The Gift of Thrift: Piece by Piece

When it comes to offering The Gift of Thrift, I like to collect items throughout the year and offer a present that is curated especially for its recipient. For my brother-in-law who is a country music fan and a cowboy aficionado I paired this church rummage sale book with a stoop sale harmonica.

At a flea market in New Jersey, I found this 1970s pin perfect for my mom, who is also a grandmother, and pinned it to the thrift store cording that is tied around this gift. 

Photographs by Stan Williams

For my sister, I wrapped up a pair of 1960s wooden salt and pepper shakers I picked up at a Long Island thrift shop and offered it along with a recipe box of the same era. To complete the collection, I added a set of Current recipe cards from the 1970s that I found at a flea market.

Happy 2012 to all!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Reuse & Repurpose: Paper Pleasure

What to do with a roll of vintage shelf paper I bought at a garage sale for a nickle?

Photographs by Stan Williams

Why turn it into colorful gift wrap, of course!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,

The Elegant Thrifter

Frugal Fun: A $3 Box

Photograph by Stan Williams

How could I pass up this $3 box of goodies at an estate sale in Kansas City?  It's jam packed with goodies from the 1960s and '70s -- colorful ribbons, a dozen promotional pencils, mini stickers and a white poinsettia. Now I call that a box of fun!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

The Find: A Post with a Past

Remember when I showed you photographs of Michael Quinn's Christ-mystical gathering last week? Well here is another of his fabulous fiestas that he put on a couple of years ago. You may also recall Michael's talent from The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects and Vintage Details, who along with Heather Kerr and their crafty pals, stood out  as shining examples of how to create a successful party on a budget.

Here's the exterior of the invitation, all folded up like a plastic wallet. Note the working button and the zig-zag stitching around the edges.

And then the glorious interior -- handcrafted with multiple layers and textures -- touting a Christmas-Mexican get together and requesting a white elephant gift that started with an "M" and ended in an "O." Veli and I took a mango and a container of Milano cookies!

Here are some amazing scenes from the evening's Christmas festivities, which could easily translate into any party-worthy occasion.

Isn't she pretty as a poinsettia? Heather's all holidayed out, serving shots of tequila from her decorated tray. Note the tip jar!

The decor took traditional reds and greens and mixed in a Mexican twist.

Guests were invited to pick their favorite musical instruments, including papier-mâché maracas and homemade tambourines, all poised in this brightly colored dollhouse...

so they could accompany Michael and Heather playing carols on a vintage organ.

Festive food was plentiful! I was especially attracted to spicy chili bubbling in a bricked-over Crock Pot and the mass of red candles clustered in vintage candelabra.

Don't you remember making festive paper chains like these when you were a kid? These got a South-of-the-Border embellishment of metallic paper cutouts with a flower ball featuring Freida Kahlo's portrait.

And this cheerful holiday piñata star hanging from the ceiling packs a blast of holiday heat!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!

The Elegant Thrifter

The Gift of Thrift: It's a Wrap!

Photo by Stan Williams

For me, the most fun I have giving a gift is trying to find memorial ways to package my offerings. That's why throughout the year, no matter where I may have traveled, I always keep my eyes open for ribbons and trims with which I can personalize my presents. Here is a bunch of ribbons I bought at a garage sale in Independence, Missouri. I think I paid less than $5 for all of them.

Photo by Stan Williams

 I am also always on the lookout for gorgeous, decorative tins to contain my gifted sweets. I think I paid $1 for this at Goodwill. 

Photo by Stan Williams

Sometimes you come upon a container that's so special that it almost becomes the gift itself. Take this antique, wooden log cabin found in a vintage shop, for example. All I did was place the gift inside, wrap it up with one of my thrifted bows, and it became a standout under the Christmas tree.

Photo by Stan Williams

 During the holidays, I'm always invited to all kinds of parties. As you may know, I love to offer a friendly pineapple upside-down plate on arrival, so I always seek out an original platter that fits the recipients personality and offer it along with the baked treat. That way they can keep the serving dish and I never have to worry about retrieving it!

Photo by Stan Williams

And then there's the sparkly, vintage handbag -- perfect for tarting up, dropping in a gift certificate along with other goodies and closing it with a colorful ladies scarf.

