Meet Velvet Doll...

Velvet was Mom's favorite doll growing up. Her hair grows! Her eyes close! She can change clothes! She was awesome.

When I was younger, I met Mom's Velvet. She was well-loved, with bright red cheeks from a borrowed lipstick makeover, and shorter hair from numerous cuts. She had very pretty handmade outfits, which Mom recently told me were made and sent to her by her great aunt!

She and her grandma would dress Velvet up in the pretty clothes and Mom couldn't wait to recieve the packages with more to dress her up in.

What an awesome thing, right?

When I was at Billy's Little Dodge City Antiques on Sunday, I saw a Velvet doll! I was almost sure that it was the same doll as Mom's, only it had the original clothes and a little less of a makeover. :)

If the doll wasn't $35, I would've bought it for her, but I had to settle for a photo. When I shared it with her, it made me feel so good about my little thrift endeavor. Because really, vintage things were once someone's Velvet doll. And that makes them mean so much more.

Love you, Mom!

Always,

Amanda

Amanda's Antique Adventure

As I was saying yesterday, I had a little antique mall adventure on Sunday. I dug and I dug (carefully, as to not break anything expensive!), and I did find some cool stuff! This is the only outfit picture I could bear to take, as it was below freezing outside:

Sweater, Goodwill; Jacket, Salvation Army; Apple Pin, Another's Treasure Shop (available now!)

So, yeah. and I wore my trusty jeans and Justin boots again, too. Yup.

Anyway...Here are some of the awesome things I found:

Piggy Bank With Clear Belly, West End Antique Mall ($4)

Neat Old Scissors, Billy's Little Dodge City ($1)

Dude! Pyrex Cup, West End Antiques ($3)

And finally, for our mantle....

Laugh Baby Bricks, West End Antiques ($2)

It was pretty fun to circle round and round in the different antique shops, but it's not as good as thrifting (as least to me!). It seems like you always see the same type of things for wayyyyy too much at the antique malls, and you never know what you'll find at thrifts.

Although I did notice that my favorite thrift stores were very packed this past weekend. More so than usual. People were being a little too aggressive with their buggies in the Goodwill Outlet! Oh well. I guess everyone had to catch on eventually! (Josh said that maybe they've been reading my blog. Ha!)

Have a good one, everyone!

Always,

Amanda

Saturday's Finds, Cont'd

I totally went "antique shopping" yesterday- it was pretty funny. I feel like I have to dig even more in antique stores to find things I like (and can afford!) than in thrift stores. Maybe I like weird stuff? But I did find this antique store in Ashland that carries pretty much all the cool old stuff I like! (The only problem? Just a tad too expensive. Of course.) Anyway, more on that later this week.

Here are some more of my goodies from Saturday:

Potato Sack, Goodwill Outlet (less than $1)

This is so up on our wall in our apartment! It matches our color scheme, and the hubby likes it too! (He's a huge airplane fan!)

Mastermind Board Game, Goodwill Outlet (About $1?)

I've mentioned before that I am loving vintage board games. Well, I'm not sure I understand this one yet, but I will be sure to try and play it with the hubby soon and tell you how it goes!

Vintage Swingline Stapler, Good Samaritan ($0.50)

Finally!!! I found an old stapler I like! You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find a cool old stapler for cheap. And now I've got one :)

More goodies tomorrow!

Always,

Amanda

What I Wore; What I Found!

Let me say this: I am SO GLAD to be back in Richmond! I guess I forgot just how amazing my favorite thrift stores are. I not only finally found things I've been searching for forever, but also a bunch of neat stuff for the shop and for me :)

First off, here's what I wore:

Faux fur coat, Salvation Army; Lacoste Sweater, Goodwill Outlet; Grey T, Dollar Tree; Jeans, Goodwill; Justin Boots, eBay; Key necklace, made by me from estate sale key and thread

Oh, and um...the look on my face? Courtesy of the 30 degree weather! Ugh. It was miserable-cold and very windy today.

