Thursdays are special to me, I wait all week for Thursday. The hours between 9-11.15 with no kids. I cram a lot in the 2 hours. Last week, I ran and did errands. The previous week, NK and I went out and had breakfast. Today, I went to a cafe, ordered a pancake,coffee and read for 30 mins.
The book, I just started
Then, I went across to Goodwill(I know I said, I am banned but then Thurs dont count). I found another one of these.
Its fits the Villeroy and Boch plates. $2.99
I then drove to my fav thrift store. And found these
Hidden under a stack of dishes. Badly tarnished with no price tag
The back..Badly tarnished
The heart shaped bowl was marked Laurel Mist IS and the the tray was marked Henley Made in England. I am not going to attach links because I am nice like that. There were no price tags. I threw them in my cart and went to pay. The cashier says $2.99 for the bowl and $8.99 for the tray. I said yes!
I then drove to pick Samar up and then Neil and we came home in the rain. Threw food at the boys and then rolled up my sleeves and took out my silver polish and a toothbrush. It took about 40 mins to clean the tray,because of the intricate flower detail on the handle. This is the after.
Beautiful right?
The bowl took me 10 minutes to clean.
I can see my reflection
And this is how I am planning on using them
I received an interesting email. She wanted to know what I do with my purchases. I go thrifting almost 2-3 times a week. When I buy something, I know what I am going to do with it. I almost always never buy something just because its pretty. There are many beautiful things at a thrift store but I cannot have them all. If you notice in my house pictures, almost everything I own is very functional. I dont have random wooden balls or potpourri or candles lying around.Now NK has a whole curio full of his craptreasures. He has a Limoges vase and some pottery crap pieces or the Hallmark doll things(I should do a post on his curio cabinet) . I dont buy those. Most of what I buy, I immediately put to use.
Gorgeous stuff yet again. I find my house here so bland and dull at this point, so need to spruce it up, bring on some colours….I am loving the way you are doing up your new place.
And yes, would love to know about NKs collection…. go on, tell me.
Me: I will make it my Monday post.:)
That was amazing – before and after pictures totally blew me away. You know how to find gems
Me: I have been researching silver stuff..:)
Wow, very creative!! I loved how you used the silver trays.. Are they sterling silver (I mean real?!?) by any chance???
Me: Sterling/Real silver.I think.Ther are both very solid, heavy pieces as well
You polished that and made it look like a 100 bucks thing
Awesome and ROFL at NK’s treasures…would love to see that as a post
you serve fruits with booze?
Me:Limes…to be squeezed… not fruits
The question you answered is something I’ve been thinking about too. I go to thrift stores and find stuff I think is really pretty like vintage china but only the thought that I have absolutely no use for it prevents me from buying it. But then I usually leave the store and think of good uses for stuff I saw before when it’s too late
So I need to work on my strategy.
Would love a post on NKs curio cabinet, men usually have interesting (read weird) taste in curios. My husband at one point wanted to buy souvenir dolls from different places we visited. Tacky!
Me: Men are weird. period. I try and resist the pull of beautiful but useless things. Try..sometimes I fail
Oooooh looove the idea of going to a cafe, having coffee and reading a book. So very relaxing na?
Me: It was. espcially since I dont need to cut up food for little people
Oh and to answer your question in your earlier post, my mom is SO totally fine about it. I explained to her what thrift stores were and then I showed her the pics on your blog. The stuff that you’ve bought over time. She went, “Wow!” and she immediately asked me to tell you to buy some similar stuff for her too. Haha
Me:rofl.
Love all your findings as always
, please put up a picture once each room is done…
And who would have thought that the tarnished tray would shine so nice! You’re good at this!
i am beyond all these emotions like jealousy and envy and hate!!
:p
great stuff yet again! and i am loving the way you fit everything! perfecto!
hugs
Wow! That was amazing! You do have a way of finding wonderful stuff! And your house looks lovely!
You are REALLY good at tis!! you have the ability to look past the usual dirt and bad condition of an item and spot its value !!!!!!!!!!!! You must do a post on your home and put pics of all the pretty stuff
I like that you are practical with an eye for the beautiful – and even better, the potentially beautiful. Good for you!
I didnt know such tarnished material can be polished to look like new. Well new with a vintage touch.
Super job, sraikh. I learnt something from this post.
And the tray is droooooooool worthy!
Pls post on NK’s curios
Me:I will do a post on his stuff soon, promise. And the tarnished silver. Isnt it amazing?
Throw food at the boys…..rofl!
The last para is the reason I admire you the most. Everything you buy has a purpose and place in your home unlike most people who buy something pretty and dont know where to use it ..This is one of the things I keep in mind these days while shopping for stuff other than clothes! Also my mom used to clean some of the silver stuff with toothpaste..Have a great weekend S!
Me: but see I dont have anything pretty. I look at the other blogs I read..and they have shiny birds, or old keys in a jar or beautiful things and I have NOTHING.
My silver needs polishing …. and I would love you know is where you got your polish from any tips on getting such fine results …
Me: I got Tarnix from Home Depot. I think Wrights is another polish I have seen some bloggers. It was very cathartic to be polishing.
Which thrift stores do you visit in the Bay area? Pray tell us!!
Me:Savers, Goodwill and St Vincent De Paul are my fav thrift stores. I am signed up on almost all of the local estate sale companies email list. They send me an email every week. I have a 10 mile radius for estate sales. Most weeks ,its 5 miles..:) I dont like driving far for an estate sale. Use yelp to find thrift stores..and craiglists to find estate sales. good luck
I love Savers in RWC. I don’t know if you look for clothes, but have you been to the Goodwill Boutique in Menlo Park? I’d love to get on the estate sale lists you’re on!
Me: Ohh I went there one Thursday.. The Goodwill and the Cancer society and another one in their downtown area. I didnt care much for them.. Way too $$
Take me WITH YOU!!!!!!
Me: I have been banned for the next 2 weeks.
Next time for sure.
wowww..they are beautiful
LOVE LOVE Love them!
Really dig the tray. Anyway, I have loads of rubbish at home and if anybody gives me anything I’ll still take it. I go by the idea that it may not be useful today but could be tomorrow.
Me:
Hate you!I’m so coming to shop with you when I visit the States;)..they are absolutely lovely and look so good on the drinks trolley…I presume those are limes/lemons-to be served with/in the drinks to answer one of your commenters..looking forward to the NK’s curio cabinet with pics;D
Me: yup. Limes, which I didnt cut because I wasnt making any drinks.
I think your next profession after being a mommy is interior decorator….how about “thrifty decorator” as your title. I LOVE IT! AND YES…I’m starting to HATE YOU!
Me: decorator and me. HA!
wowowow!!!!
of course, i hate you.
like P said, “you have the ability to look past the usual dirt and bad condition of an item and spot its value ”
damn damn damn
you make me feel so incompetent. :/
Me: You and incompetent dont belong in the same sentence