Let Thrift shopping thrive in 25!

C_J

A quick visit this morning to the hospice warehouse, I am currently decluttering my cupboard under the stairs where things are stored in large plastic crates and not very accessible. I decided something along the lines of a small Ikea Kallax or Trofast type unit would be better, especially as there is much less to go back into the space now it has been culled.

I found exactly the Trofast stepped unit I was looking for (complete with a full set of baskets for it) for £20, and managed to wrestle it into the back of the car.  It fits the understairs perfectly, and now my job for the afternoon is putting all the Dyson filters/accessories/bin liners/screwdrivers/dog leads etc etc away tidily.

I also bough six tiny wooden maracas which don't look as though they have ever been played with. Baby grandson will be one year old in September and my daughter will have an afternoon tea party with family and friends/their small children to celebrate. It won't be a big affair, but I always make little gift bags for party guests and these will be great for the tiddlers' bags. £1.50 for the six.  I also bought a very pretty dusky amethyst coloured cut glass footed bowl which is the right colour to tone with my sitting room colours; I thought it would be nice to have on the coffee table filled with a few treats for the bigger grandchildren when they come round after school and are ravenous. Penguin biscuits, bags of fruit strings, that sort of thing. £2 spent.

Frith

I haven't done a proper charity shop run for months. So this morning I did Bewdley, Cleobury (always good), Ludlow then Stourport! 

I wanted a t shirt for me، long sleeved t shirt for son2, desperately needed a duvet cover for the spare room (didn't own a single cover) and I always look for paintings. 

Red t shirt for me - £4.75
Grey t shirt for son (Next) - £4

Single duvet cover and pillowcase - £5

Pastel of Romsley - £4
Watercolour of Ludlow to Clee Hill - £3.50

Brie

@Frith
can you give us a close up of the watercolour please?  I'm always looking for inspiration.

C_J

Oh those pictures are lovely @Frith!

Frith

Brie said:

@Frith
can you give us a close up of the watercolour please?  I'm always looking for inspiration.

Here you go!

C_J

Here’s the artist’s biography for the top picture -

Biography of Mike Knight. NDD ATD FRSA .

Born in 1942, it was clear from an early age that Mike Knight wanted to be an artist.

He had a driving ambition which was pursued at Wolverhampton Art College, specialising in painting, later gaining a teaching degree at Manchester College of Art and University.

Then followed art teaching appointments at Wellington Grammar School and Windsor High School as Head of the Art Department.

In 1974 he became Staff Tutor for Creative Arts at The Hill Adult Residential College, Abergavenny, lecturing in art and art history and contributing to courses for The Open University. He devoted increasing time to painting, and as demand for his work increased, became a professional painter in 1978, the year in which he was elected a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts.

He had many successful exhibitions and much of his work was sold in art galleries and department stores. He produced a popular range of prints and at one time had four prints in "The Top Ten".

For a number of years he lectured and demonstrated to art societies and was a member of the Winsor and Newton demonstration team.

In 1979 he painted a prestigious mural in a Scottish hotel followed by numerous other commissions. He specialised in producing prints for the rooms of large hotel chains, colour co-ordinated to match the decor.

After selling his work though galleries, department stores and an agent, he decided to sell his work direct, and opened his own gallery in Ludlow, Shropshire, called The Country Artist. It flourished for seventeen years and in 1996 he opened a second gallery in Hay-on-Wye, also called The Country Artist. Both galleries have now closed and his work is now sold exclusively on the Internet.

In 1998 he wrote his first novel "Of Apples and Serpents", published in hard back. It has been said that ".... he uses an artist's eye to describe scenes of country life which are as evocative as those painted by his brush." "....thoroughly recommended to all those who enjoy an exciting story with vivid descriptions of the ever-changing moods of the countryside."

His expertise was diverse and his interests led him from portrait painting and architectural studies, through seascapes, boating pictures and mural painting to his final interests in rural landscapes and animal portraits.

In 1999 he began to develop his Web site which has enjoyed increasing success and became a well visited, award winning site.

He spent the last years of his life in Herefordshire, surrounded by beautiful scenery, which inspired the painting of evocative pictures reflecting his love of the countryside.

Tragically, he passed away on Dec 15th 2004 following a heart attack.

C_J

And I think this is the artist of the pastel painting, the style looks very similar -

https://www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2014/05/15/michael-richardson-uks-bleak-winter-bright-sun-morocco/

Frith

Thank you. I have emailed Michael Richardson to see if it is one of his. 

D123456789

LO has decluttered a bag of  soft toys ( and one extra large unicorn) so I just had a Quick Look in the shop when I donated them….. I got a chiffon over t shirt material top from Tu, a swimsuit from M&S (both for me) and a pair of next shorts for LO all for 2.5 £ so very pleased. 😁 

borefest

watching Royal Ascot this afternoon and they we’re doing a piece on polka dot fashion, one lady had bought a dress for £6.00 from Charity Shop yesterday and looked fab ❤️👗