Hope your holidays are filled with many memorable moments shared with family and friends!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Reuse & Repurpose: With Bells On

Last summer while hitting the garage sales in my hometown of Independence, Missouri, I found two boxes of unused 1970s Christmas Cards for one dollar!

I refreshed these old cards with ribbons, glitter and bells (which, by the way, I hear have cost some recipients some coin to retrieve....sorry!) and sent them on their merry way to all of my nearest and dearest.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Frugal Fun: Holiday Magic

Every year I eagerly await a Christmas party invitation from Michael Quinn, my beyond-creative buddy who lives in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. This year's notice was not to be outdone, announcing a magical, Christ-mystical theme for the annual gathering. As you can see by his get-up for his gathering, Michael celebrated all holiday traditions of multiple religions and earthly pleasures.

The table was moodily set with veiled cherubs, nativity scene figurines and paper butterflies that Michael rescued from a Tiffany & Co. window display.

A Victorian candelabra filled with glowing white candles found its place among vintage ornaments that graced the scenario.

Streamers, beads and lengths of white lace draped from the ceiling, accenting the tablescape below.

The living room ceiling was strewn with even more lace, holding colorful holiday orbs in front of a lit, papier-mâché globe.

As always, it was yet another Michael Quinn production worth tooting a horn about!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

The Find: Down for the Count

When creating a theme for a tabletop, often the decor will hint as to the direction one may take. Such was the case when we photographed the home of Coastal Living's Heather Chadduck for the pages of The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details. Chadduck, who had already embellished her flea market chairs with stitched numerals, completed her counting scenario by placing florals in a thrifted metal bucket stenciled with the number six.



Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,

The Elegant Thrifter

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The Find: Just for You

If you have a copy of The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details, drop me a note at theelegantthrifter@gmail.com, and I'll send you a personalized bookplate. Give it as a gift, or treat yourself, from retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Happy Thrifty Holidays!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

The Gift of Thrift: From Christmas to Birthday

The best Gifts of Thrift are ones that speak to the passions of the recipient. Such was the case when I received a book from a friend who noticed how much I admired the same book in his home library. He found this copy of The Splendor of France on eBay, and it appears to have been a heartfelt Christmas gift to a certain Bill 20 years ago. One man's Christmas gift becomes another's birthday present!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Frugal Fun: Tin Terrific!

Here's a pretty tin I found last Saturday on my trip to Film Biz Recycling in Brooklyn. It'll make the perfect container for a gift of Christmas cookies -- if I don't keep it for myself!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

The Object of My Desire: Hot Stuff

Photograph by Stan Williams

It's the devil with a red suit on, and he's riding a sled!

This sporty red imp atop a wooden bucket caught my eye at the Allaire New Jersey flea market this fall. This brazen little guy will magically keep your cold goods icy and of course your hot stuff, hot!  Handmade in the 1950s, this useful, insulated canister once belonged to a man who loved to entertain to a house full of friends, his niece told me. Based on the theme of this treasure  I picked up for my own party throwing, I can only imagine that her uncle's gatherings were sizzling good times.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Reuse & Repurpose: A Sweet Thanksgiving

Photograph by Stan Williams

The best thing about Thanksgiving is being able to use all my thrifted serving dishes. Yesterday, I shared the 75-cent turkey platter I found at a church rummage sale that is now holding a country ham. For my pumpkin caramel cheesecake, I picked another $1 platter, this one from a garage sale in New Jersey.

This pretty yellow Pyrex dish is making its Thanksgiving debut -- at least with my cooking in it -- holding an old-fashioned cornbread dressing. It, too, was found at a New Jersey garage sale for about $5, but I think it looks like a million (vintage) bucks!

Photograph by Stan Williams

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with all your family and friends.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Frugal Fun: Gobble Gobble

I'm trying to decide if I should use my 75-cent, rummage-sale turkey platter to serve my caramel praline cheesecake or my country ham.

Photograph by Stan Williams

What do you think?

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,

The Elegant Thrifter

The Find: Winter Warmth

There's something irresistible about the simplicity of a beach cottage -- one practically under-decorated with finishes that have faded under the sun's constant caress and textures speckled and splotched by the salty air's kiss.

Photograph by Stan Williams

With winter weather fast approaching, I thought I'd share some heartwarming images that I photographed on the Fire Island community of Saltaire while doing research for The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details.

