Madison Thrift Store & Easter Weekend Finds

15 years ago

Last weekend I went to Madison, WI for a gourd workshop at the annual Wisconsin Gourd Society's gourd festival. My girlfriend and I usually go and take a class on how to do something to a gourd. This year it was pyrography carving.

The class wasn't until Saturday and we went Friday and stayed Friday night. So what do 3 junkers (my Bob came with us) do in a town they are visiting? Why they go to second hand stores, of course! Here are some things I found along with stuff I bought this weekend too.

I collect miniature chairs. Right now they are being stored away but one day I plan to decorate a wall with them. I found one bentwood chair and these cute finds at a thrift store in Madison. I want to turn the doll into a fairy. She was only $1 so I thought she was cheap enough to be experimented on. he-he

Here is the same chair sporting a cute little angel. The little angel on the doll's lap also sits on the edge of a surface. The little teapot has a tiny teddy bear family in it. I am going to put it in my mother's nursing home room. I have it decorated like a little garden with pretty silk flowers everywhere and little garden knicknacks. The tiny birdbath is caste iron and so is the lady bug. The caste iron birdbath wasn't cheap ... it was $11.99 at an antique store but I couldn't pass it up. The lady bug was only $3.

It was hard getting a good picture to show off this little pot with frogs as "legs." I have the start of a collection of frogs and thought this piece would fit right in. The lady bug tealight holder is caste iron and I believe it fits over a jar or something.

Last but not least ... I couldn't pass up this Pterodactyl. I thought of hanging it on my balcony (I have a weird collection of stuff hanging from the ceiling on the balcony). He also makes a noise when you move his neck or press a button on his back. (I know, I'm weird!)

Comments (20)

concretenprimroses
15 years ago
Wow, what fun you had and what great stuff.
The little birdbath is my fave. What a nice addition to the fairy house you are planning. And I love the terradactyl too!
Its nice to have traditions with friends isn't it. You've put me in mind to start a couple more.
kathy
katishooked
15 years ago
Luna The stuff you found is indeed great finds. The chair and teapot, I like. And of course I'm drooling over the ladybugs. Isn't fun to find thing like this?

Kat
Related Discussions
Thrift stores are good for more than just Garden Junk!
Q
Comments (12)
Sorry you are laid up! is it your driving foot? that makes it even worse. TS's are great, when I broke my right wrist & right foot up by ankle I treated it myself- don't recommend that but I had no insurance & I knew they were going to take me into surgery for my wrist. I stablized it with ace bandage & 3 tongue depressers. After 3-4 days I wanted something a little more secure so hobbled into TS got a leather & steel wrist support & some heel cups (I had slipper on that foot) the heel cups are a thick lambs wool like stuff with a rough outside . I knew they would wear out fast & they only had 3 of them so I got out the grey duct tape, well that almost killed me as duct tape pretty well takes 2 hands to pull it out & you have to hold it & cut it. Anyway it took long time but I covered the bottom of the heel thing with duct tape, it cushions the poor sore foot & without it I would have been laid up a long time. I couldn't use crutches or a walker. I hopped about at end of 12 weeks went to chiropractor & asked him if he would x- ray that was bit of a shock! both bones had broke 1/2 way between wrist & elbow & were doing nicely went back where they should be, but both bones broke off at wrist 1 on inside of arm was healing well outside bone was a lump in my hand that dissolved eventually & I grew a covering for the missing bone so it quit feeling like my hand was missing after several months. Moral is don't treat yourself & more important don't look down when coming down a ladder beside a brick divider!! So Micki see if you can get ahold of some of those heel cups as it really makes it so much better while healing! Prayers for speedy recovery!! Jan
...See More
Insane thrift store pricing on canning jars - should I tell them?
Q
Comments (18)
There are good buys at Goodwill - I bought an almost new KitchenAid mixer (in blue) for $15 (they probably had no idea the real value). But, on the whole, the prices for housewares are quite high. I did tell the store manager and she did drop a lot of the prices on housewares. The clothing prices are fixed and on a board above the racks. Shirts for $3.59 are good deals in my mind since I use a bleach solution in my kitchen and am always spilling or spraying some on my clothes. You know they don't do any training or repairing by the handicapped like they used to. Now they are just a for-profit who gets their stuff free from donations. Such a deal. Must be quite profitable over all. Never see canning jars or decent mixing bowls here. I don't think there are very many canners in my neck of the woods. The dumps must be full of jars. I can't even get my regular jam-buying customers to return the jars to me! Nancy
...See More
Weekend Plans - and Happy Easter! :-)
Q
Comments (9)
Another update: Weekend was perfect! We had 18 people here and, thanks to Flylady, everything went so smoothly. I still can't believe it! This was one of the first dinners I've had where I didn't feel stressed at all. Everyone commented on how nice the house looked and the nice dinner. My MIL said, "I know it's so much work" and I said, "Actually, it really wasn't that bad!" I will be honest - my husband really kicked in and that saved me. We made sure to wash all the dishes as we prepared the food, so that we started with a "clean slate" when everyone arrived. This is something my mother never does and it drives me crazy. When I go to help with dishes after dinner, her sink is already filled with dirty dishes from meal prep. After all the guests left, I went on a 45 minute walk. It gave me a huge burst of energy, so when I came home I completely cleaned the downstairs. You'd never know we had a dinner party here. Good thing, because I am working extra hours this week and need to start with a clean house! Sheryl
...See More
Thrift stores and bedbugs
Q
Comments (41)
I have no experience with thrift stores or used furniture (except from family) but I do have info concerning other comments here First is the bedbugs. I travel quite a bit for work and have to stay in hotels. My business partner and I both did a ton of research on bedbugs and they are actually very small. That is how they get transfered. You cant easily see them. Next, mattresses. When I was younger I worked at a big name mattress store. The new mattresses were made in a factory and then sat sealed in their bags for months before they even were sent to a customer. Most popular mattresses are made in the USA and should it be in a bedbug area there is no way the bugs would make it to your home. When someone returned a mattress it would get picked up and taken to a special facility that "treated" I dont know what they did, but they get put back into plastic that is clearly marked as having been used. We never had a complaint from any customers about any critters. Lastly, lice. Lice are not attracted to dirty people. Again if you do the research you will find that lice will only live on clean hair. They cannot attach and lay eggs to oily hair therefore dont choose live there.
...See More
Marlene Kindred
15 years ago
Looks like your shopping trip was a success for sure! Love all of your finds especially the birds. I have that same birdbath! And the pterodactyl is just too funny...my daughter used to have loads of dinosaurs...many of them made their own noises. We have them packed away in the attic for future grandchildren! Thanks for sharing your finds with us!
cait1
15 years ago
YOu are tooo funny!!! My fav is the little bird bath. I don't think I'd have passed that one up, either - even it it meant we would have to skip dinner!

