Fair Warning - Re-Opening of Caritas K&K!

A little help if you can't read German:

CARITAS Kunst und Krempel (the 'homeware' Caritas on Birmensdorferstr.) is closed for renovations, but it reopens on the 19th.

From the 29th to the 31st of May, there's an apero and a 'wheel of fortune' to celebrate the re-opening.

If you're in the market for some kitchen utensils or a new tea set, I'd swing by! ;) Who knows - you may score big time! ;)

In other news, I (thankfully) missed out on the "Wedding and Evening Wear" event that ran until this weekend. I really didn't need another cocktail dress or purse or heels. It would have been tempting.

Yet another reminder to check the current specials!

CARITAS: news and agenda (they still post specials and events in both places, oddly, even though the site says otherwise!)

Heilsarmee (Salvation Army): special markets

Best Thrifted Buys, I think

Today I'm going to share with you some of my all-time favourite thrift buys. 

It's not a post where I'm going to brag about what I got (though it can be tempting, ha ha!), but something more useful to you - items (or categories of items) that regularly pay-off for me.

This post on Apartment Therapy got me thinking about best-bets and commonly-found items worth keeping an eye out for: 10 Ways to Upgrade Common Thrift Store Finds @ ApartmentTherapy.com

Some of my favourite thrifted things:

Vintage Airmail Envelopes

Great for the expat, and seriously - there's something so great and retro about their style. They also cost nothing in comparison to what you could by at Die Post or Migros, and are infinitely cooler. I see these often, and I have a decent stash at home now. I'll start leaving the rest for you (for now)! ;)

Vintage Placemats, Tablecloths and Tea Towels

I can't think of any category I like thrifting more than vintage linen. First of all, the quality of some of these things are hard to match nowadays. Secondly, the styling can be to die for. Thirdly, it's a quick way to make-over your kitchen or dining room that doesn't require much monetary commitment (or holes in the wall!).

Monochromatic Plant Pots

Another cheap way to quickly 'redecorate' your living space. I collect matte white plant pots in various sizes and shapes, though round is the preference. I already had some white ones, so it seemed a good idea to go monochrome (and minimalistic). But if you can swing blush and beige 80s tones in your decor, there's an entire shelf at Brockiland calling your name. I like how they sort the pots by colour. Brockiland (both) and the Salvation Army have loads of plant pots on offer year-around. You could also choose multiple coordinating colours to match your decor.

Vintage Bed Sheets

Like Melissa at Tiny Happy, I love the softness and colour-ways of vintage bedding. I also like it as a source of sewing fabric - it's usually larger than the fabric in the craft section, and it often costs less. And it's cotton, so... win-win!

Pins and Needles

You'd be amazed at how many 3/4 full sewing needle cards there are at thrift stores, and how little they cost compared to new packages! And they are still new, usually! I've found almost completely full needle cards, and I've paid for them in small (very small!) change. Sewing supplies in general are routinely a good thing at thrift stores. Pattern books, too.

Books, of course

I didn't have time to scour the shelves at Brockiland on my last visit, but I almost always find something worthwhile when I do (though it takes a long time!).

Stemware and Cookie Cutters

For some reason, we break a lot of wine glasses. I think it's more to do with them drying on the drain try (they don't go well in our dishwasher) than it is from over-indulgence, but who knows. True, I don't have a matching set (at present), but I can usually get 4 of a kind at Brockiland for peanuts. I can always find a pair at the least. Cookie Cutters are one of those things that haven't really changed in the past 50 years, though their designs have. You can find some really interesting shapes and you don't have to pay francs to get them, either.

The Unexpected

This miscellany category gets special mention because it's one of the great joys of thrifting. Most of the really awesome stuff I've stumbled across were not things I was actively seeking (Le Crueset casserole, woven-seat hallway stool, a trench coat, a Swiss Army Blanket, my favourite bud vase in the whole wide world, a pair of soft leather flats, etc.). If it wasn't for the unexpected awesome find, thrifting would not be the thrill that it is. And, my goodness, it needs to have some thrill, otherwise a clean, tidy and pleasant shop of new items would win every time! As cheap as I am, I'll pay to avoid the chaos and dirt that is the thrift store (at times)! But the thing about your average store is that it contains average things, and most stores carry the same or similar items. If you want something interesting, you've got to go back-in-time to find it, sometimes! :)

My all-time favourite vase :)

Ah, thrifting! It takes practice, doesn't it? If you're new to Thrifting, check out my tips and tricks in earlier posts to shorten that learning curve! It can be frustrating in the beginning - you have to develop a knack! (And patience, but I don't have it, so clearly it's not a strict requisite!).

- TiZ

Insider Brockiland: More Tips, and Employee's Secrets!

It's a small world. I now know someone who works at Brockiland (Fahrweid location, primarily), and was able to learn a few things about working there:

• They really do have to physically shove off greedy old people as they restock the shelves (a constant battle to prevent them from taking things out of the restocking crates!)
• Being on the till is nearly as annoying as having to restock the shelves (the best and easiest jobs are the removal jobs and sorting jobs!)
• First thing in the morning is the worst time for the old people antics: they hide things in their jackets to steal; they buy a piece of fabric or clothing and hide things inside (the people at the till have to check!); and they fight with each other over newly shelved items
• They argue about every price (I saw this when I last went). It's the same people over and over again, and every time they come to buy their things (always on the lookout for English china tea cups and other 'quality' things, presumably to re-sell later), they try to trick the lady at the cashier's desk (my friend had to say, "Nein, das ist immer 3 Fr.! IMMER, IMMER, IMMER! Es war 3 Fr. gestern, es ist 3 Fr. heute, es wird 3 Fr. Morgen sein!")
• Days when they have the 'best stuff' are days which they have cleaned out a very nice apartment. So they're sporadic and unpredictable, but the 'good stuff' that comes in is typically gone in the same day. So now we know why the oldies stay all day and lie in wait for fresh goods. ;)

Ah yes. ;) The crazies were out in full-force yesterday (Friday always seems the worst, but maybe it's just me!), and though I can tell the usual stories of people trying to take things I was reaching for and rummaging through my basket when my back was turned (yep...), let's just say it was the usual awful mess in there. ;)

BUT, it led to a few useful rediscoveries that I thought were worth sharing with other Thrifters. Please use them well and kindly.

