It’s the first Monday of the month, that means it’s time for me to share my recent thrift store finds with you. The month started out slow with purchasing some small finds, but ended large with great free stuff. Since we’re in the dead of Winter, I’ve been looking for some smaller items to work on indoors.
Shopping with cousin Terry after dinner one night I came across these furniture pieces, but since I already have stuff in storage, I passed.
I did pick up these wooden bowls because I thought they were 50% off. When I got to the checkout I found out they weren’t but since I’ve been wanting some, I paid full price, about $1.99 for the large ones.
These items were at Unique Thrift Store on Preston Highway (Louisville KY). They had a lot of knife blocks (I didn’t get any)
I was trying to figure out what I could do with this wooden spice rack—turning it sideways and upside down, but also left it behind.
These loaf pans came home with me. I like their patina, and their size.
I got a great deal on these wooden salad bowls. I think they were only a few dollars.
I don’t have a plan for these small white shelves, but they got added to my stash for only $1 each!
This wooden cutting block is resting in the child seat of the grocery cart, so that will give you an idea of the size. I thought it was a bargain at $2.
I need another lamp, like I need a hole in the head, but it was such a good deal I couldn’t pass it up. I think it was only $4.
Have you seen my new truck? I wonder how many months I’ll refer to it as “my new truck”. 
I really do love driving it!
Rodney offered me all this free furniture months ago, and has been storing it until I had room for it. He needed the room and “delivered” it to me from across the street! This dresser is so heavy, I can barely lift one corner to put it on a dolly.
The drawers are very deep, and you can see it has a shelf in the middle section.
The headboard is also very heavy.
The chest of drawers had “shutter” doors, but Rodney used them on a hutch he made for their kitchen.
Here’s the bad news, none of this set is real wood. You can see here that it has water damage and the Faux knots and dry brushed green paint is just PAPER!
You can see in this nightstand that the tops to the furniture are the same way. The paper looks very realistic, but it’s all particle board. All of this is very heavy and I think it’s going to be quite a challenge to work with. Please share your ideas in a comment below.
SCORE! More great doors. All of these doors match-being very old, heavy and sturdy.
Three of them still have the doorknobs with old key holes in the door plates. This one is the only one without it.
ohhh, and did I forget to mention they were FREE! Rescued from the dumpster!
What good stuff have you found lately? Any suggestions for the goodies I picked up?
gail
Hi Gail,
I am so happy to get your emails and follow your projects. I love to work with wood and asked my husband to check out our “Boutique” (AKA swap shop) at the dump, and requested a headboard and footboard. He looked at me skeptically, but came back with one, and it’s in great shape!! It’s all free, so always a great find. My daughters are going to help me transform it into a bench for our driveway, in front of our big windowbox. I just purchased a Kreg jig, so I am anxious to get started. Thanks for the step-by-step instructions and pictures. Happy Repurposing =0) Oh, and I’ve seen the doors made into hall trees with hooks, and sometimes a shelf.
Linda,
So happy to hear you’re going to do a family project and make a FREE headboard bench. I do believe you will love the kreg jig. Just make sure you set the proper depth on the collar, and use the proper screws and you’re all set! There is a new area on My Repurposed Life for readers to share their projects, you can find it here: https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/qa-submit-projects/ Please share your headboard bench there, or feel free to ask questions there if you get stuck! 🙂
I’ve made several hall trees in the past with doors, some easy, and some not so easy. I’m actually working on one now with a door I’ve had for quite a while. It’s a lot like the doors I just got.
Thanks for subscribing and taking the time to leave a comment. I can’t wait to see your bench!
gail
Hi, Gail! I’d be tempted to make a crafting table / desk out of the dresser. What about using the door knobs as end bits on a coat rack or as feet on a tray?
Denise
Denise,
I think I’m going to meake a bench out of the dresser… at least I’m going to try. For now the door knobs will go in my stash of door knobs I PAID for off of ebay. 🙁 But think in the long run they may end up on a coat rack….. but feet are a great idea!!!
My problem is-I don’t have room for any furniture in my home, so I have to find something that I think might sell at my booth or Glendale Crossing Days in the fall.
gail
Isn’t junking the best or a good trip to the thrift store . And now what one would call the dumpster dive , my friend lives in a 55 plus park and i’m telling you they get rid of some really good stuff that just found their way to my home . I loved seeing all of your great finds and those freebies you scored Can’t wait to hear what you do with them .
I love FREE 🙂
So anxious for warmer weather so I can get started.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
gail
Great finds! I purchased a similar revolving spice rack to hold Folk Art Deco Paints. I also have a lamp addiction and couldn’t have passed your purchase by either. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with it 🙂
You are NOT alone! I have a lamp, chair, bed, door addiction. There are some things I just can’t pass up, especially if the prices is great!
gail
Great thrifty treasures-love those doors! As for the particle board furniture-I’d call Salvation Army to pick up. Particle board is sooo heavy and it’s not wood so I wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time on something that would be a hard sell (at least in my area) . However if it’s for personal use-it’s free so it’ll just be your time and materials. Would you have to peel all that paper off first? I have never painted anything made like this. I would test paint an area to see if the water in the paint loosens the paper.
That’s a good point about the paper (and the paint) loosening. I use the diy chalky paint primer, so it will stick to anything, and generally the Finish Max so it shouldn’t be a problem. But I appreciate your input. I will definitely test it first.
thanks Melissa!
gail
love your finds!!! especially the door!
I loved seeing all of your finds! I picked up seven wooden salad bowls last fall and turned them into a pillar candle stand. It was one of my favorite projects.
I’ve seen some fun front porch planters made from floor lamps – it’s an “on my list” project. 🙂
My most recent was a repurpose job on a 1962 wall clock that I made into a sunflower garden wall decor piece. It’s doing a great job of making the gardening season seem near.
LOVE your truck decal! That is just awesome and it’s so fun to read of your truck adventures!
Thanks for sharing your thrifting adventures. Now I want to go out again and shop! 🙂
ohhh, please feel free to share anything with us on the new q & a section of MRL Karen.
I’m really wanting to be more creative. Hoping for an early Spring!
gail
I found a 1964 Singer industrial sewing machine that’s pristine. I’ve been looking for something that I could sew heavy fabrics like upholstery. But also sew leather, and will also straight line quilt. The really cool part is that it’s turquoise and sits in a beautiful maple box that her husband made for it to keep it clean when not in use. So excited! I’m going to start on a leather cover for a 1950s stool.
That’s an awesome find Jennie! I’m so happy for you. They just don’t make ’em like they use to.
have fun working on the stool.
gail
ps you can share your photos with us here: https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/qa-submit-projects/