Friendly Bit of Advice #5: I'm About to Trick You

Bought: 30" x 36" Picture Frame
Price: $12
Place: ARF Thrift Store

I'm not tricking you on purpose.
That's a lie.
No it's not.
Yes it is.
Just kiddingjustkiddingjustkidding.


You're confused. Now we can just ignore the fact that you thought I got this Degas poster at a thrift store and point out instead that I got this frame which is a providential fit at the thrift store.

Backstory:
I was going through all of my mom's old pictures and posters, hoping for some unsuspected find, when I found this Degas poster.
Apparently, my parents had bought it for me back in 1989 when the Degas exhibition was showing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But alas, they kept putting off getting it framed.
Twenty-one years later...
It still wasn't framed but was just rolled up under my mom's bed.

So I decided, "Hey. This is MY poster. I want it in MY room. And I want it to be framed."

Idiot.

Come to find out, it was going to cost me almost $200 (WITH a 50% off coupon) to get it framed, since it apparently is some weird size.
Dear Framers...I hate you.

Well, I come home from a disappointing frame search, and my mom just casually mentions, "You know, down at the ARF store I saw a frame that looked like it was really close to that size and it was only $12."

Yeah right, mom. Like you can just eye-ball this poster and know the exact size. I'm so sure.

A few days later, I come home, and the frame is sitting in my room with another poster from a different exhibition at the Metropolitan still in it.

I popped open the back (found about a dozen spiders inside) and fit my poster in it.
Only 1/4" off on the sides. Like that's going to deter me.
Nearly perfect fit.
You can still see the other poster peeking out a bit from the sides, but it just looks like I meant for that to happen. (Which, duh, I like, totally did).

Fine, mom. You win this round.

Point:
Listen to your mother when it comes to picture frames.

Friendly Bit of Advice #4: Book It

Bought: Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
Price: $4.98
Place: Half Price Books

Today, dear reader.

Today is the day we expand our definition of thrift store.

Today is the day we turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the thrift store purists and purposefully irritate them by including used book stores in this blog.

We will not be stopped!

Today will be seized!


Back to the point.

I just started my Spring Quarter at school and, as usual, put off buying my books until I first checked the library, amazon.com, and Half Price Books for my ludicrously overpriced text books.

It is the latter location that we will be discussing today.

I know it's not a thrift store, but all of the books have been used and are sold at a discounted rate. Therefore, I'm including it.
What are you gonna do about it?

Here's the point:
There is absolutely no reason for you to ever buy a book new (unless it's a brand new edition or a workbook).

Reason 1: How many times are you going to read through it? Once? You're paying $30 for a book you're going to read once?

Reason 2: You sometimes find hidden little treasures in the books. Now I'm not referring to the chocolate-y goo on the front of my Understanding Comics. That was just disgusting-but also easily removed.




"I, Mrs. Louis Fucci give my permission for Maureen, my daughter, to have her hair colored by Revlon Products."

Mrs. Louis Fucci







Bought: The Holy Barbarians by Lawrence Lipton (Yes, that is James Lipton's father).
Price: $12
Place: Alibris










In conclusion...












You never know when you could get a free Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut.
And before you even ask, yes, I was part of Book It. And yes, I do still have my- not one, but two- buttons somewhere. And yes, that feeling welling from deep within you is jealousy.

I guarantee that buying some used books will make you feel better. If that doesn't help, try buying a Pizza Hut pizza.
I'm just saying...

Friendly Bit of Advice #3: Cut Loose, Footloose

Bought: Shoes
Price: <$10 except the heeled Candies boots Place: Goodwill, Pleasant Hill; Anna's Attic; Goodwill, Concord; Good Samaritan Thrift Store, San Diego; Salvation Army, Concord (R.I.P.)

Today, we're going to talk about the one most terrifying thrift store item.

No, not the undergarment. We're going to pretend that those don't even exist there. There is absolutely no way I would ever look at those, much less touch them. And buying them would be an early sign of a brain aneurysm.

