Thrifty home finds.

While on our regular thrift and junk haunts, we've recently found some pretty great things for the house:

 This cool, vintage Steelmaster index catalog drawer now houses all of our Wii controllers.

 I fell in love with this lamp at Target. A few months and $8 later, it became mine (with tags still on!)

This vintage portrait from the 1960s was too cool to pass up. $8.

If anyone else has come upon thrifted gems recently, I'd love to hear about them!

Mountain finds.

While in the mountains, we managed to get away for some solid thrifting adventures. There's gold in them hills!

1930s pale pink Forty Winks nightgown

 1970s Glen Harbour abstract print blouse

 1970s striped maxi skirt SOLD

1960s lace and turquoise silk cocktail dress 

1960s Rosette Pennington New York jade green brocade skirt and top

These pieces will be added to the Inherited shop as soon as I stop being so lazy.

Road trippin'.

We launched our long weekend in Chapel Hill with a meandering drive through South Carolina, avoiding major highways and stopping in thrift stores and junk stops along the way (shout-out to Camden, SC, and one of the most vintage-packed Goodwill stores I've ever seen). We even stopped for ice cream at the World's Largest Strawberry, which was the jam. I don't know if you're able to observe the unbridled excitement that Maya and I were feeling, but trust me, it was there. 

Once we got to Chapel Hill, we were stuffed to the gills: delicious dinners at Vimala's and Acme, drinks at Lantern,  lunch at NanaTaco,  and homemade brunch at Amanda and Reid's house. 

We took a morning walk around UNC Chapel Hill, went thrifting around Durham, hugged puppies, and admired the amazing handiwork of Cathy and David and their incredible home renovations. I love watching their progress and it makes me so eager to have a home of my own to play with one day.

As it often does, the weekend flew by at lightning speed, and I'm feeling that familiar homesickness of having left some of the greatest friends a gal can have. Already looking forward to the next visit!

Have a seat.

Steven has been looking for a good desk chair for quite a while. Like me, he likes old things. Things that look like they probably have a story in them.

So, when he saw this chair in our first junk shop stop in Columbia, he was immediately smitten.

When I see a piece of furniture I like, I immediately look under the piece and around its edges for identifying information. It didn't take long to find the circular brass logo for W.H. Gunlocke and Co. I quickly googled the company and saw that this chair's twin was for sale on eBay for nearly $800.  Once we saw that, we didn't even flinch at the $20 price tag.

The details on this chair are incredible, from its hand-tacked leather seat (with only one scratch!) to the pristine mechanics underneath. It's a 1940s wonder and is still amazingly comfortable, even after over 70 years.

W.H. Gunlocke chairs have an amazing American history, starting in 1902, when they began in a New York factory. They managed to survive the Great Depression, and FDR even chose a Gunlocke chair for his seat in the Oval Office. Eight other US presidents, including JFK  chose a Gunlocke chair for their time in the Oval Office.

Finding out interesting historical facts about seemingly forgotten pieces of furniture or articles of clothing bring them back to life. I think knowing where something came from can explain why it still exists today--from its craftsmanship to the care its previous owners took over these pieces.

Seek peek.

I finally took my boyfriend up on his offer to take me on a Columbia treasure-hunting expedition. He has been telling me that Columbia is the place to go on a hunt.  He was right; it felt like there was a thrift store, junk shop, or antique store on every corner. Most of these amazing dresses (and one very chic 1940s suit) are from yesterday's adventure. They'll be debuting at the Art for Charity Pop Up Shop at Michael Mitchell on February 11, and whatever doesn't sell will go up on seek vintage's Etsy after that!

(One of) the cheapest corner(s) of my house.

So...while taking pictures of my Christmas decorations, I stopped at this little tableau. I love this little nook of my living room, because it was dirt cheap. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you'll know that the green lamp and shade were a curb find (still with the $204 price tag on the bottom...holler!). But the new glass-top side table and globe are recent additions to the living room.

Anyone who says they can't afford to redecorate their house is a liar. The side table was $6 at a local Goodwill, and the store has a deal where all furniture is an additional 20% off if you're able to take it with you at the time of purchase. So, since I could maneuver this little baby into the back seat of my car right then, I paid a whopping $4.80 before tax. The globe was from another local Goodwill store, and was $5. I think it makes quite the handsome set-up. It would be perfect if I didn't notice how crooked those pictures are!

The candle was a gift. I have loved this brand and scent since I got it as a Christmas present a few years ago, and will keep burning these candles every Christmas season as long as I make them. The candle is Frasier Fir by Thymes, and I can't recommend it enough. It smells like winter and Christmas.Thymes, if you want to send me free candles, feel free!

Anyone else have any cheap finds they're particularly fond of?

Silky smooth.

I've been obsessed with stocking seek vintage with silk tops for spring and summer. Warm weather calls for barely there clothing and what feels lighter on the skin than silk? Tucked in to short-shorts or a cotton skirt, these tops will be your best friend until autumn rolls around. And even then, toss a scarf or blazer on top and you'll be good to go all year.

If you're in the Charleston area, the next Lowcountry Artist Market is June 25, so mark your calendars! I'll be there with a rack stuffed with silk tops, sundresses, cute little skirts, and piled high with shoes and bags.

Primary Colors: Three Vintage Finds

Diane von Furstenberg map shirt (1980s) SOLD

Aileen Pennington ruffle blouse (1960s) SOLD

Renee Marciel Originals silk dupioni cocktail dress (1950s) SOLD

I got to do a few Goodwill thrifting trips while in North Carolina for Thanksgiving. I love seeing these primary colors hanging alongside each other. I'll be posting more of my finds on the blog and on seek vintage in the next few days.

October thrifting.

I've embarked on a few thrifting expeditions in search of new finds to prepare seek vintage's booth at the Lowcountry Artist Market in a few weeks.

Charleston:

This lace blouse is so romantic. The only part of the whole blouse that isn't semi-sheer lace is the horizontal panel across the front. It drapes so beautifully. I'm obsessed.

I love this color blue, and the dress drapes in such a goddessy way. The gold belt is from a later thrifting expo, pictured again below.

 

This vintage Emanuel Ungaro silk dress is my favorite recent find. With a pocketed tulip skirt and the most insane shoulders, this dress is not for the faint of heart. But it's incredible, nonetheless.

This blue bean-shaped evening bag is cute and fun.

I call this the Pirate Belt. The hardware brings it to another level.

Waynesville, NC:

This dress confused me at first, but once I put it on, I loved it. I think it will look so cool this autumn, worn with black tights and black knee-high boots.

 

The first thing I'm always drawn to in a thrift store is anything with beading and/or sequins. These jackets would look so amazing with tight black pants and a simple white t-shirt underneath.

Camel coats seem to be the big fall/winter trend. They're all over every magazine. I accessorized this collarless, buttonless camel jacket with the belt seen below.

I love this belt. It looks like reptile scales, but the gold keeps it classy.

I can never stray from stripes.