It's prerfect just the way it is

Are you also trying to figure out how this all came to be?

I am having trouble deciding which is more shocking - the blend of sun-faded subjects portrayed on this framed art/clock, or the price sticker.

Not gonna move a lotta pink bug hoods that way...

This thing is like Predator meets My Little Pony...

Want some candy?

Who? Who created this masterpiece?

Ah, the lost art of macramé.

Who? Who? Who would have thought I'd be making a comeback!?

When we switch our daughter from a crib to a toddler bed I may just hang this thing in the hallway outside her bedroom door. Imagine sneaking out of your bed at night and opening your bedroom door onto a dark hallway with this set of eyes boring into your very soul staring at you?

I think I should write a parenting book.

*****

Fun fact: Eight years ago I moved into a house that, before me, had only had one family/occupant since it was built in the late 40s. In the living room were lovely fake wood paneling walls, and on one wall in particular there was a darker area on the wood that I know, without a shadow of a doubt, was the outline of a macramé owl that had once hung there. How LONG must that have been hanging there, on a wall that got no direct sunlight, to have left its mark? Either way, that "shadow owl" spurred my ironic love of macramé owls from then on out.

So 80s it hurts

If someone wanted to know what the 80s looked like, I think I would show them this board game.

Futuristic high-tech computer-like board game. Just in case a power outage crippled your use of the family's Commodore 64.

Most excellent.

How long has this been sitting in someone's basement? 

Anyway, no time for that. I have some clothes that need BeDazzling.

I bestow upon you a keepsake of my royal screw-up

Mint condition "I'm Sorry" bear.

Never cherished as a fond memory of "that fight we had" or "that money you embezzled" or "that time you told me my hairstyle made me resemble Rowlf the Dog".

Even Necklace Bear wants nothing to do with it.

Why do I get the feeling that every time one of these is gifted to someone, it ends up in a thrift store (or trash can, or bonfire) at breakneck speed?

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for forgiveness, but keeping one of these on my bed among my decorative throw pillows suuuuure does make it hard to forget...

Vital organ

You think playing the guitar is the be-all and end-all of cool instruments.

But you obviously haven't logged enough hours of exposure to one of these bad boys.

Seeing one of these evokes memories of my late grandfather... and an evil penguin*. I can't help what I think.

I'm telling you. This is the next big thing in fireside and college dorm instruments of choice. Once the world has heard "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" played on one of these babies, you won't see a hitchhiker, busker, or budding musician without one of these in tow.

Tell your friends.

Next big thing.

You heard it here first.


*The latter memory would be a reference to Wallace and Gromit - The Wrong Trousers.

Make it stop

I felt very strong, unpleasant emotions toward this book that I found in the handycrafts section of my local thrift shop.

Suddenly I was transported back to the It's A Small World ride at Disney World.

I had made a special request to my husband that we give the ride a try when we were there a few years back. My reasoning? Well, shouldn't everyone experience this retro animatronic delight when they visit The Happiest Place on Earth? I mean, what's not to enjoy? Animatronics (which I love more than you could ever know). A boat ride. Bright colours. Happiness. All things that I love.

Boy was I wrong.

Behold, the expression that was frozen on my face for the duration of the ride:

Let me off let me off let me off let me off let me off let me off

I'm just kidding. It was only mildly horrific.

Shellshocked

My that's a lovely... one of those.

She sells secondhand seashells.

There is no end to the wide array of seashell "art" out there in thrift stores, just waiting to be gawked at and made fun of admired and appreciated for the hours of painstaking labour that went into making it so atrocious breathtaking.

For the expat who has everything

Instead of a key to the city, they just gave me a can of air.

Best served ice cold.

Smells like a Salisbury House Nip.

Thrift shops: where "As Seen on TV" products go to die

If you've ever wondered if you should go out and buy one of those Slap Chops you've heard so much about, I think I've got your answer.

Is it odd that this sight conjures up the lyrics of Weird Al "Help me, Mr. Popeil"? (The answer? No. There is never a wrong time for Weird Al song lyrics.)

 I feel a touch of hysterical laughter bubbling up as I realize this is but one thrift store's collection of these things.

Coffee mug wisdom

Everything I need to know I learned by reading novelty coffee mugs.

And here I have received sage marital advice and a swell cross stitch pattern all in one. Two birds with one stoneware!

Shh... Can you hear that?

Twentieth century artifacts.

"Dee dee na na na"

So steeped in history and lore. Legend has it, if you hold one of wheeled boots up to your ear, you can hear the faint sounds of Dance Mix 95.

T.G.I.F. (a.k.a. Thrifty Gem I've Found)

There are times when I stray from my "take only pictures, leave only footprints" approach to thrift shops, and that's when I find a true gem.

These gems are usually books. But sometimes they're neat picture frames for projects (that I don't end up completing...). Or a delightful crocheted blanket that matches my basement decor. Or the perfect dress for a 90s prom-themed party (v-shaped waistline, puffed sleeves, and more - it was an early 90s dream come true).

On other occasions, these gems are things that I think are swell, but may not have a place for in my home/wardrobe/life.

This was one such occasion:

 A retro Chiclets lunchbox!

I thought it was worthy of a picture. Not weird enough to fit in with my usual "finds", but nifty enough to be documented. (That said, I can't look at it without reading it as "Chiclets fruit flavors flavored gum" which is redundantly delightful.)

Happy weekending, tout le monde. 

Not enough glitter

2:31:26

The precise moment that a little girl stopped believing in unicorns.

Double Denim

Here's a mighty fine pint-sized Canadian Tuxedo. Bedazzled to all get-out. And, valued at $8, some thrift shop employee apparently thought quite highly of this flashy-yet-durable ensemble.

At work we have "jeans days" on Fridays, and by paying $1 (which goes to charity) we get to wear our denim best. I once spotted a co-worker wearing a denim shirt with his jeans. I asked him if that meant he had to pay $2.

He didn't seem to see the humour in my question.

FrankenLamp

Well, that's one way to modernize a vintage lamp...

Fashion meets function.

...or to burn your retinas while sitting down to read your latest issue of Cat Fancy.

Ravenous ravenous rip-off

I dunno about you, but when I’m so hungry that I’d classify myself as hungry hungry, being overly particular about what I’m about to ingest isn’t really on my radar.

Not these guys though.

With a name like that, they should probably be taking dainty bites rather than neck-stretching lunge-gobbles.

Shame on you for getting my hopes up, Picky Potamus. I thought I’d found a childhood gem.

Here we go

 Hi, I’m Kate, and I love to take pictures of funny, weird, and ridiculous things I find at thrift stores.

If asked, I would have said that you can't put a price on the world's most awesome hybridization (behold, The Kate Cat, a.k.a. Felis Kate-us). Some thrift store worker would beg to differ.

For over a year I’ve been sharing these photos in an album on my personal Facebook page, but after much encouragement (and receiving a few Reese peanut butter egg-related bribes, which I won’t get into right now), I’ve decided to turn it into a blog.

There is no shortage of wacky things to be found in thrift shops. I hope to share them with you, and to eventually have you share them with me, and to have a few good laughs in the process.

So that’s that! Happy thrifting!