But I totally forgot about the weather when I found these awesome items:

The. Perfect. Computer. Chair. (Can you tell I'm excited!!!!??), Love of Jesus ($25)

I know this baby was a little pricey (for me!), but once I sat in it, I couldn't let it go. I've been using a dining room chair as a desk chair and this has been a long time coming. It's buttery leather, so soft and comfy. Speaking of comfy...

Minnetonka Moccasins!!! Goodwill Outlet ($2.50)

At first, I just found one of these-discarded in a random Goodwill Outlet bin. I picked it up and went to look for the other one when this really nice Spanish guy stopped me and dug out the missing shoe for me! Sometimes people are good :) I can't remember if I've mentioned it on here, but I have wanted a pair of these super-comfy mocs for a long time. I honestly could wear these 24 hours a day, even at night! Like a little piece of heaven for my feet.

1960s Carpetbags of America Purse, Goodwill Outlet ($2)

I am so in love with this bag!!! It wasn't even in the purse bins, either- it was sitting in the misc. bins with random stuff. AKA: someone found this bag and then let it go somehow, and now it's mine :) It's my favorite colors- green and blue- and is so unique. I have it hanging over my desk for something pretty to look at while I'm doing blog stuff.

So, yeah. I found a bunch of other cool things, but I think I'll spread them out throughout the week. Have a great Sunday!

Always,

Amanda

I FINALLY FOUND THEM!!!

Everyone, meet my JCrew flats, a perfect size 8:

I just knew I'd find them!!!! Three dollars at Love of Jesus. Yup. :) :) :)

Always,
Amanda

What I'm Searching For: Etsy Inspiration

I've been a big fan of etsy lately. Not just because I now have a shop there, but also because I love to gain thrift inspiration from the awesome things that are in other people's shops!

I favorite items as I go along, and these are some that are at the top of my "want" list right now:

1. A Fish Pin like this one from etsy (above). My maiden name is Bass, and I would love to wear the heck out of a fish pin as a reminder of how awesome my family is!

2. Speaking of wearing the heck out of...I would wear this Pendleton sweater every day. Seriously. The elbow patches, the warm wool...perfection.

3.There is something about plaid I am, well...mad about! (In a good way.) This plaid bag, originally for the makings of a picnic, would make such a sweet overnight bag or large purse. I actually found a couple of these at the antique store in Boone, but they cost even more than this one! Drat. Goodwill bins...here I come!

4. Lastly, I am on the hunt for perfectly soft, worn-in old t-shirts. The kind you can comfortably lounge in for hours...that can transition from day to night. As in, pajama-type night. Ahhh. Who doesn't love pajama time? I know I do!

So, I am looking for these type things, as well as cool stuff for the shop, a desk chair and an old stapler (still!). But I'll be happy whatever I find, since it's been too darn long since I've been to my fave thrifts.

Always,
Amanda

What I Found In North Carolina (Not Much!)

So here I am, ready (and finally unpacked!) to make a post about my North Carolina finds. But the truth is that I wouldn't have anything if not for the Goodwill we found and the one open antique store we visited.

A couple of the things I found are up in the shop. (And I also added a dollar section! Check it out!)

And here are most of my measly finds:

70s Peppermint Candy Jar for Crayons, Salvation Army ($1)

Books, No Name (Kind of Icky) Thrift Store ($2 each)

Martin Guitar Strings for my Acoustic Guitar, Goodwill ($1.50)

I also got: a cute red Samsonite train case (thanks for finding it, Dad!), some cool typewriter paper, a red flannel shirt, an old issue of Boy's Life magazine, and some vintage buttons.

In other words, about a fourth of the stuff I usually find here in Richmond. I haven't been to my favorite thrifts here for over two weeks, and I'm really itching to go! You can bet I'll be there tomorrow!!!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Always,

Amanda