ThriftHound

Part teenage boy, part very old lady. Mostly mini-stories & mismemories prompted by things I find.

[thrifthound]

This is me in 8th and 11th grades. So much and yet so little to say. I think I borrowed the Hawaiian shirt from my stepdad. I was also wearing brown corduroy OP pants. I'm pretty sure I put on the necklace (vintage 50s btw) so people wouldn't think I was a boy. I was living in a foster home when this photo was taken, hence the anger in my face. #highschoolphoto #juniorhighphoto #schoolids #hawaiianshirt #80spunkrocker #myafro #androgynous #8thgradephoto #11thgradephoto #ganeshahighschool #pomonaca #portolajuniorhigh #tarzanaca #1979 #1982 #vintage80sID #ilooklikeaboyandthatsokay #ilookedlikeaboy #wheniwasakid #awkwardschoolphotos #thatshirttho #poorthing #angryteenager #vintageblacknecklace #fosterkid

[thrifthound]

My favorite photos from Bill Gaskins' book of photographic portraits, "Good and Bad Hair" published in 1997. (My mom gave it me 😘) Gaskins is black and all the people in the book are black. ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏼 #billgaskins #blackculture #goodandbadhair #bookofphotos #blackandwhitephotography #portraitphotography #streetphotography #blackamerica #blackpower #blackpride #blackhair #blackhairshows #naturalhair #afro #afropick #blackpowerafropick #crenshaw #southcentral #vintage90s #1990s #bantuknots #blackisbeautiful #baldisbeautiful #androgyny #arrogant #imblackandimproud #blackphotographer #powertothepeople✊🏾

[thrifthound]

Beautiful bargain from Goodwill: 40 large sheets of (bamboo or rice) Joss Paper from Vietnam for only 89¢. A bonus is that now I know what joss paper is. "Joss Paper, also known as ghost or spirit money, are sheets of paper that are burned in traditional Chinese deity or ancestor worship ceremonies during special holidays. Joss paper is also burned in traditional Chinese funerals." Years ago when I was in Korea I bought all kinds of what I thought was traditional hand-made bamboo wrapping paper but now I'm thinking it was joss paper. Interesting to note that this cultural lesson came from Goodwill. #josspaper #giftwrap #wrappingpaper #coconuttreeproducts #productofvietnam #goodwill #thriftfinds #beautifulbargains #culturallesson #wheniwasinkorea #assortedcolors #bamboopaper #ricepaper #ghostmoney #spiritmoney #chinesedeity #burningpaperforthegods #traditionalasianpaper

[thrifthound]

Her face wasn’t the prettiest thing about her. Neither was her singing. It sounded like coughing from too much pepper. If only Winnie could find the salt to balance out her voice she’d get into music school.

[thrifthound]

More from my Margaret Dumont Collection of trash beach couture. A night of purple rain at top left and the "eye heart ball" in kelp leather at top right. Bottom left is a closeup of the model's skull and bonnet. Bottom Right shows the model's full length kelp leather hair extensions. This photo shoot was part of Trash Beach's Next Top Model Competetion. #deadbird #foundonthebeach #nexttopmodel #margaretdumont #trashbeach #birdskull #montereybay #playingdressup #madeupstories #playingwithbones #kelpleather #trashcouture #purplerainfireworks #eyehearts #birdwing #dollsofnature #birdskeleton #deadbirdsdressedup #playingwithdeadthings

[thrifthound]

My mom went to Longs Drugs to get a few things for our new apartment. Finally my stepdad was gone but so was everything else we had. Out of spite he threw everything in the pool including my mom’s files. Her lawyer told her to start documenting everything and save all records. Even though we were starting from scratch we knew my stepdad wouldn’t be entirely out of the picture. He just mailed my mom a receipt for the sofa he paid for five years ago. Which she promptly put away in her new Neat Ideas cardboard Drawer File.

[thrifthound]

When I was a kid in Oakland in 1972, ashamed of my Afro, my dad was trying hard to instill African pride in us girls and presented my sister and I with two brand new daishikis. I was a brat, burst into tears, and told him I hated it. My sweet sister smiled, said thank you and put it on. That’s us in the bottom pic; she’s wearing hers and I’m not. When a few years ago I found this perfect vintage 1960s daishiki, I was so excited because it gave me a chance to redeem myself.

[thrifthound]

This is a nightmare dining room. Visceral memories of what was supposed to have been a fun recreational drug experience goes wrong and you become panicked and confused and see no way out of the situation. Another example of terrible home design that counters the notion of home as a refuge. This is from the Better Homes & Gardens Home Decorating book was published in 1975. I have so many more pix, good and bad, to come from this gem of a time capsule.

