modern thrifter
I love beautiful things and thoughtful design. I also live in one of the most expensive cities in the country, and our family lives off a single income so that I can be at home with our kids. Patience and persistence have been the key to finding stylish things on a tight budget.
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2 posts tagged dansk
![[ LABOR DAY DEALS ]
Most thrift stores around the country are known to have big sales on holidays like Labor Day and Memorial Day, and Goodwill is no exception. Over the years, I’ve tended to skip sale days because of the huge crowds, but I still had a few things for the kids’ fall wardrobes that I was missing, I decided to give it a try again.
Like I had anticipated, parking was hard to come by, people were crammed into the aisles like sardines, and most of the shelves had been picked over. Thankfully, I was able to find a jacket for Tula, which was my main reason for stopping in. There weren’t any other big finds for the day, but I managed to come home with a few small goodies that made up for fighting the crowds and the fifteen minute wait in the checkout line.
First, I found a vintage Wing Lee Wai ceramic liquor decanter. I don’t think these bottles are worth more than $10-$15, but I only paid $1 for it, and I think the glaze and the shape are really nice. I also like that the side of the bottle is embossed with the phrase “FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS SALE OR REUSE OF THIS BOTTLE.”
I also picked up a Dansk (Jens Quistgaard) green glass candle holder for 50¢. I looked all over for another so I could have a set, but I only found this one. Tula fell in love with the little brass swan, which kept her happy and occupied while I shopped. At 40% off, I think I paid about $1 for it.
Lastly, I grabbed the black ceramic stand/candleholder/whatever. I really can’t figure it out, but I love the shape. It’s signed “Nielsen 1966” on the bottom, but I haven’t been able to find out anything else about it. I’ll probably use it as a candleholder.
My cart was filled with several other odds and ends, too, but I’ve been trying to be a little more careful with the things I’ve been bringing home. It’s so easy to get carried away and start cluttering my shelves and closets, instead my goal lately has been to spend more time at home finishing projects and organizing, and [a little] less time at the thrift store looking for new things.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr8o8xLqPc1qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ LABOR DAY DEALS ]
Most thrift stores around the country are known to have big sales on holidays like Labor Day and Memorial Day, and Goodwill is no exception. Over the years, I’ve tended to skip sale days because of the huge crowds, but I still had a few things for the kids’ fall wardrobes that I was missing, I decided to give it a try again.
Like I had anticipated, parking was hard to come by, people were crammed into the aisles like sardines, and most of the shelves had been picked over. Thankfully, I was able to find a jacket for Tula, which was my main reason for stopping in. There weren’t any other big finds for the day, but I managed to come home with a few small goodies that made up for fighting the crowds and the fifteen minute wait in the checkout line.
First, I found a vintage Wing Lee Wai ceramic liquor decanter. I don’t think these bottles are worth more than $10-$15, but I only paid $1 for it, and I think the glaze and the shape are really nice. I also like that the side of the bottle is embossed with the phrase “FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS SALE OR REUSE OF THIS BOTTLE.”
I also picked up a Dansk (Jens Quistgaard) green glass candle holder for 50¢. I looked all over for another so I could have a set, but I only found this one. Tula fell in love with the little brass swan, which kept her happy and occupied while I shopped. At 40% off, I think I paid about $1 for it.
Lastly, I grabbed the black ceramic stand/candleholder/whatever. I really can’t figure it out, but I love the shape. It’s signed “Nielsen 1966” on the bottom, but I haven’t been able to find out anything else about it. I’ll probably use it as a candleholder.
My cart was filled with several other odds and ends, too, but I’ve been trying to be a little more careful with the things I’ve been bringing home. It’s so easy to get carried away and start cluttering my shelves and closets, instead my goal lately has been to spend more time at home finishing projects and organizing, and [a little] less time at the thrift store looking for new things.
![[ CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE ]
We hit a church rummage sale the week before we went on vacation, and I’m just now getting around to sharing all of the goodies I brought home. At first glance, the sale was unimpressive, but after making a few rounds past the tables, we found some great things. The first thing that I grabbed was a Dansk Spider candleholder. I’ve been digging through the metal/candleholder shelves at every thrift store I go to for at least the past year or two trying to find one of these. When I saw it sitting on the table, I almost jumped out of surprise. Even better, I only paid 75¢ for it.
The book behind the candleholder wasn’t from the sale, I just wanted to put it in the picture so I would remember to mention it on the blog. It was actually a birthday gift from my in-laws. The book is a tribute to the work of A. Quincy Jones (known for many residential and commercial buildings in California, including the later Eichler Homes). It is chock full of beautiful vintage photographs, floor plans, and renderings.
Finding one vintage Dansk piece at the church sale was surprising enough, but then I saw a set of six Dansk Bouquette vases still in the original box. I haven’t decided if I’m keeping these yet or not. I’ve seen them before in turquoise, which I think would fit my style more, but the price was cheap enough that I decided to bring them home anyway. I’ve been thinking of adding a Big Cartel store onto my blog, with five or six vintage items for sale at a time, but we’ll see.
