It's interesting what you can learn about yourself while pawing through leftovers in a somewhat seedy thrift store in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, TX. The chain of Thrift Town stores is my newest obsession. I randomly discovered one in Arlington while driving to the DFW Pug Rescue's annual Pug-O-Ween event (another story for another time.) Went in and promptly snatched up a Nancy Sinatra record and gold anchor earrings. Yesterday I delved into the Oak Cliff location to find a gorgeous 1960s Pyrex gold-rimmed pitcher, vintage stationery, a vintage Neiman Marcus cardigan, a spoon rest, and a Le Creuset casserole dish. I had struck gold yet again.
And yet, as I wept with a joy over a set of Depression-era glassware, I realized what I really wanted to do with my life. I want to thrift. Non-stop. Every day. I want to rise at 5 am, throw my coffee in a thermos, climb in some hybrid pick-up truck, and hit every garage sale in a 25-mile radius before breakfast. Nothing makes me happier than combing through junk and finding treasure. Now, my idea of treasure is different than most people's. I realize not everyone wants to collect colorized portraits of no-longer-with-us relatives--actually, I use the term "relatives" loosely, as I know none of these people.
And not everyone shrieks with joy at old paint-by-number wilderness scenes, or black velvet Elvis paintings, or hideously tacky floral loveseats. But I do. I love all this junky stuff some grandmother in 1964 refused to let go of. I want to honor her memory and buy every single thing in her house. I want my home to be a shrine to an idealized time, the Eisenhower era, a place of manicured lawns and lipsticked housewives and well-behaved children named Chip and green Jell-O casseroles and four TV stations. Unfortunately, I can't buy every single amazing Pyrex houseware I find. Not only for monetary reasons, but because I'm simply running out room to put all this stuff. So what can I do? I can open my own store. I'll fill it to the brim with stuff I adore, stuff with no rhyme or reason, pink poodle lamps next to Lucite handbags next to fox-trimmed hats. If I can't buy it all for me, at least I can rescue it from Thrift Town and restore its dignity. These objects are all worthy of a museum exhibit, but if I can't provide that, I will offer them a place in my store--as yet untitled.
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Red Velvet Kate,
I just had to give you a shout out. I'm the communications manager/art director for Thrift Town and I share your passion for vintage items. I also run a quarterly contest called "What a Find!" If you find something fabulous make sure to email it to me at ashley@thrifttown.com. If you go to the Get Used section of our website you'll see some fun stuff that customers, and I have found at our stores. Thanks for shopping! Thanks for your passion! -Happy Hunting! Ashley
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