20 Things I Look for at Thrift Stores

~ Chastity Eads

20-things-i-look-for-at-thrift-storesHappy Wednesday Friends!

 A few days ago I shared how to make candles using vintage containers. Even though I spend a lot of time at home in the Winter one thing I still love to get out and do on a regular basis is visit my favorite thrift stores.  When searching for items I am usually looking for items to buy for decorating my own home,  for supplying my Etsy shop, and for prepping for a local vintage sale. Throughout the entire year whether I a shopping at a thrift store, yard sale, or flea market I tend to gravitate to some of the same things.

Here is a list of what I look for when shopping second hand:

1.) Paint by Number Paintings

20 Things I Look for at Thrift Stores

2.) Unique or Chunky Frames

20 Things I Look for at Thrift Stores

3.) Beautiful Ironstone or Transferware

20 Things I Look for at Thrift Stores

4.) Pretty Quilts
5.) Doilies
6.)Colored Glass Canisters
20 Things I Look for at Thrift Stores
7.)Waterscape Paintings

20 Things I Look for at Thrift Stores

8.) Old Books

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9.) Unique Architectural Spindles 

Both  {THIS} project & {THIS} project were made from some of my found spindles and furniture pieces.

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10.) Small Side Tables & Stools

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11.) Hanging Shelves and Organizers

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12.) Unique Mugs and Pottery

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13.) Old Cabinet Doors for Upcycling Projects

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14.) Vintage Colorful Planters

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15.) Colorful Plates

I created a Vintage Plate Wall in a corner of our home {HERE} and shared some ideas for vintage plate wall combinations {HERE}.

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16.) Old Cameras

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17.) Colorful Glassware

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18.) Old Chairs

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19.) Unique Canisters

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20.) Anything I can put a fresh coat of paint on!

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What do you gravitate towards while buying second hand?

Thank you for stopping by!

I am sharing this post at…

 DIY Show Off – A Stroll Thru Life – Home Stories A to Z – Savvy Southern Style

Colors and Craft – Tatertots & Jello – Pierced Pastimes

Nifty Thrifty Things – Finding Silver Pennies – The Crafted Sparrow – Snap Creativity

Ginger Snap Crafts –Seeking Lavender Lane  – Skip to My Lou – Homework

Making It In The Mountains – Joy In Our Home – Live Laugh Rowe

Worthing Court – Design Dining Diapers – White House Crafts

Redo It Yourself Inspirations – Small Home Soul – The SITS Girls

One More Time – Denise Designed – The Crafting Nook

50 thoughts on “20 Things I Look for at Thrift Stores”

  1. I am loving all of your finds. I keep saying I am going to start thrifting, this has for real inspired me 🙂

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  2. You know the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” You’ve found some wonderful treasures. Thanks for sharing. (visiting from Waste not Wednesday)

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  6. Wow, these are all great things! I usually stick to looking specifically for books, and then I just wander around to see what I find. I have picked up some great paintings and side tables though!

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  8. The upcycled time card racks in the last picture is a brilliant idea! Unpainted, those racks are ugly and plain. Painted they are whimsical and wonderful! They are pretty common too. People just overlook them 🙂 Stopping by from the SITS sharefest.

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  9. I really admire how you can see beyond what it is to what you could make it be; I wish my ‘eye’ were a little more developed in this area!
    I came to visit through Nifty Thrifty bloghop; I hope you’ll take a moment to visit me at the 4Shoes & let me know you’ve been. Another site I wish you’d PLEASE visit is about a missing child; keeping her story alive in the eyes of the public (who hopefully share the WITWIK story also) is the only way this Mum may every see her abducted child again http://www.where-in-the-world-is-kaydance.jigsy.com

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  10. I always have a list of things to look for when I go to the thrift store. I start at the books and look for ones about the region where we live, then the cookbooks, cooking utensils and cookware, dishes, hats (some unique ones from our town), and anything special I’m looking for. It took a few months, but I found a nice tripod form my camera for $5 rather than the $100 new price. Worth waiting for. – Margy

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    1. I love finding fabric at thrift stores too! I can’t remember when I bought curtains for our home brand new. I have quite the collection of fabric stacked for pillow making in the near future. Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. Love, love, love the things you look for! They are pretty much exactly what I am always on the hunt for as well 😉 There are just so many great things at thrift stores that get over looked. Thanks for linking this up to the Inspiration Galore Project Party this week. i will be sharing it on my facebook page. Have a lovely day and keep thrifting 😉

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  15. I am also interested in how you painted the time card holder. I picked one up for the fact that it would hold so many vintage postcards, and other ephemera that I love. What was your painting technique?
    Thank you. Debbie

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  16. Thank you for the great ideas, Chas! It looks like you have certainly gotten some great finds.
    Thank you for sharing this week at Brag About It link party on VMG206 (Mondays at Midnight). I plan to feature you next week!
    ~ Megin of VMG206

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  26. Great list, Chas–glad I “stumbled” on your blog via Tutorials and Tips link party. We’d love it if you’d consider linking up at our party, Vintage Charm, Thursdays at 8 am. You can find it at Adirondack Girl @ Heart.

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  29. First time to visit your blog … love what you look for while thrifting. Love the old green chair and how you have used the vintage ceiling fixture for candle holders with your colored grass and grapevine pumpkins. I have some like that and they make beautiful candle holders. Coming over from Waste No Wednesday.

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  32. Pingback: Waste Not Wednesday #35 - a Linky Party - Small Home Soul

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