Things I Wish I Knew More About

We can’t be good at everything, but we can sure try. There’s money to be made in every niche of a thrift store. I’m not advocating becoming an expert on a ton of stuff, but knowing the basics of each category can go a long way when your sifting through those cluttered aisles. Below is a list of stuff that I wish I had time to learn more about.

– Wooden, Hand-carved, African stuff (masks, instruments)
– Dolls
– Vintage Jewelry
– Monkeywood stuff
– Vintage Footwear (cowboy boots, Nike)
– Old Books and First editions
– Handbags and Luggage
– Pottery + Glassware (other than McCoy and Pyrex)
– Fabric, Textiles + Patterns

Reader Submitted Topics (Thanks guys!)
– Fishing Lures
– Holly Hobbie

What woud you consider yourself an expert in? What would you like to know more about? Anyone want to trade some knowledge?

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Oh Baby.

Now that summer has loosened it’s sweaty, sticky grip, I gassed up the Volvo and  I went to the thrift stores. It felt good hitting the old spots and found some rad stuff too.

This time around I brought along my lovely girlfriend who has a 2 year old of her own. Her best friend just had a brand new-new baby. So she dropped just under $10 to get that entire stack of adorable little kiddie threads and something called a “Boppy” (shown in the pic) for her friend. That big stack of books are for her own daughter, the entire stack was less than $5 total. Some new Babar, some old Babar. Some classics for sure. I loved me some Babar as a kid. We went on a Tuesday (the best day to go thrifting.) I get asked that all the time so let me repeat for posterity:

THE BEST DAYS TO GO THRIFT STORE SHOPPING ARE TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS. It’s just a little too much to explain in-depth right now. But the topic warrants an entire post to itself, I promise you one on the topic real soon.

Some other finds are that real camouflage army jacket top ($1.99). It fits great and pairs with my last post’s camo outfit. Now I have the full creepy outfit should I ever want to become a recluse in rural Montana and hoard guns and take up a subscription to Guns & Ammo magazine. It’s only a matter of time, people. I found another vintage Lacoste shirt that was my size. I’ll probably sell it or keep it around for my occasional golf outings. For myself I scored another majestic and kitschy “Paint by Numbers” painting that looks great in my new office.

FOR THE HOMIES I scored a couple of Glasbake mugs for Mr. Kiekhafer and his infamous Glasbake mug collection. Also, picked up some tall Dansk candles. You may remember these from one of my very first posts here. They fit into those holders all fancy schmancy. Speaking of Dutch stuff, I grabbed two vintage books. One is an old school book on Minnesota’s old team the North Stars. The other is some hand-made Dutch book about a famous hotel (I think?) It’s signed on the inside and has some pretty great b+w photos in it. If anyone knows anything about it please email me!

DON’T THINK I DI-IN’T score some media. I always do. A couple CD’s including an older Trans Am disc and some limited Har Mar Superstar EP for $2 each. A Stephen Stills LP, Sade LP (don’t judge me!) and a seemingly rare Van Halen promo LP pressing from 1982. Each LP was $1.

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“Find A Better Stash Spot” or “Random Smatterings”

It’s been a while since I’ve done an old school post with actual Things I’ve Found (in thrift stores). There’s quite a smattering – so here goes: I found some stuff that I’ve already re-sold, like that vintage Magnus chord organ (bought for $10, I’m not saying what it sold for!)

Also nabbed an old Boo Berry toy bank from the 1970’s ($1.99) Boo Berry was and still is my favorite kid’s cereal. I found a vinyl 12″ LP too awesome to pass up. German dance/punk from 1982? HELL YES. Some band on the canadian label Yul Records called Rational Youth. I took a small chance on it because I dug the artwork ($.99) and it’s really really rad. Check them out on iTunes when you get a chance. There’s a railroad book in there ($2.99) with some really good illustrations and old railroad posters.

My two favorite absorption’s this week were my little squirrel planter ($1.99). I needed some greenery on my desk at work so I bought that cute lil guy, he reminds me of the reckless and hilarious red squirrel I have living in my backyard. I put a little spider plant in there. The second is that Red Owl sewing kit. I didn’t technically thrift this as my grandmother donated it to me, but I wanted to show it anyways. I grew up being slowly pushed  through Red Owl from that upper kid’s seat in the shopping cart, strange comforts can be found in grocery stores as a kid. All those colors, shapes, packages calling out to you. Probably threw a few tantrums to get some Boo Berry. As a designer it just doesn’t get any better than that logo, man I love it. One of the best logos of all time.

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The Star Tribune reports on SOME DUMBASS: In Marietta, Ohio – Police said whoever donated a water jug to a charity in southeast Ohio probably didn’t mean to be so generous. The jug contained about $1,500 worth of marijuana. Police said workers at a local Goodwill Industries site recently found four bags of marijuana when they looked inside a water jug left outside by an anonymous donor. They turned the two-gallon metal jug and the pound or so of marijuana over to police on Friday. Marietta police Capt. Jeff Waite said the jug is probably an antique. He said authorities would be more than happy for the jug’s donor to come forward and claim it. (Thanks Jess).

