Looking Through a Thrift Store Kaleidoscope

Proust used the kaleidoscope as a metaphor for social evolution; can looking through the lens of a thrift-store kaleidoscope help our society evolve?

The mad consumer machine Americans have become accustomed to has run out of gas. Or, more aptly, it can no longer afford to fill up the tank. With the new economy now madly embracing thrift, shoppers are rethinking their needs and finding new venues in which to fill them. Thrift stores are booming because of this shift in paradigm, and a thrift store kaleidoscope is the perfect metaphor for our changing consumerist behaviours.  Looking through a different lens is necessary to reassess our needs and abilities, and the rise in thrift store shopping proves that more and more people are beginning to see the light.

Artist and vintage reseller Gina Sessa shares a few of her more whimsical thrift store finds, including a stained-glass kaleidoscope for $7.00.  Thrifting allows for guilt-free impulse items that just speak to you – they’re cheap, recycled, and purchases help real people in need.  Take a moment to look through a thrift store kaleidoscope – it brings color to your world.

Four Fantastic Frugal Finds for less than $7

By Gina Sessa of Mercanstyle vintage goods (http://mercanstyle.com)

Can I just say how much I LOVE thrifting?!?!? This was reaffirmed last week when I found a colorful and whimsical stained glass kaleidoscope. It was marked $10 but the thrift store was having a 30% off all knick-knacks sale, bringing the price down to $7. Such a beautiful little object, I had to share with everyone how rad it was! After some conversation Nicole and I thought it would be a good idea to create a little montage of cute, and whimsical thrift store finds, I added the fact that all of these items are below $7 each! With a little searching, you can certainly secure treasures like these to brighten any winter day!
First and foremost the $7 stained glass kaleidoscope.

At the same time last week, I got these darling Gorham Mousey Music boxes with fairytale themes. Each cost $5.60.

Next is my cute patchwork Scottie pillow. He was $3.50:

And then my majestic brass unicorn bell at $3.00:

Gina Sessa is an artist, mom to 3 Chihuahuas, and avid thrifter in Tampa Bay, Florida. Follow her on twitter @mercanstyle. She sells vintage finds at http://mercanstyle.etsy.com and has a companion photoblog at http://mercanstyle.tumblr.com Her Chihuahuas have a photoblog at http://puppertons.tumblr.com