The Shoe.

I know. Don't be scared.

The Shoe is like the Holy Grail or the Lost Ark (or any other Biblical artifact that has since been turned into a mainstream movie title) of the thrift store.
Most people don't get rid of their shoes, unless they're completely worn out, making The Shoe search more difficult.

So in true Monty Python and Indiana Jones fashion, let's turn this into a scavenger hunt.

1. Find The Shoe that is in style.

2. It's in style? See if it fits. If it doesn't, place back on the rack and go back to step 1.
Cinderella Step-Sister-Like behavior is generally frowned upon.

3. It fits? Find its mate. If you can't, place back on the rack and go back to step 1 or ask an employee for assistance.

4. It's in style, it fits, and "it" is now a "they"?! Check the price. Depending on the uniqueness and quality of the shoe, place back on the rack if it's over $10.

5. Fend off anybody else who is eying your shoes. View other customers as enemy scavenger hunt competitors who will potentially take you down if you find one of their items. Tuck your find under your arm and sprint for the cash register. Unnecessary roughness will be flagged and may result in expulsion from the hunt, so be sure to barrel someone over only if the ref has his eyes closed.

6. Oh no... You're not finished yet. High-tail it home, and whip out your disinfectant spray. Take your shoes outside and spray those suckers off until you just about can't breathe with all the toxins in the air. Leave outside to dry.

7. Do a victory dance, for you have won the hunt! Gloating optional, but generally encouraged.
Example:
Scavenger Hunt Completion Party

Friendly Bit of Advice #2: Don't Get Pigeonholed

Bought: Four vintage suitcases
Price: $25 for the set
Store: Teen Challenge, Concord

There's more than just outdated clothes at thrift stores. Oh sorry. Let's be politically correct. "Vintage Shops."

Keep your eyes (and your mind) open for unique pieces with which to decorate. I've found incredible things in the home section (just walk straight past the used silverware without stopping to think about whose filthy lips were on those) that I wouldn't have been able to find anywhere else!

Being extremely narcissistic, I love buying one-of-a-kind pieces. And where else can you get those cheap than a thrift...mmm..."vintage" store?

Correct answer: Nowhere.

Friendly Bit of Advice #1: Be Brave

Bought: Pleated Skirt
Price: Under $8
Store: Goodwill, Concord


I don't know what stage of thrifting you're starting at, but as a general rule of thumb, in order to get some amazing buys, you need to actually get your booty out there and shop!

I know there tends to be a tarnished stigma surrounding thrift stores.

They're dirty! And foul! And rodent infested!

Let's not be ridiculous.

There are actually some really clean stores out there! Little known fact: most people wash their clothes before passing them on to the thrift store of their choice. And more importantly, you can always wash whatever you buy!

As a matter of fact, I would highly recommend it, even insist on it.


So... Friendly Bit of Advice #1...Be Brave!


And bring hand sanitizer with you.

Here's What I'm Thinking...

I've been shopping at thrift stores as long as I can remember. Way before vintage became cool again. Plus, I've been getting complimented on things that I've found at thrift stores for just as long. But one of the things that I've also found is that a lot of people struggle with finding amazing things when they go thrifting for themselves(the term I will use henceforth for the act of thrift store shopping).

So I've decided the best way to address this is a blog detailing some of my own personal thrifting guidelines. I'm also going to be adding pictures of some of my favorite finds, mostly clothes, but maybe even some of the bizarre things that I just couldn't resist getting.

So...let's see how this goes!

Kelly

pas-tiche. n.

pas·tiche (pā-stēsh', pä-)
noun
1. A dramatic, literary, or musical piece openly imitating the previous works of other artists, often with satirical intent.

2. A pasticcio of incongruous parts; a hodgepodge.

3. A blog focused on the hodgepodge of wealth found at thrift stores, often with satirical intent.