One of the biggest reasons that I am such a huge thrifter is because you can find crap at the Thrift Store that you would never in your life see anywhere else.
Last Saturday I was at our local thrift shop with my BFF Miss @ All Things Thrifty herself. Finding ourselves without children, we had the chance to dig for awesome finds. You know as opposed to my normal routine of glancing over the shelves, holding my 3 year old down so she stays sitting, and try to tweet pictures out. Like this one I shared last week of a gorgeous carousel horse:
Needless to say its much funner without children….
So as we were digging we found some fun things.
They had a TON of lipstick holders like this:
Our convo went something like this:
Brooke: Wow, there are a ton of these!
Me: A Mary Kay lady must have decided that the cosmetics business wasn’t for her.
Brooke: I wonder what you could put in them besides lipstick?
Me: Uh………Tampons?
Then huge amounts of laughter that made everyone in the store want in on that convo.
So we kept digging.
And then on the top shelf, totally hiding I found these hand painted placemats:
I LOVE finding things that make you take a stand on what you believe. I mean, are they hideous enough to be AMAZING and add some serious character to a room, or are they just hideous?
At almost the exact same time I professed my love and Brooke said that they were totally Mandilicious. And HELLO they were $.50.
I have big plans for them!! Now I just need to finish painting. Anyone want to come over and help?
Love Your Guts, Mandi
Fun finds! Ever get weirded out when you find the same, random item twice? I have stumbled upon duplicates of something I thought they should have broken the mold of after making . . .
Funny you found that lipstick/tampon holder since I actually found a plastic bag of tampons at my thrift shop! Those placements are a definite find – can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store!
Kelly
hahahaha – O, the many times I’ve heard “Is this cool? Or weird?” in thrift stores. I think that is 90% of the fun really 🙂 I’m with you, btw, definitely more fun without kids.
I think if anyone can make them work, it’s you. They would be terribly out of place at my house, but I think they can find a home with Mandi 🙂
Those are cool, Mandi! At least, I’m sure you will make them look cool!
Loving the design changes on the blog!
Things that make you say “hmmmm”. I can’t wait to see what you do with them!
Glad you got the placemats! Before I read what you thought about them I thought to myself,”Oh I love them.” I was sad for a second when I thought you didn’t buy them. lol Can’t wait to see what you do with them.
I’d head over and help you paint Mandy except that I’m in the middle of painting too! I agree those place mats have great potential depending on how they’re used … framed maybe? Their style is reminiscent of mid-century Scandinavian textiles and art which I can go crazy over (and everyone thinks I’m crazy when I do) … they also seem to be well done. I’ll definitely see how you use them as I just subscribed to your blog.
Robin
happilyhomeafter.blogspot.com
Awesome Robin! Welcome aboard!!
Love your guts
mandi
That’s papel amate, or Mexican bark paper, it’s made only in one village in Mexico, San Pablito. https://www.festivalofmexico.com/sanpablito.html It’s a really ancient art form, and has a lot of historical significance. I had the pleasure of visiting San Pablito to meet the artisans, it’s a very labor-intensive process making the paper. The people of San Pablito live high in the Sierra mountains, and while not rich economically speaking, they are proud of the rich cultural contribution they make to Mexico. There are youtube videos showing the process, village, and artisans if you are interested. Also, they are not used as placemats, but framed to hang on the wall.
Much better explanation than mine which is just below yours 🙂 I have 2 of them in my vacation condo in Mexico and they are perfect. Mine are quite old and have withstood the intense in the room. I for one will check out the website you provided. Would love to visit that part of Mexico. Thank you for futher enlightenment. Mandy you really have some treasures!
Again sorry for ‘anonynous’ choice for posting.
Dee
Dude. You guys are better than Wikipedia! The reason I think that they are placemats is because they are laminated. Is this normal for the regular artwork?
Oh no, it’s not. That must be the original owners choice. And now that I think about it more, Hawaii and the Polynesian islands do a similar technique with either bark or some type of fiber to make a cloth-like material and paint on it. Undoubtedly there are other cultures that make like materials.
Dee
It’s definately a treasure hunt. But I’m pretty sure those are not placemats. They are Mexican art hangings. Bright, colorful pieces like these are seen often in Mexico. They aren’t hideous, just a different culture. It will be interesting to see what you do with them. Sorry I had to choose ‘anonymous’ to post, I hate that option.
Dee
Those look terrific! Can’t wait to see what you do with them.
Whatever they are they are really cool. I can just see them in one of your colorful spaces!
I totally want to come over and help!! 😀 These are AMAZING!! So glad you bought them. 🙂
Okay! I have one of those lipstick holders (which I have no idea where it came from since I don’t wear lipstick) and I have been wondering the same thing…hmm.
i have similar pieces hanging in both my bathroom and our man town. i love them!!! they make such a great statement with their bold pops of color. i know you find something fabulous to do with them!
I’m dead serious. I would buy those placemats from you and you could make 100% profit. Or 500%.
I don’t think the place mats are hideous at all! Those are totally something you would pay $14 bucks a piece for at anthro or urban outfitters. The vintage vibrant stuff is soooo hot right now! I bet you’ll do something amazing with them!
Total score on the placemats! Frame those babies UP!!
Those would go perfectly in my dining room! I love them!! I love the wacky things we can find at thrift stores, those things give a home it’s soul.
Uhm, I hope you picked me up 12 of the tampon trays, because I just so happen always be on my period.
You know I love all your guts. Thanks for being such a wonderful friend/human being.
There is nothing hideous about these. I love everything about them! Excellent find 🙂
Aimee
Wonderfully Domestic
Those a awesome. Not hideous. Cannot wait to see what you do with them!
They definitely cross the hideous threshold into AWESOME! What great colors!
I do love them! And totally empathize. It’s so funny what you find at thrift stores sometimes….and then I still buy it! LOL 🙂
https://munchtalk.blogspot.com
I love the “placemats”! You could do something amazing with them. Too bad the former owner choose to laminate, on the other hand, that might be the reason no-one else took them before you.
love Steffie
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The mexican art is very cute, all bright and colorful. Just what I need framed for my living room wall! I cant wait to see your project reveal on your daughters room and NOW these cheerful pieces of art. Good score, Mandi!…The lipstick holder would be perfect to organize my niece and nephews marker mess….
I want them placemats so bad I can’t stand it!!!!! Oh my gracious those are the prettiest Inge I’ve ever seen!!!!……want my address to mail them hahaha – seriously I’d love to find those in a print or something!!!!(preferable at a thrift sto)