When I was thrifting in Elk River a month or so ago, this fancy, patterned skirt caught my eye. Despite the length, something about the gold and black buttons and bright nautical print, complete with anchors, rope and flags made me say “Yes please!”
To make it shorter without hemming, I hike it up to my pits and rock it as a strapless dress. I wind up wearing this to work a fair amount. I’m not sure what magical properties the fabric has, but it doesn’t wrinkle, which means I can pull it out from under a heap of clothes in my closet, throw it on and not have to fuss with my steamer or iron. Score!
Anyway, it’s been quite a day, and I’m excited to stroll around Lake Nokomis with Miss Jamie Rose, who’s currently enjoying her last week as a “miss.” Honestly, I think I’m more excited about her wedding on Saturday then she as it this point. I can’t wait!!
I thought I’d share this little Tumblr I discovered this week, Salvation Army Thrift Store Gold. Devoted to showcasing thrifted treasures from Salvation Army stores across the country, this site is sure to invoke all kinds of “I-wish-I-found-that” envy.
Here are some of my favorite finds.
A 99 cent Polaroid camera that works? Win!
This blonde Heywood Wakefield coffee table is a total score. Puppies by this famous mid-century brand retail for $750! See?
This youngster, in his thrifted jacket and sideways smile, is so cute.
I love thrifting at Salvation Armies (as evidenced here, here and here), and thoroughly enjoyed nerding out over other folks’ finds. You can help this fledgling blog gain momentum by submitting your Salvation Army-found treasures here.
On Saturday my pal Mary & I trekked up Highway 169 to Elk River (about 40 minutes from Minneapolis) to do a little thrifting. I should’ve known that the floating balloon bouquet was a harbinger of good things to come.
At the balloons, we took a right and then a left and wound up here…
and had some crazy luck. To start, the shop is huuuuge. My boyfriend expert source told me that the building used to house a grocery store (Ron’s Foods to be specific). And it is not picked over. Like at all. Lastly, the prices are more reasonable than the Salvation Armies in the cities.
After an hour, my cart was very happy.
I hauled home:
– a bevvy of beautiful dresses to sell
– a couple tea tins for the future Mrs. Smith’s wedding reception
– two pairs of vintage shades
– a puzzle of Sweden (in Swedish, no less)
– a sweet ’90s button down which I’ve unfortunately already spilled both baked beans & Thai food on (go Meghan!)
-a cozy vintage wool vest from Sears
-a new Merona tweed skirt with gold thread (GOLD!)
-a button-front skirt I intend to wear as a strapless dress
– an embroidered Guatemalan jacket my mom will love love love
I find myself at this Salvation Army more than any other in the Twin Cities solely because the travel time from when I turn the lock in my back door to arriving at the store’s front door is approximately three minutes. When I need a quick thrifting fix, as I frequently do, but don’t have a lot of time, also an all-too-often occurrence, this is my spot.
I go here for the basics—clothes hangers (5 for $1), bed frames ($15 for a twin frame for my guest room)—and keep my expectations for finding anything else low. I browse the clothes, jewelry, dishes and bric-brac, but rarely find anything too exciting. Like most other area Salvation Army thrifts, this store stocks a moderate amount of never-been-worn Merona, Xhilaration, Converse One Star and Liz Lange, i.e. Target store brands.
The service is standard, but there’s a lovely new woman who started in the past month, who I’ve found to be very sweet and helpful. In terms of sales, every Friday and Saturday, the store offers dollar days, when all clothing with the weekly tag sale color are $1 each. (Offer does not include shoes or accessories.)
Here’s one of my favorite finds from this shop. Boy did I wear the crap out of this poncho this winter! It’s so warm and I love the rounded brass buttons. Pictured in it is the lovely Mary. She was over one night, got cold, threw it on and then, busted a move. Which of course, I had to document. I think I paid $3.99 for this fringed green and gold beauty.
Vintage Wool Poncho
Go here to find: Your thrift-store basics. Serviceable kitchen goods, sometimes decent furniture, average clothing and shoes. I recall that they had a healthy selection of Christmas items, both new and vintage. They also seem to keep a nice stock of bicycles, both for children and adults, many of them of the older, awesome variety.
