The Life of Mrs. Miles

Kelli is the host of Friday Show and Tell - won't you join us? Just visit her blog to sign up with the online form, leaving your name and blog address! Just click HERE to be taken to her blog! (if you RIGHT CLICK on the word HERE and choose "open in another tab" you won't be taken away from this page!)

For my show and tell today, I've decided to share my last visit (yesterday) to our local thrift store. Until a few weeks ago, our town had only one thrift, a second one opened recently. I've been to it once, but I'm resisting change. The first one feels like a second home to me. Ha - its most likely because my home has been largely decorated by the items I find.

Dogwood on Teapot

Once in a while I'll get the urge to do a photo safari in the thrift store. The ladies who work there are always taken aback when I ask. I'm sure the idea of someone just taking photos of things is a very foreign idea. They are so sweet, and though I don't know their names, except for one, we've developed a sort of friendship over the years. When I come in I'm often greeted with a "There's our thursday girl!" or "There's our good shopper!" and it feels like I'm entering into a special experience.

*note: Dogwood is our Province's official flower - I wonder if the teapot may be a centennial piece?

Whooo are you taking a photo of?

Once every so often I'll bake something for my ladies - as they are so kind to allow me to take photos. They tell me they would love to see my photos, but I've not printed any out because I have to buy ink for my printer. I'll take them a baked sweet, or a sample of jam, that sort of thing and they always ooh and ahh.

Waves of plates on the shore of a sea of china

And these sweet ladies have even been known to bring me items from their home. For example, if I'm working on a project with buttons, they say "Why, I have many very pretty buttons at home, perhaps I'll bring some." And the next thursday, she will spy me and come out with some and I'll get to pick. Then she won't accept any money.

They are super generous - if you buy more than a few items they will sometimes just 'round out' the price.

However, that said, once in a while one of them will get it in her head that a certain item is worth 'a lot' - which truly, it is not, and will insist on putting a ridiculous and exorbitant price on said item. I think that stems from perhaps its something that at one time was 'state of the art' and this person's mind is stuck back there, or its something that personally meant a lot to them. Its funny when that happens.

Once in a while someone will outright challenge them on it and you will hear their little voice go shrill and defend their pricing. The customer usually tries to reason with them but these ladies, as generous as they are, won't be moved if its one of these items they think is worth more.

Stacks

For about 1/2 hour I just get lost in the geometrics of the shop. The muted lighting. The angles and undersides. The textures. The arrangement. Navigating through the lens of my camera takes me into a whole new world. Even if all I come away with is photos - I feel the richer.

Froths of lace

One game I like to play in my head is to imagine the stories these items must carry with them. Wouldn't it be interesting if we could know? I'm sure some would be wonderful, some terribly sad. I think it would be so cool to write a novel about the items in the store and to create a story behind how each one came to be there. Don't you?

Glitter fruits

And I SEE all these things and I respond to them - but I'm not entirely sure how to put them together. I look at blogs like Kelli's and hope I can learn to make it all 'gel' I keep surrounding myself with books and magazines and clips of things I LIKE - and I am sure that one day its going to 'happen'. I do know that I'm getting braver to try new things.

Do you know any inspiring blogs I could visit along the lines of decorating with the unique and 'used' and unusual?

Stately Silver

I see so many things I'd like to have that I now follow a general rule. If I have the will power and I really like something - and I feel its not something that will 'move' out of the store quickly, I'll leave it for a week. If its there the next week and I feel just as passionately then I'll buy it, but if its gone - its gone!

I have another rule, one item home, two come back.

Thrift store beauty

Whats HER story?

Her paint (pancake makeup hay?) is chipped in some places and its kind of a nasty little wig she's got happening.



She's sort of shabby, retro cool. A retired 'model' finds herself in the basement thrift store showing of tacky, outdated weekender wear suits and cheap pearls. I'm sure she once graced a really fine store and had her own huge display window. Her arm probably held nothing less than a chic, expensive designer handbag.

She'd simply die if her mannequin friends could see her now.

Shoes - focus forefront

Its very hard to find a good pair of basic black shoes. I've been waiting for over a year. Its not a 'have to have' so there's no panic. Its the heel, you know. Shoes never make it to the thrift store till the heel is outdated.

Shoes - focus on back set

There are some pretty crazy shoes out there. But sometimes they make for good pictures. There must be a neat art display done of just shoes. Hmmmm.....

Pinecone hooties!

Someone had an afternoon to kill - and some imagination. I wonder if they found the idea from a book or dreamed it up out of their head!

Elegant dancing shoe

This shoe made a beautiful photo, even if it didn't quite fit.

Button, button...

This about buttons up my show and tell for today. Thank you for stopping by.

Note: I actually DID buy some items yesterday.

I decided to create a free scrapbooking element out of the lovely silver bouquet in one of my photos. I'd love to see how you use it! I did not add any drop shadows or beveling to it, other than in the preview.

download

fine for Personal, Commercial and Scrap For Hire
(please just credit me)