By Sue Pitchforth

Spring is finally in the air and so is the opportunity to visit local garage sales and church bazaars.  Being new to the area, I’ve already been to two of them and have found some amazing pieces that have added to the personality of my home. 

I was honored to be invited to speak at the recent Tea hosted by The Friends of the Champlain Library, where I shared with the ladies my love of “the search”.  I think I struck a chord with everyone, as we had some wonderful discussions about “thrifting”.

That made me think, what better topic for this month’s article than the topic of “Thrifting”.

The goal of thrifting is to have fun, find interesting items at a low price, while at the same time helping the environment.  

Tips for Finding Treasures

  1. Go in with the right mindset—it’s about finding a treasure. 
  2. Look through everything.
  3. Can you repurpose the item?  Paint it? 
  4. If it looks even remotely interesting, grab it.
  5. Assess the condition – make sure it is not broken.

Once you find that perfect item you were looking for—or better yet, an item you weren’t looking for—that’s when you’ll really start to understand why thrift shopping is so fun. The combination of the thrill of the hunt and the discovery of something new is a great feeling. 

Another important tip is; trust your gut!  If you like it, get it! If you can see it in your home, buy it!  Also remember, not everything has to be used for its original purpose, a little elbow grease can make an old piece sparkle and as we all know, paint gives everything new life.

We are so lucky here in Vankleek Hill to have our very own Thrift Shop that supports our local Food Bank.  I know like many of you, I have donated items and also purchased treasures there.

This will be my first Trash & Treasure experience and I can’t wait!  I’ve heard so many great things about it and look forward to getting out into the community, meeting so many of you and of course, picking up some great finds along the way!

Here are a few photos of some of the finds that I brought home with me recently:

Dining Room Photo – wicker chairs, candlesticks and large artwork were thrifted

Vignette -all items were thrifted – large art from Buy Nothing Vankleek Hill

I hope that during your search, you find special treasures for your home.

See you at the garage sales!

Until next month,

Sue

All items were thrifted – large art from Buy Nothing Vankleek Hill. Submitted photo