I found a set of A and Z faux wood bookends at a local thrift store last year for the extremely reasonable price of $1.99. Nothing at my thrift store seems to be reasonably priced anymore, so you know they were bad and no one wanted them.
So here are the two beauties before.
Isn't the faux wood grain pretty.
They are even signed! Look at the date, November 1982. They will be celebrating their 30th Birthday soon. Wow I am old..it is scary when you realize you have something that is 'retro' (aka old but we want to charge you too much money for it so we will call it retro) and you could have made it.
My husband again rolled his eyes when I walked in the front door with this gorgeous set. Can't you see the potential? I could. And for $2 who could go wrong?
They each got a good dusting, because they were filthy, and a few coats of white gloss spray paint. Everything looks better with white gloss spray paint!
Here is the A now. Isn't it cute!
I intended to put them in our office but they have found a home on the shelves in my family room.
I am trying to put more white on these bookcases. As you can see
the wood dice and
recovered photo albums I created last year have also been relocated here.
I have never been happy with how these shelves are decorated but I think it has more to do with the selves. They look really red in the picture but they aren't really. I am seriously debating painting or wallpapering the back of each shelving unit. But there are so many other things to do around the house before that happens.
Not bad for $1.99 plus a little spray paint!
What deals have you found lately? Have you found your thrift stores are raising their prices too?
Have a great day and happy thrifting.
Stephanie
I was born in November 1982!!! I'm retro :P
ReplyDeleteour goodwill has pretty much doubled their prices on ladies clothes since October. So 50% on clothes and about 25% to 50% on "homewares" items. It's a bit ridiculous. I bought an IKEA shelf at the goodwill and i looked it up online and found that i actually paid more for it at the GW. So since more people are shopping at thrift stores because of the downturn in the economy, the thrift stores are cashing in on those "new" thrifters? Yes, it's still much, much, much cheaper than a regular store but I feel like, hello there is a reason.....the clothes are used. most of the time the clothes haven't been washed or are wreaking of fabric softener (i am highly allergic to). so, yikes, was that just a rant. sorry. i've just seen so many (men mostly) comment on this subject that sling mud at people that have a beef with thrift stores doubling their prices. i still go and still get a ton of stuff. I try and stick with the color tags that are 50% off, key word "try". btw, you are so young. i'm 1973 but i feel like i was born in the 80's.
ReplyDeleteThe bookends look great in their new incarnation. I wouldn't have seen the potential in them. d
ReplyDeleteGreat redo! (and find) I went to a Thrift store here in Town yesterday, (I haven't been there since November or so) and was SHOCKED - to say the least at their prices! I bought a few lamps for $3 each in Oct (you know the big brass ones, perfect for spray paint and easy to rewire if needed) The same ones/type are now $19.99! Seriously!!
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I inadvertently ended up on your blog page and fell in love with your ideas! I am fifty-five, retired, and living on a small fixed income. I relish your ideas.You are so innovative! Keep on keeping on girl, re-use, reduce, recycle!
ReplyDeleteI love the shape of the letters - infact, they are actually a trendy font! How odd is that?!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about thrift stores not being cheap. I rarely shop them because my local ones aren't that great - usually the antique store has that type of stuff for cheaper! (!!)
I did have fun recently buying $3.25 worth of wooden crafts for my 6yo to repaint. there was a trio of 3 dark-stained wooden hearts with mirrors inside and then a small 6" balsa-wood shelf. I took the mirrors out and let her paint their frames and hung them in her room, and also let her paint the shelf to match, and then I put 5 or 6 mini cup hooks in the bottom for her to hang her necklaces on. They turned out really cute once they had girly paint and glitter on them!