Don’t you love these miniature wood dishes? I collected mini tea sets when I was a little girl, so they still have a special place in my heart. I’ve been looking all over online to find out where these might be from, but I’ve come up empty-handed. There are a few lids missing and a couple of handles that need gluing, but still in overall nice condition. I should have included something in the picture for scale, but to give you the general idea, the tallest pieces are just under two inches.
I also found a couple of vintage wall textiles:
The top one is by Swedish artist Ulla Scheuer. I wish I had a little more information about her, but from what I can gather from one obscure Swedish blog is that she was a freelance textile designer, married to an interior designer. She created designs for napkins, wall hangings, tablecloths, and other home decor until her divorce, when she was forced to quit illustrating and work various jobs as a cook, maid, and a nanny. I think the birds are so sweet in Tula’s room, and they are her favorite colors, pink and purple.
the second wall hanging is a vintage Marushka print. I’m sure just about everyone will remember seeing one of these hanging in a doctors office or friend’s house when they were a kid. They are more commonly images of sailboats or lighthouses, color-blocked in the orange and brown that typifies the 1970s. I’m not a big fan of the ones that look quintessentially 70s, but this sandpiper print is a little more understated and timeless. You can learn more about the history of Marushka here.
The loot doesn’t end there. I picked up an unmarked wood taper candle holder and a wood bottle opener that is marked with a “Handcrafted Holline Denmark” sticker, for 25¢ each.
Lastly, we found this mid-century fireplace toolset. Based on the other sets I found online, I think this is made by Seymour Mfg. Company. The metal is a little spotted and rusty, so we waited until the sale was 50% off, and went back to pick it up. I like the shapes of the handles, but I’m not tied to keeping this in its original state. I’m toying with the idea of painting the handles a fun color, or at least painting the brass accents.
We came out with some screaming deals that day, and all total we spent under $20 for everything (including a few little toys for the kids). Oh, how I do love a good church sale.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_locjwuDMDp1qc7v1bo1_500.jpg)
[ CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE ]
We hit a church rummage sale the week before we went on vacation, and I’m just now getting around to sharing all of the goodies I brought home. At first glance, the sale was unimpressive, but after making a few rounds past the tables, we found some great things. The first thing that I grabbed was a Dansk Spider candleholder. I’ve been digging through the metal/candleholder shelves at every thrift store I go to for at least the past year or two trying to find one of these. When I saw it sitting on the table, I almost jumped out of surprise. Even better, I only paid 75¢ for it.
The book behind the candleholder wasn’t from the sale, I just wanted to put it in the picture so I would remember to mention it on the blog. It was actually a birthday gift from my in-laws. The book is a tribute to the work of A. Quincy Jones (known for many residential and commercial buildings in California, including the later Eichler Homes). It is chock full of beautiful vintage photographs, floor plans, and renderings.
Finding one vintage Dansk piece at the church sale was surprising enough, but then I saw a set of six Dansk Bouquette vases still in the original box. I haven’t decided if I’m keeping these yet or not. I’ve seen them before in turquoise, which I think would fit my style more, but the price was cheap enough that I decided to bring them home anyway. I’ve been thinking of adding a Big Cartel store onto my blog, with five or six vintage items for sale at a time, but we’ll see.
Don’t you love these miniature wood dishes? I collected mini tea sets when I was a little girl, so they still have a special place in my heart. I’ve been looking all over online to find out where these might be from, but I’ve come up empty-handed. There are a few lids missing and a couple of handles that need gluing, but still in overall nice condition. I should have included something in the picture for scale, but to give you the general idea, the tallest pieces are just under two inches.
I also found a couple of vintage wall textiles:
The top one is by Swedish artist Ulla Scheuer. I wish I had a little more information about her, but from what I can gather from one obscure Swedish blog is that she was a freelance textile designer, married to an interior designer. She created designs for napkins, wall hangings, tablecloths, and other home decor until her divorce, when she was forced to quit illustrating and work various jobs as a cook, maid, and a nanny. I think the birds are so sweet in Tula’s room, and they are her favorite colors, pink and purple.
the second wall hanging is a vintage Marushka print. I’m sure just about everyone will remember seeing one of these hanging in a doctors office or friend’s house when they were a kid. They are more commonly images of sailboats or lighthouses, color-blocked in the orange and brown that typifies the 1970s. I’m not a big fan of the ones that look quintessentially 70s, but this sandpiper print is a little more understated and timeless. You can learn more about the history of Marushka here.
The loot doesn’t end there. I picked up an unmarked wood taper candle holder and a wood bottle opener that is marked with a “Handcrafted Holline Denmark” sticker, for 25¢ each.
Lastly, we found this mid-century fireplace toolset. Based on the other sets I found online, I think this is made by Seymour Mfg. Company. The metal is a little spotted and rusty, so we waited until the sale was 50% off, and went back to pick it up. I like the shapes of the handles, but I’m not tied to keeping this in its original state. I’m toying with the idea of painting the handles a fun color, or at least painting the brass accents.
We came out with some screaming deals that day, and all total we spent under $20 for everything (including a few little toys for the kids). Oh, how I do love a good church sale.
