The Thrift Wish List & The Tarot: Another Fortuitous Find

In a recent trip to the Bryn Athyn Thrift Shop, I found something that I've coveted for some time. While I'm no means an expert on divination, I find myself drawn to the ancient mystery of Tarot cards. They're not especially hard to come by these days. Stop in any pseudo-alternative goth gift emporium or chain book store and you can find them.

I have a few speciality decks myself that I've collected from New Age shops that I've come across. But I have a special admiration for the European Tarot varieties, specifically vintage French cards. The primary colors are vibrant and the illustrations are artfully produced from woodcut tiles.

So when I spotted this deck of 1960s 1JJ Swiss Tarot Cards imported from Switzerland with the original French titles, it was like lightning striking twice. Mind you, this incredible thrifted rarity is just a few weeks following my original Keane print find.

Two sought after Thrift Wish items in just a few weeks? Maybe this stroke of secondhand luck is karma's answer to the slow winter thrifting.

In all honesty I must note that sadly this 1JJSwiss Tarot is not a complete deck. Either the previous owner was careless, or simply kept a few key cards for personal reasons. But still I can't help but feel fortunate that this deck--for the most part-- is now part of my collection. And I have some crafty plans for them indeed. Oh, yes. 

What items have you found on your Thrift Wish List lately? 

This post is linked-up with Sir Thrift-A-Lot. Go check it out! 

News and Reviews: Good Stuff Thrift of Doylestown, PA

Elegant touches in the entryway. 

A few short weeks after being invited to the Fairless Hills, PA Good Stuff Thrift for a peek inside the spacious secondhand venue, I was again extended an invitation. This time, I hit the road to the borough of Doylestown to see the original Good Stuff Thrift location. And while I've been to this quaint area of Bucks County before, I hadn't been aware that Good Stuff Thrift was just right up the road.  

I walked through the doors and was immediately greeted by a fresh and floral aroma, one unlikely found in many secondhand shops, as you might realize. And in a serendipitously timed visit, I not only met the store manager Kelly, but also Ed Hudson, the CEO of Good Stuff Thrift.  And as Ed gave me the grand tour of the two-story sales floor and employee processing areas, I was awestruck with the realization that this was unlike any thrift shop I've ever seen. 

I know what you're thinking. How can I say that I haven't seen anything like it when I just visited the sister store in Fairless Hills not two weeks prior? But what gives this Good Stuff Thrift location something more than the average thrift store is its unique perspective on the shopping experience. One thing that CEO Ed Hudson was sure to note was that the shoppers of this Doylestown location, much like the shoppers of any other Doylestown business aren't necessarily motivated by bargains. They are there to find unique treasures that aren't available elsewhere. And with high-end donations overflowing the surprisingly small processing areas, it's no wonder that Good Stuff Thrift visitors enter with a sense of wonder and leave as happy customers. 

Creative displays save space. 

And in another interesting comparison, the layout and space of the two Good Stuff Thrift locations are in considerable opposition.  Good Stuff Thrift of Fairless Hills, PA yields 20,000 square feet with space to spare for customers to peruse furniture and other sizable house wares. The Good Stuff Thrift of Doylestown is a mere 5,500 feet spread across two floors and several small rooms, like a whimsically decorated house. But what maximizes the space of this location is the creative decor that artfully displays salable merchandise. Every staged tabletop and carefully hung piece of wall art is for sale. 

The Moss Bike

And yes, that includes The Moss Bike. From the pallet strung with buckets in the children's room, to the elegantly displayed crystal and china in the living room, there isn't an inch of space that doesn't do double duty in decorative merchandising.

Both Kelly and Ed hailed this space for therapeutic thrifting, as well as a blossoming venue for DIY community events. And with inspired design choices that fits the Doylestown aesthetic, I'm entirely on board with the notion that this "Thrift Boutique" is exactly what the treasure-hunting demographic is clamoring for. 

The fruits posters are on sale. Adorable. 

I'm a big fan of chair art, especially hot pink chair art. 

It's bright. It's cheery. And even the smallest of details are met with a creative touch. And this is all due to the numerous volunteers, the diligent staff and management, and the two creative masterminds behind all of the decorative flair. Kim Tillitson and Saralyn Petitt, the resident designers behind the Good Stuff Thrift of Doylestown, are also taking part in a creative fundraising effort with the 2014 Bucks County Designer House and Gardens at the historic Serendipity Farm. 

This design collaboration is the first time that a thrift store will be represented in the annual Bucks County tradition of remaking, remodeling and reimaginging a piece of historic property. All proceeds from the gala and ticket sales will benefit the Doylestown hospital. 

And if the clever design of this Good Stuff Thrift location is any indication, I think that the  visitors of the Designer House will be pleasantly surprised by the possibilities that going the secondhand route can bring. 

It's like fine dining in the countryside. 

While it's hard to believe that this Good Stuff Thrift just opened in June of 2013, it's not hard to imagine just why the company is on the fast track to secondhand success. Good Stuff Thrift of Doylestown, PA has the elegance of a boutique, culled from donations alone. But with so much artistic talent and love for secondhand staging in this beautifully designed business, there's a lot more in store than just the donations. 

Visit Good Stuff Thrift at 3633 N. Easton Rd. Doylestown, PA 18902 

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Are you a thrift shop owner local to Philadelphia or Bucks County, PA looking for a visit from Let's Go Thrifting? I'm always on the prowl for new thrifting territory. 

Drop me a line and I'll try to stop by. 

Teeny Tiny Secondhand Treasures: A Pair of Toadstool Planters

Vintage ceramic toadstool planters. Thrifted for $1.50 each. 

It's here! It's finally here! It's time to welcome flea markets and carnivals, garage sales, lemonade stands and the sweet, sweet smell of freshly tended gardens. Happy Spring, everyone! 

To properly introduce the first full day of spring, I thought what better than a post about my latest pair of Teeny Tiny Secondhand Treasures. I found this set of vintage toadstool planters for $3.00 and I'm absolutely smitten with with them. 

The green hues and faded golden spots on the toadstool cap, the detailed beige toadstool stump. And of course, the sweetest little details of all...

Awwww. Little kids with flowers. 

Aren't these pudgy little kids just the cutest? I sure think so. Now I just need to stop in Home Depot for some clay pebbles to prevent my miniature plants from getting root rot. That's the only drawback of vintage planters: no drainage. But... hey! We're talking about a pair of toadstools with pudgy little kids under them. Adorable! 

I'm linking up with Sir Thrift-A-Lot. Go check it out! 

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Rococo Regal For Under Five Bucks

In my last visit to Good Stuff Thrift of Fairless Hills, there were a few items that caught my eye. But the big score of the day was definitely this trinket box. I first spotted it while shooting photos for the blog entry and was worried it was picked up by another thrifter. But I came back to find it sitting safe and sound with the other bric-a-brac.  

And here are the thrift facts on this spectacular find: 

• That romanic scene is a satin print of "Spring" by Rococo artist Boucher.
• The intricate columns and the inside of the box are both lined with red velour.
• There's a delightfully vintage filigree pattern on the inner lid. 
• It cost $4.50, which I suspect is a steal given just how lovely this trinket box is.
• I'm putting it to good use. 

While I initially thought of listing this piece on my Etsy shop, I think for now it makes for a thrifty, yet regal storage piece for my growing collection of skeleton keys. I don't know... Something about this trinket box says clandestine affair to me, like slipping a secret lover the key to your boudoir.  

What do you think? 

This blog post is linked up with Sir Thrift-A-Lot. Check it out!