Thrift Stores

While I am not usually in the habit of shopping at thrift stores, I just thought I'd share my weekend experiences at the thrift stores. I figured this would be appropriate for this thread. I went out in search for baskets for a Fall Festival Fundraiser at my son's school (you know, the silent auction, themed type of baskets). I went to two Salvation Army stores and two Goodwill stores. I found a ton of appropriate and cheap baskets but along the way I found a few other things. My daughter was in tow for the day and I told her she could pick out a purse at the Goodwill, she insisted upon a little red floral purse, a bit dirty, but it was only $1.99. I went home and cleaned it up and it looked like new. It happened to be a Kate Spade. I checked online and someone has it listed on e-bay for $99.95. I also found a pair of almost new Nike baseball cleats that happened to be in the exact size that my son will wear this year. They are the exact same shoes that I paid $40 for last year except 1 1/2 size bigger, they were $3.99. I also found a nearly new VCR (the tapes are the only reliable thing in our house, DVD's are a real strain on my nerves) to replace the broken one in our house for $6.99. It's a pretty eco-friendly way to shop and I got the feeling that this wasn't just "blind luck", I'm sure everyone would find some type of gem if they looked hard enough.

I found a nice Trek bike for my boy for $40. Nice some lube and oil, but it is certainly a bargain. I also got some other items from them whenever I stop by to drop off donation. Almost all are bargains, but you need to be aware of what you are buying. Some items are overpriced, and better off from the store. Example: Used desk lamp, $% from GW, but $6 from IKEA. Same item. You also need to check the item and make sure it works or useable. Find a hole in the dress when you got it home? Not refundable. Leaked batter that render toy dangerous. Items that were recalled due to lead/unsafe design. You name it, they got it. Buyer beware.

What a successful day! I love thrift stores and I'm addicted to Craig's List. I have filled my new house with some great finds. When I was a kid, my mother used to drag me to estate sales and garage sales after church to look for antiques and unique furnishings. I used to get very embarrassed at garage sales but I'm happy that I have those experiences because I think it's the reason I have an appreciation and fondness for antiques and bargain shopping.

My hope is to find some thrift shop motel art painted on the reverse side of a real Van Gogh.

In April Laura?s House opened their new upscale, resale boutique call Portobello Road. Originally in San Clemente, their resale store is now in a larger, more centrally located venue in Lake Forest. I?ve not been yet but it sounds intriguing.



<a href="http://www.laurashouse.org/downloads/LH_thriftstore_postcard_R7.pdf">http://www.laurashouse.org/downloads/LH_thriftstore_postcard_R7.pdf</a>



<strong>Portobello Road</strong>

Recycled Clothing, Accessories & Housewares



23635 El Toro Road

Lake Forest, CA 92630

(El Toro Rd./Arbor)

949-472-8800 phone



<strong>Store Hours:</strong>



Monday 10am-6pm

Tuesday 10am-8pm

Wednesday- Saturday 10am-6pm

Sunday 12pm-5pm

Wow nice finds! I never get that lucky at Goodwill. However, when I used to work close to Lake Forest, I would visit Children's Orchard on my lunch break pretty often and found some great deals there.



Also, one of the few things I miss about Texas is The Half Price Bookstore. I absolutely love that place and every time I go to Big D to visit, I always go there and come home with loads of books.

[quote author="springmom" date=1256127963]Wow nice finds! I never get that lucky at Goodwill. However, when I used to work close to Lake Forest, I would visit Children's Orchard on my lunch break pretty often and found some great deals there.



Also, one of the few things I miss about Texas is The Half Price Bookstore. I absolutely love that place and every time I go to Big D to visit, I always go there and come home with loads of books.</blockquote>


I was shocked to find out this summer that Children's Orchard in Tustin had closed down. I used to love that place.

