A Jewelry Store? A Bookstore? An Art Gallery? Yes to all!

It's no secret that I love to read! I've mentioned many times in previous posts that I like to go to a special Goodwill Store that we have close by that has books, books and more books! The best thing is that most of them are 80 cents! You can't go wrong with that! Even buying online books at 99 cents can't beat my bookstore. I've also mentioned many times that someday I was going to take pictures of this store and write a post about it. Today is that day!

A little background...the reason for my title to this post is this bookstore has many faces. It's a bookstore, true, but it's also a nick-knack store, a jewelry store, an art gallery and much, much more! 

Here you see books! What I love is that the employees that work here have this store super organized. They have signs posted above each section that says whether it's Fiction, Non-Fiction, Education, Health, Parenting, Religious, Cooking, etc, etc...you get the idea, right? The books are all alphabetized by author in each section!

And in little nooks and crannies, like on the shelf at the bottom of this photo, they tuck little treasures, like dolls, candle sticks, looks like there is even a Santa Claus cookie jar down there! Darn, wish I had seen that!

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Here's the front entrance and they have a bookcase there facing the outside with some of their newer inventory of books. I usually grab about three or four books the second I come in!

And I forgot to put in my title that this is also a Hallmark Store!! Well not really, but see that nice, neat little section of different greeting cards? Nothing goes to waste once donated to Goodwill!

Also look carefully and you will see lots of other goodies, see some purses hanging on the wall behind the cashier? They also have some vintage jewelry back there too!

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Another shot of books and they also sell boxes. I've bought some of these boxes many times to move and sometimes just to store some of the books I've bought and read and need to return to Goodwill so someone else can benefit from them!

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I could spend hours in this place, which is why it's nice that they have created such a nice little reading area. All of this is donated stuff and almost all of it is for sale, but these tables and the little couch and a few chairs on the other side are not for sale but for customers to just sit and relax and look at books. 

The store has regular customers that come in and sit on weekends and just pass the time, just like a Barnes and Noble Bookstore...except without a Starbucks. 

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Another shot of books! As you can see there is a never-ending supply of books coming into this store constantly! Can you also see those posters and pictures set alongside? There are treasures to be seen everywhere!

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Another shot of books! When you read as much as I do it's really a nice option to be able to have such a huge selection for such a great price...plus, when I finish I donate them back so the Goodwill continues to profit from the books and someone else gets the pleasure of reading these books over and over again! Win-Win!

I thought this was an interesting little corner to share because this is all their vintage books. I've been looking for a first edition copy of the book, The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney. It was a book I read over and over as a child until it fell apart. I always check out this section and hope that one day I will come upon it. That will be a happy-happy, joy-joy day!

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And say you come with someone that is not into books...well they won't be bored, just tell them to stroll over to the Art Gallery! I love this section!!!

Here's a shot from the entrance, this room is located at the back of the store and there's lots of natural light which is perfect to show off all this cool artwork you can buy. It's all for sale! Someone that really loved ballet must have recently donated!

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More artwork! Isn't this fabulous? And all hung and displayed so nicely. And the store is so clean!!! 

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Can you see why I love this place and constantly rave about it and devoted a whole post to it? And I'm still not done!!! Yes...there is more to see!

I probably should have started with this photo as this is the front of the store. 

Where to start! Ok, so on the shelves to the left you see magazines. Yes, they even salvage magazines, lots of Oprah's and Southern Living and others. More artwork of course, probably their newest arrivals! And lots of little nick-knacks on the shelves and even on the floor! You can see in the background what appears to be jewelry, it is!

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This is a very cute section too. They don't sell the little bookshelf itself, trust me I've asked because I love it, but it is always filled with lots of cute little treasures!

And because I was so busy taking photos I wasn't really paying much attention to what was on the shelf and now I see that little angel blowing a kiss!! Love it! Shoulda bought it!

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And now...my favorite section in the whole store...oh c'mon....who am I kidding, the whole store is my favorite. But you know how you save the best for last? Well I always save looking at the jewelry for last because it is my favorite part.

I have found tons of cute bracelets and necklaces here for great prices! And the great thing is the pieces I find here are unique one of a kind items that no one else has!

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And I didn't leave empty handed. Along with all these great pictures, look what's in my shopping cart?

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I think that book in the front is one my mom or sister threw into my cart because I just looked around here at home and I don't have that book and I know it's not a book I would have been interested in. But the low-carb cookbook and the Atkins book behind it I will love going through.

So this is why I don't own a Kindle. Owning a kindle would keep me from the pleasure of visiting this great place filled with books and treasures and jewels and artwork and would probably put Goodwill out of business considering that I visit this place almost every weekend...but wouldn't you if you had it in your home town?


 

Mosaic Monday - My Sister's Christmas Present

I've been waiting to show this one to everyone since before October. But of course I couldn't because it was going to be a Christmas present from my mom to my sister Lisa and I couldn't post about it until after Christmas. Trust me...it was soooooooooo hard to keep this secret in the bag!