But the Terry Dack Til is the BEST!!!! And that you know how to spell that word.... I am IMPRESSED!!! HAHAHAHA

Please take a pick for us of you weird balcony 'chandeliers'! (with Terry on display, tooo!) I love stuff like that and it sounds like you have one of the most fun balconies EVER!!!
cait1
15 years ago
I mean... take a 'pic'.... not pick ugh typos
luna_llena_feliz
Original Author
15 years ago
I also forgot to post these pictures...

We went to this cute little art gallery in Madison.
{{gwi:136272}}

You can see some of the neat metal stuff they had in front. Here are some more of the metal pieces (plus a plug for Garver ... whoever he/she is but who is probably a Democrat since that is all that gets elected in Madison, WI).
{{gwi:136274}}

These big metal birds are made from old cars. Probably the original paint job too. They were over $100 so needless to say none came home with us. But I did ask my Bob what would cut car metal ... just in case. he-he

{{gwi:135363}}

Bob and I are totally shameless. lol This art gallery had an opening and was offering free food. Bob had 3 plates and I had 1. My friend who was with us didn't have the gall to take any food. At least we didn't drink any of the wine or champagne! he-he But this was my favorite piece of all. It didn't have a price tag on it but some similar sculptures a fraction of the size were $75. This didn't come home with me either!
{{gwi:136276}}

I had my Bob do a little reconnaissance at the art gallery. They were selling these cool things on what looked like a conduit pipe. Some had a glass ball or finial on top with wires coming out of that with marbles wrapped in them. This one was just wires coming out of the pipe with marbles wrapped in the wires. I told Bob to get a picture with his secret agent cell phone to see how it was done. These were some nice garden junk things that we could make.

{{gwi:136278}}

You can see the one behind this one with the gold crackled ball on top of the pipe. The rusty things were butterflies with flat marbles glued to their wings.

