Hello! I'm Mary El, professional thrifter (12-year-old me would have been mortified to see my future).
You know those articles about the woman who picks up a vase at a garage sale, only to find out it's an ancient Greek urn worth millions? Or the guy who's had his great aunt's oil painting hanging in his TV room for decades and learns it's a long lost van Gogh? These are the holy grail, unicorn finds that we thrifting pros dream of. It's not just about the money -- it's about the rich history, the treasure hunt, the thrill of possibilities. I have often wondered, if I came upon one of these, would I give it up?
Last summer I learned my answer is probably no when I had 30 minutes to rush through my favorite secondhand store (I typically give myself 2-3 hours). I saw a zebra head vase and thought, "Cool! Someone will love this."
That someone turned out to be me, and the vase turned out to be an MCM (mid-century modern) Fitz & Floyd that is currently up for resale on Chairish for $995.
I put it in my stepdaughter's room, which was originally a guest room, but as it came together she claimed it. It's my favorite room in my house, and it will forever be a work in progress, open for new treasures -- high resale value or not.
