It's been ages since I bought anything at the Dreadful Dollar Store. I don't even go in every week any more because Pete, the proprietor, looks so sad when I leave empty-handed.
I found the towel at the Dollar Store last week, though, and I almost didn't buy it. I think I was just shocked to find something I liked. But the towel kind of led to a re-do in one corner of the dining room.
Crocheted dress hanging on the knob of the made-over cupboard.
Toy coffee percolator.
Toy teapot.
Dog wondering if I'll take him for a walk if he stands between me and the camera and looks wistfully out the window.
Pete was quite pleased with my purchase, as was I. He mentioned that he's got a "lot of stuff" coming in. "What kind of stuff?" I asked. "Oh, lots," Pete said. "Little of everything."
I can't tell you how many times I've had exactly the same conversation with Pete. Or how many times I've gone back to that crazy store, tempted by visions of "lots of stuff."
EDITED AT 3:30 P.M. TO SAY - I should clarify that the Dreadful Dollar Store is a secondhand store where everything is a dollar - not a Dollar Tree kind of store. (And its real name isn't the Dreadful Dollar Store; that's just an affectionate nickname.) I did indeed visit again today, and Pete was right - he did get a lot of stuff in. And, well, there's a lot of it. And none of it came home with me.
That towel is great, I would be super excited to find something like that at the dollar store:)
Posted by: Jen | February 10, 2009 at 09:35 PM
The DDS sounds like one giant tease. Thrifting in general is one big tease, you find something awesome, you float on clouds. Then you don't find squat, two or three times in a row and you wonder why you are wasting so much time and gas. Then it happens again, big score! Yippee! I'm caught in a viscious cycle. xo, suzy
Posted by: GeorgiaPeachez | February 10, 2009 at 10:38 PM
That's a cute little deal you've got going there, with the towel and the scale and the teapot! I know what you mean about the DDS. I've got a SVDP (Stinky Vincent DePaul) next to a little grocery store I sometimes go to. It always stinks inside, I always use my hand sanitizer when I leave, and I rarely ever find anything. But do I pop in every time I go to the grocery store? You bet! It's the thrill of the hunt!
Posted by: Carol | February 10, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Believe me or not, but even the towels in the US are more vivid than those in the Netherlands. I have never seen flowered towels up here (or perhaps Cath Kidstons or Rice's but those don't count as dutch). Though I like our vintage checkered towels though. I love the childrens teapot and the perculator! (Never seen that up here either!). I should take no risk and enter the DDS next time too. We have a( D)DS here too, the Euro (what did you expect) store, but when they have something what you would like to buy it's always on top of the 2,50 shelves :-(. But I like the hunt in those cheap stores anyway.
Posted by: LiLi M. | February 11, 2009 at 08:02 AM
What a treat it was to slowly scroll down this post & enjoy all the cute things. I think the towel was worth the trip to the DDS. When I got to the picture of the toy percolator I almost yelled "Oh my gosh - that is the cutest thing I've ever seen". Since I am on my lunch hour at work, it's a good thing I controlled myself. You just find the cutest things and do such a nice job of displaying them.
Posted by: Kim | February 11, 2009 at 02:08 PM
So vintage I love it. I had a toy one of those aluminum teapots. This is such a beautiful area. I wish it were in my house.
Posted by: Nanette | February 11, 2009 at 02:10 PM
That looks so lovely! Can't believe you found the towel at the dollar store! Very cool find!
Posted by: HeidiAnn | February 11, 2009 at 02:34 PM
Never read your original post on the Dollar store - loved that they wore pjs to work and fought over cigarette money. I can only imagine what the store is like. Great find and great redo. I love the little aluminum teapot.
(thanks for the clarification on the dollar store too - I first thought of the chain store...and lamented the fact there is nothing cute like that towel EVER there)
Posted by: laurie - magpie ethel | February 11, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Cute Teatowel! What a find :) I love your childrens teapots too! I collect those too, and also the crochet dresses! I use them as a border in my breakfast room.
Thank you for the cute valentine! Love it!
Posted by: Rosemary | February 11, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Love the whole look! From the towel to all the sweet reds 'n greens...and the dog who really wants to go outside! Thanks for sharing! *elaine*
Posted by: elaine | February 12, 2009 at 08:17 AM
I can't imagine finding such a great towel for a dollar here! Love the colors & the whole vintage vignette.
Posted by: tammyCA | February 16, 2009 at 04:34 PM