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Time for a Thrift Store Photo Extravaganza!
Josh and I found ourselves at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore thrift store in Las Cruces, New Mexico, over the holidays. I seriously can’t believe all the good stuff we saw! I’m a big-time browser, so none of this actually came home with me… I just wanted to preserve the magic and share some of it with y’all!
“Harmony Time with the Chordettes” record – I totally love this vintagey super simple art style! Reminds me of Mary Blair. Which reminds me, I took a bunch of pics at Disneyland’s Mary Blair art show last November that I never shared with you. That’s a set of pics for another time.
“Dad is another name for caring” needlepoint – Unfortunately, not enough caring to hang onto this handmade present. I told that joke to Josh and he shook his head, saying it probably belonged to an older gentleman that passed away. Then I felt bad about myself. Thanks a lot, Josh. Thanks a lot.
Clapboard Snack Tin – Lights, cameras, SNACKIN!!!! What kind of marker would you use on the side of this metal tin that would be visible on the black ground, but not permanent so you could change the scene and director info for each snacking opportunity? I would fill this thing with Everlasting Gobstoppers and write that we were filming a scene from Willy Wonka one day, and fill it with cotton candy for a filming of a remake of Killer Klowns from Outer Space the next!
“I have some tiki torches in the garage…”
I’m not kidding guys. Don’t mess with the ReStore computer. They mean bizzznezzzz.
Used Espresso Maker – True story, Josh and I actually discussed buying this thousand dollar secondhand fancy coffee maker so we could open our own coffee shop. I just crunched the numbers, and if we had actually bought it just to make mocha lattes for my weekly Fancy Coffee Fridays, in 4.8 years it’d pay for itself. That is actually… a little scary.
Vintage Santa Statue – Maybe he’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybelline. (It’s totally Maybelline. I’m sensing a hint of Volum Express on them eyes.)
Assorted Wood and Melamine boards – Here’s where the ReStore thrift store threw me for a loop. They’ve got a whole section of building supplies. “Well yeah,” Josh said, “It’s a Habitat for Humanity store. They build houses.” This is freaking amazing. I just looked it up, there’s a ReStore in Garden Grove and Santa Ana!!! I’m totally going. I’m TOTALLY going.
Vintage Bathroom Sinks – I’ve got nothing witty to say about these. We just like vintage sinks. The end.
Vintage Reel to Reel Machine of Some Sort – The coolest thing you can do when you’re designing a product is to find a way to make it into a face. Remember that American Express commercial where all the stuff had faces? I love that commercial.
Vintage Telephone Headset – I’m pretty sure I need one of these so I can look totally legit at Hearts and Laserbeams headquarters.
Jar of Random Nuts and Bolts – I totally get why you’d give this to a thrift store. I just don’t understand why you’d buy it from a thrift store. Thoughts?
Vintage Camera Graveyard – I found out the Polaroid camera I bought on eBay a few years back for $10 is now worth $15. If I keep it ’til I’m 65 I could totally retire on how much I’m guessing it’ll be worth by then. ($850,000)
Jug of Mrs. Butterworth’s Syrup – The logo’s outdated and the contents are a mystery. In any case, the expiration date is most rearuredly long gone. I’m gonna suggest you pass on this one.
Vintage Stuffed Toy – Time to start shopping for Phil for next Xmas!
Container of Random Rulers – I’m not sure why I find this rag-tag bunch of rulers so funny… I’ve never really seen rulers at a thrift store before. Check out that Anistasia ruler front and center – I do love the idea of buying a bunch of personalized stuff that belonged to people with different names than me. I was out thrifting with Jenn in Wisconsin once and found an old bowling ball with the name “Florence” etched into it. And the finger-holes fit my hand perfectly, like we were meant to bowl together. It’s one of the thrift store finds I didn’t buy that I still regret not bringing home. Wah wah wahhhhhhh.
Box of Lou’s Hats – Please only purchase if your name is also Lou. Thank you, The Management.
Slightly Used Bedpan – It’s like underwear – always buy new. You just don’t purchase your bedpan at a thrift store. Also, guess what Jenn’s getting for her birthday!
It’s your turn – what’s the best thing you ever found at a thrift store? Would you buy a thrift store bedpan? What the heck was that stuffed animal all about?
Freelance illustrator Steph Calvert is an award-winning artist with 24 years of experience working as a creative professional. She is based in McDonough, Georgia, just south of Atlanta.
Steph Calvert has expertise as a children’s book illustrator. She is an expert surface pattern designer for art licensing and creates line drawings for publishing and product design. Steph has years of additional expertise as a mural artist, creating original art, and logo design for small businesses. She is currently querying literary agents with her first author/illustrator book projects.
Writing CLIENTS INCLUDE
Moonfrye.com
OC Weekly
Educational Highlights
National SCBWI Conference, 2023
Illustration Summer Camp – The Highlights Foundation, 2021
Make Art That Sells, 2017
BFA in Computer Art – SCAD, 1999
21 responses to “Time for a Thrift Store Photo Extravaganza!”
That was really fun! I think a jar of random nuts and bolts might get bought by someone who’s always tinkering around in the garage. You know, to have!
The best thing I found recently was in-box trays. Office supplies are expensive here, and these were three matching ones in an awesome orange-y yellow!