Now I just have to look for an old decrepit car to cut up ...
mzclassic
15 years ago
I really like the last photo of the wires and marbles. It almost looks like coat hanger wire? I have a bunch of copper wire that I might try that with. Sounds like you all had a great time on your outing. I probably would have had a glass of wine with my plate. See, your not the only shameless one! LOL

Donna in Florida
concretenprimroses
15 years ago
I go to openings and eat and drink. The point is for people to see the stuff and talk about it and hopefully buy. They never know what will lead to a sale. Who knows, you're posting pics here is good publicity and could get them a sale! Sooo don't feel guilty!
Thanks for sharing the pics and ideas. What a good trip you had!
kathy
TwoMonths
15 years ago
well, I am just wishing I had found the chair and the lady bug and the birds and and and. But it is too far from CA. Oh well. Glad you had a great time....how was the gourd class. You know that may be the man who does a lost of huge wire sculptures and they show up on edge of highway and a lot of it is political.
TwoMonths
15 years ago
no not political...for art...for the building

Here is a link that might be useful: Vote Yes
TwoMonths
15 years ago
no not political...for art...for the building

Here is a link that might be useful: Vote Yes
jeannespines
15 years ago
WOW, luna...you really did good!!! Looks like you got alot for your money! I luv the frosted glass bird, the chair, the star (I have some of those for Christmas decor)...everything looks like GJ that you'll have fun with!!! And the Madison art gallery is awesome! Thanks for sharing! Jeanne S.
susiesunshine
15 years ago
Dear LLF: Ms Kathy.... WOOOOWZZZZZERRRRRSSSSSSSSS! ! ! !
Now that is some shopping ! ! ! GRRRREAT JOB !
Hope you really enjoyed the Class 2 ! ! ! I know you
loooooooooove that gourd stuff !!!!!

Thanks for sharing the pics...
glad that you and your friends and The Bobster had fun!!!
Glad that you 2 are both feeling better !
God Bless !
SusieSunshine
Purplemoon
15 years ago
You sure hit the jackpot, Luna. The birds are all wonderful. You got so many neat things, but the cast iron ladybug may be my favorite. And I am so coveting the moon sculpture in front of that shop.

hugs, Karen
luna_llena_feliz
Original Author
15 years ago
Here are some pictures of the gourds at the gourd festival and the class. I'll show you the ugly one first (mine)....

{{gwi:136280}}

The gourd I picked had an opening that was slanted. I wanted it to look like a cracked egg with little lizards crawling out (ok, I'm a little macabre!). The lizard pattern was from a Native American kit. I would like to paint the lizards a couple of shades of green and then stain the rest of the gourd so it looks natural.

Here are some of the instructor's sample gourds:

For this one, she used a doilie to create the pattern. It was my favorite.
{{gwi:136282}}

This is another simple but pretty one she did.
{{gwi:136284}}

Here is one with similar Native American designs to the one I did.
{{gwi:136286}}

Now here were some awesome sculpted gourds for sale at the festival. I was afraid to even look at the price!

{{gwi:136288}}
cait1
15 years ago
OMGOSH!! Those gourds are AMAZING!!! I will have to grow gourds next year. And I like your gourd. I think your lizards are cool!
akup_a
15 years ago
Glad you enjoyed your trip. I like your gourd the best. The opening is very unique. Did you do the lizards free hand? They're very cute. My fav though is the tea pot (who'd a guess?) I hope your Mom enjoys the chair as much as I did.
Vickie
sanibelbreeze
15 years ago
The Madison area has many great& unique shops on this order....fun to go thru. Sounds like a fun weekend in a great city!!!
sunnyca_gw
15 years ago
Glad you got away on a mini vacation with Bob & friend! Recharges the body & then to have such great fun shopping for all these neat things is icing on cake. Gourds are so different & beautiful. I have 2 big ones unpainted from TS, will never look that good tho but gives me inspiration! Love the cute chair!!Jan
luna_llena_feliz
Original Author
15 years ago
Here is how I did the lizards ... the instructor had a bunch of patterns. You can see some of them in the 4th gourd picture down. She had us trace the pattern onto Glad brand Press N Seal and then cut it out. We stuck the Press N Seal to the gourd and burned right through it. Unfortunately, I didn't have the right tip for my burner to do detail work and had to make do with the wrong tip. Ack!

Did I say I wanted to make a scarecrow like this one?

{{gwi:136289}}

I bought a "head" gourd to match that one. Now all I need is a branch and make a necklace from a little gourd.

Madison Thrift Store & Easter Weekend Finds

Comments (20)

concretenprimroses

katishooked

Related Discussions

Marlene Kindred

cait1

cait1

luna_llena_feliz
Original Author

mzclassic

concretenprimroses

TwoMonths

TwoMonths

TwoMonths

jeannespines

susiesunshine

Purplemoon

luna_llena_feliz
Original Author

cait1

akup_a

sanibelbreeze

sunnyca_gw

luna_llena_feliz
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Madison Thrift Store & Easter Weekend Finds

Comments (20)

Related Discussions

luna_llena_felizOriginal Author

luna_llena_felizOriginal Author

luna_llena_felizOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

luna_llena_feliz
Original Author

luna_llena_feliz
Original Author

luna_llena_feliz
Original Author