Vintage Thrift Hunting, and What to Look For

Hi All!

Thrifting has easily become one of my top favorite past times and hobbies.  I suppose it becomes a collecting of sorts, but has truly become a passion of mine!   When I was younger, I remember going to all of the antique stores, flea markets and estate sales with my grandma and aunts.  I would wander around and be so intrigued with all of the unique and rare pieces that were there before my time..

Now that I am older, I have learned to appreciate where these pieces come from, and have found a niche for item to value pricing and what it is that I am looking to find.

The best part is that there are so many different types of thrift finds. And the options are endless.  I am always looking for that next antique gem -- so that I have the ability to mix and match and personalize the house when I want to swap things out per season or as I find new staples.

In this blog, I plan to layout the different thrift and vintage finds that I look for every time I am out and about by category.

1. Kitchen Items!
There are always some sort of kitchen item that I have my eyes peeled for.
Some of the items in which I always look for are the following:
-Crocks ( I have really found a love for all things CROCKS, as they are multi-functional)
-Scales
-Pitchers
-Dishes
-Vintage serving Trays
-fruit crates & crate labels for framing and hanging on the wall
-old spice tins
-Canning Jars (the blue ones are my favorite, and i have an entire collection!)
-Bowls
-Teapots, I have a really cute copper one that looks beautiful on any shelf or cabinet.
-Containers of multiple sizes
-rolling pins
-glass pieces
-wooden dough bowl

2. Home Decor
-Old mirrors
-antique aluminum tiles ( i have numerous sizes and prints for multiple rooms in my home)
-candle sticks
-clocks
-books
-trunks
-crates
-buckets
-pictures
-shelving or door toppers to re-purpose as shelves
-Vases
-boxes & baskets of all sorts
-tables
-chairs
-lamps
-antique files and drawers
-Old wooden tool boxes
-wooden ladder (mine is used for folded blankets in my living room)
-picture frames
-wicker
-antique doors
-windows
-childrens books and chalk boards (I have a bunch of vintage Little Golden Books to add to my collection for the future)
-neat prints that can be put into frames or layered in trunks

3. Misc.
-old keys for jewelry
-linens to repurpose for pillow covers, aprons, etc.
-throws & quilts
-trunks and cases
-globes
-outdoor wrought iron pieces
-Planters or re-purposing equipment as planters, ie: old poultry feeder, trough, chicken coop nest
-lighting
-structural & architectural pieces

THE LIST REALLY GOES ON and ON and ON.. I always have my eye out for how I can use oldy moldy treasures and how to repurpose them. or how I can display and use them in my home as accent pieces.

The best thing, is there is never a one piece fits all...because everyone has different style and taste, and someone else's junk is really another person's treasure!  I love seeing how other bloggers and friends use thrift finds in their homes, and how they are able to fit them into their style.

I truly crave going to flea markets and antique stores..it brings me so much joy to find unique pieces to make our home seem warm and cozy.  My style is definitely a little bit of new mixed with old..and it comes together so cohesively.

Our home is definitely a retreat for us, and I take pride in all of the quaint, but staple pieces that not all others are able to just go to a common store ...like Target and pick up off of a shelf to decorate their homes with.

The fun part for me is in the hunt for the PERFECT items that catch my eye and draw me in.

I am already planning and anticipating all of the flea market finds coming up this next season.  I have provided pictures from real flea and antique market experiences.  Half of my home is decorated with finds from markets. And I cannot wait to add to my collection of old precious goodies!

Let me know some of your flea market finds and suggestions for what I should look for this year!

Love,
Emma Luna