The wife loves the <a href="http://discoveryshop-belmont.org/">Discovery Shop</a> on 2nd Street in Long Beach, I think there is also one in <a href="http://discoveryshop-coronadelmar.org/">CMD</a>; sorry I can't write more about the shopping experience... my eyes always start tearing and I yawn continually whether at a thrift shop or south coast plaza...

[quote author="tmare" date=1256158865][quote author="springmom" date=1256127963]Wow nice finds! I never get that lucky at Goodwill. However, when I used to work close to Lake Forest, I would visit Children's Orchard on my lunch break pretty often and found some great deals there.



Also, one of the few things I miss about Texas is The Half Price Bookstore. I absolutely love that place and every time I go to Big D to visit, I always go there and come home with loads of books.</blockquote>


I was shocked to find out this summer that Children's Orchard in Tustin had closed down. I used to love that place.</blockquote>


The one in Irvine on University closed down too. I didn't know the one in Tustin had closed as well.

While I am not really into used furniture, clothes or toys, I love great deals on books. My kids buy $1 books at the Heritage Park library store almost every week.

We collected the first five of our Harry Potter series, waiting to find Deathly Hallows.

I bought "The White Tiger" by Arvind Adiga for $1, read, and sold it on Amazon for 6.50

It was on the news last Monday night on channel 2. Some one bought a Picasso for $2.

[quote author="bkshopr" date=1256166637]It was on the news last Monday night on channel 2. Some one bought a Picasso for $2.</blockquote>


Should have been you . That will teach you to spend time chasing Kogi trucks and lazing around Floral Park instead of spending your weekends scouring the shelves and walls of the local Goodwill and the Salvation Army stores for treasures.

[quote author="tmare" date=1256158865][quote author="springmom" date=1256127963]Wow nice finds! I never get that lucky at Goodwill. However, when I used to work close to Lake Forest, I would visit Children's Orchard on my lunch break pretty often and found some great deals there.



Also, one of the few things I miss about Texas is The Half Price Bookstore. I absolutely love that place and every time I go to Big D to visit, I always go there and come home with loads of books.</blockquote>


I was shocked to find out this summer that Children's Orchard in Tustin had closed down. I used to love that place.</blockquote>


CHILDREN?S ORCHARD: A Failing Marriage?

June 10, 2009 by Sean Kelly



<a href="http://www.bizzia.com/franchisepick/childrens-orchard-a-failing-marriage/">http://www.bizzia.com/franchisepick/childrens-orchard-a-failing-marriage/</a>

[quote author="tmare" date=1256174740][quote author="bkshopr" date=1256166637]It was on the news last Monday night on channel 2. Some one bought a Picasso for $2.</blockquote>


Should have been you . That will teach you to spend time chasing Kogi trucks and lazing around Floral Park instead of spending your weekends scouring the shelves and walls of the local Goodwill and the Salvation Army stores for treasures.</blockquote>


Yeah, instead of the over priced micro size taco at $2 I would prefer a Picasso. I did check every wall at the Goodwill and Salvation Army around OC. I am afraid the so call treasure OC residents donated have been Aaron Brothers posters and Costa Mesa swap meet throw aways. Most arts that people hang on their drywalls the frame costs more than the art.

[quote author="bkshopr" date=1256202565][quote author="tmare" date=1256174740][quote author="bkshopr" date=1256166637]It was on the news last Monday night on channel 2. Some one bought a Picasso for $2.</blockquote>


Should have been you . That will teach you to spend time chasing Kogi trucks and lazing around Floral Park instead of spending your weekends scouring the shelves and walls of the local Goodwill and the Salvation Army stores for treasures.</blockquote>


Yeah, instead of the over priced micro size taco at $2 I would prefer a Picasso. I did check every wall at the Goodwill and Salvation Army around OC. I am afraid the so call treasure OC residents donated have been Aaron Brothers posters and Costa Mesa swap meet throw aways. <strong>Most arts that people hang on their drywalls the frame costs more than the art.</strong></blockquote>


There is still a noticeably naked space over my fireplace. I cannot find a painting within my price range that I'd like to hang there and I refuse to hang a print. I found a great mirror, only to bring it home and have my bf tell me that although the frame of the mirror matched my decor perfectly, it had no integrity and would surely break apart and fall once hung. The search goes on.

