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Monday, July 7, 2014

Thrift Hoard: Fixer uppers

I think I'll do a whole post of "before and after" shots featuring the various repair jobs I've attempted and/or succeeded. Some of them are easier than I thought! Look!

Eww, that's nasty. That old scale for $2, is all dirty from foot dirt! Let's see what water and window cleaner does...
Daaaayum! Look at the sweet vintage mint green with sparkles Detecto scale! It's retro-tastic! I can't do a whole post on clean up right now. Because I already sold that scale and I've gotta haul it to the post office. Hope it doesn't cost too much to ship. I have no idea how much it weighs. BRB.
Now, that beauty was an easy sell. Do you ever pick something up due to its sheer bad taste and hope to find a buyer with a strong appreciation for tackyness?I do it frequently. I try and sell it based on kitsch value and end up having great fun writing up the listing. Behold:
Jesus H. Christ, that's a huge, 70s wall tapestry! (I'm sorry, Christians.)When I saw this piece hanging with the fabric at Savers, I was like, "oh, rapture!" It is so glorious with its bold, vibrant colors and epic 56" x 40" size!
Sure, it's tacky fun, nut would an actual religious person hang this in their home? If so, I may have alienated my fan base with my sarcastic listing. I guess, I'm trying to sell it ironically? Find Jesus on Etsy. See if you can count all the dumb jokes I cracked. If you don't think my listing is the least bit humorous...Sorry, Christians! 
Perhaps the deer is more your style. Yes, I have not one, but two richly toned, 70s wall tapestries. This one came home a day or two later on a Goodwill trip. I was like, "Deer God, that's cool!" (Sorry, again.) Deer tapestry on Etsy
On that same trip, I spotted, and left behind these next things. Then I came back. I had to return something. Then buy these:
 Rum jug lamps! A pair of them! Are you not impressed? Closer look at those ships might help:
Yo, ho, ho--actually, I think it would be a bit hackneyed to use pirate talk. A bit too obvious, don't ya think? OK, just a little...
Arr, the scallywags at ye thrift store hornswoggled me nine doubloons for this booty! Ye think it could fetch a wench a nice bounty?
Seriously, I have no idea what something like this goes for, because I really haven't found anything else similar on the internets. No markings, don't appear hand made, only sign of wear is the gold paint rubbed off each handles. The jug is about 16" tall. Eventually, I'll get some nice pics up and just throw a price out there.
Lately, I seem to have that problem. Like, those sweet jug lamps (jug is a hilarious word), I find something that I believe to be incredible, but I don't have any information to guide me.
For instance, these incredible things:
 
OMFG THOSE ARE SOME GORGEOUS MID MOD WALL PANELS. A pair of 3' tall, matching wooden wall art, featuring Greek people with pops of textured aqua and orange. (shrugs) Yeah, I guess that's pretty serious. Of course, with me; there's always a catch. Let's move in closer...
You see it? Keep going...
There's the top of the lady's urn...and there's the big, dumb scratched area. That's the lady panel. Let's check out ol' Stamos's:
Great Zeus! Look at that! (I wish I had more Greek jokes. In fact, given my heritage and homeland of former long time companion, it's somewhat ironic that I don't.) That's the scratched up top shown without flash in all its natural hideousness.
EDIT: after uploading these pics, I managed to finish up my wood staining job and may have somewhat camouflaged these things.
Here's what happened. When I saw them at Outfitters, they each had a thin but strong wire wrapped around the wall hanger hooks on their backs. When stacked back to front, these little wires on the back of one scraped the front of the one behind it. They must have switched positions a few times (giggle).
That makes me angry. Who did this?! Who, so carelessly caused the damage to this beautiful god and goddess?! WHY??!

There is a reward for information leading to the apprehension of whomever was negligent in his/her care of these art pieces. Just kidding, I just want information on the wall art. Also, there is no reward.
I feel like Danish inspired, MCM, wooden wall hanging pairs in aqua and orange are totally common. Yet, I can't find anything else to compare these to! They are unmarked. Names I came up with include Turner Wall Accessories, Belart, and Witco. No hits on any of those.
So, they're no name knock-offs. Just kidding, they have names. Narcissus and Aphrodite. I just don't know how to find homes for them, yet.
Linking up at Sir Thrift a Lot, a living space, and thrifter maker fixer farm.

5 comments:

  1. I sended you a hidden pm to your fb Moddy starr. please answer it? :) and i have other idea to discuss with you there... Let´s go!!

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  2. And, I seriously don't have any messages in my personal facebook account, or on my old Moody Starr wrestling account. Wish I could help. You could send an email, if you'd like. MoodyStarr@gmail.com

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    1. its ok :) i sended you a friend request if that is ok? it must be awesome to befriending a ex manager of wrestling and a currently fashionista.. you are pretty rare

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  3. I see so much stuff which gets damaged by the folks at the thrift store - tape is the WORST! Why do they need to tape everything up with industrial grade, airplane tape!? Stuff has been pristinely around since the 70s and one day in the thrift store ruins it.

    I'm impressed you cleaned the scale so easily; I would have surely gone at it with a magic eraser!

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  4. yeah those are sweet! I wish the thrift stores would take better care of their goodies!

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