Exploring Arizona: Golf carts, treasures and getting lost

After having lunch with the fiance and his coworker yesterday, I ventured to the vintage-hunter's paradise that is downtown Glendale. My first trip to the self-proclaimed antiques capital of Arizona resulted in some amazing finds that stayed in the stores. This time, I purchased a few of the items, which I'll show you next week.

My next stop was Sun City, one of the nation's largest retirement cities. Higher numbers of senior citizens means lots of antique goodies waiting to get a new home from this still-kind-of youngster. I had heard of Penny-Wise Thrift Shop and it didn't disappoint. 

Heading south to find a cluster of thrift stores, I got better acquainted with the area i.e. lost. In my travels, I noticed tons of golf carts in driveways, store parking lots and cruising down the road. It was creepy and funny all at once. Gotta love living (and driving) in the AZ.

Antique Treasures finds

Penny-Wise finds

If only I needed a new couch and had a truck, this baby would've come straight to the townhouse. Definitely a candidate for reupholstering, but I am in LOVE with the gorgeous wood detailing. Hello, pretty geometric shapes. And if you can believe it, the couch was only $60!

Both chairs have such pretty bones. Their new lives are just a paint brush and new fabric away.

I almost asked if I could just buy the beautiful vintage handles and knobs from this hutch. They are that pretty.

Glendale and antiques = A match made in thrifty Heaven

There's a reason Glendale is dubbed "Arizona's Antique Capital." The historic downtown part of the city houses 22 vintage stores alone, and the fiance and I experienced a few of the shops firsthand Saturday. 

My favorite store was Antique Treasures, which was like taking a trip back in time. Even though I didn't bring anything home, these gems caught my eye. We're planning on going to Sun City this weekend for a thrifting adventure. Cross your fingers I'll find a credenza or campaign furniture.

Antique Treasures finds

If only these mirrors were a little more affordable. I wanted to take all three home.

 

 

 

 

 

This bar cart was like $25. I had to ask the dude at the counter if that was the correct price.

 

This bud vase would look amazing on my nightstand.

 

These gold clovers would be a cute and quirky addition to any vignette.

 

No shortage of milk glass here.

 The books of my childhood.

You could probably trade this Barry Bonds figure for some HGH and syringes.

Lance > Joey.

I really, really, really wanted this dainty perfume bottle. So pretty.

I'm dying over the swirly design on this vanity tray.

I'm on an elephant kick right now. And yellow. Perfect.

Hello, Chevron-esque book spine.

 

A Mad Hatter's Antiques finds

The geometric pattern on these tiny plates is beautiful.

The camera loves cameras.

You can work up an appetite vintage shopping all day. Nothing a little German cuisine at Haus Murphy's can't cure. The restaurant was featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and it was yummy. You can't go wrong with the paprika schnitzel, Weihenstephan Hefeweizen and vanilla bread pudding.

 

Full fiance = Happy fiance.

Thrifty window shopping

My search for an affordable credenza took me to three thrift and vintage stores in the Melrose District and Biltmore last week.

I left empty-handed regarding the main objective, but a few fun finds from Retro Ranch, Seconds 2 Go and Goodwill came home with me. I'll keep those a secret until I'm finished with projects involving two of the acquisitions. 

In the meantime, here's some of the stuff that stayed at the respective stores, but would be a great addition to any space with a little cleaner, paint, fabric and creativity. 

Pardon the crappy photo quality. I had to use my iPhone since I forgot my good camera at home.

Shake it like a Poladroid picture: A new spin on a blast from the past

It seems that all things vintage aren't so vintage anymore. Items from another era are ever the rage, whether it be in furniture [thrift and antique store finds], fashion [jumpers], transportation [cruiser bikes] or technology [record players]. What is old is new again. Much of this attitude stems from the emphasis on being "green." Recycling and reusing doesn't stop at pop cans and newspapers. 

And summer provides the perfect backdrop to reminisce. It's no coincidence nostalgia is rampant in the middle months. Lazy days at the lake. Riding bikes in the twilight. Basking in the sun's rays at the beach. Time seems to slow down, prompting people to recall days when checking a Facebook page, updating a Twitter status or ordering that [whatever people drink at Starbucks these days] didn't exist.

The recent recession also has people watching what they spend, making second-hand items even more appealing. Who could really afford that Restoration Hardware coffee table or Williams-Sonoma waffle maker, anyway?

So now you have a bunch of carefree and nostalgic consumers with a conscience on the hunt for a bargain.

But many today are so plugged in, it's hard for them to imagine life without the luxury of modern technology. They want what is old and new.

Enter the Poladroid. An updated twist on a blast from the past. The best of both worlds. The software is free, fun and simple to use. A "Polaroid Camera" icon appears on your desktop and you drag and drop whatever digital photo you want to age in the camera. When the Poladroid spits the picture out, complete with the signature sound, place your cursor on the photo, grab the image and shake it over your screen to "develop" it. You can save the picture in the various stages of developing, depending on how "vintage" you want it. You can also join the Poladroid Flickr group and submit your prints.

Even further evidence of the vintage craze: The real Polaroid Camera was revived this year for an entire new generation. And more proof of the old-new mixture: Lady Gaga signed a deal to be a "creative director" for the company. Marketing an instantaneous product to a bunch of tweens, teens and young adults with short attention spans and immediate gratification mindsets using one of the most recognizable figures in recent pop culture is like trying to convince the "Jersey Shore" cast to drink alcohol and whore for the camera.

And what better way to capture and chronicle these "new vintage" and possibly alcohol-induced moments of the summer then on the epitome of old-and-new-school technology. 

Not to be outdone, Apple offers three vintage-style photo-maker apps for the iPhone ranging from $0.99 to $1.99. ShakeItPhoto was a go-to pre-Poladroid. The Hipstamatic offers the most opportunities for creativity. You can swap film, lens and flashes for a number of combinations sure to please even the most vintage picture snob. Finally, there's the Photo Booth Classic, which turns your phone into an old-school photo booth complete with four chances to make those crazy and cute pictures without the cramped space and long wait between shots.

If you still have time after testing out all the above-mentioned applications, check out this rad Polaroid project. Maybe you could start one of your own?!

[Click to enlarge image of Poladroid demonstration.] 

Instant vintage photo circa 2009:

 [Polaroid picture, left. My original photo, right: Boat Trip, August 2009, Orcas Island, Washington]