What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Thrifty Finds - Christmas and Otherwise

I've been trying to hit the thrifts this week. I have so much vintage Christmas, but I want more. And there is only a small window of opportunity for finding Christmas items at the thrifts - so I have to hit while the iron is hot. I always peruse the Christmas first, then I attempt to clear my head and go through the rest of the store as normal. But, honestly, I can't get the Christmas stuff of my brain to even look at the rest. I did manage to clear my brain long enough to find a sweet vintage floral tablecloth and a gingham tablecloth with chicken scratch embroidery on it. The gingham one isn't my usual type of tablecloth, but it was sweet, it was a quarter and I have a prety big collection of gingham aprons......so I had to pick it up.

Also, not on the Christmas front, although they could be used for Christmas - two old metal star tie rods for 50¢ each.

And, now.....on to the vintage Christmas finds.

This JAPAN angel was at the Salvation Army for $3.00, but everything was half price. I'm planning on listing a lot of Christmas on Etsy all year long, so I am picking up things when I find them now. Oh yes, she is a musical too.

Miscellaneous ornaments all for 12¢ each - half of 25¢. I am starting to be sucked in by the cuteness of all the wooden ornaments from the 1960's-70's. I so do not need another thing to buy!

This funny elf/gnome on a toadstool was a particularly happy find.

Yesterday I talked about my love of Holt Howard. Apparently the thrift gods were listening because the very first thing I found today were these set of Holt Howard dishes. Actually, I think they are ashtrays, but I will pretend they are wee teeny bonbon trays.

See? Holt Howard. 1959. Great markings and the original sticker. Each one was priced $2.50, but I took a chance and asked if that was for each or for the set and the lady said, "Oh, it must be for the set, don't you think?" This was at the habitat for Humanity Thrift Store which I rarely frequent so I I really don't know what their pricing structure is - I think they might have been $2.50 each based on the other items I saw. But, I agreed, because I wanted them. But, I would not have paid $10.00 for them!

Now, for a few thrifty finds, but not from the thrift. I actually bought these on ebay. I never buy on ebay or Etsy, I just buy what I find that I can afford around here. But, every once in awhile, I do a search for "Annalee lot" just to see what pops up. I got lucky earlier this week when I spotted a Buy It Now for four Annalee's for only $9.99. I Bought it NOW!
A sweet mouse in a Santa suit.

A funny guy in a nightshirt and slippers. Lovin' that huge candle!

And, Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Merry Christmas to Me, Love Me!

8 comments:

  1. AAAAAAA!! I love the Annalees!! Lucky duck you! I think that is a tube of toothpaste and that he may be missing his toothbrush? SO much fun!! Merry Christmas!

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  2. Oh, definitely bon-bon trays, I think. I know exactly what you mean about a) wanting more vintage Christmas, b) being drawn to it first thing and c) trying to clear my head after seeing it. This will make you laugh or scream, but I stopped at a thrift store that is nowhere near me, saw a whole basket full of Annalees in their original packages and DID NOT buy them because I don't collect them and didn't know whether anybody would want them .... well, next time I'll know, right?

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  3. I love Holt Howard, too. All the HH I have are 2 cute candleholders of Santa driving a car (were my Mom's), but you never know what you might find - like your bon bon trays!
    I like the 60's and 70's cuties too; maybe enjoy for awhile then Etsy them? if you don't want to start another collection... but it's so hard not to. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I have so enjoyed seeing your holiday displays!

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  4. Anonymous8:44 PM

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  5. I love that apple ornament! I think Im the only blogger that cant find vintage christmas stuff!

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  6. I love Annalees! My favorites are the ice skating Santa & Mrs Claus, I do a whole skating theme around them every year. I have them for each holiday, just love the sweet, happy faces.

    And Holt Howard is lovely, the serving 'pieces' are timeless...I remember my Grandmother having them...I got mine on Ebay!

    Love your blog, have your merriest Christmas EVER this year!!
    Mandi
    www.mementosdesigns.blogspot.com

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  7. Too cute! Can you use the HH trays as place cards if you use a dry-erase pen for the names??
    rosie

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  8. I got some new Annalee dolls for CHristmas!! I will have to post about them in a day or two!! Awesome!!

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