Thrift Haul: Back to the Flea Market with Pacman, Boozing, Mod Lamps & More

I hit up my favorite flea market for the first time in months this Wednesday and went crazy. The booths needed fresh merch and the new finds were inspiring. It took a couple of days to clean and process it all, but 'twas worth it!

Holy Ash Tray Nirvana, Batman! Okay that made no sense, but god damn, these were too beautiful. I've never puffed on smoke from tobacky of the non or wacky variety but man do I have an affinity for ash trays. See the sets I made out of them on Etsy.

This huge atomic style red beast is a pretty piece for daily use or display. I'm selling it for $15.00. ---> On Etsy

I then focused on my other fetish, glasses! This beautiful set of glasses features one of my favorite reptiles, a pair of gorgeous chameleons. This set is from the iconic Budweiser Superbowl commercials. ---> On Etsy

I finally found video game glasses! I've been jealous seeing them turn up on other blogs and on Etsy. ---> Etsy.

And rounding out the 1980s pop culture we have these kitschy band buttons to admire. I'm selling them on Etsy. ----> Etsy

I try to never buy coffee mugs but this one with a history of phones up the 1980s is a nice time capsule piece. Now we can chart a similar piece with cell phones alone! ---> On Etsy

For  a look a the unusual we have a peanut with a gold tooth. Yep, peanut creamer with one gold tooth. Carry on. ---> On Etsy

How about this nice...rural gentleman? Just a fun made in Japan plastic toy that I thought would photograph well against white. May be fun to pit him against dinosaurs in a still life sometime. ---> On Etsy

These lodge-tastic retro steins are nice a nice local bits of history, love the iconic look of the pair. I sold a similar Vegas one. Hope they'll do well on Etsy or locally. ---> On Etsy

And for really getting your drink on, how about a 1/2 Gallon of ale? Got these cute set for a song. Selling them for $15.00 for the pair. ---> On Etsy

I bought this golden bulldog ice bucket and matching cup retro drinking set for my boyfriend, it reminded me of his bulldog, Dozer! We'll use it on his deck when we're resting from gardening. Now we just need patio furniture to put it on...

I found two more beautiful ombre glasses (already have a set on Etsy  here) and they look so nice with this groovy anchor tray. ---> On Etsy

I'll be surprised if this beautiful Trav-L-Bar hasn't sold yet, I normally can't hold on to them for long. I filled it with some beautiful vintage barware I had on hand and put it in my Southern Crossing booth over the weekend. ---> On Etsy

A haul from me cannot be complete without some planters, which I've been selling off lately after sitting on them for a while. I'm filling some with pretty succulents to keep at home too, but not these ones. ---> On Etsy

I adore this pants planter! I've seen them online before but never in real life. He'd be so gorgeous filled with greenery, if I can't persuade a buyer for it he'll live on my desk filled with a succulent.---> On Etsy

I found another small task lamp, selling him locally or in Southern Crossing for $12.00 if anyone's interested.

This beautiful trash/storage can was irresistible with its vintage illustrations and nautical charm. I love the striped interior. Would be gorgeous in the bathroom or storing yarn, fabric, or craft supplies. ---> On Etsy

This vintage fire bucket would be another fine supply holder, I believe it held sand next to a fire to put it out, would also be nice next to a fireplace holding logs or supplies in any room. Love the classic look to it. ---> On Etsy.

A dealer threw this card game in for free, selling it for $3.00 if anyone would like it! Great deal!

Fighting cocks! Love the animated expression and poses on this set, I have them on Etsy. ----> On Etsy

The next set of wall set of wall hangings- groovy 1970s butterflies that you can hang indoors or outdoors. ---> On Etsy

I liked the look of this vintage radio for the antique mall booth, which is redone to feel like a cozy closet. Selling it for $12.00 if anyone's interested.

I bought this desk lamp from a reseller friend who's downsizing, I love the soft glow. Excellent task lighting that's easy on the eyes. Selling it for $12.00 on the blog if you're interested.

And the bright green numbers on this clock were so appealing. A theme in this set of finds is bright colors, I've been looking out for bright, summery pieces. ---> On Etsy

And mushrooms! This mushroom jar reads "coffee filters" at the top. Letting 'er go for $6.00 if you're interested.

Like this bright bowling ball bag, it was almost brown with dirt when I found it, ick! The magic eraser did wonders for it. ---> On Etsy

By the way, this bag came with one ball and one shoe. I tossed the shoe, but the was one groovy old bowling shoe, neh?

And this ice bucket is super summer! Love the bright stripes on it, selling it for $9.00 to any interested party.

And here's a cool retro cooler to go with your summery ice bucket, love the typography on this guy that could have easily walked out of my childhood beach trips. ---> On Etsy

And what's summer without straws? Each side has a different fun illustration. It would be a fun display for the packaging alone. ---> On Etsy

One more thing more summer than straws, beach matts! Tempted to keep this beauty too but it's for sale for $12.00.

This one has beautiful vintage illustrations on the front and back that inspired me to make some designs. You'll see some more of this later.

Isn't it funny that one thing I haven't been able to find while thrifting or even curbside hunting/dumpster diving is a nice crate? I love the one I found above, perfect for shoppers to flip through my records. It's for sale but I wouldn't mind keeping it for display in the kitchen or living room.

I love the design on the front and the side! Selling the beautiful thing for $15.00.

Oh, and, pirate ship! I found and sold a version of this playmobil boat that still had its stunning bright orange sales. This one is for sale but I'll enjoy keeping it around to stage photos in the meantime. It's $9.00 to anyone who wants it.

I had bad-ass hauls the past couple of weeks, I must say. They were sorely needed after a long bought of thrift abstinence, sometimes you really need new merchandise to keep your antique mall booths from feeling stale. That said, I must get to work painting things, making, pricing, and organizing!

