DC Big Flea

A while back, Ed and I found out there was going to be a big flea market coming to our area (DC Big Flea). There was an entrance fee, but since there aren't any regular flea markets around here we decided to go for it.

Surprisingly we didn't find a whole lot, but you really never know with this type of thing. Being in a more populated area, prices were higher and the goods weren't all in our taste - but that's fine!! We had fun perusing anyway.

Also worth noting: my idea of a flea market is a bunch of random people trying to have their own little yard sale on one table or area each. This one was more like an antique store with many vendors.

I found this awesome brass kangaroo - complete with joey! I'm always expanding my brass animal collection, and any time I find a unique one I get really excited. The price was right and she was mine!

I just thought this looked really cute - I love pressed flowers and things from nature. Usually that kind of stuff is expensive, but this one was on a clearance shelf so I was all over it.

After we got home I realized that these two decorations match really well, so they're now displayed together! I normally put my brass animals together, but I'm starting to put newer ones in their own locations instead. (Does this mean I have too many?)

Hopefully we'll find a decent flea market eventually, but this was fun to check out!

Happy Thrifting!

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Joy is Thrifting

I don't have any new photos, but upon cleaning out my computer I've discovered a few series of photos I had previously taken for this blog (and never got to posting).

Unfortunately it's been so long since I got these items that I'm not 100% positive where they're all from anymore, but I will do my best!

If I remember correctly, this one comes from the Salt Mine Thrift Shop in Lincoln, CA (I'm totally guessing right now). There was usually a shelving unit with items like this lined up like books that I loved sifting through. The cool part about this particular item is that my birthday is actually in June :)

I believe I got this ship tile from a yard sale. I haven't added this one to my wall since the color is a bit brighter, but I'll find a spot for it one day!

I got this at a church yard sale/carnival in New Jersey with a few of my friends from college (awesome, right?!) It was one of those "fill a box or bag for a set price" kind of deals. We laughed at the quote on the bottom but for some reason I just really wanted this haha.

Happy Thrifting!

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My Wall: Part 2 & 3

Once upon a time, I wrote up a post about my wall. And since that post, we've moved a few times. I've since set up my wall twice - two different ways.

If you're just catching up now, I'll do a little recap:

I have a collection of hanging wall decorations that I like to hang all together. I just love the look of having a collage of semi-matching things up on the wall. A lot of these end up being owls or nautical themed, but it can really be anything as long as it looks nice together.

This is the current setup of my wall. It's in our living room above the couch. I stopped hanging stuff as it reached a closed shape. I have more items that I might add eventually, but I will only do so if it doesn't look unfinished at the end. That was what I didn't like about the original spot - it never looked finished.

This was at one of our previous apartments - in the bedroom. (Low quality photo, taken on my iPod touch.) I noticed this open wall space above the closet doors and thought it would be perfect for my decorations. I love how it turned out up there. As you can see I have a lot more of them hanging in this space.

So far, in each apartment I've set up my stuff in a different spot. First the den, then the bedroom, and now the living room. Who knows where it'll be once we have a house of our own!

I normally mention where everything was from, but I have smaller posts for the individual items, some of which I've posted and some I have yet to photograph. Everything was thrifted, though!

Happy Thrifting!

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On the House

In January, Ed and I moved into our current apartment. As many of you may know, moving is a hassle, and everything kind of stays in boxes for a while since you just want to get back to normal life instead of unpacking forever. That's exactly how our move went anyway, and once we got all of our boxes into the apartment we decided to reward ourselves by making a stop at one of our favorite local antique stores. Yes, after complaining about all the stuff we have, we got more stuff.

After perusing a while, we each found one thing that we wanted. It was perfect - just a little something for each of us. When we went up to the register, we made conversation with the lady who owned the place. She knew that we were regular customers, and she felt bad that we were waiting outside while she picked her kid up from school (we didn't mind at all). When she rang each of us up, she ended up giving us the items on the house! She was so nice and it was such a cute surprise. Our gifts to ourselves ended up actually being gifts from her!

My pick was this brass frog - of course to add to my brass animal collection. His pose just makes me giggle!

Ed picked out this sailor because it reminds him of / looks like his dad.

We recently made the trip over to this antique store (Route 65 Trading Post), but were disappointed to find that it wasn't there anymore. We couldn't believe it! It was a great location, even though we don't live in that town anymore. I hopped online and searched for their website and found that they still exist, but they just moved to another town. Phew! We'll hopefully be stopping by soon.

Happy Thrifting!

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Antique Trove Sale

Last weekend, Ed and I busied ourselves with lots of thrifting adventures. It started out by just being a morning of estate sales - but after seeing signs for yard sales, stopping at the thrift store, and then seeing a huge red SALE sign at the Antique Trove - it turned into much more of an adventure. Add some Mexican food into the mix and fireworks at the end of the day, and you've got one amazing Saturday.

We didn't find much all day until we got to the Antique Trove. We were actually on our way home, but that sale sign caught my eye and we turned around.

We picked up a few treasures - all of which matched well for a little blog photoshoot. 

When Ed picked this one up to check the price, we double and triple checked it. It was the cheapest thing we ever found at the trove! Obviously he already liked it, so that sealed the deal. A great find!

1. We love globes/maps. 2. We love books. 3. We love secret hiding places. This couldn't be more perfect for us. It's in great condition, too!

I found the perfect addition to my brass animal collection!! These are just so cute. I found them right before we were about to check out and I'm so happy I spotted them. 

It usually ends up that you find the coolest stuff when you didn't plan on shopping in the first place!

Happy Thrifting!

x

Hex Signs

I am a huge fan of Pennsylvania Dutch Folk art. I grew up in a rural area of Pennsylvania and used to see hex signs on barns and in my own family's houses. I was always a bit more intrigued by it since it's also my heritage. Over the years I would look at the art at different festivals and in library books, and I'd end up getting little knickknacks with the art on them. However, I never had an actual hex sign until my friend Catie got me 4 of them as a gift.

As far as I remember, she told me they were from a yard sale (I've since acquired more of a collection, but a lot of them are from my mom who bought them in a store in Lancaster County).

Each sign has a meaning behind it, but the general theme is for good luck.

Most of them are by the artist Jacob Zook. And as with any collection, I'm always on the lookout for more and different ones I haven't seen before!

Happy Thrifting!

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Brass Animals Part 2

Here are a few more pieces from my collection of brass animals:

This pelican comes from the Route 65 Trading Post. It was part of the bunch I got from Ed on Christmas 2012.

This frog is also part of that bunch mentioned above.

I can't quite remember for sure, but I think I got this pair of deer from Goodwill.

This rabbit is yet another one from the Route 65 Trading Post Christmas gift. I love how it's perfectly balanced!

If you wanted to see the first bunch of brass animals I posted, click here :) I don't have a whole lot of info with this post since it's a continuation of a previous one, but as always if you have any questions don't hesitate to leave them in the comments!

Happy Thrifting!

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Ships

Ed and I stumbled upon this trio of ship paintings at the Antique Trove. We thought they were going to be expensive - most things there are a bit pricey - but they were reasonable!

We had them hanging above our TV at our old apartment, but now that we're at a new place, we decided to switch it up and hang them above the couch this time. (photos taken at our old place)

The larger piece is a little damaged but we don't mind - they're still awesome!

We get a lot of small hanging decorations, but these are nice big pieces that really pull the room together!

Happy Thrifting!

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