Thanks, Virginia! After I wrote this, I remembered my friend Shari’s Nuts and Bolts box tutorial… You could totally pick up some nuts and bolts for that!
http://bonnindesigns.blogspot.com/2011/12/nuts-and-bolts-box-diy.html
Totally hear ya about the office supplies… I saw a sort of organizational wall rack thing that’d be good for papers, but travellin’ by car means a limited amount of packing space so I had to pass this time around.
AH! Now I regret you not bringing home Florence’s bowling ball! I love walking through thrift stores. The one in Santa Ana was near where I used to work but I never went in. I def have to go now. Anyway, this post reminded me of my current favorite show, American Pickers.
The producer of a festival I worked for had a bowling ball garden by her front porch. There were about 8 to 10 balls that had been collected by her husband, and they had ‘planted’ them in a planter area on the raised porch, and then ‘mulched’ with white rocks. Definitely a conversation starter.
Kristin, I love American Pickers! That’s the one with the two dudes that drive around trying to pick up people’s old stuff to sell, right? If you make it to the ReStore in Santa Ana soon, totally let me know! I want details! Is it as rad as the New Mex one? Typically I get kinda disappointed with thrift stores around here. If it’s got a good selection, it’s overpriced because vintage is hip in SoCal. If it’s got good prices, it’s really picked over. I’d love to find a good solid thrift store with selection AND good prices!
Christine, I kind of really love the idea of a bowling ball garden. Or any kind of object garden like that! I’d add some of those little garden markers to let you know what each “plant” was, and every one would say the same thing for comedy.
I have seen that exact telephone headset at four or five different thrift stores across Kentucky and Ohio. This picture confirms my suspicion that it is actually a supernatural being, listening over the good people of Goodwill and ReStore. ReStore is the best.
Aahahahahahahha! There’s a few things I always see at thrift stores – one of em is a crearette tape version of Wilson Philips’ debut album, with songs like “Hold On” and “Release Me” on it. I’d see it so often, I made up a national holiday! I haven’t celebrated Wilson Philips day in years, but the idea is you search your local thrift store for a copy of that tape, and when you find one you wrap it as a present and give it to a friend on January 31.
This might be the year to bring that holiday back, folks.
OMG, there’s a ReStore in our new neighborhood. I hadn’t ventured in yet, because I thought I might buy things. This post just confirms that thought. I would buy many things. You are much stronger than I am…
Mel. Stop resisting. That store is magic. When you go, report back!!
This post is fabulous. I love the rearortment of randomness you can find at thrift stores. There’s a shop up the street from me (across from the most Harlequin-crowded used-book store ever) with great window displays and even greater finds inside.
Truth be told, around the house, I occasionally still wear a sweatshirt I bought at a thrift store for $0.50 in 1995. Now, that’s cost-per-wear.
NICE! One of the best things I’ve actually brought home from a Salvation Army was a 50s era mint green shirtdress for $5. It doesn’t fit right now cuz I’m still a little fluffy from havin Phil last year, but I’m hanging on to it in hopes it’ll fit again someday.
No wait! The best thing I found was an orange Naugahyde stewardess-looking flight bag in amazing condition that was only 70 cents! AND it was an orange sticker, and orange stickers were half off that day!
My name isn’t Lou, but I’ll get at least one of those hats if it’s the last thing I do! This was awesome!
Jen, I’ve called the store and they’ve put all Lou’s hats on hold for you! (kidding) (but not really)
Oh yes. Wilson Philips day. We’ve never had the day, but we are going to break free and make a change here in Lexington, KY. Adding it to my google calendar now.
Steph it was love at first sight when I saw that they were individually wrapped in plastic, so you know they’re completely sanitary. That’s like getting a hat previously owned by a bald guy: Lice-free, guaranteed!
The bed pan, on the other hand…
Oh, and to answer the actual question: I am always on the lookout for the big bulky Step 2 / Little Tykes outdoor stuff for my kids! Steal!
Ok Agatha, I sleuthed around the site (or typed the word wilson in the search box), and I found a list of 100 famous dudes I was into like 8 years ago.
I also found two posts about Wilson Phillips day to get you nice and caught up – enjoy!
http://www.stephcalvertart.com/2004/01/14/407/
http://www.stephcalvertart.com/2004/01/31/420/
Jen, I’m bustin a gut over here. I have made a new New Years Resolution. “Only buy used hats from bald guys.” Crossing “buy hats from smelly guy with dreads” off the list at the same time.
Ahhhh, finally another more graphic, aesthetic blog at NaBloPoMo! Nice to see you here.
In San Francisco, we have SCRAP, which is a clearinghouse similar to this. So many great architectural samples, fabrics, wood, toys, anything and everything. One time we FILLED our trunk with reusable goods for only $11.00! I’ve never heard of ReStore, I’ll have to google it.
I built my daughter a dollhouse ONLY from items from SCRAP, and it was published at Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh. That was fun!
Super awesome, Tiffanie – I wish there were more awesome thrift stores like Scrap! You should share your Ohdeedoh feature, I’d love to see it!
P.S. I love the word awesome.
Hi again! Here’s the link to our “dollhouse from scrap” from the blog (a link to the Ohdeedoh article is at the top of the post. Thanks for letting me share!
http://bloggingcornerblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/building-dollhouse-from-scrap.html
I also just noticed your notes about Mary Blair above. Love her work, found this great pillowcase on Etsy for my daughter that is inspired by her, if not designed by her:
http://bloggingcornerblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/little-gifts.html
We were at Disneyland in October and I’m still kicking myself for not picking up a souvenir of her work. Are you familiar with Draw Pilgrim? That designer/blogger is super-influenced by her. Nice stuff!