SALES and such: It's ALL for sale, so e-mail me if you'd like to buy anything you see. I've been making group deals and general deals on my Etsy items for blog readers, e-mail if there's anything you like! All the items in this post are going to be priced higher once they hit Etsy.

What did you find this weekend?! Do share your finds and posts in the comments.

Linked to: [Nifty Thrifty] [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Sir Thrift a Lot]

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Damn, I Made it Look too Easy: Getting Real about Leaving the Day Job

Every time I write a creative biz tip post I get at least one e-mail that looks a lot like this:

I wrote a timeline to show people it was a slow, gradual process that took years. I'll break it down some more here. The basic answer: the brand I've built is the result of sleepless nights, HARD-ASS-WORK and perseverance over three years.

1) Passion: I started Thrift Core soon after I landed my copywriting job, I was ghost writing and wanted a space where I could write with my real voice. Early posts were BAD due to very limited time and lack of practice, but it was the necessary start.

Lesson: Your first blog posts may not where/what you want them to be, but it's good to just start writing to get into the routine and to practice. Plus, pick PASSION. 

2.)  Don't Quit: I worked on Thrift Core and worked 55 hours per week at the day job for 3 years until Thrift Core became the full time job. Probably worked 65-70 hours per week.

Lesson: It's going to take time, don't quit your day job in a hurry. You may actually find out you hate doing what you thought your dream job was. Go slow, give it a try first. Don't dive in, test the waters! 

3.) Since 1997: I make/design blogs for others and navigate the web so well because I've been experimenting with web writing and design since I was eleven.

Lesson: It's going to take time to hone the skills you need for your work.

A preview of Monday's huge haul post, by the way. Will be doing LOTS of Etsy listing today, and antique mall re-staging.

4.) Make Mistakes: I've heard many entrepreneurs say you're not trying hard enough if you're not making mistakes. You'll misspend money here and there, you'll try a new craft fair or antique mall and not make back profit.

Lesson: Keep trying when you fail. I broke even my first big art-selling venture, but I still generated interest, sold out, and met my dearest art pals/connections.

5.) Be Organized: After launching some disorganized art lines I know better! I keep spreadsheets for merchandise and am meticulously plotting the next steps for art lines and other ventures.

Lesson: Write your business plan, keep track of expenses, be pedantically organized. 

The Real Deal: When I was working on Thrift Core and at the day job I gained weight, looked like crap, and often felt frustrated. It was a go-go-go always busy exhilarating time but it took a year to reboot my health after that time. There was no magic shortcut I took, just hours of work and a genuine love of the work.

PS: I also have a decent amount of money saved up from when I was getting paid well at the day job. This gives me peace of mind when sales are slow.

So tell me...what's your biggest tip for success running a small business? What's your biggest frustration? Let's discuss in the comments and help each other succeed.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrifty Must-Have Kitchen Staples: My Essentials for Cleaning, Eats, & More

I remember reading articles about families that lived "trash free" by keeping only natural, whole/unprocessed product stocked in their pantries and making all their food and essentials from scratch. It was inspirational, but seemed impossible three years ago. Now here I am living the same way, it was a natural evolution that came along with slowly switching to eating raw vegan and making my own personal and household cleaning concoctions:

Keeping the following on hand I can make all of my favorite eats, body products, and household essentials. It's easy, effective, and cheap!:

Baking Soda: Use as shampoo, carpet refresher, toothpaste (very whitening!), household cleanser, deodorant (see here). For shampoo mix it with water to make a paste, as toothpaste, keep it in a jar and mix in a few drops of peppermint essential oil.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV removes hair build-up while closing each strand's cuticles, resulting in tangle-free, shiny hair. It balances skin's oil levels as a toner. Mix an equal part of vinegar and water to use as a toner or conditioner. Mix vinegar, water, baking soda and essential oil for a bad-ass all-surface cleanser. I use a little ACV in recipes, too.

Essential Oils: My favorites are lime, lemon, peppermint, and rosemary. I fill my mop bucket with hot water and essential oil, and mop with that instead of a chemical cleanser, it makes the apartment smell amazing! Essential ingredient in DIY cleansers, too.

Spices & Oils: black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, dried basil, chipotle, chili powder, cayenne, stevia (for tea and smoothies, use it a lot!), agave, and tamari are essentials. I sometimes use coconut oil in smoothies, salad dressings, and desert recipes- it doubles as a body moisturizer.

Herbs: I'm growing ample spearmint, parsley and basil., I love adding fresh and dried spearmint to teas like yerba mate to overpower the strong, grassy flavor. I add parsley to a lot of recipes and juice it, too.

Nuts: I love adding 1/4 cup of nuts to my frozen fruit smoothies, it makes them creamy. I keep almonds, cashews, and walnuts as my typical staples, excellent for adding texture to recipes.

Leafy Greens: For salads, green juices, or for wrapping up pates. I usually have romaine, kale, and collard leaves on hand.

Frozen Fruit: For my fruit smoothies, my usual formula is 1 cup of fruit, 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of ice, and 1/4 cup of nuts.

Plants Aplenty (!!!): I  keep zucchini, apples, avocados, tomatoes cucumber, red bell pepper, celery, carrots, and 1 head of cabbage on hand for recipes, salads, and juicing.

Glass Jars: I save all of my jars and plastic containers (usually from olives and sauerkraut) to re-use for holding leftovers in the fridge, use as drinking glasses, etc.

You can buy a lot of these essentials in the bulk buy section of your local health food stores or save money and start growing your own goodness. I can't wait until I have a constant stream of leafy greens coming in to chomp on and juice!

What are your go-to kitchen and household essentials? Got any DIY cleaning/hygiene recipes to share?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.