1. SHOP THE ALREADY-FOUND FASHION GEMS FIRST. When you're coming later in the day, check out the racks of men's clothing behind the dresses and mumu's opposite the mirror at the top of the stairs. Very often the die-hard Thrifters have left their fashion rejects of the day draped over the bars (by the swimsuits). I benefitted yesterday from this. Take advantage of the fact that they've already scoured the racks for the newest and best, and take a look at what didn't fit / work for them. It might work for you! ;) It does occasionally for me!
2. LUNCHTIME IS THE RIGHT TIME? Don't worry so much about going 'at opening'. The vans that come to collect items from homes aren't arriving before work hours, and in fact they come and go throughout the day. And, given that the really weird talking-to-themselves demented folk come in force at opening (the old people have been up since before dawn after all!), it might be more pleasant to go at 'lunchtime', when people are naturally motivated to leave in search of sustenance. Later in the afternoon (esp. 4PM on a Friday) it gets quite busy with people stopping in on their way home from work. A little too busy for my preference. Hard to browse. :)
3. NATURAL LIGHT IN A QUIET CORNER. The lighting in there is pretty grim. There's a skylight above the mirror in the clothing section upstairs (which is great!), but the lighting at the mirror is still pretty bad. Also, there's now only one mirror (I suppose the other broke?), so good luck trying to use it with the pushy-sort around. Check the 'real' colours of the garments under the skylight above the apron and fitted bed sheets racks, past the racks of heavy coats. There's a fairly big space there to spread out linens (stain-checks!) on the floor, and to put your basket down with minimal risk of it getting dug-through by greedy hands.
4. OTHER MIRRORS. This one takes a little luck and creativity on your part, but there are other mirrors at Brockiland, the most useful of which are integrated into wardrobes or have their own stands. On the other upstairs (the quiet side, that is always worth checking out!), there are occasionally full-length mirrors in with the coat and hat racks and torchiere lamps. This is my favourite spot to further consider (or reconsider) prospective clothing purchases. Wardrobe mirrors in the centre of the store have the most light, but also the most curious eyes and unwanted attention, due to their central location.
5. STAY WELL AWAY FROM SECTIONS BEING RESTOCKED. I can't handle the shoving and general strangeness that happens, and even when I can ignore it and browse adjacent aisles, I often find myself trapped behind a wall of old folks waiting for the new items, OR, I find said old folks reaching into my basket (like yesterday!!!). Yes, I pity them. Yes, I know they are being compulsive and that hoarding and dementia (and loneliness) can go hand-in-hand. Yes, I can forgive them. But yes - I will also avoid them at the shop at all costs! They rarely buy what I would anyway. ;) The other benefit to not being in the thick of it is that it usually means there's less traffic elsewhere, which can lead to more fruitful and relaxing browsing for you! ;)

And to reiterate one of my thrifting maxims, "CHECK EVERY SECTION"! Don't think you need to? Think you know Brockiland well enough? Here's a quiz - see how you do! ;) 

(answers at end of post)

Where in Brockiland (Fahrweid, in this case) can you find:

1. Tall decorative flower pots for the hallway?
2. Small steel toolboxes and sewing boxes?
3. Baskets?
4. Sleds?
5. Spinning wheels and raw wool/horse hair?
6. Aprons?
7. Nice purses?
8. Scissors and thimbles?
9. Sunglasses?
10. Artwork (all)?

Where did I find the stool and the woven beach bag? :) Both up in that NW left-hand loft. I was alone up there. You should go, too!

There's another (secret) tip, and that is pricing - pricing is "as posted", but it's also to the discretion of the person at the till. If they like you, you can get a bit of a discount. Maybe not a lot, but certainly more than none at all. So be kind, be patient, be flattering if you have to - just don't be one of those rude people speaking with disdain about the item or the price and being very aggressive with the cashier - you KNOW they aren't getting any benefit! ;)

That's it for today! Happy Hunting, my Vintage-Loving Pals!
TiZ

Answers to the quiz questions (accurate to date of posting only):
1-5: all upstairs in the left-hand (NW) balcony
6: on the same hanging rack as the fitted bedsheets, behind the winter coats and in front of the winter scarves and curtain racks, on the clothing and textiles balcony (right-hand, SE).
7: directly behind the till
8-9: in front of the till, in the little alcove where the staff can keep an eye on thieves (these small things are regularly stolen, apparently)
10. EVERYWHERE. Yes, behind the stack of shopping baskets at the entrance, but some of the really eye-catching stuff is on display in the store. A good place to survey it is from the left-hand (NW) balcony. There are many photos hung above the bookshelves. Most of the pictures on the walls are quite large. Three dimensional framed artwork (wood-cut reliefs, cross-stitched samplers, that kind of thing) as well as just regular framed prints are also up in the left-hand (NW) balcony, on the back side of the stairwell amongst the floor lamps.