Photograph by Stan Williams

Mary-Ellen Weinrib, a home and food stylist who has spent her summers on Saltaire for more than 20 year, took me on a tour of her home and I snapped away inspiration  -- a framed poppy canvas casually leaned on the mantle of a weathered fireplace, an intimate view through a painted screen door into a crisp-white guest room, or even just a sunny window seat lapping up the season's final rays. 

  

Photograph by Stan Williams

May your coming holidays be warm and sunny, even if it is cold and snowy outdoors!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous!

The Elegant Thrifter

Reuse & Repurpose: You Spin Me Round

Photograph by Stan Williams

Mirror, mirror on the wall, what to do with all the 45s in the hall?

If you're artist Jeff Davis, you take those round vinyl discs and turn them into a mirror frame like this one on display at Mongo on Smith Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. 

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,

The Elegant Thrfiter

Reuse & Repurpose: Cups of Design

Photograph by Stan Williams

If you thought you saw fancifully embellished coffee cups floating in the prow of the Flatiron Building in New York City, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Until December 31, you can catch artist Gwyneth Leech drawing on used, paper coffee cups (no Styrofoam, please!) inside the glass enclosure dedicated to her work, Hypergraphia. Go visit Gwyneth, and have a cup or two, or three, or four....

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter 

Frugal Fun: Paper Kisses

When I was asked by Swarovski to recreate the decorative elements of a 1962 prom for its Spring/Summer 2012 editor meetings, I immediately enlisted the endlessly talents of Michael Quinn to help me execute this vintage affair.

It took hours of planning, thrift shopping and crafting -- all the things I adore doing, especially with Michael, who always has a few surprises up his sleeve. At one of our impromptu crafting sessions just days before our looming installation, I worked on the floor of Michael's Brooklyn kitchen covering books with colorful paper to serve as vintage yearbooks as Michael nonchalantly folded paper and applied hot glue at his dining table, which is a repurposed green door. I wasn't really paying attention to what he was creating until I realized they were paper corsages and boutonnieres for our imagined party people.

Here are the dazzling results -- paper flowers on vintage dresses. Don't you love the pink paper lips that complement the handmade theme of our Swarovski Prom?

Pucker up! XOXO

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,




The Elegant Thrifter

Project Prom

Photograph by Stan Williams

Here's a peek into the Swarovski prom I curated for the brand's editor previews.

Happy Weekend!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

The Gift of Thrift: Kick Up Your Heels

To me, when it comes to giving a special person a heartfelt gift, it really doesn't matter how much money you spend, but how much care goes into the offering. As hokey as it may sound, it really is the thought that counts, so that's why whenever I go to a flea market or garage sale, I'm always on the lookout for items destined for those who are dear to me.

This card, appropriate for a friend who loves to dance, is a"Slim Jims by Hallmark" card that someone back in the late 1960s or early 1970s purchased for a whole 15 cents! I found this  cheery, colorful piece of stationery with dated lingo ("as gay as the Cha Cha") at an Independence, Missouri garage sale. It reminds me of a time not so long ago when most birthday wishes came in a post box rather than in an e-mail. While the number of letters and cards I receive has dwindled while my electronic in-box has burgeoned, I still get excited about checking my mailbox downstairs. And on the occasion that someone has actually mailed me a note, I'm always delighted!

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Frugal Fun: Flying High

Photograph by Stan Williams

If you happen to be a vendor at a flea market, one thing that will catch my eye is if you have taken the time to humorously display your wares. The moment I walked up to this table, its proprietress had plopped this tiny Christmas into this glass vessel, drawing my attention to the nearby Hazel Atlas flying pheasant piece of barware that reminded me of one my aunt and uncle had many years ago. I was also amused by the plastic fruit in the dish and the blue tassel, but it was the pitcher I was after.  For the bargain price of $1, it flew right into the shopping bag of goodies I had already acquired that day.

Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter

Reuse & Repurpose: Time to Book!

Photograph by Jim Franco

Here's another favorite image from The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details.  The host of this "Sweet vs. Savory" party Michael Quinn looked took unused library check-out pockets and refashioned them into an appropriate invitation to "an autumnal match, a culinary victory."


Always Frugal, Always Fabulous,


The Elegant Thrifter