She was one of my best friends. You know, the ones with whom you can talk forever and solve the world’s problems. Helen Norris was one of the Sidney Art Gallery and Museum’s first instigators back in the ’70s. Her dedication was fun and serious at the same time. After her passing in the mid-’90s, […]
Amy Burnett
Educated at Olympic College, Central University and LA Art Center College of Design. An artist who is a fourth-generation Bremertonian, she currently lives in Bremerton, is married to Earl Sande and owns and operates the Amy Burnett Fine Art Gallery. Amy also produces films and documentaries, is a columnist and author of several books.
Posted inPeople & Places
Donations Wanted
There is another side to thrifting, and that is the donating aspect and the should-donate-aspect. I’m not talking about hoarders, but most of us who have a hard time letting go. “I’ll fit in it someday,” “The tags are still on it,” “My neighbor could use it,” “I can sell it online” or “I’m passing […]
Posted inHome
A Little Pyrex History
Twenty years ago, it was commonplace to see Pyrex as the dog’s outside drinking bowl. A decade later, that same Pyrex bowl might have been on the auction block for hundreds. Today, it’s still collectible, but the Pyrex trend peak has diminished as contemporary thrifting has changed direction. Sets have been replaced with singles. Decorating […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
Drinking Glasses
The question is “why.” The answer is “thrifting.” On a top shelf at Belfair’s HUB thrift store were six striped Libbey drinking glasses. The very last thing I needed but, what the heck. Lots of singles, but it’s getting hard to find vintage sets these days. An adventure ensued with these seemingly common Libbey glasses. […]
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Rediscovering Knickknacks
With college degrees under my belt, I came back to Bremerton in the early ’70s and got a job managing a parking lot and a rummage sale building in downtown Bremerton. And thus began my “doctorate in thrifting,” so it seemed. My area of study was art, design and marketing, and that tied right in […]
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Vintage Clocks
Want something like this midcentury beauty? Good luck. They’re grabbed up before the sun sets. Have you ever met a clock person? If or when, you’ll never forget. They’re avid, dedicated creatures from another planet. Seems there’s no in between with clock/watch people. I love these enthusiasts. Why am I such a know-it-all? Years back, […]
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Grandma’s Dishes
Availability, trend, need and definition will determine the future of “thrifting,” which is primarily looking for used items. Today, the activity is enormous in many directions, but tomorrow may be a different story. My expertise began in the ’70s, when I was teaching drawing and design at Olympic College, was an active journeyman plumber and […]
Posted inPeople & Places
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
I’ve caressed and tangled with just about every thrift item there is, but this one threw me off. Don’t know why I picked it up, this ridiculous, tiny, vintage sugar bowl that read “50th” on one side. An attached underlabel read, “Kelvin’s REG.PAT OFF EXCLUSIVES JAPAN,” and the bowl bottom read, “KEVIN’S FINE CHINA HAND […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Salt and Pepper Shakers
Hate to admit I was wrong. I was wrong and want to apologize to all the salt and pepper shaker collectors out there. It started a few months ago at the Hub Faith in Action thrift store in Belfair when I spotted super fancy antique diner plates and made a comment, being surprised they hadn’t […]