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From one Pyrex/GlasBake fan to another – great collection man! Seattle’s own John Pashek elicits some jealousy right here with an incredible photo set of his Pyrex cookware collection.

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A TIFATTS fan from sunny San Diego sent in this link a while back. It’s cuddly stuffed animatronic toys, without all the fluffy cuddly stuff. Some really creepy shit in here. An excellent art project idea simply made from thrift store stuffed animals.

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Swedish Centerfold.

BIG UPDATE here people, I’ve admittedly been slacking a little on posts but hopefully this will make up for that.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Starting early next week I’ll be posting the first of a few video blogs I’ve filmed about particular topics that people have inquired about. Are you ready?

Also, an early shout-out to Austin Gullixson aka “A-GUX” or “Awesome-stin” for being a loyal TIFATTS reader and commenter. Austin is a master puppeteer, collage-maker, designer and a known thrifter round these here parts, let’s get you in a TIFATTS video interview real soon. Check out his work and his great Flickr page here.

Do you see all of my recent treasures? Take a good long look, get jealous. Sorry for some of the shitty photos, I have no real excuse other than wanting to hurry and show you folks these finds.

To start I scored the perfect ironic white trash/eagle/U-S-A!/Thunder t-shirt for $1.50, (it literally says “THUNDER” on the back). You can bet your ass that’s gonna be my shirt of choice come the 4th of July this year. Also in the t-shirt category I randomly found another of a shirt I already own and love – Spunk Design Machine’s “10 Year Takedown Anniversary” shirt. I actually went to that a couple years ago. Upon entering Spunk’s open house/studio there was Spunk schwag splayed around for guests to take home, Jeff Johnson had the bbq going, the Grain Belts were abundant and chilled, and the Tank Goodness cookie folks there making fresh cookies. I also randomly remember the possibly classy trays of unopened packs of smokes and cigars scattered about in circular patterns like from the 1920’s or something, let’s face it – the man knows how to throw a shindig. I’m eagerly awaiting the 20 year bash. Check out Jeff’s new side-project “Design Smoke” where he candidly interviews (while smoking cigars of course) interesting designers and folks with engaging stuff to say.

Some more good literature was also unearthed: Pulitzer Prize-winning (and native Minnesotan) Thomas L. Friedman‘s book “The World Is Flat.” It’s in my queue of books piling up to be read soon. Old books always interest me, especially ones that I know my Swedish grandmother would fawn over. Check out how old some of those are, 1920’s with centerfold pull outs of old maps and shit. Each Swedish book ran me $1.60 thanks to a colored tag sale I was unaware of today. Talk about good timing and destiny. Also scored an old stamp collector’s book and some of my favorite magazine publications.

Moving along we have a vintage 60’s Glasbake cake/pie stand (for my sweetie). It has that cool, creamy, smooth Glasbake look and feel and is embellished with little gold Fleur patterns. I’ve always wanted to make one of those domed white cakes with the cherry in the top center, and now I can. It’ll look real June Clever on that killer cake stand. The cake stand was $2.49. I’ve always had a thing for Glasbake’s esthetically pleasing texture and vintage designs. Here’s a nice Flickr set collection of more Glasbake goods.

Speaking of the 60’s I scored a slew of old mint-condition 45’s from a few folks you may have heard of… and a rare LP from another oldie but goodie, very under-appreciated 70’s and 80’s New Zealand band Split Enz. Check out that laser etching and Promo-Only packaging. Fans of Ted Leo would really dig their stuff. He’s heavily influenced by them and it shows. The LP was $3.50 and the 45’s were each fifty cents.

On the digital side of music I scored a stack of rare CD singles for $1.99 each from the cd box, which I never ever really check when I’m in a thrift store because it’s usually a huge waste of time. But this time it was like a gold mine. Dianogah, Indian Summer (silkscreened packaging), Atom & His Package (very rare w/ zine and all inserts included), Three Penny Opera, At The Drive-In, Panthers, and a Chi-town fav of mine – Joan of Arc.

To wrap this up we’ll leave you folks with a randomness theme: I nabbed an old Scotch brand magnetic 1/4″ tape reel in it’s sealed packaging (until I unsealed it to look inside). Also found a oldie but goodie, an old adjustable Kodak camera stand ($.49). I’ve already been using the thing left and right to make the aforementioned “webisodes.” As a recovering graphic designer, its this kind of packaging gets me just giddy. Eat your heart out Aaron Draplin. More random was finding a mug ($.99) from my hometown with the old logo on it. CR pride, I guess. It’s going to be used as a pencil and scissor corral on my desk.

Thanks for looking at my finds and get out there and find some of your own, and remember to check frequently as there are big things to come from TIFATTS.