way of writing neatly--a computer and printer, it's hard to justify paying a lot (but there are some especially beautiful ones out there!). I'm always on the lookout for one at a thrift store, but most of the ones I have found have keys that stick. Today I found this one for $3.95 and all of the keys work except the little "o" key which sticks only about one out of every three times. So I got it and I could not be happier! I want to write everything on it. I might keep it in my studio at school. It will depend on how much my schedule overlaps with my studiomate Steve...he might not appreciate the noise the keys make!

5 comments:

Erika Lee @ A Tiny Rocket said...

love that typewriter :) so jealous.

Kristen said...

Thanks, Erika! I bet you could find one too! I just kept looking and eventually found one that worked at the right price.

another feather said...

Such good finds! I cannot believe that typewriter!! and that is only cost that much, thank you also for the chicago recommendations!

Jenn @ Live Love Life Now! said...

I love a good thrift store hunt! And I cannot believe the amazing deal you got on the typewriter!! Unbelievable...I'm jealous :)

I've always had a fantasy of owning a typewriter...and then typing out my first novel on it :)

Congrats on some amazing finds!

Jenn

Kristen said...

anotherfeather, I know, I can't either! I hope you have fun in Chicago! It's one of my favorite cities.

Jenn, It's hard for me to believe too! I try to be really patient when I'm thrifting and wait for the right price, unless it's obviously a one-of-a-kind I'll-never-see-anything-like-this-again item. It took a lot of looking to get this good of a deal on a working one, but I'm glad I waited! I think that is a great fantasy...I love writing on a typewriter because it's so deliberate, compared to typing on a computer. You should totally find one and get to work on that novel!