SiftingWhileThrifting: Working With Your Hands : Tools To Thrift.

This past weekend I embarked on an expedition with a friend and my partner. I called Thrfiting an expedition because it takes guts, energy, doing it constantly to actually get the hang of it and lots and lots of patience.

You know when something is just your niche, like you could do it in your sleep and fear waking up looking like an antique catalogue? That is how much I eat, breathe and live all things Thrift!

Anyhow, I wanted to welcome you into my world of Thrift. I hope you enjoy what you find here, learn a great deal, feel inspired and try Thrifting out for yourself even if it is a one-time thing.

We were in funky Melville, Johannesburg and explored the different stores before we got to the Thrift stores.

We had an absolute blast http://junkiecharitystore.co.za/, which is a real gem and has so much character and http://www.charitysa.co.za/bounty-hunters.html which is filled with adorable kitties you just want to load in your car and take home as well a great finds on books, jewelry, vintage shirts and well as one off doo dads!

Welcome. As you can see you will not be disappointed.

I am constantly on the look out for cool and nifty finds. This would be accredited to my childhood, I was always a curious kid, poking my nose where it does not belong (getting into a lot of trouble while doing it) and growing up in my Grandmother’s house is the possible reason because all the trinkets and things from yester year that are there that sparked it all.

I was always in Antique and Thrift stores with my mother and grandmother, so exposure was key in this sense and ever since then I was hooked.

It is the most fun I could have on any given day, leave me with all the things you consider “ garbage” and I will sort them out for you. Leave me in a Thrift store in Melville, Downtown Johannesburg or Orange-Grove, you name it. I’ll give you cabin fever just looking at me go!

I feel most inspired when I use my hands, it is the most stimulating thing you could do for yourself. You need to enjoy what you are doing to create outstanding work. Once you get the hang of something through continuous failing and diligence, this is how magic begins. This is when you find your NICHE. While you sift of course, you are going through a mess to get to the great stuff that is worth keeping and investing in. I use the same analogy in all areas of my life as well as particularly in my creative work.

Just like Thrifting, you go through a process of selecting the most worthy items to go home with you as well with all things creative. Try them all out, check the value and use it with pride. Take your time as well.

This is all we ever ask for as creative’s’ right? Time.

http://austinkleon.com/

Take time to be bored, try new things even if they seem scary at first and never forget to have some fun.

Here is some of my Tips To Thrift:

1) Drive unexpectedly to a place you have never been, as long as it is not a place where you could get injured, it is all-good.

2) Wear comfortable clothing and SHOES! Because … 2.1) You will get dirty, 2.2) Sweaty and finally you need to be comfortable enough to move around, pick things up and try on.

3) Don’t take a handbag, keep cash or your cards in your pocket (yes we live in the 21^st century and these places have electronic machines’ now, isn’t that great!). Your handbag gets it the way and could get stolen.

4) Keep hydrated and eat something! It’s going to be a long day and you need the energy.

5) Pace yourself, otherwise you will get overwhelmed. It is okay to take your time.

6) Pacing yourself will lead you too cool finds and vintage magic, keep your eyes peeled.

7) Talk to locals, they always have their ear to the ground on great markets and stores which stock the best stuff at great bargains’.

8) Keep an open mind. Don’t be hard on yourself if you come home with not-so-great stuff on the first day, it’s cool. Everything comes with practice and giving it another shot right?

9) Take a friend with you and share the experience. It will also assist you having someone around who can give you an opinion you can trust as well as a fresh eye.

10) HAVE FUN!

What is the point of doing it if you can't have a bit of harmless fun ? They owner kept checking on us to see if we did not break anything ha ha ha !

Inspired by the lesson: “ Do good work and share it with people”.

A BIG shout out to my friends http://junkiecharitystore.co.za/ for allowing me to shoot in your beautiful space, teaching small, detailed lessons that have a big impact on my perception and sharing your knowledge with me every time I visit.