Selection/Variety:♥ ♥
Quality:♥ ♥
Pricing:♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Organization:♥ ♥ ♥
Customer service:♥ ♥
Cleanliness: ♥ ♥ ♥
Do they take credit cards? Yep!
While you’re there: In terms of dining, Shorty & Wag’s is across the street and Cocina Latina is next door. Anodyne Coffeehouse is also a hop-and-a-skip south on Nicollet. Drinking wise, you could go to Casey’s. We are talking about south, meaning it’s a beer bar. They have fancy stuff on tap, but Casey’s is not for me, ’cause I can’t stomach beer out of plastic bottles, unless I’m on a boat. In which case, I don’t care, because I’m probably exceptionally happy. Because I’m on a boat.
Shopping-wise, B Squad Vintage is a scant three blocks north up Nicollet, if you feel like shelling out a few more Jacksons for your vintage goodies. This store perpetually stocked with lovely vintage finds, including a reliable selection of dresses, vinyl, T-shirts, et al.
Where it is: 3740 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis
Hours: Monday through Friday,9 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Contact: 612.822.1200
I hope your Tuesday has treated you well. I’m not sure if it was the 3 a.m. thunder or my late afternoon Doubleshot that kept me up last night, but I most definitely didn’t get enough sleep. (Since when I can I not drink coffee past 4 p.m., btw?) Tonight’s plans include [drumroll please] cleaning out my fridge, putting away laundry (story of my life) and paying some bills. I know, I know, so rock ‘n’ roll.
Speaking of that, I melt for this rehearsal take of “If Not For You.” It’s not George’s beard or Bob’s denim-on-denim ‘fit (both are awesome), but it’s just the sweetest little song. And, I’m a sucker for outtakes, B-sides and rehearsal footage of any kind. Anyway, watch & melt. Unless, you know, you have no heart.
Here’s a super quick and easy how-to for my fellow vintage luggage lovers out there. I hope you enjoy it! (This tutorial covers how to spruce up plastic-exterior luggage. Leather luggage is another beast, to be tackled at another time.)
Step 1: Find a piece of vintage luggage you love. It’s hard to pass through any thrift store’s luggage section without peeping a piece or two that’s worthy of some tender love and care.
I found this 1970s-era Samsonite train case at the bottom of a box of $1 luggage at Burnsville’s Salvation Army, with the original tray and everything. Don’t you love the milky white color?
Step 2: Step outside, open your suitcase and shake that sucker out. If it’s really dusty or dirty inside, break out your vacuum and suck the gunk out with the hose attachment.
Step 3: Assemble your cleaning supplies: Mr. Clean Magic Erasers, window cleaner (J.R. Watkins’ Window Cleaner smells so good), paper towels or rags.
Step 4: Wet your magical eraser and give it a good squeeze. Get to work on scrubbing away the scuffs, stains and other blemishes that old luggage is bound to be blessed with. Once you’ve given your piece a good working over, dry it off with a clean rag.
If you’re sprucing up a train case, clean the interior mirror with glass cleaner. I’m partial to J.R. Watkin’s Window Cleaner—it smells divine. Window cleaner also works well on shining up the hardware.
Step 5: Wipe down interior with clean, damp rag or paper towel. Dry!
Step 6: Give the inside a little sniff test. Smells okay? Skip to step 8. Smells like grandma’s attic? Go to step 7.
Step 7: Freshening up the scent of the interior is easy. Get together baking soda, some lavender essential oil and a small dish.
Mix a couple tablespoons of baking soda with a few drops of lavender essential oil in the dish. Place the mixture in your cleaned out luggage and close it in there.
Leave it shut for a day or two, and the grandma’s attic odor should have disappeared. I’ve also read you can use a car air-freshener in the same manner, but I usually hate the way those stink smell, so I prefer to go the all-natural route.
Step 8: Enjoy your clean & fresh vintage luggage! What you do with it is up to you.
Photos by Louisa.
high plains thrifter 