Stately ponies

I’ve almost definitely blogged about this little project before, but I don’t think I’ve given it a proper post. I found these magnificent bookends at the thrift store a few months ago, and fell in love immediately. Only problems:

• The paint was chipping, but they were too intricately carved to be sanded.
• The color was awful. That seventies reddish-brown.
• They were basically useless. Made out of wood, they weren’t heavy enough to function as bookends. Not even close.

Solutions:

• I bought a can of gray spray-paint primer and gave them each two very light coats.
• I originally thought I would spray paint the final color on, but it was too difficult to get the spray paint in those little crevices without making a drippy ugly mess. So I gave them three coats of acrylic paint. Yup. It took forever.
• I screwed them into the bookshelf  from below. Now my bookshelf has a hole in it, but it’s worth it.

I particularly love these because they surround my favorites of Grady’s library.

Thrift haul: Inexplicably cheap

I’m actually pretty proud of this thrift store haul. All of this stuff came in at just under $30. The American Fork DI is quickly ousting Saver’s from the coveted Mel’s-favorite-thrift-store throne.

Plaid skirt with pockets for me, Grey knitted vest for me, white tiered miniskirt for me, plaid wool dress for Grady, and a cotton brown H&M dress for Grady.

A bunch of dresses for Grady.

Death in Venice by Thomas Mann; Peace Pilgrim (!! This lady is one of my favorite Christians. I have a bunch of copies of this book – if you’d like one please let me know. A few of her ideas have completely permeated my life.); Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (2nd copy); Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck (my favorite book by my favorite author); Jean Anouilh’s Antigone (This is my favorite play, but I’ve never been able to finish reading it. I have such a strong reaction to it that I just can’t bear to continue reading. Someday I’ll finish it and then I’ll probably die.); Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora neale Hurston, The Transparent Self by Sidney M. Jourard (I’ve never heard about it, but apparently it’s about the transition from a closed private life to one of complete disclosure – of course that sounds really interesting to me.); The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck; and Great Illustrated Classics’ version of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds (I’m collecting this series for Grady, because I loved it when I was a kid. If you see any copies for under $5, please buy it and give it to me and I will pay you back and give you a kiss on the cheek.)

These “thrift haul” posts seem really forced; of this I am aware. Here are my reasons behind writing them:

• I enjoy reading similar posts on other blogs.
• To keep track of my consumerism
• Because this blog is called “thrifted,” after all, and it has lost track of its original purpose.
• Because I really love books and clothes and stuff.

Edit: I forgot to mention the most important reason! To let people know that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get some great stuff. And that re-using and recycling is cool.

Tragedy.

Two days ago I went a-thrifting, and the loot was golden. However, the original purpose of the thrifting wasn’t to spend, it was to kill some time. So I brought no money at all. It really makes me sick to my stomach.