YuleLog Ornament Collector's Bulletin Board Forums Discussion Ornament Collecting Discussion Still more bargains at thrift stores

There is still time left to stop at thrift stores.

Yesterday I found 4 things I didn't have at bargain prices.

NB 2004 Santa Paws scooby-doo for .25
NB 2006 Merry bakers Dusty & Smidgen for .25

Plus two great older Christmas Merry miniatures:
1983 snowman
1987 santa with the dated bag at feet
both for .65 cents

I also picked up a Lenox trimmer of a snowflake mint in package for .50 for my mom. She collects Lenox.

Whoo woo for you, Susan! Nice gets!
The thrift stores I like are closed Wednesdays. I'm kind of glad, I needed a break...

I found the 2006 White House Ornament MDB, for $1.00. I didn't have any of them, so I am very excited.

Sharon

today i found Christmas heart 1979 near mint in box with price tag attached and star of wonder from 93. both for 1.25.

the next store i found
mary's angel 1995 .25
noah's ark 2000 .25
fabulous decade 96 .50 in box
pop goes the snowman 1.00 no box
(i needed this one)
Dana

[This message has been edited by Dana Zuke (edited 12-12-2007).]

This week I have found:
1978 The Animals Home NB for .49
Reindeer Lapel Pin for .25
Mr. and Mrs. Claus S&P Set for .50
Mr. and Mrs. Snowman S&P Set for .50
Mr. and Mrs. Snowman Kissing Ball for $4
and Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy Cookie Cutter Set for $2.50

I had a great day today at the Thrift stores. I got:
1978 yarn mrs. santa .49
1976 Yesteryears: Train .49
1992 North Pole Firefighter santa .49
1982 Santa's Sleigh (Brass) 2.25
1st year's snowcouple jingle singing plush snowmen for 4.95
and I found a David Frykman santa for 4.99

Yesterday I got:
Muppets ball ornament 1981 .50
Teacher ball ornament 1982 .50
Marjolie Bastin Snowman candle holder 1.99

It sure is fun finding ornaments and decorations you don't have. I will have to try my luck tomorrow at another couple stores.


[This message has been edited by Carko (edited 12-13-2007).]

Good gets, everyone! Big applause for you all! (Isn't it exciting to recognize that Hallmark product on the shelf?)

Today I picked up some nice things, most were not any amazing or WOW finds. My one wow was
1983 Christmas Wonderland. It is just gorgeous - a see through glass ball with a peekaboo scene of a woodland with critters. It's darling and I'm so happy to add it to my collection NB for $1.50.

The rest were just good, not great. I didn't have most of these so was glad to add them to the collection. The ones I have already or don't need might be useful for trades:

Walnut Shell Rider MIB 50 cents
1984 Flights of Fantasy glass ball MIB $1
1983 Love SDB $1
1982 Norman Rockwell SDB $1

1986 Cookies for Santa (love this!!!) NB 30 cents

No box or tagged yarn:
yarn snowman 35 cents
yarn Santa $1.25
yarn Mrs. Claus 50 cents

No Box ball ornaments:
Christmas 1980 satin ball $1
92 Baby's First Christmas girl pink satin ball 50 cents (for trades or resale)
1981 Love in the Home satin ball (a lil discolored) 50 cents
1981 Baby's First Christmas satin ball 50 cents (for trades or resale)
1990 glass ball with a cardinal and the phrase "Christmas is a Wonderful time to be in Love" (name?) 50 cents
1987 Currier and Ives glass ball 50 cents
1984 Baby's First Christmas boy satin ball (with cute mousie topper!)
1981 Gift of Love glass ball 50 cents

Miscellaneous fun finds:
D56 wooden tree with red hearts 40 cents
Dakin yarn snowman (or scarecrow?) 75 cents
Russ red carousel horse (very primitive style) $1.50
a fabulous old Japan wooden doll wearing clogs on dangling silk legs, her wooden dress has an "It's a Small World" kind of geometric pattern to it. She looks so 70's!
and a slew of other odd ornaments - I can't resist when they are only 50 cents or a dollar.

I also bought 1988 Go for the Gold Santa MIB for $2 and
2001 Ready for Delivery for 50 cents - but they didn't put them in my shopping bag after check out!!! What a bummer!

I got lucky yesterday at Goodwill.

I found
1990 Christmas Memories in great condition box for 99 cents
1990 Song and Dance in great condition box for 99 cents

Unfortunately, Christmas Memories won't do its motion. I know it's getting the electricity because the light on the sleigh lights up, but maybe it works and I just can't figure out how far/which direction to turn the switch. Luckily, the sleigh and horse are in the front of the ornament instead of in the back, so if the motion never works, it's fine.

I love the Song and Dance ornament! Definitely my favorite thrift store find so far. Motion works great, and the sound still works too. I like the little mice dancing on top of the record. Very cute.