[quote author="Sunshine" date=1256213811][quote author="bkshopr" date=1256202565][quote author="tmare" date=1256174740][quote author="bkshopr" date=1256166637]It was on the news last Monday night on channel 2. Some one bought a Picasso for $2.</blockquote>


Should have been you . That will teach you to spend time chasing Kogi trucks and lazing around Floral Park instead of spending your weekends scouring the shelves and walls of the local Goodwill and the Salvation Army stores for treasures.</blockquote>


Yeah, instead of the over priced micro size taco at $2 I would prefer a Picasso. I did check every wall at the Goodwill and Salvation Army around OC. I am afraid the so call treasure OC residents donated have been Aaron Brothers posters and Costa Mesa swap meet throw aways. <strong>Most arts that people hang on their drywalls the frame costs more than the art.</strong></blockquote>


There is still a noticeably naked space over my fireplace. I cannot find a painting within my price range that I'd like to hang there and I refuse to hang a print. I found a great mirror, only to bring it home and have my bf tell me that although the frame of the mirror matched my decor perfectly, it had no integrity and would surely break apart and fall once hung. The search goes on.</blockquote>


How about a TV? Many people do that today because many floor plans do not allow enough wall space to achieve both separately without stacking them. Is the TV within your price range for a painting?



Just a curiosity what is your price range? and what is the wall size above your fireplace?

[quote author="Sunshine" date=1256213811][quote author="bkshopr" date=1256202565][quote author="tmare" date=1256174740][quote author="bkshopr" date=1256166637]It was on the news last Monday night on channel 2. Some one bought a Picasso for $2.</blockquote>


Should have been you . That will teach you to spend time chasing Kogi trucks and lazing around Floral Park instead of spending your weekends scouring the shelves and walls of the local Goodwill and the Salvation Army stores for treasures.</blockquote>


Yeah, instead of the over priced micro size taco at $2 I would prefer a Picasso. I did check every wall at the Goodwill and Salvation Army around OC. I am afraid the so call treasure OC residents donated have been Aaron Brothers posters and Costa Mesa swap meet throw aways. <strong>Most arts that people hang on their drywalls the frame costs more than the art.</strong></blockquote>


There is still a noticeably naked space over my fireplace. I cannot find a painting within my price range that I'd like to hang there and I refuse to hang a print. I found a great mirror, only to bring it home and have my bf tell me that although the frame of the mirror matched my decor perfectly, it had no integrity and would surely break apart and fall once hung. The search goes on.</blockquote>


Could just get a print - why pay for a painting when you can get an unlimited print of a master for a trivial amount? I prefer prints online acutally - much easier to browse thousands upon thousand of things where you can run back and forth from your computer screen to the room, and check out the colors, composition, etc to get it just right.



<A href="http://www.art.com/gallery/id--a16/pablo-picasso-posters.htm?ui=E3D08F3DB806423DBEDAC44A122EBDF5">http://www.art.com/gallery/id--a16/pablo-picasso-posters.htm?ui=E3D08F3DB806423DBEDAC44A122EBDF5</A>

^ That's a great idea. So much easier than going to the store, getting it home, not liking it and making a trip back.



Update: I take pics of model homes and try to find matching decor for my home. I just looked at one of my photos and found the exact botanical prints I was looking for and found out who their designer is (Booker Morey) by using that site. Thanks again!

Nice site.



I found mine in there too.



<img src="http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/30/3039/QTOBF00Z/thomas-hill-yosemite-waterfall.jpg" alt="" />

Found another one:



<img src="http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/16/1638/X97GD00Z/jean-baptiste-camille-corot-souvenir-of-montefontaine-1864.jpg" alt="" />