End of the Year Thrifty Finds

Crunch Time. Only three more days to get the Christmas preparations DONE. We celebrate Christmas Eve at my house I have one less day than most people to do everything. Luckily, I am all done with the baking (Coconut Snowflakes, Gingersnaps), candy making (Cherry Almond Fudge, Black Walnut Fudge, White Chocolate Pretzels) and present buying. All that is left is the wrapping. A dubious job to say the least as we buy lots and lots and lots of gifts for everyone. At least I can employee The Bean as a giftwrapper this year. The only thing holding me back for completely enjoying my days right now is that I have a terrible head cold. I get dizzy when I turn too fast or look down. Or up. Not fun. But, this too shall pass....

Yesterday in the midst of my last minute grocery shopping I found some time to make my very last thrifting trip of the year. I believe all the thrifts close Saturday and don't reopen until at least January 2nd, if not later. After some fun digging in the thrift I mentioned that I had totally forgotten that I was sick while I was in there. Thrift Therapy is REAL!

When I walked in the lady told me that the Christmas stuff was 50% off, but then I heard her tell a lady a few minutes later that it was 75% off, then I heard her tell another lady it was "Make An Offer". So, I knew it would be cheap regardless. Lots of junky dollar store things and not too wonderful items. But, I dug and found a few treasures.

A wonderful handhooked rug with snowmen. Perfect for the bathroom with the snowman theme. $1.00

A sweet handpainted wooden bowl with a snowman.
Signed J. Walker which I found funny (Jaywalker). 25¢

Three big vintage glass pinecones with glitter and a few miscellaneous vintage pink, gold and aqua Shiny Brite ornaments. These are all in the big heart shaped wooden bowl I thirfted recently at the same thrift store. Under the ornies and pinecones are some hideous metallic plastic fruit ornaments from the 1970's - an apple, two pears, two oranges and two bananas. Gaudy, but fun. The pinecones and Shiny Brites were 50¢.

A non-Christmas item, but still a deal. I think this is a Nantucket Bakset. Handmade, tightly woven and very nice. $1.00.

This is my very best absolute fantastic find of the day. (Albeit a terrible photo). This litle felt elf with a glttered base marked JAPAN from the 1940's. 10¢. I looked for more as he was lurking under a bunch of handmade crocheted ugly 1970's bells. Greedy, eh? But, he was the only one there. He was a mere 10¢.

I have a tall woodsy looking tree that I got at the thrift for $10.00 last year. I saw one just like it for $129.00 at Hobby Lobby. Yikes. It is completely encrusted with my vintage ornament collection that I have picked up one by one throughout the past few years. I covet these little ornaments and I know I have been very, very lucky to find them one by one. I know I have paid litle to nothing for all of them, but I also know they are worth a fair amount of money. I have ten of the little glittery houses that I saw in a magazine for $25.00 each and I have about 20 of the little paper maiche instrument playing guys that I bought for 25¢. For ALL of them. I could sell them for $10.00 each. But, I love them sooooo much.

You can see the little elf man dead center in this picture. I also got the Santa under him yesterday for 10¢.

I love all my Christmas things so much. I always love seeing all my holiday decorations for each Holiday. I love them all and appreciate them so much. I wonder if I woud appreciate all my things more if I only saw them one month out of the year. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I suppose.