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My ornament collection

I couldn't remember the ornaments so looked them up. How darling is that record player? Too cute! Great find.
1990 Christmas Memories...Wow, don't think I've ever noticed this one before. It's very pretty. I never realized Hallmark had a Clydesdale on an ornament. The sculpting is great, lots of detail. For $1 I wouldn't care if it worked, it's still very nice to look at.

[This message has been edited by Diana* (edited 12-14-2007).]

Carko, you must be going to these places early. Whenever I had a chance to go, I did not see anything worth buying. The ones I did see were to high in price to for me.

1980 drummer boy No box. It was in a bag with a bunch of junk ornaments marked .95 cents. It was 1/2 off all Christmas so I got it for .54 with tax.

Inside the bag was a cute Raggedy Ann and Andy ornament. It's a resin ornament.

Ooh Susan, good get! Love the Drummer Boy.

Not a thrift store, but I went to the local swap meet that I've never been to before.
I had $5 in cash on me, that's it. I got there as most sellers were packing up, many had already left.
I left with a six foot Christmas tree, the 1975 Rocking Horse Nostalgia no box, 1979 Spencer Sparrow satin ball no box, the recent Santa in a sleigh pin that has batteries and lights up, Mouse in a Thimble pin, a Russ teddy bear with gift pin, a bag of six teddies riding rocking horses ornaments, a wooden toy soldier music box, a wooden bead necklace, and a bag of 12 odd vintage ornaments.

I'm sure you all are getting sick of hearing about thrift store finds.. .. . . but:

I got the 1984 Peppermint year, and 1986 Cookies for santa plate today. Both no box for .80 each. I didn't have either one so that makes it a good find.

never get tired of hearing of thrift finds...
i wish i would find that 1984 peppermint ornament. i might have to resort to ebay for that one
Dana

I'm having fun both with my own finds and reading about everybody elses.

Since my first trip with the NHS, some of my finds have been a cute stocking, several more ornaments--most recent being Deer Crossing w/very nice box and a non-HMK golfing Mickey Mouse. Also a wooden sleigh that has three small shelves non-HMK) and several Hallmark pins. A favorite is a 2 inch button/pin that has a reindeer vacuuming and the wording "Merry Friggin' Christmas" It reminds of one of my aunts.

I've left quite a few Hallmarks at the thrift store and see different ones every time I go (about every 3-4 days).

Another find was an Enesco music box, Eskimouse Village (or something like that). The music plays but the lights don't work due to a corroded battery compartment. I didn't realize a mouse was missing until I got it home. I still think it's great and will be in a curio all year.

Since I'm new at this I'm wondering what the best day to go is? I've been trying to hit Mondays thinking lots of people donate their stuff over the weekend.

Stacey

edit-didn't make sense.

[This message has been edited by StaceyN (edited 12-18-2007).]

Hi Mary!
Actually I go in the afternoon.
I sure love going junking, though I sure don't NEED anything else in this house!
It's just that the thrill of the possible find calls to me!
Carko

Congrats on your finds (the pin sounds hilarious). I think the best day to go varies from place to place, so it's hard to pinpoint. This is my first really successful year, so I'm no expert. I've noticed a trend of Thursday being good around here for the stores that are closed on Wednesdays. I think you might be right about people donating over the weekends, I wonder how long it takes the stores to sort and price the stuff and get it out on the floor?

I go every Thursday, because someone told me the local Goodwill restocks on Thursdays, and I've actually seen them restocking when I've been in there early on one Thursday, so it seems to be true. As for the other stores, I have no idea when they restock, so to save gas, I just go on Thursdays to all of them.

Definitely don't go on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. Fri, Sat, & Sun are usually crowded, and it's not pleasant (been there, tried that). The stores don't have as much stuff on Monday because of the people buying things on the weekend, so it's fruitless. I'm guessing the reason our Goodwill stocks on Thursday is to prepare for the weekend crowds.

My mom has now become an avid thrift store shopper and searches through the books at Goodwill and has found the first few books in the Mitford series, an early copy of Foxfire, as well as a Lucille Ball biography for me and many more books. I've also found some other fun things. I got the Lost board game with all of the pieces still in the tin for $2 this fall, so that was a fun find. I just enjoy seeing stuff in the stores. One funny thing though was my mom has this little ceramic mouse sleeping in front of a fireplace that holds a tealight candle in the back and was from the 70s or 80s, and we found one just like it at Habitat for Humanity Restore for $2. Fast forward a few months, and we found another one at Goodwill for $1. So, I guess that was a popular piece back in the day. lol. And Goodwill wins in terms of price.

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My ornament collection

Two weeks ago I got the first edition Light House, with box, for $2 at a Salvation Army store. I went in looking for hot plates for a Christmas party. I don't collect that series but I wasn't about to pass it up.

well i couldn't resist one more trip to the goodwill. all christmas items 75% off. i figured i wouldn't find anything but, walked out with a 1976 twirl about angel in it's original box for .50 and mm christmas mouse for a whopping .12 lol i think tho that will wrap up this christmas season shopping at the gw
Dana