Thrifting and a give-away

What is it about rummaging through other peoples cast offs that gives me such a thrill? Earl and I had a great day together yesterday exploring new territory in Ann Arbor. Home to the University of Michigan and a very diverse and artistic population, Ann Arbor is a good time just waiting to be had, so we had it! We were concentrating on thrift shops yesterday and our first stop was a Kiwanis club thrift store. This store is only open Saturdays from 9-12, no pictures because it was so packed with bargain hunters you had to almost fight to get through the crowd. Not my idea of a great time, but since we got there as the doors opened we beat most of the crowd in and I got a few bits of vintage jewelry and pearls for creating, then we got out of there while we could still get to the door.Our next stop was a fun one, it was a reuse and recycleing center where "good" stuff is dropped off instead of going to the dump. I have thought this idea was a good one for a long time! Look at all the light fixtures here! This chandelier was only $15.00, the wicker chair below (there were two!) only $35.00!

I didn't get anything here but we will be back in the spring to look again.Look at this chair, $35.00! I swear if I had a speck of blue in my house I would have bought this, it was in perfect condition.

One of the last stops was my favorite. It's called Thrift Mart and it is a resale and consignment shop. Oh my. Three floors of the most awesome, great stuff ever!

Needlepoint chairs and stools....

These vintage glasses were only 50 cents each, love the bright fruits on them!

I saw this little tea for one and thought of Dolly, sorry Dolly, didn't get it:>(

You say you like milk glass? They have a little. I did walk away with a few treasures, there was so much to see here I could have bought more, but the budget just wouldn't allow it so this is what I found....

A platter that goes with my set of Johnson Brothers rose bouquet (another garage sale find) that we use all the time for special dinner parties, and a stack of 17 clear glass dessert plates for $4! The platter was marked $10 but they rang it at $9 because it had been there long enough to get marked down. What a deal! the platter is listed on replacements.com for $30.99. The dessert plates are just what we need for big family dinner parties and I love that they are so simple that they don't fight whatever china pattern I use. I did get a couple more things but I am waiting to show them to you until I finish a few projects...which leads me to the other reason for this post. One year ago today I stumbled and bumbled my way through my first post on this blog. I had no idea what I was doing or how much I would get out of this experience. It has been such a positive part of my life and I have loved every minute of it and every person I have met through sweet comments and the thoughts and experiences and creations you put into your own blogs! So here is what I am giving away

It seems appropriate. After all you have all touched my heart in so many ways. The bliss charm represents the joy I find through this little piece of the world that is all mine to express myself in any way I choose. So I am giving you my heart and thanking you for the smiles and inspiration you have given me. I will be adding some more items as the week goes on. Just leave a comment on this post and your name goes in the hat. Thanks for making this a great year, I look forward to the next and to more fun with my "invisible friends":>)