It’s been a while since we did a Field Trip Thursday so this week I decided to head out to Prince William County, Virginia to take in their thrifting scene. I wasn’t sure what to expect and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. I found one real gem and two other really solid stores. A warning: this is a long one with lots of pictures.
Manassas, VA 20109
Normally I’m a “save the best for last” kind of person, but in this case, I wanted to share the actual route I took, which was to get off of I-66 at the 234 Bypass headed toward Dumfries. This started me at the far end of the county and I worked my way back toward Fairfax. House of Mercy Thrift Store is a little off the beaten path (kind of out by Jiffy Lube Live–always in my head it’s Nissan Pavilion) in a light industrial park, but it was worth the drive and I know I’ll be back.
First of all, I have found that the smaller charity shops (like the INOVA stores and Bargain Loft in Herndon) often do a great job of editing their wares and this place is no exception. There’s typically not a lot of junk and things get displayed nicely. Goodwill and Salvation Army are good too, but more for sheer volume. The for-profit stores like Unique, Savers and the like I tend not to mess with. I need to get in and out and they just have too much junk.
Apparently they have different special every day here so check before you go. Yesterday was 25% off everything. I bought a few things here, but let’s start with what I admired, but didn’t buy.
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| Antique (perhaps reproduction) wash stand |
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| California Pottery casserole dish, sadly chipped |
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| Burl veneer wall units. No joke, kinda loved these. |
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| Came this close to getting this, but it was $40, which seemed a little steep. |
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| 1920s version of Federal writing desk |
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| Ben Seibel for Iroquois, many sadly chipped and stained |
I did buy a few things though, mainly art, which I really have to stop doing because one gallery wall is enough and I’m pretty much out of wall space.
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| I bought four of these, a few of the pieces from above that weren’t chipped or stained. |
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| Watercolor by Philoma Goldsworthy, listed California artist. |
Here’s another mid century painting. I believe this is one of those ones where the background is printed and the painting is then given texture by hand. I can’t find reference to the artist anywhere online and on the back, there is an indication of a printer’s plate. That said, the colors are nice, right?
Manassas, VA 20109
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| Tons of furniture |
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| Tons of art, though admittedly the boats are a little cheesy |
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| Antique model ship, very tempting |
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| Super cool decor |
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| Cool, right? |
Manassas, VA 20109
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| Pretty standard thrift store fare here |
Manassas, VA 20109
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| Doug does not understand my fascination with vintage paint by numbers. Back me up here? |
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| Two for $7. Hoping to grow (and not kill) some herbs. |
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| Vase marked Kite ’57 MWC |
This might be my favorite find of the day. I picked up this vase because I thought it was rather good and the signature is nice and clear. The price tag was stuck over the “MWC” and I didn’t see it until I removed it when I got it home. If I’m not wrong, this piece has a story. While trying to identify it, I decided that “MWC” might be Mary Washington College. And indeed, there is a reference to an “Amelia Kite” in the 1957 yearbook. And William Leyton Kite, resident of Manassas, passed away December 12th of last year and was preceded in death by his wife. It mentions he has a sister living in Hot Springs, Arkansas: Amelia K. Maddox. I think this is too much of a coincidence. I’ve imagined that Miss Amelia made the vase at school and gave it to her brother as a gift. I don’t suppose anyone knows people in Arkansas?
In any case, it was a very successful trip to Prince William County, I’d say!
Woodbridge, VA
Woodbridge, VA 22192
Dumfries, VA 22026
Woodbridge, VA 22191
Dumfries, VA 22026
You are right on with the MWC– Mary Washington College… my alma mater!
Really? I didn't know you went there. Was it a women's college? Is it coed now?
I never venture into Prince William {strictly Fairfax and Loudoun} but maybe I should! It would be fun to combine a Woodbridge thrifting trip with a visit to IKEA…
That's the plan for August! New thrifting spots, new 2014 IKEA catalog! Plus back-to-school style fall fashion sales at the outlets.