You will want to make sure to take a look at my Sunday Favorites post from yesterday before or after you read this one if you haven't taken a look at it yet. You can just click here to go there.

I really don't think I need to say a whole lot about this present my sister received for Christmas. I think the pictures pretty much speak for themselves.

First this mosaic including my favorite picture of my sister and my mother and three small pictures of her present which I include below so you can click on them to get more detail.

Here's the whole thing. It measures about 5 feet long by 3 feet wide. I'm not sure what my sister is using it for yet, but it would look great on a coffee table or as a table runner.

This is a closeup of the middle portion. You can click on the photo to enlarge so you can see more details. Doesn't that look complicated? I'm sure it was.

Here's a closeup of where the roses meet. Aren't they pretty. I'm astounded that you can put this together just using a wire crochet hook and a super long piece of twine...basically.

Here's another closeup, this time of the right side of the piece.

Here's another closeup of the middle part where the roses meet up.

And some more detail of the end of the piece. I don't know what to call this because I don't know what my sister is going to use it for. It's kind of big to be called a doily and I know there's a term for it, but I can't quite remember right now.

And a close up of the rose, in case any of you want to try to recreate it. I know there are some of you out there that could probably do it just from the photograph, right? I know my mom could.

And that's my sister's Christmas present. Lucky her! I know my mom is working on something else right now...Hmmmm, I wonder who that one is for? Any guesses?

Head over to visit Mary at Little Red House who is hosting Mosaic Monday.

Mosaic Monday - Things Treasured

Many people have questioned my passion for collecting trinkets,
baubles, curios and doodads.

Junk, jewelry, novelties and whatnot's.
Many people have scoffed at the idea of traipsing
through someones home at an estate sale,
or spend a Saturday touring thrift stores.
They wonder how it could possibly bring me pleasure
to go through someones things.

"Doesn't it make you sad?" they ask.
"To rifle, go through, grab, pillage and plunder
someones possessions?
Someone who is now dead and gone?
Someone you never knew?"

My theory is a simple one.
The joy, pleasure and sheer ecstasy I feel when I find a treasure;
I know that someone else upon my death will find that same
joy, pleasure and sheer ecstasy in rifling, pillaging and plundering
through my treasures.
That's it...simple enough.

And someday, when someone goes through my things, perhaps,
perchance; it will be a kindred spirit of mine.
Someone who also will consider my death not as an end
but as an beginning to inherit and cherish the items
I collected
with
J O Y

Please be sure to visit Mary at Little Red House for lots of other beautiful mosaics on this Mosaic Monday!

Thrift Shop Treasures

Whew! I just barely made it.
For what you ask?
Well of course for Rhoda's final "Today's Thrifty Treasures" event!

She's going to be taking a break now that fall is here and yard sale season is almost a distant memory.

I barely made it because I just got off a train and raced like a bat out of "H E, double toothpicks" to my computer to write my post to link up to Rhoda.

I just got back from visiting my daughter in Turlock. My mom and I rode the Amtrak! That was the first time for either of us and I'll post stories and pictures later, but let me tell you...I found lots of treasures. The ones below though are from last weekend.

Hey...Happy Easter! I know, I know...it's almost time for Halloween, not Easter, but I just couldn't pass on this! Isn't it adorable! I can't wait for Easter now!


And I finally found a real cloche. This one is pretty small, you could probably fit a cupcake into it. I still want to find a beautiful, ornate stand for it. But it was a great buy and they are hard to find in our area!

And I found this gorgeous bird cage. Still don't know what I am going to do with it. Any ideas? For now I moved the Russian Nesting Dolls and my daughter Tea Cup from the upside down hurricane/cloche and displayed them in the bird cage so the photo would have more than just an empty cage.

I found another beautiful birdcage today at a Thrift Shop in Modesto, but unfortunately because we were on the Amtrak I couldn't bring it with me as I already had my suitcase full and it wouldn't have fit anyway.

So that's it for today. I found lots of goodies this weekend as well; including many pumpkins and fall display items, but unfortunately I've had no time to clean them up and get them photographed and posted. I'm going to have to find another wonderful hostess like Rhoda to get me through the winter months. Anyone?

Be sure to go see what treasures everyone else found. Just click on the button below.

Drive By Yard Sale

I had a lot of things planned for today. A plumber was coming by because my toilet, that he fixed three weeks ago started leaking again. I had to change the oil in my car. I needed to pickup a prescription at the drug store. I needed to get groceries. I needed to make a Wal-Mart run for things like shampoo, toilet paper, laundry detergent, etc, etc. So I didn't think that I was going to have much luck in making this a thrifting Saturday. I was pretty darned bummed.

