Monday, March 31, 2014

Add a Little Flavor to Your Life: Collecting Salt and Pepper Shakers

Fellow Treasure Hunters, are you a fan of novelty salt and pepper shakers? Those lovable bench sitters, bobbers, carriers, go-withs, hangers, holders, huggers, kissers, longboys, mechanical, mini's, nesters, nodders, rockers, sitters, stackers, tallboys and turnabouts?

Yes, those are just a few of the different kinds of salt and pepper shakers that avid collectors know all about.

Here are a few pictures to understand the salt and pepper lingo:
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BENCH SITTERS:


HANGERS:

LONGBOYS OR TALLBOYS:
These examples are from the Novelty Salt and Pepper Club. Yes, a club for novelty salt and pepper collectors! How cool is that! Be sure to visit their website, it is a lot of fun and very informative.
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We are fans of these gems because they are fun to collect. They can be found at garage sales, thrift stores and antiques shops often at a low cost. They are full of personality, and they don't take up a lot of space.... unless your collection has gone wild! Like Ruth Rasmussen's collection that now resides in a gallery in Traer, IA. The Traer Salt and Pepper Shaker Gallery boasts "Over 16,000 different sets of shakers and still growing!"
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Not impressed with 16,000 salt and pepper shakers? How about 80,000? Collector Andrea Ludden has her shakers split between two places. 40,000 can be viewed at the The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.


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We currently have two shakers sets available on shopgoodwill.com.
Denby Memories Salt And Pepper Shakers
Hand Painted Black Americana Salt Shakers
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Be sure to look for more shakers at your local Goodwill on both the Treasure Chest shelves and the housewares shelves. Follow this link for store locations: goodwillswmi.org/our-locations/

If you have a salt and pepper collection, would you share it with us? We would love to see it! Send your pictures and information to marketing@goodwillswmi.org Thanks and
Happy Treasure Hunting!


Thursday, March 20, 2014

Monsters, Aliens, and Creatures, oh my!

Have you seen these awesome paintings around the web?
Some very creative artists are picking up thrift store paintings and altering them by adding monsters, aliens, and other fantasy creatures. We think it is like, super cool.
Here are a few we found around the web and a couple links to view even more.

 
 

twistedsifter.com
http://twentytwowords.com/thrift-store-monsters-adding-fantastical-creatures-to-second-hand-art/
http://makezine.com/2010/03/08/altered-thrift-store-art-some-perso/

Next time you are Treasure Hunting at Goodwill, wander over to the paintings....perhaps one needs a little altering....
This one is currently for sale at the Alcott Retail Outlet in Kalamazoo, MI. What creature do you see coming down the mountain?

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Things to make with vintage linens

While we wait for winter to let go, how about trying a sewing project or two? You can find vintage linens or vintage-look linens at your local Goodwill. Look for sheets, pillowcases, handkerchiefs, tea towels, table clothes and napkins. We have a great round - up of ideas and tutorials.

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PJ Bottoms - Cute look sewn from vintage sheets!
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Window Covering - Vintage Napkins sewn together . This could be a perfect solution for a small window.
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Flowers - Perhaps making a few of these would hurry Spring?
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Bunting - These are fun to make! Bunting will make any occasion special. You will use them for baby and wedding showers, birthday and welcome home parties, decorating a space for a holiday, the list goes on and on! 
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Wreath - Making this colorful wreath would be a perfect use of your vintage linen scraps.
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Pillow Case Skirt - This idea came from Spoonful.com and there is no sewing involved!
No-Sew Pillowcase Skirt
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Skirt - How about sewing a new Spring skirt? This is from a circle table cloth!
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Votive Wraps - These votive candle holders are simply wrapped with vintage handkerchiefs. If you re decorating for a Mother's Day brunch at your school or church, these would make a pretty giveaway!
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Happy Treasure Hunting!