What a Year!

I was reading a friend's blog, where she counted down her top 10 thrift finds of the year.  She finds far more fabulous things than I do, and I can't imagine how she got the list down to ten.  I've decided...I CAN'T DO IT!  But I am going to try anyway.  Here goes:

This amazing vintage Soure handbag.  Quality, classy and fun!

I bought it last year, but sold it this year.  I got a great price for it, which definitely boosted my morale at a time when I was thinking that maybe this online selling thing wasn't going to work.  I sold it to a lovely and talented artist in Chicago.  I don't go out enough to need something like this, so I finally took it out of the pillowcase I'd been storing it in, and let someone else have at it.  With nary a bead out of place, this was an amazing find.  I've only seen one like it.

I found this huge, rugged and gorgeous doctor bag at a garage sale.  For $1.  I hated to part with it, but this is just the kind of quality vintage item I want to be associated with.  

After selling this extremely cool set of luggage, I saw the remake of the movie "Sparkle".  There was my set of luggage being loaded into a taxi.  I felt so legitimate!

This vintage adornment from a bridal gown.  I grabbed it as I was leaving an estate sale.  They told me to give them the one dollar that I was holding and call it even.  I experimented with placing it on a purse, a sweater...nothing quite worked.  I ended up selling it for a nice profit.  More importantly, some beautiful bride had an authentic vintage addition to her dress.  It was in pristine condition.

The sofa.  My first place, post-divorce was a lovely two-bedroom apartment.  The windows!  The floors!  The ceilings!  The crazy landlord!  I couldn't stay more than a year due to the latter, but it made for a great setting for hundreds of photos and really helped me advance my online presence.  Grateful.  This gorgeous couch also facilitated meeting my friend Ellie, a master upholsterer in Florida.  We bonded over this couch, the near-twin of one she had reupholstered.  Superb quality and style.  Perfect for this room.  I almost sold it, then had a change of heart.  It's in storage now, but I can't wait to find another "perfect" spot for it.  

My first pair of Prada shoes.  I know little about labels, but I knew that these shoes were special.  They ended up being too tight, so I sold them.  

My first vintage martini set.  It was in amazing condition, with the swizzle!  I sold it, and have continued to buy, collect and sell vintage barware ever since.  It it definitely one of my greatest pleasures.  I can hear the Playboy theme song every time I look at it.  I can see Hugh Hefner.  Eewww...

Tiffany perfume bottle.  Great story behind this company.  Lovely filigree sleeve, and it still smells good after 40 years.  SOLD.

A keeper.  This huge enamelware pot has been the home to many a soul food dinner.  I get happy just looking at it.  BTW, I got rid of all my cookware when I moved, then replaced it with vintage from the thrift store.  It fit perfectly into my vintage place, and my vintage budget.  And the food tastes better, I swear!

I bought this table at an estate sale for $5.  It has been decoupaged, tableclothed, and has served as my office, dining table and craft table over the past year.  I love this table.  I really do.  I did my taxes for the first time at this table.  

And that's ten!  And I am only into May!  I have another seven months of thrifting to sift through.  Stay tuned...