I woke up pretty early, 7am and by 8am I was out the door to take my car to get the oil changed. Once that was over I figured since I was out I would go by the drugstore and get my prescription. That done, I started home and I drove by a house that had a couch in front with a big sign saying "FREE". Behind that couch I saw some floor lamps. I flipped a U and came back wondering if the lamps were free.

Of course they weren't. The free item was the couch, which I didn't want. It was in decent shape, for free...but pink, flowery, not my taste at all. The lamps however were $5.00 each. SOLD!!! I quickly called my sister and she came with her husbands truck and we took them home. My sister and my mom both think I'm crazy because I have no need and no room for more lamps.

And I don't, but c'mon, they were only $5 each. I was hoping my sister would like them. But she didn't. But don't despair...as usual I found a place for them.

These are étagère Torchieres with Frosted Glass Shade. I looked them up online and Target has them for $39.99. Mine are practically brand new. They were a bit dusty and spiderwebby, if that's even a word. But a little elbow grease and TLC and gorgeous!

All lit up! I immediately put my Angel's that were on the mantle on the shelves, but that's just temporary until I make some new thrift finds to decorate them with.

This one is by my bike to light my way in the dark when I'm riding it at night :-)


I tried out this one next to the fireplace, but didn't like it there at all, it stuck out. I've since moved it to the other side of the couch and taken the lamp that was there to my bedroom as I needed a new one there anyway because I broke my bankers lamp that I adored :-(

I have to confess now, I didn't get any of the other things on my list done. But that was because it was over 100 degrees today and too hot to go out and do anything. So for sure tomorrow. I'm going to post this over on K + J's Trash to Treasures, because it was that trashy, flowery couch that led me to these treasured lamps. Please go visit and see what others have found.

Iwanna Wednesday

I can't believe I almost forgot about Iwanna Wednesday! It threw me off as Monday was a holiday. Now I feel like today is Tuesday since this is only the second day I've worked this week!

But luckily I remembered just in time. I am your hostess...Iwanna.

Iwanna is a name given to me by my sister because it doesn't matter what store we go into there is always something "I Want" the second we walk in...hence the name Iwanna.

And just because Iwanna things doesn't mean I get them, although I have to admit there have been a few times that I do get them, thanks to my loved ones, especially my daughter. Thank you April.

Ok, so let's get to it shall we?

As you know, Rhoda at Southern Hospitality hosts a Monday Thrifty Treasures party where you can link up to her to show what thrifty treasures you've found. I've participated quite a few times. Now my Iwanna Wednesday would not be necessary if Rhoda just moved out of her house and let me live in it, cause Iwanna everything she has in there! It's gorgeous!

Alas, even Iwanna can't have that, but Rhoda did give me a great shopping idea. She has a special giveaway to Southern Living that she is doing. You just need to go visit Southern Living and post a comment on Rhoda's blog to be entered. Eazy Peazy!

So I went...cause who doesn't love a giveaway right? And I entered...and I fell in love, with Southern Living. Iwanna stuff bad! Just check out their catalog.

I picked out a few of my favorite things. JUST LOOK!

*sigh* Iwanna this lovely little serving bowl. Just in time for fall and the holidays. It's called a Christmas Memories Serving Bowl and it's set into an Ornate Iron Bowl Stand...dreamy no?

Iwanna this lovely trifle bowl. This is called the Devonshire Lidded Trifle, and it has so many uses!

I really Iwanna this one. It's just so perfect. I would love two of them please. One to display on either side of the painting over my couch. This is the Damask Wall Accent with a metal finish.

What Iwanna from this next one is the serving tray. The colors just catch my eye and make me smile. I can imagine placing it on the table filled with home made cookies or muffins (anyone wanna come over and bake them?) The bowl is pretty too...but I'm drooling over the tray. This is from the Gail Pittman Veranda Collection.

This is my next to the last favorite! If I can't have the green wall accent above, then Iwanna this one. The vase is removal from the sleeve. This is called the Juniper Vase with the multi-layer reactive glaze with a removal curling metal sleeve.

And now, the Grand Finale...the Pièce de résistance. This is four Filigree Iron Wall Sconces displayed in a way that makes it look like one whole piece. Of course Iwanna the Cordova Candle Sconces on either side as well. And as long as this is Iwanna Wednesday, just go ahead and throw in the whole display on the mantle as well...and the fall leaf garland. I've been looking for some of that anyway.

Well that's it for Iwanna Wednesday. Now what Iwanna is for you to tell me which one of these lovelies is your favorite?

Trash to Treasures at Along the Way with K & J

I had a very nice visit from Katie with Along the Way with K & J. She asked me to link up to her blog for her Trash to Treasures post and I did, so be sure and visit her blog. She's very proud today to have been featured on The Best of Your Before & Afters for her makeover of desk that looked pretty unsalvageable to me but she turned into a work of ART! I think I'm spending my morning looking at other makeovers that The Best of Your Before & Afters has featured. If you're visiting from Rhoda's be sure to read the previous post for my Thrifty Treasures and please become a follower! Happy Labor Day!