[thrifthound]

Cocaine decor from Better Homes and Gardens Home Decorating book from 1975. I love the disco den wallpaper! And the silver end table and sofa kick plate are fab! the antlers give a subtle nod to the devil who occupies the space. #BetterHomesandGardens #HomeDecoratingBook #1975 #1970s #70shome #homedecor #interiordesign #vintage70sdecor #vintagedesign #vintagehome #discostyle #discoden #cocainestyle #70sgraphics #graphicwallpaper #supergraphics #silverwallpaper #antlersculpture #devilishdecor #silverdecor

[thrifthound]

As much as this one is trying to look cute, it’s not. Like an annoying, cloying woman-child you want to shake and yell “grow up!” to. These flowers, especially surrounded by the hideous, dark-stained wood grain backsplash, and the creeping dinge of the linoleum flooring and dark-edged appliance, portend horror. I see this kitchen and I think Charles Manson and his family of brainwashed chicks.

[thrifthound]

Vintage mid-century modern fiberglass pendant lamp I got as a gift from the original owners. Dr. P. was 94, blind, and permanently jolly, despite his beloved Imogene wasting away in her bed from Alzheimer’s. “Hi, Megan! Shall we go for a walk!” Dr. P couldn’t see me but he thought I was just wonderful and he waited for my weekly visits. I walked him down Chapparal Lane amidst multimillion dollar homes for elderly white people who played golf along the ocean. Dr. P, who was white, would tell of his life in 1930s Korea before his family was forced to leave. He told of Imogen’s ancestral connection to George Washington. Then he told of the “Little pickaninnies” in 1940s North Carolina who were causing mischief for the white folks in his proud southern neighborhood. Oh, right, Dr. P can’t see my nappy-ass hair and that I’m not quite white. If Dr. P hadn’t been blind, would he have liked me so much? Or Would my pickaniny ancestry have reduced me to “the help” in his eyes? Who cares. He’s blind, old, and happy, and I’m learning something. Dr. P doesn’t need the light but I’ll use it.

[thrifthound]

The story goes: “Come on, I’ll take you to lunch.” I was surprised my mom was so proud of me just for graduating 6th grade. We went to Francine’s in Westwood where they had chrome and cane-backed chairs, lots of ferns, and this picture. My mom was the only woman in the place who didn’t look like Mary Richards because of her golden curly hair. She’s smiling at me in a ‘special’ way that seems like something’s up. “Sooo, you’re almost a teenager, almost a woman…” and she gently takes both my hands from across the table. We go on to discuss my first period, when it’s okay to shave my legs, and why it’s time to start wearing deodorant. But she’s still smiling so I’m not really that embarrassed, and I’m surprised by how much she seems to love me. Mary waitress comes to take our order. I’ll have some kind of 70s sandwich with sprouts and avocado, because as mom also told me, now’s the time to start thinking about my weight.

[thrifthound]

My fall collection of crab leg footwear is inspired by the ocean. #ThingsFoundattheBeach #crablegs #crablegfootwear #seashells #crabfashion #fuzzyalgae #kelp #seaweed #tidepoolfinds #beachcombing #absurdfashion #fallfootwear #natureinspired #crabshoes #crabboots

[thrifthound]

I've had this dog photo and its frame for years and years. I don't even remember where or when I thrifted it. To my thrill and delight I only just now found these photos of the man and woman slipped in behind the dog photo. What magic! #vintagephotos #foundphotos #boardwalkempireera #anonymouscouple #vintage20s #1920s #realpeople #vintagedogs #vintagedogphoto #vintagepaperframe #marbledpaper #vintagemarbledpaper #mysteryphotos #whoarethey #1930s #1920sphotography #thriftfinds #delightfulsurprises

[thrifthound]

#Vintage 90s #Tshirt found on Etsy. Still painfully relevant. #blacklivesmatter #blackandred #thriftfinds #powertothepeople✊🏾

[thrifthound]

That time we took Darla to the #wattstowers. #losangelessightseeing #dogtourists #sightseeingdogs #LA #dogsofinstagram

[thrifthound]

My dogs at the Marina Dunes, a nearly perfect place. #MontereyBay #dogsatthebeach #Sand #SandDunes #California #dogsofinstagram #rescuedogs #naturepreserve #cityofmarina #marinadunesbeach #moonscape